See How Our Employees Spent Their Holidays!
I have more Bahamas vacation photos to show you, but I wanted to post one last blog of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia employee holiday photos. There was such an overwhelming response to my invitation and I feel so privileged that so many of our wonderful employees wished to send in their pictures and share with us how they celebrated Christmas and/or Hanukkah this year.
1 Stephanie Fitzhugh (left) - Promotion Director of TV - spent the holiday in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with her Aunt Nancy, Uncle Dale, Cousin Evan, and extended family and friends.
2 Stephanie Fitzhugh - Family home
3 Stephanie Fitzhugh - Aunt Nancy
4 Stephanie Fitzhugh - A lovely baked brie served with green apple slices
5 Stephanie Fitzhugh - The table setting included photos as place cards
6 Stephanie Fitzhugh - The dinner feast
7 Stephanie Fitzhugh - Sitting down to eat
8 Stephanie Fitzhugh - Dessert is served
9 Stephanie Fitzhugh - Buche de Noel with meringue mushrooms
10 Stephanie Fitzhugh - My dog Willie, eyeing a stocking
11 Irina Reznik - Network engineer - spent Christmas Eve at her best friend's house.
12 Irina Reznik - The elegant table setting matched the room decor nicely.
13 Irina Reznik - My hostess included this Star of David plate at my place setting to recognize my Jewish heritage on Christmas.
14 Cari Wolfert - Editor for MarthaStewartWeddings.com - Bar setup from my New Year's Eve Party
15 Cari Wolfert - New Year's Eve cupcakes
16 Molly Bloom - Copy editor - I went to Utah with my boyfriend. Here I am playing Ping-Pong during our layover at the Milwaukee Airport on December 24th.
17 Molly Bloom - And here I am doing the hiking pose while checking out the sunset on Christmas Day in Zion National Park.
18 Molly Bloom - My boyfriend, Jonathan, looking down into Jolley Gulch in Zion
19 Molly Bloom - At the start of a hike into Peek-A-Boo canyon in Bryce Canyon National Park - It was freezing that morning and I was wearing a bazillion layers.
20 Molly Bloom - Jonathan in Bryce Canyon - The trail was icy, but we had poles and crampons, proving that New Yorkers come prepared!
21 Molly Bloom - Sitting on a fallen tree in Bryce Canyon – This ain’t no cubicle!
22 Molly Bloom - Jonathan eating snow in Bryce Canyon - You can’t eat the snow in New York City. Well … you can, but you’d be asking for it, if you did.
23 Molly Bloom - Here I am hiking in virgin snow in Red Canyon, near Bryce. We didn’t see any other people during this hike, just animal tracks.
24 Molly Bloom - Here I am sitting at the end of our hike to lovely Lower Calf Creek Falls, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
25 Melinda Cooke - Retail Licensing - Setting the holiday table
26 Melinda Cooke - My eager helper
27 Melinda Cooke - The kids' table
28 Melinda Cooke - The kids celebrating Jesus's birthday
29 Nerissa Ritchie – Art Director, Merchandising - With my daughter Isla, husband Chris, Father and Mother-in-law Dave and Debbie, Sister and Brother-in-law Jill and Nick, and niece Maya.
30 Nerissa Ritchie - With my daughter, Isla and husband, Chris
31 Nerissa Ritchie - My daughter, Isla, coloring with her cousins, Luke and Maya
32 Nerissa Ritchie - Enjoying a delicious Christmas Eve dinner of pheasant prepared by Father-in-law, Dave
33 Nerissa Ritchie - My daughter, Isla and her cousin, Tyler enjoy their Christmas gifts
34 Megan Oiler - AVP design director - My fiancé made pierogies on Christmas Eve—a tradition in his Ukranian family.
35 Megan Oiler - Potato and cheese pierogies
36 Megan Oiler - My cousin always bakes brie and jam inside puff pastry. So sweet & savory.
37 Megan Oiler - My brother-in-law and cousin working on finishing touches
38 Megan Oiler - The table is ready for us all to sit down.
39 Megan Oiler - After dinner, we played games until the wee hours.
40 Anduin Havens - Supervising production designer - Christmas morning – My daughter, Harper, opening gifts
41 Anduin Havens - Christmas breakfast was reindeer pancakes
42 Anduin Havens - New Year’s Eve with my neighbor, Araina, and her family
43 Anduin Havens - Harper tried to stay awake on New Year's Eve, but fell sound asleep at 10:30.
44 Anduin Havens - New Year’s Eve dinner was a goose!
45 Anduin Havens - On New Year’s Day, I made a lovely goose stock. We also kept plenty of goose fat. Yum!
46 Katina Francis - Campaign manager - This was my gift wrapping this holiday. It's Martha Stewart wrapping paper!
47 Katina Francis - The ribbons and gift tags are also Martha Stewart, all purchased from our employee red tag sale.
48 Katina Francis - A close up of the gift tag
49 Daniel Boguszewski - Senior art director - Boguszewski Family tradition is a Polish Christmas supper called 'Wigilia,' celebrated on December 24 in New Jersey. All dishes are meatless.
50 Daniel Boguszewski - Traditional pierogi made with wild mushrooms and cabbage served with red borscht
51 Daniel Boguszewski - Cooked cabbage with wild mushrooms and beans
52 Daniel Boguszewski - Marinated Herring in oil
53 Daniel Boguszewski - Dry fruits soup
54 Daniel Boguszewski - 4-year-old Maya
55 Daniel Boguszewski - Maya waiting for Santa
56 Kathleen Kent - Copy chief - I took advantage of the time off to check out holiday windows and other sights around New York City. - A window at Bergdorf Goodman
57 Kathleen Kent - Another window at Bergdorf Goodman
58 Kathleen Kent - And another
59 Kathleen Kent - A new dog in the creche at Saint Patrick's Cathedral
60 Kathleen Kent - Window display at Uniqlo
61 Allison Catliota - Ad sales coordinator, Chicago - Here are a few great memories from my visit home to Washington D.C. with my family. Annapolis harbor with boats, Christmas lights, and the Naval Academy capital in the background.
62 Allison Catliota - A visit with my mom to the horse stables where she works on Kent Island, Maryland!
63 Allison Catliota - My version of your floating-cranberry Christmas bouquet
64 Allison Catliota - My mom and dad making homemade pasta for our Christmas Eve Tradition of 'Favorite Foods Meal'. Each family member chooses their favorite food from that year and we spend the day cooking the meal together.
65 Allison Catliota - This year our meal consisted of homemade ravioli, lobster tails, steak, chorizo sausage, baked clams, and chocolate silk pie.
66 Allison Catliota - My parents said the meal has greatly improved from when my brothers and I were little and wanted macaroni & cheese and Spaghettio's!
67 Allison Catliota - This is the beautiful blue sky over the Chesapeake Bay taken from my Bay House on New Year's Day.
68 Adia Benson - Editorial assistant - I spent Christmas in Minnesota with my boyfriend’s family. This is their yellow lab, Kayla, wearing a Santa hat next to the Christmas tree.
69 Adia Benson - Cheers to a champagne cocktail that we had on Christmas Eve.
70 Adia Benson - Our Christmas table setting
71 Adia Benson - A close up of the table
72 Olessa Pindak - Beauty Editor - The family gathered for the feast. Merry Christmas!
73 Olessa Pindak - The stockings were hung by the chimney with care at my family's house for Christmas Eve, where we celebrate with nine meatless courses.
74 Olessa Pindak - COURSE 1: Mushroom soup
75 Olessa Pindak - COURSE 2: Marinated shrimp with champagne beurre blanc sauce
76 Olessa Pindak - COURSE 3: Pierogi - potato and sauerkraut
77 Olessa Pindak - COURSE 4: Poached pears
78 Olessa Pindak - COURSE 5: Golumbki - cabbage stuffed with rice
79 Olessa Pindak - COURSE 6: An Italian addition to our Christmas Eve dinner, fettucine alfredo
80 Olessa Pindak - COURSE 7: Glazed salmon
81 Olessa Pindak - COURSE 8: Peppermint chocolate cake
82 Olessa Pindak - COURSE 9: Cookies, including Martha Stewart Pinwheels and Lemon-Pistachio Wreaths (turned into flowers)
83 Hosanna Houser - Set decorator - This year I did my tree all pink.
84 Hosanna Houser - The cat checks out one of my gifts, not entirely clear it’s not for her.
85 Hosanna Houser - The unwrapping aftermath of Christmas morning
86 Hosanna Houser - At Christmas we always visit the Bergdorf windows on 5th Avenue. This all paper window was my favorite.
87 Hosanna Houser - So many amazing things to see in the paper window, like this handsome porcupine.
88 Hosanna Houser - As well as this really amazing peacock.
89 Hosanna Houser - The star hanging over 5th Avenue and 57th is one of the truest signs of the holiday season to me.
90 Hosanna Houser - As well as the tree at Rockefeller Plaza . We brave the crowds every year to take our annual photo.
91 Sarah Erwin - Senior design production associate - Kay Ball’s Christmas table.
92 Sarah Erwin - Niece Olivia Ball with a triple batch of Seafoam Salad
93 Sarah Erwin - Hostess Kay Ball’s famous potatoes
94 Sarah Erwin - Nephew Braden Ball and sister Heather Ball performing 'feats of strength'
95 Sarah Erwin - Niece Olivia Ball gave us hand-made collage buttons.
96 Sarah Erwin - A Silver Stones rehearsal - Olivia Ball, Ryan Felice, Braden Ball, and Jacob Zang
97 Sarah Erwin - Sister Heather Ball’s tree
98 Sarah Erwin - Some of the family gathered for a gift exchange - Heather Ball, Olivia Ball, Braden Ball, Marilyn Erwin, Sarah Erwin, and Dominick DeGennaro
99 Sarah Erwin - Nephew Braden Ball’s homemade siren
100 Sarah Erwin - Niece Olivia Ball’s first handmade hat
101 Sarah Erwin - Mom Marilyn Erwin’s collection of bears she knit for The Mother Bear Project - They are awaiting faces. (http://www.motherbearproject.org)
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Martha,
The cake celebrating Jesus' birthday was too precious! Thanks for giving us another round of your employees celebrations. Thanks for sharing this blog!
`
Also thanks for an update regarding the Martha Stewart Show. I was a bit concerned from the comments I read yesterday, because I had not read about the show being canceled.
Posted by: KLBrown | January 6th, 2012 at 2:12 am
The "Good Thing" is your information that the show is continuing. We are a dedicated lot and we will follow you wherever you land. I have every magazine (except your very first one), I have every book, tape, and many of the products you have introduced us to. I rely on these resources, I rely on you and your expertise please continue to update us on this situation and we will continue to wish you and your invaluable staff the best in this New Year!
Posted by: Pat Thore Auton | January 6th, 2012 at 6:00 am
Wow, I can't say how much I enjoyed seeing how everyone celebrates the Holidays, from visitng a beatiful place like Utah, to going home to spend the time with family and friends. Everyone's food looked so delish. I'm inspired for next year! Martha, thanks for the update on your show. I'm excited to see what you and your wonderful staff have in store for us!
Posted by: Cindy F | January 6th, 2012 at 9:44 am
Hi Martha, You are my favorite person in the world and I love all the things you do for us because you make me happy everyday! I love your Hallmark TV Shows, your website, your blogs, your employees, your magazines, all of your animals, your homes, all of your products, baby Jude and the rest of your family, etc.!I look forward to everything you do for us and I don't want any of it to go away! Your TV Shows are the best ones there are anywhere! Why would anyone post negative stuff about your TV Show being cancelled? Thank you for letting us know your fantastic TV Show will continue-once again you make me happy! Thanks so much for sharing so many more beautiful photos and comments about more of your employees having a terrific holiday! They are not only great employees, they are inspiring, intellectual, positive people just like you are! Thanks for sharing again! Hope you have a great day and a safe trip home again! Off to see The Daily Wag Shopping for Farm Supplies! Love you all, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | January 6th, 2012 at 9:50 am
Can anyone tell me what china pattern is featured in photo 75? Its lovely. Any information would be fantastic.
Thanks,
Gregory
Posted by: Gregory Gronbacher | January 6th, 2012 at 10:10 am
Love these photos! Thank you again, Martha!
