Christmas Recap

This Christmas we stayed in Houston and planned on spending it with friends this year. L had told me Thursday when he got home from work that he felt like he was getting sick. So this year, our plans went like this:


On Friday night, I decided to make L a cake since Christmas Eve was his birthday. I made him a red velvet cake, and reminded him of his age. haha

Red Velvet Cake recipe via Annie's Eats

 My old roommate Megan, was in Tomball visiting her family this Christmas and she invited L and I over to her moms for a Christmas party. Megan recently got engaged to a wonderful guy, you can read about it here. We headed over to Tomball to spend Christmas Eve with Megan and her family. Megan gave me a cute little Christmas ornament with the letter "R" on it. I also made some Pecan Snowball cookies to take with us. We had a great time, but towards the end I could see L started feeling a little worse so we decided to head back home. I forgot to mention he also had to work for a couple hours on Christmas day and the weather was horrible here in Houston. (I didn't take a picture of us but Megan did, so I will post that picture when I get it)

College Roomies- Christmas 2011

Pecan Snowballs recipe via Bake at 350 

I Love my new ornament! Thanks Megan

Our plans for Christmas day were to go with L's fraternity brother and his girlfriend. We were planning on meeting Liz and Patrick over at her moms but when we got home, L told me to tell Liz we were not going to be able to make it out because he flat out felt like crap. So on Christmas day, I was upstairs for a while watching Lifetime Christmas movies. I eventually went down and we just laid on the couch watching The Polar Express, Home Alone I and II and flipping through other movies. I wish that we were able to spend it with our families, but I am glad that we got to spend a lazy Christmas day with each other and of course the furbaby!

Even though we didn't get to see our family this year, we had a great Christmas with friends and of course with each other. I can't wait to ring in the New Year with friends this year! 

Better late, then Never....

I had completely forgot to share with y'all my first blog giveaway prizes I won.  I woke up one Sunday morning to a couple of emails and noticed I had won two blog giveaways in one day. I was so ecstatic to be getting my first Scentsy Warmer and a Michael Buble Christmas CD. 

Giveaway hosted by Romance In A Glance

Michael Buble was playing on my computer while I was cooking and cleaning up until yesterday afternoon. 

Giveaway hosted by Krystal over at Krystal's Kitsch

I LOVE my Scentsy warmer and the bars and I will definitely be contacting Celia over at ... just trying to find my way to order some other bars and warmers. 


Thanks again ladies for the wonderful giveaway prizes. 

Hope your enjoying this wonderful day with family and friends!

Christmas Spirit

Happy Friday! 

This week while stalking reading some of my favorite blogs I came across a list of Christmas questions. Darby over at Life with the Hawley's had this great list of questions and she mentioned she wanted to read others. 

So here goes:

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg nog, although when it is freezing outside I do love to make myself a nice cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. 
2. Does Santa wrap presents our just sit them under the tree? Growing up,  Santa would wrap the small things and sit the big presents under the tree or next to it depending on the size.  
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I love white lights but I also like incorporating a little bit of color. 
4.  Do you hang a mistletoe? Sadly, no. I haven't had a chance to go shopping for decorations this year but ask me this question next year. L still gives me kisses either way! 
5. When do you put your decorations up? I usually try to put them up the Friday after Thanksgiving. 
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Tamales and Menudo. 
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Going to my great-grandparents house and sitting around the table making tamales. My great-grandpa would make the masa (dough) for the tamales and after would leave all the girls in the kitchen to do the rest. Now, you can only imagine what a kitchen full of estrogen was like! 
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What are you talking about? Santa is coming to my house this year since I have been good.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Since me and L spend time with both our families on Christmas Eve, we are not allowed to open gifts with my family. With L's family we always go to church at midnight and then go back to L's parents house and open gifts. 
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? The tree was purchased prelit with white lights. I added a string of blue lights to match our blue/silver ornaments. I purchased blue/silver ornaments while in college and have added other random ornaments. I purchased some Aggie themed and our initials at Hobby Lobby to add to our tree. 
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Snow?! I don't know what you are talking about. I'm from Texas and I have never seen a lick of white stuff falling from the sky. Granted, I have seen an inch of "snow" that doesn't count. So I think I need to visit a state with snow to further answer this question. :)
12. Can you ice skate? I'm not sure, I haven't tried. 
13. What is on your Christmas list this year? I have asked Santa for a KitchenAid stand mixer and a DSLR camera. 
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you? I would have to say spending time with family. This year, we are not able to go back home so we will be spending it at home in Houston. 
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? This is a hard question. I love everything from cookies, cakes....etc. 
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? When I was younger, I would have to say it was the family getting together at my great-grandparents house. Now that I am older and live away, I would have to say it's sitting at home watching Christmas movies with L and baking Christmas goodies for the both of us. 
17. What tops your tree? A silver glittery star. 
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I would have to say giving. 
19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? Yum, especially the multi-colored ones :)
20. Favorite Christmas movie? The Grinch, both the cartoon and the remake.
21. Weirdest Christmas song? I don't think I have heard a weird Christmas song yet. 
22. What is your favorite Christmas song? Mariah Carey- All I Want for Christmas 

image via

Thanks again Darby for sharing this list of fun Christmas questions. 

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?

Tasty Sweets and Yummy Drinks-Christmas Edition

Are you baking anything yummy this week? 

Planning on going to a Christmas party soon and need to bring something? 

