New traditon..

As of yesterday, I think we may have created a new tradition! Since NYE half of us worked, we planned a nice brunch at the Wayne Hotel at the restaurant paramour. it was such a good choice { nice job sis }

We loved everything, especially the personation of it all, being foodies & in the industry, we always appreciate the small details.

We were greeted and told that while we wait we could hit up the bloodymary bar, where you get to make your own concoction. how fun! while I thought that’s what I wanted, I spotted another drink that seemed more up my alley. A rosemary ruby {vodka, ruby-red grapefruit, agave nectar, fresh rosemary} so delish! I did try Georges and he did a good job 😉

Once got drinks, caught up & ordered our main entrees.. we then we’re able to go the appetizer bar where we could eat while the chef prepared our meals. Great idea!

{small plates of banana strawberry smoothie, pastry & cupcakes}

So many good things to choose from, but I ended up going with the farmers vegetable omelet with gruyere cheese.

{mine}

{g’s Kobe sliders}

I also nibbled on hazelnut pancakes my sister had & brains butter nut squash soup. YUM!
Everything was so good & I love brunch food so it was a win win. We’re thinking that next year we do the same type of thing : ) I love creating new traditions

The rest of the day was low-key, I  hopped back into bed for awhile & then realized it was 5pm. We decided to go to the gym and shake it off. Always a good choice. A quick 3 mile run followed by seeing American hustle! We were torn between that & Wolf On Wall Street.  It was a great movie, and loved the cast.

As for today, all big holidays are officially over.
It’s a bittersweet feeling but time to get back to normal 🙂

Have you seen either movie yet?
Do you celebrate NYE or day?!

Hope you enjoyed your holidays & welcoming in 2 0 1 4
❤

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Christmas 2013 recap < 3

Hi friends! I hope you enjoyed your holidays and time spent with the ones you love! … The past few days have been a whirlwind of  family, friends + f o o d, lots of food. I feel as if every time we stopped somewhere we dropped off goodies but came home with 2x as much!

Here’s a little recap of this years Christmas ❤

Christmas eve was held at my dads. Where my sisters and I exchanged our gifts, the boys exchanged theirs and watched little Oliver experience his first Christmas! We had lots of good food prime rib, asparagus, salads + a festive Brussels sprout dish which I saw on Cait’s instagram.  Tons of appetizers, brownies and peppermint ice cream <— please try. This year George had to work at night, but came in time for left overs, Christmas lights & our gift exchange<3 I was a good girl this year! so very thankful 😀
{one of my favorites.. birchbox!}

 
{ ❤ }

{green + red}

{can’t even take it…… so stinking cute}

{the gang}

{yum}

… We then went to sleep, where sugar plums danced in our head.

Christmas day, George & I enjoyed breakfast, coffee and our “new toys” before heading to a quick stop at the gym & then his aunt  & uncle’s house {fun fact.- they are his only Greek realties here in the US} we drank wine, relaxed and Yiayia gave us lots of Greek goodies!

Christmas night we then went to Cassidy’s in-laws where my mom & her friend rick were too! The whole gang was together for an Italian meal. Mmm.. pasta : ) Oliver got to practice opening MORE gifts. And then we enjoyed MORE sweets ! … cannoli dip and Oreo truffles to be exact.

{take 5…}

{happy boy 😀 }

{Miss & Mrs. baker }
My mama gave me tons of new baking things, cake pans…. heyyy. 😀 !

We lingered awhile longer and decided it was time to pack all the food up & head home.

With full bellies, presents & more memories.. another Christmas has come to an end!

What was your Christmas highlight?
Do you stay at home, or visit relatives?

have a great weekend, xo

Hallelujah! & Winter favorites!

..Hallelujah!

I am officially done school!! Yesterday I said I was getting a little nervous about how my grades weren’t up, but nothing to worry about 🙂 I am very happy with overall grades! A huge sigh of relief  🙂 Graduation is this May, can’t wait to see what 2014 has to offer! …. the world is your oyster.

Other things happening is getting ready for Christmas! { or aren’t we all haha } we just got back from trader joes and had  maaaaaaajor food haul! lots of snacks and drinks for Christmas eve night. I still need to get stuff for Christmas day, but that can wait.

