Hi Friends!
Merry Christmas!
Welcome to a page I've hidden just for you on my website because I can. As much as I'd love to send each and every person I know and love a personal gift, AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT. But what I can do is share the stuff I've loved this year, and maybe you'll love it too. Merry Christmas and God bless you! Stop by our house for a hug any time!
Favorite podcasts of the year:
Reply All (I might have listened to 3-years worth in 6 weeks)
The Moth (life dream: be on The Moth)
Favorite books (fiction - fair warning, my tastes lean to the creepy):
The Outsider by Stephen King
Artemis by Andy Weir (in case you ever wanted to live on the moon)
The Troop by Nick Cutter
Providence by Caroline Kepnes
Bird Box by Josh Malerman (okay, so I read this one last year, but the movie is coming out!)
Favorite books (children's - so many great memories made this summer reading these to two adorable nieces at bedtime):
Favorite books (self-help):
Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff
Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler
The Assertiveness Guide for Women by Julie de Azevedo Hanks
...and anything by Brene Brown
Favorite TV Shows:
The Durrells of Corfu (on Amazon)
Killing Eve (was on BBC America...not sure where it is now!)
The Great British Baking Show (on Netflix)
Favorite Movies:
Ready Player One (if you love the 80s. Read the book!)
Ramenheads (if you love ramen)
Thoroughbreds (if you like disturbing teenagers...and who doesn't? Lol)
Italian recipes you've probably never heard of but should eat RIGHT NOW:
Trofie al Pesto (thanks, Genoa)
Bucatini all'Amatriciana (thanks, Rome)
Fregola Summer Salad (thanks, Sardinia)
A cheese & wine pairing that will make you look like a wine & cheese superstar...or make you realize you CAN in fact eat a whole block of cheese in one sitting (everyone can...they just haven't tried hard enough):
Castello Vintage Havarti (locally available at Publix)
Barbaresco - Rabaja 2013 by Giuseppe Cortese
An easy dessert that impresses everyone and is like eating a cloud:
Perfect summer soup when you want to branch out food-wise into something weird but easy and delightfully delicious and have your friends say "WHO EVEN EATS LITHUANIAN FOOD?"
Saltibarsciai (Lithuanian Cold Beet Soup)
My favorite holiday cookies:
Gingerdoodles (or Snickersnaps, depending on who you ask) - easy cookies I'll be making with the 3- & 6-year-old niblings this week
Double-Dip Mint Chocolate Slices - an AMAZING cookie, lots of work, but totally worth it! A great gift cookie.
Gift exchange themes that have been a hit in case you need an idea for your own holiday party:
Fun socks (best of last season...I reallllly want to repeat this one!)
Party games (who doesn't like stocking their game cabinet??)
Grocery (as in anything found in a grocery store...we just did this one on Sunday with a $15 limit...so many fun gifts!)
And finally, here's a link to our Christmas karaoke playlist. We still need to add to it, but it's a great place to start!!
Have a wonderful Christmas!