Holiday in Review

Tuesday, January 3, 2012


With yesterday's big reveal and all my inspiration for the new look, I thought it would be best to give the wrap up of our holiday trip its own post!

We started our holiday season in Providence, where my parents now live. A tour of their favorite spots included a feast at India Restaurant, cheese at Farmstead, baked goods at Seven Stars and ice skating at Kennedy Plaza, a first for John just like the snow on Christmas morning! We also peeked at a few possible wedding locations, talked guest lists and engagement rings, and John got to meet all of my immediate extended family–aunts, uncles, cousins! When we weren't cooking or eating, which was probably only a few collective hours during our 5 day stay, we were walking off those indulgent meals with long walks around Providence's east side. And of course, there were plenty of travel mishaps; I thought drop kicking the handle of my carry on would fix the jam, our Providence to Chicago flight (which would ultimately get us to Dallas) was canceled, which was a charming 5:30am surprise when we came upon the abandoned gate, and after being delayed in Charlotte at 11pm that same night, I thought, "Next year, we're all just going to Mexico."

But we finally made it to Dallas, where John and I spent Thursday reading and relaxing to our heart's content, only leaving the house to indulge in frozen margaritas and fajitas at Esparza's. Friday's Armed Forces Bowl pitted Tulsa, where my soon-to-be baby brother-in-law (what a mouthful!) plays, against BYU, but a Cougars touchdown in the last minute of game play was a disappointment after a spectacular season. We chased away our sorrows with seemingly endless sushi and sake bombs–I piloted the Suburban home, so I only partook in half the fun.

After John's painful morning recovery, we spent most of the day catching up with his oldest friends. New Year's Eve lessons learned: eat a late-afternoon lunch if you've made 10pm dinner reservations (ours were at Grace, a delicious Fort Worth restaurant whose sweet potato soup with pork belly dumplings I'm still dreaming about), dress your sweetheart in a three-piece suit if you want the best table in the room, and don't forget your disco nap! New Year's Day was deliciously lazy, minus some furious coding on my part; I don't know if we've ever watched so many episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in a single sitting. And though we had high hopes for our Dallas-San Francisco flight, it wasn't without its traveling travails. We made it home in time for dinner, and I've never been happier to be back in the Bay.


Now that you're filled in on what I've been up to, I want to know what you were doing this past week! How many of you got engaged this holiday, or know someone who did? My newfeed was positively sparkling; my dear friend Cara, my favorite pen pal (and fabulous blogger) Jen and my sweet friend Maria from music school all found proposals under the tree!


Image by Ryan Ray Photography.

25 comments:

  1. Sounds like a lovely holiday :)
    I cant wait to `hear even more about the wedding planning eeep!

    p.s. Those shoes are amazing! Can you please wear them on your big day so I can live through you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your holiday adventures sound so fun, minus the travel mishaps of course. I'd hoped for 3 of our cousins to get engaged but we're STILL waiting :-(

    ReplyDelete
  3. As always, I love hearing your weekend updates. It sounds like you had quite the traveling holiday! But it sounded delightful too--especially those long walks around Providence. And I'm officially jealous of your white Christmas. This was my first Midwest Christmas and NO SNOW! What a let down. Love, love, love the new site!

    ReplyDelete
  4. OH MY GOODNESS! I missed yesterday and I just read the post and I am completely in love with everything here! Oh goodness! You are an endless source of class and beauty. Happy Holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I flew home for the first time this Christmas & was so nervous about delays or cancellations but luckily there were no issues... don't know if I want to attempt it again though so Mexico sounds like a great plan!

    Sounds like a lot of love happening this season - hopefully they'll have features on this very blog sometime in the future :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sounds like the perfect vacation (minus the minor mishaps)! We spent nine glorious days in Marin County, lots of snuggling by the fire, chats in cute little cafes, and wine was always served at 5:00 courtesy of my dad followed by his delicious Italian dinners. It was perfection. Wish I was still there! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. sounds like one amazing holiday!!!

    ps those shoes are perfection!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds like a lovely holiday. And those shoes are amazing. Happy New Year!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds like a perfectly delicious holiday! Minus the traveling woes! Glad to have you back!

    ReplyDelete
  10. wow you've certainly been a busy bee. Happy you had such a nice holiday even with the lame travel mishaps.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Travel troubles are definitely no fun but it sounds like you still managed to have a great trip!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yes! I love hearing about your fabulous holiday trip, even though I'm sure the cancellations and layovers made it feel a little less than fabulous. <3 Glad you're back home safe and sound! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy New Year dear!! I love the new look!! Your travels sounds fabulous! Wishing you a fabulous year ahead!! xo -Taj

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congratulations to your newly engaged friends! Loving your new blog look. Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday season. xo style, she wrote

    ReplyDelete
  15. a busy bee you are. i slummed on the couch for a whole week and didn't travel one bit. which was secretly kinda nice....

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds like quite the holiday! We didn't have any travel problems, but I've basically been traveling nonstop since the 2nd week of December (including my first trip ever to San Francisco -- I can't wait to visit again!). I'm so happy to be home for a while now that the holidays are past. I love the new look and direction of your blog -- so excited to keep following along!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. If you ever make it back to Chi - let's meet up. Sounds like a good trip minus the traveling mishaps but I'd be lying if I said my traveling was without surprises EVERYTIME! Ha!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Your holidays sounded wonderful! And I can't get enough of your redesign by the way :) I enjoyed Christmas and New Year's at home with my family, and John came down for New Year's...we've spent every NYE together since we started dating--one of the very few holidays we can say that about! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. A Providence wedding?! Clambake rehearsal dinner!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Fabulous shoes!!
    Sounds like you had a fun-filled holiday, just what it should be!
    Can't say I know anyone who got engaged during the holidays but I am dying to hear about all your wedding plans!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm loving this new layout, Lena! Very simple, classic, elegant. Just like your blog :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. i just smiled to myself at Starbucks reading that! you're such a sweetheart! can't believe you had travel delays...those are the absolute worse!

    life spelled jen

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm glad you didn't have to contact a los angeles wrongful death attorney for those travel mishaps. I'm quite jealous of your adventure!

    ReplyDelete

 

A Crimson Kiss – Timeless Events and Classic Cocktails by Ana Degenaar : Blogger