I am just about the only one in my office this week. Â Since all the offices we work with are closed the week between Christmas and New Years, it’s pretty much dead. Â I drew the short straw and am the only one from my team who had to come in (represent!), but I don’t really mind. Â It’s so quiet that I’m actually able to cross a lot of items off my personal to-do list (you know, like planning that lil ol wedding of mine that’s happening in about 3 months). Â I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday (no matter what you celebrate!) and are looking forward to a sparkle-filled New Year’s Eve!
After getting engaged, I began spending the Christmas holiday with my beau’s family in Connecticut. Â The family is Czechoslovakian, and I particularly like the Christmas Eve meal that’s filled with traditional Slovak foods like pierogi, dough balls called bolbalki, and sauerkraut. Â This year, since it coincided with the first night of Chanukah, my future mother in law also served latkes and I brought sufganiyot. Â It was nice to blend tradition!
I completed another item on my Winter Checklist when I made my first ever wreath. Â I love the look of boxwoods, so I chose that over pine or fir. Â I found this one at Trader Joe’s for only $10 and then adorned it with a minimalist garland of wooden discs/stars and mini pine cones. Â It’s nice to be greeted by a little extra holiday cheer when I arrive home.
We left Connecticut on Christmas night at were very hungry when we got back to the city. Â We went straight from the train to a Chinese restaurant so we could experience the traditional “Jewish Christmas” meal. Â We went to Nancy Lee’s Pig Heaven, a place I’ve liked ever since I lived in the UES years ago. Â They’ve since moved into a new location about a block away from the original. Â The space is a little nicer and the food is as good as ever. Â Also as good as ever? Â Nancy Lee herself, whose bubbly personality always makes me want to return. Â I hope this becomes part of our Christmas tradition for years to come!