December 2020

New Year's Crafting

Now that my kiddo is a teenager, we don't do nearly as much crafting as we used to do together during the holidays. We still make things here and there; my teen actually made toilet paper ornaments for everyone this year! Looking for a project that holds a teen's interest is a challenge in and of itself.

Stimulus Checks Begin Arriving This Week

Remember how long it took for Congress to enact a stimulus, not only when the pandemic first began, but recently? Payments for the approved $600 appear to be making their way to checking accounts much more quickly this time around, with some people already receiving them in their bank accounts. Many people will continue to receive them into next week while others wait for checks to arrive.

New Year's Desserts

Prior to Covid-19, my family and I always went out to eat somewhere new--usually somewhere with authentic food from any country except our own!--and really looked forward to it. This year, we're thinking about getting takeout, but it's really not the same experience, is it? I'll always support getting takeout for the sake of supporting restaurants, but by the time we get home it's cold and not as much fun.

January Gardening Tasks

Our Douglas Fir is collapsing on itself. We got our tree late in the game and had to pick from the bottom of the barrel, and the tree was already not the top choice. It's also not my favorite kind of tree; I'd much rather get a Frasier Fir. But since I have all of these falling branches at my disposal, I've been slowly chopping them off and using them to create cute greenery displays in my pots outside!

Best Baklava in Seattle

Lately I've been craving some good baklava, and I'm honestly not very picky about it. I'll eat just about any pistachio-bedazzled goodness you place in front of me. But I'd love to know what makes your favorite Baklava shine!

I've heard that Turkish Delight has really good baklava, which is no surprise. Byrek & Baguette has them and you could get a savory pastry to make a whole meal while you're there. Celine Patisserie has it too, of course.

New Year's Poems

Are you still working on your six-word memoirs for 2020? If you have yours, be sure to share it with us! I've played with mine and come up with a few:

Quarantine and hygge dreams at home

Shining up the house in masks

Isolation, innovation, and making do daily

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of them, either, so I may keep playing!

2021 Games

One of the most exciting things about a New Year is the up and coming things to be released that we get excited about, from books to movies to yes, board games! Like any year, 2021 has some much-anticipated games coming soon, from Quest to Frosthaven to Lizard Wizard, and I'd love to try many of these out.

New Year's Eats

There are lots of traditional foods to eat during New Year's celebrations. You might eat grapes at midnight, eat noodles for long life, or Black-Eyed peas for luck. You might even eat a whole Hoppin' John feast. Or, if you're like my family, you might enjoy creating your own traditions.

New Year's Deals

Most of the time, New Year's Deals don't seem as great as other holiday deals, particularly when it comes to Christmas, but there are some really fabulous sales going on right now, especially in terms of big candle and bath and body companies. It's time for the semiannual Bath & Body Works sale, which happens every December and June, and you can often score items for up to 75% off. It's really the best time to buy from the company if you're a fan.

Easy NYE Cocktails

It's time for one of the biggest drinking at home days of the year! The question is... what are you mixing up? We grabbed a few Aldi specials, including their brand of Irish cream liquor, and I'm very excited to try it. But I know I'd like something bubbly and delicious for the whole midnight countdown at home, too.

Skidmore, Owings and Merrill Working On Inflatable Lunar Habitat - Part 3 of 3 Parts

Part 3 of 3 Parts (Please read Part 1 and 2 first)
     “The Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative (MELiSSA) is a European Space Agency initiative (ESA) with the aim to develop the technology for a future regenerative life support system for long term human space missions. Initiated in 1989, the design is inspired by a terrestrial ecosystem.” Wikipedia   

Skidmore, Owings and Merrill Working On Inflatable Lunar Habitat - Part 2 of 3 Parts

Part 2 of 3 Parts (Please read Part 1 first)
     “The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) is an experimental expandable space station module developed by Bigelow Aerospace, under contract to NASA, for testing as a temporary module on the International Space Station (ISS) from 2016 to at least 2020.” Wikipedia

Skidmore, Owings and Merrill Working On Inflatable Lunar Habitat - Part 1 of 3 Parts

Part 1 of 3 Parts
     Decades after the end of space missions to land men on the moon, major spacefaring nations are now drafting plans for the return of manned lunar missions. One of the new goals is the creation of a permanent manned settlement on the Moon.

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