The Whimsy One

We have been going and going lately. Since the end of November we have spent 10 days in Boston for Gobble Day and a baby shower, two days in the Yadkin Valley Wine Trail, five days in Virginia and tomorrow we head back to Boston to meet my new main squeeze, my niece! She is brand spankin' new. as in less than 24 hrs old. I am ecstatic!
Therefore, when we were deciding upon NYE plans...low key was the word! Plus, Wiki had to work till 5. Can you say "blah?" haha He has a good job, so I will not be starting off 2013 whining!

I cooked some chili and we ordered Chinese food. Wiki kept mentioning how it was a tradition to order take out didn't understand how had I never heard of it. Then he googled it and it is a tradition...in New England. And like all New Englanders, he just assumes everyone is like him;) haha But he kept mentioning how it was one of his favorite memories of childhood...how his parents, brother and nonni and nonno would come over and they would eat take out. It has been 3 years since our precious nonni has been dancing it up with Jesus and I can sense, even more lately, how much he misses her. It was fun to partake in this with him and am hoping we can translate it into our own yearly version. I did "Southern" it up a bit, lest you worry. haha

My parents came down from Virgina and our really good friends, Elliot and Nicole came over w/their little guy, Blake. We watched Duck Dynasty and Pawn Stars. Hahahaha Keepin' it classy, folks, 100% classy. Nicole is my ASU friend I mentioned yesterday. They head back to Florida soon and are preparing for Spring Training and the upcoming baseball season. I kinda hate not seeing her as often:( Nicole is one of my all time favorite people. We have lots in common; We love green tea, dessert, shopping, reading awesome books and drinking ~~gobs of~~ a little wine;)

And for any future get togethers you may have, a perfect bubbly mimosa! And the cranberries made it festive...obviously.

white cranberry and peach juice
champagne/sparkling wine
fresh cranberries

Drop a few cranberries in bottom of glass and then fill champagne glass 1/3 way with juice and top with the popped bubbly. Tip glass back and have yourself a grand ole time! You could also mix this up a bit, add peach schnapps or cranberry vodka, maybe peach sparkling wine. Really...I mean, how wrong can you go with any version?!

I used a moscato, yummy!

Cheers or Salud!!!

Da Mamma and me.

My Rachelle came by for just a bit

Da Mamma...so excited to get her first Sperry's

$24!

I got in on the action too!

$21

Hope everyone has had a fabulous start to their New Year!

So much better than it sounds...at least to me. I loved this idea but was skeptical as to how it would taste. I am not all get up and go over apple cider. I know, and I say Fall is my favorite;) However, when I was trying to come up with a festive drink for Halloween, this just flitted across my mind and I played around with it and boy, did it ever work!

This recipe was for a lot of ppl, you can adapt to suit your needs!

1 gallon apple cider
1 bottle sparking apple juice/cider
2 cups meyers dark rum
2 nips(mini bottles) spiced rum
1 to 2 bottles champagne/sparkling wine
3 to 4 apples( I used a mix)

In a large beverage dispenser combine the cider, sparkling cider and rum. Stir together. Cut up 3 of the apples and place in cider mixture. Let it sit for about half an hour. When you are ready to serve, fill a glass 3/4 full with the cider and top w/champagne. Serve w/an apple garnish. Such a refreshing treat.

I was happily surprised at how much I really enjoyed this!

and if you really wanted to you could do non alcoholic. Just pour apple cider in a glass and top with the sparking juice. Gives you the bubbles. and obviously bubbles rock.

and a sneak peak of tomorrows post: Pumpkin Cheesecake Bundles.

and yes, I know it's late, but it's in the one week past mark so it's still kosher. at least this is what I determined and this is Maddie's world so I'm in charge;) Here are some of our Halloween pics, I've spent the last week texting and emailing friends to get copies due to the fact that my phone was officially fried and they couldn't salvage my pics. How sad, but now I know how to ensure they're backed up for future reference.

The first party was at the humble abode of our lovely friends, Rhonda and Tim. Originally we were going as Mad Men, me as Joan, due to the lovely fact that her & I share the same ~~curse, reason for back pain, reason my tailor stays in business, girls, the bane of my existence.~~ ummm. attributes? no, I know, hair color;) but then I decided I wanted pin up hair and so we just went with that era. Then the next party I was Rosie the Riveter & he was...creepy 70's man. Think Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas.

Please enjoy my $11 Ross dress. and excuse the certain circumstances of...ummmm, over exposure? They have a mind of their own. they are the boss of me.