Christmas Party 2009

on December 13, 2009

Happy Holidays from my family to yours!

Sorry that I went MIA for the last 24 hours. I was on the coast at my in-laws house for the annual Christmas party. And let me tell you, my in-laws sure know how to party!

The party was also a â€œWelcome to Americaâ€ party for my sister-in-law. She moved here from England a few months ago, but she just officially got her green card.

All of our friends + Sophieâ€™s friends + my dad + my in-lawsâ€™ friends were there! It was quite the wild party with dance parties, drinking games, and other unmentionablesâ€¦. 🙂

On to foodâ€¦. I had a Glo bar on my way to the party, anticipating a sit-down dinner for the family members before the rest of the guests arrived. But the dinner never happened, so I lived off appetizers. And I ate a LOT of appetizers.

All of these appetizers were from Costco. My mother-in-law bought mini quiches and spinach pastriesâ€¦

A veggie platterâ€¦

And cheese and crackers.

Oh, and how could I forget the COOKIES?! All I wanted last night was Christmas cookies. I think I had six? Or seven!?

The drinks were flowing!

The mystery punchâ€¦. Not sure what was in it, but my sister-in-law tends to make a mean punch.

There was lots of thisâ€¦

And some of this (I was imitating Bad Romance by Lady Gaga)â€¦.

And a LOT of thisâ€¦ I was the bartender/shot maker for a while in the kitchenâ€¦

We crashed around midnight, and I woke up at 9:00 with the most serious headache. It was worth it!

Oh, one more thing â€“ look at my mother-in-lawâ€™s new kitten! How sweet is this face?

Anyway, my philosophy about celebrations like this is that itâ€™s ONCE a year. A few extra beers (or 5 â€“ gulp) and Christmas cookies (or 6 â€“ double gulp!) wonâ€™t kill you. :) I would hate to go to my in-laws party and not indulge in the excessive excessiveness! I never feel guilty or have regret. Itâ€™s about living life in balance 90% of the time. And I always have great memories from our Christmas celebrations.

{ 64 comments }

Jess December 13, 2009, 12:43 pm
Aww looks like you had a BLAST Caitlin! I can’t wait to see family for the holidays! 🙂
Leah @ Simply fabulous December 13, 2009, 12:45 pm
I couldn’t agree with you more! Everything will balance out. Looks like you had a GREAT time 🙂

Congrats to your SIL for getting her green card!
Meghan@traveleatlove December 13, 2009, 12:47 pm
I love the spreads at holiday parties and have no problem indulging!
ashleigh December 13, 2009, 12:50 pm
it looks like you had a really fun time! OMG their new kitty is soo cute i want him (her?)!!
Amy December 13, 2009, 12:51 pm
What a gorgeous looking family! 🙂

Looks like a great time was had by all.

Happy Holidays!
Lauren @ Reading and Running December 13, 2009, 12:55 pm
Looks like fun! What a sweet kitty and yummy food!
Angela (Oh She Glows) December 13, 2009, 12:58 pm
Glad you had fun 🙂 Life is too short to be guilty over things like that. Glad you enjoyed every minute!

Cute kitty 🙂
Alison December 13, 2009, 1:00 pm
It’s so worth it to let go and enjoy yourself every once and a while – and the headache is just a friendly reminder of why we can’t do it more than that 🙂
kirsten December 13, 2009, 1:06 pm
looks like an awesome time!!
Pam December 13, 2009, 1:07 pm
Great advice…family holiday parties are definitely worth enjoying every second!! What’s your fave holiday treat?? (Maybe you’ve already mentioned this, but not sure) 🙂
- caitlin December 13, 2009, 1:56 pm
  gingerbread cookies! martha stewart has the best recipe.
rebecca lustig December 13, 2009, 1:10 pm
You are such an inspiration. I admire you. SO much. (in a non creepy way of course)

