Memories of Christmas in MA

I'm back from MA. Our flight was cancelled Thur, but we we able to get on the train back to DC. For $400 (1 way) and for an 8 hour trip. It wasn't that bad though, there's definitely more leg room than on a plane.

Anyhoo, here are some highlights from my Christmas. I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays as well.

Oystering:

then eating the oysters:

 

E pulled his back jumping on the rocks, so we spent some time in the house. I worked on a puzzle like an idiot savant (aka, I drank wine and wouldn't stop working on the puzzle until forced)

 

For Christmas Eve, we have a traditional Swedish Smorgasbord. I can be picky, so I avoid the herring, meatballs, ham, and eat a bunch of cheese :)

 

We also visited the Sandwich Glass Museum:

 

 



Now our tree is down and I have some gift cards burning a hole in my pocket...

Massachusetts Oystering

We arrived safe and sound yesterday in Cape Cod, MA. I proceeded to horrify my in-laws by eating my way through their kitchen. Breads, cookies, egg nog, you get the idea.

Today, we had to work for our food. We put on our waders and went out into the ocean for some oysters. We came home with 5 and some mussels we pulled out of the reeds.

Now, we'll be good if I don't impale my hand on an oyster knife or get food poisoning. (Oh, this morning, I fell down the stairs, screaming, and everyone came running over. I don't need any more accidents).

Ho Ho Ho

Christmas on Friday

I am ready for Christmas- shopping, wrapping, and packing done.
Christmas cards were sent out a while ago:

Next year I'm asking Santa for a dog so I can include him in the picture. Too bad E and the cats are against me. (The cats don't really like me and only sit with E, thus I need a dog to be my friend).

Anyhoo, we got out or work early today- whoo hoo! I used that precious time to sit on the couch and catch up on The Wire. I just started- it's good, heart-warming Christmas viewing. I'm also catching up on my taped Real Housewives of Miami (RHMIA). I can't get enough of Mama Elsa:

E and I also opened all our presents from my family today since we're leaving tomorrow. I got a lot of good loot.
I'm pretty impressed the hubs got me these Larimar earrings:

"Larimar awakens feminine power and soothes the emotions." Hmmmm...

Merry Christmas a little early!

A Cheapinger Flies

For Christmas, we are flying to my in-laws in beautiful but brisk Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
The flight we got in Sep. was relatively priced (I saved $100 for the 2 of us to fly out at 7am Sat. instead of 10a); however, now the airline is getting us with the checked bag fees!
This is an insult to my penny pinching ways. $25/ checked bag each way.
Here's what I'd rather get with $50 (that assumes, I get the 1 checked bag and E jams his stuff into the carry-on):

This purse is actually $59.50 at Banana Republic, but I'm sure I could scrounge up a coupon ;)

I have tried to pack in a carry-on, but it doesn't seem to be fitting. I will pare down though. I will not check a bag.

I might have to wear the same jeans and sweatshirt everyday, but the in-laws won't mind, right?

By the way, I've done almost everything in this article. Sweaters take up a lot of room and MA is cold.

Sibling Adventures

This past weekend, both my brothers were in town. We celebrated my one bro's (30th) Birthday and got to do some Christmas-y stuff since this year I'll be at the in-laws.

We began Sat. shopping at the beer/ wine specialty store and I forced them to buy this (along with the plethora of other items they got):

Note: they said it actually wasn't too bad.

I then forced everyone to do some cultural shizz since it's DC. We went to the Ford Theater and it was closed for A Christmas Carol. Oops.

Thankfully, the Peterson House across the street, where Lincoln passed, was open. My brothers were thrilled, as they love museums!

They did have a cool tower of all the books ever written about Lincoln.

We ate lunch, and walked to the Botanical Gardens to see their Christmas decor. We stopped to take some photos in front of the Capitol. Some people pose strangely for pics. We mocked them via imitation:  

Sat. night was dinner at Honey Pig, a Korean BBQ. It was delicious and fun, so we will be going back. E and the bros got their revenge on me by ordering octopus.  

We watched Lincoln Sunday (see, I love a theme!) and had cake and presents. (I thought Lincoln was a little bit slow and boooring in some parts, but DDL should win the Oscar for Best Actor)

 

I made a Paula Deen stawberry cake, which turned out well, except it was pink, for a man.

Happy Birthday to P!



