Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas! Our first Christmas as newlyweds was spent in Virginia with the Patterson clan. I wasn’t quite ready to be on my own, per say, and was filled with a child-like excitement to head home for Christmas. Williamsburg is hands down the most beautiful place during the holiday season. A walk along D.O.G. street is enough to convince those skeptical of such a bold statement. The traditional Christmas carols entertained us along the way until we finally rounded the corner into a beautifully decorated Kingsmill. The house was welcoming, the Christmas tree adorned with ornaments Andrea and I have created over the years. Domie pranced around with bows secured to her collar, much to her embarrassment. As a college student, I always requested Chicken Corn Chowder on my first return trip home. Now as a grown married woman, the old stand by still remains one of my favorite of traditions. After the delicious dinner we went to The Green Leafe Tavern for a double date with my sis and her husband. A perfect ending to kick off our holiday vacation.

Christmas Eve morning Jarrett, my mom, and I teamed up in an effort to get my dad out of the house. The motivation behind this scrooge-like behavior was to allow Jarrett a couple of hours to assemble a workbench for my dad. My dad does ministry wok with inmates and planned to link up with one of the recently released men. We were crossing our fingers that he’d hurry on out, but when he couldn’t get in touch with his friend we quickly realized that we needed a plan B. With his lumbar and tools in tow, we dropped Jarrett off at our neighbor’s house for a couple of hours. In the mean time, my mom and I went to the spa to work out and relax in the steam room, sauna, and hot tub. My favorite part of going to the resort gym is the iced water with lemons and bucket of rolled towels chilled on ice. I always leave feeling inspired to incorporate these simple touches for a spa like atmosphere back home. We were delirious to be relaxing and far away from the hustle and bustle of the outlets and malls. Nothing can top good quality mother daughter time.

Once Jarrett completed his project we set off to Colonial Williamsburg. No trip back home is complete without stomping the grounds of Duke of Gloucester. After taking in the perfect scene we returned home for turkey tetrazzini, another holiday favorite. Then we bundled up and piled into the car for my most anticipated moment of the trip back home. There’s just something about the Christmas Eve service at The Chapel that calms my mind and warms my soul. As a special treat I noticed right off the bat that Branch Fields would be performing a solo. Branch grew up in the chapel and eventually made his way to New York where he uses his gift in Broadway theatre and the New York City Opera. He is incredibly talented and the sound of his voice brings my spirit close to the Lord. Our minister of music is equally talented, a graduate of Julliard and our resident musical savant. The most touching part of the evening was when two six-year-old twins dressed in their Christmas best stood before us and recited from memory Luke 2:1-20. We were quite impressed with their dedication to memorizing the scripture. As with all Christmas Eve services, we closed in prayer, holding candles and singing “Silent Night.”

We weren’t quite ready to call it a night, so we headed to Busch Gardens for the 2^nd Annual Christmas Towne. The Park was enchanting, with each country lit and decorated with a unique theme. The Penguins, rabbits, and snow owls were filled with personality. My mom and I ran around like children, dancing and acting incredibly goofy. Busch Gardens brings back so many memories, and I realized that I’ve been stomping its terrain as a season pass holder for 22 years straight! No matter how old I am, visiting the park energizes me in the very same way. We made a lap around the park and made the short trip home to slip into our pajamas. I assembled the traditional breakfast strata and we cozied up by the Christmas tree awaiting the excitement that the next day would bring.

The luxury of still being the “kids” is getting to sleep in on Christmas morning. We woke up at 10:30 and feasted on Moravian sugar cake, strata, and home made hot cocoa. Santa certainly made a stop by Tazewelll’s Way. I was spoiled beyond words and am very grateful for such wonderful surprises. Dad loved his workbench, Mom loved her Le Creuset dutch oven, and Jarrett loved his trip to Destin! No one was more excited than Domie, who disappeared for hours with her Christmas bone. After opening our gifts, Mom wandered up to the computer and shortly thereafter came bonding down the stairs with the biggest grin on her face. As she read an excerpt from the Williamsburg York County Online Newspaper, she announced that she had won this year’s holiday story contest! After taking runner up the day before with her holiday haiku, she was overjoyed to be this year’s big winner. I’m not at all surprised, as her colorful language and detailed descriptions painted the story in a way that makes you feel in on the action. I’m so proud of you Mom!

