Feeling Elfie

Happy Christmas Eve yall!

I have a day off today from both jobs. My daughter is home, presents are all wrapped and the cooking has begun.

Last night I felt a little elfie. You see, at my seasonal job, they have had these little Christmas accessories for us to wear all month. My job is picking orders and getting them prepared for store pick ups. Often I would have to run them out to a car on curbside. They wanted us to look festive I guess. 

But not me, no no. 

I snarled my nose up at the lighted necklaces, antler head bands and paper elf hats. I just was not going there! Nope.

Well last night while I was darting around the store grabbing items for those last minute shoppers, I got in the mood to put on one of the elf hats. “Ok, I’ll do it”. And just like that, I became a jingly elf. I had fun passing children as I was working. Some would be acting up in the store and when they saw me, they would straighten up and their little eyes would just stare at me until I disappeared. Some kids would run and hide. I would just wave and point as I walked by. I had fun. Now I know what Santa must feel like. 

I began to think about those little kids. I could have been their only little Christmas hope they had.

To me it was just a stupid little paper hat with bells on it. 

To them, I was an elf. I was one of Santas helpers. 

I was running my legs off, my feet hurt and I was tired from working my day job then coming here to work at nights.

But if it wasn’t for me and others doing this task, some one would not have their present under the tree in time. I carried around a handheld device that would let me know when an order was placed and what to grab. (Aka Santas list). 

Sometimes I would have to reject orders when there was no inventory to be found. Even though they ordered online as it was in stock, an inside shopper could buy it off the shelf before I could fill the order. Every time this happened I would feel sad. They would get an email letting them know it was not in stock. I just hope they had a plan B in these cases. 

Now it’s time for me to relax. I have a big day ahead of me. I have some cookies to make. I will also be making sausage balls, grape salad and broccoli salad for tomorrow. I need to get my nails painted and my house cleaned. 

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. 

Puppy Chow Muddy Buddy

I finally got my Christmas shopping finished. I actually finished last week. It feels great to get that behind me and now I can sit back and enjoy the rest of the season. 

With my work schedule, I have to find time to get things done. I was off on Sunday so I was able to enjoy church again. My daughter came home and we spent the afternoon baking cookies and making treats to hand out to the neighbors. 

This year I will be handing out tins of “puppy chow”. It’s not really puppy chow but that what it’s called because of how it looks. If you buy it in the store, it is called Muddy Buddy.

It is made by coating chex cereal with a peanut butter and chocolate mixture then tossing it into powder sugar. It is absolutely delicious!

Incases you want the recipe, here it is.....

PUPPY CHOW (Muddy Buddy)

6 cups Chex rice cereal.

1/2 Cup peanut butter.

1 Cup chocolate chips.

1/4 Cup butter.

1 Teaspoon vanilla.

2 Cups powder sugar.

In microwave, melt chocolate chips, butter and peanut butter together on high for 30 seconds. 

Microwave 15 seconds at a time until mixture becomes smooth.

Stir in vanilla and pour over cereal mixture. Stir to coat. 

Pour into a 2 gallon resealable food storage bag or a container with a lid.

Shake until coated. 

Transfer into a serving container and add extras of your choice such as pretzels, marshmallows, M&Ms, or other candies.

I just added some Christmas colored M&Ms. 

We also made my favorite holiday cookie, “Pecan balls”. I filled a tin with those to take to work and we have a container of our own. 

I could eat my weight in those things.