Holiday party!

Pin It Now! I have internet! After 9 grueling months I have internet. YAY! I want to share the invite I made for the holiday party I'm throwing for Mr.Wright's students.

I am having SO much fun planning this party. I hope to make it my best yet. I have a whole board on my pinterest with fabulous ideas, check it out.

Can't wait to catch up on blogs and share more stuff! I'm working on a sparkly craft and will share it later on.

xoxoxoxo

B :)

Super cute family tradition idea!

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I have been searching the internet for Christmas gifts already. I have compiled a GREAT list of very cost effective, creative and highly rated toys for kiddos and everyone on my list actually. I'll be sharing that later, but in the meantime check out this SUPER cute product I found on amazon. It's called The Elf on the Shelf.

The product is a story book and a little elf.  The idea is to tell the kiddos that Santa sent the elf to watch over the kids and the elf reports to Santa each night. Us parents are supposed to move the elf into a new spot each night so it looks like he "left" for the North Pole and came back. There are over 200 positive reviews on amazon and many claim how excited kiddos were each morning to see where the elf was in the house.

Isn't this just the cutest idea ever for a family tradition for young kids?? I'm ordering one right now and thought I'd share :)

xoxo

B

A Wright Christmas

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I would have to say this was the best Christmas I've had so far.  The entire month of December was just really fun, festive and crazy busy.  And now I'm pooped.

I'm very happy to report that my Christmas Eve dinner turned out amazing.



I grilled some filet mignons and made Ina Garten's Gorgonzola Cream Sauce.  *drool*.  It was perfection.  Absolute perfection.  Gorgonzola has a very pungent flavor, however in this sauce it's not overpowering at all.  I did use a little less gorgonzola and a bit more parm cheese though.  It was the perfect compliment to a perfect cut of meat.  Perfect perfect perfect!  Did I mention how perfect it all tasted?

 Also made steamed crab legs (tradition to have crab legs for Christmas Eve dinner), scalloped potatoes and homemade apple and sausage stuffing. 

Then Paula Deen's pumpkin pie for dessert.



Her recipe really is the best pumpkie pie recipe.  Ever.  The end.

We decided this year that after Christmas Eve dinner we would open all our gifts, except for the ones from Santa.  That's how they do it in Europe and if you think about it, makes more sense.  Jesus' birthday is on the 25th.  Let that day be about the celebration of him, right?  So technically I should have opened my gift from Mr. Wright on Christmas Eve. 

 However!

 I've got mad negotiating skills and a severe problem with patience.  So after a few hours of begging, I got to open my gift a tad bit earlier :)

Mr. Wright did VERY good this year and got me the best gift.  I didn't even know how much I would love it.  I call it my super duper fancy new cookbook.  But most people call it an ipad.  I found the COOLEST app for those us foodies out there.  It's call My Recipe Book (click the link to see an overview).  Basically you can import any recipe you find online into the app.  You can also manually add recipes from your own cookbooks.  I think it can pull recipes from ebooks too, though I haven't tried that yet.  You can organize all your recipes by catergory, modify recipes to how you like them, add notes and my favorite feature?  You can select all the meals you would like to make for the week and add those recipes to the grocery cart.  It then provides you with a grocery list that you can email to yourself!  You can also search your own recipe database for a meal you'd like to make in 20minutes.  I think they make this app for iphone too!



I love that I can bring it anywhere with me. 

There are some seriously cool apps.  I downloaded an Elmo book that is a visual audio book.  Meaning there is someone who reads the book aloud as we turn the pages.  But that's not what is cool about it.  What is cool is  I can also read the pages of the book and record my own voice!  Which is really neat in the event I'm ever away.  Which is basically never b/c what reason do I have to ever be away?  BUT.  If the occassion ever did arise, my babies could have a story read to them by "me".  Or if Mr. Wright ever leaves for a work trip or something he can do the recording too.  OR!  Maybe if I get to meet Obama one day I could ask him to record one page for me.  Hmmm.  See this gift really is the coolest gift ever.  Only problem is Mr. Wright and Little Wright also think it's the coolest new toy.

 I am now on the ipad lovers bandwagon and can see why so many people love em'.  The sweet thing about this gift is hubby used some of his bonus check to buy it for me.  Awww.

Then, to top if off we had a very snowy, white Christmas! 



I really can not remember the last time I had a white Christmas.  Or if I've ever had one THIS white.

Honestly, the best part of this holiday season though is that I have a happy and healthy family.

 

This is the first picture I've posted of Mr. Wright!  Yup, that's the man I'm stuck with forever :)

Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday!  Oh and Happy Kwanzaa!

xoxo

B

Christmas in Germany and France

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German Christmas Market

Magical. Cold. Festive. Charming. Quaint. Beautiful. Warm-cider-wine-that-warms-your-soul. Breathtaking. Memorable. Colorful. Twinkley.  Delicious. Surreal. 

Just a few words to describe Christmas in Europe.  I've been to 4 different markets this year and each one has gotten better and better.  It's a very different experience to be in Europe for Christmas.  It feels more special.  Less commercialized.  More memorable in some ways.  Perhaps it's just the novelty of cobblestone streets or being surrounded by an array of foreign speakers with lovely accents or the ancient architecture of nearly every building reminding you of the rich cultural history or the street performers playing their accordians and clarinets. 

[caption id="attachment_1022" align="aligncenter" width="518" caption="Noël à Strasbourg"][/caption]

 European countries in and of themselves are oozing with cuteness and charm.  But add Christmas sparkle and music and it's just dreamy. 