We lazied around for most of the afternoon then bundled up for the 4 mile loop around Kingsmill. The snow began to fall during our walk, the beginning our beautiful white Christmas. The neighborhood looked spectacular in the snow. Shortly after we got back home the Conleys arrived and the house was filled with round two of excitement. Our delicious Christmas meal featured Jarrett’s fried turkey, corn pudding, cranberry salad, green bean casserole, dressing, mashed potatoes (the best I’ve ever had) and Rudolph Spritzer. As the kids watched Polar Express, the adults opened gifts. The biggest surprise came from my sister and Mike and was a Kitchen-Aid mixer! I have always wanted one and could not believe that the beautiful red mixer was mine! The kids joined in on the fun, full excitement as they opened their gifts. It’s so amazing to have a house full of conversation, personalities, and tiny squeals from the kiddos. The Lord has blessed us beyond words.

We woke up to a good 6 inches of snow, and with no signs of it letting up, Jarrett and I decided to head back to Carolina. The 300 mile trip took us seven hours! When we finally arrived to our home sweet home we unpacked and hopped back into the car to head to the Evans. It was so special to be sharing this holiday together as an official member of the family. I know I’ve said it before, but I am just so happy to have such a wonderful extended family. It’s so amazing how similarly Jarrett and I have been raised and the value that we both place on our relationships with our families. We had another delicious Christmas dinner, the honey baked ham being my favorite. The overly generous Evans and Dineens proceeded to absolutely spoil us with presents. My two sisters must know me well, because Conner also surprised me with a Kitchen-Aid mixer! We decided that we’d trade it in for a new pair of Uggs which was equally exciting. Mine are nearly 7 years old and look every bit their age. I can’t wait to slide my feet into the new pair of Chestnut colored beauties. After a long day of driving, we were so grateful to be relaxing with the family. What a very, very Merry Christmas!

Ready, Aim, Fire!

This year, a new holiday tradition was born in the form of a turkey shoot! After a delicious breakfast in Pfafftown, J and I headed to the VFW for their annual holiday turkey shoot! I absolutely loved the experience and managed to get 2nd place in my round! The winner took home a country ham. Not a bad incentive for next year!

Welcome Mr. President

I was so excited when my husband was asked to volunteer with President Obama's upcoming trip to Forsyth Tech. I had no clue that I would somehow get in on it! Between Jarrett ushering the VIP section, and our pastor giving the opening prayer, we managed to score pretty sweet seats! Check out this picture taken by the Associated Press. Look carefully and you'll see us in the background!

Among the invited guests were local business managers, Fosyth Tech employees and guests (loving my "spouse" status), our newly elected state representatives, and students concentrating on biotechnology. Security was ridiculously (and appropriately) strict, and the Secret Service were eying us like hawks. The atmosphere was exciting and the anticipation of our upcoming speaker was at its peak!

Barack Obama arrived and after a few personal touches and witty remarks, he plunged right in to political issues. He spoke about the need to advance technology and production in the United States. He used this as a platform for discussing the extension of tax breaks. Barack was a very dynamic speaker and was incredibly engaging and sharp.

What an amazing opportunity!! Its certainly not every day that you get to see the President! Thanks hubby for the invite, great seats, and for a heightened interest in politics current affairs.

LoveFeast

Sunday night was our second annual Christmas Party and LoveFeast. This is quickly becoming one of my most anticipated and favorite events of the season. Last year, we were packed like sardines into my one bedroom apartment. This year, we were very excited to host the event at our new home. With the tree decorated and garland strung, the house looked quite nice in its festive attire. The day before the party Jarrett got an unexpected invitation to help out with President Obama's upcoming visit to Forsyth Tech. Although this would mean missing the party, it was an opportunity that couldn't be missed. I did my best to play hostess and I'd say we had a pretty great time!

