Lost many pictures from Thanksgiving...UGH!!!

I salvaged this pic....

this one too....the "Publix" pilgrims and a Brandy Alexander!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am having trouble downloading my pics, so I did this nifty little survey I saw on another blog..... maybe ?!? pics to follow....

1. What are your plans for the holidays? Do you travel at Thanksgiving? If you celebrate Christmas, do you travel then, too?

We travel to family on the Outer Banks for Thanksgiving, my in-laws for Christmas Eve and home for Christmas Day where I serve a brunch until my husband has to go to work at 1pm :(
2. How do you make the plans for the holiday? If you have a significant other, how do you decide which family to visit?

Due to the nature of my husbands job(law enforcement), he is normally working on Holidays but we live in his jurisdiction (as do my in-laws) so he can stop home to eat for a bit…unless they are very busy….Unfortunately he also cannot accompany us to NC for Thanksgiving, but I am hoping that changes in a few years….it’s my favorite place and time to go!
3. Do you have your Thanksgiving meal at lunch or later in the day?

We have Thanksgiving dinner between 6-7pm. We do appetizers and festive cocktails at around 1pm (to stretch our tummies!). If we ate early we would just hit the leftovers later in the day anyway and the table looks so beautiful at dusk….
4. Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

The parade, group food preparation, Brandy Alexanders(our traditional Thanksgiving cocktail in our grandmothers crystal), Great Grandmothers china and of course the FOOD and we rarely deviate from our typical menu….

5. After a big meal do you lounge around or get up and take a walk?

We clean up, relax by the fire, watch tv and get ready for dessert (of which I don’t eat, but I am known to go back for more stuffing!)

6. Do you shop on “Black Friday” or do you avoid it?

I did it once (far from home, would NEVER do it in NJ…too crazy) and that was enough for me….
7. When do you usually finish your Christmas shopping?

A couple days before Christmas, when I run out for last minute stuff.
8. Do you and your significant other exchange gifts? Is there a budget?

We have in the past, but we are limiting it this year to around $20 bucks. Besides, it’s all about the kids now…..

9. When do you decorate for the holidays?

Not soon enough!!!! I am actually late this year thanks to the flu and strep throat…but we should have it done by this weekend.

10. Do you go “all out” with the decor or do you keep it simple?

I used to go all out, I may have to edit myself this year due to a very precocious 1-year old…..

Hello....and goodbye

Jockey's Ridge...largest sand dune on the east coast

The view from our deck

She-crab bisque for black~friday fuel....

Outer banks serentity off-season

The Wright Memioral

Meandering canals through the community...

For a few days anyway! Headed to the Outer Banks for the Thanksgiving Holiday and I can't wait to get there; the drive is half the fun as we pass familiar landmarks. Can't wait for catching up with the family, food preparation, the MEAL, shopping and lunch @ Sam & Omie's on Black Friday, the Wright Memorial and Kitty Hawk Kites @ Jockey's Ridge, the beautiful sunsets (weather permitting) from my familys home. The one downer is that my husband will not be with us, but he will be protecting and serving the people at home and I will prepare him a Thanksgiving feast in a couple of weekends!

My wish is for everyone to have a wonderful holiday and I'll be back next week with pics ;-)

One week from today...

This is where I'll be... Thanksgiving with family on the Outer Banks and it can't come soon enough. It's been a rough few weeks and I need a little OBX to deflate and refresh. Best of all, it will be Brennan's first time to his Mommys favorite place :-)

A website I'd like to share....

Photos courtesy of Jeff Hirsch via The New York Social Diary

I've been down for the count for a few days with the awful 24-hour thing that goes around from time to time, so I haven't posted or tackled projects that I would've like to....

I would like to share a site that is my Friday lunch hour go-to.... The New York Social Diary has a House column on most Fridays that gives an extensive sneak-peek into some glorious New York homes. Sometimes the spaces are terribly busy (it IS Manhattan, space is limited) and sometimes terribly sparse (minimalism at its best), but it is very interesting to see. The column may also feature homes in Connecticut, The Hamptons, New Orleans and Palm Beach. The photos are incredible and very detailed, taking the reader from room to room...it's very interesting what people covet. Some of the artwork, relics and textiles are just breathtaking... Above are examples from a recent column. The planter/table is to die for and the bed room goes without saying....Check it out!

http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/

Homes I love...

The real Jersey Shore....

This is a summer home down the road from us in Bay Head, NJ. It's been on the market for quite some time, although they won't budge on price and I don't blame them. This is a true Jersey Shore beach home, not that crap that they show on tv.

A very well done 4,000 square feet, 8 beds, 5 baths, steps from the beach and built in 1920. All this can be yours (or mine if I win the publishers clearinghouse) for around 2 million.

Our 2009 Christmas Mantle

I am posting this to link up with http://www.thestoriesofa2z.com/2010/11/last-years-christmas-mantle-mantel.html. I am still so new to all of this blogging & linking...but I am getting so much inspiration for this years decorating....annnddd since I have a precocious 1 year-old, the mantle may be the ONLY thing I decorate this year!

I was not happy with my lack of an "anchor" on last years mantle, the wreath was not cutting it. I am hoping to make a large, faux boxwood "H" to center above the mantle this year to accentuate my mercury glass vases, pointsettias and twinking lights..... Thank you for viewing my post :-)

Christmas Card Photos

My in-laws gave us our Christmas gift early this year ~ New Camera!! See my post below to know that it was MUCH appreciated....

So we bundled the boys up on a crystal clear, albeit crisp day at the shore and captured exactly what we had in our minds...our 2 beautiful boys..all smiles and bright eyes!

~Footwear Friday~

Shoes courtesy of Nordstrom Brass Plum a couple years ago...super~duper clearance. Band-Aid on heel courtesy of..well you know....It's worth the pain.

I am currently on a shoe-buying furlough, but luckily I've stocked up prior to now. Unfortunately...no one told me that along with my beautiful bouncing baby boy, I would also gain a shoe size, so I am squeezed into EVERYTHING!! This would include the knee-high Steve Maddens and Hunter Boots I purchased at about 4 months preggers ~ how do I shrink my calves?!?! Working out just makes them bigger ;-p

More shoes to follow....

Random

The current view outside my office...

I love these kind of days...at home! Light candles and/or a fire, cook something hearty and just get cozy. In a few hours that's just what I intend to do!

eerie edible update

I have to thank my husband for helping me finish the party apps on Friday...

From work-to Halloween parade @ school-to getting my self ready-to packing baby for a trip to Grandmas-I simply ran out of time...so he constructed the coffin and worked the pimientos for the bloodshot eyes. We added spiders, eyeballs and little pumpkins on the spinach dip in lieu of the skeleton in the original recipe. Both munchies added to the festive atmosphere that our hostess provided!

Hope every had a great Halloween!