Holiday recap

With Hanukah a few days in and Christmas over...

What were the hits and what were the misses?
What will you repeat, what will you not do again, what will you tweak?

Re: Holiday recap

Re: Holiday recap

So far gifts are a hit. I got my brother something he wanted as a small child, now that his wife is expecting. He was shocked and thrilled. He said to my parents how he has wanted this toy for thirty years and has thought about buying it for himself. It is really obscure, and was not easy to locate with the accessories. That was a big hit. I got my husband a gift card to his favorite gaming store, and he seemed surprised and happy. Our kids seem to really like what we got them. But dd has the flu and I am worried for her health, so until she is better, I am not in a celebratory mood.

Re: Holiday recap

Re: Holiday recap

I will stop listening to my sister and making all these damn pies and desserts that go to waste because she decides to make 4 pies on her own. It’s such a waste (happened Thanksgiving and Christmas)

I think next year I want to actually plan something to do on Christmas Day. We celebrate Christmas Eve and always veg. But I think I was over it and restless this year.

Repeat Karaoke.. so much fun and hilarious.

Re: Holiday recap

Less dessert for sure. I have cookies all over this house. And I packed stuff for people to take!

Also less pasta - we had linguine w 7 fishes in a red sauce and penne w vodka sauce for those who don’t eat fish (me)
I packed a bunch of that too and still have a decent amount leftover

I will definitely do the antipasto like I did again. I put it into a green salad. Everyone really enjoyed it and it was much easier than cutting and arranging
Plus I feel like most of it went as well because it was in there

Re: Holiday recap

I baked up a storm for a holiday get together and hardly anything got touched. Those who I expected to take stuff home did not.
Next year, it is box mix brownies and bakery cookies.
eta : this is family that requests my baking for the holidays. I'm not allowed to bring anything else.


The eve was nice as usual. My dad, sister and her family, BIL's mom and aunt, my DH. Small and intimate.

DH and I did not exchange gifts this year. We will instead use the money for our vacation and the stuff that we like to do.

The day not so much. DH and spent the morning at the veterinary hospital with our sick cat.
We were supposed to go to framily and I had baked again...... I'll drop off cookies and gifts for the grandkids.
Thankfully the cat is better and I can get the thought of putting her down out of my mind.

Message edited 12/27/2019 12:47:07 PM.

Re: Holiday recap

i just noticed that i didn't answer my own question.

the things that went right:
* sometimes, gift cards are the right size and the right color.
* cooking ahead of time and freezing is awesome. i made fudge and froze it. i also made cuban bunuelos and froze them before frying. i fried them straight from the freezer and it was amazing. a lot less of them broke up in the process.

the things that went wrong:
* counting on certain relatives.

things that i will definitely do again:
* freeze food!! next year, i'll add cookies to the freezer.
* continue to shop throughout the year. i love only having to wrap in december.

things that i won't be doing again:
* counting on relatives. i'm done.
* worrying about each and every gift having to be perfect. sometimes, the thought is what matters.

things i'll tweak/change/add:
* more quiet time
* work on convincing SO to not exchange gifts