North Pole Breakfast 2013

Even though December has come and gone, I have a few things I wanted to recap, including our first North Pole Breakfast and Logan's 3rd birthday party.

As a precursor, I will say it sucks not having a house to entertain in.  I am really quite bummed I won't be hosting Easter this year.

Anyway, on to our first North Pole Breakfast!

I was super excited to try the Elf on the Shelf idea with Logan this year.  As much as he loved looking for his elf each morning, I kind of sucked with the creative ideas and often forgot to rehide him, so it was a last minute scramble most mornings to hide the elf.  Next year, I swear to myself that I will be much more creative.

I set up the table the night before and this is what Logan woke up to:

We had mini frosted donuts (the kid freaking LOVES DONUTS) and "Santa hats" which were a last minute decision and I took out the toothpicks before he ate them, obviously.

So...this was his initial reaction...

He got over it once he realized he got donuts...

...and a present from his Elf!

A new Thomas video!

A Team Santa shirt!

And this super cute book I found at Target called Santa is Coming to Ohio!

Overall it was super cute to see his reaction.  He loves finding Buddy in the morning and I can't wait to be even more creative next year.  God bless my parents for putting up with all my of shenanigans while we live with them!

Christmas Decorations 2012

 Our 2012 Christmas decorations!

Last year, I searched high and low for an artificial tree I did not hate.  At the end of last season, a strand went out.  It was our floor model and could not be returned.

When I set it up this year, two strands were out:

 I added some lights, but next year, I need to do it differently because I could still see stripes of burned out strands.

My pretty girls.

Playing with the twinkle lights.  Need practice.

With my girls:

 Our living room:

 I put the snowflakes up for Logan's birthday.  They were whimsical and made me happy, so I left them up.  (dining room post-cookie exchange):

I try to have some general winter decorations and snowman things that I can leave up all winter.  Taking everything down is such a bummer:

That is the extent of our decorating this year.  Next year, I really hope to add some new items and change things up.  I would love to have a fancy tree in my living room and a family tree in the family room.  Not sure if I can convince C to let me take over "his" room any more than I already have!

Painted Ornaments

A few years ago, I had the girls craft lightbulb reindeer ornaments to give to all of their aunts and uncles for Christmas.  Since Jamie was not with us on Christmas and Lexy was in Florida visiting their mom, I decided not to have them do anything last year.  This year, since everyone is home again (yay!) and we have the girls for Christmas, I wanted them to make gifts again, and I saw this idea on Pinterest.

You need:
Glass Christmas bulbs (I got mine at Michael's)
Acrylic paint
Ribbon
Egg cartons/styrofoam cups so the paint can drip out

Alexys, crafting away!

Directions:
-Remove the hanger caps
-Put drops of paint on the inside of the ornaments and swirl around
-Watch as the colors blend together
-Place the ornaments upside down so the excess paint drips off
-When completely dry, reattach the hanger caps and then add a ribbon so the ornaments can be hung on a tree

Jamie, hard at work

Here they are, drying!

This is the one I did to show the girls what to do, hanging on our tree.

Cookie Exchange 2011: Recap

My life has consisted of lots of this lately. And coffee. Lots of coffee.

Because Logan's party is this weekend and my to-do list is a mile and a half long, this update will be mostly in pictures (which everyone prefers anyway!).  The party was a blast and we had a fabulous time.  Cookies were delicious!

These place cards were used to label the cookies so everyone knew what the choices were:

My cookies (White Chocolate Cherry Shortbread). I had a minor disaster with them and the amount of butter needed.  So they don't look nearly as pretty as they should, but they still tasted yummy.  Sitting on our Cookies for Santa plate:

Exchanging cookies!

A peak in to how the living room looked before everyone got there:

Love my new Christmas pillows:

Here is how the buffet in the dining room is set up:

Just a portion of the many dishes and wine glasses the night generated:

My snowflake tray that I had plates, cups and silverware on:

The menu ended up consisting of:

• Veggies and fiesta dip
• Brie en croute with green apples and crackers
• Stuffed mushrooms
• Tortilla roll  ups
• Spinach dip with pumpernickle bread
• Sausage cups

And my two boxes of cookies!:

Tackle It Tuesday: Christmas Cleaning

In the last few days, I have been super-productive. I actually finished all of my Christmas cookies on Saturday and Sunday and plated them up to take to our parents' houses and for C to take to work. I finished ALL of my wrapping tonight (actually, about 2 minutes ago). Everything for our families is under the tree

The kids' stuff is bagged and ready to hide again before Christmas Eve:


So now that I have all my baking done and the wrapping is done, I need to do a major cleaning on the apartment in preparation for Thursday's brunch. Here is what is on the agenda tomorrow:

• Dust/vacuum bedroom DONE
  
• Dust/vacuum living room (and overall cleaning of it!) Dusting DONE
  
• Bake cranberry pistachio biscotti and give the chocolate hazelnut ones another whirl (my first attempt was a miserable failure) DONE (and I gave up on the chocolate one)
  
• Litter box DONE
  
• Run to Salvation Army to drop off some stuff Totally forgot about it
  
• Run to in-laws to drop off cookies (then to my parents' house to drop off more because their dog ate half the tray!) Taking on Christmas Day instead
  

Menu Plan Monday: Christmas Edition!

Busy week this week, but I was super-productive this weekend, so I should have some time to relax and enjoy a portion of my Christmas break! Here is what is on the menu for this week (amongst all the crazy Christmas brunch prep!)

Monday: Turkey cutlets served with cranberry-pear chutney; green beans; cous cous
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Christmas Eve! We will be heading to C's aunt and uncle's for dinner around 6, then we have to meet to pick up the girls around 8. From there I will head to my uncle's house and then midnight mass with my parents and brothers and sister-in-law.
Thursday: Christmas! I am hosting Christmas brunch, which will include the following (I will be posting recipes later this week)

• Sausage breakfast casserole
• Breakfast scones
• Orange sweet rolls (you know, the Pillsbury kind), which is our family tradition
• Fruit plate
• Assorted biscotti and cookies (made by me!)
• Tangy pepper and pecan brie with toasted baguettes

We will then go to my in-laws for dinner and then to my aunt's for dessert!

Friday: My brother and sister-in-law are coming over for dinner! I will be posting my menu later this week, but it will involve a yummy pasta dish!
Saturday: I am fairly certain I will be on strike. So I am going to make C cook and it will be tacos.
Sunday: Birthday party so no cooking for me!

Christmas Brunch Menu

-Sausage Breakfast Casserole (I need 2 and will be posting my recipe when I make them)

-Savory breakfast scones

-Orange sweet rolls (Pillsbury...my dad's favorite!)

-Plate of Christmas cookies/biscotti (homemade by myself)
-Tangy Pepper-Pecan Brie and crostini

-Fresh fruit platter with cream cheese dip (Thank you, Mom!)

-Coffee station

-OJ/mimosas

*I took off the french toast casserole and added the breakfast scones

More Christmas Cheer

Here are some more Christmas decor pictures:

This is the ornament we bought last year. Yes, the picture is kind of blurry. I am working on my photography skills

My favorite ornament: Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, my favorite movie (next to Gone with the Wind)

My new Christmas placemats, napkins, and napkin rings. Plus the hurricane glass I got from hosting a Partylite party. I am waiting for the pillar to get here (which I ordered from my friend's party):
My (old) Christmas handtowels and snowman spoon rest:

Our Christmas cards! They are finally done and going out this weekend!: