Holidays « Life on the West Side

Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category

Easter blessings

April 13th, 2012

Last week we celebrated Easter in typical Club M style – church and a party. We went to the Easter vigil service which was THREE HOURS LONG. Then stopped for our typical post-Easter grocery store and goodie grab. We spent the rest of the evening eating junk food, drinking chocolate milk (only for special occasions!) talking about Easter and other important and not so important things, laughing and just celebrating a new season together. We went to bed late with fully bellies, happy hearts and tired eyes.

The next morning was a blitz of cooking and cleaning and getting ready for party #1 – Easter brunch. We had a few of our close friends over for some of Mom’s infamous Kick-asserole, Janae’s infamous Cinnabon cake, Merrick’s infamous waffles and a newly minted Club M drink – Bellosa, which was a Bellini + Mimosa (aka peach champagane + orange juice = heavenly bliss).

After a few hours of brunching, the morning crowd headed out and we ran a few loads of dishes and got ready for the evening crowd, party #2 – Easter dinner.

Dinner started with some delicious appetizers, wine, champagne, beer and liquor – My bartender knows how to do it right! He knows so well in fact that we got a mini fridge for alcohol. And it is full. Yes, we are in college again.

After a few drinks and apps, dinner was served – Honey baked ham, salmon, roasted potatoes, rice, steamed asparagus, mixed veggies and of course topped off with chocolate tuxedo pie.

We spent the entire evening laughing and talking. We finished 2.5 bottles of wine, 1 bottle of champagne and half a bottle of Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey. The evening ended late with happy, buzzing and full guests.

It was a beautiful Easter day spent with people we love and hearty meals, all in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection. And thanks to some wonderful friends, my house smells like lovely Easter lilies – still reminding me of the great friends and great sacrifice from a week ago.

Comment ( 1 )

Bring on 2012

January 4th, 2012

Merrick and I had a really fun NYE this year. We initially thought we’d be the lone wolves (similar to Thanksgiving) and hadn’t figured out what our plans were. There was talk about LA or Malibu or San Diego… or just going out to dinner and trying to stay up till midnight. We decided on that last one with a day trip to SD thrown in there on new years day. We have a couple friends down there we haven’t seen in a while, plus we LOVE San Diego. Like, would-move-back-there-before-we-move-back-to-MI kinda love. So day-tripping Sahn-Diahhgo it was.

Then as it turns out, in the process of making plans with our SD friends and spending the night just us, but new years day with them… we got invited to a NYE party down in San Diego. So instead of being party poopers in our couple-bubble, we made the trek down to the SD new years eve and had the best time ever.

We put our fancy pants on then stopped at a classy Subway joint for some pre-winin’ dinin’. Nothing like a party dress and smokey eyes in Subway to scream “It’s New Years Eve and we’re gonna party like it’s 1999!…” Equipped with full bellies (and unfortunately full bladders… and empty gas tanks… had to take care of a few priorities in between Subway and San Diego), we made the hour drive down and totally rocked out to the 90’s pop station on Pandora. That part was so so fun! Blasting “Mambo #5,” and old school Backstreet Boys and “it’s juuuust a little crush….” and “I saw the sign, but it opened up my eyes…” with my karaoke buddy was a memory that I’m gonna hold on to for a while. It was just a great moment between us.

And sometimes great moments can’t be interrupted by busting out the camera. And there were many great moments of NYE. And subsequently, no pictures of them. So those great moments will just have to be stored in the recesses of my brain and brought up again when I need a little boost.

After too many 90’s songs and bringing us back too many years (and both of us feeling old!), we made it to foggy San Diego. The rest of the night was spent enjoying adult beverages, a backyard bonfire, playing hilarious games and other great moments. I even stayed up till 2am!

January 1st started with more great (undocumented) moments – secret family recipe pancakes with REAL syrup (um Mom, why did I not even know there was a difference between good maple syrup and Aunt Jemimah until now?), serious and not-so-serious convos with our friends, and some Wii action (new years resolution for 2012: Don’t suck so much at Wii golf). We finally had to say goodbye to our wonderful hosts only to meet up at the Chang’s – P.F. Chang’s, to meet up with some more friends for lunch.

