Everyday's a Holiday

If you know me at all, then you are well aware of my obsession with holidays. Perhaps my most favorite holiday is Halloween because it marks the beginning of the greatest season of them all! When the first of October arrives, my 3-month span of non-stop holiday activities begins. From pumpkin carving and cornucopias to wrapping gifts and mistletoe, I just can’t get enough!

I always say that the worst day of the year is the 26^th of December. The Christmas music stops, the tree lights stay off, and in our house, the holiday hangovers are enough to keep you in bed for days.

Nevertheless, I do my very best to pack all my holiday spirit in, and this year was one of the best yet!

It all started at Shawn and David’s new casa, or should I say, their new iglesia, where cocktails are never in short supply.

First, we concocted a spiked apple cider.

 

We mixed Captain Morgan’s spiced rum with pureed apples, cinnamon and nutmeg and topped it off with a cinnamon stick. It tasted more like apple sauce than a cocktail, but it was great for dessert!

Next, Shawn put together a beautiful and delicious cheese plate, complete with a variety of Asheville cheeses, pecans, apples and boysenberry jam.

We even attempted a second holiday cocktail—spicy gingerbread spritzer! This was THE festive beverage we'd been looking for! Yum!

 

And, as always, our family gathering turned into a game night. This time, we put our spin on the ever-popular Pictionary, and unlike always, everyone played rather well!

 

Christmas morning finally came, and we enjoyed mimosas and French toast roll-ups. These were a Pinterest find (like everything these days), and they did not disappoint! I only attempt simple recipes, and this is as easy as it gets!

The rest of the day was spent opening gifts and devouring a traditional Christmas meal.

 

 

 

We got a big kick out of one particular gift. This is what Betsy ordered for Scott.

And this is what she originally received in the mail.

 

Somewhere in the world that Russian wife was unable to give her husband the gift I’m sure he would’ve worn with pride. But, we all appreciated the laugh!

With the dust settling from Christmas morning, the spirits (who I truly believe are haunting us in that church house) decided we no longer needed lights on our whole tree. But we’d never let such a small mishap keep us from our celebrations.

 

Daddy and Carrie arrived just in time for Round 2 of cocktails and presents!

 

And Owen got to meet his cousin Sofie for the very first time! I think they’re going to be good friends!

 

The day after Christmas, Mr. Dove blew in from Augusta, and we made a bee-line for Wicked Weed to kick-off their 1st birthday celebrations! A couple highlights were the Muscadine Saison and the absolutely delicious Milk & Cookies stout.

 

Before heading back to ATL, I made a pit-stop in Greenville for a much needed Clinton reunion. Always love seeing these ladies!

 

Back in the Capital City, it was time for some of my most favorite college friends to make a visit! We had a blast reuniting over tacos at Verde Taqueria.

 

And we rang in the new year at Red Brick Brewing, sipping on delicious brews, such as Laughing Skull and Hoplanta, and listening to the tunes of My Favorite Baldwin.

 

 

 

New Year’s Day brought a big Gamecock victory and a bittersweet goodbye to the best quarterback in Carolina history! Thanks, Connor. We sure will miss you!

So, it’s back to the grind, but you can be sure I’m already counting down the days until the next holiday season!

Happy New Year!