wherever you find love it feels like Christmas

Posted on by
Reply

Last night my family and I watched Muppet Christmas Carol after taking a walk in my parents new neighborhood and getting a drink at the local pub. Which was after we went to the Italian supermarket and got our second-to-last fish purchase to round out our feast of the seven fishes (for us: smelt, cod, shrimp, lobster, clams, crab, and mussels.)

My first twenty-four hours home have been splendid, and have included Christmas Jax (sorry Grandma Grace, we couldn’t wait to open them!) and steak ’ems, and seeing my puppies, learning my parents new house, skinning a fish, mincing four heads of garlic, and preparing for the feast.

Today, we head to Costco to grab our final fish, then will spend the day preparing for the most wonderful meal of the year. Hopefully before that feast I will get some yoga in, or at least a walk with Bailey, so I can get to know this new neighborhood that has a Dunkin within reach.

Have a lovely Christmas eve, all, and I’ll see you on Christmas!

yankee swap success

Posted on by
1

For the past four years, we’ve been hosting a Yankee swap for friends in Los Angeles. A few weeks ago, we had our fourth annual swap. It caused me to look back on years past and remember our four Christmases on Mansfield.

Our first Christmas tree in Los Angeles.

We’re all sitting on the floor because we didn’t have chairs or furniture yet. Those two in black got engaged that night.

In 2009, the hot gift was the slanky (aka the fake snuggie) of which there were two to win!

The 2009 tree, in all its glory and all its Yankee Swap gifts.

2010 brought presents that people were VERY excited about…such as coloring supplies.

And mustaches for all.

2010 also brought another lovely tree.

2011 brought some new faces.

And some exciting gifts.

And a baby tree to replace the big ones that always seem to leave a trail…

2011 marked our fourth yankee swap, and I’d say it was an overall success. Here’s to a fifth anniversary next holiday season, but for now, a Happy Holidays to everyone off in their own corners of the country – I miss you, LA family!

when my baby brother visited.

Posted on by
Reply

We went hiking.

Then, there were horses.

I call this “Ode to Horse Bottom.”

Not pictured: fish tacos, melissa’s birthday party, the muppets, dinner at home restaurant, laughing, racing around town, phoenix, kinky, and blueberry (two babies and a dog), the Grove, lots of friends, the Hollywood sign, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, brunch, coffee at all hours, and “How old do you think I am?”

I love having family around.

Cookware, and turkey, and golden pine cones.

Posted on by
1

Hello kids! I’m sorry I’ve been absent. I have been fairly busy over at GMS getting that blog under control. Tomorrow is our biggest day of the year: Thanksgiving.

Because I’ll be over there blogging tomorrow, I wanted to take a minute to reflect on this year so far.

This year has been crazy, both in good ways and sad ways. I’ve gained a brother. I’ve lost an uncle. I got to see my sister get married. I saw some friends bury other friends. Garlic, My Soul has exploded. Corelyn moved away.

This morning, before a busy day at work and a busy day at home, I decided I needed to do some yoga to energize my day. By the time I got home, I realized I needed another round to keep me going. And ten minutes of meditation.

After that, I could breathe deeply and get through an evening of cooking before another busy day tomorrow. And now, as I sit on the couch waiting for Corelyn to arrive, I wanted to go over what we were thankful for last year – we wrote ’em on a big ole piece of white butcher paper:

Good friends on both coasts! * Megan getting smashed (and maybe slapping ET) * GJH (and his patience) * I got a job! * The color purple! * Perspective * health & happiness <3 * A full gluten-free plate! * WINE + 3 * My LA friends * Color coded oven schedules + 1 * Jeffrey. In general. * Friends that roll with the punches and stick by you no matter what + 1 * Corelyn + turkey * Wonderful Friends and Family! * Justin Timberlake * JT + <3 + hand holding * Golden pine cones * Jeff + garlic bread * My mom and brothers * Castle ladies + travel * Mary + photos + 1 * Ellen + the gym + yoga * Melissa + GF cooking * Meat! * My new LA family! * scarves! * Being alive * Harry Potter * Brand new apartments * Slapsgiving – -Legendary! + 4 * Friends who are amazing cooks! * Cookware * Rebecca’s back rubs * Rebecca + hair + makeup * OTHER ASIAN! * We get to keep the pinecones! * Megan + twin day! * Google Docs + 1 * Corelyn + Jennie’s food blog <3 * Thanksgiving with friends! * Youth! * AZNS + 1 * My brother is working his s*** out + 1 * Coffee * Jeopardy! *

This year, I’m thankful for most of those things, and more, much more. And I can’t wait to share tomorrow with my LA family for the fourth year running. I’m thankful to be cooking a turkey for all of my family here, and thankful that Corelyn could make it, and that 19 others can make it, too. I am thankful for this modern love: friends becoming family, partners and boyfriends and girlfriends and sisters and brothers all becoming your best friend on the day of giving thanks. Traditions of writing thanks, blogging, crossword puzzles, coffee, parades, video chatting with family, and eating turkey, mashed potatoes, way too much pie, and snuggling up for a post-eating nap.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!