Happy #thinkingoutloud Thursday! No idea what I’m going on about? Click here!
1. I just realized that I never announced the winner of the Love Grown Foods giveaway! Gah! Here she be!
Congrats, Brenda! You’ve been e-mailed and can expect your Love Grown goodies soon 😀 And I’m sorry about the delay, you guys… but I honestly have no idea where the heck time is going — more often than not, I don’t even know what day of the week it is anymore 😆
2. On that note, are we believing that Christmas is exactly one week from today? One week. My mind is boggled. Remember when you were a little kid and Christmas felt like it took forever to arrive? Totally not the case anymore. If anything, I feel like last year’s Christmas was just a few short months ago.
3. I do know that for next year’s Christmas, I’m going to have to look into getting an Advent calendar that doesn’t involve chocolate. Why? Because the size of the chocolates that come in my peanut-free calendars are a cruel, cruel joke…
I mean… they’re great as far as counting down the days goes, but they’re so small that you barely manage to get the taste on your tongue before it’s all over and you’re left with nothing more than a huge chocolate craving 😥 So next year I’ll probably grab one from David’s Tea or The Body Shop.
4. Speaking of next year… I spent at least 20 minutes designing a planner from Personal-Planner.com the other day…
Christina over at The Athletarian recently did a post about them, and I was kind of hooked. I mean, you’re looking at a girl whose planner is permanently attached to her hip, and while I do love my Moleskine for its functionality, it’s not exactly the prettiest as far as looks go. The only problem is that I kind of already bought one for next year, buuuuuut another planner can’t hurt, right? One can never have too many 
5. One can never have too many Flourless Double Chocolate Brownies either…
There aren’t many recipes on Spoons that I’ll remake after I finish up with testing just because I’m constantly trying to come up with new ones, but these were too good not to make again… especially since I only managed a couple of brownies from the first batch before giving the others away for feedback purposes. But these? Mine.
6. A couple of ToLs ago, Reneé from Bendiful Blog brought up the meme game, which is basically where you type “[your name] meme” into Google and see what pops up. Of course I had to try it 😆 😆
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7. Is it just me, or is there something infinitely satisfying about wrapping Christmas presents? Lining up the edges just so. Getting those crisp, clean folds. And the corners — ohhhh those sharp corners. No? Just me? Fine. But I do love wrapping presents… to the point where I refuse to bag things and will go out of my way to find boxes for whatever it is that I need to gift just so I can wrap them. I should seriously volunteer at those wrapping services in the mall. Heaven.
8. So the final Hobbit movie came out yesterday, and I kind of, sort of need to see it…
[youtube=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVAgTiBrrDA&w=576&h=315″]
I know it hasn’t been getting the best reviews, buuuuut The Hobbit has been one of my favourite books since the first time I read it when I was a wee 10 year old Amanda, and I’d really love to see how they finished things off so I’ll be seeing it regardless.
9. We’re back to ending on #9 this week because my brain is kind of shot after studying all evening and I can’t for the life of me come up with a 10th coherent thought. Thank goodness the weekend is right around the corner because it means that I’ll have a chance to recharge in the mountains #happydance. Oh, and before I go, I just wanted to let you guys know that next week’s linkup will still be up, but since it falls on Christmas, I probably won’t be doing much thinking 😉
No questions… just tell me whatever comes to your mind! 😀
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Hahaha, the name meme game sounds fantastic! I might just have to try it and share in tomorrow’s Friday Favorites. Thanks for hosting #ThinkingOutLoud. Happy Thursday <3
I like wrapping presents too. No idea why? It seems like a tedious task. Really love that planner. I could use something to help me organize my blog posts. Thanks for the recommendation!
HAHA I just typed “Alison memes” into Google and immediately found one that says, “Alison… y u so short?!” Being 5’3″, of course that’s what I would find. -_-
I wish I was more satisfied with my gift-wrapping. My edges are only crisp and lined up on occasion. Otherwise, I just call my wrapping job “rustic” and call it a day 😉
Yes yes yes for the meme game! It’s hilarious! Yours are great. Those brownies…seriously those brownies I want an entire pan now. It’s been so long since I’ve had one. I haven’t seen any of the hobbit movies we own them I just never sit down to watch them…how horrible is that?
