I walk through 203 N. LaSalle every day as an indoor shortcut from the Clark/Lake blue line. I noticed my reflection one day in their holiday decorations. Apparently, I like to take this kind of photo:
- Roscoe Village Community Christmas Tree (love this one!)
- Dallas and I at Breakfast at Kitsch’n This Morning
I thought I had more examples but I can’t find them right now.
Tags:blue line·Chicago·christmas·christmas tree·clark/lake·cta·lasalle·mirror·ornament·the loop
Amy, Raiden, Loden, Joanna, Kate, Abby, Jill, Kristin, Rachelle, Marlena, Stephanie, Jessica, Jen, Sara, Mom, Suzy
On Saturday I hosted my annual cookie and tree trimming party. As was the case for several of the past years, the Roundarch holiday party was the night before. Luckily, this time I really watched myself at that party to make sure I didn’t drink too much and to make sure I got some sleep. There was one disaster year, for sure, when I didn’t do these things and then hosted 20+ people the next day. Not easy!
Dallas with friends he has seen: Jen & Kristin
Dallas was not so smart and this year he didn’t make it out of the house before everyone arrived. Which, actually, was good because he got to visit with some of the ladies that he hadn’t seen for a while. Before he left, we had him take the photo of everyone. The only ones missing are Jessica, Ashley and Lisa.
Christmas decorations
Ashley & Loden
Lisa, Rachelle, Kate, Sara
This year there were several cookie party newbs, so that was fun. The people who’d been to my party several years in a row helped them along, though. Put out your cookies, label them, EAT! Also, this year only one baby: Raiden. He’s so cute!
Raiden
To counterbalance all of the sweets, I also served dill dip with vegetables, beer dip with pretzels, olives and pickles. I’ll share the beer dip recipe later. If you’re interested in the dill dip, it’s here. As always, we also had hot apple cider (spiked or not) which Stephanie made and kept stocked. Don’t you love it when they’re old enough to assign tasks? I’m still using Julene’s Chicagoist recipe for the cider!
Stephanie
These were all the tasty treats we sampled:
Creme de Menthe Brownies (Jen)
Carousel Cookies with Strawberry or Apricot Preserve (Jill)
Chocolate Waffles (Stephanie & Jessica)
Chocolate “Crackers” (Abby)
Gingerbread with Brie & Cranberry (Joanna)
Fudge Mallows (Rachelle)
Apple Pie Bars (Jessica)
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies (Kate)
Raspberry Jam Bars (Kristin)
Cake Batter Truffles (Loden)
Dulce de Leche, Bacon, Coconut & Chocolate Magic Bars (Rachelle)
Poppy Raspberry Kolaches (Ashley)
Ritzy Rounds (Sara)
Drunken Balls with cocoa & Bailey’s or coconut & rum (Marlena)
Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies with chocolate kisses or chocolate caramel kisses (Amy)
White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies (Mom)
Almond Bars (Suzy)
Sugared Cranberries (Suzy)
Everything was so delicious! And a new thing this year: Several cookies had savory elements – bacon? brie? ritz crackers? Yes, please. These are right up my ally.
Cookie Party!
Sometimes the cookie parties can get crazy if there are a lot of people, but most times I get a chance to relax and realize the time. For some reason this time the party just flew by! Before I knew it, someone told me they had to leave in 15 minutes, so I better get the show on the road… meaning, it had been a few hours and we needed to do the vote. So, I handed out the voting cards.. new and improved this year. Instead of ripped up pieces of construction paper, I actually designed cards, printed, and cut them out ahead of time (see here).
Loden, Cookie Victor
And how did it all come out? Unlike some years, this year every cookie was written down at least once, which was pretty amazing and showed how people’s tastes can vary so much. Everyone likes something different and everyone brings something different, which is so great. But there were four clear winners. In fourth place were Joanna’s Gingerbread with Brie & Cranberry Cookies. Placing third was Jess’s Apple Pie Bars. The runner up was my Dulce de Leche, Bacon, Coconut & Chocolate Magic Bars. This was the highest I ever placed! Actually, I think it was the first time I ever placed. Nice! And the winner is……… Loden’s Cake Batter Truffles! Congratulations, Loden. Breaking from tradition (the last 3 years I gave away Martha Stewart’s Cookie book
Jessica
Oh, also, Amanda couldn’t make it to the party this year (bummer!!), but she was the big winner last year. She won the Martha book and Jess and Steph made their chocolate waffles from that book for this year. Maybe a new tradition? Person who wins has to bring something from the book they win the following year?
Taking cookies to go! Sara, Marlena, Amy
I’m declaring the party a success again this year! I’ll post the recipes for the cookies soon!
Me & Mom
Oh, and P.S. one final note: My mom didn’t think she’d be able to make it to the cookie party for the first time ever. The weather forecast was terrible for Saturday and her car was getting repaired (she hit a deer). But on Friday, she got her car back and the weather was perfect, so she drove to my brother’s house that day and then drove down to Chicago on Saturday. The weather down here was not so bad. Some rain, that’s about it. I’m so glad that she was able to make it, since she’s such a big help at the parties! Handing out parking permits and getting everyone situated, not to mention leading the cleaning crew (of me and my nieces). She deserves a big shout out for making the the party a success every year!
Jessica
Text much, Steph?
And I was so glad that even though Amanda had to work (bummer!!), my mom was still able to bring my nieces, Jessica and Stephanie, because it wouldn’t be the same without them! And who would decorate my Christmas tree if Jess wasn’t there?
