The Day Before

To tell you the truth, I love the day before Thanksgiving [and Christmas, for that matter] almost as much as I love the holiday itself.

The day before is full of so much promise. I love the excitement, the anticipation, the preparation and lists and scurrying around. On the day before the holiday, there is still the potential for everything to go right. No one has missed a flight yet, no one has burned the stuffing or over-cooked the turkey, no one has been stuck in traffic for hours and showed up for dinner grumpy. People are looking forward to seeing their families and friends, and even looking forward to the travel it takes to get wherever you are going - or the sound of the doorbell ringing when people arrive on your doorstep. There is still the happiness and [good, I think] stress of planning and organizing and celebrating. There's a bit of cheer in the air when you see people, when strangers give each other that knowing little smile and nod because we're all getting ready for the same thing, and even though the traditions are different and the menus don't quite match, we all have the same agenda: get together with people you like and love, enjoy a good meal, share memories, and count your blessings. For me, the day before holds its own magic.

Happy Thanksgiving, all - hope it is wonderful.

A brunette, a blonde, and a redhead walk into a winery...

...sounds like the beginning to a great story, right?? Well, it was certainly the beginning of a great weekend!

Two of my oldest friends came to Fredericksburg this weekend for a much-needed visit, and we had so much fun. The three of us have been making a pointed effort to schedule some time to get together, and we've had three "girls' weekends" now in the last two years or so. It is so worth the effort to get some quality time with old friends!

It was my turn to host the fun this time around, so I decided to take full advantage of the amazing weather on Saturday and take the girls out to Old House Vineyards, a local favorite here at Typically Late! There was a chili cookoff taking place at the winery on Saturday, but we weren't sure what that was going to be like, so I packed up a bag of snacks just in case and we hit the road. When we got to Old House, we started with a tasting, and then picked a bottle to take outside and share. 

We found a great table on the patio right in the sun, and spent all afternoon talking and catching up. I was glad that I'd packed the picnic, because while the chili looked yummy, we opted for grazing over veggies, fruit, hummus, cheese, and crackers, instead. It was absolutely gorgeous out, with full sun and a light breeze, and all three of us were perfectly content to soak up some sun and some gossip. It is such a sweet thing to have friends that you can not see for months, and then pick up right where you left off when you do get together. I couldn't have asked for a nicer afternoon.

We headed back to my house to freshen up, and then headed to downtown Fredericksburg for dinner at a new-to-me restaurant: Kybecca! I've heard lots of great things about this restaurant and wine bar, but we've never been there for more than a drink. I thought it would be a fun place to have dinner - and I was right!

We started with a round of craft cocktails and a few appetizers (I will never pass up fried Brussels sprouts). I went with the "Bello Sanguiello," which their menu describes as "house chocolate vodka and chocolate bitters, shaken with blood orange ice." It was so different and so delicious - it tasted just like a chocolate orange, like you get at Christmas. One was definitely enough though!

We enjoyed a leisurely dinner, which is such a rare thing these days. We sat at the restaurant for over two hours, sharing a bottle of wine and eating delicious food. Personally, there is nothing better! For my dinner entree, I chose shrimp and grits, which was a little risky for me because I don't always like grits (they have to be super well-cooked or else they are too mushy and weird!), but it turned out to be a great decision. The cheddar grits were fluffy and flavorful, the shrimp was perfectly cooked, and the addition of andouille sausage and bell pepper were excellent accouterments. I was so happy!

After dinner, we returned to the house for more wine and a rousing game of "Heads Up," which is an iPhone app I'd never heard of before... hilarious! Check it out if you've been living under a rock, like me. We stayed up far later than I'm used to these days (hello, 10 PM bedtime - can't remember the last time I've seen 1 AM voluntarily!) but it was well-worth the lost sleep. Sunday morning came with blueberry muffins, coffee, and Food Network, before the girls hit the road. We passed around hugs and talked about what to do next time - we are already thinking about the next place to visit! We've done each of our hometowns... might be time to plan a new destination!