The LoveFeast, as always, was astounding. We sang Christmas carols, enjoyed the handbell and flute choirs, and reflected on this year's spin on the Christmas message. As tradition goes, we received the Moravian sweet bun and spiced coffee which is always quite a treat. The only way to eat it is to place the bun on top of the cup during the Christmas carols. When the time comes to partake in the feast, the bun is perfectly warm and deliciously soft. As the service came to an end, we lit our beeswax candles, hoisting them high into the air singing "Joy to the world, the Lord is Come!" I left with a joyful heart, inspired mind, and open arms to the Christmas festivities to come!

Mistletoe

I started the day off with a great run! The Mistletoe half marathon is one of my favorite races and I was so excited to get to run it this year. I was somewhat on the fence about running it since I didn't exactly train properly, but decided that I didn't have anything to lose. I signed up yesterday, drank plenty of water, stretched, and made an awesome playlist. After 8 solid hours of sleep, I laced up my poor ancient Mizunos for one last run.

The run went very smoothly. I have run the course so many times that it felt luxurious to run with company and fans (Jarrett being my favorite). I can't tell you how much I loved my playlist, which was a combination of new songs, Christmas songs, and old favorites. This is my thirteenth half marathon, but the first one that I've run solo. The music definitely provided quality entertainment!

I usually follow the pace of whoever I'm running with. I was interested to see what kind of pace I'd keep running without a watch or split times. I was pretty much clueless about my time throughout the whole race, but maintained a steady pace. I managed to finish in under two hours and was quite pleased.

After the post-race party, I took a long hot shower with both shower heads aimed at my sore muscles. After slipping into my pajamas, I cuddled up on the couch and watched as the snow began to fall. How beautiful! After a 3 hour nap we bundled up and walked around the neighborhood to look at the Christmas lights in snow.

I'd say this was a pretty good day!

Week's Eats

Back to the kitchen armed with new and improved cookware and dishes, compliments of my overly generous friends and family members. It's amazing how a really great pot and a few snazzy tools can turn cooking into an effortless activity. After a week of dining out in Disney, I was ready for some good home cooked meal. Lucky for me, Thanksgiving was right around the corner!!

Thanksgiving 2010

We gathered round the table and enjoyed all of the traditional fixings. Year after year, green bean casserole takes the blue ribbon no my plate! The great white pitcher is filled with Rudolph Spritzer from the 2008 December issue of Southern Living. This is a great recipe to try for Christmas dinner!

RUDOLPH SPRITZER

Ingredients:

• 5 cups orange juice
• 2 cups chilled lemon-lime soft drink
• 1/2 cup cherry juice
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• Garnishes: lemon slices, fresh rosemary sprigs

Preparation

1. Stir together all ingredients; serve over ice. Garnish, if desired. Note- You can also add in 1 1/2 cups of vodka to make this recipe tipsy. I don't like liquor but do enjoy mixing in a little Riesling.

Cranberry Bars

I made these tasty treats for Thanksgiving dessert. They are super moist and so sweet that you only need a small piece. This weekend we're going to whip up another batch to take to the neighbors. I'll take any excuse to bake!

Turkey Cranchiladas

A perfect recipe for Thanksgiving leftovers! Two of the most popular Thanksgiving fixtures make a surprising guest appearance in this dish. The sweetness of the cranberries contrasts nicely with the spiciness of the enchiladas. This will definitely be a permanent fixture to our post-holiday menu.

Turkey Cranchiladas

Better Homes and Gardens

nonstick cooking spray

2-2 1/2 cups shredded turkey

2 cups whole-berry cranberry sauce (or 1 16-oz can)

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 1/2 cups salsa

1 1/2 cups shredded Pepperjack cheese

1/2 cup sour cream

3-4 scallions, chopped

1/4 cup lightly-packed chopped cilantro

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper

10-12 (6-inch) flour tortillas

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine the turkey, 1 cup of the cranberry sauce, the beans, sour cream, 3/4 cup cheese, 1/2 cup of the salsa, green onions, cilantro, cumin, salt, and pepper.

