My sister Lori has a real knack for getting me gifts that appeal to my inner childhood that's really never gone away. This year it was a simple little gift that is going to build into something much larger. In the photo above you can see Schwartz, Ralphie and Flick in the foreground about to take on the Triple Dog Dare.
Get A Life!: Christmas Eve 2017
Lovely antipasto platter for the table sitting on of my grandmother's serving dishes.
Those of you who have followed me through the years know that I honor my grandparents each year by carrying on the tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes. A southern Italian tradition that involves at least 7 kinds of fish and in our family tradition, each person must try 13 items, 12 for the Apostles and one for Jesus. I have a bunch of recipes and more of the story on my food and travel blog. 2017 presented a new challenge for me as we have been living in an apartment for the first time in our married lives. No more dual kitchens like my house of 18 years, no more oversized family room and an even smaller kitchen!
Gee. Do They Still Make Wooden Christmas Trees?
All four of those trees in the picture are real. Incredibly rare for a commercial building.
One of my favorite lines from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" came to mind when I returned to Georgia-Pacific Center after the Thanksgiving break and saw not one but 4 real Christmas trees adorning the main lobby. The main one stands the height of the nearly three story lobby. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw real trees inside a commercial building, but then it makes sense given that GP is part of the timber industry. They're quite beautiful and if you're in the Atlanta area over the holidays, swing by the GP Center lobby and have a look.
Get A Life!: Make Fun Over the Holidays!
The older we get, the more the Holidays seem to get stressful. Doesn't matter which Holiday you celebrate this time of year, there's so much pressure to have the "perfect party," get the "perfect gift(s)," "get everything done" and of course get stuck in traffic, especially on weekends near a shopping center. The Holidays are supposed to be a break from the stress of our "real work." So do something different and fun, like build your own gingerbread house.