The Holidays Wizzed By!

Well, I can't believe that it is after Christmas already. I still haven't even posted my Thanksgiving pictures yet, this can't be right! I guess I will have to do a Holidays Highlight including our fab Thanksgiving Dinner, Trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game, The First Thompson Holiday Party, The Blizzard, our Holiday Card and Christmas Decorations. I hope I can get our wireless to agree with me and not get caught-up playing Rock Band or Yahtzee tonight.

We are off to New York City to celebrate New Year's in style. I am so excited and can't wait to pack lots of warm and pretty outfits to wear over the next five days.

I hope everyone has enjoyed this wonderful time of year!

Christmas Meme

1. What is your Favorite Christmas Movie? ELF & White Christmas
2. What is your Least favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story
3. What is your favorite Christmas song? Silent Night
4. What Christmas song(s) drives you crazy? The Christmas Shoes - it's so sad.
5. What is your favorite Christmas Drink? Starbucks Peppermint Mocha
6. What is your favorite Christmas Memory? My Dad reading us the Christmas Scripture on Christmas Morning and singing the Hallelujah Chorus at the candle light Christmas Eve Service at my church in Orlando.
7. What is the best toy/gift you've received on Christmas? As a child - it had to be the Barbie Dream house my grandparents gave me. As a teen - The Estee Lauder perfume and make-up set. As an adult - the Tiffany's limited edition heart necklace Josh gave me for our first Christmas.
8. What is the worst toy/gift you've received on Christmas? I have always been given wonderful gifts, I can't remember something that I didn't enjoy.
9. What do you LOVE about the holidays? Spending time with friends and family.
10. What annoys you about the holidays? Crowded parking lots.
11. Do you prefer star or angel on top of a Christmas tree? Or something else? We have a lighted star with a big red bow!
12. What is your family favorite recipe at Christmas? The Morgan Family Five Meat Christmas Breakfast - including my dad's awesome sausage gravy.
13. Are you a Grinch or a Who at Christmastime? A Who of course.
14. Christmas light displays - Love them or Hate them? LOVE THEM! My friends in Tampa and I used to go Christmas light looking and then out to dinner every year - I'm sad I don't get to do that with them this year.
15. Santa's at the mall - Fun times or Creepy? Fun Times - especially for baby Jack.
16. Christmas cards - do you send them, yes or no? Of course, I put all of them in the mail this morning.
17. What is the best thing about Christmas, in your opinion? Everyone is happy, cheerful and thoughtful.
18. What is the worst thing about Christmas? Sometimes I wish I give more and do more for my friends and family.
19. When do you put the tree up and take it down? This is our first Christmas, but we put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving and will probably take it down by January 9th.
20. Out of the 12 days of Christmas, which day and item would you want your truelove to give to you? Five Golden Rings!
21. Why do you think that Grandma got run over by a reindeer? Too much Eggnog.
22. Who is your favorite reindeer? Dancer
23. Do you believe in Santa Claus? Of course.
24. What is your favorite smell at Christmas time? Thyme Frasier Fir - amazing.
25. What would make you happy at Christmas this year? I am looking forward to waking up Christmas morning and opening presents with my husband and doggie!

It's the Holiday Season...

What a wonderful Thanksgiving 2009. We hosted 12 for our very first Thanksgiving - as a married couple anyway. Josh joked that not all newlyweds are able to use their full set of china the very first time they use it, but we did-in a big way!

We started baking on Wednesday and put the 28 pound turkey in the roaster at 6 o'clock a.m. on Thursday. We all had a wonderful time together, here are some pictures I borrowed from Gabby. I am hoping to upload all of my pictures this evening.

Of course in true Thompson fashion we are bouncing from one holiday to another-it has been a very busy few days! We are having a holiday party on the 12th and since we are headed to the SEC Championship this weekend - we have been busy busy busy! I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanksgiving Dinner for 12 - check

Black Friday Shopping - check

All the presents for my family planned & purchased - check

Christmas Decorations up - check

Holiday Party invitations sent - check

Holiday card picture with dog actually facing the camera-check

Holiday cards ordered - check

Ingredients for all cookie recipes for Holiday Party planned & purchased - check

Holiday cards and labels picked up - check

Make Mini Wedding Album for visit with Granny - check

Ingredients for extended family presents (peppermint bark & candied pecans) purchased - check

Cookie Dough for more than 500 cookies in the freezer for Holiday Party - check

Tonight-

Make peppermint bark and candied pecans for all Georgia relatives

Pack for SEC Championship Game in Atlanta

Upload & post Thanksgiving pictures

Thursday -

Gift wrapping class with Lacey at the Paper source

Wrap-up all the goodies to bring to family this weekend

Friday-

Off to Atlanta to watch the Gators win the SEC Championship Game!

