Family | Pretty in the East

Hey Beauties!

Today I thought it would be fun to think ahead to Christmas morning for a bit. It is not that far away after all!

I started browsing some of my favorite food blogs and got super inspired by all of the delicious breakfast recipes I found! I decided that this Christmas, I am going to whip up something unique and amazing to start the day’s festivities!

Before opening presents, I always make a big breakfast for everyone to enjoy in the morning. It wakes everyone up, bring us together over a nice meal, and builds the excitement for gift giving that much more! My brother and I used to go over to my grandmother’s house for breakfast every Christmas morning, so once she moved out of state a few years ago, I decided to carry on the tradition myself!

I hope these recipes inspire you to create something special and yummy to enjoy with your family this holiday season! Weather it be on Christmas morning like my new tradition, or on any particular morning just because, there’s something special about starting the day off by sharing delicious food together with the ones you love!

Enjoy!

(titles and pictures are links to each recipe)

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[1]

Maple Bacon Breakfast Muffin

^From The Zoya Nail Polish Blog^

[2]

Mashed Potato, Cheddar and Chive Waffles

^From Joy The Baker’s Blog^

[3]

Mexican-Style Eggs in a Nest

^From the Taste and Tell Blog^

[4]

Overnight Pecan Praline Baked French Toast

^From The Recipe Critic’s Blog^

[5]

Onion and Ricotta Frittata

^From Joy The Baker’s Blog^

[6]

Bloody Marias

[ 1- Rosemary ] [ 2- Carrot ]

^Both From A Beautiful Mess Blog^

Rosemary Bloody Maria

Carrot Bloody Maria

[7]

Grits with Old Bay Frizzled Shallots and a Fried Egg

^From The Big Girls Small Kitchen Blog^

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I Am Drooling!

I will definitely be making at least one or two of these delicious sounding recipes for my annual Christmas morning breakfast! I usually go with a more traditional spread but this year I feel like changing it up!

Are you planning to try any of these recipes?

Do you have any Christmas morning or other Holiday traditions?

Let me know in the comments below!

Click the link above to check out this amazing weekly link up, created by some awesome ladies ,that I have been participating in lately. If you are a blogger yourself, I strongly suggest that you join us! It is simple yet so much fun and you will discover some new blogs to read in the meantime!

This weeks Sunday Social was more of a writing prompt instead of a set of questions in honor of thanksgiving.

What are you thankful for?

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Well first of all, I am thankful for my family. Especially my mother. She has helped me so much and I am beyond grateful for the advice and assistance she has so graciously lent to me over the years, especially the last 3, because I know not everyone has a mom as amazing and understanding as mine. She is always there for me no matter what but has still given me the tough love I have needed from time to time. I honestly don’t know where I would be without her. I realize now more than ever how much she had to go through when my brother and I were younger, as a newly single mom working full time, in order to provide everything we needed. I cherish our close relationship more and more every day. The picture below is from 2008 I think. The sun was completely in our eyes but I still love this picture.

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Speaking of family, I am also grateful that I was able to get to know, and spend so much quality time with, my great grandmother, my nonna (grandmother in Italian), before she passed away this past September. She was such an amazing woman. She was the matriarch of our family and the one who everyone looked up to and consulted with no matter what the matter was. She was incredibly beautiful- always smiling and radiant into her last days. She taught me so much about life and I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know her, ask her questions, and be there for her in her old age. I find solace in the fact that a piece of her will live on in each of my family members, collectively providing the amazing wisdom, strength, patience, compassion, and love our family has always sought through her. I took this picture of my nonna at my cousins baby shower last year. She was so happy that day!

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I am also so thankful for my boyfriend, Matt. He is such an amazing man and I can not imagine my life without him! He is such a hard worker, a caring and genuine person with the biggest heart, who I am lucky to call mine. He makes me laugh uncontrollably like a complete idiot at times, yet knows exactly how to console me when I cry. He has been there for me through thick and thin and I have no doubts in my mind that we were meant to find each other! He is such a great father to our puppy, Lola, and will be a great father to human babies one day as well 🙂 The picture below was from the 2012-2013 football season.

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Generally, I am thankful for every single thing I can call a blessing in my life right now.

For example:

Having at least the majority of one side of my family all in close proximity which makes for some pretty epic holiday gatherings.
The most amazing dog, Lola: a little fawn pug that melts my heart with all of her little quirks. She keeps trying to lay her head on my laptop as I write this making it a bit difficult!
A decent job that pays the bills that I don’t completely hate.
Enough money left over after paying my bills to enjoy the occasional Starbucks holiday drink! The new Chestnut Praline Latte is amazing but I also love the White Peppermint Mocha- Yum!
For the opportunity to look for a house to call a home in the coming months. We officially began our house hunt Saturday! I am so excited!
A car that is paid off and reliable enough that, with proper maintenance, should last me another several years.
The ability to cook a nice meal without burning the house down and actually enjoy doing so!
The fact that I have a vision of how I want my life to be and can recognize the changes I need to make in order to make that vision a reality one day.
This blog! I am so happy that I decided to create this space where I can share my passion and connect with others that love the same things! It is such a fun hobby! Like I have said before, I feel like I have found a piece to my puzzle that I didn’t know was missing! Thanks for reading. I appreciate each and every one of you!

Now, I want to know what YOU are thankful for this holiday season!

Click the link above to see next weeks questions! Join us if you’d like!