Is this pink snakeskin puppy carrier for my MALE dog any less horrible since it was a Christmas gift and not a self-purchase?
Because I’m hoping that’s the case 
In all reality, it’s been a little over a month since I was regularly posting here on Itty Bits, and to be honest my little hiatus couldn’t have been more perfectly timed (which I’ll get into more deeply in another post.) My Christmas break was spectacular, and not only did I get to enjoy a full week off of work, but I also was able to soak in more family time than I have since my move down to Miami. With less scheduled blog time/ more free time, I was even able to help out some family with wrapping and running errands a lot more than I typically am able to, which was definitely great news.
Other notable mentions? The bacon-wrapped almond-stuffed dates that I made for a party (which were devoured in 5 minutes flat)
And were SUPER easy to make! I stuffed the dates with almonds, sliced the bacon slices in half and wrapped each half around a date, stuck a toothpick through the whole thing, then baked them on 350 degrees for 20 minutes. I also flipped the dates half-way through the cook time, just to be thorough.
Worshipping in the church Christmas choir (can you spot me?)
Kicking off the New Year at my first official Bunco party,
and getting caught red-handed during a midnight kiss.
Finding any excuse to whip up a latte with my new Aerolatte,
(I think I’m up to 3 per day now, coffee & chai tea lattes combined.)
Apples To Apples galore,
Priceless photo opportunities of Sleeping Beauties,
Christmas reindeer (or Mickey?) cookie making,
and spending lots of time thinking up creative & quality Christmas gifts for my loved ones. Rest assured that my brother was THRILLED about sporting this one
A fabulous start to 2013 indeed! Let’s hope that the rest of the year is just as good 
A bit to think about: Any highlights from your winter celebrations?
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
I looove Apples to Apples! My family and I play it all the time. Talk about a fun way to hang out with loved ones.
I’m glad your hiatus is going so well! I guess it just reinforces how right of a decision this was for you. 
Olivia Hill @ lifeasliv recently posted..Monstrosity Recap.
Looks like you had a great holiday! I love Apples to Apples. But we tried playing it with my in-laws over Thanksgiving, and I don’t think they quite got the concept!
We had a great Christmas down in Florida. It was nice to just relax with family and eat plenty of good food!
Love ya, girl! Nice to see a post from you!
Kristen @ notsodomesticated recently posted..Christmas in Florida: My idea of a “white” (sand) Christmas.
Ahh I was just thinking about you yesterday and that I should email you to see how you are and then of course you post..it was fate :p I’m so glad you’re doing well! I miss reading your posts but I can certainly understand the need to take a step back as I did last year for many months! Hope the new year is off to a wonderful start for both you and Will! Have a great weekend xo
We played Apples to Apples too! Such a fun game!! Glad you had a great holiday season!
Jessica @ Sushi and Sit-Ups recently posted..Best year ever?
It has been years since a good bunco party. You should check out the game Time’s Up, it is a team game that has some elements of charades, and always gets lots of laughs in my family. Glad you are back!
So happy to read a blog of yours and I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed your time off with family! Sometimes its so great and so necessary to just take a break from everything
This post makes me smile.
I’m so glad you were able to get so much quality time with your family and just take in the holidays! Thank you for your sweet card too! xoxo
Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..Healthy Banana Bread
Glad you had the extra time to enjoy your holidays!
glad to hear you had a wonderful holiday!!! love seeing all the beautiful pictures
My chihuahua would kill me for putting him in a bag…any color. He only let me do that twice was he was a baby and never again.
Those cookies look to cute to eat!
Haha Popcorn wasn’t too happy about it either!
Brittany recently posted..Where The Heck Have I Been?!: Winter Edition
Looks like you had some great holiday times! Glad to see you checked in! I hope everything is going well for you guys and I hope to hear more in the new year!
P.S. I’m sure Popcorn loves his new carrier!
Thanks Kelly
Hope all is well for you as well!
Brittany recently posted..Where The Heck Have I Been?!: Winter Edition
Love hearing from you! Looks like you had a great holiday season!
Cinnamon @ eatpraytri recently posted..The CinnaList
I’m glad you had such a good holiday! I’m obsessed with my Aerolatte too – it makes drinking coffee and tea feel so much more exciting haha.
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin recently posted..White bean, turkey sausage, and kale soup
I love Bunco and Apples to Apples! It sounds like you have a fun holiday season.
P.s. Those reindeer cookies are absolutely adorable!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl recently posted..Roasted Vegetable Pizza on a Cauliflower Pizza Crust
I’m so glad you popped in! I miss you!!
I’m so glad that you had a great holiday!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables recently posted..S.M.A.R.T. New Years Goals
So glad to see you’ve had a great time since you’ve been gone! My hubs and I got aprons kinda like your brother’s for one of our wedding gifts, but his looked like a tuxedo and mine looked like a wedding dress. I’ve only worn it once which really needs to change b/c I am forever staining up my clothes! Hope to hear from you more soon! Oh! Really quickly, my hubs and I had a…ahem *cough, cough*…disagreement the other day, and all I could think about was that quiz you took that showed that you and your Will have different love languages. Was that the 5 Love Languages of Love by Gary Chapman? Have you actually read the book or did you take the quiz online somewhere? I’m *really* interested in reading it b/c I think it could help us out A LOT. XOXO
Love the cookies they are so cute! Can’t wait for more posts from you!
Blogging Runner recently posted..Elliptical And A Crazy Cardio Creeper
It looks like you had a great holiday! Sometimes it’s totally worth it to take a nice break from blogging and enjoy living life! Also, those aprons are adorable!
Stephanie @ My Freckled Life recently posted..Seriously Needed
Yay it’s nice to have you back! Sounds like the time off was exactly what you needed and how nice that you were able to spend more time with your family over Christmas! I’ve been to a bunko party before and I think they are so much fun! What a great NYE celebration! And those cookies are so cute!
Emily @ Glitz Glam Granola recently posted..Scenes from the Weekend
yay for the update! we miss you but glad you are enjoying your time away from the blog. ps that coffee maker thingy roccccckkkks!
Sara @my less serious life recently posted..chocolate-vanilla-peanut butter green smoothie
I MIIIISSSSS YOU!!!
So glad you’ve been well. And I made cupcakes into reindeer, so I guess great minds think alike huh?
And I seriously need a frother in my life!
Kat recently posted..Time for changes.
First, the dog carrier… Adorable! I saw rock it with every outfit!
Second, I totally hear ya on the blog-cation. I took a pretty big one and it couldn’t have worked out better. I’m glad you are more refreshed and got to spend all that time with your family doing little things. the little things are what we value in the end after all.
Maren recently posted..Boy, how life has changed!!
That picture of you and Will at midnight is priceless! What a wonderful catch-up post!
Can’t wait to read more from you! Glad that the break was so helpful and healthy for you!
Nikki recently posted..WIAW: Meal Planning Edition
I’d no idea you were back!!! Delighted! Glad to hear you enjoyed the break, heading straight to the next post for another update.
Happy New Year! It was so fun reading your post and the comments, too. So glad you and Will enjoyed a wonderful time with your families!