Best Christmas gift you got as a kid?

I was going to write a post about my favorite gift(s) this 2010 holiday but couldn't decide on just one! I'll just say something corny like getting to see all of my family and everyone having safe travels. It may sound corny, but after the terrible ice storm we had last year that put into perspective how much we take advantage of family, holidays and safe travels.

Anyway, while Ryan and I were shopping at Toy 'R' Us for science kits we ran across a constellation projector. Previous to this shopping trip I had done a man-on-the-street type interview with 60 area high school students asking them what the best gift they ever got as a kid was. It made me think about what my answer would be. I could say my trip to Europe was pretty awesome. I also got American Girl dolls and a Barbie van hand-delivered to me from Santa himself! (I still don't know who that was).

But, the coolest thing that I miss the most was this globe that projected constellation patterns all over my room. It was awesome. I scoured the internet for a picture to explain and all I could find was this from hammacher.com. I wasn't even really that into stars and I'm still not. It was just awesome to gaze at them from my bed - especially in the winter when star gazing isn't ideal.

The most popular answers I got were a trip somewhere, a pet or a Barbie Jeep that you could drive. I bet ten girls said that Jeep was their favorite. Those answers got old. I liked the ones who said something small, but meaningful - like one girl who said her grandma got her a glow-in-the-dark Barbie gel watch.

What was your favorite gift?

Maybe I'll ask Santa for a projector next year. :-)

Obligatory introductory blog post

Tonight, my boyfriend restored his 15-year-old Gameboy and successfully played Super Mario on it. Then, I made BBQ Jalapeno poppers (a recipe from my Pioneer Woman cookbook) to eat during the Insight Bowl game, which the Iowa Hawkeyes are playing Mizzou in.

Ryan testing out his revived Gameboy. Evidence of restoration on the table.

Adding my favorite BBQ sauce to my jalapeno poppers. YUM!

Do you care? I'm not sure and the idea is that I don't really care. I read a lot of blogs and have asked myself what the attraction is. I like learning new things and reading about friends' lives. Sometimes it's like reading someone's diary and I get that forbidden feeling.

Whatever the reasons for reading or writing a blog I've decided to create mine to provide myself with a forum for me to simply write. I've recently left my job at the Des Moines Register where I was a staff writer. I'm going to start a completely different journey next year at a payroll company doing health benefits. I'm excited and scared - but that good scared feeling you get like when you graduate from college, make a big purchase or any adult decision, really.

I wanted a forum where I can ask lots and lots of questions.

I'll cook. I'll knit. I'll rant. I'll brag about my family, friends and boyfriend. I'll ask about your opinions and take pride in my alma mater... all while at home in my pajamas.

Welcome. Hope you come back!  (I'll post lots of pictures for those that are afraid of big, bad blocks of text).

KTHXBAI