Remembering

I have not yet written anything regarding the unthinkable shootings at Sandy Hook. I can't wrap my mind around it and cannot think of anything else to say that everyone hasn't already said. 

Tomorrow, I'll be participating in the blogger day of silence.

We will post the button and that's it. Please try to not post anything else that day if possible.

Also, think of making a donation to the Newtown Youth and Family Services:

 

ANY DONATIONS MADE TO NEWTOWN YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES WILL BE DONATED DIRECTLY TO THOSE EFFECTED BY THE SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING."

Please visit THIS PAGE to make your donation.

I am so thankful for my own family and that this weekend I had both my brothers in town. Sometimes you don't know how lucky you truly are.
I will be posting about our sibling adventures later. 

The Office Christmas Party- AKA Kim the Scrooge

I did wear my Christmas brooch which makes me happy, even if they aren't really in style. :)

Ugh, not good at and hate "selfies" Hate the word "selfie" as well as "jelly".

Here are my rants.

• It's always the same freaking people that participate. I am getting tired of spending $30 to make a big salad or dessert for every office party and there are some people that NEVER bring in anything, but sure do like to eat.
• If you're going to a party where there's a lot of people (like 50) and there's a lot of food, it's still impolite to eat a bunch of one thing on your first pass. Don't pile up 4 egg rolls on your plate just because you got to the line first. There are people at the end of the line motherf*#@er.
• Please RSVP. I asked multiple times for people to accept their calendar invites so we could get a count. Of course, 7 people are on site today and wanted to "buy in".
• Then, I'm just a baby, our boss had door prizes and prizes for games. The contractors that bought in and are never here (seriously, this was their first day here, EVER) won most of the prizes. Not the employee that's been here for 10 years busting their butts and made food for the party.

I guess I should try to be happy:

• I actually love more than 80% of my co-workers.
• There was more than enough food, even though I thought we'd run out.
• I am fortunate enough to have a job where we have a holiday party and I can make a big salad :)
• My Christmas shopping is DONE!

Holiday Party Time

Tomorrow is the office Christmas (AKA Holiday) party. It's during the day and I'm not sure what I will wear, but my nerdy old lady Christmas brooch will probably make an appearance :)

This is moi walking to the holiday party last year:

The caption that went out to the entire staff was "OMG, they sent TWO trucks"

I do know what I'm bringing this year, a nice Oriental Slaw. Glad I'm back to feeling better, because I can't wait to be a fatty at the Potluck (bacon wrapped lil' Smokies in brown sugar- do want).

Anyway, my brothers are also coming to visit this weekend. One turns, gasp, 30. (He's younger than me, so that's a double gasp).

I plan on making another Paula Deen treat for them, but that will be a surprise for a later post since occasionally the bros read this blog. (One brother said I needed to diversify my posts if he was going to be a follower- I guess he doesn't like thoughts on Real Housewives, baking, clothes, etc.)

When you're sliding into 3rd

and you feel a greasy turd....
well, we all know how the rest of that little ditty goes.
Speaking of, I had a stomach flu most of last week. Of course, it was the last day my mom was in town and I didn't even get to see her off.
Tuesday evening, we went to the Botanical Gardens for some live music. The Botanical Gardens are a (free) must see if you're in DC.

I spent the rest of Tuesday until 5am Wed, curled up in the fetal position clutching generic Pepto on our bathroom mats. Ugh, I slept on our bathroom floor. And I didn't even care.

When I was feeling better, I set up the cookies and banana nut bread sweat shop (with only 1 employee unfortunately)

This insulted E's photography skills since it was too "staged".

I also watched Hope Springs (geriatric porn) and Dark Shadows (ehhh) and Lifetime's Undercover Christmas (Awesome!)

Random Thought for the Day

from LOLCats

An Evening in the City

My mom has been in town since Thur. (thus the lack of posts), but we had a fabulous weekend.
Friday, we did some shopping, ate fro yo, and then met E for dinner in DC.
After dinner, E had class, so we walked around DC at night.

Note: never underestimate comfortable shoes. I wore riding boots and might have complained a little. My mom offered to get me some comfortable shoes- like something flat and stylish like Naturalizers. E thoroughly enjoyed this conversation.

Anyway, here are some pics of us at night.

The White House at night. One of the protesters/ proselytizers scared my mom. Country folk aren't used to the city crazies.

I'm not really good with an iPhone camera.

More to come on our Scottish Saturday in Alexandria Old Town.