Christmas 2015

    

Happy holidays! Everyone is feeling the Christmas blues and honestly I don't think I've ever experienced them. I love Christmas and everything but I'm not one to mourn over it being gone... maybe it will hit me when I'm older. Our month of December was filled with watching home alone & home alone 2, drinking lots of hot coffee and hot chocolate, baking Christmas treats and some holiday shopping. 

We visited December nights which we had skipped two years in a row because I feel like more than anything it's just a bunch of vendors and money spending more than actually Christmas celebration but it was nice to get out, drink some hot coconut lattes and walk while observing all the Christmas decorations. Especially after a very hard day. 

This year we started a new tradition with our favorite family (our best friends) of having a friends Christmas dinner. It was amazing to celebrate together since they always leave town to see their families. They cooked some amazing steaks for us and made the best blue cheese butter to go with. I made homemade mac and cheese and some stuffed mushrooms that were to die for. The kids happily played together all night while us adults conversed and took a few jalapeño shots to get warm,

Christmas Eve was very low key. I woke up to clean the house and after, decorated some gingerbread cookies with Maximiliano. We got ready for the day and when Damian was home from work we picked up a good friend of mine and her baby so they could spend Christmas at our place. My mom, sisters and I had decided that we didn't want to cook this year so we bought frozen lasagna, bagged salad, wine and a few appetizers from costco.Yup, I told you it was very low key. My mom still made the traditional Mexican ponche and buñuelos. We had only few family over. Our tradition is to open presents at midnight instead of the 25th, but I think that's mostly because as kids we were super impatient and bugged our parents the whole night haha. Next year I will have Maximiliano open his presents Christmas morning because he will be a bit older and more understanding. Christmas day was just as relax as Christmas Eve, we ate leftovers, relaxed all morning, got ready and left the house to head to the In-laws but not without stopping by starbucks (the only coffee shop open) first for some latte's. I really need to invest on an espresso machine. At my in-laws we ate some delicious green pozole, opened a few more presents and then relaxed before heading back home to watch a good movie and call it a night. Feeling very grateful for all the love in our lives. 

XOXO

Lately // Christmas Edition

{ these two put up the tree all by themselves! }

{ magical }

{ awkward self-timed family Christmas picture? right after putting up the tree }

{ breakfast by the tree }

{ Maxi took a picture of Santa, I love finding random pictures he takes }

{ this years chocolate advent calendar }

{ Maxi took off Santa's hat and did this, his idea of Christmas decorating }

{ riding the train at the zoo for jungle bells }

{ never thought night time zoo could be so spooky, it was quite dark except for the areas with lights }

{ the spider was our favorite } 

{ boat light show by the bay, we went with our friends and unfortunately we all got lost and this is the only picture I took! But at least the boys saw the lights and they enjoyed them very much! }

{ what this years wrapping looked like }

{ hot chocolate with cream and peppermint marshmallows by the tree! }

{ Christmas cookies are a must! }

{ opening first present of the night, notice how tree is empty at the bottom? you can thank Maximiliano for that }

{ with his favorite aunt }

{ it's the little things, this face is priceless }

{ Christmas at the in-laws }

This is what our December looked like pretty much. Lots of hot chocolate, baking, sitting by the Christmas tree. Some wrapping, late night zoo fun and Christmas hangs with good friends. I cannot get over how fast it all came and went. 

I did very little + late Christmas shopping this year, everything was very low-key. The first two years we got Maxi a few good books for Christmas, this year since he really enjoys playing with his toys we got him one big action figure plus two smaller ones and an educational rain forest set which included a book, some flash cards, stickers and figures. He loved the rain forest set and went crazy placing the stickers on the rain forest background that it came with but as soon as we went over the flash cards and he was introduced to the piranha, it was game over haha. He absolutely hated the piranhas, he thought they were very scary and they truly are! The 24th was spent at home, some family came over, we ate, talked, opened presents at midnight. The 25th we went to my in-laws for the afternoon, talked, ate, we opened our presents then we headed back home.

Like I said this Christmas was very laid back, my husband and I didn't even get each other presents. We only got presents for Maxi and my little sister. I didn't even get dolled up. And just like that Christmas came and went! With good food and company. Hope you guys had a merry merry Christmas, XOXO Lidia.

Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments

A few weeks ago Maximiliano and I made some salt dough ornaments together and it was so much fun! He really enjoyed rolling out the dough and pressing his hands and feet in it. I gave him his own piece of salt dough and some cookie cutters and toys he could press into it and it kept him entertained for ever! I loved how the ornaments turned out and they were really fast and simple to make but overall it was a great activity to do with my bb. 

I am aware that there are lots of different salt dough recipes out there but I'll share the one I used anyway. One tip my blogger buddy told me was to keep these in ziploc bags or they will mold! 

Salt Dough Recipe

- 1 cup salt
- 1 cup flour
-1/4 - 1/2 cup water

1. Mix all three ingredients until you get a manageable dough. Not too dry not too sticky.
2. Roll into ball then roll out. Remember to do this on a floured surface so your dough won't stick.
3. Make as many hand/foot prints as you want then simply cut out with a knife. Make a hole so you can thread your string through the ornament.
4. Bake at 215 degrees for 2 hours.

Let dry overnight and paint them using acrylic paints.

XOXO

Lidia