I have said this before and I will say it again: I consider myself really lucky to have made (and kept!!) such great friends. While we don't see each other all that often, I know that they are no more than a text or call away, and that we will continue to carve time out of our busy lives for each other. It makes my heart happy to get to connect with girls who just "get" me, regardless of how many years go by or how old we get. Sappy but true! Make new friends, but keep the old. They are a treasure!

Unexpected Happies

Note: thank you!! for all your comments and love on my last post about bad pet parenting - I am definitely feeling better knowing that I am not alone!

It can be hard sometimes, I think, to remember to notice the little things in life and really appreciate them for what they are. It is especially hard for me to do that when we reach the loooong days of winter, when it feels like everything is gray and dreary and like it may never be warm outside again. (Hyperbole, I know, but come ON!) It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and focus on the things that stress us out, rather than the things that bring us joy.

I've had a few moments of unexpected "happies" lately - things that were semi-insignificant, but caught me by surprise and were a little spot of happiness that would sometimes go unrecognized. There are days when you have to truly seek out the positive things, but I promise you, if you are looking, you will find them.

Standard cheesy quote.
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A few examples...

• Recently, I was telling a coworker about a book I'm reading and really enjoying, but mentioned that my library checkout was going to expire before I could finish and I was bummed because the waiting list is about 100 people long (seriously). She thought for a moment and then said, "Wait! I have that book at home!" and the very next day she brought it to me. She hasn't read it yet, but was happy to loan it to me for the time being.
• I received a small award at work, given to me by a coworker, recognizing me for my contributions to the team. I work with some great people, and we all value each other very much, but sometimes it is nice to see some formal recognition, especially out of the blue!
• Yesterday, my friend, Aileen, brought over some K-cups of coffee that neither she nor her husband will drink because they are too sweet. In my house, we drink just about anything (and especially love flavored coffees!), and I'd just realized that morning that we were almost out of K-cups! Her gift came with perfect timing, and I thought of her while I enjoyed my morning cup today.

I am definitely guilty of overlooking happy events like these, in favor of focusing on more stressful or more negative aspects of my life. The truth is, when I stop and think and look around, there is always something to be thankful for and to be happy about. I just have to take the time to appreciate it!

What small thing has made you happy lately? Anything goes!

Namaste

We got home later than planned yesterday, and I was truly bummed to be missing my favorite yoga class. I haven't made it in weeks, and I had it on the calendar as a "must do" for yesterday. Luckily, C convinced me that if I moved really quick, I could make it to class just a few minutes late (which I hate to do) and still enjoy my practice. He was right! Class had barely started as I flew through the gym doors and I grabbed a spot at the back so as not to disturb anyone. Mission accomplished!

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This is not what I look like while doing yoga.

If you had told me several years ago that I would develop a love for yoga, I probably would have just outright laughed at you. As far as working out and exercising goes, I generally feel drawn toward higher energy activities - my go-tos are BodyPump and running - and I had no understanding whatsoever of the benefits of yoga, or how much I would enjoy it. My mom and I started taking a weekly yoga class on Fridays as a way to relieve stress, and over the course of a year or so, I found myself looking forward to that class more and more. When C & I bought our house and I changed gyms, I was very pleased to find several yoga classes offered that would fit my schedule. It took some trial and error (not all yoga classes or yoga teachers are for everyone!) but I definitely found a class that challenges me, taught by a young woman who I really, really like. For me, Tuesday evenings are now my yoga nights, and I crave that 60 minutes devoted to vinyasa and everything else that goes with it.

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This is also not what I look like while doing yoga.

I will never be the bendiest yogini in the room, I will probably always lose my balance during tree pose, and I will doubt I will ever be able to truly clear my mind and relax during savasana. However, that doesn't mean that I can't achieve the benefits of a good practice, or that I don't get anything out of it. Yoga is the kind of thing where you get what you want to get out of it. Yesterday, in the dimly lit room with quiet music, surrounded by people, I felt that my mind was the clearest and I was the most at-peace that I've been in weeks. As I flowed through the motions and pushed myself to hold poses a little longer or go a little deeper, I felt calm and in control - something that is missing in my life right now. Knowing the way my mind wanders, I tried to focus intently on my breathing during final relaxation, pushes the unrelated thoughts away and repeating "breathe in, breathe out," with the flow of my breath. When we reached that final moment, where the teacher bowed and whispered, "namaste," I whispered it back like I always do. It felt a little different this time though - like I was saying it to her, and also to myself. Yoga benefits the mind, body, and soul. It sounds so cliche, but it's true. In that hour last night, I was able to recognize and glorify the divine within myself, and that is why I practice. Even if I can't hold crow pose for more than two seconds, and even though my knees creak during warrior one, I always come out of a class feeling better than when I went in. Is there any greater benefit, really? Methinks not.