Hope you have a restful Sunday
bec xo
- caitlin December 13, 2009, 1:57 pm
  thank you 🙂 I hope you have a restful sunday too!
rungirlrunn December 13, 2009, 1:10 pm
Looks like a great party!
Sam (Merit to the Carrot) December 13, 2009, 1:12 pm
What a Fantastic evening! Glad you enjoyed yourself and lived the other 10% of your life’s balance. That 10% is often times the funnest 😉
Marissa December 13, 2009, 1:12 pm
What a fun party!
Marina December 13, 2009, 1:22 pm
What a beautiful kitty! I’m glad you had fun and indulge a bit. We all need that kind of celebrations 🙂
Stacey December 13, 2009, 1:25 pm
There is something about the holidays that make me want to EAT. Usually any carb within my reach is gone, but that’s the best way to celebrate time with family is eating good food and having great company 🙂 Celebrate on!
Evan Thomas December 13, 2009, 1:26 pm
That looks like such a blast! I love the first photos
Julia December 13, 2009, 1:26 pm
What a fantastic party! I really like your philosophy about letting loose for special celebrations. I’m trying to be super good for the next week and a half so that come Christmas and Christmas parties I don’t feel bad indulging in those cookies and wine, and other delicious food. Have a great Sunday!
Karla December 13, 2009, 1:30 pm
That kitten is just too cute!!
Glad you had a fun time! Indulging every so often is okay 🙂

I overindulged at my ugly sweater party last night too… I may have had half a bottle of wine…
Paige December 13, 2009, 1:36 pm
What a party! Glad you had a great time! 🙂
Shelley December 13, 2009, 1:45 pm
you & your sister-in-law are stunning. looks like that was a fantastic evening
hemp jogger December 13, 2009, 1:48 pm
1–your SIL is seriously gorg! hope that doesnt sound weird, but she’s hot, lol.
2–you looked gorgy, too!
3–i could not agree more. once a year we get to indulge, have fun, and shit, what is the rest of the year for? you can always pump it up in the new year if need be, but why should we be at a party and regret ANYTHING?! no way, no how. no one else is freaking out about too many drinks and too much food, so why should we?
soo glad you had a good time, and your outlook is MUCH appreciated.
- caitlin December 13, 2009, 1:57 pm
  my sister in law is extremely beautiful. she could be a model!! every man that walks by her checks her out. 🙂
Christy December 13, 2009, 1:49 pm
Looks like tons of fun! I love the “unmentionables” haha… always makes the party better 😀
Tracy December 13, 2009, 1:58 pm
How could you not indulge at a party like that? Looked like so much fun! Love the Christmas tree pics!!
Carolyn December 13, 2009, 1:59 pm
Great pictures!!
Susan December 13, 2009, 2:05 pm
What an awesome partay!
My aunt serves her xmas cookies on a pedastal thing like that too and I firmly believe that is the reason I gobble them like crazay during the hols! It’s like you have to have one from each “level” or something haha.
Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) December 13, 2009, 2:26 pm
I haven’t gone to any Christmas parties this year. It’s such a bummer because I love Christmas parties!!! I love the Lady Gaga imitation. haha
BethT December 13, 2009, 2:35 pm
OMG, that kitten..!!!

I’m going to Lady Gaga’s concert tonight. Will try to imitate your hotness during Bad Romance.
Katie December 13, 2009, 2:43 pm
Ha what’s in that SHOT?!

http://katiechangesforkatie.blogspot.com/2009/12/mia-photo-update-new-contest-happy.html

Katie
Kelly December 13, 2009, 2:54 pm
What a FUN night!! It looked like a lot of fun! I love your healthy attitude about induling in the holiday fun without feeling guilty. I 100% agree. I think that you should enjoy yourself and have fun. By not depriving yourself you are a lot less likely to go crazy. Everything in moderation is always my mantra!!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is December 13, 2009, 2:54 pm
That kitten is adorable! The party looks like a blast. 🙂
Julie December 13, 2009, 3:02 pm
I like your philosophy 🙂 Indulging in cookies and booze is never a bad idea…unless you eat your weight in cookies and get shattered beyond belief. Not that I would know about that or anything…
Vanessa (Last Night's Leftovers) December 13, 2009, 3:08 pm
Sounds like fun! I drank that same Sam Adams last night at my Christmas party…haha.

Cute kitten. 🙂
Jenna December 13, 2009, 3:15 pm
glad you had a great time and got to indulge in all the yummy food!
jenna
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) December 13, 2009, 3:16 pm
That looks like such a fun party!!! Your pictures are great!!
Nicole, MS, RD, LD December 13, 2009, 3:23 pm
That’s right, once in awhile excessiveness never hurt anyone : ) Sounds like a blast! Love the drinking games mention! My family always does tequila shots on Christmas Eve…who only knows where that tradition originated from! Kitty is really cute, too 😉
Marisa (Loser for Life) December 13, 2009, 3:25 pm
You and your hubby look gorgeous! What a fun party!
Anne P December 13, 2009, 3:49 pm
Awwwwwww cutest kitten ever!!! I heart cats 🙂

Looks like a fun party! I did a little holiday partying of myself last night… skittle vodka was involved. And jello shots. 😉
Nicole December 13, 2009, 3:50 pm
Party looked like a blast and I also had my share of cookies and alcohol this weekend, but as you said holiday parties are only once a year!
Lauren December 13, 2009, 4:00 pm
I’m not a “cat person,” but that little kitty is SO cute!!!

