No Place Like Home

As I previously mentioned, I am home in Atlanta visiting with my family this week! S.O. much FUN! Time has passed wayyyy too fast though. I seriously cannot believe that it is already Saturday! HOW is it already Saturday?!? 

One of the great things about this week was how much time I got to spend with my Gramma! I got to see her three out the six days I've spent here! She is so classy and beautiful. I would be seriously happy if I could have 1/3 of her taste! 

My mom, Gramma, and I enjoyed a fun day of shopping at Nordstrom on Monday. Then to top it all off we went "shopping" for accessories in my Gramma's closet! Her things are amazing and beauitful and even more fun because they have a history to them. She can tell you the story of each item including where she got it years ago. 

Gramma, from back in the day, looking like a movie star

On top of being stunningly beautiful and put together, even at age 89, my Gramma is incredibly generous and thoughtful. She knows the way to my heart and made me deviled eggs as a special treat and surprise. If you know me at all, you should know that I gobble up deviled eggs like nobody's business. Holiday meals aren't complete without deviled eggs, preferably ones made by my Granmma, and if you are lucky enough to be at those meals, you know you have to put some eggs on your plate fast before they quickly disappear into my belly! 

I'm so blessed to have such a loving Gramma and I loved being able to spend so much time with her while I've been home!

Tuesday afternoon my parents and I went to the Farmers Market in Historic Norcross. Downtown Norcross is really cute and charming. There was live music, interesting people watching and practically every food-selling vendor had multiple taste samples. 

We thoroughly enjoyed snacking our way through the market. I was also pleasantly surprised with the amount of gluten-free options, a factor that allowed my mom to partake in all the food tasting fun as well!

We made out with loads of goodies, including soft, gluten-free bread, a trio of fruit flavored goat cheese, gluten-free pasta, gluten-free cookies, and some mango salsa. Miguel was thought of even though he couldn't be there (thanks for working hard in Savannah while I got to play!), so my dad bought Miguel a really yummy balsamic vinegar with peppercorn, jelly to marinade and grill with! My absolute favorite thing I got at the market, however, was a chocolate, lavender, sea salt popsicle! I'm not a huge ice cream fan, but holy cow, this was amazing. It was so good that I would make a trip every Tuesday to this market just to get it again. 

After the market, we decided we had a little room in our stomachs left for dinner. So we went to a Cuban restaurant in Downtown Norcross, Mojitos. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was great. I just wish I wasn't so full. Next time I'll go with an empty stomach and big appetite!

I had a yummy black bean soup and some veggie empanadas!

I may have stolen eaten one of my dad's plantains ;)

I've also been catching up on my cuddles with these two cuties this week:

I love my family puppies! No one listened, comforted, or loved as well as these two! They were always there and loved me through my awkward, hard teen moments. They totally sympathized when my parents were being "unfair" and "way harsh".  ;)

Much like my parents' dog, Bailey, food and I get along way too well. I'm pretty sure I should list "Eating Out" as one of my favorite hobbies. If you think that is sad, then I say you need to learn to love food more. Okay, maybe I should re-phrase that to, you need to learn how to love food that other people make for you and clean up for you more! ;) 

Anyways, I guess it should come as no surprise, then, that going out to dinner another night this week, was a highlight for me! Thursday night my parents took me to 52 Bistro in Downtown Alpharetta. 

What a fun restaurant! It's in an old house and just oozes comfortable, Southern charm with some wear and tear around the edges... if that even makes sense? A musician played fun music while we ate on the closed in porch. It was hard picking out what we wanted from their menu. Everything sounded delicious and I'm pretty sure we would have been pleased with anything they have to offer. 

Our server was an adorable French lady who suggested we try a French Rosé. Both my mom and I got a glass. I should have written down the name of that wine because I really enjoyed it. By no means do I understand anything about wine so I know I won't do it justice by attempting to describe it here, but it was dry with some fruity flavors that came out more as an aftertaste. Generally, I prefer a richer wine over a sweet wine and probably never would have picked this wine out on my own, so it was an unexpected pleasure. 

This is sort of an awkward photo, but it was the only one of the two of us were we both had open eyes and were looking at the camera at the same time. It's dad's fault for making us laugh too much while he was taking it!

