Christmas Break

It's always sad to see the Christmas season come to an end. This year it seemed as though it flew right by, and I didn't have time to fully appreciate it. Normally I stay at home all break and hang out with my family, but this year my parents and I took a trip to New York after my finals. It was my first time experiencing NY around Christmas, and it really is magical to be there. I won't lie, it was very cold there...I would've liked it to be a tad warmer...Say, maybe above freezing... But anywho, it ended up being worth it, because while we were there it also SNOWED! It was so beautiful to see it coming down in times square, and walking through a white Central Park really gives you the holiday spirit. 

 

We went to LIVE with Kelly and Ryan, which was interesting to see. Everything is so different when you have the perspective of sitting in the audience rather than watching at home. In my head the set always seemed much larger, but in actuality it is a bit small and cozy.

Me and Padre waiting in line for LIVE, which requires you to wake up and be there by 7 :( 

 

 As we left the building after Kelly and Ryan, a girl who worked with The Chew was outside recruiting audience members. We decided to go, and I wound up getting picked for the tasting bar and also was in a Pictionary-esque game with two other girls. We were asked to draw a shrimp and pork dumpling. Overall it was a great day, and I had  a lot of fun (and I was hungry, so this little snack helped keep me going too).

Here's a few more pictures of us in Rockefeller plaza and Macy's.

I had to put this picture in here. They had a rainbow of Kitchenaid mixers! Who knew they had so many color options. 

After we returned home, we had a Hanukkah dinner with Brittany and Brooke (plus the boys). Eric, Brooke's fiancé, is Jewish, so we had a little dinner to honor that and also just to hang out and get into the holiday spirit!

We also saw the knew Star Wars movie as a family. This is our favorite theatre too, since it has reclining seats and serves truffle fries and pizza flatbread and whatnot. It is almost like a Cinebistro, but not as sit-down dinner-y. 

My family has a big dinner on Christmas Eve, and this year our desert was a Stump de Noel! I used the Baked cookbook's recipe, and then added chocolate bark around the outside to better resemble wood. It also made the cake look beautiful, which I didn't mind, since my rolling of the cake had left multiple breaks and other such not so attractive things that were all hidden by the bark. 

Charlie was a bit tired on Christmas Eve. But he had recovered in time for Christmas day. Or at least he seemed to have done so, since he was getting a lot of attention and tummy rubs. 

(the morning) 

Now Christmas is over, and I am going back to Chapel Hill today, since classes start tomorrow. I'm excited to go back and see my friends, but I am not looking forward to the school and homework portion. Plus, I'm going to miss Momason and Padre (and of course Charlie, Lola, and Mr. Bubbles too!). It really isn't that bad though, since I'm only a 30 minute drive away from home.  :) 

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and holiday season! 

B.