Posted by: Judy | January 6th, 2012 at 11:39 am
Hi Martha,
Once again, thanks for inviting the MSLO employees to share their beautiful and interesting pictures. Their houses are lovely and their food even lovelier! I got so hungry looking at all the food but that happens a lot with me. Daniel Boguszewski’s dry fruits soup sounds interesting. Maybe you could invite them all back with their recipes or an employee cookbook would be even better! I liked the “Favorite Foods Meal” idea also of Allison Catliota’s and the 9 course meal of Olessa Pindak gets a big wow from me! The china they served it on was quite elegant also. I love those chairs in Melinda Cooke’s dining room too. You’ve given us plenty of pictures to peruse so I will be checking them out again. I like seeing how people decorate their houses also. Thanks! Trish
Posted by: Trish | January 6th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Wow, dig those Xmas braces on photo 100. Very cute !
Posted by: Penny | January 6th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
I love everything Martha. You are quite the talent in so many areas. How do you get it all done! p.s. Grandparenting is the best job in the world. I'm happy for you and your daughter.
Posted by: Jan Broering | January 6th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Gregory, the china is the pattern my parents chose when they got married in 1969. It's called Wedgewood Columbia Sage Green and is still available today (link below).
Best,
Olessa
http://na.wwrd.com/ae/us/patterns-a-e/columbia-sage-green/icat/ww_columsagegreen/
Posted by: Olessa Pindak | January 6th, 2012 at 5:18 pm
Martha Stewart the Best !!!
Posted by: Fil | January 6th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
Your employees have such nice friends and families. The table settings are just lovely.
Posted by: Jan | January 6th, 2012 at 6:00 pm
HI MARTHA, THANK YOU FOR POSTING YOUR EMPLOYEES' CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION PICTURES. ITS SO FUN TO SEE HOW OTHERS DECORATE THEIR HOMES FOR CHRISTMAS. THANKS FOR SHARING - AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. GOD BLESS.
Posted by: BARB THORSON | January 6th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Family time is so important. I love that we get to see such a broad variety of Christmas traditions. Thanks for the peek!
Posted by: Nantucket Daffodil | January 6th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
I love the pictures of your employees holidays. Esp. the picture of Zion National Park.
Posted by: denise smith | January 6th, 2012 at 10:00 pm
I wish I could get your shows on DVD, especially the seasonal ones. Love the pictures of Baby Jude. I'm glad you are a grandma.
Posted by: priscilla borden | January 6th, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Question for Sarah Erwin: What is the bottom layer of your beautiful Seafoam Salad. I found a recipe for Seafoam Salad, but it is only one layer.
Posted by: Sandra McCurry Chitty | January 7th, 2012 at 4:01 am
It is simply a delight and an inspiration to see such happy families and their traditions for the holidays. Thank you, Martha and employees, for letting us visit your celebrations! I could comment on every photo, each so special and personal.
Posted by: Sandra McCurry Chitty | January 7th, 2012 at 4:06 am
Martha, hard to find something to say, that has not already been said. You are the best! Love everything you do, and say. You are my hero! I am 71 yrs old and recouping from spinal surgery.
Your shows keep me wanting to live life to the fullest just as you do. May the Lord bless you always. But then he already has. Janet McCall
Milford , DE
Posted by: Janet McCall | January 7th, 2012 at 10:29 am
My wife made the Yule Log in pictures 8 and 9! There are more pictures on our blog if you click my name below.
Posted by: Dan | January 7th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
I had to zest 12lemons for a recipe, what can I do with the leftover lemons?
Can they be frozen? Thanks for any help anyone can give me
Posted by: Judy Knapp | January 8th, 2012 at 2:40 pm
THESE ARE WONDERFUL PHOTOS.
Posted by: Becky | January 10th, 2012 at 1:41 am
Sandra! The bottom layer is a red jello. I didn't make it this year... my sister did. And sadly I can't remember what flavor she used. But anything would be good. Hopefully the recipe you found uses cream cheese. That's the way we make it. And it's amazing!
Posted by: Sarah Sims Erwin | January 10th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Sarah Sims Erwin, thank you!!! I will improvise and create a red jello layer of some kind. And, yes, the recipe does use cream cheese, a favorite ingredient. By the way, I have found that adding pieces of cream cheese to savory bread puddings, such as asparagus bread pudding, takes the dish to an entirely new level. Take care and thanks again.
Posted by: Sandra McCurry Chitty | January 13th, 2012 at 5:30 am
Good morning, Martha!
We really enjoyed your latte demo! Who was the guy sitting behind the Mac looking up facts on nutritional values? We loved him and hope to see more of him!
Posted by: Daniel | June 6th, 2012 at 10:45 am