December is of course the Holidays and the month is usually chaotic and filled with fun and time moving at light speed. One highlight this month was Pat and I took a trip to Temecula. You'll see that in the blog prior. Rather than get Christmas presents for each other, we usually like to do something fun and I had always wanted to see Temecula at Christmas and it was just so cute! Lots of pictures, so they got their own blog. The start of the month was my mom coming over to decorate my house for me and it's so cute! Then the month just whizzed on by.
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| Happy Christmas from Poe |
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Happy Christmas from Luna
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Started the month of with one of my favorite annual traditions. Julie and I brunch monthly, but our Dec one always consists of breakfast followed by the Sawdust Winter Fantasy. I look so forward to this every year!
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Love this girl
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Glass blower was awesome!
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Guy selling mosaics! Made me think of dad
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Ran into Harriet!
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Always love Chris's seasonal photo op
Had a lovely breakfast with Carol and David joined us!
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Pretty tree at the Dana Point Famers Market
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Saw this cool dude driving home
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The December Food:
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Peanut Thai Shrimp with Coleslaw
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Our realtors left a fun lil surprise!
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| Tilapia with bacon/corn salad. So good! |
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| Chicken with a Basil Corn Salad |
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Penne with Chicken, Shrimp and Prosciutto
A copycat from Macaroni Gill |
One of my other favorite annual traditions is Knotts Merry Farm with my mom. Had an absolute blast this year!
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Stopped 1st at Kings Fish House for lunch!
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Mom and her dudes
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| Santa-Gria |
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Only got to see Taylor for a min
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The attempt at snow pics
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Look at that smile!
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Got myself a Christmas Pedi!
My therapist has suggested I entertain again. I used to love throwing parties, but I've gotten away from it. So I decided to throw a Holiday Open House. It was such a great time I think I may do it again every year! The only thing is we'll have it later in the day. I did a 10-2 trying to respect Pat's Pool League, but next year we'll do a 12-4 or something of the like. 10 was just too early. But it was a great turn out and everyone seemed to have a great time! Some people stayed the whole time!
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| Some of the food |
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| Attempted a Christmas Tree Fruit Platter |
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| Hummus Wreath |
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| Pat made 2 kinds of deviled eggs. Then I made my PB Balls and Caprese Skewers |
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| Mulled Wine in the crockpot with a selection of garnishes. Then came up with a Gingerale/Cranberry Mocktail for the non drinkers |
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| Cranberry meatballs and spinach/artichoke dip in the crocks |
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| Poe and his festive bandana |
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| 10 was too early.... |
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| So I had myself a mimosa while I waited |
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| Julie, Deb, Heather and Terri |
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| Noel found an uncanny resemblance with my Knotts Doll |
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| Cynthia and Fatima joined |
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| Erika made it! |
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| Dad & I finishing off the meatballs |
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| Poe loves Glen |
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| The later crew |
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| Cynthia crotched Luna a catnip filled mouse |
Stopped by our work party then headed home to start the Official Christmas Break
Pat and I headed out to see Christmas Lights one night. Hit up Pixley (the best!), Palmyra and Pine Street.
Our annual Girls Brunch was short a few girls, but had a lovely time!
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| After Brunch cocktail at Finneys |
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| We could not figure out the Photo Booth....LOL |
On Christmas Eve Eve Pat & I got a little hike in and had breakfast. Just a lovely time of no time agenda. Even got a geocache in! Haven't done that in a while!
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| Shrimp and Ricotta Frittata - not only fun to say but delicious! |
Christmas time was pretty nice. This year was a bit difficult. Dealing with some family drama, that's worked itself out, but caused an odd rift. The kid was also not around which is tough, especially during the holidays, but we ended up having a really nice time. Pat & I hosted Christmas Eve. He makes a killer Prime Rib (because of course he does) and we had Dad, Lori, Shane and Danelle over. I didn't take any pictures except the one of my dad and Shane squeezing into our chair.
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| Pat cooking dinner, me making cookies (Next year I'll re-think that. LOL) |
I really tried to "Christmas up" the Christmas time this year. I do love this time of year, and so enjoy all the holiday fun and magic that comes along with it.
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| Made & decorated some gingerbread cookies! |
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| Spoiled boi |
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| Just enjoying this time of year |
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| I will never not love a Christmas Tree |
Christmas Day was very nice. Morning at moms - which she makes magical no matter what is going on. Then headed over to Pat's moms later that afternoon. Not many pictures this year, but nice and chill.
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| Poe already exhausted |
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| This is being shared to remind me of one of the most hilarious games mom has ever put together. Our family was trying to play these songs with little mini recorders and we may have had one successful go, but the laughter into tears is what I'll never forget |
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| Poe loves Gramma |
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| As do I |
During the holiday break I actually tried to take time to relax and not pack my schedule.
Got some outside pretties in (Might frame these):
Libby's birthday falls at the end of December, so I took her out for a fancy brunch! Then we headed over to the Circle for a bit.
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Happy Birthday Lib!
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I was so nervous to spill...
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And I'll end this blog with a couple of glorious food pics:
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Pat made a Lidia Bastianich recipe...Pork Milanese! So good!
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Happy Holidays Friends!
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