First Married Christmas

On December 22, John and I travelled to Bellbrook, Ohio to celebrate our first married Christmas.  My aunt Kelly was hosting everyone in her new beautiful home.  It was nice to be with my family on this Christmas, especially since my brother had suffered two seizures, two days before flying to Ohio.  Thankfully he was cleared by his doctor to fly and join everyone in Ohio.

After arriving into Dayton 45 minutes late, with a damaged suitcase, we made our way to Amelia's, a local restaurant for dinner with Auntie, Cin, and Grammie.  We had a few cocktails and a delicious meal, to end our day of traveling.  It was nice to see my family again, since I have not seen most of them since our wedding.  

Auntie and Cindy's home was absolutely stunning, as they picked everything out themselves. The kitchen is a chef's dream, with heated bathroom floors, a great room, study, hot tub, and in home gym.  The house was more beautiful in person than pictures.  It felt like we were living in a ski lodge with the gorgeous stone fireplace.  Not to mention, there were Christmas trees in every room, which is what I would love to have in our house.  Like my mom said, you can never have enough Christmas trees.

Friday was a very busy day, as we were awaiting the arrival of mom, dad, Lauren, Michael, and Spiro.  The aroma of the food from the kitchen filled the house, as we all watched White Christmas, my favorite Christmas movie.  Grammie was busy in the kitchen prepping for Christmas Eve, while Auntie made homemade banana nut bread, and John and I baked cupcakes.  

Once the family arrived, Auntie and Cindy had a big surprise planned for everyone, we were all going to the Dayton Flyers basketball game.  They even bought everyone matching shirts to wear at the game.  We had amazing seats and saw a great basketball game.  After the game, we ordered pizza and just relaxed.  I was very happy to be with my family again.

On Christmas Eve, we were all invited to Kake's house for brunch.  After taking a tour of the home, we sipped on mimosas and enjoyed a delicious brunch.  Unfortunately, the day took a different turn, as Kava had to go to the emergency veterinary clinic, as she was experiencing problems with her anal glands.  Due to Kava's procedure, Auntie and Cindy had to miss going to church, so they can be there for Kava.  After church, we returned home to start prepping for dinner, drinks, and games.  

On Christmas morning, the house was filled with lots of love and gifts.  We took turns opening gifts, while stopping to enjoy the delicious breakfast that Grammie had cooked for everyone.  After filling up on breakfast, we returned to the great room to continue to open gifts.  John and I are both very blessed with all of the gifts that we have received.

After things had settled down with opening of the gifts, etc. we all decided to go to the nature reserve for a hike, even Kona joined us.  

It was nice to spend Christmas with my family this year, as we have been through a lot of ups and downs.  My brother suffering many seizures, my sister losing her job and me getting married married.  It was very sad to say goodbye to them, but I know that we all see each other very soon.  I love my family with all of my heart and miss them everyday.  This is a Christmas that I will always remember.

A Decade of Dominance

10 years, 10 wins...enough said!

This year's Army-Navy game was held at FedEx Field in Landover, MD.  It was the first year that America's Game was played in the DC area.  It is a perfect location, since it is very close to the nation's capital.  Since the game was being played at FedEx, President Obama and Vice President Biden were in attendance, which made security tighter and lines longer.

Our day started off at seven in the morning, as we loaded up the car and made our way to the game.  The parking lots were scheduled to open up at 8:30, but since traffic was backing up on the highway, they had decided to open the lots earlier.  I do not think that the stadium personnel knew how many people would show up 6 1/2 hours prior to kickoff.

The atmosphere all around was simply amazing.  We were surrounded by Army and Navy fans, along with the smell of bacon and eggs.  Some tailgaters were drinking mimosas to start off the day, while others went immediately for the booze.  

The weather was chilly, so John and I decided to keep ourselves warm in the car, as we knew that we would be out in the cold for many hours.  I have the privilege of attending the Army-Navy game every year and it is something I wish that everyone can experience.  

Since the security lines were long, we had decided to go into the stadium early.  Which was beneficial, because CBS Sports Network set up a tailgate with one of the game sponsors, USAA.  They had traditional tailgate games, that you can win prizes for.  They were serving hot chocolate and tea, to keep the fans warm and ready for the game.

The game was intense, as it came down to the 4th quarter, where Navy's defense stepped up and won the game.  At the end of the game, both of the teams sign their alma mater, with the winning team singing second.  It is a tradition that has been going on since the very first meeting between Army and Navy.  All of the fans remained in the stands to hear the alma maters, which brought tears to my eyes.

Trying the stay warm

Navy rushing the field as time expires

Singing "Navy Blue and Gold"

Army Navy...America's Game

This Saturday marks the 112th meeting between Army and Navy, which will be played at FedEx Field in Washington DC.  On the battle field, the two may be fighting for the same thing, but for that day they are enemies on the field.

The Army-Navy game is the final regular season football game, which puts everyone eyes on this traditional game.  Last year was my first Army-Navy game and just sitting in the stands is a wonderful feeling.  Nothing says "American" then watching two great academies play against each other.  This game brings a lot of political personnel, and sometimes even the President of the United States.  All eyes will be on this game.

Both Army and Navy will be wearing Nike Pro Combat uniforms, which will be a first for both schools.  The uniforms this year are very unique and what a perfect game to show them off to the country.  

I am looking forward to enjoying a wonderful football game and the traditions that go along with it.  Even if you are not a fan of either team, it is a game that everyone should attend once in their life.

Go Navy!  Beat Army!

Christmas Tree...Real or Fake?

The Christmas tree is the iconic symbol of Christmas.  Today Christmas trees are not just green, as they are in a variety of colors ranging from white to pink.  No matter what type or color of Christmas tree you have, it is still the symbol of Christmas.

