Monday Inspiration- Christmas Edition

The weather is getting colder and colder and a recent foray into Pottery Barn has me craving some Christmas goodness! Tonight I'm going decorate the family home with holly and a tree so this Monday Inspiration is completely appropriate. I can't wait to get home and begin celebrating the most wonderful time of the year!

Oh come on, how could I not post that last one? Too precious for words! Hope you all have a lovely week readers!

Friday Style

Season's Greetings from Disneyland!

On Sunday, Elliot and I went to Disneyland to celebrate our good friend Stacey's birthday. Disneyland is so beautiful in the wintertime with all the lights, the holly, and that gigantic Christmas tree that is impossible to fit into a whole picture unless you're standing very far away. It was a lot of fun, and I just wanted to share some pictures of our day with you!

Me and the Birthday Girl!

We didn't actually know the people in the front row, but it looks like they were in on the fun!

Black Friday and Small Business Saturday

     Once all of the Thanksgiving cooking was done and the turkey had been gobbled up, there was nothing left to do except..... shop! Well truthfully I wasn't planning on going shopping last weekend. I'm not one for crowds and I was trying to save money so I thought I would avoid the whole thing entirely. Little did I know the pull for good deals is just too strong for me! My Mom and brother David had camped out since early evening to score an Xbox and Xbox Kinect, and I found it waiting for me downstairs on the dining room table Friday morning. Well, you can't just buy something as cool and fun as an Xbox Kinect and NOT get a great game to go with it! So Elliot and I went back to the BX (or the Exchange on the Reserve Base, it's basically a department store without tax) and got the new Dance Central 2. I'm telling you, you have never played a game so fun as this one! Listening to good music? Check. Making a fool out of yourself in front of family and friends? Check. Some friendly competition? Check. AND it's a great cardio workout! In my opinion, Dance Central 2 >>> taking Zumba at a gym, and it's cheaper in the long run (See I'm chock full of savings)! I'll always cherish the memory of Elliot and my Dad battling it out in the family room. Elliot and I went to his Dad's house in Hermosa Beach for the rest of the weekend and, no surprise, ended up going to the mall on Saturday. I had wanted to get a pair of cozy house slippers for his Dad's house since I'm there so often and my feet get cold very easily, especially if there are hardwood floors. So, his Dad had the idea of going to this little shop in the mall that he knew sold Uggs. Which was perfect since it was Small Business Saturday! I loved the idea of SBS, especially since my parents own a small business and I know all the headaches that go along with that and the state of the economy for the past few years. We ended up each getting a pair of slippers, and I'll admit I went to Gap and got an incredibly good deal on some sweaters (60% off? You mean this warm, cozy, knit sweater is only $20 bucks?!?). All in all, it was a great weekend for shopping.

Christmas came early!

I know, I'm a total geek.

Matching slippers! Probably the warmest and softest slippers on the planet.

Thanksgiving Feast

Hi Readers! I hope you all had a fun holiday! This week has been so crazy busy, I apologize completely for neglecting you for so long! Here are some of the yummy dishes I made this Thanksgiving with the help of my Mom, Dad, and Elliot of course! Enjoy!

Fresh Skillet Cornbread

Cornbread, Apple, and Sausage Dressing- Defnitely one of my favorite dishes!

Incredibly green brussel sprouts

Cream of Mushroom from scratch - this is my favorite picture! The sauce looks so creamy and delicious!

Green bean casserole- sans the deep fried shallots

Turkey is going in the deep fryer!

Dad says- I love cooking turkey! I love flapping my arms like a turkey! Hehehe

When all the cooking is done, Dad just can't wait to start eating :)

Monday Inspiration

Thanksgiving Week Challenge

Yesterday I had a tough day visiting a loved one in a place I wish that no one would ever have to go. It made me think about how many people I see everyday who are completely unaware of all the blessings they have in life. That's why this week I challenge each of you to not complain and to find a reason to be thankful instead. For instance, this morning I was running late to work due to circumstances out of my control. But instead of being frustrated and angry, I thought, "At least I have a job." I'm thankful to be able to work each week doing something I find useful and interesting. Everyone has problems to deal with in life, and odds are someone else has problems that are bigger than yours. So whenever you find yourself thinking that things couldn't get any worse, try to be thankful for what you have. I'm thankful to have a roof over my head, to have food to eat, family that loves me, friends that support me, my health, and my general happiness. Remember, somewhere out there some children are going hungry, some people are unable to help themselves, and some people feel like they are at the end of their rope with no one to turn to. This is the time of year that reminds us to be appreciative and to lend a helping hand to each other and those in need. Hope you all have a wonderful week.

Friday Style

Good morning Readers! This week's 'Friday Style' post is all about...... Hair! Since I am trying to grow my hair I don't like to use hot tools such as curling irons, straightening irons, and blow-dryers too often. Of course I love to curl my hair so it can be a bit of a challenge to choose between styling my hair or just putting in a ponytail to avoid using a curling iron. My solution is to use a no-heat method to curl my hair overnight. There are a few of these you can find around the internet, but the easiest one for me based on my hair length (slighlty longer than shoulder length) is the Headband method. It is super easy and you can see a full video tutorial by clicking on this link: No-Heat Headband curls. The way it works is to put an elastic headband around the top of your head and wrapping sections of damp hair around it. I usually just wet a brush or comb to make my dry hair damp enough. Here is what the finished wrapping should look like:

                   

I also secure this with a few bobby pins because my hair is very smooth and it slips out of it easily. Now comes the easy part...... go to sleep! Or you can also use a decorative headband and use this as an updo for a day! The next morning simply remove the headband, comb through your hair with fingers to untangle any knots, and TA-DA!

Curly hair! Today I wore my hair up since the curls are easier to keep in place than my normal straight hair.

What do you think? Tres-chic no? I am still experimenting with different updos so let me know what you think! Happy Friday!

Only a Week Until Thanksgiving!

Just one more week until my stomach's favorite holiday! I'll be cooking up a storm this week to get ready, but here are a few recipes I'll be using this holiday and some I have used before that are to-die-for! My compliments to The Pioneer Woman from whom many of these recipes originate. What can I say, she knows how to cook a Thanksgiving feast!

Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Apples

Cranberry-Pomegranate Sauce

Creamy Mashed Potatoes (Shh! The secret is CREAM CHEESE)

Emeril's Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Ellie's Green Bean Casserole

Whiskey-Glazed Carrots

Pecan Pie

Strawberry Shortcake Cake - special for my Dad

Pumpkin Cream Pie- perfect for everyone!

Dear readers, what are your favorite Thanksgiving dishes? Will you be cooking this holiday?

This Week

I was on the hunt for a quality pair of leather boots this past weekend. I found these Veronica Slouch Boots from Frye and they are amazing! They're extremely versatile, have great quality leather, and the calf portion fits very close. I am still working on breaking them in since they fit snugly and I would like to be able to wear them with thick socks as it gets colder. 

How cute and comfy does Paris look laying on my bed? I may be biased, but she is the perfect dog!

                  

Today was a nice sunny November day in California.

Dear Readers, how has your week been so far? 

A Fashionable All-American Wedding Dress

Vogue finally printed Lauren Lauren's (nee Bush) beautiful wedding dress designed by Ralph Lauren himself! Doesn't she look gorgeous? I absolutely LOVE the lace! What do you think?

'Nuff Said

How can you resist the puppy face of this little puggle? You can't, she get everything she wants. Do you spoil your dog? I can never seem to resist giving this little one and my Paris love all day.