Ten on ThursTuesday

Took this from Walking with Nora (who I just love), who normally does these on Tuesdays, but I figured I'd join her and do it on Thursday this week too.

1. Who makes your Thanksgiving dinner?
We always have Extreme Family and Caloric Overload on Thanksgiving day. Pretty much from the time the Macy's Parade starts until the time I pass out in a gravy stupor at 10pm, there is food. We start out with my dad's side of the family and have Thanksgiving lunch. That's probably a 30-person event, and everyone brings something, or maybe two or three somethings, so we all eat until we could just die. Then we rinse and repeat for dinner with my mom's side of the family. That side is slightly smaller (maybe 20 people come), but that side seems to be more serious about le cooking, so I always somehow manage to eat even more for dinner than I did for lunch.

2. What is your favorite recipe the includes pumpkin? (bonus points for including the recipe)
Pumpkin streusel muffins! I made these last week and brought them to work, and they were amazing. Now, I'm going to tell you a little secret that I have not told hardly ANYONE. You can make these using a traditional pumpkin bread recipe like this one from All Recipes. OR you can buy a box of the Libby's pumpkin bread kit and make it in muffin cups. You just make the batter like the happy little box tells you, then you mix together 3 tablespoons sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, mash in 2 tablespoons butter until it's sort of a crumbly consistency. Spoon that on top of your batter, bake at 350 for about twenty minutes and BAM, you are a pumpkin goddess.

3. What are 5 things you want for Christmas?
Well, in fantasy world where Santa comes and brings you everything and nothing costs 1 billion dollars, I would like: 1) A MacBook. DARN THIS VAIO AND ITS BROKEN SPACEBAR/CHARGER RECEPTACLE. 2) An iRobot Roomba. I have no time to vacuum, I hate vacuuming, and I have two cats. I could totally see Twyla riding a Roomba. 3) A table for my hallway, like this one from Target (which is conveniently also on my wedding registry!) 4) A Nintendo Wii! Not only because it would be fun to play Wii games, but because I want to hook it up to the interwebz and enjoy the magic that is Netflix from the Interwebz. 5) Some picture frames to hang on the walls with some of our engagement photos!

Just realized that whole list sounded brat-tastic. But those are fantasy items, y'all. Like sit-on-Santa's-lap-and-tell-him-you-want-a-unicorn kind of items. Really, I am in the midst of planning a wedding which is getting RULL expensive, RULL fast, and I don't really expect much of anything for Christmas. But a girl can dream!

4. Does your family draw names or do you buy for everyone?
Dear Lord, we buy for everyone, at least on my Dad's side of the family. Remember question 1, when I told you that was like 30 people? That's always a gigantico source of stress at Christmas, because what in the world do you get everyone? It's never anything that anyone really wants, so it turns out being a giant waste of time and money. I'm really trying to figure out how to get out of it this year. I'd much rather spend the money on gifts for the Salvation Army Angel Tree or something else that's actually worthwhile. Will keep you updated on that.

5. How do you feel about motorcycles?
I've only ever ridden a handful of times, but I really like motorcycles! Now, I have very strong feelings about what specific kinds of motorcycles I do like, but I would love to learn to ride and have my own one day, perhaps. I love Harleys - they're just gorgeous and awesome. That would definitely be what I would own if I did ever get one. Nothing that looks like a toy for yours truly, por favor.

6. What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Saturday?
Hang out, knit, watch things on the DVR, and throw something like chicken and mushroom soup or beef stew in the crock pot.

7. What is the coolest thing to do in your city?
That's really tough, as I feel like I never have a chance to do anything cool lately. Umm, maybe I could say just going out for a run and enjoying all the cute little neighborhoods, all the big, old, gorgeous homes, and not having to worry about being snatched up by an axe murderer at any point.

8. Do you paint your fingernails?
Sometimes. But I tend to do a pretty poor job myself, and then if I ever managed to get them to look right, then they chip within 14 seconds. I do love a good manicure, but I always end up getting French or some really light color so I won't look so much like I'm on the crack when it starts chipping off all over the place.

9. Who is your favorite actor over the age of 50?
Hmmm. Maybe Alec Baldwin. He is hilar. And pretty darn cute, 50 or not.

10. Do you have a high school letter jacket?
Somewhere. I never much liked it though, all itchy royal blue felt and such.