We have officially entered my favorite time of the year.  As far as I am concerned, Halloween kicks off the holidays.  This means it is totally acceptable to listen to “The Christmas Song” radio on Pandora, start hunting down perfect gifts for loved ones, compile a detailed, daily itinerary for the month of December, order a gingerbread crinkle house for your pet and choose holiday themed recipes.  I mean, just for example.

I am totally tired of my cookbooks so I went to Barnes and Noble last night, sat down with a pile of cookbooks, holiday magazines (and “Fancy Nancy’s Splendiferous Christmas“), a pumpkin latte and got to work finding some cooking inspiration.  “Timeless elegance with contemporary ease” is how the Food Network describes Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa)’s recipes.  On my best days, I sort of fancy myself to be timelessly elegant with contemporary ease so it was decided– The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook was going to be my new go-to cookbook.

The Lobster Pot Pie is going to be my first endeavor.  As the weather gets colder, comfort food is a must-have and making a traditional dish with a decadent twist sounds like the perfect holiday recipe.  When I was young, my mom would let me stay home from school on the day of the first snow.  I would watch “Little Women”, start playing Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas cd and bake my little heart out (when I was super young, the baking was done Easy-Bake Oven style–lucky Mom).  To this day, the first snow is the epitome of fresh, pure perfection and I think the lobster pot pie is the perfect thing to make to celebrate.

Speaking of celebrating, I am making it a point to do it more.  I am coming out of a season where I haven’t felt I’ve done anything worth celebrating or deserve to celebrate.  Well, that’s just crap.  Celebration seems to be relegated to birthdays and holidays and big news but the first snow, friends making time to get together, an impactful yoga class, a mistake that teaches you something–I think it all deserves to be celebrated.  I want to be more present and grateful and aware.

High Five of the Day goes to The Herlein Family.  I can’t think of a family who exemplifies courage, grace, love of family and steadfast faith more than they have the last year and it is an honor to be witnessing their journey.