No Book Book Club and Binge Holiday Film Fest

The night before surgery and all through the house...my book club babes came over for a no book book club. We are reading Steve Jobs, which is a tome, so we skipped a book for December and had a holiday gathering instead.

It was so unbelievably amazing to have these women cuddled up with me the night before my surgery in front of a fire. It kept me completely distracted. We giggled about my banishing the red wine drinkers to a spill free zone.

We had Joe Squared pizza, salads and risotto. I had lots of fizzy water.

Two of the ladies brought home baked cookies. The peanut butter kiss cookies are one of my favorite Christmas cookies. Well done Lane! Em made Martha's Mexican chocolate cookies. Serious yum factor with a kick to boot. My surgery wasn't until 4:00 pm the next day. I had to go in at 2:00 pm and wasn't wheeled back until about 4:30 pm. Don't you know I was dreaming about those damn cookies I was so starved after fasting from midnight they day before. Not even a drop of water. Have mercy.

Eric's wonderful mother gave us this little tree last year and I kept the light on the entire recovery in our bedroom, like a night light. 

The same tree lit this reading session a few days afterwards and a sweet visit. Susan and J. stopped by and brought me salted caramel ice cream from the Charmery. I ate the entire thing in one sitting and loved having the company. Em and her gang also came by that night with dinner. God bless you all!

As foggy as it was, recovery was spent binge watching Christmas movies. Here are a few of my "must watch" list and their trailers. Elf of course! Santa! I know him.

The Santa Clause is sweet and hilarious. The little boy in this movie reminds me of my brother. Tim Allen went to Western Michigan and is the voice of the Pure Michigan promotional videos. A "Rose Suchuck Ladder" is probably one of the most adorable ideas in the movie. 

Home Alone can't be missed. The church scene got me choked up this year.

I finally broke down and ordered Little Women via Amazon this year. I had a VHS "tape" of it and we no longer have a VCR. It was time. Man am I glad. The snow scenes. France. The costumes. Oh the costumes. I love Susan Sarandon's roll as she influences her Little Women to "be smart, glamorous and know all the answers."

Girl crush Cameron and Jude Law. English snow filled fields and a stone cottage. Need I say more? I may love the houses in this movie more than the people. Has anyone done a home exchange. I'm obsessed with trying to get back to Scotland and think that could be a great trade.

The journey, the snow, the mountains, the luxury hotel and spa.  Queen Latifa and LL Cool Jay all come together for this major escape. The food scenes are also fantastic with Gerade Depardieu.

This trailer is hilarious. Love Actually is NOT the movie I should have shown my in-laws at Thanksgiving. I always forget about the awkward porn stars. AWKWARD. But still one of my favorite movies of all time. Cry like a baby each time.

If you haven't seen Fred Claus, rent it to enjoy an all star cast and laughs. We started watching this with Eric's family as a tradition 4ish years ago. Vince Vaughn is epic Vince Vaugh. Ludacris as the elf DJ is outstanding. Kevin Spacey is wonderfully sinister. Paul Giomatti is the ugliest Santa I've ever seen and the support group scene is monumentally tragic with some other funny cameos.

Thank you book club babes for taking such good care of me the night before and supporting me after the surgery. I'm such a lucky girl to have met all of you, who happen to be such good bakers and cooks!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Our tree is finally without it's ornaments but sits empty in our dining room. I'm hoping by the 18th to kick it to the curb. Thank you again Jean Somerville for nursing me back to health, giving us that cute little bedroom tree and the new ornaments to go on it. We love you!!! Thanks for letting me not forget Christmas is over just yet in my mind. 

Snow Beautiful

On our last day with Ali and Matt, the heavens opened and it snowed hard and fast all morning. Our little Atlanta visitors were overjoyed. As were we. We had reservations at Woodberry Kitchen for brunch and the ride there felt like we were in a snow globe.

It felt like we got 4 inches in 10 minutes. Seriously, I don't remember a snow coming down so fast in a very long time. No wonder they cancelled the Mayor's Christmas parade that day.

Snowfall truly NEVER gets old. I love that we've had so much snow early this winter. If it is going to be dark and gray I expect to have snow on the ground.

Amy's planters were beautiful. The decorations for Christmas at Woodberry Kitchen are magnificent. Simple little cedar trees are even in the powder rooms.

Matt owns a coffee shop in Athens, GA so it was fun bringing him to this mecca of coffee perfection to discuss all things coffee.

Ali was so pleased that they have a Gluten Free optional menu.

She wore her sticker all day. 

