Go To The Ballet

Technically I went to the ballet 10 years ago, but I have very little recollection of the event.  All I could remember was the long line to the bathroom during intermission, and that I was so exhausted after just finishing another set of finals.  So I kinda don't even count it.  I am such a cotton-headed ninnymoggins sometimes!

When Groupon offered $25 seats to The Nutcracker I was smitten, here was my opportunity to go to the ballet, and hopefully to remember the experience this time.  I snatched two tickets so that I could also take my mom to her first ballet.

 
The Nutcracker is a ballet that started in 1892 that includes a famous score by Tchaikovsky.  It is performed by hundreds of ballet companies all over the world during the Christmas season. 

Prior to the show we grabbed some lunch and arrived to the San Diego Civic Theater 45 minutes early.  It allowed us some time to walk around, and take photos....including one with a nutcracker....

SON of a NUTCRACKER...he's GINORMOUS!!

This nutcracker is not alive.....yet.

The Nutcracker is divided into two acts.

In Act I you meet Clara, a little girl who's family throws a Christmas Party.  During the party she is given a Nutcracker that her brother breaks.  Heartbroken, she falls asleep, and wakes up to find that the nutcracker is alive and life size.

A war ensues between an army of soldiers and a group of rowdy mice.  Both Clara and the Nutcracker retreat into a forrest, and the nutcracker is transformed into a prince.  The most famous song of this act is titled March.  If you have ever seen ELF, it is the song that is playing when he decorates the store for "Santa's" arrival.  Yep, I admit it, I love Elf!

 Intermission time! 

Personally, Act II was the better of the two acts.  During Act II, Clara and the Prince travel to the Land of the Sweets.  She is welcomed by a variety of dances performed by the lovely people of the land.  The music during Act II was amazing, look it up on iTunes and I guarantee you will recognize most of them.  My favorites were  Trepak (Russian Dance), Dance of the Reed Pipes, Waltz of the Flowers, and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The music alone would make me go again! 

I think this time I will remember the experience.  ;)

Since I'm in the Christmas spirit, I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!  I hope Santa gives you everything you wanted, plus more!

My visit with Santa this year (Psst...also one of the best doctors ever!  Watch out Patch Adams!)

"I'M SINGING....I'M IN A STORE....AND I'M SINGING."

The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.

Date Accomplished:  December 23rd, 2012

Bake Christmas Cookies For Friends

I love Christmas theme shaped sugar cookies.  Love, Love, Love!  I had always wanted to bake a few batches of cookies and hand them out as mini presents for my closest friends. 

My cousin was coming into town and I always try to find fun activities to do while she is in town.  Why not get her to work and bake Christmas cookies with me!!

We rolled out some store bought sugar cookie dough (cause sometimes they are just as good as ones made from scratch).  I had two cookie cutters, a snow flake and gingerbread man.  After filling the pans with pretty shaped cookies, we had some extra cookie dough to spare.  We decided to use the excess dough to decorate our gingerbread men, with hair, buttons, and facial features.  We even decided to make some that looked like us!

I love my cookies soft so I was constantly checking up on them in the oven so they didn't overcook.

The results:  Perfection.

Afterwards we let them cool and then placed them into goodie bags mixed with some of my favorite Trader Joes cookies.  My friends loved the goodie bags filled with sweet wintery goodness.

I hope to do this again one year!

Date Accomplished:  December 27th, 2009