Merry Christmas 2012

Simple and quick Christmas Eve breakfast we brought to the In-Laws. Heads up grapes in the Winter are not cheap but it was so worth it and turned out really cute.

 

Me and Sport trying to make a frame to freeze time.

I wanted to wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas! Cherish every second of the holiday chaos hustle and bustle. I'll be signing off and cherishing my family time. See you in 2013 for lot's of new and fun family adventures. 

We Give Thanks 2012

Although Spooky Week is one of my most favorite times of the year. I must say that the Thanksgiving Season and Day is pretty high on my list too. There is no better day to make everyone really stop and appreciate exactly how blessed we are. Well at least that is how my family uses this season and day.

 

 Starting 7 years ago Hubby and I laid out a schedule (I know this is no surprise me and a plan). I'm sure many of you have the challenges of "picking" a family or side for each Holiday. WELL after many many many days of discussing him and I created what we think is the best of all (at least for us). Christmas Eve is always with his family (I will share more of the Christmas layout in a different blog), Easter we rotate years his side of the family and then mine. Yes, it is possible to do breakfast with one and dinner with another but with the 1 1/2hr drive each way that's 3 hrs in the car to see his family alone its really alot of added stress and normally turns out to just be tired and upset all around. We try to see the family who has the "off year" either Good Friday or Holy Saturday. Thanksgiving.... well as ALL know we LOVE the kitchen. Hubby was a chef back in the day about 15 years ago and cooking and making a mess is a hobby to him. I locked it in as Thanksgiving will always be at our house!

 

Yes, this was a HUGE fight and unfortunately sometimes it still stirs up trouble, but sometimes as a parent you stand your ground this is the one holiday I can lock in traditions how we want. The rule for Thanksgiving is our door is always open! We don't mind if ALL sides of the family from both sides come or if it is just us. We are so grateful to God for having the roof over our heads, the food we eat each day, that all the extra visitors throughout the years are considered even extra blessings when we get them. 

 

 

 

We were blessed with Jasons parents and sisters family coming over for Thanksgiving this year. First Thanksgiving at our house with them and it was our FIRST holiday hosting at the new house.

 

So I mentioned Thanksgiving traditions let's dig in....

 

* We have been so lucky enough to be chosen by an Elf on the Shelf each Thanksgiving morning our family member Elbie the Elf makes his annual appearance to stay for the next month and he does something different EVERYDAY from this day until Christmas Eve.

* As a couponer you could only expect I am a shop til you drop Black Friday Shopper. Although you can start to find out sales and deals ahead of time and I am highly disappointed lately that stores open soooooo early it is really starting to take away from it BUT you really do get some great deals. Plus this is a tradition in itself that I go just us girls with my Mom and Sister, coffees in hand and our Plan of Actions (POAs).

* Hubby makes the dinner and I do the appetizers (crafty and cute of course)

* We always watch the movie Willow.... I know this movie has NOTHING to do with Thanksgiving but I'm laying out the traditions and this is on the things to do list we started years ago.

* Chef Dadda makes most of the desserts ahead of time which helps with the day of (yet again another tradition to always assist in baking the few days ahead of time).

* My favorite of all... we ALWAYS do a "Give Thanks" activity and craft. Each year I make the craft a little different but the main focus is for everyone to reflect what they are thankful that year and in life. I have saved all submissions from everyone and plan (one day) to make a memory book of all of the answers.

This year we were blessed with the first time Thanksgiving Day visit from Grandma and Grandpa Reseigh and the Neeb Family (Chef Dadda's sister). It was a wonderful and rather relaxing day and evening! 

I love moments that are captured like this!

 

I have the kids working on a Thanksgiving madlib (lame me I know having them work and learn but it was actually silly and fun).

So cute! I made Pilgrim Hat (hot dog bites), pumpkin shaped deviled eggs, a Turkey Shaped cheese Ball (crackers and pretzels as the feathers) and a "garden" of pumpkins (little carrots in hummus spread in far back behind cheeseball).

Fantastic job Chef Dadda!!! (May I add yes I have all dishes caught up and cleaned slight OCD that I follow him with a sponge).

 

 Great and breaking news.... we have discovered and will start a new tradition on Black Friday nights we will now attend the Holiday Lights Parade festival. This was our first visit with this and although it was VERY cold but it was beautiful and worth it.

Super excited to add it to the perfect family day traditions!!!

 

Ethnic Night 3 - Mangia' Mangia'

As we packed out bags and headed to Italy ( which really means my in-laws in Brighton). In February we took a tour of Italy with Auntie Nae (Chef Dadda's sister), Grandma & Grandpa Reseigh (Chef Dadda's Mom and Dad).  Grandma comes from a very Italian family with the maiden last name Sclafani. She had many stories and secret tips to share with Sport and the family. I wasn't feeling so well so I didn't participate in the cooking that much, but supervised and took notes. Sport was greatly involved and had discussions about the differen kinds of noodles fat long, rong, bow tie and the reasons for all of them. Grandma discussed the schoolings and explained the BIG meals and cooking days on Sunday was very similar each week to what we were doing that day. Right after church each Sunday all of the family (Aunts & Uncles, cousins, and their cousins, and Grandparents and so on would all gather to make big meals together each Sunday).   

