holiday cooking

if you were to ask me what are the holidays all about, i'd answer...

1) spending time with family and friends
2) giving
3) the days leading up to christmas
4) parties

...and 5) EATING

one of my favorite gifts this christmas was my kitchen aid.  i call it "my precious".  its everything i thought it could be and more!  i spent the holiday break cooking... and cooking... and cooking! and, here are some bits and pieces of what i put together (unfortunately i didn't get pictures of christmas eve dinner - sea bass and crab cakes!)

spaghetti bolognese

(made with ground beef brisket, cooked for 5.5 hrs)

orange zest cake

oatmeal peanut butter cookies with dark chocolate chunks and walnuts 

my precious & me

and we're back!

now that the holidays are over, its nice to get back to some regular blogging.. at least for this week. 

taylor and i leave for europe in 8 days!!
i'm still debating whether or not i should bring my computer...

anyhoo! the holiday break was a hit!

i spent it with family and friends

eating good food, sleeping in late and relaxing, getting errands done (that piled up over the year),

and enjoyed free time overall

happy 2012 dear friends.
lets make it a good one!

the end of a great year

as 2011 comes to an end, i can't help but look back on what a fabulous year it has been. all that i wanted to accomplish was accomplished plus a little extra to make the year sweet. here are some highlights from my 2011:

• i started this blog and re-fell in love with photography and writing
• i made 15 waffle breakfasts and 10 french toast breakfasts (give or take)
• moved in with tay to the westside (and having a blast)
• adopted my little molly, who i love more than anything
• planned tay and my first trip to europe
• was asked to be a bridesmaid in my oldest friend's wedding (and this will be my first wedding!)
• got promoted at work
• broke my first bone(s)
• started a book club
• quit drinking coffee
• finally figured out twitter
• went back to my natural curls (no more straight!)
• became addicted to yoga
• did a lot of self-discovery

i look forward to 2012. i'm still compiling my new year's resolution list/goals, but i have some good ones already formulated. i predict this new year to be full of photographs, [good] changes, love and more self discovery

bring it on, 2012!