And just like that, Christmas is over!
Please don't mind the rather depressing subject line, but it just hit me today that Christmas IS indeed over! My Mariah Carey Christmas CD was barely dusted off, and poof -- just like that, it's time to stick it back in place among my old Toad the Wet Sprocket and 'N Sync CDs. Sigh.
I shall relive it one more time though....
I spent the better part of Christmas Eve finishing up wrapping gifts (namely, Dave's gifts for his family) and baking. My original baking plans were somewhat foiled, so I ended up making two batches of hazelnut biscotti, almond cake, and Barefoot Contessa's smashed sweet potatoes with apples, which was a big hit (from Barefoot Contessa Parties) with all of my family.
Christmas Eve night is always spent with Dave's family, and Christmas Day is spent with my family, and it's always worked out pretty nicely. We had a good time at Dave's parents', and I loved seeing all his nieces and nephews worked up and excited for Santa to come that night.
We were there until the wee hours of the morning, at which point we came back to the apartment and exchanged our own gifts. As expected, I got a great robe and slippers from Victoria's Secret (is it weird that I was a bit disappointed that I got exactly what I asked for, yet would have been mad had I not gotten it?? I'm so fickle!), the Marc Jacobs perfume, and some other little odds and ends. Dave seemed to really like his blazer and the other things I got him, so all was well.
My alarm went off at 7 a.m., after a solid four hours of sleep, and we were at my parents' by 9 -- the latest we've ever arrived! I got such wonderful gifts from my family! Where Dave's parents' give everyone one gift, my family LOVES Christmas and LOVES giving gifts, so it's always a bit awkward sitting around with him watching everyone dive through his or her piles of gifts, but I think he's finally getting used to it. Not to mention, he had quite his own little pile this year!
Anyway, here are a couple of my favorite gifts:
Desperately needed new coffeemaker, picked out by my dad!
From my sister Kate, who sadly is stationed over in Qatar right now, and could not be with us for Christmas this year:
Julie & Julia, a book I've been secretly dying for, which I never even told her!
And Jouer Jet Set makeup, from Sephora -- she picked it out thinking it would be useful for all my business trips -- so sweet!
Bliss Vanilla-Bergamot Body Buff, which I swear by:
And my big present, picked out by my ever so thoughtful mom, a cashmere Burberry scarf!
I also got a beautiful set of Riedel zinfandel glasses, some cheese plates from Williams-Sonoma, which I LOVE, a Christmas cookbook from Williams-Sonoma, a fun beaded necklace from Nordstrom, and a bunch of other little things. Needless to say, my family was very generous this year. Again, we loooove giving gifts.
After the marathon gift opening session, my mom had prepared our traditional Christmas brunch, featuring pom-prosecco cocktails, egg nog french toast (another Barefoot Contessa recipe), sausage, and fresh fruit. Here's a pic of my family and Dave, right before we opened our Christmas crackers!
That afternoon we all went over to my aunt and uncle's and ate a wonderful Christmas dinner. This year the adults all participated in a "bottle exchange," where everyone brought a single bottle of alcohol under a certain dollar limit. Each bottle was wrapped, and we drew numbers to see which order we picked a bottle. I got a bottle of Malbec wine, which I'm excited to try.
We left my aunt and uncle's around 7, stopped by Dave's brother's house to see his niece and two nephews, and if that wasn't enough, we then went to a party at our friend's house, which did not end until after 1 a.m. Around 9 p.m. I realized that not one drop of liquid had touched my mouth that WASN'T alcohol, and got very, very tired. But then was forced to partake in a few more glasses of wine. It was a LONG night.
Yesterday Dave and I became engulfed in a "24" marathon on A&E, which was the perfect way to rest our tired and slightly hung bodies. And today I got my hair cut (again), and met up with my friend Lauren for lunch and even more glasses of wine at one of our favorite little restaurants, The Corner Pug. (Which is indeed decorated in full pug paraphenelia.)
In honor of our little jaunt today, I'm posting a pic of one of my parents' two pugs, which I took on Christmas. Meet Rosie, who, while a bit on the plump side, is just as kind and loving as she looks in the picture:
Tomorrow I'm going wedding dress shopping with my friend Danielle, over to Dave's brother's house for dinner, and Thursday I'm meeting up with the girls for an early birthday celebration, complete with tapas and mojitoes -- ole!
