Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!

Brandon and I had a GREAT Thanksgiving!  We wish we could have made it home but we will be there soon!  We spent the day cooking, watching the Macy's Day Parade and the dog show - both of which made me miss NYC....Thanksgiving was always a really special time in the city :)  Even so, I was most thankful not be separated for another holiday and all the time Brandon and I have had together since graduating and getting out of the military!

We were stuffed FULL and had plenty of leftovers for the weekend - neither of us complained!

 

 

Caught Brandon bathing the bird.....

 

Stuffed, greased, and ready to roll!

 

How do you use this baster thing??

 

Nevermind, I'll do something else!

 

Hour 1

Brandon massages the bird for tenderness.....

 

And gives her a pedicure to look her best!

 

Brandon got it!

 

Hour 2

 

Hour 3

 

Let me try again!

 

Hour 4

All cooked!

 

Look at all the food!  YUM!

 

Just your everyday Paula Deen....

 

Brandon's ready to EAT, EAT, EAT!!!

But first.....

 

You have to carve the bird....

 

Pretty amazing for the first turkey, I'd say!

 

Eatin' time!  Even the Publix Pilgrims made an appearance :)

Hope you had a happy holiday!!!

Christmas time is HERE!

Update on our Christmas decorations - this is the earliest I think I've ever had decorations ready!  But, as Brandon says, we are loosing a week since we'll be home in the SOUTH!!  Yes!  I think that is all the justification that is needed - and if I say so myself, I don't think the apartment has looked better :)

 

 

Not all of those are presents!  I needed a creative way to get more height out of the tree - ta dah!

 

 Don't you love our topper.... :)

 

Snow Lion

  

Wreath I made out of white pom-poms and cotton balls!

SO easy and cute!

 Details of village next:

 

Make some s'mores....

 

Couple walking with some hot chocolate....

 

Santa handing out some presents to a "good" little boy....

 

That's a Paul Deen banner!  Happy Holidays Y'all!

 

Brandon decorated my arrangement with snowflakes - I think some of my creative energy is starting to wear off on him ;)

 

Even the mannequin is ready for the holiday season!

 

So glamorous....!

Out of the Freezer

Yep.  It's T-4 days until Thanksgiving and I've got a 16lb. bird thawing in my fridge.  Prayers welcomed.

 

The good news is....even if the bird "doesn't make it".....we can still eat the casseroles!

Those I can cook :)

Updates to follow.....

Surprise Dinner!

I got a message at work from Brandon that said, "Dinner reservations at 7.  It's a surprise...."  When I got home, this message was on the fridge:

1.  Have a glass of wine.

2.  Get dressed.              

3.  Go to dinner.              

4.  Who knows....            

I followed my directions and Brandon surprised me with dinner reservations at Northwoods!  It's a steak house in Pasadena that has snow on the building year round!  Now that it's closer to the holiday season, the atmosphere was very festive!  However, I did feel like I was on the inside of a "man's lodge."  Deer heads, entire log interior but the rustic scene was decorated for Christmas with tons of lights, wreaths, and Santa hats!  Loved it!

Here's the outside of the building:

 

 

 

See, Festive!

But....the best moment of the night happened inside the restaurant:

Me:  "Look Brandon - they even have fake snow on the floor!!!"

Brandon:  "Uh, Di.  I'm pretty sure those are peanut shells."

Me:  "Oohhhh......"

A pic for proof:

 

Brandon's filed that moment for future remembrance as needed.....great.

After dinner came the "Who knows...." portion so, we decided to unpack the Christmas decorations!

I got a great deal on a small 4' tree a couple of weeks earlier - Mom and Dad shipped out all my decorations and they arrived just before we left for dinner.  Perfect timing :)

The preparations:

 

Notice the latex gloves for "tree fluffing" - right, Mom??!

(Mom is notorious for gloves, lotion, and maybe an adult beverage while tree fluffing....love you!)

 

Unpacking ornaments....

 

First ornaments!

 

 

 

Updates on the decorations soon!  :)

Tis' the season....

at Disneyland!!!  Brandon and I visited the park (again) to check out the Christmas decorations and so I could sign in Liz (a co-worker and friend) into the park.  The "official" opening of the Holiday Season at the park was November 12th - however, they begin putting up decorations the week of Halloween!  On Halloween night, in fact, snow was on the castle!  Crazy....

But we loved it!  A GIANT tree, garlands, ornaments, and fake snow with NO chill in the air!  It was actually in the 70s....ahhhh....California....  :)

 

Mickey Ear Shadows!

 

Disney's California Adventure sign as peppermints!

 

Over the entrance gates....

(Where the pumpkins were at Halloween)

 

 

First view of Main Street.....

 

GIANT Christmas Tree!

Santa dolls (the ones people put on mantels) were stuffed into the tree as ornaments!

Probably one of my favorite things of the day.....

Should have got a picture.....oh well.....

 

 

Looking towards the castle.... 

 

Christmas at Sleeping Beauty's place....

 

 

Pretty castle :)

 

Wreaths in Fantasyland - all different and unique!

Of course I loved them!

 

 

Eek!  Small World and Mary Blair!!!

It is definitely repetitive to say the least but my favorite :)

 

 

We were about to load the boat when the clock struck Noon and we got to see a little show!

 

 

Next we headed up to "Toontown"

That's Mickey's house....

 

Minnie's house.... 

 

Goofy's house.... 

 

Chip & Dale's house....

NOT decorated :(

 

Donald's house....

 

Toontown Tree!

 

Strong Brandon!

Wanting to use some dynamite!

 

Is anything happening???

Smoke is supposed to come out of the building....

 

My friend from work, Liz  :)

 

Back on the tram to head home 

 

Spanky's leaves Disneyland with bags of swag.... :)

We didn't stay long enough to see the Christmas lights at the park.  Luckily, Mom will be making a visit very soon and I'm taking her to the park to see them.  I know, how many times can I visit the Disneyland!  As many as I want :)  Never too old and it's a perk of the job!

Come to California and you can visit too!

Happy Holidays!