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December 3, 2010 (Updated March 9, 2023)

A Night of Holiday Cheer

by Anne Mauney, MPH, RD

30 comments
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Last night was one of the most fun nights ever. I know I’ve said it before, but I love my group of grad school girlfriends here SO much!

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They are seriously some of the sweetest, most down to earth and genuine girls I’ve ever met. I’ll be sad to leave them for a month over Christmas break!

Last night, all of us headed over to Elle’s place, now officially nicknamed “The Clubhouse” because we always invite ourselves over there. I mean, wouldn’t you? Look how cute and cozy her place is!

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Love.

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A few weeks ago, while hanging out at The Clubhouse, Elle mentioned that she was going to get a Christmas tree. Everyone’s eyes lit up. A frenzy of talking erupted, with each idea better than the last:

  • Omg, can we help you decorate it?!
  • We can listen to Christmas music!!!
  • And make gingerbread man cookies!!!!!!
  • And do a Secret Santa ornament exchange!!!!!!!!!!

And thus, the evening’s plans were born 🙂 (I totally forgot about the pajama dress code and showed up wearing what I wore to school that day — fail! At least I had comfy leggings on!)

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(Sidenote: totally set off the fire alarm when starting the fire in the fireplace. Apparently the smoke likes to come inside at first, even if the flue is open!)

Speaking of outfits, I have to note my friend Lauren’s AMAZING outfit from last night. She’s in the middle (obviously):

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That would be a Santa hat, an incredibly tacky and amazing Christmas vest, and one of my fANNEtastic t-shirts: “Running is Cheaper than Therapy”! Hahaha. So amazing.

We also decided to turn the evening into a potluck dinner/wine party! Elle offered to make the main course, an epic pork tenderloin topped with spicy apple chutney.

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Here’s a link to the recipe she used — it’s from Epicurious. She just used apple instead of rhubarb in the chutney. SO GOOD!!!

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Mmm… check out the steam! I am definitely making this again at home. I loved the combination of sweet apples and savory cumin. Yum!

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Sides included roasted Brussels sprouts (roasted at 375 in some olive oil, salt, and pepper):

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Quinoa (courtesy of me — just cooked in chicken broth and topped with some cracked pepper — simple and very tasty!):

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A spinach and cranberry salad:

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And we also had some sweet potatoes! Here’s my plate:

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YUM!! Awesome dinner.

After dinner, we had our Secret Santa ornament gift exchange! Heh!

I got this little Santa chef! Isn’t he cute?? I love the chef’s hat and his knife collection. We decided he was mixing icing for gingerbread men 😉

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There were some great ornaments, we were cracking up! Especially awesome was that our friend Jillian (with me in the photo below) got an ornament that said “Jillian’s 1st Christmas” because she’s one of the the youngest in our group and we are always teasing her about it! We were dying. It even had a pacifier hanging from it!

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I got my friend Stephanie for the Secret Santa, and gave her an ornament that was a bucket of champagne with a little sign that said “Pop the bubbly!” because she always brings champagne to our get togethers 🙂 Hehe

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After the gift exchange, it was time to get down to work! We had gingerbread men (and boys) to make and Christmas trees to decorate!

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After some searching around, we decided to use the Paula Deen recipe for “Gingerbread Boys and Girls” cookies and icing. Only one stick of butter in the whole thing, shocker! 😉

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The cookies came out great — not too sweet and ready for icing 🙂

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We even used icing piping bags, which turned out to be messier than expected because our icing was a little runny 😉

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Does anyone else love red hots like I do??

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I brought these two home for Matt 😉 I know, sickeningly cute. I’m sorry. 

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While the cookies were baking and being frosted, we also got to work decorating the tree!

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Yay. Just gets you in the spirit, doesn’t it?

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Best night ever 🙂

Time to get down to some serious work — I have 3 final exams next week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) and one last biostats homework assignment to finish up, too. Better get crackin’!

Have a happy Friday!

