Tag Archives: Family

Italian Christmas vs. Irish Christmas

Alright, I figure I still have a few days left to write about Christmas right?  Okay, good.  I had a great Christmas; ate a little too much, drank a little too much, but I love spending this time of year with my family doing just that!

Christmas Eve was spent at my Dad’s house, the Italian side of the family.  Christmas Day was spent with my Mom’s side of the family, the Irish side.  I absolutely love both celebrations but it’s funny how different they are!

Have a look in pictures and decide for yourself.

Italian Christmas Eve

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The table…so pretty!

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My Step-Mom makes the most delicious cinnamon sugar roasted pecans.  I told her she should market and sell them!

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Appetizers consisted of veggies and dip, hummus, artichoke dip, cold seafood salad, and crackers with this amazing nut crusted cheese ball that my grandma makes.

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First course was spaghetti with the option of fish sauce or marinara sauce, crabs, meatballs, and sausage.

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I was trying to be good at this point.  My grandma’s meatballs are my absolute favorite!

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Dad grilled all of those juicy filets! He marinates them in teriyaki for a while that they get so tender.

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Okay, drumroll please.  Stuffed lobster tails…they are to die for.  I just started eating these a few years ago.  I can’t believe I missed out for so long!

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The main course spread.

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Irish Christmas Day

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Christmas morning at my Mom’s.  She goes a little crazy with the stockings!

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My aunt made cheese and bacon toasts.

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The table.

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Lots of meat and potatoes!

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My plate consisted of turkey, ham, scalloped potatoes, sweet mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, carrots, and a broccoli and chicken bake.

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Of course I had to end the day with an Irish Coffee!

So yes, I over-indulged a bit for Christmas!  But the best part is that I can get right back on track because I know how and how much better I will feel for it.

What was your favorite dish you ate for Christmas?

Old School Blogging – Holiday Edition

I was scrolling through my Bloglovin feed tonight when I came across Christine’s Old School Blogging post.  It caught my eye so I clicked, which led me to Elaine’s blog, which then introduced me to The Kir Corner.  That’s one of my favorite things about blogging…you come across some fantastic bloggers on a daily basis!

And find fun ways to let readers get to know you!  I loved the idea of this post and thought it was a great way to dedicate a post to the holiday season…one of my favorite times of the year!

1 Holy Night or 8 Crazy Ones? (Do you Celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, both?)

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I celebrate Christmas which will consist of three celebrations this year!  I always spend Christmas Eve with my Dad’s side of the family and Christmas Day with my Mom’s.  But this year is the first that I am sharing Christmas with my better half, so we are celebrating with Andy’s family on Christmas Eve Eve!

Peppermint or Chocolate?

Dark Chocolate! But for a nice cozy christmas drink, I’ll have an adult peppermint hot chocolate please!

Sing us into the Holiday Season, what is your favorite Carol this time of year?

Well this is difficult… I can’t just pick one!  My absolute favorite is Neil Diamond’s “So This is Christmas.” BUT I can’t not mention Mariah’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

Tell us about a Favorite Family or Personal Holiday Tradition.

Thinking about this I’m realizing that as you get older Christmas traditions fade a little.  When I was younger I had so many! Writing Santa letters, leaving cookies and milk (and carrots for the reindeer), and hiding the baby Jesus from the manger so that Santa could put him back on Christmas morning.  I guess I’ll just have to re-visit those when I have kids one day!

C’mon you remember your favorite  (Christmas, Hanukkah) gift, tell us all about it:

I feel like it had to be something to do with Barbie’s or dolls.  I remember I had a gigantic (it seemed) Barbie House that I absolutely loved.  I think I got that for Christmas!

That magical moment? (Your favorite scene from a Holiday movie…it’s okay if you have 2)

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Love Actually (my favorite).  At the end of the movie in the airport when everyone is coming home for Christmas…it gives me the chills.  And Home Alone when Kevin’s mom comes home.  I guess I like reunions!

Kissing under the mistletoe?  Who do you hope is standing underneath (We know it’s normally your spouse, if it did not have to be, who would you choose?)

Hmm…Justin Timberlake.  Or Channing Tatum?  But I don’t think me and Andy have kissed under a mistletoe – so he has to be first!

Swans a swimming, lords a leaping, golden rings; which gift of the 12 days of Christmas would you like most?

Definitely 6 geese-a-laying.  Do you know how many eggs that would get me!? Hmm, goose eggs? I’d try them!

Play Secret Santa, what inappropriate gift would you love to give this year?

Hmm…inappropriate? To a single friend…a deck of “pick-up line” cards.  Those were fun once!

Martha Stewart or the Grinch? What is your decorating style? (Pictures would be awesome!)

So far my decorating has been with my mom’s hand-me-down decorations.  (Think college apartment decorations). This year me and Andy bought our first tree for his apartment and decorated it from scratch.  I think we did a good job seeing as we didn’t spend too much money!

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What is ONE WORD that defines the holiday season for you? (Examples: Believe/Wonder/Bah Humbug?)

Family! I love spending the holidays with my big family.  It’s such a happy time of year!

If Santa could assure its delivery, what’s the first thing on your holiday wish LIST?

A round the world plane ticket! And a year to use it!