"Charity" Weekend Recap

"We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give."

-Winston Churchill

Hello Lovies...have you missed me!? Yeah, either way, right back at ya!  It does feel like it's been eons since we spoke, but this weekend was so jam packed I just couldn't get around to posting.  And, although this is pretty late for a "weekend recap" I'd really like to tell you what I was up to. 

Friday we met up with our friends for dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant - shocker right!? I'm going to fondly refer to this as "Fajita Quesadilla Friday" from now on. Oh, and of course I had one two margaritas...those things go down like water.  They do seem to make my tongue go numb though...I'm sure it has nothing to do with the "rumored" grain alcohol they put in it. Giddy-up!!

Saturday was one of the days I look forward to ALL year; our Annual Charity Christmas Party.  Three years ago my friend Olivia (a Fajita Quesadilla Friday accomplice) and I decided we wanted to throw a fun Christmas party. We wanted to do something different...special...unique.  We had been to dinner parties, and ugly Christmas sweater parties, but never a "charity" party.  So every year we find a needy family (really they always fall in our lap...the workings of Christ I think) in the Jacksonville community to sponsor.  This year we got a family with three boys, something we've never had, and were so excited to play Santa!!!  For the party, Olivia and I put together a spread of our favorite apps; which you can check out below....

1) Feta Dip 

2) Buffalo Chicken Garbage Bread

3) Veggie Tray w/ sour cream garden spread

4) Cheese plate

5) Tortellini Kabobs 

6) Vegetarian Tortellini Kabobs (see recipe from above & just omit meat)

7) My "award - winning" Cream Cheese Chicken Crock Pot Chili  w/Fritos

8) Christmas Wreath Cookies

9) ROLO Pretzel Delights 

Then today, with ALL of our donations from the party, Olivia and I went shopping for the family: "Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus lane..."  We were previously given a "wish list" from the boys and their parents, and not only were we able to purchase EVERYTHING from their list, but we also had $ left over to put towards a Target gift card that the parents could use for whatever else they might need!! 

"'Maybe Christmas,' he thought, 'doesn't come from a store.'
'Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!'
And what happened then...?
Well...in Who - [Jackson]ville they say
That the Grinch's small two girls' heart[s]
Grew three sizes that day!"
-Dr. Seuss

Words can not express how overwhelmed Olivia and I felt today. Our friends are amazingly kind and generous, and because of everyones huge heart, we were able to give this family the most amazing Christmas.  See below for Santa's loot ;-) And THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for your love during this season of giving!!

~ God Bless Lovies! ~
Morgan