 Nearly every city and town in Germany participates in a Weinachtmarkt, or Christmas market for us English speaking folk which takes place outside.  Where it is cold.  Freezing cold to be exact.  (about 20 F tonight) And there is nothing better to warm your hands and your soul then a steaming cup of Glühwein. 

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If you've never heard of Glühwein (vin chaud in France) or even tasted it, you are missing out!  It tastes like warm red wine mixed with apple cider.  I believe that is essentially what it is.  

Of all the markets I've been to thus far Strasbourg, France is by far my favorite.  I think I may be bias in a few ways.  For one I understand the language better.  I took 5 years of french once upon a time and remember enough to get by and converse decently.  (Except for the one time I told a guy I am a toilet.  I'll share that story another time).  But also the wine is much better than German wine in my most unprofessional sommelier opinion.  I could guzzle the vin chaud in France.  But aside from all that the city is just beautiful.  And even more so during Christmas. 

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 The buildings, streets and churches are dripping with seasonal decor and the city is illuminated at night by the pretty glow of thousands of Christmas lights. 

[caption id="attachment_1031" align="aligncenter" width="491" caption="Noël à Strasbourg"][/caption]

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The vendor huts (for lack of a better term) offer so many different types of trinkets and goodies.  From ornaments and candles to chocolate and woodcrafts. 

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Check out what I bought.

 You put little tea light candles inside them.  So pretty! 

 I am offcially warm and fuzzy inside with Christmas cheer.  And not just because of all the vin chaud I drank :)

Hope everyone is having a Happy Holiday season!  Christmas is only 12 days away!

B

Peppermint Nutella Cookies

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I have a few confessions.

1) These cookies are semi-homemade

2) Despite the fact they are semi-homemade they were still yummy.

3) It only took me 2o minutes to make these and only 2 dishes to clean! (the cookie pan and a knife)

4) It's noon and I'm still in my pajamas.

Ok.  I feel better for being honest.

I've mentioned before how I suck at baking.  But that was before I started using my food processor.  Which seems to be a magic machine that mixes all the ingredients together to create perfect pie crust and sugar cookies. (And salsa, pesto and soup, but those have nothing to do with baking of course).

Yesterday when I was strolling through the frozen section and I saw a tub of Otis Spunkmeyer Sugar Cookie dough.  Even though I don't fear baking so much anymore, I still couldn't resist the idea of a super easy cookie. 

I considered them for a minute and then thought, nah I'll make my own from scratch.  But right as I was about to walk away I saw boxes of candy canes. 

And then I had an epiphany. 

I've been wanting to make a cookie involving nutella somehow.  Because nutella is just one of the greatest foods to exist in my opinion.  Sugar cookies, nutella and candy canes?  How could that not taste heavenly?

So the verdict?

Yup.  They were good.  And they were easy.  And the fact that there were only 4 left this morning, says it all. 

You could of course make a homemade sugar cookie.  But for those of you in a crunch for a time or who don't have a baking cell in your body, the premade stuff works nice.

All you need is:
Sugar Cookie Dough
Nutella
Crushed candy canes or peppermint sticks

Bake cookies according to directions.  Let cool for 5-10 min.  Spread nutella on each cookie.  Sprinkle with crushed peppermint.

Enjoy

B

Homemade hand print ornament…easy!

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Now that I have two little ones, the holidays seem even more special.  As we get older as a family I want our tree to be a reflection of memories of years past. 

I remember making a handprint ornament when I was a kid and thought it would be fun to do with my own kiddos this year.  Something we can put on our tree each year to remember how small they were when we lived in Germany. This is such an easy way to create a memory and a keepsake for your Christmas tree!  It would also make a great gift for grandparents.  I found the recipe here.

I didn't use food coloring, but instead just painted the handprint after the mold had dried.

Enjoy!

B

Breakfast Burrito Buffet for the Holidays

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I have a good idea for a breakast brunch this holiday season!  A breakfast burrito buffet!

It could be as fancy or as simple as you like.  The reason I like the burrito buffet idea is because it's simple and doesn't take much time at all.  Here's what I included in my buffet:
Homemade salsa made the day before (store bought is ok too, but I highly recommend homemade!)
Breakfast sausage
Bacon
Eggs
Breakfast Potatoes
Shredded Cheese
Flour tortillas
Saricha hot sauce (best stuff ever)
Orange juice in fun champagne glasses

Guests can add whatever they like, roll up and enjoy.  MMM!

I set the table up first. It makes things much less stressful this way. If you want to create a festive holiday table, gather items from around your house or even purchase a few pieces for your buffet table.  This can be as fancy or simple as you like.  But I do recommend at least having some fresh flowers.  Flowers and brunch just seem to go together.

Arrange the plates and servingware where you'd like them to go.  I put out the shredded cheese, salsa and tortillas on the table ready to go while I prepared the potatoes, sausage, bacon and then the eggs.

I recommend cooking the eggs last because everything else can hold up fine for 30min or so whereas eggs get cold.  And cold eggs are just not good.

Next time I will add avocados and jalapenos though.  Some fresh fruit on the side would be nice too.

A burrito buffet is so versatile and can easily be made into your own.  For example add sauteed vegetables like red and yellow peppers with onions for vegetarian guests.  The world is your oyster.

Hope everyone is having a happy holiday season!

xoxo

B