mother's day 2012

happy mother's day

2012

mlk jr

"I have decided to stick with love.

Hate is too  great a burden to bear."

Martin Luther King Jr.

1967

on our way: america's finest city

today 

we 

are 

off

going to hang out here

san diego

america's finest city

and hang out 

with these lovely ladies

and definitely head here 

a couple times

eastlake church

 chula vista

and celebrate this 

with the people i love.

so if you don't hear from me 

for a bit...

you'll know why.

tell me about any travel plans you might have?

as always,

holiday cookie-ornament exchange: fayetteville style

 it's that time again.

time to 

gather

celebrate

eat 

and 

exchange

set up was pretty much 

same as last yeas in dc

minus my two 

out-of-town v.i.p.s.

okay

i lied.

this year we added

berries in our champagne

who couldn't use some antioxidants?

found boxes

with cellophane tops

for guests to take cookies home in

added a little sparkly  monogram

(you know how i love me some monograms)

and topped it off with a little personalized calligraphy 

ornament pile

lovely guests

am i the luckiest?

how do i always seem to 

find the most amazing 

women to surround myself with?

thanks, ladies,

for an amazing kick off 

to this holiday season.

would love to know

what traditions you've got

to kick off your holiday season.

kind of a trend around here: jumping

had the most wonderful thanksgiving

(even though mr. man was far far away)

hope you did, too.

table was decked,

food was scrumptious,

and the company was even better.

drank prosecco with fresh rosemary,

haven't tried it?

you should.

mmmm mmmm

one thing team brookes tends to  mark

special days with...

jumping.

so we did not stray

took a couple of these

also landed our xmas card pic yesterday.

you'll see that a little later.

promise.

enjoy your holiday weekend.

as always, 

peacocks and pinecones: my thanksgiving table

love 

love 

love

having thanksgiving in my home

the food

the smell

the company

the after-dinner walk around the hood

and of course 

the piece de resistance

the table

all dressed up and ready to 

par-tay

i have yet to set it

the same way 

two years in a row

i know

crazy to some

guess it feeds

my creative urges

 this year

it's 

peacocks 

and pinecones

maybe with a little

monogram thrown in for good measure

interested in past 

thanksgiving tables?

check it out here

9 people

2 missing

both in a combat zone

protecting our freedoms

thankful

for the

loved ones i am surrounded by

and the table that's big enough 

to feed them

this is,

people,

my fave holiday

of 

all 

time

 kicks off

the season of giving

you see.

 and isn't that 

what life is all about?

tell me about how you celebrate

this glorious day

and of course

your table setting

and those you gather with

honoring those on this veterans day

veterans day

november 11

honoring all those

who have served

and continue to serve.

whether on the battlefield,

on foreign soil, 

or in our own community.

thanking you for your dedication 

and loyalty to our country.

deeply appreciating the sacrifices made

to keep our country free.

getting ready for turkey day

not sure about you 

but team brookes goes thru

a little routine each year as we gear up

 for turkey day.

have i mentioned my fave holiday is turkey day?

well, it is.

probably because it's smack dab in the middle of 

'the season'

and it surrounds good smells, good food and family.

good stuff, i tell ya.

so

this little old process of gearing up starts early for us.

like just after we put the halloween stuff away. 

i fully realize we 

have a whole three weeks until the big day

but who's counting?

certainly not me.

first thing we do:

we listen to christmas music

probably not what you would expect.

i know.

so for  those of you

who aren't crazy about listening to carols in november,

better not come over here.

just saying.

and

 believe it or not, 

it was my girls who

cranked up pandora's christmas radio 

without a word from their mother.

have i corrupted them, or what?

yeah pandora!

2. start making soups

we love eating soup for dinner around this time of year.

some of our faves:

apple vichyssoise

(pretty much apple, potate leek soup)

harvest butternut squash soup

split pea with ham

add bread and salad.

num.

lastly,

we love to ring in thanksgiving with a thanksgiving tree.

now normally i don't put up this bad boy until 

the week of thanksgiving.

but with nothing but time on my hands

and no living relatives in my vicinity to give me a hard time,

i'm wide open.

bring on the tree.

(pics to come,

it's not quite up yet...but it will be)

in the meantime
here are some pics from past thanksgivings

2007
starfish, sparkly coral and golden oak leaves

thanksgiving tree,
aka: homecoming-red-white-and-blue-tree
2008

2010
fleur de lis, peacock balls, gold sprigs

mulling over what will be on the tree this year

tell me how you get ready for thanksgiving.

or not.

pumpking carving tradition... oh and happy halloween.

where does the time go,

i ask?

the girls

6,8,6

2004

 one of the many 

driveway pumpkin carving 

events

ala the brookes fam

 this was always hubs gig

in keeping with tradition,

knew we had to continue the trend.

threw out a few invites to the local peeps

and low and behold, 

they showed up.

.

i know you've heard a lot about

how great i think our neighborhood is.

well, they did not disappoint

we had 7 families

with a total of 14 kids.

it truly was a great time

had by all.

 tons of food,

not to  mention a humungo pot of chili,

rice, fritos and all the fixin's. 

now that's fine american cuisine.

 

 hot cider and mint hot chocolate.

ooh and the desserts.

forget about it.

hard to believe,

5 of the 7 women here

have husbands over seas doing big strong military 

stuff for our country.

i know.

talk about fellow women with 

understanding and support.

i've got it all.

and here we have our one and only husband 

representing his kind.

scott.  

you did a great job as the only one with all the guy duties.

my garage is spotless thanks to you.

erin, thanks for sharing him.

he's a keeper, this one.

 honored to stand among 

this crowd.

truly.

 final pumpkin products

the artists behind them

all in all great night.

but i have to say,

when i recapped with the girls,

all three said fave part was playing 

 team man hunt

in the hood, 

afterhours.
hands down.

 love it.

same time next year?

who's in?

tell me about your halloween traditions.

as always,