A Merry Grinchmas Celebration.
As I sit by the fire late Christmas evening – basking in the warmth and glow of a wonderful Christmas holiday spent over the past week or so with many of those I love most, I feel so grateful. The house is quiet, except for the dishwasher running, the fire crackling, and a holiday movie playing in the background.
I’m feeling peaceful and content.
There is nothing like the excitement leading up to Christmas, and I loved hosting three dinner parties three days in a row (and that’s not counting one the weekend before). But there is also something very special too about the days that follow Christmas….
The calm afterglow… The snuggling in… The nesting… Looking at pictures… Smiling at the memories.
Movies, books, leftovers, jammies…
Today, I want to share a fun party we had this past Saturday, the eve of Christmas eve, with our McHendy family.
My bestie, Jill and I decided we wanted to surprise our families with a theme, so we created a McHendy Grinchmas Celebration.
complete with Roast Beast (Beef Tenderloin),
Grinch Greens (Sauteed Fresh Green Beans with garlic),
and Cindy Lou Who Salad (Crisp Greens, Tart Pomegranate Seeds, Crunchy Pecans, and Creamy Goat Cheese).
This feast was preceded by some fun appetizers earlier in the day, including Grinchy Green Deviled Eggs,
and a Tortilla Wrap Christmas Tree.
And it was followed by a tiered tray of Grinchmas Cookies,
and plenty of other sweet treats.
Each guest received a little favor bucket that included a green ornament with a tiny red heart and lime green and red candies,
as well as a Grinch beanie hat (which we all wore for a fun family photo – with the exception of hubby who wore a full furry Grinch onesie!)
The games planned took a different twist than intended, but ended up being just as fun!
There were sleigh rides and races,
and boxed games around the cleared dinner table.
adorned the powder room and office doors.
And as we ate and played and talked and laughed and cried, we celebrated being family in every true, authentic sense of the word. And we reminded ourselves that “Merry Christmas doesn’t come from the store. Maybe Christmas perhaps is a little bit more.”
Wow. That is so creative and looks to have been so much fun. Merry Christmas.
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Thanks! Hopefully we made some wonderful memories for our kids and grandies 🙂
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Beautiful, fun and memorable! 🙂
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thanks Jane! It really was fun. #makingmemories 🙂
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What a special family you all are. How blessed you are to have each other.
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We sure are! And so happy to have you and yours too!!! ❤
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Jodi, WOW….You guys are so creative. These dinner placing photos, décor and food presentations need to be in a top House Décor Magazine or be on the Chew or some other TV Program, They are so impressive !! You should forward them to one of those organizations….I am sure they would pick up on it and include hem in one of there magazines or shows! Luv Gary
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Thanks Gary! 🙂 Wouldn’t that be FUN!!
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Fun!
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Part of our family tradition is to ride around in our pj’s on Christmas Eve and look at Christmas lights and then watch the Grinch (cartoon version, of course!) This year we learned that little Cindy Lou Who was also the voice of Cinderella and Rocky the squirrel. “Who” knew!
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What a fun tradition! and great trivia fact too!
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how great – looks like it was a wonderful holiday, grinch and all )
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thanks beth – yes – we celebrated Grinch’s heart growing and embracing that Christmas means a little bit more!! ❤
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Oh what fun you must have had! What a super idea.
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We sure did! 🙂 ❤
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Wow! What an adorable Christmas Eve party! I imagine ya’ll had a lot of fun putting it all together! So wonderful!!! Happy to see you all had such a fabulous Christmas!
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So wonderful!!!
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Thanks!
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Such fun, such joy and delight and SUCH a good message as well. You are SO clever, Jodi and I am certain everyone just adored the occasion 🙂
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Jill and I had fun creating it and preparing for it. I love the message too. And we decided no presents this year – which was really nice – just for the babies 🙂 ❤ Hope you are doing well Fiona!
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All is calm all is bright 😌
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That sounds amazing!!! You put so much work into it and I bet everyone loved it and had fun!!
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Thanks AJ! We had fun preparing for it and surprising the gang 🙂
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I bet! I might have to steal that idea:)
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I hope you will. It is why I share!! 😉
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Amazing, I couldnt even imagine doing what you accomplished with this Christmas dinner! You are truly amazing! Wow, now you can relax and bask in the glow of a job well done, I love the day after Christmas. Enjoy, you have earned it!
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Aww! Thanks Margaret. My bestie Jill is my theme party partner in crime. She is the most creative of all – and together we have so much fun creating themes and making our kids crazy. LOL! We’ve been partnering together for almost 30 years – were homeroom moms together way back when, did craft shows together – so many wonderful shared memories.
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This is so awesome. I absolutely love the theme and this looks like it was a perfect holiday party for family. Happy Holidays Jodi 🙂
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We had so much creating it and surprising the gang! 🙂 Thanks Jess.
