Holiday Blessings

Minus all the roommate D.R.A.M.A., this holiday has seemed extra magical. I'm not sure I can pinpoint the reason, but I'm so thankful to enjoy another Christmas with those I love so dearly.

This year I decided not to host my annual Christmas cocktail. While I miss that party like WHOA, I have gotten to enjoy new opportunities. For starters, I have attended every party I've been invited to minus one because I was unable to safely travel due to poor party-hopping planning (sorry Merdeezy Hollaaas!). Also, I've been able to be more spontaneous this year. In years past, my month was planned out to the minute just to get everything done. With the huge weight of the party planning gone, I have found time. I've baked; I've enjoyed quality time with all my friends; I've felt less rushed; I've felt more at peace than I have in a long time.

Last week, was my busy week for holiday gathers. These get-to-togethers typically are small pockets of friends getting together to celebrate each other's company.

Monday- Random dinner with Kat then lots of holiday baking.

Tuesday- Christmas Bunco...yaya me for loser's prize!

Wednesday- New Year's Eve movie with my kt from This Old House, and several other friends. We added a little flare to the evening with some wine roadies and I brought a baggie of baked goodies for everyone.

Thursday- Dinner with my BAGEL gals and more baked goodies from my kitchen.

Friday- Christmas shopping tradition with, a former co-worker, now dear friend who came from 2 hours away to shopping, hang out, continue a tradition.

Saturday- old roommate, Les, made a surprise trip to town and we spent the whole day together. I must really love her because I drove her to the mall in holiday traffic!! Then a lovely evening of Christmas partying, including donating to Toys-for-Tots!

Sunday- Mom and dad came to treat me to brunch and then I started prepping for tomorrow night's Supper Club.

Monday- Hosted Christmas Supper Club

Seriously there is no way my week could have been any better. No night was double-booked, everyone was in a festive mood, and I'm so blessed for all the amazing people in my life.

Tomorrow I'll share pictures from Supper Club. I put one of my friends in charge of taking pictures but she only took 3 :( Oh well, I can showoff my first roast!

Jingle Bells,

Southern Gal

Just a Normal Week

Tuesday night was Bunco night. This is another group of fabulous ladies that meets one Tuesday a month sans boyfriends, fiances, husbands, etc. for a night of dice, gossip and wine (usually lots of wine). This bunco night was not one of my better nights, sadly. I came in second to last place lol. Oh well, I had fun catching up with everyone and got a cute christmas ornament as a loser's prize. Thanks MRW for hosting!



I spent yesterday evening getting into the holiday spirit! A group of friends decided that we would adopt a family for Christmas. We did this project through the Junior League's Angel Tree project. Everyone met at my house for a wrapping party. We had 3 children and a parent in our family. It was so much fun shopping and wrapping all those gifts!

Since I was hosting the wrapping party, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to test a new pie recipe before Thanksgiving. My awesome sister in law requested a chocolate pecan pie this year. We've never really done pecan pies in my family so there is no great grandma secret recipe to refer to. I knew I had seen one in my favorite party/cook book so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

I was nervous taking the pie out of the oven because it was pretty hard to tell when it was ready. I was scared it would turn to soup as soon as I sliced into it. However, I'm proud to say this pie was divine!!! It has the perfect sweet/salty mix. Just enough pecans to the rich chocolate. The only thing I would change about the recipe is that I will use a deep dish pie crust from now on.



Things never slow down around here. Tonight is dinner with Bella (my friend, not my cat). She and I studied abroad together in college in Italy. Every since then, Bella has been our nickname for each other. Friday will be spent back in the kitchen :) prepping for a chili cook off on Saturday. Roomie (KLM) and I (along with most of the people from the Supper Club/Angel Tree group) are going to an engagement celebration/chili cook off for MB + SH. I'm a tad apprehensive about this whole chili shindig but I'm trying to go with a positive attitude. No worries, I'll let you know how I survive the event or if I meet any eligible groomsmen! Eventhough I maybe a professional bridesmaid, I won't stop looking for my own Groom till I find him!

Okay, I believe I should get to work. Oh, just remembered Grey's Anatomy is on tonight- score!

See ya soon