holiday events

i really ought to have been an event planner. just thinking about holiday parties makes me giddy. here are the things i'm looking forward to:

1) family thanksgiving feast. grandma is hosting this year and i've been asked to bring a few sides. i can't wait to try some of the new recipes i've been collecting. every year i make it a personal mission to introduce my family to something new. they are a rather traditional (and if i do say so, unadventurous) bunch. we grew up mostly on canned corn and green beans. our typical thanksgiving meal consists of turkey, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, watergate salad, and pumpkin pie. good eats, don't get me wrong, but pretty much what's being served on every other thanksgiving buffet. my father and sister Jessica turn their noses up to my holiday innovations but each year they come around a little more and now they love things like asparagus, brussel sprouts, cranberries without rings from a can (!), creamed spinach, ... okay, maybe i'm still the only one eating the creamed spinach but that's just fine with me. my grandmother, in the past few years, has really enjoyed the food network so she looks forward to trying new recipes as well and my mother has really broadened her culinary horizons. taylor, my little sister, has always been up for trying new things. i think i'll make a pecan pie for her this year, that's one of her favorites.

2) friend's first thanksgiving. my friend Miriam is hosting thanksgiving at her house this year for the first time. she's naturally a little nervous about bringing it all together but she's going to come over sometime this week and we're going to sip mulled wine and leisurely go through all of my holiday recipe files and create a fantastic menu for her guests and then we're going to use my fall dishes to create a beautiful table setting she can enjoy. i can't wait to help!

3) lisa's holiday gift exchange. my SIL lisa is hosting a cocktail party and gift exchange at her house. this might be my excuse to dress up for the holidays. i've got my eye on a festive tank at ann taylor, would be super cute with black slacks and the right pair of heals and definitelly wearable again. but then there's also my fav black pencil skirt that i always love to wear during the holidays. or that cute taffeta one that rarely makes it out of the closet...???!! i haven't dressed up in so long, that will be half the fun! i think i'll get a new holiday makeup look too, just for fun! i'm really looking forward to helping lisa shop for festive and fun things for the party and then helping andy get everything ready while lisa is at work. i also can't wait to see some of her friends from seattle and meet some of her new Portland friends.

4) MY COOKIE EXCHANGE. micah looks forward to this event every year and last year it was a tremendous success with something like 34 people attending, many of them toting in SIX DOZEN COOKIES EACH. this year we've lowered the requirements. if you're reading this and didn't get an evite please give me your email and i'll forward it to you. the more the merrier!

5) jonas' first visits. first to santa. this will be an event as well. i'm already dreaming up an adorable little outfit for him to wear. we'll have to make a trip of it, maybe get peppermint lattes and spend a little time at the mall. i LOVE to be at the mall when it's all decked out for Christmas! and speaking of adorable costuming for Jonas, i can't WAIT to take our first family photo for our holiday cards!! and then there is jonas' first trip to the Christmas tree farm. that will be super fun. we'll feed the ducks at the pond, sit on Santa's lap, shop for ornaments, drink cocoa, and find the best doug fir EVER. and then there is the tree trimming and wrapping parties...