Haha! Not horrible at all. I’m actually horrible at sitting down to movies — I usually watch them in 3 or 4 tries because I can’t do it all at once.
I bought three planners already! My obsession keeps going. Its just that I love seeing my life in a small book. 🙂 I definitely love wrapping and since I know the hard work there is behind it everyone looks weird at me when I unwrap gifts without trying to break the paper. They are like “RIP IT OFF”!! Ha!
Haha! I’m the same way! I open my gifts so slowly and carefully, but that’s how you make the whole process last longer 😉
I wrapped all of our presents last week, but I did NOT love it. I love unwrapping gifts, so I try to take the time to wrap for others so they can enjoy it too.
A planner was what I asked for Christmas. Designing your own sounds awesome!
Brownies!!! mmmmmm..
I still haven’t seen the 2nd hobbit movie, so I need to get on that before seeing the third. I loved all the LOTR movies!
Ha, would you like to wrap my Christmas presents for me? I am THE WORST at wrapping gifts. I just can’t figure out how to do it. I usually end up vastly overestimating how much wrapping paper I need, except for the times I *underestimate* and end up putting together a patchwork monstrosity. Hahaha. It’s embarrassing. Maybe I just need to start giving more gifts so I can practice more 😛
Now there is a brilliant idea. I like the way you think 😉
You know how I feel about wrapping presents. I am actually a bit sad that I am almost done wrapping.
I have never used a planner but my type a self loves the idea of one. I will have to check out that website!
I can’t believe Christmas is in a week! I’m so not ready for it, but yet I’m so excited. My extended family’s Christmas is on Sunday so it definitely feels very soon! And I love those memes. I”m going to have to do that with my name.
Hi Amanda! One week until Christmas! Ahhh! I leave for a trip to Florida this weekend, and I can’t wait. And I LOVE to wrap presents, but I’m waiting until they make it across the country in my suitcase before doing so. Have a great day! 🙂 Thanks for hosting.
Thanks for linking up, Ashley! Have an amazing time in Florida 🙂
I am THIS close to buying (and making) one of those planners!
I have that planner and I LOVE it! Don’t remind it that it is about to be Christmas… I haven’t started shopping yet! LOL
I do like wrapping presents – specially “tricky wrapping” them – so it takes longer to unwrap – in our family, it always brings a whole set of laughs with it and I do love laughter 🙂
Those brownies are so tantalizing – and I have a suggestion – how bout you send each of your 30 commentators one? 😉
Yikes – Christmas is a week away and I still haven’t started shopping for food or for gifts!
If it makes you feel any better, I still have some shopping left to do too! But I kind of like that last minute rush — it helps me get into the Christmas spirit a little more 🙂
oooo i need to check out this planner!!! i love writing things in my planner 🙂
Ha, I tried typing my name in and was terrified with the results. The world is not kind to Jessica’s. 🙂
I kinda’ need to see the Hobbit too. I wasn’t all that crazy about the first movie, but it wasn’t awful. Plus, I read the book, so I have to watch it. Just because.
Yay for Christmas! I’ve been so hyped up about it (for no apparent reason this year) that I hope I don’t have the blues once it’s all over.
I didn’t think the first one was that great either, but I did enjoy the second one… mostly because of Smaug 😉
You should have come here and wrapped my presents:) I totally prefer to put them in a gift bag… and clean, sharp corners on boxes just don’t happen. I am very impressed that you are so good at it and enjoy it so much!
I also LOVE wrapping Christmas presents! I get such a warm and fuzzy feeling when I see all of the pretty presents under the tree.
I am, however, the worst gift-wrapper ever. I am usually the butt of all gift wrapping joke in my family. Everyone know when they have received a “Bridget-wrapped” gift…
OMG that meme game. I just did it with my name and I SO need to post some of them in tomorrow’s post. Hilarious.
