SOCIAL MEDIA

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

New Years Weekend

We are into the New Year and I am very excited for what 2017 has in store for us. We had a pretty good weekend. We are easing back into the blogging schedule, work and the massive snow storms that are to come (every day all week).

Let's get right into my weekend.

Friday we worked all day (holiday weeks mean no half day Fridays), hit up the grocery store, took down our Christmas tree, baked cupcakes, made dinner and prepped the house for the girls' party in the morning.

Saturday morning, I made spicy meatballs in the crockpot, ran to Whole Foods to pick up a few last minute items for the girls party, finished cleaning and prepping for the party. We decided to have a few people over for to celebrate the girls birthday. We had a couple friends and some family over. It was perfect. Small and easy to manage. Plus I was able to enjoy the entire party and not cook and clean the whole time.

We had a brunch at 11 am. I decorated minimally. And I made a few dishes (and had family bring a few things).

Birthday Menu:

Spicy Meatballs
Rolls
Meat and Cheese Tray
Fruit and Fruit Dip
Pastries from a Local Bakery
Chips and Dip
Quiche
Cupcakes
Mimosas
Orange Juice
Sparkling Cider
Water

And the bad blogger in me didn't get a ton of photos. We do have some on my nice camera, but none of the set up really. I was too busy enjoying the party and I don't regret that at all. But I did manage to snap some photos...
Twins 2nd Birthday Party
 The girls really loved opening presents this year
Twins 2nd Birthday Party
Twins 2nd Birthday Party
Twins 2nd Birthday Party
Twins 2nd Birthday Party
Twins 2nd Birthday Party
 Funfetti cupcakes with vanilla frosting
Twins 2nd Birthday Party
Twins 2nd Birthday Party
 Sutton is obsessed with her ball pit

And a few snaps of the decor that I got.
Twins 2nd Birthday Party
 There were way more cupcakes, but I snapped this late in the game.
Twins 2nd Birthday Party
 All decor is from Hobby Lobby
Twins 2nd Birthday Party

The girls didn't take a nap until 2 pm when everyone left. They normally nap at noon. They slept for an hour and a half and I cleaned up the house during this time. I also put together their toddler table which they LOVE.

We played, ate dinner and put the girls to bed. Then Rory went out and grabbed a pizza since I had no desire to cook. We capped off our evening with some wine and the movie Blackhat.
Cloud Break Merlot

Sunday morning we went out to breakfast to one of our favorite spots. The waitresses know the girls so well since we have been coming there since the girls were in the NICU. They came over and sang Happy Birthday to them and added a little extra to their french toast.
twins at breakfast

Sunday afternoon we finally got the girls to ride on their rocking horses. They have been afraid of them since they got them on Christmas Eve, but they finally rode them and loved them.
Land of Nod Rocking Horse
Land of Nod Rocking Horse

Sunday evening, we had our first date night of 2017. We haven't had a date night in a long time. Either we go out with friends or not at all lately. So it was nice to have a date night. We started off at Roxy's for martinis. I had a Reno 75 which has pear vodka, champagne, rock candy syrup and lemon juice. Rory had a dirty martini with onions. It felt so good to have adult conversation and catch up with my husband.
Martini

After drinks, we headed to La Strada for some Italian food. We had the calamari and then I had their signature mushroom raviolis. Rory had the mushroom risotto which was out of this world. We had a bottle of wine and capped it off with pistachio gelato and fresh berries. Everything was sooooo good.
Earthquake Syrah wine
Pistachio gelato

While waiting for our Uber, we ran outside to take a photo in front of the Reno arch since we NEVER go downtown anymore.
Reno Arch

It was the perfect date night to start off 2017.

Monday was an off day for us. The girls woke up at 6 am and were going full force until 10 am when they took a nap. I don't remember the last time they napped at 10 am. They napped for two hours and then were up for a long time which meant cranky toddlers. Plus it was too cold to go outside since it was windy and snowing all day long. Total cabin fever.

We watched a bunch of bowl games, sat by the fire and played with all their new toys. They were exhausted by 4 pm, but they managed to stay awake until 6:30.

I made dinner from my Cravings cookbook and it was amazing. It was the first recipe I made out of the cookbook since I got it when my kitchen was being renovated. If this dish is anything like her others, I am going to be hooked and make them all. I made Vegetable Tortilla Stew and it was so good. Hearty, but healthy.
Cravings Vegetable Tortilla Stew

We capped the evening off with the Bachelor. I watched the whole thing because I didn't want any spoilers. And the girl in the shark costume....wow just wow. I can't wait to watch next weeks. Did you watch the Bachelor?

And that was our weekend. How was your weekend?

14 comments :

  1. So glad the party went well--the food sounded yummy! Also, yay for a date night!

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  2. I cant believe he kept shark girl :) haha.. .I Cant wait to see her without the costume next week. Lord, I hope she's out of the costume next week.

    Glad the girls made up with the horses.

    I love places that you visit so much, the people there know you. Makes it special. Feels like CHEERS :) NORM!

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  3. So glad their birthday went well & everyone had a great time! Way to start the year off with a date night - that's awesome! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  4. What awesome celebrations. The girls look like the ADORED their gifts. I love the photos of them opening presents and their sweet reactions. So cute. And, I love that you got a date night. That looked like an amazing dinner. We tuned into the Bachelor too. Any favorites?

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  5. Yay for birthday celebrations!! That's so awesome! And don't ever say sorry for enjoying the party and not getting many photos. That is the way it should be. :) You guys had a great weekend and cheers to a date night!

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  6. It looks like you had a great weekend! I think it's more important to enjoy an event than take pictures! XOXO

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  7. I love a nice, low key birthday party :) So funny the girls were scared of their rocking horses! Brayden got one for his 1st birthday and was scared of it for a while too. So awesome you got a fun date night in, the food you ate sounds amazing! I watched the Bachelor too, I actually love Nick and am rooting for him!

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  8. Looks like the girls had a great time at their party! And your date night sounds fabulous...love a good Italian restaurant!

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  9. Happy New Year! It sounds like you had a great time celebrating. Low key and enjoyable parties are the best!
    Beautifully Candid

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  10. Happy Birthday to the girls.. sometimes being a bad blogger is a good idea. Better to enjoy the moment than always worry about getting the perfect shot

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  11. Happy Birthday to your sweet girls and Happy New Year! I always feel like I don't get good photos of parties because I'm too busy hosting and just enjoying it - which is a good thing of course. But I'm always sad when I don't have pictures to look back on. I wish someone else would take them for me! Yay for a date night! That martini looks and sounds amazing!

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  12. Happy New Year! Your date night sounds just fabulous! Stay warm this week!

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  13. Happy birthday to the girls! Looks like a great party. So glad you got a nice date night in, sounds lovely! Stay warm with all that snow!

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  14. What a great party! Funfetti cake has always been my very favorite, too! Next time I'll have to crash your party. ;o)

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