THIS AND THAT AND AN INVITATION TO THE WHITE HOUSE
Hi folks,
So today I thought I’d offer up a little of this and that, just some various and sundry stuff happening in my life after orange county, oh and ya…an invitation to THE WHITE HOUSE! Well sort of…
But first off:
News Flash…
I’m proud to announce that last Friday I made the FamousDC Famous Friday Roundup…
or, I should say, my Famous French Sandwich did.
They’re talking about my recipe for a “cheesy puff pastry appetizer” that I’m also very proud to say has taken Pinterest by storm.
- One pin has 2,650 Pins, 191 ♥ and 4 comments.
- The other has 1,860 Pins, 137 ♥ and 5 comments.
So the question is, have you made my Famous French Sandwich yet? Get the delicious recipe by clicking here.
My French sandwich is a little thinner and much cheaper (26 Euros a kilo) than the ones I saw in Paris last week.
And on another note since we are talking about French things…
One of my favorite blogs is called My French Country Home. It’s written by lovely Sharon Santoni who grew up in England, married a Frenchman and has raised her family in Normandy, France. Her blog is read daily by thousands all over the world. She writes about life in rural France; the ups and downs of family life; the intricacies of village life; and her love of searching for brocante treasure in the flea markets of Paris and the Normandy countryside. She also writes about her inspiring French girlfriends and has now written a book about them. Sharon lives what looks to be the most idyllic life and so do her 20 beautiful, creative, French girlfriends. Because Sharon Santoni has been such a great inspiration to me, (SPOILER ALERT BFF’S) this Christmas I am sharing her book, My Stylish French Girlfriends, with my closest girlfriends.
It is a book about “Women who live with passion; work every day; and love to take care of their homes and families. Visit them in their grand chateaux or charming little country cottages or Parisian apartments. Learn where they shop, where they work, where they play, how they dress, and how they entertain. Absorb each girlfriend’s style and joie de vivre. Santoni’s affectionate writing, along with gorgeous photography, tells each woman’s story with an intimacy usually reserved for the closest of girlfriends.”
Watch this video and you’ll see exactly what I mean…
You can order Sharon’s book for your best girlfriends too by clicking here.
Oh, and on another note…
Two years ago around this time I wrote a blog post about A White House Christmas. I told you how for the past 24 years I have been buying the White House Historical Society’s White House Ornament.
I give them as gifts to all of my friends and family, and I keep one for myself to include on my “White House Ornaments Only” Christmas tree.
Well this year, low and behold, my DC dwelling son Nathan sends me this photo announcing he has been invited to the White House Historical Society’s Christmas Party. The invitation came in a box chock full of goodies including this year’s ornament.
Naturally he attended and got to meet the former White House Pastry Chef, Roland Mesnier, and HGTV host, Genevieve Gorder no less! So, how do I rate after buying literally hundreds of White House Ornaments for the past 27 years? Well I can tell you, no invitation was in my mailbox! I guess they didn’t get the FamousDC Memo that your’s truly is Famous, well in DC anyway.
Chef Mesnier has just written a book called “The White House in Gingerbread: Memories and Recipes”. In this memoir and cookbook, Roland Mesnier, executive pastry chef to five presidents, tells the story behind each of the holiday gingerbread houses he created for display in the White House State Dining Room. Chef Mesnier also provides step-by-step instructions and templates for constructing and decorating a gingerbread house in the home kitchen.
The White House Gingerbread House
You can get his book by clicking here.
And here’s the official 2015 White House Historical Association ornament. It’s the 35th annual edition, as they have been producing them since 1981. You can get one for yourself by clicking here.
HGTV star Genevieve Gorder helped unveil the 2015 White House Christmas Ornament at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. This 2015 ornament celebrates the presidency of Calvin Coolidge and the first lighting of the National Christmas Tree in 1923.
Want to know more about the White House Historical Association Christmas Ornaments? Watch this video.
On a final note…
Here is an example of true Christmas joy. Christmas is so much brighter through the eyes of a child.
My Grandson helping to trim the tree
So there you have it: THIS AND THAT AND AN INVITATION TO THE WHITE HOUSE
Thanks for dropping in! Do please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!
- If you’d like to read After Orange County every time a new article is posted, please “Subscribe” to the blog using the Subscription Box above.
- If you enjoyed this post, please help me spread the word by sharing it on your Facebook Page. You can “Like” my Facebook Page here.
- If you enjoyed the photos, please “Pin Them” on your Pinterest page. You can follow my Pinterest Page here.
- Do you Tweet? Please follow my Twitter Page here.
- Follow my blog on BlogLovin.com
All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Unless otherwise credited, all photos are the original property of Celia Becker @ www.AfterOrangeCounty.com and may not be reproduced without specific permission. This post contains affiliate links which help me to keep this site running.
