a very merry christmas

Our Christmas celebration started on Sunday with a quick visit to our grandma's house.  Then, we were off to partake in our yearly tradition - a drive thru Sleepy Hollow and some delish Thrifty's ice cream.

On Christmas day, we all gathered at the La Mansion and enjoyed our time together, opened presents, and hung out until everyone started to fall asleep from some major food coma.

 
   


 
My contribution to dinner was hasselback potatoes, which looked better than it tasted, and lemon meringue pie, which started to weep even before I put it in the fridge! Bah!  I also made a gooey pumpkin cake, and John made a cherry crumble cake. I realized that my family is not big on dessert. There was so much left over!  

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas. We Kim/Park/Carriers sure did! I'm so sad it's over.  I am most definitely keeping up the decorations and tree 'til Valentines Day! 

peppermint

One of the many things I love about this time of year is the explosion of peppermint products that become available! I love all things peppermint, but my fave for sure is peppermint ice cream.  Thrify has stopped making it for some odd reason, so I had to go get my peppermint ice cream fix at Baskin Robbins (with a coupon).

John is not a fan of peppermint ice cream, but I could eat tubs and tubs of it! YUM!!! Anyone else love this stuff?!

non stop eating

I went a lil crazy stuffing my face with delish food this past weekend.  Probably shouldn't have eaten so much... oh wellz.  Healthy eating starts TOMORROW!

Mint, coffee, and salted caramel

Cali burger

No Korean meal is complete without kimchi and garlic. 

Saturday afternoon started at our lil brunch spot, The Pan, where I got the "Lumberjack", as usual.  2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausages, potatoes, and my fave - banana pancakes!  Then, off to meet my sis and bro in law for some ice cream at Sweet Rose (same owners as this amazing place).  After that, we sent straight to their house to eat some yummy kimbap my mom made, followed by pizza and salad (not pictured).

Sunday, the Lord's day was spent with our amazing church family.  I was super hungry, I scarfed down a chili dog.  When we decided to go to Umami, I told everyone that I couldn't finish the burger and I would "only take a few bites and save the rest for John".  Yeah. That didn't happen. Enjoyed the entire Cali burger.  Took an hour break then went to my mom's and scarfed down some grilled up meat.

I'm still full from the weekend. I have major problems. Portion control starts tomorrow! Yeah, right.  I can do it!

family night

Every year, John and I drive out to a small neighborhood in Torrance to see the crazy Christmas lights! We've been going together since we were "just friends" and this year we thought it'd be something the whole family could enjoy.

For years I thought it was called Candy Cane Lane, but just found out this year that it's called Sleepy Hollow! Doesn't that sound like a creepy name for a such a fun festive place?! Whatever. It's like Candy Cane Lane's little brother. If you're in the South Bay area, you've gotta check it out!

Everyone is walking around, people are selling popcorn and other goodies, there's Christmas music playing, it's just awesomeness for 2 or 3 blocks. Since we were all piled in my mom's SUV, we cruised down the street, took a few photos, and off we went for our continued search for Rite Aid's or Thrifty peppermint ice cream.

NO JOKE, it is the best ice cream in zee world. Thrifty peppermint ice cream is not like any other peppermint ice cream! All other brands flavor the ice cream with peppermint extract and the ice cream is unnaturally pink. But not Thrifty! It is seriously a ten.

Totally sad that not a single Rite Aid in my area has it. So I had to stick with the second best ice cream flavor, cookies and cream!

When my bro-in-law told us that he has NEVER EVER tried Thrifty ice cream, all our jaws dropped! $1.69 ice cream and he's never tried it?! Straight up crazy!

'Twas a fun night with the family. AND my search for Thrifty peppermint ice cream continues!