Meat Bake Christmas
- anne
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30 comments
  • Sarah @ See Sarah Graduate
    December 3, 2010 · 11:09AM:
    Omg, that looks like so much fun! My friends and I will be celebrating our Christmas tomorrow night and I can't wait! :) I loooooove the holidays!
    Reply
  • Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun
    December 3, 2010 · 11:12AM:
    What fun! I love nights with the girls. It's been too long since I have had one.
    Reply
  • Marci
    December 3, 2010 · 11:17AM:
    That looks like such a fun night and the dinner looks delish. I made gingerbread man cookies with Royal Icing. The icing was 3 ingredients, ready in seconds, and not runny at all. Instructions here: http://www.marcigilbert.com/2010/12/02/gingered-out/
    Reply
  • Kelly
    December 3, 2010 · 11:20AM:
    Looks like a fun night and reminds me why I love the holidays. And I agree with you, her place is so cute and well coordinated. I love the paint colors.
    Reply
  • Amanda (Eating Up)
    December 3, 2010 · 11:20AM:
    What a fun night! I need to get cracking on my exams too. So close to be done, and it will feel so good!
    Reply
  • Estela @ Weekly Bite
    December 3, 2010 · 11:21AM:
    Everyone looks like they're having a great time! Love the decor of 'The Clubhouse' ;)
    Reply
  • Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
    December 3, 2010 · 11:21AM:
    That sounds like such a fun night. I love her house. The room looks so warm and cozy. That's exactly what a house should look like for Christmas, I think.
    Reply
  • Katy (The Singing Runner)
    December 3, 2010 · 11:41AM:
    Looks like a fun evening! The cookies look too cute! And I need to get that shirt! It is too true! :)
    Reply
  • Lauren
    December 3, 2010 · 11:52AM:
    What a fantastic night. These girl nights are priceless and how lucky you are to have such a great group of friends.
    Reply
  • Megan (The Runner's Kitchen)
    December 3, 2010 · 11:59AM:
    What a fun night! The pork tenderloin with chutney looks amazing :)
    Reply
  • Healthy Chocoholic
    December 3, 2010 · 12:08PM:
    Looks like ya'll had fuuun!!!!!! Paula Deen throws a stick of butter in everything she makes, so I'm guessing the cookies were yummy! =D
    Reply
  • Brenna
    December 3, 2010 · 12:17PM:
    you guys are so cute! looks like fun, and a good way to get in the holiday spirit! have a great weekend! good luck studying
    Reply
  • Clare @ Fitting It All In
    December 3, 2010 · 12:23PM:
    Sounds like the most perfect night ever!! Maybe I can convince my family to do a fun cookie making and tree decorating party like that....
    Reply
  • Sassy Molassy
    December 3, 2010 · 12:40PM:
    Great pics! It looks like you ladies had such a fun time. Gingerbread men are on my list of holiday 'must dos' this weekend! Yum. I'm a big fan of red hots on gingerbread cookies.
    Reply
  • Lauren
    December 3, 2010 · 1:43PM:
    So fun! I keep begging my boyfriend and his roomies to get a christmas tree for their apartment, but they say it's pointless because they'll be going home for break in 2 weeks. I should just surprise them with one cause they lack holiday cheer!
    Reply
  • Paige @ RAN
    December 3, 2010 · 1:48PM:
    How freakin' cute is Elle's house!? Adorable. What a great group of friends!
    Reply
  • Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine
    December 3, 2010 · 1:48PM:
    This sounds like such an amazingly fun girls' night. Puts me in the holiday spirit!!! I feel like girls' nights are so underrated as adults- but there's nothing better than gossiping with your girlfriends in your PJ's!
    Reply
  • Kris S December 3, 2010 · 2:11PM:
    Sometimes it is so strange for me to read your blog, Annifer. Your life is so... GIRLY! And so different from mine! It is always refreshing and hilarious :)
    Reply
    • Anne P
      December 3, 2010 · 2:12PM:
      Lol, you love it. Miss you!!!!! :) p.s. Don't worry, today has involved sitting around studying all day, booooooo!
      Reply
  • jen
    December 3, 2010 · 2:29PM:
    That does look like the funnest night ever!!! Love everything about it :) Jen
    Reply
  • Elle December 3, 2010 · 3:34PM:
    We are so fun I can hardly stand it. Beautiful post!
    Reply
  • Erika @ FoodFitnessFun
    December 3, 2010 · 4:19PM:
    Looks like a great time! That tree is HUGE! :-P
    Reply
  • Renie December 3, 2010 · 4:34PM:
    What a wonderful post. I love Christmas, it makes me feel so warm and cozy.
    Reply
  • Renie December 3, 2010 · 4:55PM:
    And cuddly too
    Reply
  • Cynthia
    December 3, 2010 · 7:22PM:
    Love those gingerbread men. You have really gotten me in a mood to bake them. My husband and I are going to get a Christmas tree this weekend. I can't wait!
    Reply
  • DHP December 4, 2010 · 2:28AM:
    Great fun, clearly! Thx for sharing -- and best of luck next week! Well done -
    Reply
  • Natalia - a side of simple
    December 4, 2010 · 4:09PM:
    This looks like a blast! My girl friends and I are getting together soon for secret santa and some Christmas festivities, too, and this post has got me even more excited :)
    Reply
  • CaSaundra
    December 5, 2010 · 9:14AM:
    Aww love this post--nothing better than spending time doing fun holiday things with the friends you love most :-)
    Reply
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anne mauney fannetastic food
Hi, I’m Anne! I'm a Washington D.C. based Registered Dietitian, mother, runner, and lover of travel, adventure, and the great outdoors. I've been blogging since 2009, sharing a mix of lifestyle content, recipes, and fitness tips. Come for the recipes – stay for the fun!
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anne mauney

I’m Anne, a Registered Dietitian and mother. I've been blogging since 2009 and love showing others that eating nutritious foods and staying active can actually be fun rather than overwhelming!

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