Before we take it all down...

...just wanted to share some of our Christmas decorations around the house. Super boring blog post, I realize...but they can't all be winners. Geesh.

I just love Christmas decorations! So pretty! At least this year we didn't end up "Clark Griswolding" (yes, it's a verb, look it up) the ceiling with a too-tall tree. We were smart and bought an 8 footer for a 9 foot ceiling as opposed to buying a 9 footer like last year. It's the new math.

I broke down and hired light guys to hang lights on our 2nd story this year - it was kind of a pain in the butt to chase them down: they bailed on us twice, stapled through a strand and blew out the lights and were just general flakes. BUT, the end result was glorious, and as an added bonus, I didn't have to stand below Rob on the ladder, nervously shouting "be careful" every 5 seconds, which let's be honest, isn't so helpful.

More outside shots:Little G unfortunately got even MORE creaky during Christmas and we think he may have hurt his GOOD knee...but after going to the Vet on Christmas Eve, we were reassured that surgery isn't necessary right now, so we're just heavily medicating the little dude and taking it super easy on him. Basically, he's a total stoner right now, tweaked out on peanut-butter laced narcotics...slurp! We love our little old man but holy cow is it hard to love him so much, just when he seems to be ok, some other health scare happens and he worries us constantly! Poor dude.
Anyhoo, hope everybody had amazing holidays! Much love - blog you later in the next year! xoxoxo

Giftavus, the holiday for the rest of us!

For the last several years, we've done a gift exchange with our friends we've dubbed "Giftavus" and this year we hosted! We did a Cajun/Creole/New Orleans theme and thankfully, we had tons of red/green/white beads leftover from the Italian parade we saw while we were in New Orleans (side note, who knew italian men loved blonds so much? haha!) Here Rob shows his beads to Zoe and teaches her never to lift her shirt for beads.

Aaron was the only one who actually rallied and came in a costume, and for that, he won....our respect and admiration.

The Sparks rocked some festive headgear, though...so proud!

Max came in his Santa sweater, and he kept an eye out on all the partying.While Galileo was master of snuggling and napping.
Enough of that...gift time!
And then, the feast! We had all done Cajun cooking, I had made jalapeno corn bread and a new shrimp etouffee recipe that ended up being amazing, we had cheesy grits that made us want to slap somebody's mama, and some crab cakes, gumbo and okra salad that would have Emeril proud. Here's your chefs, slaving away.




Merry Giftavus.....oh yah, and Christmas! :)

Vegas, baby, Vegas!!! (day 2)

Our 2nd in Vegas was just as fabulous as the first. We girls went shopping all day while the boys rode the NY, NY casino roller coaster (twice, might I add, in freezing cold weather - I'd say we girls got the better end of THAT deal!). Apparently Rob tried to win us the big bucks and came "this close".

That night we got all gussied up again and attended the Michael Jackson Cirque de Soleil show - it was awesome. Such a great show visually, plus it was such a great reminder of all that amazing music from our childhood.
I had bought this super fun skirt that day - it's like an old flapper dress with the little fringies, so fun!!!After that, we had another amazing foodie meal at a restaurant called Fleur. Food was served tapas-style with small, shareable plates and it all was amazing! Look how beautiful this oyster presentation was...More shots from the night:



And on the 3rd day, we have no photos which I know usually means in the blogging-world that it didn't actually happen. But OH BABY, it happened. Rob and I finished the weekend in style by hitting up the Mandalay spa, we hung out there all day and it was heavenly. As I mentioned before, our way home was a horrible wah wah letdown with a major delay at the airport, but oh well, I prefer to remember the spa day instead. BLISS!!! As always, Vegas did us proud. I'm finding that going twice a year is perfect...any less than that and we start getting antsy...any more than that and I feel like we have a problem. :) I say that now, but don't judge if we're back again next week.

Who knew it was so fun to freeze????

While we were in Vegas, we hit up this bar called the Minus 5 Bar which is literally all made of ice. Hysterical because, since it was so cold in Vegas (down in the 30's at night, brrrrr!) the last thing I wanted, was to be even more cold...but it ended up being such a blast!

As part of your cover charge, you get bundled up in big parkas, gloves and boots. My legs were still bare and Rob and Alex were so sweet and eventually gave me their coats for extra bundling - I guess my chattering blue lips and knees were a little pathetic. :) Unfortunately, they don't allow cameras in the bar because they'll eventually freeze, so these are the only shots we got outside, and the rest are all links to the Minus 5's website.

The entire bar was made of ice, everything: the walls, the bar, the stools, benches, tables and even the glasses! It was kinda fun to drink your drink and then smash your "glass" on the ground...although we were only able to do that a few times until we got in trouble :) Apparently broken ice can be slippery, who knew?

When you think about it, it's a genius marketing concept because they take everybody's cover charge and then people can only last about 30 minutes and then you're out! All in all, it was super fun but it definitely reinforced for me (1) I'm such a wuss now that I'm skinnier, I just simply can't tolerate being cold and (2) now I have ZERO desire to visit that ice hotel in Sweden. Girlfriend would last 30 minutes and then check out! Enjoy the pic links:

http://minus5.zenfolio.com/p147952339/e4c2b64f

http://minus5.zenfolio.com/p147952339/e68436cc

http://minus5.zenfolio.com/p147952339/e1085300

Vegas, baby, Vegas!!! (day 1)

Like the nutbags we are, after just 3 days home, we went to Vegas the weekend after Thanksgiving with a bunch of our friends and we had such a great time! A perfect mix of good friends, good food and good times...the perfect getaway.

Rob and I flew cheaply on a previously never heard of airline (to us, anyway) called Spirit Air. Seriously? The tiniest seats I've ever experienced and those lame-o's charge you to even carry bags on! The flight home was delayed by upwards of 5 hours too due to a mechanical problem and we were both asleep on the floor of the airport in Vegas at midnight on Sunday night waiting for some crystal meth tweakers to come fix our plane...but that's a whole other story for another time.

Once we got there, all was well. We met up with Jason and Lisa and started with some frozen cocktails and the Hangover movie slot machine game...and all was rectified!!!

And then we met up with Karen and Alex and had some gourmet burgers...delicious! That burger joint actually sells a burger, no joke, for $5000 complete with fois gras and a bottle of fancy pants champagne. Needless to say we didn't order that one. Pass.


That night we went to Sage, seriously one of the best restaurants ever (Rob and I went there back in April for my birthday) and again had one of the best dinners ever - rockin'! I love dressing up to go out too...


Happy bellies!
And then we were off to drinks at the Chandelier bar at The Cosmopolitan


And then to a club at the top of THE Hotel called Mix - had a great view of the strip and a WHOLE lotta crazy people watching and dancing....good times!And then way more gambling, and then we'll see you tomorrow!