Starr Style: 2009

Hello everyone!!

I hope you are enjoying this holiday season 2009 as much as I am! Here at Starr Style it's all about Christmas!

This year, the weeks leading up to the big day were jammed packed with fun, family, friends and great joy as we welcomed our very own little Christmas baby, our granddaughter, Miss Gigi!!

A precious little angel.

A few days later, Adrien arrived back in Atlanta for his winter break from college and it really started to feel (and smell) a lot like Christmas!

Christmas Tree 101

A celebration was in order as Denis reached an awesome birthday milestone!

Happy Birthday, Denis!

During our 24+ years of marriage, we have traveled to Florida a number of times to join in the wild and wonderfully crazy French Canadian Christmas Celebration known as "Le Réveillon." This year, we would be hosting the family Christmas at our home for the first time!

Steeped in tradition, Christmas in Atlanta includes many of the festive activities I enjoyed while growing up in a home where both English and Norwegian influences were abound, especially during the winter holidays. Add to that, many typical American ways, and yes, even a few southern gems thrown in to flavor the pot. This year I incorporated a few French touches as well.

Beginning on December 1, I visited my holiday decor prop closets on a daily basis. Each time I open the doors I feel as though I am once again that little girl dressed in her red coat and patent leather shoes holding mum's hand and riding down the escalator at Macy's Herald Square captivated with the pure vision of everything sparkly and bright. There are many benefits to keeping a holiday prop closet. Organization, of course, but a peek inside anytime during the year provides a very therapeutic little lift!

So out they came one by one. Each Santa and Nutcracker, every sleigh and bell, numerous stars and yards of garland and hollyberrys. Candles galore still highly scented with pine and cranberry and Christmas! Glittery boxes saved just because when tucked behind a certain angel give off the perfect glow. And after many days of placing and replacing every doodad and knickknack, out comes the manger scene. A simple depiction of the simple birthplace of our Lord, Jesus, which was purchased at Woolworth's back in the day and has become my most highly treasured decoration of all.

This year there were a few new additions to our holiday decor.

A second tree graced our home this year. A live tree placed in the family room and decorated with all of the ornaments that we have collected from our travels over the years many of which came from our epic road trip this past fall.

And a little Norwegian Corner boasting holiday charm with a Scandinavian flair!

And from Great Auntie Gloria!

It was time for the festivities to begin...

Throughout the evening on the 23rd, our Florida family arrived. Always first on the agenda, a new cheek to cheek photo of Adrien with his Tante Helene!

We cheered to the holiday season with refreshing

Pomegranate Martinis!

On the menu that evening was a hearty roasted vegetable stew served with open-faced sandwiches. Typically, this Scandinavian holiday fare features fish pastes of sardine and herring served on dark bread, but my vegetarian version was both colorful and tasty. For the base of the open-faced sandwiches I used toasted rounds of French bread that were rubbed with garlic. The four toppings were varied; buttered with a slice of sharp cheddar topped with a bread & butter pickle slice, hummus with a dab of olive tapenade, goat cheese topped with red beet and mandarin orange, and tomato bruschetta.

Later that evening and early into the next morning, Monique and Adrien worked on this year's Gingerbread House. Check out their progress here:

Christmas Eve

Denis took charge of breakfast this morning serving up his delicious lattes and preparing the French Canadian favorite, Buckwheat Pancakes. Drizzled with pure maple syrup and filled with peas or apples, this hearty meal was enjoyed by all.

There was a flurry of activity all around the house today. Workouts in the workout room; gift wrapping in Santa's Workshop (aka the dance studio); Wii playing in the family room and an all day cooking fest in the kitchen. Somewhere in between all of that we managed to set the dining room table for a family dinner that evening at 5.

Our Christmas Eve Feast included:

English Cucumber Rounds with Pimento Cheese & Roasted Red Pepper

Vegetarian Cassoulet

Rice Pilaf

Spinach Salad with Pomegranate & Avocado tossed with Lemon Vinaigrette

Tante Helene's Famous Holiday Rum Cake!!

Shortly before dinner, Roopa arrived looking gorgeous in red.

Helene, Starr, Roopa

In fact, looking gorgeous in red was the order of that evening....

Helene, Pauline, Denis

Adrien

And a few minutes later, the much anticipated arrival of our family's new little Princess, Gigi!

Great Grandmaman!

After dinner, we headed out into the cold, December air to attend the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Peachtree Christian Church located at the Crossroads of Atlanta, the corner of Peachtree and Spring. Every year we come away from this beautiful service filled with Joy, Love & Peace. All of my favorite Christmas hymns are included in the program. The Christmas Meditation by Pastor Tom was "Make Room" based on Luke 2:1-7. Reverend & Mrs. Bell delivered their rendition of "O Holy Night" just as beautifully as they did when I first heard them sing it nearly 20 years ago. And then came the Service of Light and the singing of "Silent Night, Holy Night." I loved standing there this year with my loved ones near and while bathed in candlelight we sang...

"Silent night, holy night, Wondrous star, lend thy light; With the angels let us sing, Alleluia to our King; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born."

One more stop on our Christmas Eve sojourn. Over to the Rock Springs Church to view the Live Nativity. We made it brief because of the cold and there was a light rain falling, but it wouldn't be Christmas Eve without a visit to the Live Nativity. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Back at the house, we settled in for a lovely evening of pleasant conversation, light refreshments and sing-a-long fun!

Pauline & Monique

Terry, Adrien, Denis

New Guitar Strings!!

We all have our very own signature song that we enjoy sharing during our holiday sing-a-longs. This evening Denis stole the show with his performance of Mr. Grinch! Watch and listen here:

Throughout the evening, Santa's Elves were hard at work!

And then it was time to go to bed and wait for Santa!!

Christmas Day

The happy little family arrived mid-morning and now we were ready to start our Christmas Celebration!

Amanda, Philippe, Pauline, Gigi

Auntie MoMo gets her turn!!

Philippe steps in and gets the job done.

The Ginger Bread House that is!!

On the menu:

Christmas Morning Casserole

Waffles with Maple Syrup

Assorted Fruits

Cheese & Nuts
Christmas Stollen & Mincemeat Pies
Assorted Cookies

Then we moved into the Grand Christmas Salon where we spent many hours playing games and opening presents.

Champagne avec Chambord

Those gorgeous kids!!!

Voila!! It's Grandmaman!!

Terry & Helene

A cuddly Christmas couple!

Denis & Starr

A Christmas to remember...

You're so cute, I could just...

Kiss You!!

Presents Galore!

Baby Gigi to Adore!!

And adore some more!!

The boys playing the Wii...

The Mommy catching a Z....

And very blessed are we!!

Merry Christmas to All!!!

Boxing Day

"Family Portraits"

Four Generations.

That afternoon we all went to Atlantic Station and enjoyed seeing the movie, NINE. Thanks, Mikey!

That evening we had a delicious dinner at our favorite little bistro, Basils in Buckhead. Thanks again to Mikey, Terry and Pauline for a yummy meal and a surprise birthday dessert for Denis!

Back at home, we had a great evening trying to master our skills with some games on the Wii.

Sunday, December 27.

A Birthday Breakfast for Denis!

That afternoon we visited the happy little family at their lovely home. The new nursery was a big hit with everyone!

We bid a sweet farewell to Pauline, Helene, Terry and Monique as they left for the airport and their return flights to Miami. Thank you for sharing Christmas in Atlanta with us this year!!

As we looked forward to the beginning of a brand new year and all that it will bring, there was one last Christmas tradition that we had to experience. And this one is an Atlanta one through and through!!

A ride on the Pink Pig!!