A Wonderful Christmas Time

I'm back in Charlotte today, after spending five days at my parents' house in Georgia celebrating all things Christmas. My tree and decorations are still up, and I'm determined to savor the last moments of my favorite time of year. I think we marked the occasion with plenty of festivities this year, from lights to eggnog to a Christmas Eve visit from Santa himself!

I firmly believe in dressing for the occasion, so this year, I couldn't resist buying Christmas pajamas...matching sets for me and the dog. We've been cozy every night in our jam jams, although I will admit he is cuter in his.

Anyone who says diamonds are a girl's best friend, never owned a dog. 

We packed our pjs and hit the road for Georgia last weekend. Once we settled in at Mom and Dad's house, we decided it was time for some Christmas light viewing. We have gone to Magical Nights of Lights at Lake Lanier Islands plenty of times in the past, but it had been a few years since our last trip there. It was fun to go back and revisit one of our traditions, and we had a great time seeing old and new displays (and arguing about which was which).

Here we go!

We drove through over seven miles of lights.

"Life is a party. Dress for it." - Audrey Hepburn (and probably not what she had in mind).

Feeling festive!

Christmas Eve day, we slept in, and after lunch, visited with family and then got busy making merry. And by merry, of course I mean eggnog.

Stirring together all that delicious eggnog concoction.

Enjoying our eggnog from moose mugs, with Mom's Christmas Vacation collectibles.
"Can I refill your eggnog? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?"

We are lucky that each year on Christmas Eve, our family gets a visit from the man in red himself. We had just finished the eggnog and were setting up our dinner buffet when we heard bells, and sure enough:

The jolliest bunch this side of the nuthouse.

Santa! We know him!

After all that excitement, it was time to eat. Every year, we set up a buffet of hors d'ouvres and munch away to our heart's content, feasting on sandwiches, shrimp cocktail, dips, spreads, cookies, and cakes while we watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Like most of you, we know the movie by heart, so there are plenty of quotes and laughter while we spend our evening with Clark, Ellen, Eddie, and family.

Yes, I put the entire jar of Duke's mayonnaise out on display. 

Christmas Eve buffet. These are a few of my favorite things.

After all that delicious food, it was time to open gifts. Yes, we open our presents on Christmas Eve, because I can't contain myself one more day. This way, we have all been gifted and can sleep in Christmas morning with visions of all those goodies dancing in our heads. We were blessed to open plenty of presents, some from our wish lists and other surprises, but one of the funniest moments of the night came when I opened a box from Clint. You see, I had asked for money this year to use towards having my eyebrows microbladed (yes, it's a thing). Rather than just a plain envelope, he gifted me an eyebrow fund contribution wrapped this way:

Beautiful brows, here I come (my face is red from laughing so hard at his wrapping).

Needless to say, a good time was had by all. We woke up Christmas morning just in time to enjoy some praline french toast, then lazed by the TV watching A Christmas Story on its endless loop on TBS before it was time for lunch ('tis the season for feasting, am I right?). After our Honeybaked ham and plenty of delicious casseroles, we got comfy and cozy and spent the rest of the day in front of the tree, watching Home Alone and enjoying the downtime. We had plenty of leftovers for dinner, and before I knew it, Christmas day had come to a close.

We ate, drank, and were merry once again this year. I think we squeezed in plenty of Christmas cheer, although there are always wishes for just a few more ways we could have celebrated, and that annual yuletide battle cry, "next year!" 

I'm already looking forward to it.

I hope yours was merry, indeed!

The Most Wonder-Full Time of the Year

Christmas is a magical time of year, full of merriment and cheer (that rhyme was unintended, and a sure signal that I may be watching too many holiday movies since I'm talking like Dr. Seuss). It's also, to paraphrase the classic carol, the most wonder-full time of the year. Something about the hectic pace, the dash to get things done, and the sheer novelty of this holiday make it full of things to muse and amuse. Let's talk about some of the real "wonders" I've encountered this season, shall we?

I wonder when one must shop at Target for Christmas merchandise, because I was there the first week  of the month (December 5, to be exact), and it was beyond picked-over...it was decimated. The aisles where holiday merchandise were supposed to exist looked like the empty houses after the Grinch stole Christmas. Sad, empty pegs hung from bare wall space; shelves were totally void of any yuletide decor. Are we supposed to go ahead and get wreaths and garland when we go in for Halloween candy, or is that too late? Back-to-school and Come Get your Yule? I'll mark my calendar.

Once I finally paged through about seven million different style and sentiment options and chose our family Christmas card this year, the website then provided the nifty option to add a photo--or ten--to the back of the card. More photos? Are you kidding me? It took a small army, a fair amount of bribery, and some proverbial blood, sweat, and tears to manage one decent photo for the front of our seasons greeting and now I need additional picture perfection for the back? I can't. After seriously contemplating going to Google Images and finding a nice stock photo, I left the back of our card blank. Use it for scrap paper, doodle your own hand-drawn version of our little family, or just enjoy the blank space, because I'm tapped out.