Spoon filling into each tortilla, and roll tightly. Place seam-side down in the baking dish.

In a medium bowl, combine the remaining cranberry sauce and 1 cup of salsa. Stir to combine and pour over the enchiladas. Cover the dish with foil, and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil, and sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese. Continue to bake, uncovered, an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Sprinkle with additional cilantro and scallions, and serve.

Risotto with Butternut Squash, Leeks, and Basil

I found this recipe in this month's Bon Appetit. I had a few butternut squashes hanging out at home and immediately knew that I had to make this. I have never had leeks before and was quite pleased with their understated taste. Some leftover turkey paired nicely with this dish!

Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili

The chilly December weather calls for a big hot bowl of soup! This chili is my favorite of the season! I was just talking with a couple of friends tonight about how much we love the squash. It tastes like a close cousin to the sweet potato. Paired with a cheese quesadilla, this meal reminded me of a fancier version of grilled cheese and tomato soup.

Bon appetit!

Festive weekend!

Isn't this the greatest time of year? I am in total holiday spirit! This year, we hosted our first Thanksgiving at our house, celebrating with the Evans and Dineens. It was so exciting to decorate the dining table and use all of my new dishes. We had quite the feast, featuring all of the traditional classics. I'm pretty certain that if I had to sum up this year in one word it would be "thankful." Beyond so.

Black Friday was spent in Raleigh, visiting Jarrett's awesome extended family. I had a wonderful time getting to know everyone! There were lots of kids, the younger of which thought I was a princess, since the only time they had met me I was in a beautiful gown. Precious! We hit up the mall on the way home to join in on all of the madness. I treated myself to Jim Brickman's Disney CD. Ever since the honeymoon, I have had quite the Disney bug and absolutely loved Tangled, the new Disney movie. I also picked up Jackie Evancho's Christmas album. Jackie has the voice of an angel (a petite one I might add).

Saturday I set off on an 11 mile run, thanks to a last minute plea from my body to train for Mistletoe. Post run, I relaxed to the tune of a miserable football game (my poor hoos!). This football game has traditionally been one of my favorites, although in recent years I've learned to dread it... As soon as the game ended, Jarrett and I went to get our Christmas tree. We spent the rest of the evening hanging out with family and decorating our frasier fir with "Miracle on 34th street" playing in the background. It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!

The next morning was our first Sunday morning back at church since the wedding. It was great to see Father Steve and attend service as a newlywed couple. On my last day off before taking the dreaded plunge back into work, I decided to do exactly what made me happy. I went to Starbucks with Jarrett and Preston, cooked a couple of meals, went to spinning, and lounged my little heart out. A perfect ending to my perfect vacation.

It hasn't been too bad being back at work. I could totally get used to not working, but look forward to my evenings off. Last night I went to hot yoga which was the most intense workout I've had in a while. Whenever I go more than a week without yoga, it always turns around and kicks me in the butt. I really give each pose my all and sometimes forget to pace myself. My balance was right on and I was incredible focused, which helped alot in the balancing series. I still managed to leave class completely wiped out and drenched from head to toe!

Tonight is one of my favorite nights of the season- The Lighting of Rockefellar Plaza! I can't wait to get home to bake for the neighbors, cook turkey cranchiladas, and watch the show! On my way home, I'm going to go shopping for Janet, my four-year-old Angel Tree girl. This always puts me in the holiday spirit! Tis the season!!

When You Wish Upon a Star

Honeymoon Top Ten!

#10- Making it there! Thanks to Conner's good advice, we had already worked in a "chill" day after the wedding. Thank heavens! I was still pretty sick and couldn't imagine traveling or doing much exploration. We called Disney and the airlines to come up with a back up plan in case we weren't able to make it. I laid in bed for nearly 20 hours, minus a couple of breaks for some chicken noodle and ginger ale. When I woke up on Monday, I felt like a human!! I couldn't have been more excited. A car, two planes, and a bus ride later we were officially on our honeymoon!

