Like it's 2011

For the past few years I have spent New Years eve with my besties, at my house, sipping champagne, playing with puppies and eating fondue. There may have been some debauchery mixed in, but for the most part we have behaved well enough. This year it's a little different as I will be ringing in the new year with different friends, in a different country and it will be decidedly PG to protect the innocent (children shall be present). Worry not my dear friends because while I will be on my best behavior I will of course still be sipping on champagne so we shall maintain some normalcy. I have however decided that even though I may not be able to feast on my fondue this year I can to share my secret (well not so secret, but I like to think so) cheese fondue recipe. Hopefully you will indulge in it's cheesy deliciousness in my absence. The pancetta truly makes the fondue amazing and I highly recommend having fennel with it. The flavors together are simply fantastic. I would also follow this up with this chocolate fondue. It is simply the best recipe (not to mention ridiculously easy). You can leave out the brandy if you wish, but I am sure you have guessed by now that I have not tried it that way. Ha!

Happy New Years and see you in 2012!

If you must have clouds hopefully you get some rainbows too

Bag lady

I love bags. Handbags, luggage, purses, clutches, coin purses, and more. If you can put something in it and head out the door, I want it. So the first time OpenSky offered this Vine Street Market linen bag I wanted it so bad I put it in my cart and came very close to hitting the purchase button. Unfortunately I was trying to save money at the time and eventually talked myself out of purchasing it. I just couldn't justify the cost of another bag at the time. Then the bag came around again on OpenSky and I caved big time. I am a shopping binger when I am on a money diet. I hold back on buying anything at all, then one day something pulls you into a frenzy and you shop as if you are never going to shop again and then go into a shame spiral of oh my I can't believe I spent money on that thing. It was something like that, but I LOVE my bag. This is the most useful bag I have purchased quite possibly ever. It's a beach bag, a grocery bag, a purse, a flight carry on, a market bag, a diaper bag (haven't tried that, but I can imagine) and best of all it can be shoved in your purse in a ball to be pulled out when you need it. I have taken it everywhere with me here in Europe and plan to do the same back in the states next week. Love it!

Buy one. You won't regret it.

Me sans shame spiral.

They come in other colors and fabrics too! This is just a sampling.

But Seriously

After two days of Christmas I am a little tired. I am not completely sure how they do it here with two large dinners in as many days. I must say it's actually nice to have a normal day around here, but then we had the added bonus of needing to buy a new car today (Currently we are semi car less since the current car sold much quicker than we thought). Never a boring day here in the Netherlands.

I did however get around to downloading all the photos from Christmas and put away the gifts (Hunter boots and some much coveted wine glasses!). Checking out the pictures have resulted in me reliving the awesome meals from the last few days. I am getting hungry all over again. You would think I have had enough after two days of food (and you would think I would get over the two days of Christmas, but seriously it just boggles my mind). I hope your Christmas (or multiple Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or whatever the heck you celebrate) was fabulous. Did you get something good?

This was a cook your own dinner (Gourmet) and
was super fun for the kids and me!

So if you burn it or under cook it, you only have yourself to blame!

The only thing I need for dinner.

Yum

Saying hi to my parents. My dad said that everything must be ok, because I have wine. So true.

Second day of Christmas

Seriously this is a real thing in the Netherlands. When I ask why they have two days of Christmas, no seems to know, but it's a day off work so everyone just goes with it. You don't get more presents though (bummer) just another day to hang out with your family.

So today is another day with another big family dinner. Being such I thought today's post would be all about cocktails as they tend to help make the day go by easier. You may not be needing these today (like me), but you may want to try them for New Years Eve. It's fun to try something new or old every now and again, you never know if you are going to find your next go to drink.

The classic Champagne Cocktail. Yummy and simple.

This is called the Ninth Night and I must say will be made today. Delicious.
The link above is a jerk. Here is the recipe:

The Ninth Night
2 oz. SKYY Infusions Citrus
1 oz. Triple Sec
1 oz. white cranberry juice
Lemon-lime soda
Lime juice

Combine SKYY Infusions Citrus, Triple Sec, and cranberry juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into tall rocks glass with fresh ice. Top with soda and lots of fresh lime juice. Garnish with blue ribbon around the glass.

Read more: Holiday Drink Recipes - Christmas Drink Recipes - Cocktail Recipes - Marie Claire 

The Red Hot Chocolate. I don't know why, but I really want this now.

Cheers to another day of Christmas. 

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

Get your man candy on (Ryan Gosling) with a dash of Eva Mendes and Jim Carey set to the Night Before Christmas. Enjoy!

*There are some naughty words in case you need to know.

Have a Merry Christmas and/or great weekend!

Shann

Because I'm fancy like that

Yesterday involved a trip to Hanos which is pretty much what you would get if Costco and Whole Foods had a baby. This place is amazing. I could and did spend hours there. They have a super large wine selection, a regulated refrigerated cheese section (As in you walk in to a not to cold and not to warm room filled with cheese) which is next to the meat section (and also has it's own seafood area with live lobster and crab) and then you can walk to the colder section with fruit and vegetables. After you have had your fill of those areas you can then explore the rest of the store that includes a dessert area, wine glass section, kitchen gadgets and dried/canned items. Hands down one of my favorite stores ever.

During this particular adventure I took it upon myself to replenish our champagne and wine collection that has been recently depleted (I am not saying by who). I had the most wonderful time with Franz (wine guy) who assisted me with most of the wine choices since I am not terribly familiar with most of the labels here in Europe (this is due to the super large 'New World'* selections that we have in the US, compared to the selection from the rest of the world). I could barely wait to get home and open up a bottle, he made them all sound so yummy! I also may have traveled over to the sweets department to buy a snowman bigger than my head, made entirely of chocolate. I shall name him Clark. He is awesome.

There were tons of other purchases, but none quick as exciting as chocolate and wine. The perfect holiday treat.

Mumm wrapped in a lovely sarcophagus with charms.
Doesn't your champagne have this too? No? Sad.

My Vueve comes with it's own insulated shopping bag.
Because I'm fancy like that.

Magical snowman of chocolate.
Because I'm gluttonous like that.

Spoonful of chocolate for friends and family.
Because I want everyone to enjoy THE best cup of chocolate.

*Franz used this descriptions for American wine and I had to repeat it, because it made me laugh in the store. He didn't find it as amusing as I did.

To Market, To Market

There are fabulous little markets all over the Netherlands that sell pretty much everything. Booths full of clothes, fruit & veggies, meat, seafood, flowers, nuts and fabrics as far as the eye can see (well depending on how large your local market is). These are great fun to go to, even if you don't need anything. The people are nice and it gets me out of the house for some fresh air and a nice brisk walk, which trust me I need. Visiting these markets definitely make me miss walking through Pike Place Market in Seattle, but I can at least look forward to finding some great markets in California in the new year.

I actually did purchase some of these red winter berries.
They are so bright and pretty.

Fresh greens to add to the house (This is an easy addition if you are like us and have a
fake tree, but want to have the real tree scent in the house).

Yummy nuts and candies for Christmas!

There is enough faux fur here to make vests for the entire Kardashian clan.