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How fun, Jodi!! 😃 You are soooo creative! 🎄🎁 I love the Grinch theme!
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We had a lot of fun with it. I never could have pulled it all off without my “partner in theme party crime” 🙂
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Oh your creativity has no limit!! Awesome job! Love it!!!
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My Jill did most of the really creative stuff! She amazes me! I mainly just did the dinner and table and favors. She did the decorations, games and appetizers! Together – we make a pretty great team! And it was wonderful to all be together! ❤
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So special!! ❤ ❤
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What a marvelous party, so creative, Jodi. I loved the theme, and the food looked delicious. Happy After Christmas! 🎄 Christine
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Thanks Christine! It was so fun. I hope you are having a nice holiday!
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“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than YOU!”- Dr. Seuss. I truly believe that Dr. Seuss knows you (and Jill)! I am totally “borrowing” this for next Christmas, have already put it into my notebook and will archive this post!! My oldest daughter is the biggest Grinch lover and will be in Grinch heaven. Thank-you (both)!!
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Oh hooray! Have fun with it! It is why I share. I’ve really grown to love Seuss!!
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This is so cute Jodi!! My son and I decided we want to change up our family Christmas party by having the guests adhere to a Christmas movie theme, and you have really got me thinking! Everything is too cute!! I know you had a ball!! We had to spend the day madly de Christmasing so we can head back to the coast for some peace and quiet, but first there is the Sugar Bowl, so no rest for the weary yet…I swear I am going to do nothing for a week come Jan 2!! I love all the props you and Jill made, so creative and fun fabulous!
Jenna
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un-Christmasing is such a drag, yet also refreshing. I’ll wait until after New Year. A Movie Theme each year is a great idea! Who knows what we will do next year – LOL! fun to plan for. How was the Sugar Bowl?
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You have no idea how happy this makes me!
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I’m so glad 🙂
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This looks like it was so much fun! The decorations are top notch, and anyone can see made with love.
WOW! I love the Grinch hats, and drawings, but all the food looks wonderful.
I LOVE that crazy falling over Grinch tree! LOVE IT!
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My friend Jill did the amazing decorations! I squealed when she arrived early to help set up! The tree(s) are my fave too! 🙂 I love the message.
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🙂
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Wow, over the top, fun and tasty too. Love the sleigh racers. But the hubby in a Grinch onesie just makes my day. Got to have so much love for the kids, family and the wife. Hugs to Hubby.
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My granddaughter and I are still having fun with the sleigh racers inside since there is not enough snow outside and the temperatures are super cold this week – single digits F. And hubby in the onesie through us all over the top. LOL! I had bought him it for a joke back on his birthday before we even thought about the theme – then when we were getting ready for the group photo, he disappeared for a few mins and came out in full Grinch. A good sport! Surprised us all.
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Ho ho ho, ha ha ha LOL, love it
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Merry Christmas! Your Christmas lools so yummy and fun. Hope you had an excellent time and good luck for the new year. Great blog. Keep up the good work. I write as well. I would love your feedback on my blog do check it out https://iamgayatriblog.wordpress.com
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Thank you Gayatri! What a lovely blog and young lady you are – Where is Agri? India? You have written 2 books already?
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Yes.. India is a country in South east india.. My work is featured in two books i am grateful to be a published author. Agra is a city in northern india.. It is the proud home of Taj mahal.. One of the seven wonders of the world. Where are you from! Would love to know about it
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Wow. Interesting! I am from the United States in a small town named Mars (like the planet!!) 😉 very close to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. It is a wonderful place to live.
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Jodi…I’m still smiling away… what a cute idea…thanks for sharing… sounds like you all had a grinchmas time!!
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Thanks Toni! So glad you enjoyed! Thanks for letting me know 🙂
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This warms my soul Jodi, so special and you are sooo creative!
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We had so much fun! Thanks lynn!
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It looks like fun fun fun
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Your themed parties look like SO MUCH FUN!! I am so happy for your fun-filled Christmas. Now relax, my dear! XOXO
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Thanks Kathryn! I did nothing yesterday! Lol. And not a whole lot today. 😉. Have the week off and am lucky enough to get my granddaughter for a few extra days to play with!!! 👍😉❤️
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YAY!
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I may have to borrow this idea for our next cookie day (2018). Great idea!
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I sure hope you do! It is why I share!
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You throw the most amazing parties! It all looks fabulous!
And I agree about the days between Christmas and New Year’s. They are special in their own right, with not quite so much to do. The down time is much appreciated, and allows us to enjoy the tree, the music and each other at a much slower pace.
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Yes!! The time leading up to it all is so exciting. And I’ve really come to appreciate the time after too! ☺️❤️
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