Glad you had fun at the Christmas party!!
kilax December 13, 2009, 4:07 pm
What a fun party! I think it is totally okay to party like that a few times a year.

Your MiL’s kitten is ADORABLE!!!
Lisa (bakebikeblog) December 13, 2009, 4:07 pm
Oh what a fun looking evening! And I totally agree that it is all a matter of balance 🙂
Rosey Rebecca December 13, 2009, 4:43 pm
You just made me REALLY want Christmas cookies!! And that kitten is adorable!

I am giving away a pound of gingerbread coffee from a local coffee shop on my blog if you want to check it out!

http://roseyrebecca.com/2009/12/13/uncommon-grounds-gingerbread-coffee-giveaway/
Molly @vegandorm December 13, 2009, 4:50 pm
i’m working on getting rid of my “guilt” after indulgences…your philosophy is right on the money!
Jenna December 13, 2009, 4:55 pm
It looks like you had a blast last night. Sometimes you just have to live in the moment and enjoy life. 🙂
Diana (Mymarblerye) December 13, 2009, 4:57 pm
excuse me but…your hubby is a HOTTIE. Does he still have an accent? BTW your sis in law is a hottie too…and so are you!! You should make Christmas cards with family pics but instead of Happy Holidays it should be Hottie Holidays. Wait…there’s probably a movie with that title already. X that idea.
- caitlin December 13, 2009, 4:58 pm
  heheh thank you! he is a hottie (with a british accent). that whole family is full of hotties.
kristi (sweet cheeks) December 13, 2009, 4:59 pm
Looks like such a FUN time! I love how you are so good with occasional splurges!
Kristin P. December 13, 2009, 5:21 pm
LOVE the pics of you and Husband with the doggies!! Such an adorable little family!
Susan December 13, 2009, 5:48 pm
There are 365 days in a year. At LEAST one of those days has got to be an all-out fest with booze and cookies. Mine’s usually Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and maybe a couple other special nights that pop up during the year. Never regret a bite or drink – glad you had fun Catlin! 🙂
Karla December 13, 2009, 6:16 pm
Caitlin, that kitty is precious! Looks like you had a wonderful time celebrating with your family. I totally agree in the mandatory participation in excessive excessiveness.
Lee December 13, 2009, 6:19 pm
I love your attitude…and your Lady Gaga face.
Amy December 13, 2009, 6:26 pm
Looks like a blast! You’ve got to be able to enjoy yourself sometime. Also, that is the cutest kitten. It reminds me of Puss and Boots on Shrek when the kitty was begging with its big round eyes. 🙂
Jordan @ Salt Sweat Sugar December 13, 2009, 6:59 pm
You came to St Aug and didn’t meet up with me? =[
Ashley December 13, 2009, 8:54 pm
You look radiant!!! Full of healthy glow 🙂
Katy @ These Beautiful Feet December 13, 2009, 10:32 pm
Beautiful! I’m so glad you indulged and had a fantastic time. Super worth it the few days a year you do it. I couldn’t imagine being with your family and stressing about being healthy when everyone around you is living it up. I’m glad you did. Missed you today, but I hope to see you soon! 🙂 Good luck finishing up everything!
Good Taste. Healthy Me December 13, 2009, 10:51 pm
you two are just so cute!!
jessica December 14, 2009, 1:04 am
omg thats the cutest kitten ever, wht kind is it?
- caitlin December 14, 2009, 8:49 am
  It’s called a British Shorthair I think? It’s a fancy purebred.
Danielle December 14, 2009, 10:20 am
It certainly does look like you guys had a wonderful Christmas party! I’m glad that you decided to indulge – there is nothing worse than being miserable because you tell yourself you “can’t have” something. Bah!

Congrats to your SIL for receiving her Green Card! Woo Hoo! My friend’s husband is from Spain and they submitted all of the paperwork around Thanksgiving and are still waiting to hear back.
Claire December 14, 2009, 2:50 pm
Good for you!!Life’s too short to not enjoy a little indulgence:-)cc

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