#9- The Animal Kingdom Lodge! We were so pleased with our accommodations. We were welcomed at the door and shown to our beautiful room, which was decorated for the newlyweds :). Our room overlooked the savanna and we enjoyed sitting on our balcony to watch the animals. Jarrett sprung for the concierge service so we had a private floor for lounging and around the clock food and beverages. We also got to go on a private safari in Africa for a behind the scenes tour of the animals up close!!

#8- My husband! I couldn't stop giggling the whole week when I'd refer to Jarrett as my husband! I love the new title and enjoyed coming up with a variety of ways to get to say it. "My husband needs more water.... I'm looking for a shirt for my husband.... My husband and I are from North Carolina." I love it! I nearly flipped out when I saw a place card for us that said "Dineen Family." This was our first vacation together and it couldn't have been more wonderful.

#7- The princesses! Even though I'm 26, I couldn't help but to be captivated by the princesses. Although Belle is my favorite Disney princess, I was most excited to meet Cinderella. We ate lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table where all of the princesses came to our table to introduce themselves. I kept thinking that they would break character since we were adults, but there was no chance of this happening. It's not every day that a girl gets to brush shoulders with royalty ;) .

#6- Food and the "Flying Fish!" Between the concierge service and our generous meal plan, there was an abundance of delicious food up for grabs. My appetite finally kicked in on Wednesday and I had no problem making up for lost time. My favorite dinner was at the "Flying Fish" in Disney's boardwalk. We appetized on the best cheese platter before enjoying the most amazing seafood entrees. Other hits include the African stew in the Animal Kingdom and the Mediterranean platter in Epcot. Needless to say, good food was never hard to find.

#5- The Shows! This was probably one of the best things about Disney. There were so many fascinating and impressive shows to see. I'm pretty sure that we saw them all, since there was practically no wait for anything. "Fantasmic" was my favorite with its cirque-du soleil meets futuristic approach to animation. Mickey was at the pinnacle orchestrating the powerful water fountains, whose jets created the backdrop for the animated extravaganza. "Little Nemo" was remarkable and practically off-Broadway caliber. The "Electrical Light Parade" was a spirited event followed by the magical firework show above Cinderella's castle. We were quite the captivated audience.

#4- Creativity! It's so hard to imagine that the park is a result of man's creativity and effort. The visions and ideas of Walt Disney live on through the hard work and artistic talent of others. Jarrett and I took an animation class where we learned what goes into the creation and design of the Disney characters that we so classically love. I was in awe to watch the animator draw with such relative ease. Behind every production, ride, character, and park was a plethora of imagination busting at the seams.

#3- The Parks! Thanks to the short lines and non-existent crowds, we were able to see and do everything of interest in all four parks. Each park was so unique and had tons of good rides, shows, food, and entertainment. The Animal Kingdom was hands down our favorite! We loved the fireworks in Magic Kingdom and enjoyed soaking up the Disney spirit. Hollywood Studios was exciting with the Indiana Jones show and Tower of Terror. Epcot gave a unique perspective of various cultures, lending itself to some great photo opportunities. Each day was a new adventure, fit to the liking of two very happy newlyweds.

#2- Vacation! All in all, I took a total of 10 days off from work. Hallelujah, my first real vacation as a working woman! It felt incredible to get away from work for both a mental and physical break. It was absolutely amazing to spend that time with my best friend and husband, the best company a girl could ask for. The worst part about taking a vacation is getting back to reality, which I absolutely dread! The trip left me daydreaming about where we'll go next!


#1- "Where Dreams Come True!" Disney's popular slogan just about sums it up. I couldn't help but to reflect on how blessed I am. My dream wedding with a loving family, incredible friends, and a top of the line husband. A perfect honeymoon with memories made and adventures shared. Only in Disney could you legitimately feel like a princess living a fairy tale life. I'm living my dream thanks to the Lord's blessings and truly, truly couldn't be happier!