For today’s Friday favorites,
i’m sharing some winter favorites! Enjoy 🙂

1- Leg warmers. I just bought myself a gray pair yesterday, I thibk they are so cute! excitd to wear them with my boots.

2- My northface jacket. I got it last year and couldn’t imagiane not having it now, it’s just a great jacket, I love that it’s long too!

3- Cute hats! If your going to be out in the cold, might as well wear a cute hat 🙂

4- Booties. I just bought myself a very similar black bootie like this one. Great way to spice up a winter outfit

5- Fires. Lot’s of cozy fires. Nothing beats a cozy night at home. #endofstory

6- Sipping on Trader Joe’s candy cane green tea, defiantly a favorite.

7- Baking, lot’s of baking. And taste testing.

8- Enjoying the outdoors to some extent. Ice skating!

9- Hot chocolate. Enough said.

10- and for #10, very cute and rustic holiday decorations.

What’s your favorite during the winter?

Have a great weekend!xo

Chocolate coconut butterscotch dream bars!

It’s no secret that I love chocolate and coconut { of course peanut butter } so when I was thinking of a Christmas cookie to bring to our cookie swap this weekend, I found the best one with a little spin on it with butterscotch added! I wouldn’t say its a traditional Christmas cookie { but we all agreed on no chocolate chip, etc. } so these seemed fitting!

A layer of chocolate with a coconut filling topped with more coconut and butterscotch morsels = a wonderful  concoction.

For the chocolate bottom

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour –>  spooned and leveled

For the coconut filling / topping

• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour, again –> make sure to spoon it in and level
• 1 package sweetened shredded coconut + pour out 1/2 a cup for the extra topping
• 1/2 to 1 cup butterscotch chips to sprinkle on top {depends on your preference}

Directions:

• Preheat oven to: 375
• Prepare chocolate bottom: Cover a 9 inch pan with foil + spray with cooking spray
• Melt the butter in the microwave then combine sugar and salt until creamy.  Whisk in the one egg, while adding in flour and  coco powder.
• Mix til smooth. Pour chocolate mix into pan and bake for 10-15 minutes until firm.
• Take chocolate bottom out and prepare your coconut mixture:
• whisk the other 2 eggs with sugar and vanilla, while gently mixing in flour and coconut.
• Place mixture on top of your chocolate bottom, while filling every corner.
• Once you’ve done that, place that extra 1/2 cup on top
• Place back in the oven for another 25- 30 minutes, half way through pour your 1 cup of butterscotch and finish baking
• Bake & let them cool.. devour!

** Note, I added butterscotch to half the batch to see how it would turn out.. I really should have put them on the whole thing!

Linking up with Jenn over at peas and crayons.. hoping to find some more goodies today on her blog! 🙂
>>   <<

What cookie{s} are you making this year?
I still have another to make for Christmas eve..

MIMM: Cookie baking + Winterfest

Hey guys, happy Monday! Hope you all had a great weekend! Today I am going to my last FINAL.. Wooo!!!
but before I do, wanted to share some marvelous pictures from the weekend. A coffee date with my mama, Christmas cookie baking + ice skating with my sisters!

Friday morning I met my mom for coffee, as we discussed our cookie swap and baking she said “hold on one minute” ran out to her car and gave me a cookie scoop!  I was so excited and used it right away .. oh the little things!
🙂  Double chocolate chunk cookies with andies mints! YUM.

Saturday, it snowed again. I had to work and it was probably a bad decision to volunteer and be the one to go in… it was D E A D. When I arrived home I wrote all the Christmas cards, just need to send them out!

Sunday, my sisters, brian + I headed down to Philly to the Winterfest. There was ice skating, hot chocolate, pop up stores + more! We haven’t been ice skating in so long.. so it was pretty funny the first few times around 😉

The rest of sunday was low key and relaxing. More Christmas tunes, decorating of the tree and some more baking.

I’ll share this week!

Hope you had a splendid weekend!
xo

Questions:
Did it snow where you lived?
Do you write Christmas cards or send out pictures?

If you missed Friday’s DIY Christmas post– check it out! Christmas is 9 days away!