If you can't beat 'em, join 'em

If you've been reading my blog for a while you'll know that this time of year is not really my favorite.  It just seems to exude blahhh....  After the cozy warmth of Christmas and lights and cookies, there's January to yank you back into the harsh cold light of reality.  So this is when I try to find comfort in something.  Anything.  And I'm starting to realize that previous generations have already come up with some pretty good ways to deal with New Year Blah-ness.

For example, calendars.  Aside from the practical point of view since it's a new year and all, it's a physical symbol of the change.  And you can pick out a nice one to match your personality.  In my case, my aunt Jane is the calendar queen and got me a Jane Austen one which has real quotes and illustrations from Austen's books.  January's quote: "As soon as I saw you, I felt almost as though you was an old acquaintance."

Then there are white sales.  A nice marketing ploy but also a way to bring in some freshness and change things.  I got new pillows and pillowcases.  Remi has a way of deforming the cotton-filled ones so they needed to go anyway. 

And then there's everyone's favorite (collective groan): resolutions.  Making a fresh start, breaking old habits or starting new ones.  Except that most people have a hard time keeping them.  This psychologist on the news said you should start with baby steps.  Like instead of vowing to lose 20 pounds, start by not putting sugar in your coffee for a month. 

So I guess I'll give it a go.  Here are some resolutions, but some of them are just for fun. Which ones do you think I'll really keep?  What are yours?

1. Particpate in a flashmob.  I think these are just good silly fun.  It's always kind of been my fantasy to start dancing in public and have others join in. 

2.  Be less cynical. Sometimes I feel like I'm growing more bitter by the day.  Got to hang on to optimism in any form.

3.  Take more walks in nature.  I always feel better having done it.  And I love to connect with nature.

4.  Bake some eclairs and macarons.  Like I mentioned in my last post, I enjoy baking and want to improve my technique.  Check out my baking gear from Christmas!

5.  Speak up more without resorting to passive-agressive statements. 

6. Get a new computer.  Not only is it slow and the fan comes on quite often, but now my keyboard seems to have lost the letter "k" thanks to Juju's agressive typing.  So I have to dig my finger in the trough where it used to be or use a stick. 

Well, that just about seems like (ow!) more resolutions than a girl can keep (ow! again) so we'll leave it there. 

So, this is Christmas

You know that saying, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?  I guess that can account for my lack of blog posts lately.  I've kind of been in one of those downer cycles and I didn't feel like just complaining on my blog.  That and sometimes I guess the time runs away from me on the weekends.  Let's just say I've had some internal and external stuff playing on me that's made for some bleak autumn (now winter) days.  But I'm trying to focus on the good things in my life and be positive. 

One bright spot in this past month has been a cooking show that really gets my creative juices flowing.  You know I enjoy dabbling in baking adventures; therefore the Best Pastry Chef show (Le meilleur patissier) was a real treat.  Amateur pastry chefs participated in bake-offs on different recipes and themes.  I learned lots of techniques I'd like to try myself. 

 

Source (The guy on the left in purple was the winner, by the way.  And his real job: lab tech!)

Coincidentally, this Christmas is going to be kind of bakery themed since I asked my mom for an apron and a spring form pan.  After watching the show, I think I NEED a pastry bag.  It's THE tool for making cool desserts like the adorable macarons (see below) you find all over the place in France and for piping out eclairs. 

 

Source

I haven't done anything too adventurous baking-wise lately but I did make some sugar cookies and mini-muffins for my coworkers last week.  I made some royal icing (confectioner's sugar and egg white mixed together) and put it in a plastic bag to pipe on the cookies.  Juju added chocolate chips and then showed me her brown hands afterwards.  She also helped with the rolling out and cutting.  I do get a thrill when I hear my friends or coworkers let out a spontaneous "mmm" as they take a bite.  Then I say, I made some people happy with my baking.  It's a nice pay-off.  And so is eating warm gooey cookies straight from the oven.

I also made the good old Tollhouse cookie recipe this weekend for some people who came over and for a friend's tea party the next day.  And for the those of you who want to try this while living in France, here's a recipe that is adapted to French measures and ingredients. 

So on this Christmas Eve, let visions of sugar plums and all things sweet dance in your head.  Here's hoping you all have a lovely, homey Christmas.