Christmas Has Arrived @ The Azarian's

Christmas has arrived !

 

How To Save a Marriage at Christmas? hah

 

Hubby and I both wanted different trees this year.

So the Azarian'snow have two trees ! hah

 

My tree in my office ~ fake shabby chic

 

Hubby's tree in the living room

Real table top!

 

My Byers Choice collection.

Hubby and I are going there next Saturday, can't wait

It has become a tradition for us.

 

 

Byer's Choice polar bear & chef but the other two are not Byers Choice

They are very special to me ~ hubby got them for me on our first Christmas.

He is very observant he noticed I liked these type of dolls.

 

Our little fireplace from QVC

This little thing is great it gives off nice heat too.

Our Christmas Village

 

Our Nativity

 

A couple of crafts I made from Pinterest

The snow ball jar and the snow ball hat.

 

Larger shot of living room.

 

Looking forward to enjoying each minute of

December this year !

 

Craft Show and Carlo's Bakery

Hubby and I went to a craft show at
Monmouth Park Race Track today.

 

They had some nice crafters and Santa was visiting too.

 

 

I picked up this cute ornament.

I love the saying ~

On the way home we drove through
the shopping area in our town Red Bank.
The Cake Boss opened a new bakery and
we were anxious to visit.

Look at these awesome cakes. You can't see them close but
the doctor cake was amazing.

 

I had to pickup a treat !

 

Oh my ~ best cupcake I ever ate.

It was chocolate peanut butter.

Really fun day !

Oops ~ Lesson's Learned

I have been dying for homemade beef stew.
Only once did I see it on a menu at a diner
in NYC. I ordered it and it was so good.
I've never seen it since.

I am not an experienced cook at all.
I prefer baking because you can follow
a recipe and things work out.

So I decided to give this a try and make
the stew. I googled a recipe and it had
rave reviews.

I purchased all the ingredients and was
planning to make it after I decorated our
apt on black Friday.

As I was making it, I noticed it called for
a tbsp of pepper. I thought that seemed like
a lot but I figured what do I know ~ I am
not real confident in my cooking abilities.
I debated and debated as my gut told me
that was too much.  But not having much
confidence in my abilities I ignored y gut &
I followed the recipe and added the full tablespoon.
Well, the whole time my stew is cooking
all I can smell is pepper. I'm thinking
I guess it is okay - I checked and double
checked the recipe.

I make delicious biscuits to have along with it.

I was really exhausted from cleaning & decorating
the apt and making the stew.  Hubby comes
home from work and I am so excited to
present him with a nice warm dinner.

Here's a photo doesn't it look delicious?

Well, we bite into the stew and HOLY COW
it is so hot with pepper. Way too much !
UGH I was so disappointed but I learned
a huge lesson.  Go with your gut.

My aunt Linda explained to me that regardless of
what the recipe calls for she leaves the salt and
pepper to the end and tastes it first.

You can believe I will do that next time ; )

We almost had to call the fire dept to put
our lips out of the flames hah hah

 

 

Hot stew anyone? 

 

Thanksgiving 2013

 

We have much to be thankful for this year.

I love thanksgiving. I love the traditions, family, food

and most importantly time to thank God for His many

blessings.

 

We are spending it in NYC at my sister-in-laws apt.

We have done this the past several years.

It is always a relaxing blessed time.

 

Trying new recipes today.

 

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

 

 

Grape Chutney

Gar and I

Oh Lord, every photo with those eyes closed !

 

Ever since I was a child we watched

March of Wooden Soldiers

 

And of course the Macy's Parade

 

 

Living so close to NYC I really should go to the parade,
but every year I think "Can I handle this at this age" ?????

All that waiting to get a good spot, what about  the bathroom?
Will it be cold standing out there?
Am I going to see just the back of the person in front of me?
Then I back out and say let's watch it from home. ha ha

My hubby has gone to it several times when he lived in NYC.
Maybe next year right ; )

We are back home now, relaxing and watching Football !

Go Cowboys ! ! !

 

 

Winter Arrived Early in NJ

Wow frost on the pumpkin this morning.
But I LOVE IT !

 

Perfect day for Starbucks Peppermint Hot Cocoa !

