Merry and Bright

In keeping with annual tradition, despite having just survived a 15 hour flight home from Thailand, friends and family gathered today at my house for cookie decorating.  There was eating, drinking, and merriment making.  I love catching up with friends from far away and having a house full of my favorite people spending a relaxing afternoon together.  

Mom is all smiles:

Leslie learns to make burekas:

Overcome with the Christmas spirit of giving, I'm sharing the recipe below:

Burekas

1 package of puff pastry sheets

8 oz farmers cheese

3 Tbs crumbled feta cheese

4 Tbs grated mozzarella

2 eggs (one for the filling mixture, one for "gluing" the pockets and to brush on top)

2-3 Tbs sesame seeds

Thaw the pastry sheets as directed on the package.  Prepare the filling by combining all 3 cheeses and 1 egg.  Unfold each pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface and roll out to about half the original thickness. Cut each sheet into 12 squares of equal size.  Fill each square with about 1 tsp of the cheese mixture.  Brush the edges of each square with egg and fold over dough to form a triangle, pinch closed with your fingers. Arrange on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.  Brush the top of each pocket with egg and sprinkle with a pinch of sesame seeds. Bake for 15-20 minutes in an oven that's been preheated to 400 degrees.  Best hot out of the oven, enjoy!

It was a serious productions of rolling, cutting, baking and decorating. Don't worry we saved some cookies for you:

  

Beyond a shadow of a doubt

Yes, there's a reason why I've been lurking instead of headlining here...a bonafide baby sugar-bun in the oven! After many years of wishing and hoping, our 2nd miracle has occurred...a baby sister is finally on her way. It's amazing how different a second pregnancy is from the first. There sure is a lot less time spent focusing on the details. Hope this babe doesn't mind missing out on a having a pregnancy journal, I haven't started it yet and we're past halfway to delivery...sigh! Well, there it is. Now, back to nesting...
xoxo,
Big sister

What I'm Wearing

Savion Glover Performance at Palace of Fine Arts Theatre

Dress:  Borrowed from Kendra

Boots:  Nordstrom

Runner up, this one will have to wait until the next time I need a fancy outfit

Dress:  Borrowed from Kendra

Boots:  Nordstrom

Dorado Schmitt & the Django All-Stars Concert at the Herbst Theatre

Top:  J.Crew

Pants:  Gap

Shoes:  Banana Republic

Phantom of the Opera Las Vegas

Sweater:  Banana Republic

Skirt:  Anthropologie

Oranges

Seems like I'm loving everything orange these days.  Food, flowers, accessories, you name it!

Here's a beautiful, fun hat found at Anthropologie:

Gorgeous gladioluses from the farmers market:

Holiday floral display at Caesars Palace:

And a Thanksgiving staple, pumpkin pie with whipped cream:

Holiday Crafting

Christmas window displays around the City have inspired me!  Here is one of my recent creations.  I think one year we should have a rule that all gifts have to be homemade.  What do you think?!