For 25 years, I have always grown up with a real Christmas tree in the house.  On Black Friday, it was a tradition to pick out the perfect tree and decorate it with the family.  The smell of the freshly cut tree filled the house, along with the needles, which fell off, due to the tree drying up.  Having a real tree is a lot of work, as you must make sure it has adequate water, etc. 

When I got engaged and purchased a new home with my then fiance, we had the discussion on whether or not to buy a real or artificial tree. After weighing out the pros and cons, we decided to purchase a fake tree.

Since I enjoy the smell of a real tree, I purchased fresh balsam scented candles and oil, which were placed throughout our home.  After having an artificial tree for two years, it is a lot less maintenance than a real tree.  In addition, you save money with an artificial tree, as it is a one-time purchase, unlike a real tree, which must be purchased every year. 

There is nothing like walking through the front door and having the scent of a real Christmas tree.  This is my favorite time of the year and I have a total of 4 trees in the house.  Three of those trees are miniatures, which are located in the bedrooms and living room, but I would not have it any other way. 

If you are deciding what type of tree to purchase, I would suggest an artificial tree.  The pros outweigh the cons, but there are alternatives to having the scent of a real Christmas tree.

Happy Holidays!!

Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is not all about the turkey, stuffing, parades and football, as it is a day to give thanks.

A tradition that my family has is we go around the table and have everyone tell what they are thankful for.  It is a nice way to remember what Thanksgiving is all about.  I hope to continue this tradition when I have my own family.  When you are sitting around with your family, let everyone know what you are thankful for, then you can enjoy the juicy turkey!

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for my wonderful husband, John, our families and friends.  This year has been amazing because I married my best friend and for that, I am very thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Where Dreams Come True

Since being together with John, we have traveled to Disney every year, well this year was no exception.  At first, we had no plans of going, since we just got married and would traveling to Ohio for Christmas, but John had his heart set on seeing Disney decorated for Halloween.  After much discussion, we decided to go to Disney World.

We stayed at the beautiful, Wilderness Lodge, which neither of us have stayed, and were accompanied by John's aunt, Jane.  Upon arrival, we were taken to the club level, which was complete with concierge service!  In order to get to the club level, guests must use their keys to the world to access the 7th floor.  It was truly a treat to have a room on the club level.

The view from our room was breathtaking, as the room itself was very spacious and comfortable.  Walking around the grounds, there is a large waterfall, pool and geyser, which went off every hour!  Since we were on the club level, we were offered continental breakfast, snacks, wine and cheese hour, along with desserts to end the night.  Unfortunately, we were only able to enjoy the breakfast, as our days were spent at the parks.




After settling into the room, it was time to catch a boat to the Magic Kingdom, which is my favorite park to visit.  Magic Kingdom was fully decorated for Halloween, as pumpkins welcomed us, as we walked through the gates.  Main Street was decorated with scarecrows, jack o lanterns and Mickey pumpkins on every light post.

I always love seeing how Disney will be decorated for the holidays and see the Halloween decor did not disappointment me.  Fall is my favorite season and even though the leaves do not change in Florida, it still felt like fall to me.

Throughout our stay, we visited Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Downtown Disney.  We were going non stop from the moment we woke up, until we laid our heads down, but in the end it was totally worth it.

One night we attended Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, which was held at the Magic Kingdom after park hours.  All of the guests dressed up for Halloween and were able to go trick or treating around the park.  There was a special Halloween parade, along with a fireworks show, which coordinating with Halloween music.


Since Minnie Mouse is my favorite Disney character, I decided to dress up like her, while John was Indiana Jones and Jane was the Queen of Hearts.  My favorite thing was seeing everyone dressed up and the smiles on kids' faces, as they went trick or treating.






From the cinnamon rolls at the Main Street Bakery to the mahi-mahi at the Coral Reef in Epcot, every meal was simply delicious.  Disney truly goes above and beyond when it comes to feeding their guests, as I do not except anything less from the happiest place on Earth.

John and I both really enjoy going to Disney World, as we feel like we are kids each time we visit.  Every time we go, we both experience or see something new, which is always a great feeling.  We hope to one day have kids, so we can share our love for Disney with them.  In the meantime, we will continue to be kids at heart at the most magical place on Earth, the place where dreams come true!

Crock Pot Cooking

The temperatures may be cooling down, but things in the kitchen are certainly heating up.  With the cold weather, I prepare a lot of meals in my crock pot.  I had purchased the Hamilton Beach 5 Quart Stay or Go Slow Cooker from Bed Bath and Beyond for only $30!   The size is perfect for cooking everything from a six pound chicken to two three pound roasts!  It has a secured lid, which avoids spillage when taking it to parties, etc.

Recently, I made a roast with carrots, potatoes, carrots, onions, salt/pepper, with a little beef broth.  I set the crock pot to low.  After 6 hours, the roast was moist and tender and the house smelled delicious.  I added more vegetables and water, as I will be making soups with the leftover roast.  The next night, we had homemade roast soup, which I poured over egg noodles. 

I have made chicken, roast, soups, chili and ribs in the crock pot.  I love the idea that you can get multiple meals out of one piece of meat.  Not to mention, it slowly cooks the meat, which makes it very tender, juicy, and full of flavor!

There are many cookbooks available for many more recipes for using your crock pot.  One of my favorite crock pot cookbooks is "Fix It and Forget It Big Cookbook", which offers 1400 recipes!  Be sure to check out the Crock Pot Girls on Facebook.  They offer many recipes using a crock pot and fans exchange recipes with each other.  Be sure to check out their website for more recipes and uses for your crock pot. 

The next time you don't have the time to cook or want something to warm you up, be sure to take out the crock pot and cook you and your family a delicious, hearty meal.  You will be happy to come home and be welcomed by the smell of a delicious dinner.