Getting Festive

In between my constant sitting at desks and staring at computer screens I’ve managed to snag a couple of Saturdays off here and there.  Last weekend I was determined not to work for a whole day so we could dedicate that day to getting our festive on.

This year I’ve opted to take the majority of my Christmas decor over to Michael’s since we’ll be spending the actual holiday there with our families. 

My poor apartment is a wee bit sad with it’s lack of festive decorations now though.  The Charlie Brown Xmas tree is quite fitting this year!

And I kept my beloved Gingerbread House here until closer to actual Christmas.  This year it even has a Gingerbread scented candle inside, which has totally helped to put me in the mood a few nights this week!

Next up:  Preparing Christmas cards, and trying to do all of my shopping in one day.  Challenge accepted!

How goes your Christmas preparations?

Good vs Evil

Evil things…

Good things…

Now if only the good things would do away with the evil things so they would quit calling me. 

Sammich

So ya, there’s that whole Christmas turkey thing.

Really the whole point of all that preparation, cooking, basting, carving and ooh-la-la-ing is the leftovers, no?

All that sliced white meat, chewy stuffing, tangy cranberry, and creamy mayo layered between soft, white bread. Oh my.

Complete with leftover Cabbage & Apple Salad. Memories.

For the record, this sammich is only truly delicious if made by my Mom. If it’s possible to possess the perfect sammich gene she has it.

Here’s hoping she passes it through the gene pool.  So far she hasn’t.

Fine with me. There’s some things a girl just wants her Mommy for.  ;)

Christmas Dinner

Finally! Turkey day at our house!

You may remember from last year our family does Turkey Dinner on Boxing Day instead of Christmas Day. This gives room for my Mom and I to relax between the hectic night of the family gift opening and the day of cooking…and also gives other members of our family the opportunity to celebrate with their in-laws as well.

Mom does the majority of the work (like stuffing and prepping the big ol’ bird) but I pull the bread for stuffing and prep all of the veggies (except for peeling spuds because Mom is a whiz and for some reason I am not).

I am however in charge of my Nana’s Cabbage & Apple Salad.

Oh, and I picked the wine. A BC Riesling by Gray Monk. Dry with a sweet finish.

After a bit of turkey roasting drama…we had a bit of a leaky pan situation and lost a lot of our pan juices…we had ourselves a very moist and tasty bird! My Uncle Barrie did the carving honours…

As always our meal also included mashed potatoes, mashed carrots & turnips, Brussels sprouts, sausage & onion stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy.

I went for round two on the stuffing and potatoes. Nobody whips a potato like my Mom. Good old fashioned elbow grease that I just don’t possess!

Our pumpkin pie may be store bought but you could have fooled me.  This was probably in the Top 5 of the best pumpkin pies I’ve ever had. 

Bailey’s coffee with whip cream completed the meal. Because you know, we all needed an extra shot of sugar to assist in the post-meal crash.

My Uncle Colin provided after dinner entertainment with Lizzie the Cat. Cutey patootie.

I’m now nursing a turkey baby belly and loving every minute of it. NOM!

Family Christmas

Christmas Eve 2010

After cutting up four kinds of cheese, three kinds of salami, and fishing around in multiple pickle jars I had about ten minutes to do my hair. A hot curling iron and a small child’s Christmas bling headband worked some Christmas magic.

I’m the one with the camera so the obligatory bathroom mirror shot ensures I’m part of the photo memories!

Enough snacks for a small family army.

Santa Mommy…

Generally camera-shy cousin…

Cute grandpa and lady friend. Might be the cutest damn thing of the whole year.

Festive Aunt…

Franklyn enjoying the high of his Catmas present…

Lizzie discovering shrimp…

Santa Mommy and the family spoiled me this year.  I’m back in the land of Blu-Ray, finally have a brie baker in my possession, have a cool Etsy tote for James Dean, and my own copy of Eclipse for inappropriate Team Jacob moments.

The surprise of the year?  Another piece of technology to excite and befuddle me!

iPod Touch 4!  Maybe now I’ll actually use the iTunes card she bought me last year.   App suggestions for a newbie to the Apple world?

Many happinesses to you and yours.