Snow in Albemarle

When we woke up the morning after Christmas we had snow at in NC. We spent Christmas night at Ash and Trent's. Below are pictures I got while walking around their house. Enjoy the pictures and the pureness of the snow.

What do you do with...

the left over ham from Christmas? Make scrambled eggs with ham for breakfast, eat ham sandwiches on Moravian lovefeast buns for lunch, and for dinner make a hawaiian pizza. Below is the hawaiian pizza we made for dinner the other night. We still had enough left over to make an extra pizza and freeze it for one of those quick dinner nights.

Pizza night is not complete without some homemade boneless buffalo wings:) Yum

Merry Christmas

This year Christmas eve started with a Christmas eve service at our church. For the past 5 years we have not attended a Christmas eve service because of an annual family Christmas get together. This year we both really wanted to attend the service and we were so glad we did. We heard the sweetest girl sing Happy Birthday Jesus. I don't think there were many dry eyes in the congregation. We ended the service singing Silent Night in candlelight, absolutely beautiful!

Christmas morning Scott's parents, sister and her family, and his grandparents came over to our house for Christmas breakfast and presents. After opening the gifts we had sausage breakfast casserole, banana nut muffins, biscuits, cinnamon rolls, coffee, juice, and Mimosa's for the grown ups:) The kids got a Wii from grandma and grandpa and were so anxious to play their games they used our wii before heading home. They were so cute to watch as they laughed and played together.

Scott and Austin playing with Austin's new remote car.

Hailey loves Trixy.

The kids playing Just Dance for Kids.

Scott's sweet Grandparents!

After the family left Scott and I did our Christmas together while the dogs enjoyed their stockings.

Scott got me a beautiful cross necklace that matches my wedding ring set.

Really all I wanted for Christmas was running clothes for the winter.

Coby and Trixy got their dad a 19th hole wine bottle holder.

Then we treked over to Albermarle to celebrate Christmas with my sisters and their significant others. This was our first Christmas without being with any of our parents. It was bittersweet. We really missed them being there with us, but we also realized at the same time that we were growing up. We chuckled at that thought, but the 3 of us girls pulled together a wonderful meal. We had many laughs at the dinner table that evening. When we went to bed we still didn't have a white Christmas but when we woke up we had the most beautiful sight out our windows.

Coby with her Auntie Ashley. He helped play Santa.

We sat around the fireplace opening gifts, laughing, and enjoying being together.

Trixy relaxing in her dad's lap. She had a busy day.

Ashley and Trent's house in the beautiful snow.

Santa!!

We went to an ornament exchange Christmas party. We had an amazing time at the party and encouraged the host and hostess to make this an annual event. We laughed, talked, sang, drank, and ate amazing food. While finishing supper we had an exciting and unexpected visit from Santa! Below are a few pictures from the party. Photos by the hostess with the mostest, thanks Whit.

For some reason these 2 refused to kiss under the mistletoe.

Group shot of the girls and boys with Santa.

I will post later the ornaments we ended up with.

Baked goat cheese dip

For a Christmas party I made this delicious baked goat cheese dip. This recipe is extremely easy and sure to be a crowd pleaser. Enjoy:)

Ingredients

• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• Pinch of sugar
• 1 (14.5-oz.) can petite-diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes in oil
• 1/4 cup torn basil leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 (4-oz.) goat cheese logs, softened
• 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
• Assorted cut vegetables and bread cubes

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Sauté onion in hot oil in a 3-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in garlic and next 3 ingredients, and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Stir in diced and sun-dried tomatoes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes or until very thick. Remove from heat, and stir in basil and salt and pepper to taste.

2. Stir together goat cheese and cream cheese until well blended. Spread into a lightly greased 9-inch shallow ovenproof dish. Top with tomato mixture.

3. Bake at 350° for 15 to 18 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve with assorted vegetables and bread cubes.

Make ahead: Prepare recipe as directed through Step 2. Cover and freeze up to 1 month. Thaw in refrigerator overnight. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Bake as directed.

Southern Living, DECEMBER 2010

Homemade Pumpkin Butter

This year we wanted to pass out something to friends, but didn't want the stress of buying something for everyone. I made this pumpkin butter before Thanksgiving and we loved it so much we wanted to share it with our friends. I found these cute jars at Target. With some ribbon around the top these jars will be ready to go.I already passed some out at work and they where thrilled. I hope they enjoy as much as my family did.

