A Holiday Party 2016

December 16th, a Friday, was the mister's annual office Christmas party held in Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland. It's about 45 minutes to an hour drive from our home. We wanted to leave right after picking the boy up from school around 2:45 p.m. We didn't want to get caught in traffic.

Unfortunately, just as I was about to turn to an avenue going towards our home from the boy's school, there was a collision. Everybody involved was fine though. Thank God.

And it happened when you're really in a hurry! *sigh. Sat in traffic for awhile. Tik. Tak. Tik. Tak. Tik. Tak.



We arrived at the hotel about 4:30ish. Oh! Did I tell you that overnight accomodation was paid for by the company. (((Thanks CPI!)))

We got a room on the first floor, and our window view was the parking lot.



Loved the reading light by the bed. I think we need a pair in our room since I love to read or answer puzzles before I sleep at night.



Cocktails started at 6:00 p.m. When we entered the hall, I was so happy to see faces I only get to see twice a year.

I think  the mister got me a Cosmopolitan. Hors d'oeuvre were scallops wrapped in bacon, cream cheese filled phyllo dough, shrimp cocktail, and I forgot the other one. It was a bite size crispy roll filled with meat. Not sure if it was tuna or pork. What I was sure of though was that I didn't like it. It was sour. No wonder I forgot what it was called. However, I loved the cream cheese filled phyllo dough. It was absolutely love at first bite. Then second, third, fourth, fifth. I think I had six. Or was it more? Rey, one of the mister's colleague kept on calling the server who served that hors d'oeuvre for me. It seemed like he knew people there, or maybe because his wife used to work in that hotel.
(((Rey, salamat!)))

Dinner started at 7.



It started with bread and butter, then a serving of salad with nuts and cheese. The salad dressing was delicious.



Jay had chicken and a side of broccolini.



Guess what was mine?

Hehehe. It's vegetable lasagna, served with some potatoes and broccolini too. In our table, most of them had steak. A few had salmon. I was the only one who had the vegetable. *Pats in the back.



This was dessert. I didn't not know what kind of cake it was, but the filling tasted like caramel. And guess what?



It was the first time that I have tasted the sweetest raspberry ever. Sadly, the plate came with just one piece.

After dinner was the awarding of a few loyal employees. The big boss and some employees who were December celebrants blew their candles on two birthday cakes. I did not have a slice of those cakes. The cake  I had for dessert was enough for me with my coffee.

Then, there was dancing. As always.



Some left early. Jay and I left the venue before the last dance ended. He was already in pain that night. (More about it here.)



Our OOTN (Outfits of the Night)
Mine:
1950s beaded fully-lined rabbit's wool black cardigan made in Japan - thrifted
Suede black shoes - Nine West
gold handbag - from my mother that she wanted me to sell in my shop but I kept it
Chunky pearl jewelry set - bought at a small pearl shop in Davao City
charcoal gray midi pleated dress - Julian Taylor

The Mister:
brown leather double strap monk shoes - Giorgio Brutini
silk tie - vintage Christian Dior from June22
white shirt - Thompson Shirtings by J.Crew
gray suit - J.Crew

Then the following day, everything outside was covered in ice. Because we were roomed at the first floor, we saw people walked like penguins. A few people slipped too.

Jay had to break the quarter inch thick ice to get in the car.



I turned the engine on. Then, I turned the heater on to the highest setting to melt the ice from the inside.

#iceicebaby

A video posted by Hi! I'm Lili. (@missnalupa) on Dec 17, 2016 at 8:48am PST

We checked out early because we had to stop by at the young lady's place to drop her her coat. She wanted a thicker one.

Once again, thank you CPI. We had a swell time.