christmas eve Archives - Popcorn and Pandas

Sparkly Season

IMG_0309_Layers_v1

IMG_0292_Layers_v1

IMG_0296_Layers_v1

IMG_0310_Layers_v1

IMG_0283_Layers_v1

IMG_0272_Layers_v1

IMG_0286_Layers_v1

IMG_0306_Layers_v1

Sparkly Tank: Forever 21 (old) – similar / White Blazer: Target (old) – similar / Leggings: Target – similar / Ankle Booties: H&M – similar / Hat: Habit (boutique in Brooklyn) / Lip: MAC Rebel

‘Tis the season of SPARKLE!!!! This was supposed to be my New Year’s Eve outfit, but I got excited and wore it on Christmas Eve instead. I planned on wearing my red dress, but decided I wanted to feel a little more casual…but not TOO casual. So I managed to dress up black leggings with nothing else other than a little sparkle, blazer, and a hat. And who knew my aunt would be bringing hats for each one of the gals at the party for a “funny hat” photo?! Guess I had a sixth sense or something…

Christmas was a blast as usual with lots of family craziness, keeping kids up late, some crankiness, tons of presents, cookies galore, and much much more. We had a great time…I wish it hadn’t felt like such a rush through it all. Nico really enjoyed himself and it was amazing just seeing all the excitement in his eyes. Oh how I love the magic of Christmas! Luca slept through most of the excitement of his 1st Christmas, but he was mostly his smiley self when awake (except when we kept him up past bedtime LOL.)

This week I am hoping to relax a little more, see some more family and friends, get back into a workout routine, ramp up some work time…and maybe even get a little date night or something. It’s hard with two kids, but we’re trying!

Hope you are all enjoying this wonderful holiday season!

XO,

Gina

My Favorite Christmas Present Came Early

Although I haven’t opened my presents yet this year, my husband couldn’t wait to give me this one early, and I already know it’s my favorite. He edited clips of our adventures during Nico’s first four months of life and strung them together to create a short video. It had me in tears about…ohhhh…five seconds in, and I decided I would share with my readers. For anyone who has children, wants children, or even just likes children, I think you will appreciate this video. I can’t believe how much has changed in so little time. Very excited to spend our first Christmas Eve together as a family of three. 🙂

Merry Christmas to all!

XO,

Gina

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4D7BM3ieCY]

Seven Fishes

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian Christmas celebration. The dinner features seven different types of seafood and commemorates the wait, or vigil, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus. The most famous dish that Southern Italians are known for is baccala, or codfish. Italians today also incorporate many other different types of seafood into their meal.

My family has been celebrating this tradition since before I can even remember. What used to be a feast at my Grandparent’s house for many years has now moved to my Aunt and Uncle’s due to spacial reasons. The family keeps growing! Christmas Eve is a night that my cousins and I look forward to all year long. It’s a time where the whole family is together, we drink delicious drinks, eat the best meal of the year, share gifts, and take our annual family photos.

This year was no different. We shared many laughs, pumpkin martinis, cherry bomb spritzers, pesto rockfish, breaded baccala, escargot, clams, mussels, shrimp (ok so we had six, not seven, but close enough!), broccoli, garlic bread, the amazing corn pudding, brie, homemade cookies, awkward family photos, presents, and silliness.

I always hate departure time, but I was able to end the night knowing that we would be seeing everyone in less than a week for a family wedding before the new year! Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.

Buon Natale!