Weddings

We have been lucky this year to celebrate the marriages of our friends and family. Most recently we were in Tampa for the Fernandez-Hernandez affair! We had such a good time seeing all our friends and celebrating Allison and Danny's special day. In true form, we were the first and the last on the dance floor. The band was AWESOME!

Here we are out on the dance floor.

Josh and I are taking a break for cake!

Earlier this summer we went to Josh's hometown of Morristown NJ to celebrate his cousins Lori's nuptials.

Josh and I are ready for the main event.

Mozel Tov Lori and Danny!

Posing with a cute wedding favor.

Miss Molly

Today on Kelly's Korner the theme is to share about our pet's. Josh and I have a little beagle named Molly. We love her very much, she is a sweet little girl who loves us, too.

We adopted Molly in February of 2009. She has been a great little doggie. She loves to go on long walks to get all her "sniffs" in, and she loves her kong filled with peanut butter stuffing.

Here we are checking out the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC.

Molly looking pretty in the flowers.

Molly all dressed up for Halloween.

Molly with my family on the 4th of July.

My favorite memory of Molly is the day after we adopted her. It was a Sunday morning and Josh and I had made whole wheat blueberry pancakes, turkey bacon and eggs. We didn't finish the entire big breakfast, and before we cleared the table we both went upstairs for something. Noticing that Molly didn't follow us upstairs, I went back down to find her standing on TOP of the dining room table with a blueberry pancake hanging out of her mouth. It was the funniest thing I have ever seen!! Josh came down shortly after - I wanted him to see this site! He got her down and took the remaining pancake from her. The odd thing to me is that we had a plate full of turkey bacon, but she opted for the whole wheat blueberry pancakes. Just thinking about this makes me laugh.

Southernista

Y'all have to check out this cute post at Ask Miss A. It totally describes the modern Southern Belle, and I love that it mentions the Florida Georgia Game. That reminds me, I need to post pictures from our amazing tailgate from that game!!

TGIF!! What are your weekend plans? I will be volunteering for the Junior League of Washington's A Capitol Collection of Holiday Shops -- Gifts that Give this weekend. If you're in town come and check it out!

WHERE:
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Hall C
2660 Woodley Road, NW
Washington, DC 20008

WHEN:

General Shopping Hours
Friday, November 20, 2009, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 21, 2009, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 22, 2009, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Cocochino

So, I just discovered the Flavia Coffee Machine at my office makes Cocochino--a combination of Dove Hot Chocolate and Espresso. My life has been changed forever. I may be able to hold off on afternoon trips over to Starbucks now. This got me thinking, if I bring in some peppermint extract, I can see how it stacks up to my beloved Peppermint Mocha. I am doing the happy dance at my desk!

Sugar Sugar--oh Honey Honey

My sweet new friend Whitney at The Preppy Pink and Green Puppy sent me the Sugar Doll blogger award. She is a VA girl, just like me and has the cutest blog-I just love it!!

I am supposed to write 10 interesting things about myself-soo here it goes!

1. We have hired the neighborhood dog walker to take Miss Molly on walks during the day while we are at work.


2. We bought a 28 pound turkey for Thanksgiving last night.


3. My friends and I are planning a 30-palooza in South Beach to celebrate the Big 3-0 this January.


4. Josh and I took ballroom dancing lessons for months.


5. We put our dancing skills to work this weekend at Allison and Danny's wedding. I love to Salsa, Meringue, and Cha Cha Cha!!!


6. I have been stocking up on Christmas Decorations, I even bought some at the Grocery store last night-- they have a whole home section.


7. I love shopping at Wegmans-best Grocery Store in VA.


8. Publix will always be my heart -- Where shopping is a pleasure.


9. Speaking of shopping, I need to be supervised when I go Christmas shopping-I keep buying things for myself--bad, bad.


10. Glee is my new favorite show!


11. Bonus--Since I am so focused on Thanksgiving, I forgot to do a Menu Monday-err- dinners have been and will be crazy concoctions that I am coming up with from things that have been in our cabinets and freezer for a while-hey, I'm trying to make space for all the Thanksgiving Grocery's.

