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My winter vacation

As I look back over the last couple of weeks, I realize how much we actually did. And yet, I feel relaxed and ready for the New Year, energized for work's demands and generally in a very centered and good place.

I've had some thoughts about how to live this new year, which include but aren't limited to:

Manage stress better.


Spend more time outdoors. Really outdoors, like hiking. In the mountains. And cycling, with the road bike. And mountain biking, with the...you get my drift.


Do more yoga.


Mediate regularly.


Be kinder to myself on all levels.


Be even more present in every single moment.

To say our holiday was great would be a gross understatement.  It was a celebration of family, an intensely enjoyable time to just be in moments doing all kinds of things including but not limited to:

Making pierrogies. Annual event involving MIL, SIL, BIL, all my fam, nieces, and lots of eggs, cottage cheese, flour, boiling water and folding folding folding....

Christmas shopping for various family members with other family members, and secreting stocking stuffers and other silly stuff and wrapping and sipping tea...


Lunching. We like to do lunch, it seems. Salads, sandwiches, Mexican food, nouveaux cuisine, we don't care, we'll enjoy munching it at lunch. And we did. A lot.

Working out. Seriously. Runs. Yoga. More runs. Daughter at the gym. A lot. It was fun.

Reading. Lots of beach-y reading. Mysteries. Romances. Suspense romances. Fiction of all kinds. And of course my new Joy of Cooking cookbook, in hardback!, that Hubby gave me for Christmas. (my old one...was paperback, over 30 years old, and held together with a big fat rubber band..I kid you not)

Pampering. The New Year wouldn't be complete without a sparkly set of toesies, right?


Shopping. Seriously. More than we should have, but the sales, they were...really good this year. Really. Suffice to say, Mama got new boots - Fryes - that are kind of a hybrid low heel cowboy/English riding boot. Love them. Already broken in. Mama also found a beautiful Fossil purse..needed a basic, dark brown, durable leather purse for years of use. Found it. Love it already.

Dinners. Lots of them. Sumptuous some, simple others. All good, all with candles and a variety of friends and family...menus included, but weren't limited to:
 
(Xmas dinner potluck at SIL's)
    Lasagna w/spinach
   Ravioli   
   Green Salad
   MIL's Deviled Eggs
   J. Lohr Cabernet
______________________

   Cornish Hens
   Rice Pilaf
   Garlic Green Beans
   J. Lohr Chardonnay
______________________

   Prime Rib
   Au Gratin Potatoes
   Fresh green salad w/lemon vinaigrette
   Kenwood Cabernet
______________________


   Hubby's Spicy Chicken Wings 
   Wild Rice
   Grilled Peppers
______________________


   Red Chili with Pork
   Black Beans
   Macaroni and Cheese (homemade of course, and for the kiddos at the dinner)


_______________________

   
   Crab Legs
   Steamed Artichokes
   Crispy Sourdough Bread
   Korbel Champagne
______________________


   Quiches
    L'orraine
    Crab w/artichoke hearts
    Fresh fruit salad
______________________


   Greek Chicken
   Mapled Winter Squash
   Green salad w/avos and balsamic vinaigrette
______________________


Wow. And I'm sure I missed some. But based on this, I'd have to admit to being semi-obsessed with food. And its preparation. And clearly its consumption.


Watching movies. Good ones. Bad ones. You name it, we probably viewed it during the week.

Laughing. At our foibles. At our seriousness. Because we were just plain happy.

Reminiscing. 'Nuff said.

And now it's over. The vacation part. Son is back in Abu Dhabi. Hubby and I are back at work. Daughter still has a little time to regroup and let her brain recover, which is good. Admittedly, I feel a little empty inside but mostly extremely appreciative and yes, blessed.


All the way around.
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