I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! It came and went so quickly, like the blink of an eye. It doesn’t help that it was humid and 78 degrees on Christmas day down here. I am SO looking forward to our winter escape to Breckenridge this week! Snow and 0 degrees… Wooo!!

My Christmas gifts were further proof that I am an not the average 22 year old. I got just ONE item of clothing.. just ONE, and that’s because my Aunt always insists on getting me something trendy (because if I buy something myself it won’t be?)

Our friend’s decorated mantle… looks like Southern Living!

Instead, I stocked up on a variety of cooking and gardening gifts that will help me out at my new place and also help out with working on my M.R.S. degree… just kidding. I have no desire for that sort of thing now, but I find that I’m amply more prepared in the home section of life compared to my friends.

The gifts included…

• Kitchenaid Stand Mixer (FINALLY!) –Mess free baking and a must-have for someone like me who only bakes from scratch.
• hot guy apron –with shirtless hot guys on it, makes baking a little sweeter!
• An Earth Box garden box –So when I decide to pack up and leave in less than 24 hours (J/K) my garden can go with me
• Spatula set
• Real Simple magazine subscription
• Grow Your Own Herb terarium– The box says ages 4+, but hey I figure I need to start with the basics as I grow my first herb garden
• A knife sharpener– I’ve found cutting takes so much less effort (and is safer) if you have a good sharp knife
• A “Knife Skills” class from Cook’s Warehouse– Not so much juggling knives, more like using them properly

my “hot guy” apron

Pretty good gifts this year! Now that I think of it, the only clothes I did get were 2 pairs of compression running tights… so that also fits with my foodie and fitness persona.

I love meals at our dining room table

This was the first time in about 5 years that we stayed at home the whole day on Christmas. I wanted to cook a nice meal, so I went with an Italian-style feast: Red Leaf Lettuce and Frisee Salad, Balsamic Glazed Swordfish, and Stuffed Shells. I made most of the stuffed shells traditional, but to be weird and satisfy my pumpkin obsession, I cooked my shells different- I filled them with a ricotta, pumpkin and portabello mixture and made a pumpkin pepper broccoli sauce to go on top.

my orange addiction- pumpkin stuffed shells

What did everyone else get this year? Were your gifts more practical or gifty? Did you cook a nice meal for your family?