I got off to a really slow start this year. Thanksgiving weekend just felt far too early to decorate and then I had a bunch of gigs with my band on the subsequent weekends and suddenly I found myself a week away from Christmas. I took last Friday off from work and finally got the tree put up. I stopped there with the decorating, but it's the thought that counts, right?
I've been buying gifts a few at a time for the last several months. I thought I had finally achieved 100% online shopping but then I remembered that I'd bought one gift at a local shop. It's been a very low-effort endeavor any way you slice it.
I've probably spent almost as much on groceries this year as I have on gifts. Man, food is expensive! In the past week alone I've paid about $250 for groceries between three trips to the store, and that doesn't count cat food.
All of these groceries are basically for three parties and a few extra meals on days when it won't seem like a very good idea to go out. I baked snickerdoodles and made tofu-topped pizza for a cookie party last Sunday. I'll be hosting Christmas Eve dinner at my house for just three people, and I have been asked to contribute several menu items on Christmas Day.
Now all that's left is to wrap gifts (I've already inventoried to make sure I have everyone covered) and start food prep, baking and cooking. Tonight I'm making a pumpkin cake roll using vegan cream cheese since my sister and I have both been diagnosed with dairy allergies now. I'm making just the green bean casserole portion of this recipe for tomorrow night's dinner and while I'm at it, I'll probably go ahead and snap the beans for the green bean dish I'm making on Thursday.
Last but not least, I'm getting a dinner roll recipe from a friend of mine. I thought my family roll recipe was good, but hers is better. I went to her house for dinner a couple of weeks ago and I think I ate five of them.
And that will be that. I'm not going to bake any additional cookies or make candy this year. I may play with some cocktail recipes, but that's where it stops.
Are you ready for Christmas the day after tomorrow, assuming you celebrate it?
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