The food was sooo yummy! I had a mushroom, goat cheese, flat bread, mom had pork chops, and dad ordered beef tenderloin. Thanks, Dad, for sharing your potatoes with me! Potatoes may be my favorite food group ;) I could probably go on like Bubba from Forest Gump, substituting potatoes for shrimp, about all the different ways one could prepare a potato... I would eat them all. 

Though the proportion sizes were probably an appropriately, healthy size and satisfactorily filled us up, we couldn't resist the temptation of desert! Don't judge! Take a look below...

I love how they wrote 52 with the sauce!

Yep, that's what I thought. You wouldn't have been able to say no either! Homemade pecan pie, creme brulee, peanut buttercup cheesecake... num num num =)

I didn't just shop and eat out this week! I also go to catch up with some friends! Though, now that I think about it, I either ate out or shopped with them... haha! Oh well! At least I know what I like! It was good to see them! We're in that time of life where most of our childhood friends and college buddies have moved and spread out all over the place, so it's always a rare and special treat when it works out to see each other! 

Miguel and my puppies arrived home Friday afternoon! Yay! I missed those three!! The first night I was home I had trouble sleeping. I had the whole bed to myself and with no snoring "breathing-hard" hubby and no itching-at-their-jingly-collars dogs, it was way too quiet!

My dad headed to Chicago for a business trip so my mom and Miguel humored me by going to see the new Disney Pixar movie, Brave. I was so looking forward to this movie! I'm sad to say, however, that it was a disappointment. It felt shallow in terms of the story line. Almost like it didn't feel complete. Which, to be honest, surprises me. I have high expectations for Pixar. There were some funny moments, but it was pretty subpar. The highlight, for me, was comparing the heroine, Merida's, hair to my expectation for my niece's future hair. We joke a lot about how unruly it will likely be due to the fact that both her parents have loads of hard-to-tame, curly hair. 

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My week felt way more jammed packed than this post leads you to believe. I can't believe how fast it has gone! Pout. Tonight we have a wedding and tomorrow we go home. That makes me so sad to think that my 'vacation' is already coming to an end. But it's always good to be home in your own home and I miss going to work. Guess I'm pretty lucky that I have a job that I actually miss when I'm not there. Miguel and I are also lucky that we get to see family as much as we do! We have a family vacay coming up at the end of July with the whole family so I'll just have to start counting down to that! I've loved being home and I'm sure I'm leaving parts out, but if I think of anything more I'll put in the post about the wedding =) 

I love wedding season....!

Leeper Christmas

I love being part of two families! We are so blessed be able to spend time with both the Leeper side and the Amador side during each holiday. But Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without spending Christmas morning at my parents' house! When I was a kid my sister and I used to wake each other up and run downstairs to see what Santa brought us during the night. Since my sister isn't able to come home each Christmas these days and since so much has changed now that we're older, I'm holding onto every other Christmas tradition I still can!

My mom's Christmas tree full of fun family memories

Family stockings all hung in a row

One tradition we've still been able to keep over the years is having Monkey Bread for breakfast! So yummy! But the tradition has changed a bit from my childhood... now I'm helping to make it! =) 

Making Monkey Bread in my PJs

As a 'rule' the 'kids' have to wear pajamas on Christmas morning! I think I will always open my presents from Santa in my pajamas (and no, I don't plan on outgrowing Santa either)! Miguel's pajamas were extra special this year! Miguel's brother, Juan, gave him some Mario pajama pants and matching Mario shirt for Christmas and Miguel has worn them every night since. No seriously. Every. Night. Since. =)

Awesome. Just so awesome.

After we open our stockings we take turns opening our gifts to each other while we snack on Monkey Bread and sip our coffee.  Miguel and I gave my mom a season of Glee and a keyboard/docking station for her iPad. We gave my dad some sound eliminating headphones and I made him a book telling him why he is my hero. 

Yay for Glee!

Miguel showing my mom how to use the iPad thing we got her... I say "we got her" but of course Miguel picked it out!

Dad testing out his headphones

My parents are so generous! Some of our favorite gifts included a Keurig coffee maker and some tools for Miguel! But hands down the best gift given and the best reaction of this whole Christmas came when Miguel opened a gift from my parents. During our family vacation this summer Miguel started reading an autobiography by Eisenhower that was in the house we rented. We teased Miguel the whole week we were in Montana because that book went everywhere with us. It was really cute. Like a little kid and his blankie. Miguel was so sad to have to leave it behind when we came home to Savannah. Well my mom remembered that book and purchased a copy for Miguel. He was so genuinely surprised and pleased. It was so fun to see how happy Miguel was when he opened the book! Especially since he's not one to really show much emotion when he opens gifts. He even hugged it!

