Friday Favorites- Holiday Happenings Edition! (December 18, 2015)

Friday Favorites- Holiday Happenings Edition!

Linking up with Andrea HERE

Christmastime is one of my favorite times all year and

my favorite thing about it is all of the quality time spent with family and friends...

practicing old traditions and creating new ones!

This week of so full of happenings like that!

Sunday evening, we experienced our first "Jammie Christmas"

Wednesday Night, Diana and I experienced a new tradition

We went into Boston with Kate and her mom Mary Beth (one of my dear friends)

The girls are the same age and we are also blessed to have them as neighbors

We took them into the big city (Boston) and started with an awesome dinner at Maggiano's

and after dinner,  we walked around Boston Common to look at all of the beautiful lights

We think the girls were more impressed by all of the ambulances they heard AND of course the parking meters

After our walk, we wrapped up the night at Starbucks...the girls enjoyed playing with their Shopkins and sipping cocoa

That night, before we headed out, I gave Diana a special gift.

I got us Mom and Daughter necklaces...Mine reads "there is this girl who stole my heart, she calls me Mommy" and her's says "Mommy's Girl"- the pieces fit together

Here is our selfie where we tried to show them (sorry you can't really see them)

Yesterday, "Team Will" enjoyed a holiday celebration at King's Bowling at Legacy Place in Dedham- Legacy Place was unreal- can't wait to get back there! So very grateful that I have been touched by these lives and I get to be among some of the greatest people 

Last night, my mom and I did our annual holiday dinner and enjoyed the brand new Ocean Prime in the Seaport District....in one word...outstanding!

We started with their signature cocktail, "Berries and Bubbles"....and it was smoking the entire time- so cool!

and then my mom had a great clam chowder and I had the ceasar salad

For dinner, she had a shellfish Cobb salad and I had the grouper...we agreed that both were phenomenal!

The atmosphere was amazing and the service stellar- we told "Holly" our waitress that they were off to an incredible start!

Hope you are all enjoying making memories of your own!

Weekly Gratitude

I am thankful for......

my family

for the luxury of making warm Christmas memories with my hubby and girls

for traditions

for friends

for being able to give back

for new traditions

1st Annual Jammie Christmas

"Jammie Christmas"

Another great idea by Shay and we just enjoyed our first one!  We will definitely be making it an annual tradition.

We had so much fun and we followed all of the rules

1. We wore our jammies

2. We stopped at Starbucks for coffees, cocoas and treats

3. We listened to Christmas music in the car

4. We drove around looking at all of the Christmas lights

5. We had FUN!

Girls Weekend at Loon Mountain

Thanks to Beth Ann and Matt and their family, we had a great little Girls' Weekend.
Matt's Aunt and Uncle offered us their condo and we had a cozy little ladies weekend
 On my way!

Apps and Wine on Friday Night!

Saturday meant spa time, lunch and cocktails and then a quick beer OUTSIDE at the Paul Bunyan Room- it was so mild and we loved being outdoors for awhile...we felt like we had skiid!

Saturday night meant dance party back at the condo- SO MUCH FUN!
Love these girls....friends who have become like family- so grateful!

Friday Favorites (December 11, 2015)

Friday Favorites (Festive Edition)

I decided to dedicate my Friday Favorites to All Of My Favorite Festive Happenings 

Linking up with Andrea HERE

Here goes it!

1. Shay, one of my new favorite bloggers, posts the best recipes.

This week, I decided to try her baked chicken tacos with cranberry salsa

VERY festive....we agreed that we like her Green Chile Baked Chicken Tacos better and I plan on making those next time and topping them with the cranberry salsa- I think the tastes will mesh better-stay tuned

The salsa just makes the dish SO festive :)

2. and Clark Griswold is in the house....well my Clark anyway....stringing up the lights...love him (we always decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving.  This year I had to make sure that everything was done before my Recipe Exchange and my darling hubby obliged and got to work!

Doors to the Dining Room

Tree in My Office- My Happy Place

Our Family Room Tree and Mantle

and our home all lit up at night= bliss

3. and if you have been reading my blog for awhile, you know I am OBSESSED with the Hallmark Christmas movies...just the right amount of festive romance!  One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to snuggle up next to my office tree, light my Christmas Eve Yankee Candle and watch these gems.  A new mug from Christmas Tree Shop and cozy slippers complete my mission!

4. We always do different festive things with my parents each year too.  Last year, as you may remember, we took a trip down to Edaville Railroad to see the Christmas Lights.

You can check that out post out HERE

This year, as you may recall, we returned to Stone Zoo for the Christmas lights and a visit with Santa.  After the zoo, we headed over to my parents for a fun pizza night.  It is not just pizza, though, with my family.  Hey, we are Italian and we do things BIG!

My mom made these yummy coffee drinks...SO GOOD...and she made sure she had everything decorated before we got there...the kids loved it and so did I! :)

 5. Miss Janie, my Guardian Angel, spoils my little girls too

She got them kits so they could decorate their own gingerbread men and also Advent Calendars so they can do the count down to Christmas while enjoying chocolate!

6. Giving Back is one of my favorite things this time of year too

We have participated in two charities at our church, one at Diana's school and another community group.  I am trying to teach my girls that this is the true meaning of Christmas 

 7. Christmas PJ's...this year from Kohl's...we are gearing up for a family night of Christmas Light Watching...in the jams!

Mine

 Robby B's

Diana's

and Pidge's

Can't wait to read all of your Friday Favorites....Fa La La La La....La La La La!