Fact: "namaste" means "I bow to the divine in you" in Hindu. Cultural lesson for the day! :)

So tell me...

• What is a fitness or exercise activity you never thought you could love?
• Do you practice yoga? In a class or alone?
• What's your favorite or most challenging yoga pose?

All aboard...

Let's not beat around the bush. Last week was really hard (thank you all for your sweet comments on my last post!). I spent the majority of the week eating my feelings... which I don't regret for a minute. There come some (occasional, hopefully) times in life where you just have to throw in the towel and eat ice cream for dinner, pour another glass of wine, and dig the emergency Thin Mints out of the freezer. Hopefully not all in one night, but... you do you. I'm not here to judge. I'm merely stating facts: personally, I find comfort in food, and there are moments where I just want to stop thinking about eating healthy and eat like I feel like eating (carbs and sweets, all the way). And so I did.

It looked a lot like this:

Gelato, enchilada casserole, TJ's treats, ravioli with mushroom sauce... yum.

And it was delicious. Don’t you doubt it for a second. I believe that it helped me get through the week (because Reese’s eggs are the cure for all problems, amiright?) and come out on the other side functioning.

But here’s the thing about making the decision to eat my feelings: there comes a point where I make the decision to stop (and you can, too!). I gave myself a week – I got through the time when C wasn’t home and when things were the hardest, and after that, I said enough already. Time to get back on the train.

I tucked the candies back into their hiding spot (out of sight = out of mind) and put the emergency Ben & Jerry’s back underneath all the frozen fruit. I got my butt to the gym for BodyPump on Monday evening and again last night for yoga. Two for two, y’all. It’s the little things! I hit up the store and loaded my cart with veggies and fruits, I made a meal plan, and I switched out the wine for water (ugh, rough). I had my week of throwing it all out the window, and it was fine. The world didn’t end, I didn’t gain 10 pounds (somewhat shocking), and I didn’t collapse from lack of salad. But then I stood myself up straight and looked myself in the eye and said, “time to leave this station, Lindsay!”

Thanks, BodyPump. The train is a-comin'!

We can all get back on the train. There is nothing wrong with getting off the train - honestly, you have to get off the train to get the true experience at each station; you can't just watch it from the window… (am I taking this analogy too far?) The locations beyond each station are delightful! ...But in order to get to the next place, you have to get back on the train. Continue the journey. Don’t get stuck in a rut!

The truth is, I feel better when I eat well, and I feel better when I work out. There’s not some big mystery out there about how to be healthy – it’s pretty simple. Treat your body well, and it will treat you well. So, I spent a little time treating my emotions, and now I’m back to treating my body. It’s a smidge less delicious (a lot less sugary), but it’s the right call. So, I’ve got salad for lunch and I’m off to fill up my water bottle… someone eat a cupcake for me.

Delicious dinner & yard surprises

This weekend was everything that weekends are supposed to be. Relaxation, organization, delicious food, quality time with quality people, and sunshine! I am sporting my first (minor) sunburn of the season this morning, thanks to a few hours of yard work and a little porch-sittin' yesterday afternoon - and I'm not even mad! It's a lingering reminder of all the good stuff we soaked up over the past few days.

A quick picture recap, because seeing is believing!

As promised, Friday night was date night! C & I enjoyed a delicious dinner at a local cafe, complete with live music and no phones or TVs. Just what we needed!

