A Holiday Whirlwind

{via Disneyland Resort in HDR}

Why, hello there! I'm back from my holiday hiatus which lasted longer than expected (perhaps because I was under the weather at the beginning of the holiday season and I had much to make up for!). In all reality, things have just been busy. So busy, in fact, that I just now posted my holiday photos to Facebook. Here are a few of the highlights ... 

{A little something left for me in the wee hours of St. Nicholas Day!}

{"Get Well" Jell-o courtesy of my boyfriend (in a Big Carl glass, of course). I don't think I would have survived my cold/flu without this!}

{We found the PERFECT tree! I've never seen, smelled or felt trees this fresh before. Christmas bliss!}

{Decorating the tree)

{Veruca was adorably snuggly beneath the glow of the tree every night ♥}

{Doyle was absolutely mesmerized by the lights ♥}

{Our masterpiece!}

{Making (and devouring) delicious rum balls}

{Holiday coffees with my mom on Christmas Evette}

{Christmastime at Disneyland}

{Hot Mickey shaped beignets in New Orleans Square}

{A delicious Brandy Alexander at the Hearthstone Lounge at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel}

{A glass of Scotch for Joe}

{A gourmet cheese plate for us}

 

{We caught the fireworks show as we were leaving the Disneyland Resort. Great view!}

{One of my nieces swiped a handful of cheesecake on Christmas Eve! It was the sweetest little theft!}

{Christmas morning breakfast}

{Breakfast was followed by our traditional Mozart candy munching}

{Joe gave me my favorite chocolate: Grace Under Fire (it has pistachios and red pepper flakes!) and a True Blood keychain)

{The best gift of all, though, was a jumpstart on the recollecting of my old Sweet Valley Kids series!}

{I then gave Joe a Cake CD and concert tickets for New Year's Eve}

{I spent Christmas evening with my mom and little brothers}

{New Year's Eve with Joe - pre-concert!}

{Cake at the Wiltern}

{Cake themed drinks}

{I loved the Cake-O-Licious!}

{The Bubble Fusion wasn't bad, either!}

{Joe stuck to his boring beer}

{Cake was awesome! One of the best live bands I've seen, hands down!}

{The clock struck midnight, balloons rain down upon us and the first song that I had the pleasure of hearing in 2013 was my favorite Cake song: Short Skirt/Long Jacket!} 

It was a fantastic holiday season, albeit a bit of a whirlwind. I enjoyed every moment of it but am happy to start 2013. As I mentioned above, I've been really busy ... but I always say that busy is good! I hope you're having an exciting, productive start to the new year, too!