Christmas has arrived at our house! Despite the fact that I am normally a Christmas fanatic, it’s taken me a little while to get into the spirit this year. I blame distractions, but we are ready now!
Friday night I went to a friend’s house for dinner. We had pizza, a great salad and a homemade soup. Plus some vino!!
Matt and Mazen went on an adventure on the free trolley to Fry’s Spring Pizza! They had a blast.
Saturday was dreary and gray, and Mazen and I played around in our PJs for a while. (Matt was at a slicing event).
I had Cheerios, yogurt and banana for breakfast – plus two cups of joe!
We finally rallied and went to the gym for a workout. Back at home, I had a quick small soup lunch to tide my hunger until my 2pm party!
The party was a baby shower for my dear friend Sarah!! She’s having a little boy early next year, and Sarah G. and I put together a blue-themed shower for her.
THAT CAKE! It was from local bakery Chandlers and the frosting was plentiful : )
Before we ate the cake, though, we nibbled on lots of foods – a selection is shown here.
I made my mom’s punch recipe (ginger ale, cranberry, frozen lemonade and sherbet) which we spiked with wine glass-by-glass to suit both drinkers and non drinkers.
Our friend Jess made these amazing chocolate cake pops!
And we had different kinds of candy on the dessert buffet
We all went around the room to celebrate Sarah and give her advice for being a mom of two. (And those of us with 0-1 children listened! Ha!)
I was in charge of cutting the cake!!
Oh yeah!
Isn’t she fabulous at 30+ weeks pregnant!?
Later in the evening Matt and I went out while Karen and Mazen cooked dinner together. It was raining, but we live too close to the mall to drive and park, so we just braved the elements under an umbrella-ella-ella.
We went to Ten for sushi. This was our 4th visit and we have YET to get a table!! Each time we sit at the bar, which is actually pretty fun. I must remember to make a reservation for our 5th visit : )
I had an amazing red blend –
We shared tempura haricots verts, miso soup and 3 rolls (I wasn’t terribly hungry, so Matt ate most of the rolls).
We hung out with friends afterwards and then headed home to sleep.
Sunday morning we went to Whole Foods for brunch – I love their waffles!
We shared these two plates 3 ways, plus Matt got a small omelet.
We then picked out our Christmas tree! Mazen gave them all a sniff…
Until deciding this one would do!
I worked on a blog recipe all afternoon and did lots of food prep for the upcoming week. I have had so many social occasions lately that we haven’t cooked a full week at home in ages. I’m looking forward to it! We’re doing Cook Smarts the whole week through!
How’s your Christmas decorating going?
Lisa @bitesforbabies says
We’re such procrastinators! We just put up our Christmas tree last night! I was contemplating buying a real tree but my husband is not too keen on the idea…hopefully next year! I never really thought about it before I had kids but now I feel like it would be such a nice tradition (and so exciting for them) to pick it out all together. The meals look delish! Have you tried roasted Brussels Sprouts? I roast them with dill or curry…I call them the “new” kale chips, lol!
Kaila @healthyhelperblog! says
OMG that cake is so beautiful!! Wow. Major props to the decorator! I have a question, do you use your DSLR for shooting pictures when you’re out and about or do you use your iphone? Your photos are always so vibrant and beautiful!
KathEats says
It depends on the occasion – I took my DSLR to the shower, but the other outing photos are Samsung Galaxy
Linda @ TheFitty says
Can’t wait to see Sarah’s baby! It’s going to be sometime in the new year, yes? Way to kick off with some sweets. 🙂 looks so crafty!
Melissa @battleofmarathonblog says
The decorating isn’t going at all! 🙁 I’m only in my apartment for another 2 weeks until I go to my parents’ (I teach at boarding school). I did buy a “Let it snow” banner to hang above my oven…does that count? Haha.
Sarah says
Can you remember any good tips from the baby shower on going from 1 to 2? Due in March and it seems like a big change!
KathEats says
You’ll love your first and second more than you could ever predict // Don’t bother cleaning – time with children is what you will remember in 20 years // Find a little time for yourself (oxygen mask theory!) // Everything is a stage that will pass
Lindsey @ Simply Lindsey says
That cake looked SO good!! We were out of town for Thanksgiving and finally decorated for Christmas last Thursday night! 🙂
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
My Christmas decorating is a work-in-progress, but mostly done. Looks like a fun weekend! 🙂
Lisa C says
That cake! Beautiful!
I have had trouble loading your blog on my phone lately. Anyone else have issues?
JEN says
Your hair is getting so long! Love the Christmas wreath. Will you share a few pics of your house once its all decorated for Christmas?
Hannah @ Sprints and Scones says
Dying over Mazen sniffing the trees – SO cute!!!
sam @ grapefruit & granola says
I think I am putting up my tree this week 🙂 I have a Christmas scented candle out right now but that’s about the extent of things.
Christy @TheMuddyApron says
Those cake pops look amazing!
We started decorating after Thanksgiving but we’re getting the tree this week. So excited! Happy December.
C.
Alex @ get big, go to work says
Our Christmas decorations are pretty non-existent right now…I blame it on the fact that we are gone for two weeks in December when we travel north to visit friends and family. It would be nice to decorate and get in the spirit at home, but I have a hard time convincing myself it is worth it…Maybe next year?
That chocolate cake looks amazing 🙂
Shel@PeachyPalate says
The cake looks so pretty….and beautifully chocolaty inside!! The punch sounds incredible as well!
Caitlin @ Happy 'n' Hungry says
That pizza, salad and soup look delicious! Yum.
We decorated for Christmas the weekend before Thanksgiving since we were going to be out of town that full week. So once we arrived back, we had the tree and everything waiting for us, which was nice!
Elyse says
Mazen sniffing the tree was way to cute! He always steals the show for me!
Tracy says
Your hair is getting really long! Looks so pretty!
We put our tree up Saturday and I’m trying to wrap up my shopping, wrapping and shipping this week!
jen says
Picking out a tree with little ones is just so fun. We go to a cut your own farm, and last year when my girl was 2 she fell in love with all the baby trees. They were waist height to her and she kept bending over and patting them all on the head ever so gently. Fun stuff. Looks like Mazen sniffed out a beauty!
Hannah @ eat, drink and save money says
Love the picture of Mazen with the tree! We’ve had a blast decorating this year. Christmas with a toddler is way more fun than with a baby.
Allison says
My husband and I got our wedding cake from Chandler’s. It was so delicious. Even the top tier, which my mother sealed up and froze was delicious a year later. We still talk (17.5 years later) about how good it was!!
Nikki says
Is that the same Sarah who got called out for eating two tacos the one time? lol! It was a little while back but that post where you said that totally made me giggle. Looks like a great weekend overall!
KathEats says
The same Sarah who totally rolled her eyes when I told her people were mad about that!
t says
goodness your baby shower frd looks just
like anne ala fannetastic food!
Julie says
Your photos are always so beautiful and what a wonderful spread (and wreath)!
Rheagan @ Hardly Awesome says
It’s so great that you let Mazen help pick out the tree. That’s one of my favorite childhood memories.
We have our tree up, and an advent calendar on the mantel. I think that’s going to do it for this year…we can see the city Christmas lights from our window, and that’s enough for this busy mama!
Mary Frances says
What a spread! Looks like a wonderful shower!