MPLS love

I had the privilege of spending time with best friends in Minneapolis. One of my very dear friends moved into my house and I was able to be there with her over New Years and her birthday! It was so wonderful being back in the house with her. It brought back lots of wonderful memories of when we lived together a couple summers back. That house still feels like home, especially with Janae there. 

I got to see friends for breakfast, for brunch, for lunch and for dinner. I spent so much time catching up, cooking and knitting. It was such a great trip! My week was filled with sweet adorable things, like this sweet pup and precious babe (my friends are pretty cute too).

One of roommates in Pittsburgh is originally from Saint Paul. It turns out that her father is best friends with a gentleman I used to work with at the University of Minnesota. On New Years Eve, I went over to his house with Kelsey and her family for their annual ravioli making party. It was so much fun. It was wonderful to meet Kelsey and Dana's families. They were incredibly welcoming. It was a loud, exciting, ravioli making and eating extravaganza. We made enough raviolis for each family for the year (nearly 500!!). There was music and laughter and good cheer. It was perfect.

I toasted midnight with two good friends and welcomed the New Year with a happy heart. Can it really be 2013?!

I was so excited to be in town to celebrate Janae's 25th birthday. She is a friend that I am so so so thankful for. She is incredibly kind and giving, so beautiful and smart. She is incredibly considerate of everyone around her and is a rare soul. She had a True American themed birthday party, which meant people came dressed to impress in their American best. Think red, white and blue, "white trash" and camouflage. It was quite a night. So. Much. Fun.

I also got to see some of my very favorite high school students. They are the best. It was so wonderful to catch up with them! They inspire me everyday.

Happy hour with these VISTA friends topped it all off. Steak tartare, local beer and good friends. What more can a girl ask for?!

I am the luckiest.

Home.

Being home over break was wonderful, really wonderful. I went to lots of my mom's yoga classes, started and finished a baby blanket, cooked and ate lots of yummy foods, and watched lots of movies. It was incredibly relaxing and rejuvenating. It was such a treat to have a winter break again and have weeks to be with friends and family!

I spent an afternoon baking cookies with these lovely ladies and my mom and my bubbe. It was lots of fun and the perfect first day home!

My mom and I made tried lots of great recipes! We made chai tea using Elsie's recipe as our inspiration. We made stuffed peppers with lots of delicious veggies and beans, brown rice and quinoa. We made a raw cheesecake with raw cashews and coconut oil as the "cheese" from Roost. We also made raspberry ricotta whole wheat scones from Smitten Kitchen (ours didn't turn out quite as pretty as hers). It was a treat to get to cook with my mama! It was really nice to have time and energy to be able to dedicate to making good, wholesome foods. 

 

We had a sleepover with my cousins where we watched a movie, folded paper cranes, and danced. I love these girls with all of my heart.

Every year for Christmas we celebrate by eating finger foods and sandwiches, wearing our pajamas and playing. The last couple of years we have played Just Dance which is a riot. Bubbe and Papa joined in this year!

I also got to spend lots of quality time with my darling sissies.  I love them and value our time all together so much. We all live in different places so all being home together is fabulous.

I don't have pictures of any of my reunions with friends, but was lucky enough to see lots of friendly faces. I went out for burgers and beers with dear friends, went to a party and played mafia, and went to a brunch at a friend's house. I feel so fortunate to have so many great friends from high school who are either still in the area or returning home for the holidays! I love getting to catch up and reminisce with them.

I am so grateful for the useful, thoughtful gifts I received from family, friends and Santa. I feel thankful for my loved ones sharing their precious time and energy with me. And I am grateful for a healthy and happy new year!