December 25, 2015 - Christmas Day

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 14 DAYS
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Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas is here! It's my favorite day of the year!

There is just so much tireless work and effort that go into this day and all for what?
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​For me it is to see the children's expression as they get their first glance at all the presents under the tree.

It's the joy and excitement on my loved one faces when the tear open each of their gifts that were carefully selected with thought and care. ​

In fact as I wrote these very words, Mika woke up and before I could even stand up I heard her rush out of her bedroom and rush to the stairs...

I was close behind her, but not close enough to capture her the look of shock on camera or her words on video "Santa really out did himself this year!"

Well little Mika was the first of the kids that woke up, Cosette was next and we waited....and waited...and waited...

We waited for the rest of the family to rise and shine before we get down to the business of opening presents!!

So until then, let me tell ya a bit about yesterday:

On Christmas Eve I had a few errands to run (a few last minute food item stops) and to get my hair all prettified.
This was suppose to only take a few hours and then I'd be home to begin all my baking!

Well I indeed got my hair done, and then off to Whole Foods we went - primarily I needed fresh baked bread and Kite Hill Cream Cheese (exclusive to Whole Foods). Easy enough. Right? Wrong!

I was so happy to get my warm freshly baked breads, and then as I approached the cream cheese the horror set in....THEY WERE SOLD OUT!

Some people might think, ok no big deal we'll just buy another brand. Well that simply is not the case for me. I have vowed to NOT PURCHASE PALM OIL and to shop and eat CRUELTY FREE.

And Kite Hill is one of the only vegan cream cheeses made sans palm oil, AND our Christmas breakfast of champions (champion shoppers that is) happens to be Bagels all the Way (this is our annual Christmas breakfast).
So cream cheese is a major factor in this breakfast game. What was I and the rest of our vegan family members going to do?!

I was going to call each and every Whole Foods in Orange county until I hopefully locate this awfully popular cream cheese. With each call the frustration and disappointment set in.
EVERYONE WAS SOLD OUT!

But then finally I found a store out in Laguna Beach that had 3 left; I needed 5 or 6, but beggars can't be choosers and I'll happily take the 3! 
And so it went that after our next 2 stops, that we needed to head over to Laguna Beach and pick up the almond based cream cheese.

Once we were in the store I figured that I should look for the Broccoli Rabe - another item that I needed to pick up (planning to get it at Trader Joes - have you know that I already did my shopping at Trader Joes, and completely forgot to pick it up...).

So as I was searching through the produce I located Baby Broccoli - not quite, but could it work?

I wasn't ready to make the executive decision, so I called home to find out what my mom thought..
But she wasn't home, so I asked the advice of my wise sister Brigitte, who was thinking along the same lines that I was - that we would be ok with trying it...BUT that our mom would want the Broccoli Rabe.
Since last year we bought it from Trader Joes, so it was that I was going back to Trader Joes once more.

Next stop...Trader Joes, I headed straight to the Broccoli Rabe - which I noticed was labeled Baby Broccoli! Are you joking me?!
So I could've purchased the Baby Broccoli from Whole Foods!
And while Dave was in line, I went to take a look (and feel) of their bread - subpar to what I already picked up. Happy me! 
Next to the bread was Trader Joes version of vegan cream cheese, so of course I went to take a looksie...and guess what - NO PALM OIL. Yay!

But get this I could've avoided all this extra running around and stress had I remembered to buy the "Baby Broccoli" and check out the cream cheese offerings on my first go round at good ol' Trader Joes!

Still another 2 stops to go and then the rest of my night would be assigned to the kitchen!

My little girlies wanted to help me make cookies. So although they didn't have the patience to hang out for all of the cookie making, I saved the sugar cookies just for them, and it became a family event!

While everyone was busy baking away, some little elves must've made their way into the house and to our surprise dropped off a few gifts to be open for the little ones and for the family...

A delicious dinner was next and then it was time to leave the cookies out for Santa and for us to head off to bed..

Merry Christmas everyone! I'll fill ya in on all the haps from this wonderful day in tomorrows Daily Scoop!
​-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN:
​BOCA RATON, FLORIDA

Christmas Day filled with lots of baking!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! ​

I hope you are having a wonderful morning today!

We woke up this morning to a cloudy day here in "sunny" Florida, but, as the morning went on, the sun made its appearance! And as of this writing, it is one of the most beautiful days yet since I arrived here in Boca Raton!

My intention was to make Baked Strawberry & Chocolate Oatmeal, but as I started preparing it, I realized I was missing a few ingredients.  

Dad and I headed out to the store to pick up the few missing items and were quite surprised to find all the grocery stores and convenience stores were closed for Christmas!

We finally stumbled upon a Walgreens and were able to get cinnamon and chocolate chips.  WHEW!!

A quick stop at Starbucks (I guess Starbucks NEVER closes!! Thank goodness) to get my daily dose of hot chocolate and we were back home in no time.

I whipped it up in a jiffy and got it in the oven immediately.

This is one of Gianna's favorites!!  I woke her up with a Merry Christmas and was waiting with baited breath for it to finish cooking.

Baked Strawberry Chocolate Oatmeal

Dad about to try the baked oatmeal

I must say, it feels a little strange to be celebrating Christmas in such a relaxing, sunny, warm atmosphere.  It just makes me feel so lazy!

Now, one other hitch to our Florida Christmas celebration is the lack of presents.  

We opted not to exchange lots of gifts in Florida with the kids since it would mean we would have to schlepp them all back to New York.

So, as a result, these kids will be opening lots of gifts upon our return home this coming week.  We will also be having a post-Christmas Christmas celebration with my sister Danielle and the boys, with even more present exchanges!

Quantity-wise, the girls did not ask for a great many things this holiday.  What they both wanted most of all was money to put towards riding.  Boy, they have one-track minds - so dedicated to their sport!!

Mom and Dad did not go all out with a tree this year, but, a little tree is better than nothing - it's the spirit that counts!!

Mom & Dad's tiny Christmas Tree

After breakfast...
Gianna got back to her other favorite thing to do - bake - and continued making cookies!!

Can't wait for these to be done!!! They are stuffed with caramel chocolates - MMMMMMM!

Here is the recipe for your reference!!
CARAMEL FILLED CHOCOLATE COOKIES
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I am happy to say that my Christmas Day is going to include a dip in the pool folks!  

That's right!  A nice, refreshing swim is just what the doctor ordered!

Well, I'm going to leave you now with the warmest wishes for a blessed Christmas day to you and your loved ones!!

See ya back here tomorrow!

-E
xoxo