Well, we officially survived the first Christmas in our new home!
I’ve never had to be a hostess before. I’ve only ever wandered from room to room, picking at the pepperoni and cheese and crackers (probably my favorite thing about Christmas – besides the family time and presents and blah blah blah) but this time was totally different! I had to clean and cook and slice the cheese myself and –
Alright, fine, I’ll admit it. Joe put the pork tenderloin in the oven. Joe’s sister brought a cheese and pepperoni platter so we didn’t have to cut any. When we wanted to add some muenster to the mix, my best friend cut some up and threw it on there. I put some crackers on a plate and set out the pre-made Cucumber Garlic dip and drank some wine and opened my presents and drank some more wine and ate some cookies and drank some more wine.
Worst. Hostess. Ever.
But for the record, I cleaned the entire house on Sunday, just in time for my future in-laws to fly in Monday morning to stay with us for a week! I also cleaned up something someone spilled on my kitchen counter.
Mr. Hotspur will appreciate the list of things I received this Christmas!
– A beautiful vanity from Joe, so I’ll stop bitching that I have to sit on the floor like a commoner while putting on my makeup. I scurried downstairs Christmas morning to find it already put together, a big red bow and the Charlie Brown Christmas tree perched on top!!!
– A sweet Everlast punching bag (also from my Joe), so I can take out my work-related aggression at home, in our basement!
– Towels and kitchen things and domesticated adult things from the future in-laws (I feel all grows up!).
– Clothes and more clothes from my ‘rents – all of those things I’m not supposed to be buying myself much anymore!
– Nail polish and a vintage find and other awesomeness from the best friend!
– One twice-stained table runner,
– One wine-stained oven mitt,
– One clogged toilet,
– Ashes on my back porch,
– Crumbs on the counter,
– A cheese-induced post-Christmas tummy ache,
– And a partridge in a pear tree.
All in all, things went very well. Our home is beautiful, my wonderful family is completely nuts, and we all went to bed with full bellies and visions of sugar plums raving in our heads.
Enjoying the lights and sounds of the season until the New Year.

Isn’t my handsome so festive? Best Christmas shirt ever.
Happy Friday!
Egad! Sounds like tehre was xmas spirit everywhere!
And kudos to whoever got you the twice stained runer. Saves teh effort and waste of having to spill something yourself!
Right?! Someone spilled their Christmas spirit all over my shiny home!
When it comes to hosting, cleaning the entire house is always enough in my opinion. What more do you want? Clean sheets?! Come on now people!
Way to go! Enjoy that wine stained oven mitt. I think we have one of those around here somewhere too.
Whoa whoa, clean sheets! Now that’s just crazy talk! It WAS red wine…it sorta made the Christmas design more Christmas-y.
A clogged toilet? Oh, well. It’s the thought that counts, right? Right!?!?
I suppose it is…..Perhaps it was Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo?!
Mr. Hankey is the shit!
Pun totally intended!!!!
Absolutely!
It’s sounds like a lovely holiday, Nicole. Except the hostess part. Ha ha. You got some nice gifts. I’d like the punching bag!
Thank you! It was a great holiday overall. I burned the cookies off last night!
I’m curious, who clogged the toilet?
Even though I’ll tell you it was Joe’s nephew (which it was) would you still think it was me!?
A firm “yes”
Ah well, at least ill go on knowing the truth!
I’m sorry I couldn’t make it this year- but NEXT year I will bring the flesh eaters and the dog!!
YES!!! They can play with the cat while we do shots.
Off topic – Hey Nicole, just wanted to wish you and yours a Happy New Year!
Same to you! Cheers to another new beginning 🙂