 

 

I am attempting to make this ~ love this idea

from Pinterest.

 

 

This is tonight's treat !

 

 

Fall and Winter I do love you !

 

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow ! ! !

 

The Christmas Candle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2fzS13Qdj0

 

Was blessed to see this movie today.

It was really wonderful.

I loved the scenery, the music and story.

 

Broke my heart to see so few people in the theater.

Praying word of mouth will spread and folks will go see it.

 

Our world needs hope and faith more then ever and

this movie offers so much.

 

We want the theaters and movies industry to see there

is a need for Christian themed movies.

 

 

About the Film

From bestselling author, Max Lucado, comes THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE, a timeless holiday film for the entire family.
Deep in the heart of the English countryside lies the enchanting village of Gladbury. Legend has it every 25 years an angel visits the village candlemaker and touches a single candle. Whoever lights this candle receives a miracle on Christmas Eve. But in 1890, at the dawn of the electric age, this centuries old legend may come to an end.
When David Richmond (Hans Matheson), a progressive young minister, arrives in Gladbury, the villagers discover a new formula for miracles: good deeds and acts of kindness. While David's quest to modernize Gladbury sets him at odds with the old world candlemaker, he finds an unlikely ally in the lovely skeptic, Emily Barstow (Samantha Barks). Now, the fiery candlemaker must fight to preserve the legacy of the Christmas Candle. But when the candle goes missing, the miraculous and human collide in the most astonishing Christmas the village of Gladbury has ever seen.
Starring Hans Matheson (Clash of the Titans, Sherlock Holmes), Samantha Barks (Les Miserables), Lesley Manville (Disney's A Christmas Carol), and Sylvester McCoy (The Hobbit Trilogy, Doctor Who). Also starring John Hannah (The Mummy, Four Weddings and a Funeral) and Barbara Flynn (Miss Potter) with James Cosmo (Game of Thrones, Braveheart). And introducing singing phenomenon, Susan Boyle, in her feature film debut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"A new Christmas movie that the whole family can enjoy that actually has the true Spirit of Christmas!"  Kathi Lee Gifford, TV Host, Good Morning America, ABC News

 

"How wonderful to see a Christmas movie that celebrates the true meaning of Christmas! For fans of Downtown Abbey and It's a Wonderful Life, The Christmas Candle is a must see for the the entire family."  Victoria Osteen, Co-Pastor, Lakewood Church, Houston

 

"This was easy. I love movies. I love Christmas. I love Jesus."
Tony Romo, NFL Player, Dallas Cowboys

 

"The theme of this film is testing your faith and then finding it again."
Drew Bledsoe, NFL Player

 

 

 

Five on Friday

Today I am going to try to LINK UP
to 5 on Friday. I'm not super
skilled at the processes in blog land
but hopefully I will LINK ; )



One:

So thankful for a hubby who does things
"just because". I arrived home from work yesterday
to find beautiful white roses.

Two:

Tonight I facilitate a bible study with my lady friends.
We've met for about 30 years now.  Christian sisters
are such a blessing!

I was blessed with a vacation day from work so I
did some baking.  Sour Creme Apple Squares ~
oh the house smells awesome !  Nothing like
cinnamon and apples.

Three:

Tomorrow hubby and I are going to see
The Christmas Candle movie.
I can't wait . . . we vacationed in Texas a month or so
ago and Max Lucado was visiting the church we
attended that Sunday. It was exciting and a real treat.

Four:

Last night I had a dream about my sweet
doggie Solomon who is in Heaven.
I miss him everyday. He has been gone 3 years.
I dreamt he was sleeping right against my
back like he use to and when I woke up
I could almost feel him there. I had to do
a double take to make sure.  I think God
does these things to bring us comfort.
I know it sure brought a smile to my face.

 Here he is sitting in his favorite spot on our stoop.
We spent countless hours in this spot.

 

Five:

The study I am facilitating is this one:

I am learning so much about "thankfulness"
and finding reason in the smallest details.
It is a wonderful study and I highly recommend it.
If you haven't done it ~ you should.

There's my FIVE !

Hope you all have an Abundantly Blessed weekend.

Maryellen