Don't worry, I got you covered!

I have stumbled across tons of Christmas dessert and drink ideas and I thought I would share some with you. I'm hoping to bake something soon and give it to my neighbors as a gift. (Well first I need a new hand mixer since I broke mine..... I shall not talk about that!) I'm hoping to have a KitchenAid in the near future (fingers crossed)!

Christmas Desserts: 

Egg Nog Cupcakes

Source: annies-eats.net via Thomasina on Pinterest

Crushed Peppermint Cheesecake

Source: myrecipes.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Source: ashlemieux.blogspot.com via Jaime on Pinterest

Reindeer Feed

Source: www.utahdealdiva.com via Kaelah on Pinterest

Now for some Yummy Drinks: 

The following may not contain alcohol! You can't have a Christmas party with out the booze right?? ha ha I'm joking 

Grinch Punch

Source: www.tasteofhome.com via Virgina on Pinterest

Cranberry Pomegranate Holiday Sangria

Source: www.deepsouthdish.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Rudolph's Tipsy Spritzer

Source: www.myrecipes.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Nutella Hot Chocolate

Source: www.shockinglydelicious.com via Jane on Pinterest

 Hopefully I will be able to get in the kitchen and bake some Christmas goodies soon. This year we haven't gone to any Christmas parties, but a couple years ago we went to my really good friends tacky Christmas sweater party and we had a Blast!! Hopefully we will get a chance to attend one this year. 

Do you take any sweets to your neighbors during the holiday season? 

What are you planning on baking for upcoming parties your attending? 

Happy Baking & Drinking :)

Wednesday Loves

Happy Wednesday!!


Hope your having a great week so far. Today I am linking up with Michelle for Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday and Jaime for WILW.


You can follow me here

So let's get started:

I wish it would snow here in Houston so I can make one of these.

Source

Love this movie

Source
Christmas Popcorn...Yum

Source
Need to make these cookies soon

Source

Source

Now for WILW:

I'm Loving this simple eye shadow. I have never really worn a lot of eye shadow but Pinterest has given me so many ideas. 

Source

I'm Loving this holiday eye shadow. This is another look I would like to try.

Source

I'm loving the way these nails look with the pink base and silver glitter. 

Source

I'm Loving this cold weather. Sitting on the couch watching TV with a cup of hot chocolate make me one happy girl. 

And of course I'm Loving Mr. L and Lexi. The other night Lexi decided she wanted to fall asleep on my laptop. I just love Mr. L and my furbaby so much!

Announcement:

 I have been thinking about getting some guest bloggers to post. You would be able to post about whatever makes your heart happy. 

If you are interested email me rochelleamaro{at}gmail{dot}com

I'm also thinking of doing my first giveaway, but before I do help me reach 50 followers. 

Don't forget to go linkup for Oh, How Pinteresting, and What I'm Loving Wednesday and let us know what your are loving and finding on Pinterest.

Target Tuesday #2

Hello Ladies!! Hope your staying warm on this cold Tuesday.

Today I am linking up with Tara for Target Tuesday. Since this weather makes it feel more like December I decided to stay warm and feature....well go check it out!

Today I'm featuring: Footed Pajamas

Dr. Seuss Grinch Stripe Footie - Green

 

Hello Kitty Junior's Footie Pajamas With 3D Head On Feet - Black/White

Nick & Nora® Women's Footie Jungle Jim Animal Print Pajama - Black/Brown

Disney Junior's Angel Fleece Footie Pajama - Turquoise Mickey/Minnie

Paul Frank for Target® Junior's Julius 3D Footie - Red

These look so nice and cozy, right?? I would love to get me a pair of these footed pj's and relax with a nice cup of hot chocolate!

Hope your having a Terrific Tuesday and don't foget to head on over to Fabulous but Evil  and link up for Target Tuesday.

Thanksgiving Weekend Recap

Hello everyone!!

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones.

Larry and I enjoyed our Thanksgiving with family in San Antonio.  Our plans were to spend some time with Larry’s family and then spend some time with my family as well. I am glad we finally got to see all our family this trip. 

My sister Bianca and I

We watched the game with friends that went to A&M and one person that was a UT fan. (If you are an Aggie you know how it is when a “t-shirt” fan is around. Ha). It was the last game that A&M and UT will play for at least 18 years. (Don’t you think it’s crazy that UT doesn’t want to continue this 117 year long tradition with A&M?)   All in all it was a great game and a great Thanksgiving even though we lost 27-25.

On Friday, we went to visit my great-grandmother for a little while and then we went to visit my dad. He fried some wings and fries for dinner and my sisters and mom came by as well to hang out and eat with us. My dad bought some wing sauce from Buffalo Wild Wings that he used for the wings and I have to recommend Asian Zing for your wings if you happen to be at BWW. It was great having dinner with my family before we got back on the road.

Saturday night I started decorating the house. I have to say I miss our old apartment and the fireplace. The current townhome we are renting has a weird layout which I absolutely hate! Since it is pretty cold outside, I put Lexi in her Christmas sweater and she wasn’t too happy about that. (See pictures below)

Our Christmas Tree (Excuse the horrible picture quality)

Lexi trying to hide after putting on her sweater

Someone looks a little upset

This is were I decided to hang our stockings.
(Excuse the shoes in the back)

Well that is enough of my ramblings about this Thanksgiving Weekend recap.  I hope you are staying warm and hope you have a Happy Monday!!