Author: Bridgette Mathews

Been wondering what all the fuss is about over Joe’s atomic buffalo turds?  I’ve been hesitant to try them cause I’m a baby about spicy things, but Neil and I decided to give them a try on our Traeger smoker yesterday and they were THE…BOMB!  Tons of flavor with just enough kick and super carb friendly.  Thanks Joe! Here’s the recipe...enjoy!

 

Walking down on the footbridge last night and came upon the Natti Family celebrating their daughters wedding.  It was a chilly night but lots of people were out for a crisp walk with kids and dogs in tow!   I love when this bridge is lit up and took advantage of the early light to grab some shots.   Hope everyone gets to enjoy one more day off today, I know I will be!!

Every New Year we think about what we are going to do less of…drink less, eat less, be less lazy.   This year I’m all about MORE!   I’m ready for MORE positivity, MORE adventures, MORE sunrises and sunsets, MORE laughter, MORE fun, MORE patience, MORE gratitude and just living life MORE.  So my wish to everyone for 2017 is MORE!   

Yesterday I looked outside my office window and there was a snow squall….5 minutes later it was blue skies again!  Gotta love New England weather!

Taken at 2:04 pm

Taken at 2:09 pm

Nothing says “it’s time to rip off the holiday feedbag” like the market stocking 6 packs of lettuce!    Let the post-holiday lettuce and water diet begin!

I love “visiting” the snow up in NH and I’m hoping we are going to be spared with just a dusting of this white stuff tomorrow!   But I’ll have the shovel ready just in case!

I have to give this guy (or gal) the 2016 Christmas Spirit award!  I’ve seen this truck driving around town and everytime I see it, it makes me smile.   I can’t even keep all my lights lit at my house and he’s got them all going right down to the toys under the tree!   Well done!

I’m sure you are all tired of looking at The Mathews’ Family through the years so here it is 2016…the last Christmas Card I will torture you with!  Happiest of Holidays to all!!

In case you missed any in the past week…

Here is where all the Christmas Card silliness started.  Typical older sisters taunting the younger one (but don’t worry….she got them back in a card that I’m not allowed to share lol!!).  

Today’s card is from just last year and was probably one of the easiest ones we’ve done…everyone brought up a favorite “selfie” on their phones, slapped them down on the table with a string of mini snowflake lights and boom!  Done!   Wish they were all this easy!   Only a few more days left before Santa comes!

2014’s Christmas Card all the girls made their own Gingerbread houses and it’s fun to see that each house truly reflects their personality!  

I had to dig out the “albums” for this one because it was taken with a good old fashioned film camera! There’s many Christmas cards that the kids won’t let me share with the FOBs but this one was one of the early years when they collaborated and came up with this idea.  Lindsey was headed to college with all her stuff…Abbey was getting her license and Mel was hanging off the back reluctant to be left behind!  Hoping everyone is taking time out to enjoy their own flashbacks of some great holidays of

Todays card is from 2012.  We are all trapped in a snow globe today!

This Mathews Family Christmas card was from 2011 when the Greasypole fell down…our dog Gracey almost got the flag lol!

Previous cards in case you missed them…

Today’s Christmas card throwback is one of my favorites from 2008 (i think?) and it was a Caricature I had done of all of us.   I have this hanging as a print in my house too!    I’d love to share some of our FOB’s crazy Christmas cards so email them to me at shutterbythesea@comcast.net!

If you missed yesterday’s….click here!

My favorite part of Christmas has to be Christmas Cards!  I know people are getting away from it because of the expense and the digital age, but I still enjoy receiving and sending them.   It’s fun seeing the kids grow up each year in their Christmas outfits, but my kind of Christmas card is usually a silly one.   Once my girls got to be early teens it became such a chore to get them together for a “nice” Christmas photo.   One year I suggested the older two tie their sister up in lights, and they were more than happy to oblige…and so began “The Mathews Family” crazy Christmas cards.   Every year I say this is the last one, but the kids still grudgingly amuse their mother by participating each year.   I’ve even got my future son-in-law to join in!    I’ll pick a few over the next few days to share with you in hopes that we might stir some future creativity in your families!

This one was from 2009 and my first attempt at Photoshop layers.   It was about 6 different photos and every time we moved we put a post it on the spot so we wouldn’t duplicate positions!

The second weekend, every December we make the Cuccidatti (fig cookies).   We would watch my Grandmother Beatrice (Sinagra) Frontiero make them with no real measuring but they would always come out the same…delicious!   These cookies are and will always be a flavor and smell that I’ve associated with Christmas time at Grandma’s house.   My Mom and I still do it the same way as my Grandma used to, using hand ground fig, citrus, walnuts and honey and now my daughters are part of the tradition.   We could change the recipe, we could use store bought fig, change the shape, or add choc chips like some families do, but it just wouldn’t be our family cookie recipe if we did.   Every family has their own cookie that brings them back to everything they remember as a child and this is it for me!   So almost 600 cookies later…they are done!

 

My daughter Abbey is an Italian teacher at Winchester High School and has lived in Sienna and Florence as part of her studies, so she has been excited to visit the new EATALY in Boston that opened recently.   If you are a foodie, a cook, and love all things italian make sure you stop in next time you are in the area.   It was smaller than I anticipated (I thought it was going to be multiple floors) but there is a whole lot of yumminess packed in there!    My favorite part is that you can grab an Aperol Spritz or glass of wine from the center “Piazza” area and walk around with it while you shop and explore!

If you want to sit down to eat, you first should get in line and put your name in.   That way they will text you when your table is ready (our wait was about 1/2 hr…but later it was an hour) and you can shop around until then.   We ate at La Pizza~La Pasta.   We shares a fresh made Mozzarella board with roasted tomatoes and prosciutto…it was delish!  I had the Pasta al Forno (lasagna bolognese) with fresh made pasta.   The pizza looked really good too!   You can also grab and go some pizza, gelato, crepes, coffee/espresso and pastries or find a seat in the middle “Piazza” food court and grab some fresh oysters, salumi platter or panini’s.

We were so excited to eat, we forgot to take a picture of our food, but here is the aftermath lol!

 

I’ve had some requests for some prints for sale, so if you are looking for a little special gift of local scenes this Christmas, these 4 canvas’ are available.   They are 16×20 and are $175.00 each (contact me at shutterbythesea@comcast.net).   Or you can visit my website www.shutterbythesea.com and order in any size/media you would like.   Cape Ann Giclee does all the printing (and shipping if needed!) and they always do a fabulous job!  

I love finding fun things to bring and share during the holidays and so I’m sharing my latest find.  Prosecco Jello Shots.  These were a hit at Sista Felicia’s annual Boxwood Tree party last night!

Here is the link to the recipe which is easier than it sounds.   I found that 1 recipe makes about 25-30 2 oz flutes.   I purchased the plastic flutes at Party City and served them with some long small plastic spoons.   (See pics below)