Saturday morning was dedicated to organizing the pantry. We had to pull everything out while the painters were working last week, and I refused t put anything back in until we could do it with some thought and planning. Everything sort of got thrown in there when we moved in last August, and it definitely needed some work. I browsed every aisle of Bed, Bath, and Beyond and Target on Saturday morning, and came home armed with a system. It took us several hours, but we are so happy with the results! Now, maintaining this system is another story...

We had plans with my parents for Saturday evening, and they came down early so my mom and I could squeeze in a run. We hit the pavement at the nearby battlefield and got in a great workout together. It was beautiful and breezy - just how I like it! PS: Have you used the FitSnap app? It's a fun way to track workouts right in the moment. I just discovered it the weekend & look forward to using it more!

We decided to take my parents out to dinner to thank them for paying for the painting (a lovely housewarming gift, indeed) and I made a reservation at a local restaurant we hadn't tried yet. It was definitely a good pick! Our dinner at Poppy Hill Tuscan Kitchen was one of the most memorable restaurant meals I've had in a long time - can't wait to share more about this amazing local treasure. I chose the salmon served over shrimp risotto for my entree, and was in foodie heaven. It was insane! I practically licked my plate clean. Yum!

On Sunday morning, we went out to breakfast at the same cafe where C & I had our date (Amy's - love it so much we went 2x in one weekend!). It was a good thing we had a big, hearty meal, because when we got home, we decided that some spur-of-the-moment yard work was in order. Several hours and 16 17 gigantic trash bags later, we had done major clean-up damage in the back yard. Everything was in alright shape when we moved in at the end of last summer, but it needed some major TLC, and we just didn't have the time last fall to do everything that needed to be done. No time like the present! We cut back trees, cleaned our flower beds, raked up a bajillion pine needles, and fertilized the lawn. Very glad to have that all taken care of!

We couldn't waste any of the beautiful day, so C & I wrapped up the weekend with a grill meal: steak and asparagus, plus a mayo-less potato salad. It was the perfect dinner to enjoy while we watched the ACMs. Anyone else see the show? I thought it was great! There are some really talented country musicians out there right now, and I am loving seeing how the careers progress (also, I'm really glad that Taylor Swift isn't dominating the scene any more!).

One last picture for the day... I have a running list of what I call "Yard Surprises" - you never know what you'll find in a new yard, left behind by the previous owners. This was definitely one I appreciated:

So tell me...

• Do you have a favorite local eatery? We love all the options near us that aren't chain restaurants!
• Did you fit in a workout this weekend? Tell me about it! I'm so happy that it's outdoor running season again.

Sunday afternoon in the kitchen

I find the act of cooking or baking to be soothing: the motions associated with being in the kitchen - measuring, mixing, chopping, stirring - are familiar and timeless, and whether I'm following a recipe or making it up as I go, being in the kitchen generally grounds and centers me.

C and I often cook together, moving around our kitchen in a pattern of not-exactly-choreographed dance steps. There is the occasional toe being stepped on or fumble as we reach for the same knife or wooden spoon, but, for the most part, our rhythms are completely in sync and we twirl around one another adding ingredients to whichever dish we are making and end up with something that we are both equally proud (or not proud) of and take pleasure in eating meals that we have prepared together. Food just tastes better when it's made with a little extra love, as cliche as that may be.

I have gotten comfortable with being half of the cooks in our kitchen - the routine of having music on and all the lights turned up and keeping track of my partner is familiar to me. Rarely am I in the kitchen alone these days; even if I'm baking, my husband is there, not quite hovering, but handing me ingredients and washing my measuring cups, a presence that I feel even if I'm the only one holding a mixer.

Yesterday afternoon, I found myself in the kitchen alone for the first time in a while. C had gone to run some errands. We were making French Onion soup for dinner, and I had several snacks to prep for book club. My darling husband sliced a mountain of onions for me before he left, but I was on duty to babysit the onions as they cooked low and slow for over an hour, turning into melty slivers of deliciousness that we would make into soup. While stirring occasionally with one hand, I did prep work for the rest of my recipes: softening cream cheese, cracking eggs, opening cans.

