Last Friday Fragments 2011

 Mommy's Idea
Time for "Friday Fragments" with Mrs. 4444!
 ~  The church was absolutely beautiful for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.  We have a new choir director this year, and he did an excellent job with making the Mass feel extra special.  The past few years have just felt like a mass in the middle of the night.  Here are a few pictures of the church:
You'll have to imagine the trees in the lower left picture being lit.  They have lights on them, and are absolutely gorgeous.  I took the pictures Monday right before Adoration, so the lights were off.


~  Last night ended up being a "Southern-Themed" night.  We went out to eat, then we were going to go see "Sherlock Holmes", but decided to just go home.  CH & I ended up watching "The Help" followed by "Sweet Home Alabama".  I think I cried more during "The Help" this time. 

~  I found a recipe for Eggnog Rum Cake and decided to try it out, especially since I didn't do any baking before Christmas.    The recipe didn't explicitly say whether or not to use the eggs that are on the directions on the cake box, but if you make it, put the eggs in.  I took a chance and put them in, and it came out perfectly.  For the icing, I made my own using 1/3 cup softened butter,  3 cups of sifted powered sugar, 1 1/4 cups of eggnog, and 1/4 cup of dark rum.  After I mixed that up, I ended up adding equal parts of eggnog and rum until it was the consistency I wanted.  At first I was going to make a glaze to drizzle over the cake, but decided against it at the last minute.  The finished product:
I think I may have put just a little bit too much rum in the icing, but then again, is there such a thing as too much rum?  I didn't think so.
~  The boys got me this bracelet for Christmas:
I was a  little concerned when I opened up the box, because I have rather large wrists, but they were smart and got the biggest bracelet they could.  And, it's just a little bit big (in that it slides a bit), but that's the way I like them.  The charms have some significance.  On the left is a bear:  We've always called YS "YS Bear".  The middle charm is a stone for OS, my nature boy.  And the charm on the right is a bunny for MS, my "Snuggle Bunny".  And, since it's a charm bracelet, CH and the boys won't have to think real hard about what to get me for birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmases.

~ CH also got me this:
Now I can cook like the Southern Queen, y'all!
When we were in Heathrow for our last meal in England, our server was wearing the most incredible perfume.  She told me what it was, and we looked at it in the airport, but couldn't get someone to wait on us, so we didn't buy it.  I looked around town for it but couldn't find it.  A few weeks ago we were in Ross Dress for Less; I happened to glance at the perfumes, and there it was.  So I got that, too
~  I'll catch y'all next year!  I hope everybody has a safe NYE!

18 comments:

  1. The church is gorgeous! I have to admit that I'm jealous of those pots. Mine were not that great to begin with and are even worse now.

    Have a great New Year's!

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  2. Everything at your church looked gorgeous!!! And what lovely and thoughtful gifts you received!!!! Great stuff!

    I hope you have a Happy New Year!

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  3. Wow, the guys did good! I love that bracelet- I want one! I have large wrists too but they are shrinking slightly with the weight loss. Though they'll never get small because, well, I'm not a small person. LOL

    That cake looks absolutely divine! I just might have to try it- diet or no!

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  4. The charm bracelet is sweet-did they come up with that on their own? It's a really thoughtful gift : )

    Your cake looks so good. I'm beginning to feel like I need to quit with the sweets already...we are making chocolate fondue for NY Eve though so not until Jan 1 : )

    Happy 2012!

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  5. You have some very thoughtful guys shopping for you. The bracelet is beautiful and I so wish I could get a new set of cookware. Enjoy!

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  6. Cake looked to die for. The church was amazing. I always loved attending midnight mass with my best friend when I was younger. The church always had a special feel to it. I loved the perfume and it is amazing. I can't believe you found it at Ross.

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  7. Visiting from Friday Fragments, the church looks beautiful and no, you can never have too much rum in cake or icing for that matter. Wishing you and your family the Happiest of New Years.

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  8. The church looks very beautiful and your charm bracelet is, well, charming.
    It sounds like you had a very nice Christmas.

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  9. Love the bracelet you received! Looks like a lovely Christmas. Your church looks beautiful. Happy New Year. :)

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  10. I did not shed one tear when I saw The Help in the theater, but when I watched it last week at home, I bawled!!! I love Sweet Home Alabama. My sister and I say, "Is that Jaclyn Smith?" all the time ;-) That egg nog cake looks YUMMY! Love the charm bracelet! Sweet!

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  11. Nice Christmas gifts...your bracelet is beautiful! Happy New Year! Love your header picture!

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  12. I ma not a church goer but I do love listening to choirs. There is something very special them.

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  13. Church looks beautiful. You cake also sounds delicious. Love the bracelet. Looks like Santa was good to you. Happy New Year!

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  14. Awww...after all you went through with the boy...so glad they got you such a meaningful gift!!

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  15. DH and I watched The Help a couple of nights ago ... good thing I'd read the book first so I knew to have some tissues handy. ;-)

    Wishing you and yours a blessed 2012!

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  16. This is all good stuff. So nice when you find a fragrance you like.....Love the pots and pans and the bling!!!

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  17. Very interesting cake! And no, never such a thing as too much rum. Ever.

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  18. That cake looks awesome! And no....no such thing as too much rum. It looks like somebody was a good girl this year with all of those wonderful presents. I love the bracelet and very impressed that your young men hooked you up with that. I have been thinking that I might like something like that myself. Maybe someday I will be a good girl and get one of those under the tree. :)

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