celebrating together

Christmas with my family this year was special. I really enjoyed the weekend with my fam. Bonding with my dad and walking together, and chatting really felt special. I really love this time of year because it brings us together.

Family and friends gathered on Christmas Eve for a great dinner, dancing (I didn't do any of that, i ate too much to move) and then opening presents.

My dad is such a sweetie. While my step-mom was at work, he cooked most of the dinner. I tried helping him, but cooking is his favorite thing to do and he likes to do it his way. I don't mind letting him do it. I take care of the dirty dishes, one of the things I like to do for some odd reason.

My twins looked adorable as usual. I think they get it from their older sister, don't you? They are so grown up and for me, coming home this Christmas, to see their maturity and their growth as young adults was a great gift. I am proud of them.

By midnight, as we traditionally do, we set to tear up the presents. This is my step-mom's favorite thing to do. She sits by the tree and shouts the name of the person whose gift it is, claps, screams with joy and does it for every gift, even when we are worn out by the 100th gift.

Christmas was definitely special this year. There's no place like home and there's no better feeling than that embrace of family, even if you want to murder them in between dinner parties. But that's what families are all about.

it's about family

this time of year for me is about family. as i think back to the oldest christmas i can remember with my family, i always go back to the same memory. i must have been about 7 and very much into santa. my family lived in a small town in the Caribbean and needless to say it was a place where people lacked a lot of things that we get to see as normal in the u.s. but regardless of what we didn't have, i remember the way our family came together and celebrated. my mother, before anyone in our household sat to eat, made sure one plate was served with a bit of everything for our closest neighbors on both sides. they did the same. it was like sharing the joy in our home with our neighbors, who were like family too. that night my memory flashes forward to leaving cookies for santa (might have been the first and the last time i did that) and waiting for my gifts, which my mother made sure my cookies disappeared and my toys appeared. she even left some by the window so i would think santa dropped it on his way in. oh the joy of my innocence that year. today about 20 years later i dont believe in santa but i believe in family and i believe in the love that i get to share and receive from them this time of year. it really is priceless to share this time of joy, when we all put aside differences and just get along. it's a sacred time of cooking, sitting together and giving gifts to one another to remind us that we are loved.

it's good to be home. it really is.

i pray you all enjoy this time of year in which ever way you celebrate it and however you believe. im happy to celebrate christmas with my family and my hope is that they would know jesus and the true meaning of his birth, death and resurrection.

enjoy my friends.enjoy.

the office party

my boss (and his wife) really know how to set the Christmas joy in the office. there's lots of pastries and cookies and candy to go around. and i can't forget the christmas decorations, gifts and a santa hat, which im still trying to figure out how to wear with my oversize curly hair (ha!). after the celebrations we are off to our holiday break. what a great way to kick off the holiday celebrations! im so jolly (to say the least)!!

lots of glam, food and family fun coming up and i cant wait

1,2,3,

this weekend im spending it with my family for the holidays. and im really excited to see my daddy, cook with him, walk with him in the mornings, and mostly chat about everything. that's always something i've enjoyed about my dad, converstations. he is really open for a father, and i somehow feel like i get to give him so food for thought (or advice). he is the one who teaches me the cool family recipes that i want to carry with me in my heart (and a little book). he is gonna let me cook with him this christmas eve and i cant wait. in case you may not know, hispanics celebrate, make a big dinner, party, dance and usually open presents on christmas eve. im not sure where that began, but latin families get together on the eve of christmas for festivities. we tend to open gifts at midnight, now that we are all older girls. it's much more exciting. and then we sleep in christmas day.

this christmas will be a special one. my twin sisters are moving on their own after the holidays and well im already away so this year we will make it one to remember. family and friends are joining us. and us latins, make christmas eve a dress up party. hence the outfit ideas on this post. it's funny how that happens, even if we are at home, everyone has to dress up, look their best, and take pictures by the over stuffed christmas tree (by over stuffed i mean in decorations and gifts). gotta love my parents.

in case you are not sure what to wear for the events you'll have with your family this year, i hope these help.

counting the days :)