new years weekending ...

well, it was definitely a different vibe from our christmas weekending ...

and a complete 180 from last year's new year, too, for that matter ...

in short, it was a lazy lazy stay-at-home new year's weekend for us ...

you may remember that we are fortunate enough

to have an every-other-year bonus arrangement

of traveling to Aruba for the New Year ...

to join my mother and her husband

at his time-share condo on the beach ...

but this year it was his children's/grandchildren's turn to join them ...

so we enjoyed a staycation this time around ...

and, honestly, it was heaven-sent ...

chillaxing and recharging were high ...

and productivity was low ...

unless, of course, you're a certain little ladybug ...

er, I mean, Cake Boss Junior ...

this little ladybug took her christmas gifts and hit the ground running ...

she followed Buddy's recipe and instructions to a T ... and it was absolutely fabulous!

way to go, sweet ladybug :)

for the record, her wish to "let it snow" did not come true ...

in fact, there were days that hit the 50 degree mark ...

not that this particular Floridian is complaining or anything ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!