We celebrate everything in our house. Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, National Ice Cream Day…you get the drift here, right? Ben and I are both Jewish. His dad was raised Christian, my stepmom was too. My stepdad was raised Catholic and converted to Buddhism. We’ve seriously got it all in our families so we judge no one and gladly celebrate whenever possible…Jesus, Moses, Buddha…it’s all good to us.
We buy a Christmas tree every year (or Hanukkah Bush) and get stockings from Santa (or Hanukkah Harry).
Chrismakah 2011
World's Strongest Man
We go to Holiday Parties and drink, eat and dance. In that order. And we love every darn moment of it.
Holiday Party # 3 - 2011
Ben made me promise I wouldn’t whip out the camera and take pictures at his holiday party (and embarrass him). I never promised I wouldn’t ask someone else to take the picture and then make Ben harass them for a copy ;).
We decorate our house with tacky Christmas decor and light our menorah.
Happy Hanukkah
And on Christmas, these two Jews are all about Santa Clause. We put out cookies the night before to make sure he stops by our house.
Heeeeeerrrrreeeeee Santa Santa Santa!
I’m all about tradition. Growing up, my sister and I would run out of bed, turn on the Christmas music at an obnoxious level (to wake up the parents of course) and rip into our stockings (always filled with shampoo, conditioner, a toothbrush, candy and underwear…I never said we were normal). Once we were of drinking age we added mimosas into the morning mix (also on Thanksgiving…it’s all about the booze).
This year Ben’s parents came up to Atlanta to see our new place and celebrate with us. I introduced them to my traditions and we ate our way through the weekend.
Friday night we had dinner at Sotto Sotto in Inman Park. We knew it would be a great meal, but we were seriously blown away. I had the Cappellacci (“Pope’s hat”) filled with butternut sauce in a sage brown butter sauce. In the words of Grandma Florence from New York, Ta.Die.For. Ben had the Tagliatelle ai Funghi (wild mushroom pasta in cream sauce) , Ben’s mom has the sausage and apple ravioli and Ben’s dad had the best dish of the night, the mixed seafood risotto. Add in there some great Italian wine and you have four happy campers. Sotto Sotto is our go-to dinner spot when guest’s come in to town…no one leaves there without a full, happy belly.
1st Night Group Shot
Saturday morning brought a long walk around the neighborhood with Mr. Roo, brunch at Highland Bakery and a trip to see Ben’s office + lunch at Pizza Antico. Yummy pizza served family style with a crispy crust and fresh ingredients. Plus they allow BOYB or BYOW…just go already!
Saturday night we checked out Murphy’s in the Highlands. Ben’s parents LOVED the shrimp and grits. Ben has the brisket and I had the trout. We liked them both, but weren’t as blown away as the rents were.
After a few rounds of CatchPhrase we hit the hay in preparation for Christmas and feasting ahead.
Two Words
Christmas morning came quickly and we got down to business.
🙂
Opening presents and then posing with them
Roo opening his presents
Rocky made out like a bandit this year. He got no less than 5 dog toys AND red+green cookies.
L to R: Our Gift, Grandparent's Gift, Uncle's Gift, Other Grandparent's Gift, Cousin's Gift
He was a little overwhelmed by all the toys
Ben got me a new fancy camera!!! I’ve been wanting this baby for a loooong time.
After the camera battery charged for two hours I began taking pictures of EVERYTHING. Food, flowers, dogs, people, toes, towels…you name it and I’ve got a picture of it. I should apologize in advance to our future children for the obsessive flash photography.
Sleepy Roo
After present opening, mimosa drinking and breakfast eating we started cooking our Christmas feast. Ben’s mom makes the most delicious, moist, juicy turkey so she gave us lessons.
What's the secret to a perfectly browned turkey? A sh*t load of paprika.
I took some picture of the “during”, but somehow managed to erase them all on my fancy pants camera :/.
Carving the Turkey (I have to admit this grosses me out)
While Ben’s parents worked on the turkey and gravy, Ben and I got busy on our highly sophisticated side dishes. Mac N Cheese (our recipe here) and Creamed Spinach (this is another one of mom’s gems). We’re all about eating healthy, getting our fruits and veggies, yada yada. But we really do make some mean fat ass meals.
Witness - Mom's Creamed Spinach (toped with Cabot Cheddar, duh)
Witness - Mac and Cheese (also with Cabot Cheddar and also duh)
Also on the menu was mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and Mom’s Linzer Heart Cookies (recipe here).
I absolutely will not reveal how many sticks of butter went into the making of this meal, but I can tell you it was so many that I went for an 8 mile run the next day + yoga the next. Why is butter so good?
My grandpa would tell me I was a proud member of the Clean Plate Club
After we gorged ourselves I indulged in a little doggy photo shoot, hair ribbon, elf hat and all…sorry, Roo. You’re just too darn cute.
Stop taking pictures of me!
If I play dead will she go away already?
After dinner we played one more round of CatchPhrase and then called it a night.
The next morning it was time to say goodbye, but not before we squeeze in one more Atlanta (actually Decatur) gem, Sweet Melissa’s. Note to self: eat the Ponce de Leon omelet.
Snugglin' at Sweet Melissa's
We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are looking forward to a happy and healthy 2012.
Boy Girl Dog
Boy Girl Dog 