Some of the things Sport learned.....
About the schooling in Italy.
Stories and traditions from Grandmas life and her Mom & Dad and their stories.
How to peel potatoes
How to properly pound meat

The menu included:
* Spedini
* Pasta
* Italian Sausage
* Potatoes
* Green Beans
* Bread and moigue
OH and wine!!!

Sport peeling potatoes and Stinker washing a bowl



Learning how to fill the spedini.

Grandpa making his moigue

Mixing mixing buddy

Grandma explaining some history and family stories to Sport and Stinker

Learning how to properly use the knife...watch your fingers!

Stinker is trying out the bubbles... this must be an appetizer.

Prayers before dinner.

I think Aunt Jenee' needs more food on her plate.




 

Yummy!!!! Where to start and dig in?!?

These were amazing!For dessert we enjoyed the delecasy cannolis which are Sicilian pastry desserts. Some had nuts on the end and others had mini chocolate chips.

While enjoying our desserts we all relaxed and played several gams of Wii. This is a perfect Italian night filled with laughter and memories.

Awwww loving Minnie after dinner.

Chef Dadda pouting on the couch because the ladies were beating him in bowling Wii.

Goooo Grandma go!

 
We continued the wonderful experience by all attending mass the following morning tomorrow and enjoying a wonderful family breakfast.

As the Italians would say who drinks well sleeps well he who sleeps well dreams well  "chi beve bene dorme bene,chi dorme bene sogna bene".  OR "La vita e' bella" which is Life is Beautiful.... and after family gatherings and times like this it really helps remind you of that.

Ethnic Night 2 - Bonjour!

We traveled to France as a family today. I must say it was a very nice trip. As a family we stopped at a local meat market for the best cut of meat to prepare our main dish.  Sport and I got home and researched some things about France and their lifestyle.  We also used a life line and called my sister "Aunt Jenny" who studied French for 4 years in High School. She gave us some good information and history about the culture too. The French eat small meals not huge elaborate 10lbs of meat and more meat and more pasta and more carbs.... they eat light, small meals and really concentrate on Café and desserts (YUMMM my favorite as well).

We realized that comparing our Greek night to the French night this French was MUCH easier. The meal itself was not as difficult to prepare and overall just seemed more calm.  It's funny because as I sit back thinking about Greek night, we really sounded Greek yelling and getting loud together, but that was just as much fun getting our hands dirty preparing that meal and trying out a new Ethnicity. 

Sport insisted on cutting the garlic all by himself. It took alot of time but he did a great job.

Sport continued to stir his Green Beans with his magic touch I must say they are the BEST we have ever had and no this is not mothers bragging the really were the BEST we have ever had.

The menu for French night is below:

Main Course: Chateaubriand (it melted in our mouth), wine, potatoes & Carrots (amazing), wine, French style Green Beans w almonds (Made by Sport all by himself and the best we have EVER had), wine....





My mouth waters looking at this.

Dessert: Crepes and Grand Marnier French Toasted Angel Food cake w/ strawberries and whip cream.



Isn't it beautiful!?!

Requests for seconds before I even sat down to take a bite.

 

We love our trips around the world (in the kitchen) and look forward to many more experiences. Next stop... Italy!

Disney here I come

Happy New Year!!! Bring it on.... that's the new attitude. 

Everything happens for a reason (I say that often) but I do strongly believe that. This past weekend we were notified that some friendly stranger (sarcasm) decided to borrow our money and charged over $1,400 on a fake debit with our number. NO I am not joking, but the good news because of this situation, Jason and I sat and reviewed our expenses in GREAT detail literally down to the penny.  We talked bills, dreams, goals... it was a stressful, but at the same time a very pleasant conversation.  With a new house in the future, bigger, boat, and building the kids bank accounts I don't see any extra fun pennies BUT I wouldn't take that answer. 

For a few months I was a VERY dedicated couponer but I started to dwindle as I let life take over me instead me taking over my life. However, I have been reinspired as I did some summaries of 2011 savings:

From May (2011)-Jan (2012) 8 months

* I spent $2,230.71 on groceries which includes diapers, hygiene, and all food (no eating out that’s my new mission to tackle and lower)

* I saved $1,570.32 from coupon and sales.

* My average  $75 a week at the grocery store and a savings of 61%.

 

That’s AWESOME if I can keep that up BUT maybe kick it up a notch.... GAME ON. The agreement Jason and I have is that I will now have a weekly "allowance" for the groceris and use cash. Any money that I can save from that pot I will set aside and hide for.... Disney!!! 

My kids are only young once and we have to embrace chances like this. I will give up sleep and work on coupons until the wee hours in the morning if I can save my pennies and get us there. My goal is to pay for the ENTIRE Disney trip for next Spring.  GAME ON!!!!!!!!! Im packing my bags already.