I wonder why we can't count Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes as a vegetable, since they are trees? Is it because compared to asparagus spears and broccoli stalks, their beautiful stripes and sprinkles make them just too beautiful and hence, hated? And don't even try to give me the argument that Christmas Tree Cakes don't have the nutritional value to be vegetables; iceberg lettuce is totally devoid of any vitamin content and it still manages to hold on to veggie status. Someone get the USDA on the phone for me, because I believe I've got a case.

This is the last time I will mention Little Debbie 
Christmas Tree Cakes this season...probably. 
In all likelihood. Almost certainly.

While we're talking about delicious snacks, I heard on the news this week that the average American gains 1.3 pounds during the holidays, specifically in the months between Halloween and Christmas. I try not to brag, but in this regard I find myself way about average. I could gain 1.3 pounds a day a week between Halloween and Christmas, which leaves me to wonder: have these "average Americans" ever heard of eggnog, Snickerdoodles, spiced pecans, or sausage balls? Because 1.3 pounds means you're doing it all wrong...it's like some of you aren't even trying.

As my to do list grows and my errands become a little frantic, I have to wonder what a great accessory the wreath Clint put on the grill of my car makes as I delve deep into the inevitable throes of holiday parking lot rage. I can only imagine that my angry, agitated face looks positively seasonable with a tiny wreath and red bow hanging below it, just a few feet away. Nothing says "get away from my parking space" quite like faux greenery attached to a car. Joy to the world, jaywalkers! Peace on earth and parallel parking! Specifically, I suppose I'm wondering: does this wreath make my "sass" look big?

Have you seen the Crest Spinbrush commercial where the children are so thrilled by the tradition of finding a new toothbrush in their stockings each year that they want to gift a Spinbrush to dear ol' Santa, too? I wonder how Crest expects anyone to believe this could actually happen? Are these children giddy over dental floss as well? Hopeful for new pairs of socks and underwear? The child actors pretending to be delighted by the discovery of a Crest Spinbrush deserve Emmy awards for that performance; I literally shudder at the thought of the mutiny that my brother and I would have ensued if we had found dental hygiene products in with our Santa haul.

New toothbrushes for Christmas! Worst. Idea. Ever.

There are plenty of other wonders, as well: I wonder what's in that box under the tree? I wonder which Christmas cookie really is the best? I wonder if Santa has any idea how good I've been this year? Time will tell about that first one and I will happily taste test my way through the research for the second. And that last wonder? Let's just say I've been naughty enough to feel nice.

Enjoy all the wonders of the season, friends!

'Tis the Season

There is an episode of Seinfeld where Frank Costanza is told to use the phrase "serenity now" every time he gets angry to help keep his blood pressure down. By the end of the episode, Frank, George, and Kramer have all discovered that "serenity now" really causes them to bottle up their emotions and actually causes their anger issues to be worse...serenity now, insanity later. And even though that catchphrase seemed not to work so well for those characters, I have to share a mantra that I find particularly helpful this time of year.

This little motto I'm about to share with you has a myriad of uses; sure, it helps with anger management, but I also employ it to justify certain behaviors, to deflect awkward moments, and to end unwanted conversations. The phrase I want to share with you as your go-to for this merrymaking month is: 'tis the season!

We can all agree that December is a month where we find ourselves overworked, over stressed, and sometimes, just plain over IT in general. That's where my handy little slogan can really help ease the pressure. Why, just last week, I approached a stranger in the (rainy) grocery store parking lot and commented, "I hope you enjoy the parking space you stole from me. 'Tis the season!" Under normal circumstances, that could have been a heated exchange. However, by adding that festive ending, I felt a sense of release, the offending stranger was taken by surprise, and the situation was diffused.

Friday night, we went to dinner with friends. Our waiter asked if we wanted to start with a tableside guacamole, or perhaps an order of queso? Yes, and yes, we answered. When one of my dining companions raised an eyebrow and apparently felt a tinge of guilt at the thought of overindulging, I threw him a big smile and my giddiest "'Tis the season!" We had a good laugh...and then we also had both appetizers and a darn good time.

Without fail, I attempt every year around this time to brave the mall to do some Christmas shopping and it results in full-blown retail chaos. Cashiers, without regard for the crowded misery I am enduring, always like to tell me about how absolutely wretched they find their job, how they can't wait to leave for the day, the poor management they are forced to suffer, and the like. I used to listen semi-patiently and wait for them to wind down on their confessional, until I discovered that a quick interjection of, "Oh, well, 'tis the season!" and a dash in the other direction will end that agony in the blink of an eye.

Still not convinced? Let me further demonstrate all the uses for this little maxim:

Christmas cookies for breakfast? 'Tis the season!

Your package still hasn't arrived, and the tracking just keeps saying "shipping date has changed?" 'Tis the season!