Leaving again with full bellies, we headed up to Orange County after a fun afternoon in San Diego. Pandora 90’s pop was put back on. More serious and not-so-serious conversations were had (anyone else notice driving is the BEST time to talk to a man?). More great moments were made.

We made great time home and decided instead of being slothful for the rest of the day, we’d start off the new year being active and went for a nice 2 mile walk in BEAUTIFUL sunny 70 degree weather. We finished the day off sleepy and extremely happy to have each other at the beginning of a new year, a new season, a new time for great moments.

So peace out 2011. 2012 is gonna be even better. Oh and 90’s pop on Pandora is the bomb.com

Comments ( 0 )

Christmas in the Tundra

January 4th, 2012

We’ve been back to sunny SoCal for about a week now and it’s about time for a Christmas update!

In summary, Christmas in the Frozen Tundra (aka Michigan) was cold, exhausting, delicious and full of fun family and best friend time. There were a lot of presents, a lot of meals, a lot of laughs and a whole lotta love. Isn’t that what family vacations are about?

And as much fun as it was, it’s so so nice to be home in our own bed, our own place and in our own life. There’s a saying, “With family you’re twice thankful – once when they come, and once when they go.” And although sad to say goodbye, I was definitely happy to go to my own home.

So here are the highlights of our 2 week Christmas vacation

Friends:

My best Katie and her little man. The one who’s secrets I know and who knows mine. The one friend in our wedding. The one who’s always there.

My bestest friend in the world, Cari. We’re so incredibly different and ended up together by complete random chance, but we’ve stuck with each other and she’s amazing!

My oldest friend, Maria. I don’t even remember meeting her, I just always remember knowing her. She and her Ginga-Ninja make me happy and inspire me in their marriage and their faith and love.

Family:

My brown family

My little nephew got all sorts of lovin. And the best thing about being an Auntie is handing the kid back when he’s crying and no diaper duty. That’s a baby win!

My Mother-in-law and her baby Sunho

Crazy brothers

And my white family

Family outing downtown, had to stop for some java (and wake my Pops up)

Christmas gift madness!

We were very blessed this year with food and friends and gifts and families. It was a wonderful Christmas and end to 2011.

The end.

Comments ( 0 )

The Obligatory Christmas Survey

December 20th, 2011

25 Christmas Questions

Eggnog or hot chocolate?
Every year I think I like eggnog and every year I remember I actually don’t like it. And since I drink hot chocolate year round, we’ll go with that one.

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
They all come wrapped and color coded per person.

Colored lights on tree/house or white?
White lights for suresies. I never was a big fan of the colored lights.

Do you hang mistletoe?
Thanks for reminding me! That’s actually something we forgot this year… and seeing as we won’t be back until after Christmas, guess we’ll start that tradition next year.

When do you hang your decorations up?
We try to do the day after Thanksgiving, but this year it ended up being a little later.

What is your favorite holiday dish?
Stuffing, sweet potatoes or my mom’s famous egg kick-asserole

Favorite holiday memory as a child?
My sibs and I spent Christmas eve-eve (aka the 23rd night) sleeping under the Christmas tree together.

What is on your Christmas wish list?
Our “Christmas” present this year was new furniture. Cuz we’re awesome like that. And old apparently.

Do you open a gifts on Christmas Eve?
Not usually, but I know a lot of families who do pj’s on Christmas eve… I like that and may start that tradition once we have kiddos.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Merrick and I make it an all evening event. We put on Christmas jams, drink some wine and decorate! It’s a fakey so I watch while he puts the tree together, then we put up the lights and garland and then hang the ornaments. We’ve got ornaments with our names, our professions, years, Michigan stuff, places we’ve been and a bunch of other sentimental stuff. After the tree goes the stockings and rest of the Christmas decor (towels, salt & pepper shakers, wreaths, more garland, candy canes, etc!)

Snow? Love it or dread it?
That is a hard question to answer… I think it is BEAUTIFUL too look at, terrible to be in, but isn’t Christmas without it. The first year we were in California on Christmas and driving in the convertible with the top down, it just didn’t feel like Christmas. So I’ll take it for about 1 month a year, no more and no less.

Real tree or fake tree?
I LOVE real trees! Unfortunately living on a 3rd floor apartment makes it difficult to lug one up every year, so we went with the fake one and will likely start getting real ones once we get a house.

