Birthday Dinner: The Boiling Crab

This was by far the MESSIEST and YUMMIEST birthday dinner I've ever had. Last Friday Danny and I went to the Boiling Crab with my Mom n Dad and Mo and Shanny to celebrate my birthday. Too much fun! We got dungeness crab, lobster, crawfish, smoked sausage, shrimp and raw oysters smothered in lemon pepper, garlic butter and cajun spices. I do believe this was the first time I've worn a bib while eating since I was 2 years old!

Look...they're friends

Danny and Me looking stylish in our bibs

Mo's first raw oyster...

(notice my Mom laughing in the background)

My Papa-do

Shanny and Mo. Best picture ever.



Easter

A bit of Easter fun! Holidays with my giant family are the best. My mom is the youngest of 8 kids, and each of her brothers and sisters grew up, married and had 3 or 4 kids of their own and so on. So I have about 1 million Aunts, Uncles and cousins. During the holidays each family will bring something tasty to share. I love it -- so much laughing, food and family.

Merry Christmas Eve

Things I'm looking forward to :

Spending time with my huge family at Aunt Bonnie's house tonight.

Singing Christmas songs on the player piano.

Eating WAY too many tamales, enchiladas and Christmas goodies.

Sipping cider by the fire with my man and billions of cousins.

Giving presents, hugs n kisses

and

Celebrating the birth of Christ!

Warm, cozy wishes to you and all your loved ones.

Pictures: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Elf On A Shelf

My nanny family has a cute Christmas tradition...Elf on a Shelf.

I like to find new ideas for the elf to do each night! These are some fun ideas that I want to do when I have kiddies of my own.

 A Note From The North Pole:

Have you ever wondered how Santa knows who is naughty and who is nice? Elf on a Shelf -- A very special Elf that helps Santa know who to put on the Naughty and Nice list.

Excellent listeners and even better observers, these scout elves are the eyes and ears of Santa Claus. Although they cannot be touched, or else they may lose their magic, the elf will always listen and relay messages back to Santa. Taking in all the day-to-day activities around the house, no good deed goes unnoticed; these scout elves take their job seriously.

Each night, after the family goes to bed, the scout elf uses its magical Christmas powers to fly back to the North Pole. Once there, the elf will make his or her daily report to Santa.

Before the family awakes each morning, their special scout elf will fly back to their home from the North Pole. However, since these elves like to play games, don’t expect to find them in the same spot! 

Pictures:1

Thanksgiving Decor, Entertaining and Recipie's

Thanksgiving is only a day or so away! Here is your one-stop-and-grocery-shop planner for a classic Thanksgiving with your loved ones!

(Click on the titles)

*****Decor*****

 

 

*****Entertaining*****

How to Set a Proper Table

 

*****Classic Recipe's*****

Best Turkey Recipe Ever

Voted Best Turkey of 2011 by Los Angeles Times

 5 Star Stuffing Recipe

The Best Creamed Corn Recipe

15 Minute Cranberry Sauce

French's Green Beans

Candied Yams

Creamy Buttery Mashed Potatoes

Gravy

Fresh Rolls

Pears en Papillote with Chocolate and Vanilla Bean

Pumpkin Pie

Good luck my friends!

P.S. I am THANKFUL for you!

Update On Our 1920's House

Here are some recent pictures of the progress on our house!

Our 1920's remodel

Danny and Doug added a dormer.

I'll have to update the photoshop image of our finished house. The dormer wasn't in our original plans, but no sweat...I think is looks goooood.

Cleared out the backyard!

Dan ran all the electrical wires throughout the house.

Danny and Doug painted the cupola! We hoisted it onto the roof and the three of us walked out into the street to get a better view. We basked in the glory of our faux brick cupola! It's pretty classy stuff.

I'm so proud of these guys. They are an excellent Father/Son team.

Happy Anniversary Danny!

To my Danny,

Happy 9 year Anniversary! I am so thankful to have such a wonderful best friend and love -- I couldn’t imagine my life without you. I am so excited for this year of wedding planning and for all the years to come that I can call you my husband! Yaaaaaaaaahoooooo! I have enjoyed every second we've spent together; every day of school, every Sunday church, every road trip, vacation, couch-potato-time, or cooking in the kitchen, every laugh and even every cry. I have loved it all. I wouldn't be the person I am today if it weren't for your steadfast love. You are truly an AMAZING man. 

We are going to have a lifetime full of adventures and happiness! I can't wait to see what God has in store for us next.

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." 1Corinthians 13:7-8

You are my heart Danny.

How time flies...

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