Mom & Steph, and the decorated Christmas tree
Totally worth the sugar crash at the end of the day. Meanwhile, Jess was filling my camera with photos like this:
EXTREME CLOSEUP
That kid has a lot of energy.
4th Annual Cookie and Tree Trimming Party
3rd Annual Cookie and Tree Trimming Party
2nd Annual Cookie and Tree Trimming Party
1st Annual Cookie and Tree Trimming Party
Tags:abby·amy·ashley·Chicago·christmas·christmas tree·cookie party·cookies·dallas·jen·jessica·jill·joanna·kate·kristin·lisa·loden·logan square·marlena·martha stewarts cookies·mom·raiden·roses christmas cookies·sara·stephanie·suzy
Rachelle & Margo
Stephanie
Stephanie, Amanda, Jess
Mom, Amanda
After the cookie party Tessa and Jess went through all of our Christmas ornaments and decorated the Christmas tree. I’d meant for this to happen during the party, but I heard the girls weren’t sure if they had permission and I just completely lost track. Next year I’ll try to remember! They had fun decorating the tree regardless. Jess, especially. My dad was helping us with some chores downstairs during the party and then went and read a few papers at the Logan Square Starbucks while sipping some fancy lattes. After the party he came back and helped Jess and Tessa get the star on the tree.
Jessica decorating the tree
Dad helping with the star
Since we won’t see Tessa, Charlotte or Margo before Christmas, we exchanged gifts. I got Tessa a book about tea parties and a tea party set of dishes. Margo got a onesie that said “I Can’t Read.” I thought this was a great gift for the daughter of an English teacher! Charlotte wasn’t at the party so they took her gift home with them. I won’t say what it was in case she hasn’t opened it yet. From the girls I got some really nice gifts: a new scarf and sweater, a candle, a subscription to Food & Wine magazine. Fun fun!
Kelly, Margo, Tessa, Jess
Rachelle with Margo’s Onesie
My parents were staying overnight and when Kelly and Amanda decided it was time to leave, Stephanie and Jessica decided to stay overnight too. We ordered in from Friendship Chinese (looove this place) and watched How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Jess said it’s her favorite Christmas movie. Funny, it was made 40 years before she was born!
Rachelle, Dad
One thing I noticed later on: no one was really helping Jess and Tessa decorate the Christmas tree, aside from the star on the top, and so all of the ornaments only go up so far and the rest of the tree is undecorated. Hilarious. I’m inclined to leave it this way!
Finished Tree
Tags:amanda·Chicago·chinese·christmas·christmas tree·dad·friendship chinese·how the grinch stole christmas·jessica·kelly·logan square·margo·mom·stephanie·tessa
Jessica was excited to pass out gifts to everyone. Of course, it only lasted half-way bc then she was too busy with her own gifts.
Stephanie
Stephanie got a new bedroom set (comforter and sheets), a lot of clothes which thankfully were “cool,” and a bunch of jewelry.
Richard enjoying many a mug of brandied eggnog.
Jessica with a gift by the tree.
Jessica and mom. Mom somehow got trash duty and Jess was making the most trash, I think.
Amanda had dad’s name. The only thing that dad said he wanted was a drill, so that’s what he got.
Dad had Amanda’s name. She got a new set of towels, each individually wrapped. Also, it wouldn’t be a gift from dad without duct tape.
Mom & Jess goofing around. Jess was probably getting bored now that all of her gifts were open! She got a lot of clothes and movies and bedding. Mostly all Hello Kitty and Hannah Montana themed.
Mom had Richard’s name and gifted him some Rock Band accessories, a book and some ear bands (coming in handy right now, I’m sure).
I had mom’s name. I gave her a book she wanted to read and a certificate for a manicure and pedicure. She’s been wanting to treat herself.
Dallas has had to travel the last two long weekends for work and my sister-in-law works a lot of weekends at the hospital, so it was impossible to find a time when all of us could get together for Christmas. Dallas ended up missing out this weekend when all of my family came down from Wisconsin to celebrate. Jessica and Stephanie got to open gifts from Dallas and me and my parents. The adults all do a gift exchange where you just draw one name and buy that one person a gift. I got a bottle of wine, a wine cooler and a bunch of wine glasses. My cheap-o wine glasses keep breaking every time we use them so this was a much-appreciated gift.
Also note, Dallas got me an external flash for my camera and I practiced using it this weekend. I think the photos look so much better than with the on-camera flash, but if you have any tips for me, feel free to leave a comment or email me. Still learning how to use it most effectively.
Tags:amanda·Chicago·christmas·christmas tree·dad·dallas·jessica·logan square·mom·Photography·richard·stephanie·wine
Amanda & Jess getting the ornaments out
Jessica and Tessa
Jessica
Mom & Jess trying to reach the top of the tree
Amanda gets a chair
Jill, Tessa, Amanda, Jess, Kelly, Rachelle
Stephanie
O Christmas Treeeeee
Jessica and Tessa did a good job decorating the Christmas tree at the cookie party on Saturday. They only had help with the taller branches. It looks great. I think Jess had fun looking at all of the ornaments. She kept showing them to me to take a photo. They also made sure they put all the Packers ornaments in the front and hid all the Cowboys ornaments in the back.
Jess sure is still shy. It’s only when she is in the other room with playing with Tessa and my mom or Aunt Sue that she actually was talking. I have to keep reminding myself that even though she’s not talking it’s not that she’s not thinking or caring. Her brain is still going a thousand miles an hour, you can tell my her actions, even if she’s not saying anything. Hopefully someday she’ll snap out of it.
Tags:amanda·Chicago·christmas tree·cookie party·cowboys·football·jessica·jill·kelly·logan square·mom·packers·tessa