I stood in my kitchen in my bare feet, sunlight streaming in and providing enough light that I didn't have to flip any switches, the TV on softly in the background. I worked methodically to make my way down the list of foods. There is something chaotically calming about having four different items cooking at once, each needing its own time and attention, but each playing nicely with the rest so that one pan goes into the oven as the other comes out and one pot simmers gently while the other gets stirred. Other than the TV, there was no chatter - no talking with C, no laughing and joking as we went through the motions, like usual. Just me and my thoughts and the sounds of cooking: whirring, humming, sizzling, boiling.

The time passed so quickly, and yet almost stood still - those moments in my kitchen alone were precious, a little chunk of time where nothing existed but me and the ingredients and the utensils. I felt myself recharging as I moved from step to step, independently responsible for each thing I created. I love to share the joy of cooking with C, but I needed those moments alone, too, much more than I realized. I was happy when I finally heard the garage door opening and C came in with his arms full of bags to find me standing among almost-completed dishes. The smells emanating from my pots were like arms reaching for him: welcome, come in, see what's I've made. I walked him through the recipes and showed him my work, proud of the things I'd created and the successes I'd had. He turned on the music and I turned on the lights and together we worked on the soup - I'd gotten the onions done perfectly, but there were more ingredients needed before it would be finished. We fell into that familiar routine with ease.

At the end of the evening, when the snacks were packed away for the next night and the dishes had been washed, we ate steaming bowls of soup and grilled cheese sandwiches that we both had worked on making and put effort into making just right. It was a perfect combination of my own, personal time and my favorite way to spend time with my husband, and the results were delicious.

beautiful roasted garlic for hummus

a lovely pair... just like C & I ;)

Travel Tales: The City of Brotherly Love

Man, this was a whirlwind weekend! Hard to believe it's already over. I feel like it was 5 PM on Friday just minutes ago... A weekend that flew by so quickly must have been full of fun, right?? You betcha!

On Friday night, C went down to Richmond to hang out with his buddies for the weekend, so I had the evening to myself. I would be lying if I said I didn't take advantage of the alone time and do some of the most girly, most cliche things possible: I took a bubble bath, complete with wine and candles and a book, I listened to old country music, I painted my nails, and I may or may not have finished off a container of Ben & Jerry's that I found hidden in the freezer. I then put myself to bed early and enjoyed a night of uninterrupted sleep with the entire bed to myself. I am not unhappy about how that evening went at all. It was delightful!

On Saturday morning, I got myself up, ready, and packed before hitting the road... it was off to Philadelphia! I picked up my friend, Sharon, on the way, and together we made the journey to the City of Brotherly Love. We made excellent time and made it to Lizzy's apartment by early afternoon. After dropping off our stuff and finding a parking spot for the weekend, the three of us set off towards Independence National Historical Park - home of the Liberty Bell! I'd never had an opportunity to be truly touristy in Philly, so we decided to take a few hours to see the sites. We walked all over the area, snapping pics of the various historical buildings and locations, skipping the long lines to actually SEE things like the Bell and Independence Hall. Thanks but no thanks - a picture from afar was enough for me! It was a beautiful day, albeit a bit windy, and we had fun walking all over the place.

Lizzy took us to the Second Bank Portrait Gallery to escape the wind for a bit, and we meandered through the exhibit viewing all sorts of famous people we learned about in elementary school.

On our way back to Lizzy's apartment, we walked through China Town and cut through Reading Terminal Market, passed by City Hall, and stopped to see the original "love" sculpture - turns out, the one in NYC isn't the first!

Back at Lizzy's apartment, we had a few minutes to relax before it was time to get ready to dinner. We had a reservation at Alma de Cuba, which turned out to be an amazing choice. Lizzy did a great job picking that one!! We enjoyed a leisurely meal with an appetizer and a few drinks, and I had salmon that was perfectly cooked at absolutely delicious. The ambiance of the restaurant was lively and fun, and the waitstaff was on point. We had a wonderful experience, and it's certainly a place I would return to. Following dinner, we made our way to a wine bar called Tria for a few drinks and more chatting. Tria is very small and it was crowded on a Saturday night, so things were a little awkward until we finally found a place to sit down. Once we had some seats, though, we were good to go! The wine was delicious, and while it was quite loud, it was a fun place to hang out for a bit.

