I’m back home at my condo after spending a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with my family & per usual, I feel so calm & rejuvenated. I’m sitting in our living room – Christmas tree lit, yummy candles burning, hot cocoa in my hand and the only Will Ferrell movie I’ve ever enjoyed playing,…and I’m having one of those moments. One of those moments where you’re simply happy to be breathing.
Do you ever have one of those moments? They’re the best.
I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving – we all have a lot to be thankful for. I’m enjoying my last night of this mini-break relaxing & putting a fresh topcoat on my mani!
OPI – Every Month is Oktoberfest (short nails & cut on middle finger = Christmas tree decorating casualties – bummer)
I’ve got a busy week ahead! I plan to enjoy these last few hours & go to bed with the intent of starting the week on a fresh & positive note. I hope you all do the same! 🙂XO
My family is incredible. Honestly, like beyond amazing. Anytime I get to spend with them is so special. They’re funny, warm, inviting, and the most generous, loving people you’d ever meet. Each one of them!
Everyone at Thanksgiving last year 🙂
We get together more than most, and love to celebrate everything. Recently, my Aunt Noel turned 60, and all of my Aunts & Mom threw her a surprise luncheon with all of the ladies in her life! It was such a perfect afternoon & she was so, so happy to see all of the friends and family that came out just for her.
We all met at Harbor Lights in Norwalk. It was a really cute restaurant, right on the water.
The sun was shining – even two beautiful swans showed up for the occasion!
They floated right outside our window all afternoon 🙂
My Aunts put a lot of effort into making everything just right, I snapped some of the table details:
Custom M&M’s with her face on them! I had never seen them with images before.My Mom made the centerpieces! She was calling/face-timing/texting/e-mailing me all week with her ideas & finds. I think they came out perfect!
We were all mingling & catching up when we got word that she had arrived! We grabbed our cameras and stood there as she walked in with her family. She was SO surprised, it was the cutest thing ever. Obviously, tears were involved 🙂
Ahhh! So sweet 🙂
So surprised! Hugs for everyone 🙂
Stole these pictures from my cousin, Kelley 🙂
After some teary hellos, we all settled in and enjoyed some tasty apps!
Crab cakes. I don’t really care for seafood in general, but these were really delicious!Fancy Oyster Rockefeller. I ate everything but the actual oyster lol!
It was so sunny, I had to snap a pic of my celebrity Mama, wearing her Tom Ford’s at the table.
I think she’s the cutest
Forgot to snap a pic of actual lunch! Whoops!
Toasts for the birthday girl! (The people tuning in in the back were actually celebrating a surprise birthday as well!)Miss KBell hosting a little trivia game that we may or may not have totally botched.Best chocolate mousse dessert EVER!
Always have to squeeze in time for group photos…
All of the sisters 🙂All the girls with my AuntAunts & girls 🙂KBell & MomCan always count on Kath to ham it up!
It was such a special afternoon & I’m so glad I was able to make it! In the words of Teresa Giudice, I love, love, love this family 🙂
The weekend after Thanksgiving I love putting up the Christmas tree & decorating the house with my Mom & Sister – my Dad & Brother usually opt out…I think they were golfing this year lol. We always play Mariah Carey’s Christmas album, dance around & just enjoy the day. We don’t purchase a real tree anymore, when we were all younger we were insistent on finding the tallest, fullest tree there was – we’ve since invested in a phenomenal pre-lit fake that is just as effective, 80% less the hassle & looks even better!
We took all of the tree decorations out of storageWe had a little trouble with the star LOLEven Lily got in the spirit!
I love our ornament collection because each one has some kind of memory, joke, or sentiment to it. There are even a few faces on the tree 😉
This was a bridal shower gift for my Mom!This one is so old & chipping away, but it’s still one of my favorites 🙂How cute is my little sis in her 3 fingered homemade ornament LOL?!!This one of my brother cracks us all up! He’s suuuuuuch an angel 😉…And that’s me…in 1st grade!…aaaand Katherine called it quitsAll done! So pretty 🙂
Naturally, after all of that work it was manicure time!
Fun Gelish mani on Katherine! Midnight Reflection & Twinkle on her index fingers 🙂
I love spending time at my parents house during the holidays. It’s so warm, festive & comfortable. It’s so darn hard to make my apartment feel that way! …Stay tuned for that post though…we did make an effort!
Do you and your family have a Christmas decorating tradition?
Theme by BluChic | Customized by Designs by Virtual Bren
Unauthorized Use and/or Duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site's owner is strictly prohibited.
XO
