Inspiration for living a luxuriously and balanced life

Monday, December 19, 2011

Family Christmas Lunch and My Birthday

It was an exciting time this week-end! HHL Sister, hosted an early Christmas and Birthday (moi's) celebration at her home. 

I couldn't believe how much little Matthew had changed, since his Baptism, 2 weeks ago!!
HHL Sister, is a fabulous hostess and the table was beautifully set in a white and silver colour theme with a red Christmas table cloth. It looked absolutely elegant!


She definitely inherited our Father's great cooking skills!!We feasted on a honey glazed ham; turkey; veggies; HHL-SIL made a fabulous corn pudding ( Mr. G. is hoping she will share the recipe); garlic mashed potatoes and the best spinach and pear salad ever!! and if all this amazing food was not enough....

There was one more surprise HHL Sister had in-store for the afternoon...

I think my expression in this photo speaks volumes!! Even Nephew is excited by what is being displayed before him!!!

Dessert was not only my Birthday Cake, my sister had a custom Louis Vuitton birthday cake made for Moi!!

Complete with coordinating chocolate shoe ....



The inside was a melody of vanilla cake, cream and strawberry cream. The fondant was the nicest and softest fondant I have ever had the pleasure of tasting!!

HHL Brother-in-law, introduced me to the perfect complement "beverage" to accompany this heavenly cake masterpiece!


If you have not tried this yet! I say run get to the nearest LCBO and pick yourself up a bottle. Definitely my new favourite. Everyone said it also smelled amazing, of course my smelling sense was not in operable mode; but the smoothness and taste I can say was amazing!

HHL Mother, SIL, Brother, Nephew, BIL, Me and Sister... 
Where is Mr. G?

Here he is with Dolce and Me...

If you were wondering what was distracting HHL Nephew (Matthew) ...He was exploring his option as Baby Hairdresser to Auntie M.

After dinner and cake, we embarked on opening all the wonderful and thoughtful gifts. And for ME our afternoon together as a family celebrating was a gift, I will forever treasure! 

I would like to thank my Sister for hosting a fabulous afternoon! My Mother for bringing me into the world! My Brother and his wife for bringing into the world the best blessing our family could ever have ... MATTHEW!! Of course BIL for introducing me to my newest favourite beverage and to Mr. G. for driving the 4 hours (each way), so we could share this special time with my family!

Do you have to travel a long distance to visit family during the holidays?







Joining these wonderful friends,


33 comments:

  1. I love, love, love the cake!! The table looked beautiful! And it looks like yall had a great time.. We are lucky, most of family lives close to us! So 30 minutes is the most we travel!

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  2. Oh Celia, I'm so happy you shared some photos with us! They are absolutely beautiful! What a beautiful family celebration you must have had. What a fantastic birthday cake!!! Your little nephew is beautiful. The table was lovely. What a fun time!
    Much love to you,
    Mary

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  3. Your table looks beautiful. And that cake looks very good!! Awe that picture of your nephew is so precious. I hope you have a fabulous week!! Winona

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  4. Celia, happy birthday to you! I really enjoyed the pictures you shared of your special family gathering! The table setting was beautiful,the food looked delicious, the cake was awesome, and Matthew is just the cutest little boy! I'm glad you had a wonderful weekend because you certainly deserve it! Merry Christmas to you!!

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  5. Dearest Celia,

    HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET FRIEND! There is sooooooooooooo much to admire about you and your lovely family! Your brother and sister that fought for your arm, not being amputated and who were at your side when you lived the life of an 'angel'. Again, that unconditional love speaks volumes by presenting you with such a special HAUTE COUTURE cake! The idea alone is a gift of thought. You must have been exhausted for traveling such distance and for Mr. G. having to chauffeur all by himself. But with pride; that's for sure.
    Oh, if I could get to my family in 4 hours, one-way, I would be on my way NOW. But it is too far for doing that. So with you I am thrilled for the joy that all of you found for celebrating this miraculous birthday of yours. Who would have ever thought you would be sitting there five years later...
    Hugs and oodles of love to you,

    Mariette

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  6. ♪♫•*♥¨*•.¸¸♪¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ ♪♫•*♥¨*•. ¸

    ***Happy Birthday, Celia!!! ***

    ♪♫•*♥¨*•.¸¸♪¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ ♪♫•*¨*•. ¸¸ ♪¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸

    My beautiful friend, I hope this birthday is your best ever.

    Love always, Barry ƸӜƷ

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  7. Happy Birthday Celia. SO happy to see all the love and celebration with your family. Your nephew is a little sweetie.
    You and Mr. G look so happy together!
    Wishing you and your lovely family a very Merry Christmas my dear friend!
    Mimi

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  8. What a great celebration! I love the cake!

    Happy Birthday!!

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  9. Celia,

    What a gorgeous Birthday cake and shoe! Your Birthday dinner sounds divine! Y_U_M_M_I_E!

    I'm so glad you could be with your family and enjoy the moment! Happiness is written all over you're lovely face!

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  10. Dear Celia, what a beautiful Matthew! You must be proud of him. And what a special birthday cake! It is gorgeous and looked so good also. I would like to taste. please! HAPPY BIRTHDAY also! Hope you had a wonderful day! Wishing you a lovely week before Christmas!