Do you remember your favorite gift?
Hmm… there’ve been so many great gifts, not any one in particular is sticking out in my mind…

What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you?
Family time.

What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Christmas morning cinnamon rolls! And all the yummy pies and peppermint ice cream and… and…!

What is your favorite tradition?
Watching Elf while addressing Christmas cards is my fave with the SCB, but Christmas morning brunch is my fave with my fam.

What tops your tree?
A pretty angel.

Do you prefer giving or receiving?
I like giving if it’s a really special gift that I know someone will love. If I ran out of time and had to grab whatever I could find, I prefer receiving.

What is your favorite Christmas song?
I love “Mary Did You Know” and “Little Drummer Boy” and “Jingle Bell Rock”

Candy canes, yay or nay?
They make everything more festive! They go on the tree and in lunches and around the house for decoration.

Favorite Christmas movie?
“Elf” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

What do you leave for Santa?
My Santa Baby likes his coffee hot with french vanilla or hazelnut creamer.

Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?
We always used to wake up at the butt crack of dawn to go down to Detroit and serve the homeless breakfast and give out Christmas presents (that tradition has since been moved to Christmas Eve morning). We’d come home and take our time opening gifts – going around the room one by one and ooh’ing and ah’ing the whole time. After presents were opened, we’d sit for Mom’s egg kick-asserole and cinnamon buns and inevitably someone would have received a movie as a gift so we’d spend the rest of the morning/afternoon watching a movie all together.

Fortunately and unfortunately, Merrick and I are always at one of our parents houses on Christmas, so we haven’t been able to come up with our own Christmas morning tradition as our little family of 2…
MirandaXmas2010

Do you prefer to shop on-line or at the mall?
I HATE shopping in stores during this season… there are too many people and it’s overwhelming. I’d much rather sip my cocoa in my jam-jams and order online.

Christmas letter or Christmas card?
The Mister and I started a Christmas picture card tradition in 2009. It’s nice to keep track of the pictures marking years gone by and see how we’ve changed (usually it’s my hair color).

The picture we used for Christmas card 2011

Comment ( 1 )

Our Thanksgiving Weekend

November 27th, 2011

Things I’m thankful for on and after Thanksgiving:

-Not having to work on Thanksgiving for the first time in 4 years, and not having to work any subsequent holidays from here on out.
-Of course, Merrick who is my best friend and confidant. Who is always there for me and loves me more everyday.
-For my health and that I’m able to make a difference in the health of my patients.
-My original family plus my in-law family.
-Our friends who have become family.
-Our life in California.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our Thanksgiving was everything we wanted and needed. It was a little quiet with just the two of us, but it turned out great. I started out with my own 10k treadmill “turkey trot” (ya gotta earn your turkey!) and then the cooking frenzy began. We took a little afternoon break to see the Muppet movie, which was hilarious and adorable.

We made it back and started cooking again – Merrick took care of the meat while I took care of the sides. This was the first Thanksgiving I made everything from scratch – stuffing, corn bread, mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, green bean casserole. And I got a “This is phenomenal!” from the Mister. That’s a wife-win in my book! We split a bottle of wine, ate a delish meal and had a very thankful Thanksgiving.

After dinner and wine, Merrick somehow convinced me to do Black Friday late Thursday night, so we headed to Walmart around 10pm. That was my first and hopefully last Black Friday event. Although I would prefer not to do it again, it actually was a fun experience. We waited in line for about half hour to get into the store, then once inside, everything got crazy. People pushing and rushing… you’d think it was the 90’s Beanie Baby craze again (am I dating myself?). I stood in the video game line for 2 hours while the SCB jumped around the store picking up awesome deals. By the time I got to the front of the line, they said they were out of all the games we he wanted. So that was annoying, but at least we got some good Pyrex, luggage, an amazing foam mattress topper, a million $5 blue rays and a couple board games. So I suppose it was worth it in the end.

Friday we both slept in, but Merrick had to go in to work, so I spent the day working on school projects and papers. In the evening we went to a Friendsgiving hosted by our friends Rachel and Evan. It was a lot of fun with a Mexican themed meal – enchiladas, black beans, guac, salsa, sangria and amazing homemade horchata with chocolate tequila. Ole!

And if that wasn’t enough, the SCB and I came home and split a bottle of champagne and spent the evening just us, together.

