Resolving to….?

The gifts are unwrapped…..

The cocktails sipped…

And the many morsels of food consumed. This year we hosted our own little Cajun Christmas Eve feast.

There were crab hush puppies, blackened alligator, red beans, jambalaya and Beignets … Yes mom perfected her Beignets leading up to Christmas and they were as delightful as ever.

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Christmas and the holidays are over. New Years Eve was spent celebrating the wedding of one of my bestests 🙂

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And a week later I was celebrating the nuptials of another!

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Now, I find myself being asked to share my new years resolutions…. and I don’t have any. I’ve never been much for them, as past experience never set a great bar. I have too many things I want to do.  I want to write more, let my creative juices flow… perhaps find myself with an actual camera and take classes?

Like the masses I want to travel.

I have finance goals… I want to be a landlord (competing interests?)… I want a number of things.

I want to rediscover my kitchen and stacks of cookbooks.

Perhaps I take 2016 as my planning year? The year I narrow it down? A year of thinking, of strategy?  A year to save, to question and decide?

What are your strategies for narrowing down your goals? Have you ever taken a “planning” year?

Last but not least, I want more brunch in my life 🙂

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Run, don’t walk to Burch, and order this crab toast! You will thank me 🙂

Christmas with a Twist

Good Morning! I hope you are still on vacation, but if not, heres a quick recap for your lunchtime read.

Our family celebrates the season with a bit of a twist. We cook a meal from a new country every year. No traditional ham here. (Though there’s nothing wrong with ham, and if you’d like to send me one, id gladly accept!)

This year, we attempted India. There were multiple dishes. Some were a huge success, others could use a few tweaks.

This is our tradition. What is yours?

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( The one constant, our tradition of Pimm’s Cocktail while gift opening)

Friday Favs #1

 Happy Friday! Today I’m trying out something new and linking up with Katie, Heather and Claire for Friday Favs. 

Here is a roundup of my favorite things from this week.

1) My new favorite boutique Primrose Park, that just so happens to be down the street from my place.  I’ve popped in a few times now and treated myself to a dainty bar necklace by Sbg Designs. I literally have not taken off my new necklace. Seriously, I wear it with everything, alone, layered, with my pajamas.. without pajamas….. and it only comes off to shower. TMI? If you haven’t been yet, head on over to Primrose Park. Let me know and I’ll meet you there, its way too close for my Mastercard’s comfort 🙂

2) Bryant Lake Bowl. Um somehow I’ve never been here before?! Hands down my new favorite date spot. Or brunch, or activity spot. Can I go again next week!?

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(Yes my jeans are too long and I had to roll them into my socks….AND I was wearing Christmas socks.)

3) This pasta dish: Trufled Cream with Langostine Lobster and butternut squash, Hello Broder’s Pasta Bar.

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4) Christmas table decor, because you know, its 9 degrees outside in November! I have to beat/try to enjoy winter somehow!

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Have I mentioned that Christmas does not help my ball obsession? Confused? Heres an explanation on my ball obsession…

5) This starter at Heartland. My Rainbow Trout love continues….If I could just eat about 5 more of these…

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Happy Weekend! What are your Friday Favs?

 

Deck the Halls

Was the day before Christmas..

Spreading cheer and giving spirit…

How better to do it, than surrounded by  volunteers..

Then all through the house, new traditions rang out..

Favorite dishes were requested..

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Appetizers shared.. Non-traditional plates appeared..

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Tenderloin, Tuna, Fettuccini and more..

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The wine was aflowing… the jokes abounding… the phrase “lubricating oils” may have slipped out..

Then our traditional cocktail, Pimms, may have been poured.

Once stomachs were stuffed the adventure began..

A present scavenger hunt!

Clues, cocktails and hiding places, one is sure to find surprises..

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Is this Sombrero my gift??

With every clue answered and gifts unwrapped, I leave you with our traditional drink:

Pimms Cocktail

* A shot (or two) of Pimms liqueur

* Tonic Water

* Muddled slice of lime  

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.