    Kristin xx

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  11. What a cake! I'm sure that this will be one of your most treasured memories. Happy Birthday.

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  12. Happy Birthday, Celia! What a treat to spend such a lovely weekend with your wonderful family! Enjoy "your" day today, and may you have a blessed and merry Christmas and God's richest blessings in the year ahead.

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  13. Mr. G is indeed incredible!
    Matthew is just adorable! I mean wonderfully kissable and perfectly ready to pamper!
    You and your sister are beautiful!
    Love family time - especially with such great food!

    LOVE the cake! Seriously your sister ROCKS! She got you the most perfect cake!

    I only have to drive about 45 min on Thursday for our Christmas with my father and step mom.
    Christmas amazingly will be just the four of us!
    Will need to blog my Christmas decorations - I promise I will soon. Cleaning up and getting ready has been taking all my time!
    Love to you and praying your Christmas is magical.

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  14. So great to see you having such a wonderful time celebrating. That cake is magnificent....I want one for my next birthday!

    You look beautiful and radiant....hugs to you. xoxo, A

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  15. That cake is AMAZing! Looks like you have a wonderful family, best wishes to all of you for a joyous holiday!!

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  16. Happy Birthday Celia!!!
    That cake. There are no words. LOVE it.
    Thanks for sharing all these lovely photos - I feel (I wish) like I was there! xo

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  17. December birthdays are the best! Happy Birthday to you Celia!
    oxoxo
    Denalee

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  18. First of all, happiest birthday wishes to you, my friend! How awesome is that cake?? And the dinner looks incredible - it's making my hungry just reading about it. You have such a handsome family - I'm sure it made for a wonderful day. Merry, merry Christmas!

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  19. A belated Happy Birthday, love the cake. Have a good Christmas and I look forward to following you in 2012.

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  20. Happy Birthday! What beautiful pictures and the Louis cake.....envious!

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  21. LOVE this... so happy to see your beautiful face. Oh, Matthew is so sweet... I can tell you are in awe of him. Miss having the little ones! xo

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  22. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU~~~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU~~~~HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR CEILA~~~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!
    Just had to sing to you and wish you the best year ever. Your birthday celebration dinner and family pics are wonderful. What a gorgeous family you are and the dinner your sister made, looks and sounds divine.

    Nothing better then these special times and memories. I wish you many blessings for Christmas and the new year.
    Happy Birthday and many more.
    XO Celestina Marie

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  23. Wonderful photos of a wonderful celebration with Family! Look at you - all smiles and googly eyes with Matthew!!! So glad you were able to be with loved ones to celebrate your Life. Happy Birthday, a wee bit late....and Merry Christmas, a wee bit early! Blessings!
    ~Jane

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  24. What a special party! Happy Birthday. And what a FAB cake! OMG! THat was too cute! That's a keeper of a sister!!!
    Thanks for visiting and sharing your special day! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
    Ruth

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  25. What a fabulous day Celia!! And the happiness just radiates off the pictures. You have a lovely family thanks for sharing!
    My family live within half an hour max away from me, and that would be my daughter. My brothers and mother live only a 15 minute drive away, which is really nice.

    Take care for now

    hugs
    Brigitta

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  26. I AM IN TEARS!!!!! I LOVE IT!

    You my friend, look beautiful!!!!

    I love your cake & shoe!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

    I got your card today. I am so behind on mine, ugh. I have gotten a few out each day. Yours in en route!!

    I pray you have THE most blessed holiday ever!

    Much Love to you and yours,
    Daph

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  27. Happy Birthday sweet beautiful friend! What a celebration! So glad you shared photos. The cake was amazing!!!!

    Big birthday hugs,
    Kat

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  28. Stopping by from FF&P!

    Happy Birthday-I LOVE the cake! What an awesome idea and a sweet, sweet sister :)

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  29. Celia, I just love seeing these pictures of you and your family ~ you look radiant and beautiful!
    Nathalie

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  30. INCREDIBLY cool!!!! That had to be the birthday party of all birthday parties!!! What a beautiful table setting, and the food looked scrumptious! To top it off with that barn burnin' cake...the absolute!!! That was one of the coolest cakes I have ever seen...and I've seen a lot of 'em at my age! :-) Happy belated birthday to you, and Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family!

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  31. Well I must say that I know NO ONE else who deserves such wonderful treats as you on this very special day!! I am glad you enjoyed this and that cake....well....I LOVE IT so much!!!!!! Fantastic!

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  32. Oh angel.... I must say I'm so happy you shared some pictures of you (a beautiful angel) with us!!!! So beautiful photos!!!!
    I just L.O.V.E. that cake, you soooooooo deserve all the good treats!!!!
    I wish you a much Blessed Christmas and may the Spirit of God fulfill your home and your loved ones.

    Much love your way. Big hug and kisses, darling.

    xoxo

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  33. Hello Celia,

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU..!
    Wishing you all the best in this and next year.

    beautiful cake and table set up

    This is the first time for me at your blog. I just founded you on my dearest Mariette,

    So happy to see your happy family ,love,stay together.beautiful moment
    I shall follow you by now. might be you would visit also my little blog ;)

    wishing you a HAPPY CHRISTMAS
    hugs from Rome

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