Recipe Linky & A Survey!

So, if I was really on top of it last night, I could've combined this with my post last night so that it might have some point to it!  But, I saw these when I was blog stalking later on. 

Jennifer, at Rowdy in First Grade is having a Holiday Recipe Linky Party!  You know I love a good linky!  She even included a super cute template for us to use!  I am going to share 2 recipes:  one is a family recipe and the other is a Food Network recipe that I tweaked.  Okay okay, it's pretty much EXACTLY the same as the Food Network recipe except I switched out pistachios for almonds.  Here they are!

Cheese Potatoes 1

Holiday Biscotti

I make the Holiday Biscotti every year and my family LOVES it!  I also make the Cheese Potatoes for any big holiday: Thanksgiving, Christmas, & Easter.  They are both yum-o!  I hope you head over and link up because I'd love to see your recipes!

Now, onto this survey.  I've seen lots of you doing this, so I feel like I should be a cool kid and do it too :)

Holiday Survey
1.  Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Hmm...For Christmas, I usually wrap.  I have wrapping paper from Costco and it has lasted me 3 years and will probably last me another 3 years or so.  It's amazing.  However, I did recently learn how to make gift bags look cute.  Most of my gifts are wrapped:

2.  Real tree or artificial?
Artificial.  I remember the days of having to trek through Lowe's or Home Depot to find the "perfect tree" as a kid.  My dad, me, and anyone else who was unfortunate enough to come with us would each have two trees in our hands beside us while my mom looked for the just right one.  Our little living room isn't very big, so our fake tree fits in nicely :)

3  When do you put up the tree?
Thanksgiving weekend, usually on Saturday because I shop till I drop on Black Friday!

4.  When do you take the tree down?
After New Years.

5.  Do you like eggnog?
Never tried it and don't have a desire to.

6.  Favorite gift received as a child?
Hmm...I guess I'd have to say my bike?  Every other year I got a new bike and it was awesome.  I rode that thing everywhere!

7.  Do you have a nativity scene?
Nope

8.  Hardest person to buy for?
My husband!  Really all guys are hard to buy for!

9.  Easiest person to buy for?
Me, of course!  While looking for others, I always find something I want!  :)  I totally took Erica's answer...mine's the same!

10.  Mail or email Christmas cards?
Uhh, we have some really cute Christmas cards I bought for 50% off the day after Christmas last year.  They have, big surprise, a dog on them!  You'll get a card from us if we're giving you a gift card for Christmas!  Honestly, we'll probably send them out once we have a kid, but we don't send out official cards.  I'm a slacker, I know.

11.  Worst gift you ever received?
Well, when I was little, I unwrapped a gift from my grandparents and it was a pressure cooker box.  I started being a total brat and saying "I don't want a pressure cooker!"  They told me just open the box.  Inside was a super cute and personalized suitcase.  Insert foot in mouth now.  That was actually a good gift.  Worst gift:  When I was in college my brother's baby mama gave me a Winnie the Pooh Hot Chocolate Set.  I mean, I'm in college...I'm not a Winnie the Pooh fan...

12.  Favorite Christmas movie?
It's a Wonderful Life!  That's actually what I wanted my blog to be, but it was taken :(  So I had to stick with Living a Wonderful Life.  I LOVE this movie!  My mom took it last year so I haven't watched it yet...but I'm feeling Christmas Eve!

13.  When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Black Friday!  I LOVE it! 

14.  Ever recycled a present?
I don't think I've ever recycled a Christmas present, but I have lots of wedding presents to regift :)

15.  Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Anything and everything.  I love my biscotti, mom's mac n' cheese, candy...ahh I can't wait (although my diet can!)

16.  Clear lights or colored lights on a tree?
We have both.  Last year we had a string of clear that didn't work so we put up some colored to take away from that!

17.  Favorite Christmas song?
Just a few...



Okay, so please excuse the picture there!



Trans-Siberian Orchestra:  Christmas Cannon



This one might be my favorite!  It's SO funny!


18.  Travel at Christmas or stay home?We're super lucky that both our parents and families live here so we just have to travel about 30 minutes!

19.  Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Sure can.  I just have to sing the song!

20.  Angel or star on top of the tree?
We have a star.

21.  Open the presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
When I was growing up we got to do one on Christmas Eve.  It was always a gift from my parents and it was always what I was going to wear to church that night.  I'll probably carry that tradition on with my kids.  The hubsters and I open gifts Christmas morning.

22.  Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Without a doubt the traffic and crowds.  Hate em both!  Again, totally stealing Erica's answer!

23.  Favorite ornament, theme, or color?
My sister has a snowman theme.  I think I may eventually branch out and have a Santa theme.  Right now, there's no theme but I could see a Santa theme in my future!

24.  What do you want for Christmas?
I've got everything I need!
I hope you're enjoying today...only 2 more days until Christmas!  I totally forgot the chocolate for my biscotti at the store yesterday so I've gotta go to the grocery store now...ugh!
Don't forget to enter the giveaway!