Christmas List 2011

Hi Family. Based on limited feedback it looks like we will be keeping with the two gifts format this year. Jill also suggested getting one gift for Heath and Amber as a solution to making the numbers work out so with those constraints I ran the Santa program and got this list:

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    @@@@@ CHRISTMAS LIST 2011 @@@@@
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***John***
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Adults: ['Kathryn', 'Jill']
Children: ['Deven', 'Abriela']

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***Cris***
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Adults: ['Thain', 'Jen']
Children: ['Bronco', 'Emily']

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***Jen***
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Adults: ['Thain', 'Justin']
Children: ['Colby', 'Aiden']

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***Nate***
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Adults: ['Alisa', 'Jeremy']
Children: ['Colby', 'Abriela']

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***Jill***
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Adults: ['Jeremy', 'Kathryn']
Children: ['Aiden', 'Ben']

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***Thain***
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Adults: ['Cris', 'Nate']
Children: ['Brianna', 'Emily']

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***Justin***
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Adults: ['John', 'Cris']
Children: ['Rilan', 'Amber']

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***Alisa***
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Adults: ['John', 'Nate']
Children: ['Heath', 'Bronco']

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***Jeremy***
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Adults: ['Alisa', 'Jill']
Children: ['Brianna', 'Rilan']

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***Kathryn***
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Adults: ['Jen', 'Justin']
Children: ['Deven', 'Ben']

To remind me if need be, here is also the calendar months assigned:

Mom and Dad -           FEB/AUG

John and Cris -           MARCH/ SEPT

Jen and Nate -            APRIL/ OCT

Jill and Thain-             MAY/ NOV

Justin and Alisa-         JUNE/DEC

Jeremy and Kathryn-   JAN/JULY

Christmas List 2010

Here is the results from the first bug-free run of the program this year. Let me know if anything doesn't seem right. Gifters should not have the same giftees as they did last year, shouldn't give to their own spouses or children, etc.
Looking forward to seeing everyone soon hopefully. Also, I would love to post some pictures of happenings around here, but things are too crazily happening to get that done... Maybe when class is over in a couple of weeks. Hope you are all doing splendidly!


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***John***
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Adults: ['Jen', 'Nate']
Children: ['Amber', 'Heath']

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***Cris***
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Adults: ['Justin', 'Kathryn']
Children: ['Heath', 'Rilan']

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***Jen***
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Adults: ['Alisa', 'Jeremy']
Children: ['Rilan', 'Brianna']

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***Nate***
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Adults: ['Cris', 'John']
Children: ['Amber', 'Colby']

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***Jill***
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Adults: ['Alisa', 'Nate']
Children: ['Bronco', 'Emily']

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***Thain***
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Adults: ['John', 'Kathryn']
Children: ['Deven', 'Aiden']

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***Justin***
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Adults: ['Jen', 'Jill']
Children: ['Deven', 'Bronco']

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***Alisa***
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Adults: ['Jill', 'Jeremy']
Children: ['Brianna', 'Ben']

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***Jeremy***
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Adults: ['Thain', 'Justin']
Children: ['Emily', 'Ben']

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***Kathryn***
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Adults: ['Cris', 'Thain']
Children: ['Aiden', 'Colby']

Another arbitrary list!

Five wonderful things in no particular order:

1. THE GREATEST FRENCH TOAST IN THE WORLD
I came up with that name for this recipe when I was thinking about it in my head. I wanted to incorporate all the best things about other french toast recipes I have really enjoyed, subtle orange flavorings, a buttery sweet coconut crust, and a custardy interior. Of course, the french toast doesn't live up to the name, but it was pretty good! I think I need to up the orange flavor even more next time.



Of course, as would be expected, THE GREATEST FRENCH TOAST IN THE WORLD does create a lot of dirty dishes.








2. Deep dish pizza
This recipe actually fires a shot across the bow of Zachary's Pizza in Berkeley (and Danville, etc.). However, Zachary's laughs off that shot and proceeds to sink this pizza as Zachary's is still easily better. This one I don't have to drive 600 million miles for either though and it is quite delicious. I linked the recipe (free for another couple of months from Cook's Illustrated) above. The version I made (from the print magazine) didn't have sausage and I added spinach to one of the pizzas; other than that though the recipes are identical to what I made.

I used a pie plate and a cheese cake form pan as I didn't have the cake pan it calls for. Both worked well, but the form pan leaked olive oil all over the oven! So, lesson learned next time I will probably use two pie plates.

All the fun kitchen tools we received for Christmas have really been a motivating factor for getting into the kitchen!







3. Zoey Tricks
Zoey is missing all the treats she gets for showing off to the kids. She therefore demanded we make this movie in hopes that she would be sent treats.


4. Christmas Pictures
We had such a great Christmas (as usual) and feel so lucky to be spoiled by all of you. It was so great to see everyone and hang out for a few days. Looking forward to the next one!

