Happy holidays! And share your stash Monday

stash
Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate it! And for those who don’t, wishing you some peaceful, quiet days to rest and relax after the holiday hustle and bustle. But for those Posse folks who got some good stuff (fragrant or otherwise), please feel free to share your stash, holiday treats, treasures and fun.

What are your Christmas Day traditions? We often try to visit my sweet mother-in-law, but as my DH had to work, my son and I spent Christmas Eve day with her and then came on home in the late afternoon.

My DH did get home in time for Christmas Eve celebrating, so we opened our stockings, baked some cookies and had some holiday eggnog (love some of the lower-fat options out there, such as Silk and Califia Farms). Then on Christmas Day, we make a yummy egg, Swiss cheese and Canadian bacon brunch casserole, and then tuck into a turkey breast, veggies, and some other goodies for later in the day.

As for my stash, I got a Starbucks card, some of those caramel M&Ms I’ve been craving, a movie I’ve been wanting (the hokey but funny-sweet “Austenland”) and an eBay gift card, always nice for trolling for treasures. But no fragrance from my boys, as usual, although I am waiting for a package I ordered of blast-from-the-past sample goodies from Surrender to Chance (a little Poison and EL Private Collection, anyone?). Anyhoo, would love to know what you got in your stash.

Hope everyone has an enjoyable and relaxing day!!

  • Tatiana says:

    Wishing everyone joy, love and peace for the season and the coming new year. My Dear Daughter gifted me the blue Incense Tears Diptyque holiday candle. From Dear Husband “Don’t Be A Tourist In Paris” book and a tree ornament in the shape of a horse. Received the “Matisse Diebenkorn” and “Sweet Sugar Sultry Spice” books from my brother and sister-in-law.
    Baked croissants (from the freezer) and made bacon and eggs for breakfast. Cooked the bacon in my new supposedly pre-seasoned cast iron pan and the bacon stuck. Now I have no idea how to clean that thing without scraping off the seasoning. Any ideas of how to care for this pan would be appreciated. I thought cast iron would be a healthier alternative to the modern non-stick pans, I just need to learn how to use it and take care of it.

    • Musette says:

      Cast iron is easy-peas to deal with – just pour a layer of Kosher salt into the pan, heat it, then scrub with a non-abrasive scrubber (after it’s cooled a bit, of course). Rinse, then reheat the pan on the stove. After it has dried, pour (or wipe) a bit of oil into the pan. That’s it.

      • Musette says:

        You can beat the hell out of cast iron. Mine is 3rd generation and will be here long after I am dust. You can wash it – just not in the dishwasher – and you MUST reseason it. That’s 2-3 mins on a hot burner (use a timer so you don’t try to burn your house down). Then slick a bit of oil around it and boom! done. Leave it on your stovetop forever.

      • Tatiana says:

        Thanks for this advice Musette. I was still trying to figure out how to get rid of the tiny bacon bits stuck on, after using a nylon scrubber sponge. Should have figured out it would be as easy as kosher salt. I’m still scared I ruined this pan. It’s from the Field Company and it’s lighter and smoother than any other pans I have seen recently. Hope you have a peaceful, happy and healthy new year.

        • Tammy says:

          I don’t even rinse mine, just scour with salt, wipe out and re-oil. I have three that belonged to my grandmother originally and as far as I know, they’ve never been touched by water. My grandmother had them before my mama was born, and Mama just turned 78.

  • Kathleen Smith says:

    Merry Christmas all! Everyone’s day sounds wonderful. I’m visiting my sister and husband in Arizona and although it doesn’t feel Christmasy compared to Denver, I’m ok with that enjoying the warm weather and desert landscape. I’m taking my dog hiking amongst the cacti and then we are cooking a traditional turkey dinner and watching movies on television. We will open gifts later in the day while sipping bubbles and wine. I am looking forward to Guerlain L’heure de nuit which I purchased for myself from husband!

  • Tara C says:

    My husband’s gift to me was Aedes Oeillet Bengal and caramel M & Ms too. The dogs got me some Hinoki and Palo Santo body oils from DSH. We will have a breakfast of pastries from our local Cuban bakery and then maybe catch a movie, the new Meryl Streep/TomHanks one called The Post. No idea what I’ll do for supper but likely some Italian pasta dish. Wish I had a pannettone, maybe I’ll pick one up tomorrow!

  • cinnamon says:

    Happy hols. Very mild, wettish and grey here — not Xmasy at all. An interesting mix of gifts. The standouts are a NARS matte lip thingy in Warm Leatherette from son and the Floraiku sample set (not from son — from a lovely friend who happens to be a perfumista). Plus some great makeup that I can’t get here in the boonies and an octopus bowl from Cream Cornwall (if you’re UK or Europe check this place out — wonderful stuff). I did break down and buy myself, unsniffed, Hiram Green Slowdive in the 10ml size. Lazy now but will start cooking in a couple of hours, get prosecco’d out, and walk the dog early evening to even it all out.

  • Portia says:

    Hey Ann,
    Merry Everything to you and your lot!
    We didn’t have Christmas at our place for the first time in years. It was bloody fabulous. Walked in, ate, chatted, gave and received presents, left. The easiest.
    Loads of consumables from everyone and a bottle of SJP Stash from my BFF. Jin imported some of my favourite seeing glasses from Italian company Campo Marzio, but from the South Korean store. Perfect gift because they come in a fabulous range of colours and the style suits me perfectly. Being a constant glasses loser and breaker means I often have 6 pairs on the go at any one time. So he wins the prize for thoughtful and time consuming purchase.
    Portia xx