Happy New Year! Last week was a nice break but today it's back to work and back to real life - it should be a long day, ha! We spent the weekend enjoying the snow, being lazy, doing housework and such and trying to ditch our jet lag. I'm looking forward to sharing about our first trip of the new year but first I've got some catching up to do since I was too busy enjoying the holiday to post about it. Starting with Christmas Eve Eve and Christmas Eve...
Christmas Eve Eve Dinner is always one that Derek and I host - casual and fun - appetizers, Christmas Cheer and beef stroganoff with salad for the main course.
We got back from New York in the morning then got ourselves ready to host. This year we even had some friends for dinner as they were stopping by on their way home for the holiday and spending the night!
We enjoyed having the house full and after dinner spent time chatting, watching Christmas movies and getting things ready for our traditional Christmas Eve Breakfast the next day.
On Christmas Eve Derek, Stella and I did our gifts by ourselves before getting on with the day - we always like to exchange just us so this was the perfect time for this year. We showed our friends over to the new house before packing up to spend the weekend at my parent's house.
As always, I made up Christmas Eve Breakfast (no yeast cinnamon rolls and an overnight casserole) for everyone to enjoy before the rest of the day was spent relaxing, watching Christmas movies and such.
It's always good to be home...
Christmas Eve Ready (dress / shoes / scarf / similar purse / lip color)
We always go to one of our favorite restaurants for Christmas Eve dinner - Italian and a cozy family setting.
Depending on the weather we either walk or drive over to church after and we had some time to kill - the street makes for a beautiful backdrop for some Christmas photos - always photo heavy near the holidays.
Christmas Eve candlelight service...
I love that my parent's neighborhood always lights up the street this night...
Christmas pajamas, a glass of wine and movies, getting the breakfast casserole together, stuffing stockings and family time to round out the day.
Have a great week! xx
Sounds like Christmas Eve Eve and Christmas Eve were both such successes! Such fun that your dinner is so close to your church that you can walk when the weather is nice!
ReplyDeleteI always love looking at the food you have! It always looks so yummy! And how nice that your parents neighborhood does that with the lights--I'm sure it makes for a beautiful sight at night!
ReplyDeleteSarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts
You certainly kill the entertaining game. Love all your setups
ReplyDeletexo, Jess @ Red White & Sass
seriously the cutest you guys! i love the coordinating pj's and the stockings and right down to the christmas eve dinner w/ fam. the candles are beautiful!
ReplyDeletexoxo cheshire kat
So much celebrating! Love all of the holiday inspired outfits--including the PJs!
ReplyDeleteI love your spode dishes!!! I feel like they are the epitome of Christmas eve!! I also love that your church does the candlelight service. We went to Christmas Eve services but no candles. Just beautiful music.... which works, too. ;)
ReplyDeleteY'all have some of the best Christmas Eve traditions! We decided to exchange presents early, just the two of us, as well. It's nice being able to do that alone rather than in the midst of all the crazy family celebrations. Happy Monday!
ReplyDeleteCan your family adopt me? Ha! Seriously, I just love how festive you guys are, and I think it's great how many photos you get!
ReplyDeleteYou are the hostess with the mostess girl!! Loving your setup and I spy some red bottom heels!! LOVE! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteLove your traditions!! Jared's fire schedule is different each year depending on which day the holiday falls on so our holiday schedule is always changing. I'm a little jealous of your routine ;)!
ReplyDeleteYou have such a wonderful tradition for Christmas Eve! And props to you for hosting on the day you got back from NY, that must have been tough. And your spread looked delicious! Love your pretty new Louboutin's too!
ReplyDeleteI always love reading about your California adventures, and I really can't wait to hear how the bowl game was! It sounds like your Christmas Eves were perfect, and I love how many different traditions y'all have, right down the food and everything!
ReplyDeleteWe have a neighborhood here in town that is famous for lighting up their streets at Christmas as well. It always looks so beautiful! That's awesome that your parents' neighborhood does that, too!
ReplyDeleteLove all your traditions, especially a Christmas Eve-Eve dinner and Christmas Eve morning breakfast - YUM! Breaking out the Louboutins for Christmas Eve dinner is a fantastic idea <3
ReplyDeleteGreen Fashionista
What a fun Christmas Eve Eve and Christmas Eve! Love all of your traditions :)
ReplyDeleteYou definitively know how to throw a festive party for every occasion, I love the cute PJs for Christmas day and opening gifts with Stella. We also love having Lola being part of gift opening since she had her own stocking full of goodies!
ReplyDeleteI want to come to one of your parties!!! Everything looks lovely!!!!
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