Teacher Gifting & Advent

 Teacher gifts look different every single year, with some years the gifts being more elaborate and thoughtful than others.

This year, since I was on a strict budget and it was the kids first year in their new school,  I kept gifts super simple and extremely budget friendly.  Besides,  when gifting to people I hardly know,  I like to stick to edible options and the traditional Christmas cookies in a tin could not be beat.

And since we're officially now in the Christmas season and the holidays are fully upon us, I had to keep a few traditions alive. First up was the kids Christmas picture. 

Then it was the 1st day of Advent and our annual tradition of hot chocolate,  a Christmas movie ( this year it was Home Alone) and a fun holiday related activity.  

The season is flying by and the most important thing to me is spending the time with my family and making those memories that will last a lifetime 

Let's Talk Thanksgiving

 After years of taking a break from hosting,  I was back at it again, hosting 12 people for Thanksgiving in my home for the holiday.

For most people that would be a daunting task but not for me. While I took a break from hosting, I never took a break from the kitchen. My menu is always on point and this year was no different. I love to cook and even after all this time, I still love to host.

I hiked up my sleeves and got to work, prepping, planning and cooking my Thanksgiving meal, which turned out amazing. 

The table was set, the living room turned into a dining haven and the spread looked, smelled and tasted incredible. It was a very successful Thanksgiving.

An Epic Anniversary

 After 27 years of highs and lows, life has shown us that we could overcome the impossible and thrive together.  To celebrate this milestone occasion, we planned the most epic anniversary.

First was a romantic dinner at Flor y Sal restaurant on our actual anniversary. The dinner was good but the experience was incredible and set the tone for our next celebration, an overnight hotel staycation.

We started celebrating pretty early with a quick little dinner date at our favorite local spot. This was back in October but every little occasion deserves to be special. 

On November 25th, we took the time to make the day memorable with a nice dinner at a fairly new restaurant in Barrio Escalante. 

Like I said, the dinner was pretty good but the experience is what made the evening special.  The appetizer and desserts were stand outs and took our dining to the next level.

On Black Friday,  we packed up and headed out to the Hyatt Centric Hotel in Escazu.  This hotel was stunning. An absolute beauty and it made our staycation a luxurious one.

And if the hotel wasn't enough to put over celebration over the top, our dining experience at Samurai Fusion Asian restaurant was took the night to a whole new level. It was superb. 

The drinks were great, the good was delectably delicious and the vibe and ambiance was top tier. It was the perfect dinner for the occasion. 

After a night cap and the super cool hotel lounge bar, we slipped on our super comfy robes to end the night.

It was such an amazingly incredible night, I didn't expect much the morning after, but we were both pleasantly surprised to bump into an IHOP on our way out. 

Having IHOP for break just added icing to the top of an already spectacular cake. It was the perfect way to end off our amazing anniversary celebration.