Hi everyone! Hope your Saturday night is going well…and that you’re not spending it in a car, like yours truly 
At least I have a puppy and some eye candy.
Christmas in Gatlinburg was lovely <3
We chilled on the deck for a little while, waiting for our little nephew to wake up and open presents with all of us.
After opening gifties (Santa was very good to me), and having bfast (a sludge), we hit up Gatlinburg to walk around and had Mexican food for lunch.
I chose the vegetarian burrito (sans tortilla) with black beans.
(Didn’t munch the rice… not a fan)
And had the most delicious soft and fluffy corn masa with it:
In a nutshell (corn husk?), Masa is tamale filling. So. stinking. good. Next mexi-meal we have at our casa, I’m totally making this for a side dish.
We walked around the little shops down the street:
Little buddies 
We also went to the AQUARIUM!
Fish faces!
The pilot held a crab thingamabob (yes, that’s the Latin name for the species)
(You hold them upside-down, so you can see the legs and pinchers)
I showed a piranha my chompers:
Let out our inner children (like it’s unusual)
And saw a LOT of really cool fish
(NEMO!)
When we got back to the casa, the fam finally got in on some S’more action
I used the healthier ingredients that were posted a couple of days ago, and it was pretty much face-rocking amazing
(Multiply that by two…ish)
Cap it off with some Bad Santa and The Christmas Story, and crashing out with my pilot. He got to spend the holidays in the states instead of in the desert, where he was last year. That was the best gift I could wish for
We’re about an hour from Valdosta, so everything should be back to (ab)normal around here then
Have a great night <3
xoxo,
Gina
Upcoming:
I’ll show ya a couple of my Christmas gifts tomorrow… one’s strictly for bloggy purposes. I hope you like it 
Any guesses? It’s something I’ve wanted since I was born. Haha, since last year, but you know what I mean
A musing on eating differently than your family members and why it’s totally ok to do your thang and own it
I’m curious to read about eating differently than family members…Christmas didn’t go over so well this year! Although, I am ok with changing my eating habits for a few days.
i’m so glad you had a wonderful time! im guessing a vitamix! =)
o my goodness gina! ignore my last guess, i was definetly not thinking, right now i am really overtired and not using my head i guess, haha, i guess i was thinking about how i have wanted one ever since i was born
have a great night!
hahah no worries
everyone needs a vitamix!
xoxo
You and the pilot are too cute. What fun at the aquarium!
Merry belated Christmas! I definitely noshed a huge salad both at Christmas Eve (the fam had duck and pan-fried fingerling potatoes, salad with bacon & cheese) and Christmas Day (they had prime rib with horseradish creme sauce, roasted red peppers, green beans with bacon…)… and lots of vino & champagne
and you know, for the first time (the strict diet thing has been going on for about 3 months now), there weren’t any comments of … “can’t you even have a bite of…” or “I wish you could have…” it was just awesome family time 
I would love to try corn masa! It looks so good. I hope you post a recipe. I have corn masa flour of something like it here? I wonder if that’s what is used??
The kiddos and I luve aquariums; we still haven’t been to the new one in SF this week. Too much to do. Glad yawl made it back to Valdizzy okay.
Bad Santa and Christmas Story, two of the best xmas movies of all time! Merry Christmas!
It looks like ya’ll had an awesome holiday! I’m so glad. That picture of the pilot with his little nephew is a “framer”….so cute!
you’re right, totally a framer
Sounds like a great time! Your nephew is SO cute. I looove aquariums. That corn masa looks so good. If you find a good recipe, please share
i’ll definitely share a recipe when i make it!
yes, little nephew is a future heartbreaker
I will be interested in seeing how it is for others when they eat different. I had to endure a lot of comments, and then they had me go pick up McDonalds the second day they were here. I don’t understand because they don’t eat McD’s at their house! The comments, although un-malicious, were aggravating and made me feel bad. I can’t even imagine what it would be like at my in-laws! Sorry, a small rant there..didn’t mean to go on…
uhhh! sorry to hear you had to go through that :/
love masa! I’m excited to see that post, since it’s hard for me to eat differently than my in-laws. They’re awesome, but it’s just me being weird about it. Looks like y’all had lots of fun at the aquarium!
I’ve been spending lots of time in the car as well. It’s not so bad when you have little doggie buddies with you.
My guess is that you got a new camera?!?
yeah, it makes it so much better
kinda
The aquarium trip looks so fun!!
Can’t wait to hear about your present, that sounds exciting. And I’m very interested to read your musings on eating differently than family members, such a relevant topic this time of year
Hmmmm…I loved this post! My fam is carnivorous and my boyfriend is vegan and I’m pesci (pescatarian:). My dad was initially very sad when I stopped eating meat a few years back and still worries that I don’t get enough protein….but when he sees how healthy I eat at family gatherings, I think he feels better.
My bf has been vegan for 11 years and his family finds it amusing!
I have been a vegetarian for 8 years, but this was my first Christmas being a vegan. My parents gave me and my husband a very hard time about it and deemed it ok to open it up for public discussion during dinner. so. awkward.
i’m groaning over here. for real?!
ahhh, i’m sorry :/
I too an excited about tomorrow post on eating differently from family members. I go away to school and I eat very healthy at school because I cook for myself. But when I come home my parents always complain about the food that I eat or get angry when I won’t eat something they cooked. I try to eat the healthier options but I refuse to eat anything fried. I really want to hear what you have to say. I wish my family was more supportive
Anyway…on to happier topics. I am glad you had a great time with your inlaws. And I am guessing you got a video camera??
Mmm, love the tamale filling!
Cute pictures!
Vitamix!
ahh eating differently than other family members this is something that I struggle with sometimes, can’t wait to hear what you have to say!!
love the pics, the aquarium looks so fun! love that astronaut pic
enjoy your sunday, girl
Oooh as many times as I’ve been to Gatlinburg I’ve never been to the aquarium. So glad you had fun.
glad you got to make those smores!