Here are some random pictures that I liked of the festivities:

 

  

 

 

5. Puzzle

Yay! Utopia achieved.

One procedural thing in the only order one thing can be in:

1. Subscribe to comments.
I know I posted this to the comments a few posts back, but I wanted to make sure people were aware that they could subscribe to the comments so that any comments posted after the one you post will be emailed to you. I know I have wished that feature existed for some time now. Turns out that it does exist and I was just overlooking it!

Anyway if you weren't previously aware, to subscribe just make sure that little box is checked when posting your comment.

Alisa and Justin's Wish Lists for Christmas 2009

Alisa’s Xmas List

Gift Cards:

Starbucks
Swimoutlet.com
Aerosoles
Old Navy
Itunes

Clothes/shoes:

DeSoto Carrera Tri Shorts—Size L; black

http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/13926.htm

Sugoi Tri Top—Size L, any color except green/yellow

http://www.sportsbasement.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=11210F.611-S09!Sugoi

SkirtSports TriTank—Size L, any color

http://skirtsports.com/products/SP09-TriTank.cfm

Aerosoles “screenplay”—Size 10M; brown or black & white

http://www.aerosoles.com/product1.asp?P=SCREENPLAY

Aerosoloes “carefree”—Size 10M; any color but blue

http://www.aerosoles.com/product1.asp?P=CAREFREE

Aerosoles “roleplay” – Size 10M; any color

http://www.aerosoles.com/product1.asp?P=ROLEPLAY

Aerosoles “Carolina” –Size 10M, any color

http://www.aerosoles.com/product1.asp?P=CAROLINA

Nike Tempo Track Shorts—Size L; color any (I have hot pink, bright green and bright blue.)

Here is a link to them on the Nike website but these can be found a TON of places, including Ross/TJ Max/Nordstrom’s Rack/Nike Outlets. http://store.nike.com/index.jsp?country=US&lang_locale=en_US#l=shop,pdp,ctr-inline/cid-1/pid-239908/pgid-104064

Scarves-any color, long and soft (Example: http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=37808)

Misc:

Bike Trainer + bike block

http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=461

http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=484

http://www.amazon.com/Bell-Motivator-Indoor-Bicycle-Trainer/dp/B000AAYBWS

http://www.amazon.com/Blackburn-Bicycle-Stabilizer-Indoor-Trainers/dp/B000EPKAI8/ref=pd_bxgy_sg_text_b

Entry fee for a race

Bike rack for car

New Roomba

Spalena Bed Sheets—Queen Bed, any color

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Productgroup.aspx?Prodid=11220877&whse=BC&topnav=national&browse=&lang=en-US

Fleece throw blanket

Purology Shampoo/Conditioner (purple or pink bottle)

Tri Charm from Lift Your Sole: http://shop.liftyoursole.com/collections/triathlon

Justin's Xmas List

As always:
Anything on my Amazon wish list-- Any CD can also be purchased as a digital Mp3 version, that I would be just as happy with (they are usually cheaper that way too).

Gift Cards:

Amazon
iTunes
Starbucks

Misc:

Bike rack for car!
New Roomba (Woot regularly sells these for about $150, but they only list items for 1 day before moving on to another item)
Road bike (ha, only about $1k +)
Good pair of headphones with microphone for the iphone. These can be expensive and they don't last very long! Grrr.
Meat/Grilling Thermometer- Wireless is good but not necessary (Edit- added)

Christmas List 2009!

Mom, Dad, Kathryn, Jeremy, and I ceremonially ran the Christmas Randomizer program tonight and it came up with the following list. Yay! Time to get shopping...

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@@@@@ CHRISTMAS LIST 2009 @@@@@
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***John***
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Adults: ['Jeremy', 'Kathryn']
Children: ['Deven', 'Rilan']

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***Cris***
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Adults: ['Jen', 'Jeremy']
Children: ['Emily', 'Deven']

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***Jen***
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Adults: ['Justin', 'John']
Children: ['Colby', 'Aiden']

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***Nate***
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Adults: ['Kathryn', 'Alisa']
Children: ['Heath', 'Combined Gift']

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***Jill***
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Adults: ['Justin', 'John']
Children: ['Colby', 'Brianna']

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***Thain***
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Adults: ['Cris', 'Nate']
Children: ['Combined Gift', 'Ben']

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***Justin***
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Adults: ['Thain', 'Cris']
Children: ['Ben', 'Brianna']

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***Alisa***
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Adults: ['Nate', 'Thain']
Children: ['Rilan', 'Combined Gift']

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***Jeremy***
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Adults: ['Jen', 'Jill']
Children: ['Aiden', 'Combined Gift']

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***Kathryn***
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Adults: ['Jill', 'Alisa']
Children: ['Emily', 'Amber']