Finding Our Way On The Holidays.

My husband loves the holidays.  When I met him, I was at a point in my life where the holidays were just ehhh.  I mainly did 'em for the kids.  He made me fall in love with Valentine's Day, Halloween and Christmas.  With a deep love for these special days, we don't have traditions.  Sometimes we celebrate Valentine's Day the day before or the day after and we're okay with that.  We never have a set plan for Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas either.  We have ideas in mind but thats about it.  Its not that we're spontaneous because we are both planners by nature but I think its because our families are in Texas and we just leave it up in the air and try new things.  We're still finding our way.

This Christmas we'll be doing it "A Christmas Story" style.  Lunch at our favorite Japanese restaurant.  No duck.  No turkey.  No roast.  I'm excited about it.  We're thinking about venturing up to LA.  One of the best things about living in Southern California is that we cater to tourists.  Disneyland is open.  Area hotels have restaurants that are open.  Chinatown is open.  The Lakers always play on Christmas so LA Live is bound to be open. (I tried to confirm via Twitter but haven't heard back)  And of course movie theaters are open on Christmas.

I won't be taking a break from blogging and social media, I admire those of you that are... I like being connected and so do my husband and the kids.  I have to admit, it is pretty liberating to be non-traditional.  We're cool like that.

Are you traditional or non-traditional?  What are your plans for Christmas?

Breaking tradition in 2009 with our bacon wrapped turkey.

Restaurants that are open on Christmas Day:
Canter's Deli on Fairfax in LA
Keno's on La Palma in Anaheim
All Downtown Disney Dining
El Torito, Marie Callender's, Shakey's, Del Taco, Sizzler, McDonald's - Please call ahead to make sure your location is open.

Catal Restaurant - Downtown Disney Anaheim #CatalDTD

I was thrilled when I got the invite from GigaSavvy to attend a Pre-Holiday event at Catal Restaurant in Downtown Disney.  I've passed Catal many times over the years but haven't had the pleasure of checking it out till last week.  Just as I suspected, I have been missing out all this time!

I invited one of my best friends, Noemy, to come with me because a girls' night out was in order and she wants to start blogging so I figured if she can hang with a bunch of bloggers / social media people... she's automatically in.  We were greeted at the door with blueberry mojitos and sangria.  There were cheeses, crackers, dried fruit and servers walking around with tapas.  And there was Albert, the very accommodating gentleman that was there every time we needed something.  From checking in my coat, schooling us on Sofia Coppola wine, getting us more drinks, to finding a table for us.  It wasn't until later that we found out Albert is Catal's General Manager.  The staff, food and ambiance at Catal is superior.  It's no wonder that Catal is voted one of the top three dining options in Anaheim Downtown Disney District.  The fine dining oasis offers a relaxed, elegant setting with floor-to-ceiling windows and patio terraces offering spectacular views of Downtown Disney from it’s second-story location.  If you make it out now till the end of the year, you will be able to experience Disneyland’s “Believe...In Holiday Magic” Fireworks Spectacular show. 

THANK YOU GigaSavvy, Catal Restaurant and Patina Group!  
It was great seeing old friends and making new ones!  Noemy & I had a great time!  I'll definitely be back with my family!

Hello there, blueberry mojito.

The first piping hot, super ginormous pan of Paella!  Look at everyone rush in to take pictures! Oh those bloggers!

The Paella was SO DELICIOUS and so was the Air Bread with Manchego cheese and shaved serrano ham!  Flavors danced in my mouth!

After 5 minutes of staring and another 5 minutes of being convinced by Noemy... I finally ate this beautiful Tuna Tartare Taco.  It was so good.  I wanted more!

I had the pleasure of spending a few days with these lovely ladies in New Orleans for The Niche Mommy Conference and love seeing them!  Sandra of mamanoticias.com and Eva of techfoodlife.com

Noemy and I decided to ditch the mojitos and got into the Sangria.  YUM!

There's my BFF Noemy!

Tee of thatsitmommy.com brought me a Wonka truffle from Sweet! at Hollywood & Highland.   Love ya Tee!


Get Social with Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar:  @CatalUvaBar on Twitter / Catal Uva Bar on Facebook

Disclosure:  This is not a sponsored post.  All thoughts are my own.