The only pic of the three of us from the weekend...
awkward photo poses aside, the waitress got a cute one!

Back at Lizzy's apartment, we spent a few more hours chatting and drinking wine - it's amazing how long a couple of girls can spend rehashing high school and college and comparing notes on stories we all remember. It was so much fun to reminisce - and I am definitely reminded of how glad I am that all those years are behind us :)

On Sunday morning, we were treated to a delicious breakfast of smoothies and French toast, courtesy of Lizzy's husband. Can't beat that! We lounged around watching Food Network and drinking coffee for a while before Sharon and I decided it was time to hit the road. Good thing we left when we did, because the trip home, which should have taken a little under 4 hours, ended up taking 6! There were several big accidents, and everything was just a mess. Not exactly the best way to end a great weekend, but I figured it was karma since the trip up was so easy. Womp, womp.

Traffic issues aside, I had a wonderful weekend with some good friends, and it was just the kind of recharge I needed. There is truly no replacement for quality time with old girlfriends!

So tell me...

• What do you like to do with friends to recharge?
• What was the last out-of-town place you visited?
• How was your weekend?

Dim sum & a Devils shutout

On Saturday, we went to our first (and probably only) Caps game of the season! C & I (along with the rest of my family) are huge hockey fans (we had our first date at a Caps game!), and have made it to several games for each of the last few seasons, but with ticket prices rising and increasingly busy schedules, we hadn't had the opportunity yet this year. We remedied that by buying my parents tickets to a game for Christmas, and included ourselves in the fun. The game was this weekend against the New Jersey Devils, and we had a blast! We also took the opportunity to bring my uncle along to his first NHL game, and my college roommate and her husband got tickets to the game, too, so we had quite the crowd!

On the metro into the city

Dad & I down by the ice

We started with dinner at Ping Pong Dim Sum, which was a new experience - I've never had dim sum before, but was willing to try it out! Since only Michelle and her husband had been there before, we let them lead us through the dinner choices and order lots of fun things to try. Dim sum is kind of like Spanish tapas: lots of small plates with a few of each item. If you like something, get another order of it; if you don't like it, try something else! We had fun passing plates of food and bowls of dipping sauces around, and we all found new dishes that we liked. My only complaint was that it was very dark in the restaurant, which made it hard to read the menu and hard to see what I was eating (oh, gosh, I'm getting old, aren't I??) - other than that, it was a lot of fun, and really delicious. I would definitely go back!

After dinner, we headed to the Verizon Center early. We wanted to get there in time to see warm-ups! You are allowed to go down to the boards and see the players up-close during warm-ups, even if your ticket is for a higher-level section (like ours were). We haven't done this in a long time, but we wanted my uncle to get a chance to experience it. It's fun to see the players that close and see how big and fast they are!

Ovi goes flying by...

Awkward goalie stretches. Love Holts!

There were a bunch of kids standing in front of us, and Ovechkin came over to stretch and checked the boards in front of them (which was very exciting for the little ones). He even flipped a puck over the glass to a little boy who was there! I love how interactive the players are with the fans and how appreciative they are of the people who come to see them play.

Uncle & mama having a blast!

The game itself was a bit boring (hate to say it, but it was) - the score was 0-0 until the third period! Towards the end of the third, the heavens opened up, and our Washington Capitals scored three goals in just minutes! It was looking rather bleak, and all of a sudden, we were dominating. I was thrilled that my uncle got to see a couple good goals, and got some excitement (amidst the inevitable excitement of just being at a game) - it was a great way to end things! A shutout is always a great ending - it's so much fun to send the other team home scoreless!

Fun times with one of my favorite friends <3

Hockey selfies (hi girl in the back...)

Back where it all began ;)

So tell me...

• How was your weekend?
• Have you ever tried dim sum? 
• Have you ever been to an NHL game? Or some other kind of professional sporting event?