The only gift I got a picture with was a surprise gift that my best friend, Sarah, left for me under the tree. She thoughtfully gave me a cupcake holder and I can't wait to use it the next time we entertain!

Thanks, Sarah!!!

After we open gifts from each other we clean up a bit, change out of our PJs and get everything ready for Christmas supper. Which of course, in the South, means eating around 2 PM. Though this year I cannot take any of the credit for getting supper ready. I completely passed out in a wonderful, deep nap until we ate. I was extremely exhausted from our late Christmas Eve celebrations from the night before at the Amadors (blog post coming soon). So snaps to my talented mother. She always makes such beautiful table settings and meals.

My beautiful mom and our yummy Christmas supper.

Thanks, Gramma, for the yummy deviled eggs... wouldn't be a family holiday without them

Yay for Christmas plates and sparkly chargers!

My Uncle Peter, Gramma, Mom, Linda, Daddy, and Miguel

One of the BEST Christmas traditions we have is signing the table cloth each year. We sign our names, sometimes write a little something that marks that year as special, and date it. I love looking back and seeing who dined each year and the momentous occasions that have come and gone. 

Four very special signatures were missing this year =(

After eating we exchange more gifts while we digest so we can eat some delicious desserts. My Uncle Peter and Linda give the most thoughtful and yummy gifts! So wonderful that we don't want to share with each other. My Grandma was especially unwilling to share her homemade cheese straws!

Of course we badly missed my sister, Sarah, and brother-in-law, Jared!!! It just isn't the same without them! I'm so thankful for all the technology we have access to these days because we were still able to chat with them via the internet. Not even close to having them here though! We got to see Baby Ray's nursery and their kitties, Milo (who is 17 lbs!) and Busby (who was less than pleased to be wearing holiday antlers)  ;)

Hi, Sarah!

You know you had a satisfying Christmas when you find this on the couch after everyone else has left and things have been put away:

Night, night, Miguel.

As far as the dogs, Luke's Christmas was pretty much the same as last years, Bailey participated in opening gifts, and Emma and Jack were locked up in our room just to lessen the chaos! But every dog got a Christmas, candy cane bone in the end! 

 

Love, love, love Christmas at my parent's! This Christmas holiday was just way too short, that is my only complaint! Thanks Mom and Dad for always making it so special!

Pretty Dresses, Little Curls, Oh Thank Heaven For This Little Girl!

A couple of weekends ago I went home to Atlanta for my sister's first baby shower! It was so much fun! I had really been looking forward to going home, seeing my sister, and celebrating my niece! It did not disappoint. Family friends threw the shower for my my sister, Sarah, at their beautiful home. Everyone had a wonderful time and my baby niece got completely spoiled.

My sister and the gracious hostess, Nancy.

That's three generations right there!

The set up was beautiful and the food was delicious. Nancy and Anna thoughtfully prepared food that was all gluten free since my family is allergic to it. Around the food they placed framed baby pictures of Sarah and her husband, Jared. We really enjoyed seeing those! I especially enjoyed seeing Jared's pictures! He was such a chubby baby! Adorable!

Grandma Ray enjoying the delicious food!

Anna, one of the hostesses, snapped pictures for Sarah.

Like I previously said, Sarah and Baby Ray received loads of sweet gifts. We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and generous friends! Miguel and I bought Sarah, Jared, and Baby Ray their stroller already, so we just got a few small things for Sarah to unwrap at the shower. We gave our niece a pink Gulfstream jacket (that's the company Miguel works for) as well as a children's book about Savannah.

Sarah and Baby Ray also got some really cute plush animals. We had to keep an eye on my grandma with those though... she kept saying she was going to take them home with her ;)

I am super duper excited about Baby Ray and was so excited to see my sister with that adorbs baby belly!!! 

No, really, I was pretty excited about it! 

But so who isn't really...?

Anna sure is!

Later that evening we headed upstairs to the grandkid's room and helped Sarah lay out all the gifts that were so generously given. We helped her pack them up to bring back to Seattle with her.

And as you can see Luke, my mom's dog, was a very big helper with this!

The baby shower was SO much fun and I LOVED getting to see my sister! Only about 8 more weeks till my niece arrives!!!! Eeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!