Saturday finished up the Thanksgiving themed weekend with a HUGE MICHIGAN victory! That put the Hus and I in great moods for the rest of the day. The day got even better with Thanksgiving leftovers and a friend over for dinner. I really enjoy smaller, more intimate gatherings and it was really nice just the three of us catching up, drinking wine and reliving the good old roomie days.

Although it’s hard to not share holidays with our far away families, this was a really special Thanksgiving with just US this year. We were really able to celebrate each other, our marriage and time together. We are so very blessed and it’s nice to sit and reflect on all we’ve been given. Here’s to another year of blessings!

Comments ( 0 )

Mommy Dearest

May 8th, 2011

To the Mamma Bear that raised me and loved me and drove me crazy (although I think that one was mutual…), I’m so glad we’ve become so close. I’m so grateful for everything I’ve learned from you.

You’ve taught me so much, and I’m eternally grateful!

You taught me how to dance
momdancing
check out the hair and the white girl overbite…awesome

You taught me how to drink… or did I teach you that? I guess the world will never know!

You taught me to enjoy the sunshine… and get the heck outta Dodge Michigan to enjoy the year round sunshine
DSCN2968

You taught me the importance of the occasional pampering

pedicure bliss baby! Oh and an appearance from Flat Stanley…

You taught me the meaning of family

Most of all you taught me how to love
Preceremony-090

You sacrificed your dreams and wants for your family. You were a taxi driver, a cheerleader, a top chef, a curfew-enforcer (didn’t like that one so much…). You taught me how to pray and how to be a wife. You led by example and I looked up to you. You wiped the tears, and shared the memories. You taught me flexibility and the merits of hard work. You have the hardest job in the house and you do it with grace.

You’re a beautiful, strong, inspiring, incredible woman and I’m so thankful for you.

They say, “you become your mother,” and there’s nothing I’d like more than to be like you.

To my number one Mom, Go Wings!

Happy Mother’s Day. I love you.

Comments ( 2 )

Some-bunny loves me!

April 25th, 2011

Happy (day after) Easter!

So I had to work on Easter Sunday, but Merrick and I started our Easter Saturday night with our church’s Easter vigil (3 hours long, baby!), then came home and shared some cookies and milk while reflecting on our Lenten sacrifices (let me just tell you how happy I am to listen to music again… ah the sweet sound of Katy Perry and Ri Ri… how I’ve missed you!). For having to be up at 5.30am, we stayed up way too late, but enjoyed ourselves way too much. It’s these little moments that I love the most.

This was my first Easter I’ve had to work in 4 years, so I guess I can’t complain too much. It actually was a good day (well, a crappy day at the hospital, but whatev…) , I really was able to serve those sick kiddos on Easter. I was bummed I couldn’t be with my own Easter bunny, but he did find some goodies when he woke up

Some of his favorite treats: a 6-pack of Honeywheat beer (ps how awesome is that, we can get BEER in our Easter baskets now!), spicy Cheez-Its, hot pockets, marshmallow peeps (any of these “treats” remind anyone else of college food?), and some other… unmentionables…

I think he liked them all, but the thing he LOVED was this little gem, sitting right outside of the basket

A Xoom, which is the Motorola version of the IPad. I didn’t even know what it was until a few days ago. My dear friend Ellen DeGeneres was feeling extra De-generous and gave one away to all her guests on the show on Wed! I kept all the good stuff like the $100 gift card to Rite Aid, the movie Black Swan (not in Blu-Ray, the SCB didn’t want it anyway…), and the ticket to go back to her Christmas show. But I can barely use my smart phone and my laptop, so what would I do with an Ipad-type-thingy. Nuthin. So I re-gifted it to my lucky hubby. Even luckier for him, he gets the tablet from me FO’ FREE! And he can’t be mad at me for buying him an expensive toy… see how I win out in this too? Married gifts with a joint account are never free… but free gifts from Ellen ARE free!

I had to do a little reminding about our Easter baskets, so I wasn’t sure the Easter bunny would find me this year, especially since I was working. Turns out the Easter bunny DID find me and oh he knows me so well! Chocolate, cervesa and more chocolate? Ah bliss.

