Girl Friday

I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is next week.  Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday.  I love spending time with my friends and family but I don't have the stress of gifts, and decorating, and baking 12 different varieties of cookies, and getting out a photo card and the list goes on....

Next week we are heading to Detroit to spend the holiday at my sister's house

I am in charge of the veggie on Thursday.  I think my sister wants me to make the canned green beans with the soup and french onions but I just can't.  I think I am going to make this instead

Brussels Sprouts Gratin

It is going to be freezing in the big D town so I picked up a cute little number so at least my neck will stay warm

The day after Thanksgiving we plan on doing a little shopping

then off to see The Nutcracker

and this weekend, we are having our Friendsgiving here in STL

Thanksgiving feast in a barn about an hour outside of the city.

It's going to be a chilly night, the barn is open air, at least I got my new favorite pinot to keep me warm, and my new scarf!!

Have a beautiful weekend!!

In the Mood

So spending a few days at Silver Dollar City has totally put me in the holiday spirit.  Christmas lights  everywhere,  Santa, carolers strolling, mulled cider, and no scrooges anywhere!!

This is as close to story book perfect that you are going to get. 

My recent visit, plus the case of Cakebread 2006, anderson valley pinot noir I scored, added with the snow that is coming on Saturday has definitely got me in the mood.  

But I can't over look Thanksgiving, we have so much to be Thankful for and it really is one of my favorite holidays.  I spent the afternoon picking up a few things for our house this thanksgiving.

and I could not resist this...

An absolutely adorable plate to serve the absolutely disgusting cranberry sauce from a can.
The hubs has one request each Thanksgiving, I put a can of cranberry sauce in the fridge 1 week before Thanksgiving just for him.  He likes it good and cold, and would like it to slide out of the can in one piece so he can see the ridges from the can.

Yeah we all know what I am talking about.

Hubs idea of great cranberry sauce...

and mine...

He has a major cranberry flaw!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Both the hubs and I have family coming in town today, let the fun begin!!

We have lots to be thankful for this year and lots on our agenda this long weekend.  

My husband finally gets to try a restaurant he has been dying to go to...

a pre feast run

This is our first year ever hosting Thanksgiving.  The hubs is in charge of the turkey

and I am making a few side dishes like this

and these

and this

My sister who was told she would never have babies of her own and adopted the sweetest boy from Korea 2 years ago is pregnant!!  yeah!!  I have hosting a little "sprinkle" for her on Friday.

She did not find out if she is having a boy or a girl so my party favors are this...

but in a cute brown paper bag.

Our botanical gardens are all decked out for the holidays so we are going to the gardens at night...

It's Thanksgiving weekend so we have to do a little shopping...

and on Sunday, after everyone has left I am going to bakeapolozza with my friends.  It is held at a local cooking school and we will spend the entire afternoon baking Christmas cookies...

and drinking a little this...

Have a beautiful weekend and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Girl Friday, Chicago/Thanksgiving/Early Edition

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope everyone has a love filled, fun filled, beautiful Thanksgiving...

We are off to celebrate in Chicago...

and all its glory on Michigan Ave....

We have reservations at a restaurant that has been on my radar....

and also at a restaurant on my girls' radar...

I will do some black Friday shopping here...

here..

and here...

We are also headed to Daley Plaza...

for a visit with this guy...

and to Macys on State Street...

to see the famous window display...

and to check out the great tree in the Walnut Room...

I will not see my bestie blogger friend this trip, she will be out of town...

but I will spend time with my brother and sister in law before they have their baby...

Our last stop before we head home on Sunday is to a farm to check out one of these sweet little pups...

Just in case we decide to get one, you never know....

Have a beautiful holiday weekend!!

Thanksgiving Past

We had a great Thanksgiving, so much to celebrate...

If I look back on my weekend and had to choose what I enjoyed the most, I would have to say I am so thankful for my last night in Detroit. I stayed up with both of my sisters until 1 am talking, laughing, and drinking wine. Even though I felt miserable on my flight home I don't care. It is so rare that I find myself with both sisters, under the same roof, kids and husbands sound asleep, and no distractions so we can just enjoy our precious time together.

There is no friend like a sister!

The Motor City

We are off to Detroit for the holiday weekend. The last time I was in Michigan for Thanksgiving was 3 years ago and I was 7 months pregnant with Scarlett. I look at this picture with my sisters/sister in law/mom from Thanksgiving of 07, and it feels like yesterday...

I have been put in charge of appetizers for the entire weekend, I have yummy ones lined up...

but of course the reason we are all together is Thanksgiving dinner.

In addition to non stop eating, we will see a live performance of "A Christmas Carol"....

an entire family picture...

My nephew, who was just adopted from Korea, will be baptized...

and of course a little shopping...

There is a fabulous mall in Detroit that has just about every store imaginable. I have to spend black Friday shopping, otherwise it just doesn't feel right. My hubs thinks I am insane!!

I hope you all have a fun filled, family filled, happy and beautiful Thanksgiving!!