Santa's Ten Celebrate Again

14 years ago marked the very first Sexy Nine Christmas party.  Several 14 year olds got together to celebrate the Christmas season for the first time.  Some had been friends for years already and others had just met shortly after entering high school...all would be friends for many years to come.

I remember being so excited that this group of girls, this popular group of beautiful girls, had invited me to share in a night of laughs, merriment, and friendship.  Little did we know, this would be a tradition for so many years to come.  We decided that Secret Santa would be exciting and much more affordable than buying each girlfriend an individual gift.  On the menu were various items that we asked our mom's to cook or threw together ourselves with little or no culinary ability.

Years later, we left for college and began making new friends.  Yet, every Christmas season, we looked forward to planning and celebrating our annual Christmas party.  Secret Santa stopped and we signed up to bring an appetizers, main dish, dessert, or a vegetable.  After we celebrated with each other, we ventured for a night out on the town.

Then we graduated college and moved out of our parents' houses.  We began having parties at OUR own homes and condos and eating like queens.  As every year has brought firsts - boyfriends, apartments, careers, fiances, husbands, pregnancy- this year was no different.  Instead of spending money on gifts for each other, for the first time we spent money on a mother and her son who are much less fortunate than us.

After dinner, we shared our gifts for the baby boy, played Christmas music, and wrapped tons of presents for our adopt-a-family to open on Christmas morning.

Please enjoy a few photos from our magical and memorable evening...

The house was decorated

The holiday treats were abundant.

Tasty hor d'ourves

A beautiful tree with all the trimmings and trappings.

A festive table scape.

Friends that are family...

We drank...

We ate...

 We celebrated upcoming birthdays and laughed...

We shared our presents...

And we wrapped the presents for our family...

Thank you again Dr. Chavez-Grinde for hosting...

And thank you to my favorite ladies in the world.  The last 14 years have been unforgettable.  I will love you always and treasure our unique and lasing bond.  Things only keep getting better with time.

Now playing...You've got a friends by James Taylor

Every room that I went in was filled with PUMPKIN PIE!!!!

On Thanksgiving my sister made the MOST INCREDIBLE pumpkin pie I have ever tasted.  I've always liked pumpkin pie and felt like I was searching for a pumpkin pie with crust that didn't taste like cardboard.  WELL the search is O-V-E-R. 

I made this pie for (1) annual girls Christmas party and (2) Mike and it was a HUGE hit.  I thought I would share the recipe with you so you can impress your friends at your next holiday party.

ENJOY....and thank you KC for sharing this with all of us.

For the pie:

1 29 oz. can, pure pumpkin
1 5 oz. can evaporated milk
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp cinnamon

For the crust:

1 box Pillsbury yellow cake mix (with pudding in the mix)
2 sticks butter
2 cups chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350
Line two 9" pie pans with wax paper.
Mix together pumpkin, milk, sugar, eggs, salt and cinnamon.  Pour into pans and make even.

 

 

Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over both pies.  Put pecans through food processor to finely chop and evenly distribute over cake mix.  Melt one stick of butter at a time and pour on top of pecans.

 Bake for 1 hr., let cool and chill.  Place upside down and cut.  Add a dollop of whipped cream and drizzle warm caramel sauce.

 

 This pie is so easy to make and WILL be a huge hit at any holiday party.

Now playing...Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays by *NSYNC

(The cheesiest music pick I have posted yet!)

 

10 years later... A high school reunion.

I frequently hear people stress about their high school reunions and complain about not wanting to go... I however, am NOT one of those people.  I was very excited to visit with old friends and spend time with my best girlfriends back in good old Burlingame. 

I am lucky to have made some of my closest girlfriends at the beautiful Burlingame High School.  We have remained incredibly close since we graduated 10 years ago.  (For those who don't know about how important these ladies are to me  you can read up in my post Relationships: High School Girlfriends). 

Within the walls of this beautiful (now) 88 year old building, I shared countless laughs, tears, and memories with some of the most remarkable individuals.  And so, 10 years passed and it was time to reunite and catch up!  Unfortunately, most of my close girlfriends could not attend BUT Miss V, Cristina, Rachel, and I attended on behalf of all the "Cheerleaders." 

We caught up with old classmates...

 

Partied with best friends...

 

 

 

 

And found that in the past 10 years, besides "growing-up," somethings never really change...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most importantly, we loved every minute of it!

Now playing... Country Grammar by Nelly

 

30 days of thanks...28, 29, & 30

My last three days of thanks!

28. I am thankful for my iPhone.  It does so many amazing things and helps me when I am lost or need more information.  If you don't have an iPhone, I strongly suggest you get one...it is life changing.

29. I am thankful for my vacuum cleaner.  It sounds lame but honestly, it has made my home a much cleaner place.  It cleans very well and I love that it doesn't have a bag because it makes for an easy clean!  I have a cat that sheds so a good vacuum cleaner is very important.  If you are in the market for a new one I suggest the Dyson Ball! 

30. I am thankful for funny and entertaining commercials.  I do have DVR but every once in a while I have to watch live TV and hate suffering through boring commercials.  Advertisements have to be catchy and entertaining or television watchers will tune out.  I mean if you are going to interrupt our show at least make us laugh!!  Here is one of my old favorites.

Now playing...I have you to thank by Gavin DeGraw