holiday recap and 2010 one little word

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what a wonderful whirlwind this last week has been - to have had a whole week of together has been so great.

i haven't done any blogging or much scrapping but have been busy with cooking, baking, making home made giftbags and tags and sleeping in.

All the things that make up a great holiday!

This year was our first hosting Christmas festivities - it was busy, it was a lot of work, but it was totally worth it. I'd do it again in a second. For the first time in 4 plus years we used the "fancy china".

As promised here's a recipe rundown:

Christmas Eve Salads (this was the least pressure meal as we were just contributors vs. the hosts):

• Arugula and Roasted Tomato Salad - roasted plum tomatoes and served on a bed of arugula with a pesto dressing with parm and buffalo mozzarella.
• Pioneer Woman's Warm Spinach Salad - it really does live up to the claim of the best spinach salad EVER - I think primarily thanks to the warm bacon dressing.... except I forgot that we aren't supposed to have meat on Christmas Eve oops!)...this photo was pre-dressing...it got much better with the dressing.

Christmas Day Brunch:

Williams Sonoma Eggs Benedict

Williams Sonoma French Toast - we used Ace Bakery Cranberry Bread and it was so delish!

Boxing Day Fondue:

Cheese, Beef and Seafood with a plethora of sauces followed by chocolate fondue which we somehow messed up because the chocolate solidified - we ate it anyway....

I regularly read Ali Edwards' blog and am constantly inspired by what she does. I have decided to my own word for 2010 will be create.

For 2010 I want to try to do something creative every day - it doesn't have to be to scrap, it could be to cook something new, bake something, etc.

What's your word for 2010?

martha & me

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martha has a christmas village.

i have a christmas village.
martha has francesca and sharkey.

i have ben

i love martha.

on another note this week is a frenzy of christmas prep - have all but one gift and have wrapped almost all.

made my own gift tags this year with kraft paper and stamps and ribbon - was worth it but timely, forgot my camera at my mom's this weekend so photos to come.

have to work up till christmas eve and then it's off till the 4th - we are hosting christmas morning and boxing day so the preparation is already underway.

i will be back with the recipe rundown later this week

ready.

Pin It Now! christmas candles lit.

flower arrangements made.

hair, makeup, outfit, check.

s'mores lollipops.

peppermint bark.

more cheese than is healthy for human consumption.

coloured champagne glasses polished.

ben's sweater.

we are ready.

T minus 24 hours

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in less than 24 hours there will be a party in our house.

candles will be lit, music will be on and we will be toasting another great year.

so much to be thankful for, so many people we love.

we literally have not done one thing to get ready. don't have any wine or food - but all of that will take care of itself tomorrow.

ben will don his reindeer sweater.

it will be great.

(but we will miss you again this year n&p)

xoxo

the list that keeps on growing

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sundays

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i kind of forget sometimes the things to be most thankful for.

last time i was on a plane i was listening in on a conversation behind me (kind of hard not to in close quarters like that) - anyway there was a lady talking about how she knows someone who gets together with their family every sunday night for dinner. she was going on and on about how nice it was and how special and how rare.

we do that in my family except until then i had always just kind of took it for granted really - just something we have always done, part of our family ritual...but when you think about it it is so nice. makes sunday nights something to look forward to and i find the weeks that we don't get together i get that dreaded "weekend's over" feeling.

it's nothing fancy just a day for us to visit and get caught up;

• to put on music and give the kids piggy backs around the house
• to pack up leftovers for dinner the next night so monday isn't such a busy day
• to have my dad say once dinner is done and he's ready for us to go say (without fail) - "alright see yas"

this sunday will be extra special

i'm so excited to see these girls:

(this pic kills me btw)

and these kiddies:

can't wait

it's official

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i am the guest designer this month at The Scrapping Turtle

i'm so excited to play along with the ladies at the turtle this month. this is my first time on a DT and i'm thrilled! it is a busy month with work and Christmas coming up but it has been good motivation for me to stick with scrapping this month.

here is the layout i did for the sneak peak:

...all about the big tree in nyc. As fabulous as it was to go to nyc before christmas last year and to mexico after christmas i am really looking forward to christmas at home this year - this will be k and my first year hosting family so the pressure is on.