I shall relive it one more time though....
I spent the better part of Christmas Eve finishing up wrapping gifts (namely, Dave's gifts for his family) and baking. My original baking plans were somewhat foiled, so I ended up making two batches of hazelnut biscotti, almond cake, and Barefoot Contessa's smashed sweet potatoes with apples, which was a big hit (from Barefoot Contessa Parties) with all of my family.
Christmas Eve night is always spent with Dave's family, and Christmas Day is spent with my family, and it's always worked out pretty nicely. We had a good time at Dave's parents', and I loved seeing all his nieces and nephews worked up and excited for Santa to come that night.
We were there until the wee hours of the morning, at which point we came back to the apartment and exchanged our own gifts. As expected, I got a great robe and slippers from Victoria's Secret (is it weird that I was a bit disappointed that I got exactly what I asked for, yet would have been mad had I not gotten it?? I'm so fickle!), the Marc Jacobs perfume, and some other little odds and ends. Dave seemed to really like his blazer and the other things I got him, so all was well.
My alarm went off at 7 a.m., after a solid four hours of sleep, and we were at my parents' by 9 -- the latest we've ever arrived! I got such wonderful gifts from my family! Where Dave's parents' give everyone one gift, my family LOVES Christmas and LOVES giving gifts, so it's always a bit awkward sitting around with him watching everyone dive through his or her piles of gifts, but I think he's finally getting used to it. Not to mention, he had quite his own little pile this year!
Anyway, here are a couple of my favorite gifts:
Desperately needed new coffeemaker, picked out by my dad!
From my sister Kate, who sadly is stationed over in Qatar right now, and could not be with us for Christmas this year:
Julie & Julia, a book I've been secretly dying for, which I never even told her!
And Jouer Jet Set makeup, from Sephora -- she picked it out thinking it would be useful for all my business trips -- so sweet!
Bliss Vanilla-Bergamot Body Buff, which I swear by:
And my big present, picked out by my ever so thoughtful mom, a cashmere Burberry scarf!
I also got a beautiful set of Riedel zinfandel glasses, some cheese plates from Williams-Sonoma, which I LOVE, a Christmas cookbook from Williams-Sonoma, a fun beaded necklace from Nordstrom, and a bunch of other little things. Needless to say, my family was very generous this year. Again, we loooove giving gifts.
After the marathon gift opening session, my mom had prepared our traditional Christmas brunch, featuring pom-prosecco cocktails, egg nog french toast (another Barefoot Contessa recipe), sausage, and fresh fruit. Here's a pic of my family and Dave, right before we opened our Christmas crackers!
That afternoon we all went over to my aunt and uncle's and ate a wonderful Christmas dinner. This year the adults all participated in a "bottle exchange," where everyone brought a single bottle of alcohol under a certain dollar limit. Each bottle was wrapped, and we drew numbers to see which order we picked a bottle. I got a bottle of Malbec wine, which I'm excited to try.
We left my aunt and uncle's around 7, stopped by Dave's brother's house to see his niece and two nephews, and if that wasn't enough, we then went to a party at our friend's house, which did not end until after 1 a.m. Around 9 p.m. I realized that not one drop of liquid had touched my mouth that WASN'T alcohol, and got very, very tired. But then was forced to partake in a few more glasses of wine. It was a LONG night.
Yesterday Dave and I became engulfed in a "24" marathon on A&E, which was the perfect way to rest our tired and slightly hung bodies. And today I got my hair cut (again), and met up with my friend Lauren for lunch and even more glasses of wine at one of our favorite little restaurants, The Corner Pug. (Which is indeed decorated in full pug paraphenelia.)
In honor of our little jaunt today, I'm posting a pic of one of my parents' two pugs, which I took on Christmas. Meet Rosie, who, while a bit on the plump side, is just as kind and loving as she looks in the picture:
Tomorrow I'm going wedding dress shopping with my friend Danielle, over to Dave's brother's house for dinner, and Thursday I'm meeting up with the girls for an early birthday celebration, complete with tapas and mojitoes -- ole!