Hello, my friend! I hope you are finding lots of things to make you smile this holiday season. Here’s what is making me happy…
I’m using rings to display
my Christmas cards again. I look through them each time I add a new card.
Sicilian Sea Salt Party Favors
My friend Debbie in Hawaii used my recipe from the Holiday Table Post to make a WHOLE bunch for a company party!
Here’s one routine way I use the Sicilian Sea Salt…
Mediterranean Chicken with Vegetables
This is an easy dish during a busy time. I use the Sicilian herb sea salt in it and I switch it up depending on what I have. But ingredients that I always use are…
- Boneless chicken breasts with flour for dredging, sliced lemons, Greek pitted olives, canned artichoke hearts, parsley, and the herb salt. I had lots of green onions so I added a fourth cup of those chopped, too.
- Sautee the flour covered chicken in olive oil until browned on medium heat for five minutes on each side. Cover and cook for five minutes. Reduce heat and toss in the other ingredients and cover for three minutes.
- Actually, start this first…and pre-heat the oven. I had lots of mini carrots (you could also use small potatoes). I roasted these in the oven at 425 degrees with olive oil and the herb sea salt for 25 minutes…then sprinkled with balsamic vinegar.
- Stir ingredients in the pan and place on top on the roasted carrots
Leftover Chicken Salad
I had the cold leftovers sliced on a bed of arugula with tomatoes and lemon vinaigrette.
Dressing Up: Pop Culture Holiday Party
As a mom who had a great time with her kids’ Halloween costumes, I like seeing my daughter, Alexandra picking up the torch. She dressed as Bradley Cooper in A Star is Born…with her boss for their company party.
#mamaproud
What Your Dog Is Trying To Tell You
You may find this interesting if you have a dog…I did. 50 Actions Dogs Do and What They Mean
Chief is wishing you a peaceful holiday.
Blazing Television
This crackling Yule Log with Christmas music show has been getting a lot of play at our house (on Xfinity cable). I have it on while wrapping presents. It got things so toasty, I made ice water with orange and cucumber slices (those little touches make me happy).
Some last minute gifts…
My friend, Lisa is a stellar gift giver. I mean it. You will never want to return ANYthing she gives you. One thing that she gave me this year (yes, I already opened it)…
is this Rifle Paper Co. insulated cup and straw. It’s obviously cute but it’s SO effective at keeping things cold (even overnight). Can’t wait to use it for coffee. I will use this every day. It looks nice on my desk with my Rifle Paper Co. Calendar.
Another excellent thing I use all the time is this Swiss Diamond non-stick pan. I can quickly fry an egg in it in the morning without fat. I’m getting it for someone but do not want to ruin the surprise.
I got totally sucked into the before and remarkable after photos of women on the Dr. Oz show. This No. 7 serum is available at Target. Think I will buy it for myself 🙂
I hope you are enjoying a stress-free happy holiday time. We are going to San Diego with a stop in Los Angeles at Alexandra’s/aka Bradley’s house this week. I want to focus on family and less on trying to do too much.
Family Traditions
Do you have any board games you can recommend (in addition to Scrabble, Rummikub, etc.)? We go to church but any other traditions we should start? After dinner, one of ours usually involves dancing to Oldies around my sister’s fire pit…you can do that sort of thing in December in SoCal after some wine and before s’mores…if your neighbors are tolerant.
What’s making you smile this holiday season?
Merry Christmas!!
Mary Ann
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That Dog Though!!!! How adorable! I love doing things like that to my pets and taking pictures. Too funny. I got a pic of my cat with a Santa hat on last year, and then I put it through my photo editing app. The colors really popped. I also enjoy lighting up the fire and warming up the house. I look at my Christmas cards that I’ve received for the season and smile. I just tape mine up on the mantle next to my fireplace, near my holly garland. Sometimes I pin them to a red ribbon and let them hang vertically too. Thanks for sharing some of the things that make you smile during the holiday season. Now you know some of mine!
Warmest wishes from Montana!
Great traditions, Tana!
Can you please post a link to the Dr. Oz segment you referred to?
Thanks, and Merry Christmas! Ann
I am not sure…it was just a couple of weeks ago though…might be on their website.
Love the Christmas Chief in charge of peace. How designer-ish that the shape of his mouth so beautifully and charmingly echoes the bow on the wreath! He is just a reluctant model, and that makes his portraits even more special. I have been using the Boots 7 for several years. I like its creaminess and how it relieves that under eye dryness in winter. And don’t you just love the promise of “lift and luminate?!!!
Merry Christmas, Mary Ann. I love your posts and this one especially. I always have a few unexpected, last minute gifts to buy. That insulated cup will be perfect for one on my list.
Enjoy the season and Christmas. 2019 is going to be a good year.
xo,
Karen
Thanks so much, Karen!! Merry Christmas to you!!!
This post was full of fun! Chief looks adorable. I have to try that chicken recipe, and any serum that will make me look as good as you I am all over it!
Merry Christmas to you too Mary Ann. BTW, I made your Herbed Sea Salt Favors for my Book Club Friendsgiving and they were a big hit. Love all your other ideas and am going to try that Dr. Oz serum!
We played a fun game at a Secret Santa party the other day! It’s called Left Right Center. You can get on Amazon and we played with money! It was so fun!! Every one had 3 one dollar bills! Merry Christmas Mary Ann!
Yes…I remember playing that before…I will get it! Thanks, Sherry.
I do this with our Christmas cards too! I love the ease of looking at them and keeping them organized from year to year. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
We’re having a party between the holidays and I am going to make your fantastic sea salt favors. Perfect as a small gift! I have lots of herbs in the garden, too. Just enough time to cut some and dry them out to mix into the salt.
Thank you for this brilliant idea!
Such a great idea to use herbs from your garden!