Fashion Show

This was the first ever fashion show at LNHS. My apparel 2 students successfully pulled off a terrific show. I had 14 students wear and model their own garments. I can honestly say I have never been more proud of a group of students than I was Wednesday night. The girls chose their music, designed their programs, tickets, stage set up, and decorations. I was simply there for facilitating and running their errands. They sold tickets for $4 in advance and $5 at the door. Drum roll please......we sold over 100 tickets!!! We had a high goal of selling 100 tickets and we went beyond it. The girls were even able to make a profit.

Unfortunately I am unable to post pictures of my students online for my own personal use. However I do a few pictures to show you.

Scott was in Chicago so he sent me this beautiful flower arrangement.

My students think he is perfect. I have to tell him he isn't but he is

pretty close:)

Before I had to go on stage and introduce the show my girls handed me a gift.

I can't explain the chemistry between the class and myself but I have felt blessed all

semester long. I know these classes are few and far between.

I did not ask the girls to type up a thank you. They did this on their own.

We included this on the back side of the program.

If you can read it it is very well written and so sweet.

Front of the program.

14th Runway St. came from 14 girls in the class.

The theme was a winter night in the city.

Homemade meals

This week has been extremely busy with the fashion show and Scott in Chicago. On Sunday I made homemade butternut squash soup and chicken pot pie. Both were delicious. My younger sister had just made a homemade pot pie for her husband so I thought I should attempt to make one for mine. If I do say so myself, it was the best chicken pot pie I had ever had. Sorry mom. I was able to eat on this all week long.

I have been wanting to try this soup.

Since I have more time on weekends I did a double dose of

homemade meals. A little more than I was bargaining for but worth it.

Then Scott made a white turkey chili for us on Tuesday night. He kicked the recipe up a notch. It was so nice to come home from a long day of work and dress rehearsal to a delicious home cooked meal. Thanks Scott:)

4 years ago

We cannot believe that we have just celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. Time sure does fly when you are having fun. Every anniversary so far we have taken the day off work and spent it together. We feel this day is extremely important to us, because it is the day that we promised to God, each other, family, and friends to spend the rest of our lives together. We feel blessed to have more love for each other today than we did 4 years ago. We also are blessed to be able to take time and honor 12/9/06.

This year we celebrated at the Grove Park Inn. For those of you who don't know this is where Scott proposed and also is right outside of Black Mountain where we met. The Inn and the Asheville area are very special to us. We started off by treating ourselves to the spa and then an amazing dinner at the Sunset Terrace restaurant. Friday we slept in...well to 8:20 anyway....then one of us sacrificed for the other and went to the gym:), then we sat by the biggest fireplace we have ever seen before we enjoyed the breakfast buffet with a mountain view. Absolutely beautiful!

We went to the Biltmore where we enjoyed the afternoon and evening. We also did the candlelight tour...beautiful, but really overpriced...considering when it first opened admission was only $2.00.

So you really can't tell there was a fire...but we promise it was there.

This UP gingerbread house was created by a teen.

Back side of the Inn.

Christmas at Biltmore.

We had flowers and Champagne waiting for us when we got to our room.

Anniversary dinner

Absolutely wonderful weekend!

A few hours after running the 5k it started snowing! The first snow of the winter is always exciting. Scott and I had planned on picking out our Christmas tree on Saturday. We went to the mountains to find the perfect Christmas tree in the snow. Even though it was freezing we had a great time finding our tree. We have never picked out a tree in the snow. It felt more like Christmas. Below are pictures of our journey to the mountain and what our house looks like now.

Ta da. So much for my tall thin tree.

This place had fat trees. If you look at the tree

to the right in the picture, you will see the tree Scott wanted.

Our drive home was a little treturous but we made it home safely.

As you know I love designing and decorating. For the past 2 days I have been in heaven while decorating our house for Christmas. Below are a few pictures of our house.

Christmas tree and mantel.

Part of the fireplace.

Other half of the fireplace.

Lanterns in front of the fire place.

Lanterns from Ikea. Candles from Kohl's. Silver filler from Pier 1.

The Snow villages are symbolic of our wedding day 12/9/06.

The church for where we were married, and the train station

where our reception was held.

Hand railing going upstairs.
Breakfast nook table setting.

Coffe table. 3 tired candle set from Ikea.

Center piece made from left overs.

Candle and candle holder from Pottery Barn.

Evergreen center piece for the coffee table.

Greens from the Christmas tree, snow covered pine cones,

and red marbles(acting as berries).