I survived my first Turkey Day away from home

Turkey latte art from last weekend

Welp, I survived my first official holiday without the fam. Yesterday didn't really feel like Thanksgiving to me, though.  Not sure if you've noticed, but casinos are a 24/7, 365 day a year kind of operation - we don't get holidays.  I haven't been here long enough to be able to take vacation, so I woke up, set the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to record and headed my happy ass to work.  Our office was dead since most people I work were on PTO (personal time off), so it was nice to be able to work in silence and not have to run off to a meeting every other hour.

After work, I headed home to make macaroni and cheese and to get ready for Thanksgiving Dinner at my BFF Kristina's house (the one I lived with when I first moved here). I also made a strawberry pretzel dessert per her request.  Shout out to fellow bloggess Brooke from Tales of My Fairytale for sharing this recipe with me.  It was a hit.

If I were to make it again (for my own personal preference), I'd use graham crackers instead of pretzels to make the crust.  If you love a salty, sweet combo than this recipe is for you. If you like all sweet, then I suggest a graham cracker crust.  

The turkey, which was phenom might I add. If I had to made a turkey, I wouldn't even know where to begin.

All the fooooood. 

Get in my belly. 

Me eating (not really):

So that about sums up my Thanksgiving. I came home after dinner and a game of Apples to Apples, finished watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade I recorded and fell asleep.

Thanksgiving was great and all, but what I'm really looking forward to is CHRISTMAS!  My most favorite time of year. I personally don't believe in decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving. I don't know why I don't, I just don't. I feel like it kinda ruins Thanksgiving. Enjoy Thanksgiving THEN soak up everything Christmas.

Anyway ...

My family (including REESE) is coming to VEGAS FOR CHRISTMAS! Excited does not even begin to describe it. Speaking of Reese, I leave you with this video message from him to me. Melt my heart, why don't you?

Thanksgiving weekend wrap-up

I'm baaaaccck from my mini-bloggy break.  Did you miss me?  I doubt it because like me, I'm sure you were busy spending time with your family and friends. 

Thanksgiving was hosted at my house, so I added a few fall touches to the abode before my family arrived:

Although I technically hosted Thanksgiving, I definitely didn't cook.  My Grandma brought all the supplies with her from San Antonio and I just provided the kitchen for her to work her magic. 

Thursday morning I went to an early morning boot camp session so I wouldn't feel as bad stuffing my face.  Except when I got home, I accidentally drank a Venti Starbucks vanilla latte and ate a jalapeno, sausage and cheese kolache from The Czech Stop in West.

I know all my Texas girls know all about the kolaches in West, but for the rest of you... just know they are magically delicious.

My Aunt brought snacks for us to munch on while lunch was being cooked:

And naturally, I was only in charge of the vino:

The bro bear sliced the bird. Gobble, gobble.

And by 2 p.m., it was time to feast on all this yumminess:

Mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, turkey, fruit salad, cranberry salad, deviled eggs, gravy, stuffing and pea salad ... oh MY!

As if that wasn't enough to make you have to unbutton your pants, pumpkin pie and cherry cobbler for dessert:

So. much. food.  What is not to love about Thanksgiving?  The best part is that once Thanksgiving is over, I can officially switch to Christmas mode! 

Fa, la, la, la, la! 

Friday after recovering from a food coma, the fam and I picked out my second "fresh from the farm" Christmas tree.  A 6 foot noble fir that this kind sir tied securely for us to be exact:

Our tree was promptly decorated by Reese with stockings:

Before I took over for the real deal:

Blackberry pic.

Call me crazy, but I love how Christmas trees look through windows.  Here's mine! 

So other than some shopping on Saturday (I don't do the Black Friday madness) and a mani/pedi with my Mom on Sunday where I decided to try the one glitter nail trend ...

... that concludes my Thanksgiving weekend wrap-up!  This week I'll be blogging about my Christmas decor (with better pics of my tree) and my Christmas wish list for Santa.  I'm so excited that it's finally Christmas time!  This is my favorite time of year.  Happy ♥ times a milli!

["How the glitz stole Christmas" swappers: Don't forget to get your packages in the mail TODAY!]

My Thanksgiving favorites before a mini bloggy break

Happy day before Turkey Day!  Have you had a talk with your belly and is it prepared for all the calorie consumption to be had tomorrow?  Mine is! 

I love how every family has their own traditions and it is so interesting to me to see how people all over the U.S. (and the world even) celebrate Thanksgiving with their loved ones.  For instance, this is my families Thanksgiving spread from last year:

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Umm, I'm lieing.  In my dreams.  But for reals, I'm nosy so I want to know all the specifics like what time do you eat?  Do you eat around lunch? A late lunch? Dinner time?  We eat a late lunch around 2 p.m.

Do you have several Thanksgiving celebrations you have to attend?  Just one for moi! 

What are your families signature dishes? We have mostly traditional dishes like turkey, giblet gravy, mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, rolls, green beans and deviled eggs (yuck) and then things like pea salad (my mom's fave) and cranberry salad (my cousins fave).   Personally, I look forward to the stuffing, turkey and gravy the most.  Get in my belly ...

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Do you all bring a dish or does one person cook it all?  My Mom and Aunt assist, but for the most part, my Grandma cooks it all.  Thanks Grandma!

What are YOUR favorite things you look forward to on Turkey Day? Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!  I really hope one year I can go to the actual parade.  Maybe I should start a bucket list. 

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So those are my answers, what are yours???  Tell me! I want to know.

My family gets in town today so I'm going on a mini bloggy break until next week.  It'll be tough, but y'all will pull through without me. I just know you will.

Enjoy your time with your friends and family and remember to be thankful for what you have in your life.  I know it's easy to always want the latest and greatest (guilty!), but let's take this time to be thankful for what we already have (like our health, a roof over our head and amazing readers like you). 

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End rant.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving my loves.  XOXO


p.s. REMINDER! For those of you participating in our "How the Glitz Stole Christmas" blogger swap, don't forget to get your shopping in this weekend.  All packages have to be in the mail on or before next Monday, November 28!