Day After Christmas

It is the day after Christmas and my home is a mess. Boxes and paper are strewn about and the kitchen, oh my poor kitchen, looks like the kitchen-aid blew up. My tree is still a lit and the stockings still hung, but this little lady is glad that it is over.

I am so glad it is done. Normally I do enjoy this time of year, but this year it just seemed to overwhelm me. I made Peppermint Chocolate Torte (but really it was a Chocolate cake with Peppermint frosting) and pumpkin bars for the family. (That is the picture from the recipe. Mine didn't look quite as good.) Surprised my love with an xbox one (was that hard to keep from him or what!) and he even surprised me with an entire set of changeable knitting needles (which I have been eyeing for longer than I would like to say).

My sister and my mother loved their gifts and I am so glad. I put in a lot of effort in those two items. The sweater feels like fluffy bunny fur (but it is not, its baby alpaca) and the orange cowl(infinity scarf it doubles up) is made of an organic cotton/wool blend. It is so soft but not itchy. For the knitters out there who are like me and allergic to most wool baby alpaca doesn't have the guard fibers so you shouldn't get irritated by it, but of course feel feel feel. If it feels itchy while you are in the store, it is going to burn/cause a rash when you get home.

Now I just need to survive New Years. Having Nine, that is right NINE people in my apartment for New Years and two dogs. It is going to be a zoo. I feel like I should start baking for it already. But tonight, tonight I am going to be a vegetable at home and kill some zombies on the xbox. Tonight is a night of relaxation. The baking can start tomorrow.