Menu Monday

• Monday - Rock Fish, Peas, Potatoes Au Gratin
• Tuesday - Spinach and Butternut Squash Lasagna
• Wednesday - Junior League ACC Meeting
• Thursday - Black Beans and Yellow Rice
• Friday - Grabbing something at the airport- on our way to Allison and Danny's Wedding!

Thanksgiving Traditions

Today on Kelly's Korner it's Show Us Your Life: Thanksgiving Traditions and Recipes.

This is my first time participating. And as I am getting ready to host my first Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fun to share our traditions and what we are planning to incorporate in the future.

My family has always had a very traditional Thanksgiving served on the fine china with Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Cornbread Dressing, Green Bean Casserole, and the list goes on.

The list goes on to include Tomato Aspic, two kinds actually. Being the southern family that we are, we have both a Murphey Family Aspic and a Morgan Family Aspic. They both make a biannual appearance at Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners. In fact, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving or Christmas with out them.

This year, I will be making the Morgan Family Recipe, and even though we will be hosting a group of 12, I will probably be the only one who eats it. I mean Tomato flavored Jello is an aqquired taste.

Grandmother Morgan's Tomato Aspic

1 Package Lemon Jell

3/4 Cup Cold Tomato Juice

1 Cup Heated Tomato Juice

1/4 Cup Chopped Celery

1 Tablespoon Chopped Onion

1/4 Cup Green Olives

Add lemon jello to the cold tomoato juice, stir until jello is dissolved. Add the heated tomato juice, Celery, Onion and Green Olives. Pour in dish and refrigerate until solid. Serve on a bed of lettuce with a dollop of real mayo on top.

Now, everyone who was planning to come to our house for Thankgiving will probably read this post and change their mind about coming! Don't worry there will be PLENTY of wonderful food. We are finalizing the menu this weekend, and I just found out that I have the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off, so I will be baking all sorts of goodies then!

The Thompsons have hosted my family the past two years in Tampa, and I am excited to have them come to DC this year. One of their traditions that we will continue is to watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation after dinner is over.

50 Days until Christmas

I just signed up for the lottery to view the National Christmas Tree Lighting in front of the White House. I have my fingers crossed to win tickets.

Lacey and I are signed up for a gift wrapping class - that will be HEAVEN! Oh I can't wait!

I went shopping for a few Christmas Decorations last night, it was fun to buy six spools of ribbon - don't worry there will be much more, I am trying to pace myself!

I am trying to decide on which nativity set to get for our first Christmas. There's Fontanini, Llorado, Olive Wood, but those aren't really our style. I have found a few favorites, but just can't decide.

Jim Shore scenes are beautiful and very artistic. I love all the details.

Then there's Willow Tree. Simple and Elegant.

The Terra Cotta set is very cute.

This porcelain set is beautiful and classic.

This is a very big decision, which do y'all like the best? Is their another design that I should check out? Let me know what you think!

Menu Monday

• Monday-Spaghetti with Sweet Basil Sauce, Tossed Salad
• Tuesday-Thai Pesto Shrimp
• Wednesday-Roasted Chicken, Butternut Squash with Chili's and Sauteed Green Beans and Pears
• Thursday-Junior League Meeting, leftovers for the Mr.
• Friday-Steak, Steamed Broccoli, and Baked Potatoes

LSU Game

We started off our fab weekend get away to the Big Easy with Lunch at Commanders Palace. It was one of the best dining experiences of my life-I highly recommend it!
Here's a picture of Josh and me after a wonderful lunch in front of the famous blue and white stripped awning.

We spent a fun afternoon with my double first step cousin (it's a southern thing), Mary Margaret! She is going to seminary in New Orleans and is such a wonderful person, I could never say enough sweet things about her!

Here we are on Bourbon street we had a fun time seeing all the Gator Fans in town and meeting up with a group of friends to see the sights!

We went out to dinner at Remoulads with Mike, Lacey, Riannon and Andy. The Oyster Bar was soo fun, and we had a great time, after that Josh and I headed to Baton Rogue!

Here we are tailgating with Jimbo and Brittney at the baseball stadium before the game.

We sat in the end zone for the game-it was loud and crazy!

Another Gator Victory!!

