[New Year's Eve.]

This is late. Whatevs. I present to you New Year's Eve at la casa Milan.

I warned Mick that spending New Year's with me wasn't spending a hot night out on the town, but rather ringing it in with a night of my crazy family and a four hour card game and kids and Grandma Katies everywhere...and still he drove eight hours just to make my little day. A good egg, that lawyer man... By the end of the weekend, my sisters and Grandma were in love with him, Indiana Jones the dog was his best buddy, and he had a card move named after him {to "Mick", loosely translated: to consistently draw the worst possible cards, dooming one's team to failure}. Meanwhile, high on Diet Mountain Dew, I busily plotted my kidnapping of the adorable little man pictured at the bottom of this post... For now, must content myself with him and his picture perfect family being our adopted white relatives. Everyone should be so lucky.

The game {Hand and Foot}:

The kids, 15 yrs - 26 yrs {minus Ayrten-slash-Kelly, wayyy too cool to party with the family this year}:

The betrothed children, 3 yrs - 12 yrs {do you SEE that love in her eyes already?}:

The super hotties {the moms}:

The 10 deck shuffling {*someone* has graduated from Georgetown law but still can't quite shuffle properly...}:

The sneaky cheating {caught on camera, don't deny it}: 

The mocking Milan for not being able to count her own cards {it just takes me a second, okay?!}:

The real man of my night {no words...just...adorable}:

All in all, probably one of my favorite New Year's Eves ever. My people are the greatest. And any excuse to wear gold nail polish really will always take the cake. Happy 2012!

***

Also, while we're on the New Year's subject...enough people have asked, so I feel like I should clarify: my 2012 suggestions post was written to me, by me. Wasn't a letter from someone else, as some wondered. Relieved that I answered that burning question, aren't you...

[Back to December snapshots.]

Before I move on to the Christmas vacation photos and New Year's resolutions, a few snapshots from my December DC happenings:

row 1: Christmas tour of the White House // my baby turquoise tinsel Christmas tree

row 2: a Chic Coco Christmas party // A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theater with Chad

row 3: a Georgetown basketball game // my special new diet dew goblet, prezzie from the roomie

row 4: a stupid question // a good question

row 5: more Christmas at the White House // photo shoot before Tim's office party

row 6: an evening of tapas + flamenco dancing // happiness comes in kate spade boxes

[Poolside.]

Last week:

@ the St. Regis in Dana Point, CA.

Needless to say, not thrilled to be back in DC.

[From me to you.]

[The ugly sweater party.]

Last night we had 100 of our closest friends over for an intimate ugly sweater gathering with wassail, hot chocolate, and Domineau's amazeballs "Better Than [your favorite vice]" cake. I was kind of nervous slash excited to see what people would come up with for their ugly sweaters...what turned up was a delightful combination of awkward family photo/cat lady/normal sartorially challenged Mormon people sweaters. I couldn't have been more pleased, really.

Btw, these are my roomies--not sure I've ever shown us in all of our Seven Brides for Seven Brothers glory (props to the ex for that nickname...don't think the irony is lost on me), so presenting Rachel, Lynn, Melissa, Domineau, moi, Ginette, and Corinne for your viewing pleasure:

This Aaron fellow below took FULL advantage of the strategically placed mistletoe, which I definitely hung in about 15 different places throughout our main floor, plus over every roommate's bedroom door. I had hoped to get every guest a kiss from someone, but alas, the apple cider wasn't quite strong enough, I guess.

Is there anything more adorable than a grown man who bedazzles his own Christmas shirt with Santa penguins (below) all by his little self? I think not...I think not. Also, props to Dom for DIYing her pom pom Christmas tree shirt as well.

Basically everyone should have a giant red bow.

...and a southern boy to grant you Santa wishes.

[Two Tunes Tuesday: Last Christmas.]

Presenting two versions of my all time favorite Christmas song, Last Christmas, originally by Wham, but here by Florence and the Machine (an amazing, amazing rendition shared by Blake) and Jimmy Eat world for the emo 2000s kid in all of us. I've always sworn by the J.E.W. one, but this Florence cover may be my new favorite...you decide. I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye...

[I see the light(s).]

Favorite restaurant surprise. National Harbor. Drive. Country and carols. Navigation fail. Snowmen, dancing trees, and sneaky Santas. Cold nosies. Circles. Good ones.

I appreciate a boy who will drive me around for hours just to see Christmas lights.

[Independence Day.]

This is how we spent our Fourth of July, melting at Chad's Little League tournament. Mostly melting from the heat (high 80s + 45% humidity), but also melting at how CUTE "Coach Chad" was with his little players.

Meanwhile, super fans Kelsey and I alternated between cheering, giggling, whining, dozing, and eating. And you KNOW I waved that American flag the entire game.

::::

[This is where she gets mushy.]

This holiday was a particularly special day for me and Chad, because we met on the Fourth of July last year. We consider it an anniversary of sorts, because even though we didn't start dating "officially" until late October, we were inseparable from that day forward. If you had told me on July 4, 2010 that the random boy who kissed me within five seconds of being introduced on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial {true story} would soon become the most important person in my life, I would have called you crazy. And yet, here we are a year later, best friends and loves, completely wrapped up in our own little world together. I could go on and on, but I'll spare you (for now...), and simply say: I love him.

[Told you.]

Resolved in 2011.

Original resolution, "find an L.A. restaurant named after me," already accomplished.

Happy New Year!