Last year, Christmas snuck up on me in a bad way. As in the I forgot it was December, I haven't shopped, baked or wrapped yet kind of way. This year I was not about to have a relapse of my holiday amnesia. In fact, I've been culling cookie recipes for months, just ready to dive in and get going. So last week, I let the inner baking beast out.
At the grocery store I bought flour, sugar, sprinkles, cookie cutters, vanilla, cream cheese, eggs, nuts, preserves.....and the list goes on. Jason just followed behind me pushing the cart. I think he knew not to say too much when I had that look on my face. We got home and I immediately set to work. I emerged a few hours later painted with flour, hair tied up in a whirl of flyaway strands. I was a hot mess. But one that smelled of sugar and strawberries, with cookies in hand. Not a bad combination if I do say so myself.
I LOVE baking. I don't think I can stress that enough (got any good recipes I could steal?). But even more than that, I like to particularly bake for the guys I work with, especially the ones who are on the road all.the.time. The guys who aren't in town for the yearly Christmas party or around the office to enjoy the treats brought in by the staff. I box up some goodies and send them out to jobsites around the state or country, wherever they might be at this time of year. When I mentioned this to one of the women I worked with and she asked if more of the women at the company could help me in baking for these guys. I was thrilled by the idea. Not an hour later, I had 15 women wanting to contribute!
If I was blown away by their desire to help, you should have seen my face on Monday when the baked goods started piling in and landing on my desk. It was overwhelming, I couldn't believe it. We wrapped 36 packages of goodies for our guys. The women I work with? Absolutely incredible!
At the end of the day, 36 Christmas buckets were filled and tagged, ready to ship and be distributed. I sat back and thought why have I been doing this by myself all this time?
So not only are my co-workers happy and well fed, but almost all of my own baking is ready.
And guess who has also has all her shopping done and gifts wrapped?? THIS GIRL! And it's only the 14th. I call this year a success. Take that Santa.
