it's my girls' world

I'm going back in the archives for this one if you're stopping by from Show & Tell Tuesday with Andrea. We don't host a lot of couple's parties anymore (because hello kids!) but my annual girls' night has become a fun holiday tradition!

Here are just a few shots from my girls' night in this year. I started doing this about 3 years ago  and it's become an annual favourite. Lots of the time, us ladies run around making the season festive for our families and friends. I figured it would be fun to have a night in. Everyone brings an appetizer and I organise my own app, the drinks, desserts and fun. 

Here are just a few pics.

All prepped and ready for the night.

Body butter as little gifts for my guests.

We were well stocked! We started the night with a cranberry prosecco cocktail.  My friends know I like a signature cocktail to begin a party.

Dips were the big thing this year. I did a salmon ceviche. The olive tapenade goat cheese featured was delicious as well. 

I hosted a contest for the best appetizer and one of the ladies' pecan/pepper jelly dip that I blogged a similar version of before,  won! Other delicious dishes included lamb puff pastry, lobster/crab brie bites, stuffed portobello mushrooms, a bean dip, turkey bacon covered brussel sprouts and another sundried tomato dip.

After we ate(and ate) , it was time for games. Adult pass the parcel, christmas scattergories and the paper plate drawing game brought lots of laughs and a little bit of competition out!

Almost all of us. Two of the ladies left already... oh and one little lovely had come back home from gingerbread making and dinner with sister and dad (thanks D)

Dessert followed-- sangria brownies with fruit and vanilla whipped cream, more drinks, some kitchen dancing (it's apparently a thing) and lots of music and laughs. A late night for sure. Our last guest left at almost three o'clock!

Another wonderful evening in this most wonderful time of the year!

Linking up with Biana today.

Cherry Tomatoes Stuffed with Marinated Feta

Thai Turkey Meatballs

Cheesy Chili Broccoli Bites

Mushroom Crostinis with a Parmesan Cream Sauce in a Whiskey Reduction

Bruschetta

Chicken Taco Bites

Spinach Bites

Scallop Ceviche

No Bake Energy Bites

And for dessert, I did chocolate pots de creme (recipe coming tomorrow!)

Happy Monday, lovelies! Here are a few things I'm so thankful for on this wintery, buses cancelled, kids not in school, windy day:

- That our power didn't go out this weekend with these freezing temps and the very strong winds.

- For girls' night in with this special girl who is so good for my soul.

This was taken for girls' night out a few weeks ago for a special birthday celebration!

- For a husband who picks us up from girls' night and hangs out with us because we he is cool. 

- That we completed ski season in one of the harder winters in recent times. 

- For warm, worn slippers on cold floors.

- Vitamin C serum,  and a really good moisturiser in the colder months

- That my 9 year old loved watching the Red Carpet with me and just a tiny bit of the award show. Loved all the pinks that were there.

- That my six year old complained that we were speaking about fashion too much! 

- For my mama, her kind heart, her good nature and her sweet, simple soul. Happy Birthday! Love you so much. 

- Facebook memes that literally make me LOL like this one...

- For Rami Malek's wonderful performance in Bohemian Rhapsody. It haunts me and D-- so good! 

What are you thankful for today? 

Make it a great week, lovelies!

Linking up with Biana for weekending!

...Or I guess maybe on the boardwalk. As Atlantic City is about three hours away from NYC (really more like two hours but there's always traffic in NYC), I've been there a few times. I'm not a big gambler but there are quite a few things to do between the boardwalk, shows, slot machines and shopping. And they've revamped it recently also so I was curious to see what was new.  So off we went for a couple nights to Atlantic City- my girls, my three aunts, my mom and myself- a girls trip if you will.... all in one car. We had to pack very lightly and still we were squished in the 7 seater! 

3 of us not shown in this pic.

We stayed at the Borgata Resort... this incredible hotel with so much to see and do. I didn't take much pictures but there were so many beautiful blown glass light fixtures that C and I were enthralled by.... I did find some images online though.

First stop-- a sweet treat for the girls... we're on vacation after all.

These were decorated in edible gold--- only in Atlantic City! 

Our room was  simply lovely with a beautiful view of the ocean. I unfortunately didn't take a night-time shot of the view which was really cool as well with all the night-lights of AC.

The first night there, my mom and aunt went to a VIP Tony Orlando concert. I declined since I didn't know who he was. Between the oldies and the delicious seafood being served however, they loved it. My other aunt and I took the kids to what we thought would be a lovely boardwalk walk. Instead, there was so much rain. We ended up just grabbing a fun dinner in Margaritaville. Between the games while waiting, the huge blender and the balloon maker on stilts, a fun time was had by all. 

A kid in a candy store--- literally. 

It was then back to the room for an early night, a clogged toilet (don't ask) and a valiant attempt to open a bottle of wine.... we ended up managing to push the cork into the bottle and spitting out bits of cork while we were drinking our wine--- fun times.

The next day though, it was bright and sunny. Off to the air-show!

We do a breakfast picnic when we stay at hotels. The kids think I'm the most fun mom and I contain the mess ;-)

Sweeties

Ready to rock and roll!




On our way to the air-show--- on the bus. 

The boardwalk

Heading onto the beach

It was truly spectacular with lots of different tricks being shown.

(not really captured here though)

 I missed half of it though as A couldn't sleep with all the noise so I took her on the boardwalk for a nice long walk. 

 A couple of us went shopping, a couple of us hit some slot machines and others took the kids to the amusement park on the boardwalk. A funny story about that.... when we were younger, my aunts used to play with us on the carnival games and let us win-- we didn't know this at the time but it was hugely gratifying as a child to win a game that looked pretty difficult. This time, they did the same thing with the girls, the only thing is that now, it's $5 per person per game--- so after about $30 in games, they ended up with a couple ($5) teddy bears all won by Cassia and Anjali.... a waste some might think but Cass was the happiest kid on the block and declared it was the best-day-ever!!!

At night, a couple of us hit a Donny and Marie Osmond Show and a couple of us hit a comedy club-- I chose the latter. 

With my aunt 

My mom was very, very sweet and babysat the kids.... however, they had a pajama party and watched SYTYCD so they also had their own fun. 

In the morning, I very quickly took the kids for a swim in the pool, eat some oatmeal and then it was time to check out...

We had a truly wonderful time... Cassia especially. Some of my best memories growing up are with my aunts on our road trips in the US. I'm glad my girls got to experience it as well!


Linking up with Annie and Nat today for Thoughts on Thursday!