After three hours of sleep we headed to the Baton Rouge Airport, only to find that our flight was over-booked. We volunteered to fly out of New Orleans that afternoon, I was excited that I got to see Reema and Lacey! We were able to pick up our rental car keys, head back to New Orleans and had a great time, we had Breakfast at Cafe Du Monde and lunch at the Bourbon House. What an awesome trip!

Junior League at the Zoo

Last night I had my first trip to the National Zoo. It was so beautiful, I can't wait to go back with Josh! We had our fall Junior League Town Hall Meeting in the auditorium there, what a great idea! The transfers met at Ireland's Four Fields before we went over, it was so nice to visit and meet new friends.

The Junior League of Washington DC is so big we can't all meet in the same place at the same time, it's very different than what I am used to with the Junior League of Tampa.

Last night I listened to the Executive Director of the Friends of the National Zoo and the Executive Director of D.C. Learns. They both shared interesting information about both of their organizations, and it made me want to volunteer-now to decide what I can do to help!

Kentucky Game

Josh and I had a road trip to Lexington with my sorority sister and college roommate, Maggie. We left work a little early on Friday and drove through Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky-it was a wild and rainy ride, but Josh got us to Lexington safe and sound.

We met up with the Nelly's, Brittnay and Stubs to tailgate outside of the stadium before the game. It rained the whole day-I wish I had my wellies then!


Here we are with Elizabeth and Steve headed to the game.

Shake that pom pom!
Commonwealth Stadium-a sea of blue.

Josh and I enjoyed the game and another Gator Victory!

Tennessee Game

We made the trip down to Gainesville for the Tennessee Game, it was so much fun to spend time with family and friends. I was so lucky to get to tailgate with some of my best friends. Here I am with Gwen, Lauren and Allison.








It was also great to spend time with Reema and Katie!!










A highlight of our tailgate was the whole hog Danny cooked for us-it was soo good.






Josh and I had a great time at the game, and enjoyed our first visit to the F Club where I ran into the Monahan's, Alex and Wild Bill (aka Treston Traylor).






Here Lauren, Melissa, Gwen and I are enjoying the post game tailgate. I can hardly believe that we all have been friends for the past 11 years. Time flys when you're having fun!

Menu Monday

• Monday - Mediterranean Salad, Roasted Chicken, Couscous
• Tuesday - Pork Chops with Lemon Spinach, Smashed Potatoes
• Wednesday - Junior League Happy Hour & Town hall Meeting
• Thursday - Pizza
• Friday - Jambalaya in Jacksonville

Wellies from Wales

So Josh brought me back some goodies from his trip. I am now the proud owner of Wellies from Wales!


He also bought me a beautiful purple scarf in Rome.



Isn't it pretty? Here's the scarf at home with a few of my other scarves-I'm getting ready for winter!

Thanks again to Mid-Atlantic Martha for her great give away! I am excited to use all the great goodies that she sent me!

Sunday Shopping and other happenings

Jen, Lacey and I went shopping on Sunday. We had a great time hitting up all the stores. I got an early start on a few holiday items from Crate & Barrel, and also stocked up on more fall goodies from Williams-Sonoma including the Spiced Pecan and Pumpkin Quick bread.

This will be a nice treat for Josh when he gets back from his business trip.

I am super excited that I entered and won my very first blogger give away from Mid-Atlantic Martha! She has a wonderful blog, I really enjoy all her home decorations and tablescapes.

On Wednesday I am looking forward to helping Jen and John celebrate their anniversary by babysitting Jack. I am pulling out the Dyson and mop this evening to make sure my floors are spotless for his crawling adventures!

Menu Monday

• Monday - Gingered Pear and Butternut Squash Soup
• Tuesday - Out to Dinner with Lacey
• Wednesday - Sweet Basil & Sun-dried Tomato Pasta Toss
• Thursday - Gator Club Happy Hour in China Town
• Friday - Chicken Divan

Welcome to Fall

It's in the 40's now, the leaves are changing, fall has come to the Thompson house. Thanks to my newest Yankee Candle the scent of warm spices have filled our home. Summer used to be my favorite season, I am a Florida girl after all, but fall is finding a warm place in my heart.

My Welcome Wreath

My Little Jack-O-Lantern
Come on in
The Table
The Mantle
Our Sterling Waterford Candle holders - Thanks Jen & John!
and my favorite decoration of all...
little Miss Molly