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.

first official dinner guests

we had our first 

official 

dinner guests. 

 

these guys.

 we were so happy to open 

our home.

feed them.

laugh with them.

raise a glass with them.

these guys 

are the kings of hospitality.

this was really just pay back for

all they've already given to us.

we drank up

 and filled our bellies.

no shots of the actual food.

i was too busy shoving it down

and enjoying the table talk.

thanks,

brictor,

for a 

splendid evening.

looking forward to more of the same.

share with me

great memories 

made 

at your 

table.

love this stuff...

wicked recap

where do i possibly start?

wicked.
june 18, 2011.


unbelievable.

before the show.
giddy with excitement.
can you tell?

must mention mary who did
all the ticket purchase organizing,
dinner reservations and all around
kennedy center tour guide.

thanks, mary.
you're the best.

we were lucky enough to
talk otay ranch heather into joining us for the day.

unfortunately we couldn't sit together.
but not to worry.

if you squint you can see heather in the row behind us...
on the other side of the theater.
squint really hard.

hi heather.

i'm not sure which was more thrilling for me.
the show...
or the venue.

kennedy center
was to die for.

would you spy those
grand chandeliers?

I know.

and forget about the draperies.
who's going to clean those?

famous bust of kennedy.
ginorm.

at every turn,
the kennedy center just got better and better.

one more...

this is what we did during intermission.
until mr. security officer had a chat with us.


mary watched over the seats
while heather and kristy sipped on peligrinos

*thank mary for letting us know
we could pre-order drinks before the
show ready for us at intermission.

we were total tourists,
snapping photos every chance we got.

roof top terrace.
amazing views of dc.

look how happy the girls were
at the view

wendy, kristy and heather
otay ranch reunited

so grateful that our little move
didn't derail our big wicked plans.

it was a great day.

Surprise visit: 24 hours and counting...

how great was it
when we got a surprise visit
from some of our favorite friends?

these girls have known each other since preschool.

those are the best kind of friends.

thanks for always being such a great sport, ben,
representing team testosterone.

we ladies gathered on the balcony for
beverages and a quick catch-up

even ellie commemorated the visit
with our honorary jumping pictures.

it was a very quick 24 hour
turn around, but not before
a run down to georgetown for
some cupcakes!

and a sneak peek at the new
cb2

then they were off...

nothing fills you up like
being around people you love.

thanks, mendlers for
a grand treat for
the brookes family.

have any friends in your life
that are so close
they should be family?

tell me about it...

Friday Eye Candy: Royal Wedding

You know it.
We woke up at 4am.

Had to be at a party...

this party...


Thank goodness all we had to do was
roll out of bed in our jim jams,
throw on a hat and head out our back patio
to our fantastic neighbor's back porch.

This was waiting for us.
Nummy.

Cucumber mint sammies
(no crust, of course)
Fresh Strawberries
Proper English Clotted Cream
Jam
Tea
*We humbly donated the Scones

Look at the glasses placed on the leaf?
So cute...

Miss Christin explains the food and beverage options.
Love her.

We weren't the only early risers.
This is Yvette.
She drove all the way down from Connecticut.
She wouldn't miss this shin dig!

Look at my girls.
Enthralled.


Their first Royal Wedding.

We hung on every word...

And oh, that dress!
Still can't decide which I like better,
Kate's
or Pippa's?

Donning hats,
sans make-up,
in jams.

A parting gift even?

Stop it...
Who's the best?

Miss Christine!

Tell me how you experienced the
Royal Wedding...

Will + Kate = TLA