gluttony thy name be smartmama

I am not someone who generally gains weight- but this Christmas I added 5 lbs- would you like a sampling of where those 5 lbs came from...1- Prime rib and gravy, roasted potatoes, peas and pearl onions, yorkshire pudding, and croissant bread pudding and haagen das vanilla ice cream.
2-Turkey with mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry salad, and 4- yes 4 types of homemade pie made by my friend jennifer (coconut cream, apple, pecan, and pumpkin)
3- Dinner out- a ribeye with asparagus and whipped potatoes, Caesar salad, fresh rolls, creme brulee
4- Lunch at the inn in Williamsburg- Mini kobe beef burgers with a citrus tossed salad (fresh lime segments and grapefruit- tart and tasty!) and decadent chocolate cake
5- Mongolian Beef and Honey Coated Chicken at PF Changs
6- Eggs, Bacon, Debra's Homemade coffee cake and Sourdough Pancakes and my grandparents great "green grapefruits"
oh and about 2 lbs of sees chocolates, lindt truffles, godiva bars- and a reminder to self- cake and pie are not breakfast foods!
I guess I know what my news years resolution should be...

Christmas house tour

I love Christmas- I mean I really love Christmas- in fact as a child I made my family sing "hark the herald angels sing" every week at family night for many years straight. Christmas is the greatest holiday (I will blog more on the true meaning of Christmas another day)- I love it with all the trimmings: mistletoe (which means kissing), presents, decorations, music, holiday movies, lights, food, baking, being with friends and family, and just feeling magic in the air. So naturally I like to decorate for Christmas- in fact the tree to person ratio at our house is 6:4 (that only includes trees more than 2 feet tall) This year I scaled back a little (didn't do the banisters, mantle or put up one of the 7 foot trees) because life has been so hectic and i am seriously sleep deprived but here is a view of a few festive spots around the house-

1- The entry way with my favorite Santa (wearing a caftan) I brought back from Morocco

2- The breakfast nook tree-the Fun tree- no ornament is too homely for this tree- It is the ultimate kids tree- complete with bubbler lights!!! where I have everything from my 2nd grade Styrofoam meat tray and glitter angels, to star wars and strawberry shortcake ornaments.

3- my dining room- I love to hang things from my light fixtures- this room is all silver, glass, and white- lots of disco ball mirror ornaments

4. The breakfast nook table- I had to keep this low key/unbreakable this year as it is all within reach of smart baby

5. The family room (yes slacker mantle I know) stockings thanks to shelah

6. the family room tree- all gold and red and the classier ornaments in our collection

I'll spare you the rest of the counter vignettes, nativity sets, candy bowls, etc...

Merry Christmas- it is the most wonderful time of the year!