Maxed out your credit card buying gifts for family members you don't really even care for? 'Tis the season!

Eggnog on a Tuesday? 'Tis the season!

Your clothes are all too tight, but you keep eating your way through all the good food and just wearing stretchy pants instead? 'Tis the season!

The forecast said you were getting 18 inches of snow and you only got a dusting? The forecast said you would only get a dusting but you got 18 inches of snow? 'Tis the season!

I could go on and on, but I sense that you're getting my point. It's a universal unifier, an explanation for everything, a soother for any situation. Let it be your greeting, your farewell, your conversation filler. Allow it to end an argument, charm a stranger, or calm your frazzled yuletide nerves. Throw it around like confetti and see if it works for you as joyfully as it has worked for me. I'm using it virtually every hour on the hour as the holiday season closes in on me progresses, and I can practically feel it lower my blood pressure every single time it is uttered.

And if, like that Seinfeld episode, it turns out that turning this phrase winds up causing insanity later? Well, 'tis the season for that, too.

You better believe it.

Celebrating Seventeen: An Anniversary Post

Leaving our wedding reception on December 1, 2001.

This Saturday marked our seventeen year wedding anniversary (which seems impossible given our youth and vitality, so my only explanation is that we were virtual babies when we said "I do"). People who haven't met my other half ask me all the time what he's like--I'm sure in an attempt to understand what it takes to live with someone like me on a daily basis--so I thought I would begin by telling you a little bit about the dynamics of our relationship (Clint, don't get nervous, I'll be gentle).

We are a prime example of opposites attracting; I'm a chatty extrovert with a quick temper, and Clint is the patient, easy going type who is content to quietly observe a group from a distance. I'm rhinestones and glitter, he's classic khaki pants and loafers. I'm loud and excitable, Clint is measured and even-keel. There are plenty of times I have to chide him to be more enthusiastic, and no lack of occasions where he has to remind me to calm down. I realize when I write this it makes us sound like I'm Yosemite Sam and Clint is Ghandi, but somewhere in between those two, you have us. And as my pastor who married us those seventeen years ago is fond of saying about our nuptials, "It looks like it stuck."

A December anniversary can get tricky because time and money are scarce commodities around the holiday season. In the past, we have taken weekend trips to places like Charleston or to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, and we always enjoy seeing all the lights and decorations that come with this time of year as we celebrate another year of being together. However, with a dog who will be sixteen on Christmas day and a calendar full of obligations, we celebrated this milestone with a leisurely weekend at home.

I asked Clint Friday evening if there was anything in particular he would like to do on Saturday to celebrate. Ever the foodie, he responded that he wanted Bloody Marys, charcuterie, and a nice dinner out. It would seem that saying about the way to a man's heart being through his stomach is right on the (sodium-laden) money.

Saturday was a rainy, dreary day and the perfect weather to relax and do nothing. We started our morning with those Bloody Marys as requested and an episode of the television police drama Blue Bloods; nothing says family values like Frank Reagan and his clan.

A celebratory round of Bloody Marys to start the day.

With gray skies and a steady, soaking rain, we opted for one of our favorite lazy day pastimes: a jigsaw puzzle. We may be opposites, but thank goodness we are both puzzle nerds together. On this occasion, we decided to work on a smaller, 500-piece puzzle with a scene of some overwater bungalows in Tahiti...a fond memory from my birthday trip back in April. And, for sustenance while we worked, we put together a charcuterie board perfect for snacking. Ask and ye shall receive, Clint.

The couple that puzzles together, stays together.

The finished product, and it looks just like where we stayed in Tahiti!

It was a mellow afternoon on all counts, but we did at least clean ourselves up and venture out to one of our favorite restaurants for dinner. We chose comfort food and headed to a local Italian place for some delicious house made pasta.

I don't know if it's the food or the company causing his huge smile. It has to be the company.

The restaurant surprised us with this tiramisu for dessert.

After eating to our heart's content, we debated heading to our neighborhood wine bar for a nightcap, but naturally wound up giving in to our full stomachs and the gloomy weather and retreating to the house instead. We turned on the Christmas tree, made ourselves a couple of cranberry lime "Yule Mule" cocktails, and watched one of our favorite holiday shows: a collection of Saturday Night Live holiday skits from over the years that had us laughing out loud.

Back home for a cozy end to the day.

So this is seventeen years of marriage. Over our romantic dinner, we made plans for growing old together. I made Clint promise to have my lip waxed should I become too old and feeble to oversee it myself; I decided that should his memory fail him, I will perpetually pretend that his Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are the college football national champs and let him celebrate.

It's not always flashy or trendy, and it may not cause envy among all our friends. It's not easy all of the time, not particularly glamorous, and sometimes it looks a lot like jigsaw puzzles and being home in your pjs by 9:30. But, thankfully, it works.

Happy 17th Anniversary to us!