christmas baking treats!

{christmas ale donuts with a christmas ale glaze!}

christmas time is a wonderful time in the baking world!  gingerbread & peppermint & eggnog.  salted caramel & spicy chocolate & even christmas ale.  all sorts of comforting tastes & aromas, twisted in a new & fun way.  one more reason to love christmas!

 {glazed gingerbread donuts}

 {peppermint marshmallows,

the original puppy chow,

& salted caramel puppy chow}

my favorite new experiment of the season was making homemade marshmallows!  oh my goodness, it was so much fun.  it made a huge mess, turning from a liquid into this big, white, fluffy goo.  at one point, you think there is no way this is going to turn into a marshmallow.  & then a few hours later, marshmallows!  i made peppermint this time, but it would be so fun to experiment with all different flavors like rum or whiskey for adult beverages.  i think yes.

 {eggnog cheesecake with a graham cracker crust}

 {mexican chocolate cookies with spiced whipped cream}

{homemade flavored whipped cream might be my favorite food of all time.}

{& my winter cupcake - salted caramel!}

happy weekend, friends!

love love,

kjp.

celebrating the holidays in oklahoma!

{oklahoma will always have the best sunsets.}

blakey & i had a wonderful christmas week in the great state of oklahoma!  eight days of family {although we really really missed my mom & ray & sister & benny boo & little man!} & sleeping in & delicious food & amazing friends & celebrations & one incredible football game.  we got to see our adorably pregnant sister-in-law & our tiny little four month old nephew, celebrate christmas a few times & new years a few times, eat cow or mexican at almost every meal. sleep in until 9 or 10 every morning, & spend every moment together.  it was oh so lovely.

{christmas at my dad's!}

{baby aj!}

{happy hour with delicious cocktails at scratch}

{of course we had to have big truck tacos}

{hot tubbing' with tanky}

the ou vs alabama game had to be the best sugar bowl of all time!  did i think we'd win?  absolutely not.  not a chance.  & that made it oh so sweet.  living in alabama & not having to listen to the tide talk about how incredible they are for the next six months, even better.  boomer sooner, friends.  boomer sooner!

{porters celebrating the win!}

{tanky was thrilled too}

{one of the best burgers in norman at the garage}

{old man tanky was worn out from his week o' fun}

merry christmas to you!

love love,

kjp.

our christmas 2013.

as with all things worth celebrating, blakey & i celebrated christmas all week long!  we began last weekend with a puzzle by the beautiful christmas tree, our annual viewing of love actually, our first viewing of white christmas, lots of football, & a couple of days home together.

{my happy boys}

 {the little guy & green man & me & coffee}

 {the beginning of our a christmas story puzzle}

{after three days, success!}

on christmas eve, blakey was working away at the hospital, so i brought a christmas feast to the call team!  we enjoyed some truly delicious smoked turkey from moe's bbq, super cheesy mashed potatoes, & my favorite green bean casserole.  & for dessert - eggnog cheesecake!  a happy christmas eve in the hospital.  

as soon as blakey got home christmas morning, our true christmas celebration began!  we opened presents, watched tanky tear into his presents, facetimed & chatted with family, threw greenman over & over & over, & made our christmas breakfast tradition - migas & chorizo!  it was a beautiful day with my amazing husband celebrating the love of Christ.

 {the pioneer woman's amazing migas}

 {tanky LOVES opening gifts.

that must be why he tried to open our gifts early too.}

 {the awesome new le cresuet tea pot blakey got me!}

{& the GORGEOUS sorel boots blakey got me!

he really really spoils me.}

 {Christ the Lord, the newborn king is here!}

a very merry christmas to you & yours.  may we remember the joy of this day all year long.

love love,

kjp.

thankful thursday - you.

i love christmas cards.  seriously love them.  we send ours out the week after thanksgiving every year in hopes to receive our friends' & families' cards as soon as possible & have them up to enjoy for weeks.  we love the happy faces, the joyful greetings, & the wonderful wishes from all of you.  they truly make our home a more joyful place at christmas time.  

so thank you for sharing your christmas with us.  we are thankful for each & every one of you.

i hope you can think of something today for which you are thankful.

love love,

kjp.

a very merry christmas to you! love, the porters.

a very merry christmas to you & yours!  wishing you much joy & peace & love this holiday.

love love,
kjp.

a jolly resident christmas party!

the annual "couth" christmas party was this weekend!  all of the obgyn 3rd & 4th years, fellows, & attendings gathered with spouses to celebrate this wonderful time of year.  we enjoyed the evening with our friends full of delicious dinner, treats, & libations.  and after all of that proper socializing, we had a rockin dance party!  katy perry, meatloaf, & journey.  it was a fantastic holiday event.

{blake & neil looking quite dapper}

{my favorite UAB party friend, ashley}

{dance party time!}

our last uab christmas party.  crazy how fast it all goes.  a very joyful time indeed.

love love,

kjp.

happy 12 days til christmas!

{housemade girl scout samoa cookies!}

twelve days til christmas, friends!  i finally finished up our christmas shopping & christmas wrapping & christmas mailing today.  christmas cards are arriving daily & are now hung on ribbon for all to see.  & our advent calendar is happily counting down to christmas day.  it truly is a joyful season.

{housemade nutter butters!}

happy 12 days til christmas, friends.  wishing you joy & peace & a deep breath to remember the reason for christmas.

love love,

kjp.

thankful thursday - sparkles & lights

christmas time makes blakey & me so happy.  whoever gets up first turns the christmas lights on for a bright morning.  whoever gets home first turns the christmas lights on for a sparkly evening.  it instantaneously brings so much joy to our home.  so thankful for this season.

 {our 2013 sweet home alabama ornament}

i hope you can think of something today for which you are thankful.

love love,

kjp.

the wonderful mcgowan christmas party 2013.

our favorite birmy christmas party was an incredible day of joy & happiness.  the mcgowans hosted all of us for a delicious southern brunch, amazing football, tasty holiday treats, & so much fun.  the southern meal shined with chicken & waffles, mini pigs in a blanket, pulled pork sliders, & pimento cheese.  we watched an unbelievable sooner win at bedlam & the entertaining big 12 championship & sec championship.  & we thoroughly enjoyed the holiday with these truly wonderful friends.

 {my beautiful friends}

 {our festive holiday attire}

 {our handsome gentlemen}

{blake & ogden in pure joy after sabering a bottle of champagne open.

well done, fellas.  well done.

we are so proud of you.}

a very merry christmas celebration indeed.  so much love for these people.

love love,

kjp.

thankful thursday - christmas time is here!

{chalkboard inspiration from view along the way}

christmas time is here & all of the wonderful things that brings!  our christmas tree lighting up our home every evening, christmas cards arriving in the mail, chilly weather {ok ok the high today is 76 here but it is supposed to get cold tomorrow}, delicious treats, holiday parties, family time & friend time, & best of all - the preparation of Jesus's birth.  in all of the hustle & bustle of this joyous time, always remember to let us adore Him.

for this season, we are thankful.

i hope you can think of something today for which you are thankful.

love love,
kjp.