December So Far

 

 

It's a busy month, but I'm very thankful for that extra week on the calendar this year, after Thanksgiving and before December 1st. It gave us all a chance to recover and move forward, with a bit of a pause. My shopping is almost done, except for some small items and I'm just waiting patiently (or maybe impatiently) for all my packages to arrive, so I can wrap and ship them to Michigan. I am a big on line shopper and do not miss the days of marathon trips to the mall, carrying heavy shopping bags and overheating in my winter coat. With free shipping and cyber Monday discounts, it's a no brainer for me.

 

 

On Monday, I hosted a luncheon for my yoga group. There are a core group of us that are there every week, since the beginning and I wanted to get us out of the clubhouse for a change. I had everything ready before I left, so it would be easy and stress free when I returned after yoga. I kept things simple with soup, two salads and rolls. I also served two kinds of sangria - a red and a white. The red sangria was Pinot Noir, with apples, oranges, grapes limes, simple syrup, club soda and a cinnamon stick. The white sangria was Sauvignon Blanc, apples, cranberries, simple syrup, club soda and a sprig of rosemary. The recipes can be found on my Fun Drinks Pinterest board.

 

 

The Creamy Tomato Basil Soup I served, was so good. It's my second time making this recipe and I'm sure it won't be the last. It's perfect for company, because you can make it ahead of time in the crock pot and serve when you are ready. The original pin can be found here.

 

 

Wednesday night was the monthly girls night out at our clubhouse. We tried something different this month and ordered some food in, rather than all bring something to share. It was a great idea in this busy season. These girl's nights have been a great addition to the neighborhood calendar and such a good way to casually meet neighbors. We have new people moving in all the time and snowbirds that come and go, so it's important to keep connections open.

 

 

 

My book group met last night and I led the discussion of Little Fires Everywhere. It is a great book for an interesting and lively discussion, with several different themes throughout; including motherhood, adoption, cultural differences and life in suburbia. This book came to my attention from Reese Witherspoon, who picks a book each month, similar to what Oprah used to do. It's interesting that her picks seem to be gaining some cachet and are noted on Amazon as such.

Have a wonderful weekend! I hope to do a post with my Christmas decor next week.

 

{ Linking with these friends}

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