Christmas Weekend 2015 – Photo Diary

Looong weekend J We like those…

Max and I got out of work at noon and headed straight home to Kalamazoo to begin the celebratory weekend.

My parents’ house was full of football, champagne euchre, nachos and presents. Dowagiac was full of food, presents, champagne, and laughter and gambling. That’s that.

Saturday Max and I went on an impromptu mini brewery tour, visiting Final Gravity and Decatur and Harmony Hall, a new location opened up downtown GR earlier this year. Sunday was a relaxing day spent catching up on ZZZ’s. I love the holidays and am already counting down to another long weekend to kick off the New Year. 

Friday Five!

{got a bubbly jump start on the holiday using my new Wine Club winnings!}

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This week was short and pretty great. Even though there’s no snow on the ground, I was feelin’ prettttty festive! Wrapping party on Monday, treats galore at work and at home, over-indulging just a little too much on sweets and falling asleep in the glow of the Christmas tree.

Enjoy today, for it is a day to celebrate with family and loved ones.

This is the most wonderful time of the year.

Friday Forte: 

{sparkles! I don’t regret this purchase even a little bit}

{holiday decor e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e.}

{finally I have a portable charger that actually works worth a damn! Plus it’s customized and feeds my wanderlust dreams every time I look at it}

{SNEAK PEEK: New Year’s resolution number one… #drinkingmygreens.. trying out number 1 from here}

Holiday Wine Club 2015 & Cranberry Jalapeno Salsa

For the second year in a row I brought this dish to the holiday Wine Club. And for the second year in a row it got raaaaaaave reviews! I’m not kidding, peeps love this little relish/salsa thing. I used the Southern Living recipe (both years), but with the addition of some cracked black pepper and a tablespoon of honey. I also used double the jalapeno and more green onion than the recipe called for. And for my own personal touch, I like to serve with Lime Tostidos as opposed to the original. It gives it an extra little somethin’ somethin’! And who doesn’t love Lime Tostidos…?!

The best part… This year I MADE IT MYSELF! Obviously Max was there supervising (and showing me how to improve my knife skills), but it was still all my doing. I might not have won the holiday wine club like I did last year, but if there was a best dish award, I would like to think I was in the running J

 

{we busted out the selfie stick!}

Our 2015 Christmas Card Photo Shoot 2015

Max and I were both hacking and sneezing this ENTIRE photo shoot, but luckily awesome editing and sunglasses can hide the bags under eyes and our Rudolph red noses. Regardless it’s always a blast shooting these pics for our holiday cards. Posing in completely random ways and trying to be serious through it all is definitely worth the pain of getting Max to actually cooperate.

Enjoy J