I see the problem with the chocolates in your advent calendar. I would probably say just f*** it and open all the doors at once so at least I feel like I’ve eaten a whole chocolate bar instead of one tiny bite 🙂
Yay to mountain trip! ENJOY!!
Haha I was actually tempted to buy more than one when I saw they were on sale 😛
I’m totally about to do the meme thing with my name. Distractions are my favorite.
And those brownies? Yeah. Get in mah belly.
I love The Hobbit too, so I’m pretty excited to see it, regardless of the reviews.
Brownies are my downfall. I could eat a whole pan by myself!
#guilty
That make-your-own planner website sounds awesome! Wish I heard about it back when I was still carrying planners! Unfortunately, as much as I love day planners, I made the sad decision to get rid of mine this year. I just never use it, and it seemed like a waste of space/money to keep carrying a paper one. RIP old school day planner, you are missed! (especially this time of year!)
I love planners. It instantly makes me feel more orgaized. I also like writing things down over just using online tools.
I need a brownie, a planner, and colored gel pens, please. It is weird because I feel like we already should be done with Christmas after celebrating it this past weekend with Alex’s family, but then I realize that we still have our friends and my family to do…. whooooops
Coloured gel pens <3 Ohhhhh now those take me back to grade school. Do they still actually sell those? I may need to invest in some for my new planner 😉
I really like Erin Condren planners. I have been using them for a while now and honestly find them to be the best for everything. I cannot believe it’s nearly Christmas time either. Seriously where is time going?
I was so bummed because last week I was going to make those Flourless Double Choc Brownies and got my ingredients ready to go and realized that I did not have any cornstarch. I have no idea how there was none in the pantry because it is just one of those thing you always have but NONE. It went on the grocery list I now have some and I cannot wait to make them! 🙂
Ohhh that’s the worst! Realizing that I didn’t have any eggs is actually how I came up with some of my vegan recipes 😆 But I saw on IG that it all ended well 😀
I saw a tea advent calendar the other day…each day you get a new teabag to try!!! That one sounds right up my alley!!
Uh yeah. When did Christmas get here?!
I’m with you. NEED to see the Hobbit!
Haaaha. I’ll have to try the meme game… 🙂
Merry almost Christmas, friend 🙂
I need a new planner! It’s stressing me out because I keep forgetting to get on it with all the other things going on right now. That will be on my to-do list today, it has to be!
I love that personal planner company. I can’t wait for my new one to arrive- if I recall correctly, they take forever to ship but it’s worth it! Did you order yet? I think I have a discount code for you.
I didn’t. It takes me -forever- to finally commit to something since I’m the most indecisive person ever 😆 I’ll probably do it this weekend.
I tried the meme search and it only came up with jillconyers blog posts. What? No memes? Off to check out the personalized planner. A new planner is one of my favorite things about the new year.
Ah, your mention of wrapping gifts makes me sad knowing I won’t have anything to wrap – until maybe next Wednesday. That’s because lugging around gifts on a five hour train journey isn’t the most alluring idea so I will get most presents delivered to my parents’.
And yes … those miniscule chocolate pieces. .. It’s probably good I got an alternative Advent calendar to begin with.
But there’s definitely something to be said about that last minute rush! It always helps me get into the Christmas spirit 🙂
Oh hello there, Amanda Panda- haha amazing!! Although I am a crazy planner, I just can’t get into writing down my plans- everything has to be via technology! I kinda wish that wasn’t the came because those customised planners sound awesome! I wish you were here to do my wrapping- be assured that I would pay you back in plenty nut-free shortage to make up for those stingy Advent calendars ;)!
I tried to go the electronic route before and I just couldn’t do it! And it’s the same thing with those e-readers — I just love my paper and ink too much 🙂
You LIKE wrapping presents? I probably keep the store gift wrappers in business. It’s the worst task.
We must be vibing on brownies because I made a double back of my Greek yogurt ones and ate them for breakfast with yogurt. Well, not together.
My planner is attached to my hip too! Cant function without it. I love that you can build your own and one can never have too many planners. Happy Thursday and thanks for hosting 🙂
Happy Thursday, Sara! Thanks for linking up 🙂