Shreddin' fresh pow

We take a (mostly) annual (mostly) family ski trip every year, and it is a blast. Some friend-neighbors of my parents have a house in Deep Creek, MD, where Wisp Resort is located, and they let us rent it at a discount for a long weekend most years (when we remember to call them in time!). We headed up for MLK Jr weekend this year, and packed the house with friends and family. Our newlywed friends, Josh and Mo, have recently decided to become pro snowboarders (or at least improve their skills ;)) so we brought them along for the adventure this year. We had a blast hitting the slopes, playing games, watching movies, and eating and drinking our weight in yummy food and adult drinks. Everyone survived the weekend and returned home unscathed (albeit a few bruises for most). Work has been stressful lately, and spending a few days in the mountains, unplugged and off-the-grid, was exactly what I needed to recharge. Ski Weekend 2014 was definitely a success!

Break out the cake & balloons!

Happy birthday to me! 

Stick some candles on a birthday cake and sing the song... I'm 27 today! (Fun fact: It's Elvis's birthday, too. The King and I share a day - didja know?? Wisdom provided by my 9th grade English teacher, and I've never forgotten it!)

Let's take one very small second and say this together: twenty-seven. That can't possibly be my real age, right? Actual adults are 27. Ummmm... that can't be me... wahhhh!

Moving on.

Gratuitous baby birthday photos

To celebrate, C & I are going out to dinner tonight (no idea where - it's a surprise!), and then we are in the midst of planning a winery excursion with some of my favorite people for this weekend. Can't think of a better way to enjoy the occasion than food, lovely people, and wine. Cross your fingers that the 50% chance of rain goes away!

In honor of this fantastic day, I've decided to do something BRAND NEW and EXCITING... my first giveaway! That's right - for my birthday, I'm going to give you (or someone) a present! I'm not entirely sure what, yet, but I'll put together a little package of some of my favorite things for the winner: probably a Starbucks gift card, a snack or two, my favorite chapstick and / or nail polish, maybe some fun socks... it'll be a surprise, like all good birthday presents should be!

Entering the giveaway is easy - just use the widget below. No crazy actions required - you don't have to follow me on 17 forms of social media, you don't have to promise me your first-born child, you don't have to paint my toenails on the third Wednesday of every month. Just enter if you want to win! The contest is open until midnight tomorrow, and I'll announce the winner later this week :)

YAY, birthdays!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Merry Christmas!

Have a wonderful holiday.

Without a hitch

I'm probably going to jinx myself for the next 1000 years, but I have to say it... our Thanksgiving was pretty much perfect. (Knock on wood for every year after this one!)

The turkey was beautiful, the sides were delicious, the wine was flowing, and my home was full of people I adore. What could be better??

The proof is in the pudding turkey! Look at that beauty.

C had his first experience with turkey-wrestling, and he totally won! He manhandled that 23-pounder into submission (with a little help from his sister!) and we got it into the oven a full five minutes ahead of schedule. It only took four people supervising (two taking photos to document the hilarity) and a few off-color jokes, but C made that turkey his b*tch. Whew!

I'm sad to say that I didn't get a whole lot of pics from the day (apparently when cooking a holiday meal for 13, you don't have much time to photograph... hmm), and most of them are of C with the turkey... but I'm ok with it, because that definitely needed to be documented for posterity.

C's dad supervised / assisted with the carving of the turkey, and they did a great job. The following pictures are too funny to me, because C & his dad are like carbon copies - and these aren't posed a bit! Check it out:

See what I mean?! Weird. But cool!

I tried (kind of) to keep the menu "small" (by Thanksgiving standards, anyway!) but we still ended up serving a feast! Definitely made good use of our counter and table space. I was pleased to know that everyone was able to have their favorite dish, and that my team of great cooks whipped up some really yummy things. I have a few definite keepers of recipes to share soon!

Biggest bottle of wine ever, courtesy of my uncle. My dad was a happy guy!

All in all, the day was a bit stressful (cooking Thanksgiving is a huge undertaking! And I had a ton of help), but nothing that couldn't be handled. I referred to my lists and my notes and my recipes, and doled out directions as needed. There was laughter and music all day long. I even got to shower and do my hair and makeup before dinner! Everything came together right on time, and everyone was happy - and stuffed by the time we were done. I couldn't have asked for more for the first major holiday in our new home!

"Look like you're owning the turkey." "I AM owning the turkey!"