Do As I Say Not As I Do

 

Last week, I did a post about moderation during the holidays. I shared wonderful tips including keeping up with your regular workouts, drinking lots of water, and shared tips from other readers and Twitter friends.

Then, I enjoyed an amazing weekend and forgot about that whole moderation thing. In fact, by the end of our 2nd Annual Diamond Holiday Party everything  looked kind of hazy and blurry.

049 I had a wonderful time with our amazing friends on Saturday night and even acted as bartender for the first time! I have now learned that a bartender is supposed to serve, not serve themselves! As I look back on the evening I remember toasting one too many times during the night. You know what, it’s okay, I had a great time!

Our food spread, ranging from spicy crab dip to stuffed peppadew peppers, was also easy to enjoy too much!

034 035 These meatballs, a recipe found in the new Meatball Shop cookbook, was the clear winner! Much to our delight however, there was no one dish that wasn’t enjoyed. Last year we had a few dishes that were only a quarter to half eaten. This year, the only thing left was some ham, rolls, and a few cupcakes!

The pictures from the night truly highlight our friends’ amazing taste in tacky holiday attire and the festive mood! Here’s a glimpse into the evening:

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045 047 048 051043 057 It was such a fun evening but I definitely did not move off the couch yesterday. I slept until 1pm when I finally crawled out of bed for a glass of water and the couch. Bo and I spent the rest of the afternoon napping, reading, watching TV, and cleaning the apartment. I fell asleep on the couch around 8:30, finally moving into the bedroom at 10pm. This morning I quickly turned off my alarm at 5:30, knowing that my body needed more sleep.

This isn’t exactly the best way to stick with my moderation plan or keep off the holiday weight. Hopefully, you all have done as I said and not as I did this weekend. But, if you enjoyed one too many holiday drinks this weekend, I can now provide a few tips for getting back on track after one day, which is far easier than after a week of treats and imbibing.

  1. Start your day with warm lemon water, a delicious and warm beverage that will help flush unwanted toxins and aid digestion.
  2. Eat a healthy breakfast rich in fiber and nutrients but calorie rich enough to not leave you starving.
  3. Pack plenty of healthy snacks to enjoy throughout the day in case you get hungry or have a craving. This will keep you from giving into the cookie jar or the holiday dessert plate.
  4. Take your vitamins!
  5. Try writing down your food for a few days. During the craziest time of the year, this can help you stay on track by helping you realize what you’re eating.

004 002 003Also, if you’re going to host your second party in 48 hours, make sure that you provide at least a few healthy options for your guests to enjoy to balance out the baked goods and wine.

006 007 I hope you all are having a wonderful week, filled with holiday cheer and moderation!

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Our First Thanksgiving

Yes, while our first Thanksgiving was last year, celebrated beach side in Anguilla, this year was our first true Thanksgiving as a married couple. I couldn’t have imagined a better Thanksgiving with both families blended together. Bo and I are both from Savannah which means that coming home for the holidays is simple for us but still requires balance between two families. Bo’s mother volunteered to host Thanksgiving for both families this year due to my mother’s work schedule. It was a wonderful evening filled with laughter, a succulent turkey, and lots of family love.

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Bo’s family hosted my not only Bo and I but also my parents, my brother, and my grandparents this evening. It was so sweet of them to host us this holiday.

The gorgeous table greeted each of us as we walked through their door into a home filled with warm Thanksgiving aromas, flowing wine, and laughter.

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We spent the first half hour socializing and catching up as a group as it had been quite a while since we were all together.

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Tonight’s menu included:

Marinated Shrimp Dip

Roasted Turkey

Traditional Stuffing

Squash Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

Baked Potatoes

Cranberry Sauce

Green Beans

Savory Cheddar Biscuits

Pumpkin Pie

Pecan Pie

Pumpkin Cake Crumble

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We knew that dinner was going to be delicious when Bo started carving the turkey. The juices gushed out of the roasted turkey the moment his knife sliced through the crispy skin. Bo’s carving skills are truly an art!

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Everything with this meal was amazing. The conversation flowed easily all night through dinner across all ages, 26 through 92!

My plate was filled to the brim with some white meat and plenty of sides. My favorite Thanksgiving bites include whole cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, and stuffing!

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My mom and I were in charge of desserts tonight as it was the least we could contribute to the wonderful meal.

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Unfortunately, the Pioneer Woman’s pecan pie didn’t turn out as planned. We’ve decided that there must be an issue with my parent’s oven as all the ingredients were fresh and we followed the directions perfectly. The crazy thing is that our pumpkin pie was picture perfect!

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However, the real surprise winner was the pumpkin cake crumble! People couldn’t get enough of this moist cake, bursting with crumbly pumpkin butter.

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The recipe can be seen below, as photographed from the William-Sonoma recipe card. My dad picked the recipe up at the store yesterday during his Christmas shopping. I highly suggest you try this recipe the next time you need a tasty dessert that transports easily!

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The dishes are cleaned up, the silver is soaking, and the leftovers have been dispersed. Another successful and delicious Thanksgiving is in the books. Now it’s time to start planning the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What does your family do for Christmas? Are the meals similar to Thanksgiving?

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