I love that I can get half an egg's Benedict. So does my heart. I do feel spoiled fresh!

We then decided to go down to LAMILL at the Four Seasons for our second coffee pilgrimage of the day. E. encouraged me to take this snow globe car photo. It was so pretty.

We snuggled into the sofa at Wit and Wisdom, watched the snow fall, listened to the Raven's cheers, and decided to have a bit of a Sunday Funday. Manhattan's are always a good idea. This was my last drink before my surgery. I'm still on the sober bandwagon and loving it.

These two were just the cutest! And just like that they were gone on a plane back to Atlanta, that actually made it home on time. Like I said we loved having you with us Alison and Matt. Come back soon!

I think it was last week that we got a gorgeous bunch of snow. I took photos every 2 hours to show the progress.

5:00 o'clock

9 o'clock

And now, it's all gone as the rain soaked it all away on Sunday. 

Ali took this photo of us at The Food Market their first night in town. It makes me so happy. I still coo looking at my Charlie. 

Here's hoping for more snowstorms before the winter is over. More fires. And more friends at Stone Hill Farm. 

Winter Birthday Luncheon at the Hotel Monaco Baltimore

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of working with the most wonderful family to celebrate MLW's birthday. Isn't she a vision? This must be your new head shot Miss MLW! MLW's daughter, BLW, called me a few months ago and we hit it off immediately. Please enjoy a peek into this beautifully designed, "Spring Bursting from Winter" luncheon. Flower design by Jeffrey Conti, rentals from DC Rentals, catering from the B&O American Brasserie, location Athens Ballroom at the Hotel Monaco Baltimore.

The guest of honor was so touched by the details. Her daughter is seriously gifted when planning a party. 

The florist designed the table to truly look as if these dreamy spring flowers were popping up through the snow.

Ranunculus and anemones just make my heart skip a beat. The freesia, tulips, and forced flowering branches were all truly the most beautiful feast for the eyes.

The reception room had small little arrangements on a few high boy tables, and this dramatic arrangement for the bar. I'm in love with the foix bois linen.

BLW found fantastic bird place cards on Etsy and had her calligrapher create the signature cocktail card as well for her mother's party.

A wonderfully varied array of hors d'oeuvres included the B&O American Brasserie's Candied Bacon Deviled eggs, Maryland Crab Cakes, Kobe Beef Tartar, Shrimp Corn Dogs, Aranchini with spicy tomato sauce and Brie and Fig on crostini that were passed during the reception.

Guests arrived and I quietly disappeared to gaze again at the table.

SugarBakers made the darling cake.

Once the guests were seated, BLW gave a toast to her beautiful mother. They enjoyed a Pear and Parsnip soup to start, and a warm Salad Nicoise with tuna for the entree. 

Wishing you the happiest of birthday's MLW and many more to come. It was such a pleasure hosting your special day. Best wishes to you too BLW. There are not enough words to express the joy and ease it was working with you. Thank you for letting me share these photos with the world and for being patient with me while away and on crutches! With very best wishes, Nelle 

Mrs. Claus Christmas Card 2013

The same day of our adventures with Ali and Matt, we were all pretty exhausted from the mead, wine and ice cream tasting. My one goal for that weekend, other than loving on our guests, was to get a tree. I promised E. I would take ten seconds picking it out. I'm not one to belabor purchases. If anything I make way too many impulse buys. But on this Saturday in early December my quick decision paid off and we found the best Christmas tree we've ever had. Strapped him to the roof and were homeward bound for football within a half an hour. While driving back down The Avenue in Hampden, what did my wondering eyes did appear? My KATIECAKES decked out for her Mrs. Claus Crawl. Remember Katie lives in Philly now, so seeing her singing on the steps of Ma Petite Shoe was pure kismet. We had to stop. And then we had to explain to our visitors about Mrs. Claus. I really wanted this photo of Eric and I with Katie to be our 2013 Christmas card. I just simply couldn't get my act together with the surgery this year. My sweet Wendy in DC said, "Your Instagram feed IS YOUR CARD." Truer words could not be spoken sweet @wendyindc. 

Katie's theme for this year was Mrs. Cop Claus. She shakes it up every year. 

The ladies were walking down to Cafe Hon so we parked and came in for Claus-a-palooza four part harmony carol fest. The ladies all walk in the Mayors Parade each year but this year was snowed out!

I love our quirky city and running into Katie and her crew was such a highlight of that fun weekend.

Christmas Tree 2013, how lovely are your branches. It's still up in our living room one week after Epiphany. My foot is the excuse for everything as of late and I'm okay with that. 

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