Baby, it's [almost] cold outside!

Hello Fellow Holiday Enthusiasts!

As I sit at my desk at 1:06 AM, I begin to drift back to fond memories of the Christmas season when I would awake at this hour, wanting to run downstairs and open presents. Well, I would not awake at exactly 1:06 but you get the idea. As a child, I would start to celebrate the holidays beginning just after my birthday...in July. It was perfect! Right after Christmas, I would look forward to my birthday for the next six months, and then the six after that: Christmas.

Often called one of the most generous, wonderful, and spirit filled seasons, the holidays always brought a sense of warmth and joy into my household. This being my first post, I suppose I should explain the title of this writing project. Christmas Lasagna. Simple, yet complex. You see kids, back in the day (just last year in fact) I realized something all too interesting about the family on my Dad's side. Whereas most families chow down on Christmas turkey, or Christmas ham, or perhaps even a "roast beast," my family wolfs down one giant lasagna, complete with garlic bread. You would assume Italian heritage, am I right? Alas, we are not. I guess we're just weird. THAT'S THE FUN OF IT! Christmas, and indeed all of the holidays at the end of the year, are dedicated to being with family and of course, eating your weight in pies, cookies, tarts, biscuits, hams, and many other deliciously fattening holiday treats. 

Anyway, as I sat thinking of these fond memories and listening to all of the holiday music on my iPod (...again) I decided that I could not be the only one that shares this excitement and enjoyment of the anticipation of the holiday season, and the holiday itself. Thus, Christmas Lasagna was born.

As we creep closer and closer to the end of the year, I hope you will join me on a magical journey appreciating the twelve "pains" of Christmas: the shopping for and wrapping of billions of presents for friends and family, the rigging of the lights, the preparations for Christmas dinner and the outrageous in-laws (although I don't have to deal with those yet). Instead of dwelling on all that we have to do this holiday season, and the stress that awaits us all, let's take a minute and appreciate the crazed commercialism that does indeed bring us all together on December 25th.

Until a later date,
Lasagna Claus (get it?)

And remember boys and girls: 139 Days Until Christmas.

Merry August 8th, everyone!