Wrap up and Resolutions

We definitely had a December to remember.

We started off the month with our annual trip to Silver Dollar City to see the lights.

I have said it before, and I will say it again...if you ever have the opportunity to go to Silver Dollar City in December do it!!  It truly is spectatular and it will just make you happy, I promise!!


We decorated gingerbread houses

and checked out our competition around the city

not bad, but I still think ours was better.



We went to the Wild Lights at the Zoo

had a Christmas tea with our American Girl Doll

baked some cookies

went ice skating

saw Santa at the symphony, and heard beautiful music

and had a great holiday.

Now that the decorations are down, the kids are back in school, and the new year has started it's time to work on some resolutions

*Read, read, read-this is on my list every year but the benefits from reading; knowledge, vocabulary, intellectual curiosity, improved concentration, I mean its almost like free therapy.  I get my best recommendations from friends, here is what I hope to read in 2016

any other recommendations??

*travel every change I get

Don't you love a resolution that is pretty damn fabulous.  I have been working very hard on this one and have a few trips already lined up

*Try one new restaurant a month- I feel like I already do this, but now that it is official I really have to dine out a lot.  It is a win win for everyone, I get a great meal and the chefs/owners are getting business, just doing what I can to support my city.

Looks like I am good through April

*Have one on one dates with my children and my hubby

family is everything, right!!

and one last one for good measure

*go to the gym- does it count if I already do this??  Is it still a resolution??  

I am not going to lie, I am in it for the cute clothes

Happy 2016

12 Cookies of Christmas

Growing up my mom always made 12 different varieties of cookies for the holidays (I know, she had a lot of free time right) for the 12 days of Christmas.  While I would like to say that I am so organized that I too make 12 different cookies, that is just not the case.  If I make 4 kinds then I call that a success.  

I have rounded up my top 12 cookies, so if you are feeling motivated I promise you cannot go wrong with any of these!!

Mint Slice Cookies

Italian Wedding Cookies

Cherry Kiss Cookies

Jewel Cookies
I personally think raspberry jelly is the best and it must be bonne maman

Decorator Sugar Cookies
If you have children and you only make 1 cookies, this needs to be it!!  One of my best childhood memories is icing cookies with my brother and sisters and this was the recipe my mom used.  I know, butter crisco, but this is so. damn. good.   If you have an ounce of restraint then bake away.

Meringue Cookies
We call these nighty nights in my home because they sit in the oven overnight.  I always leave out the  nuts, that seems to be a bit too much.

Oatmeal Lace Cookies

Cookie Dough Truffles

Candy Cane Cookies

Buckeye Cookies

Turtle Cookies

Rice Krispies Wreaths


Only 4 more days ladies, turn those ovens on!!!

Pretty Little Things

This afternoon I am forcing myself to stay home and start wrapping presents.  A beautiful wrapping job can make a pair of socks even look fabulous.  All I need to see this come together is some Christmas tunes, a nice glass of pinot, and a little inspiration...

and if things get really crazy over here I might just make some pom-poms

looks like I might need a second glass of that wine!

Christmas Past

Another Christmas has come and gone, way too fast for me!!  We ended 2013 on a high note, just how I like;)

Christmas eve was quiet for us.  Typically we have 20 people over but this year we just took my parents out for dinner...

then it was home to tuck the kiddos in bed and wait for Santa...

and he did come!!

After gifts, coffee, and brunch we were off.  We flew down to Florida...

then got on our boat...

and left South Beach behind...

Now I have to admit, and the hubs and I keep saying this.. we are really not "cruise" people but somehow we keep ending up on cruises.  If I was to plan my own vacation I would not pick a cruise, but this was my parents gift to us, so I am not going to kick a gift horse in the mouth.  

There is definitely no shortage of things to do on a boat.  We watched a parade...

Tried to surf on the simulated wave...

played a little ping pong...

found the champagne bar with my sister and sister in law

and the girls and I found the cutest cupcake shop...

and they took a cupcake decorating class...

it was the cutest thing ever!!

When we docked in Mexico we went swimming with the dolphins..

(unfortunately this is the only shot I got, they would not let cameras near the dolphins)

 we spent the day at the beach

and explored the town...

5 days later we were back in the USA...

My sibling and parents flew back home but we decided to add on an extra 2 days to our trip...

but all good things must come to an end...

and I have come home to a blizzard!!