Christmas Time in the City

Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  Normally, our house looks like the North Pole.  Since we are going to be away so much this year, we just had to rely on the beautiful decorations around town!



While doing some Christmas shopping in Old St. Charles, we were treated to this group of boys.  They were marching up and down the cobble stoned streets, playing Christmas carols on their instruments.  It was very fitting for the charming city that is very proud of their American history.

We ran in Wal-Mart one evening to grab a few things, and saw the Coke truck parked out front.  The entire truck was covered in LED lights!

It was really pretty!

The Santa station inside Wal-Mart.  We saw Santa later, but didn't

take a picture.

The big tree in the center of the Galleria Mall.

The large Christmas display is set up over an area that is home to several fountains and an indoor pond.  They set up risers in the water with the displays and Santa on top.

I love the velvet ribbon that they use on the tree.

Even the little waiting bridge and Santa's chair are set up over water.  It's really quite pretty.

We have also visited a few of the city parks in the area to see their displays as well.  Alas, it won't really be Christmas until I see the ceramic tree out at my parents house!

A Thanksgiving Full of Firsts

This year, Tony and I celebrated Thanksgiving with just the two of us for the first time ever.

Tony and I began by shopping at the farmers market for all of our yummy Thanksgiving Day food.  This home made us both think of home.  The meats were all neatly displayed in bags on a table beneath the sign.

Tony's plate

My plate.

This was also Tony's first time cooking a turkey and it was delicious!  He made it with some sort of sage butter compound that was quite tasty.

It was also our first time to see snow on Thanksgiving Day!  This was taken right when it started, but a little did end up sticking as it continued throughout the afternoon.

Sugar enjoying the snow from his perch in the window.

Jilly's Cupcake Bar

A bar that only serves cupcakes?  Yes, please!  Tony and I recently visited the University City neighborhood of St. Louis to check out this gourmet cupcake shop called Jilly's Cupcake Bar.

The decor inside the shop is adorable.

Yummy!  Each day, they have 10 daily selections.  You can special order from their menu in advance if you'd like a specific type.

I'll give you three guesses as to which one Tony picked.  Of course he picked this one!  It has bacon on top!

I went the more traditional route and ordered something with chocolate, nuts, and caramel.