Eating my way through the holidays

My title says it all!!

As I mentioned in my last Post 

we went to the Dallas area

for a week to see family and friends

and several highlights
of that trip were centered around good food

I stayed with my mom for a couple of nights

and one of those evenings my son

treated us to a fabulous dinner at Ava's in Rockwall

It was the perfect start to our holiday visit

The food was incredible and the atmosphere very chic

Thank you to my wonderful son for this very special evening

......and then there was our weekend with our

friends, the Paonessa's

Hubby & Tom out did themselves

Friday night we had this beautiful

antipasto tray

the Italian meats were to die for!!!

(everything came from Jimmy's Italian Market & Deli in Dallas. 

We went there Friday to shop and have lunch)

It's a great place!!

Saturday morning Carol served us

this beautiful and oh so yummy

Cream Burlee French Toast

After breakfast Carol and I

headed out to do some shopping

Our favorite stop was
The Shoppes at Brown Stone Village

If you are ever in Arlington, Texas it's a must stop!

The boys (aka, our chefs) were

off to shop for our special meal

later that evening.......

Before our fabulous dinner

Carol fixed us "White Christmas" martinis

OMG, they were sooooo good

and here is a look at the

incredible dinner our chefs

lovingly prepared

Roasted Leg of Lamb

Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes

Roasted Onion

Sauteed Mushrooms

Tom's out of this world Gravy 

and a beautiful salad

It was one of the BEST meals I've ever had!!!!

We finished the evening off out on the patio

listening to beautiful Christmas music

enjoying great coffee w/ delicious cake balls

from a bakery at the Brown Stone Village

and later a soak in the hot tub

Beautiful night

Beautiful friends

Beautiful times

Every Little Birdie says -

I love making holiday memories

Hope yours are filled with joy and love

There's no place like home

We are back from our week

in the big city...

....and I agree with Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz

There's no place like home!!

But we really enjoyed our time visiting

friends and family in the Dallas area

The highlight of our stay

was our weekend with our

dear friends, the Paonessa's

Let me show you around

their beautiful holiday home

I love the breakfast area

the red dishes make such a holiday statement!

The kitchen was very festive as well

and the formal dining room

was beautiful

Carol knows how to set a table!!!!

They love to cook and entertain
so the above rooms are the
most popular at the Paonessa's home

But the rest of their house is equally as beautiful....



Tom & Carol have such a talent

for decorating



We had such a wonderful time

celebrating the holidays with

our dear friends

and as you may remember from

previous posts when hubby & Tom

get together in the kitchen

great food starts happening........

Every Little Birdie says

Check back later in the week

for my post on all the fabulous

food these two great chefs cooked up

for our special holiday visit



MIA

I'll be missing in action

for a few days.....

 

Gone to the big city

 

Big D

 

 

Visting friends and family

in the Dallas/Ft Worth area

 

Be back Sunday

with a new post

on our trip

 

Hope everyone has

a blessed week

 



More creative inspirations

I hope you enjoyed my last

 Post on things that

 inspire me from

many of your blogs

and pinterest

Here's a look at a few more......

I'm mad for wreaths this season

I've used them all over my

home this Christmas Season

And my inspiration came

from all of you!!!!



As a matter of fact I love any type of greenery

It has such a fresh, pure look

and smells soooooo good!!!!



I love this idea of using it as a napkin ring

Thanks to all my creative

blog friends for all your

great inspirations

Every Little Birdie says -

After all imitation is

the best flattery

linking up over at

http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/2012/12/shabbilicious-friday-link-party.html



Winter Inspirations

I find such wonderful inspirations

on many of your blogs or pinterest boards

I thought I'd share them with you

over the next few days

Here are a few that melted my heart........

I BELIEVE I love this!!!!

I'm inspired by trees this season
Big Ones, Little Ones
White Ones, Green Ones, Silver Ones,
the more the better

Decorated

or simple

I love them all!!!!!!

Every Little Birdie says -

What inspires you this winter season?????

linking up at -

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2012/12/feathered-nest-friday_20.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FQoLtm+%28FRENCH+COUNTRY+COTTAGE%29

http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2012/12/145th-table-top-tuesday.html

http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com/

http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/12/make-it-pretty-monday-week-27.html

Let the parties begin!

This weekend we kicked

off the Christmas party season

Let the parties begin!!!!!

Friday Night

Adult Christmas Party

at our church

Great food, great singing,

Great fellowship, Great time!!

Saturday Night

We had a neighborhood

Christmas party

There was an abundance of great food!!!!

and Oh My, look at these desserts!!!!!

This cake was to die for!!!!!

The two ladies on the right were

our hostesses and they did a wonderful job

I am so thankful for our wonderful

group of friends in our neighborhood

We can always find a reason to get together

and have a great time!!!!

Every Little Birdie says -

Hope you are enjoying time

with your family and friends