My Easter bunny knows I’m a wordy-lovah, so he showered me with sweet words and surprised me with a big gift inside (combined Easter/Anniversary/Birthday gifts)

Thoughts of Cancun will be getting me through the next 8 torturous weeks of school… And if we get REALLY lucky, MTV just might film us on the next “Real Cancun: 2. Married version.” This one would feature the daily bickers of a married couple figuring out why in the WORLD the husband wouldn’t want to spend all of his vacation laying on the beach, reading smutty magazines? I mean jeez! Don’t you LOVE me?

Comment ( 1 )

Thankful

November 25th, 2010

Even though I’m leaving a warm bed and a warm boy on a cold morning to go to work on a holiday, I’m still thankful for said warm bed, especially thankful for the warm boy (Oh the heat he puts off! Woooo!) and I’m thankful for the job… and the 1.5x dolla dolla bills of holiday pay. And I’m thankful for my health, that I’m the one taking care of the hospitalized, and that I’m not the one in that hospital bed (although that warm hospital bed sure is sounding comfy now…)

Enjoy some tryptophan!

And I’m also thankful I’ve seen this picture and can now ask for a spray tan for Christmas.

Comment ( 1 )

Thanksgiving Thanksies

November 24th, 2010

I’ve been in a funk recently. I don’t like our decor in our apartment. I’m sick of my clothes. I miss my family. I’m over school and work. I’m constantly tired.

But it’s silly because I have so much to be grateful for. I’ve been incredibly blessed and it’s not right for me to be complaining. I was in church last week and was able to really recognize the blessings in my life. Perfect timing really, right before Thanksgiving.

-I am so incredibly grateful for the man by my side. I’ve mentioned it before, but I would not have been able to get through school – financially, physically, emotionally without him. And after being together for what seems like forever, it really is just getting better.

-I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be in school. I love what I’m learning and I love my classmates.

-My job. Which has been flexible with my school schedule. Which has offered me a number of friends. Which I’ve learned a lot in. I’m thankful for it.

-My dear family. I miss them so much. Today is my deceased Grandmama’s birthday and her husband of 60+ years is in the hospital. In England. And my Mamma is having a hard time. And my siblings are on all corners of the country. But we’re all still “together.” Through texts and calls and letters and emails, we’re still there for each other. I’m so thankful we all have a place to go that we still call “Home.” And that they’re so accepting and love each other no matter what. Home is where the heart is, and my heart is in Michigan (even if I never want to move back to that Frozen Tundra!)

Can I not get a GOOD picture? With everyone looking and not cutting off the Mamma Bear? This is everyone, minus the bro, but plus the “New Guy.” (Hi James!)

-My husbands family who have become MY family. I’m so grateful for their love and support as well. Merrick tells me after conversations with his fam they always say, “Tell Katie we say hi and that we love her. Tell her we’re really cheering her on while she’s in school.” And I feel their love even from far away.

-My large apartment with a great view and minutes from the beach. Despite the poorly decorated walls and my not-quite-fully stocked kitchen, this place has been a home to us for over a year, and will likely be our home indefinitely while we’re on the West side. It’s big and roomy and homey and comfortable and perfect for hosting people.

-Friends. Our friends have become our family out here and I’m grateful for their love and support. Whether it’s game night, or bar night or even chill night, they’re always there for us.

A few of the ones I love

Have a blessed and thankful Thanksgiving. And please eat some turkey for me while I’m at work and the boys are having their “Mansgiving” at my house, sans turkey.

Some of the men of the “Mansgiving”

Happy thanksgiving, from Merrick and I.

Comments ( 0 )

Love on a nurse

May 6th, 2010

HAPPY NURSE’S WEEK!
nurse20stick201

This week from May 6 (National Nurse’s Day) through May 12 (Florence Nightengale’s birthday), send some love to your favorite nurse. They work really hard to make sure you feel better, and nothing makes the job more rewarding than knowing you’re appreciated!

Nurses wear many hats. She (or he) can be: a nurse, a babysitter, a housekeeper, a teacher, a waitress, a maid, a middle man, a go to girl, a listener, “the mean pokey lady,” etc etc. But through all her “jobs,” know most importantly that she cares. The job is difficult, stressful, challenging, draining, exhausting, frustrating, and I’ve come home crying more times than I can count, but it is rewarding and worth it.