Holiday Goodies For Him

1. Bonfire Log 2. Backup iPhone Battery 3. Leather Magic Wallet 4. Urban Renewal Leather Keychain
5. SmartWool Liner Gloves 6. Mustache iPhone 4/4S Case 7. Photojojo Lens Set 8. Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad 9. Silk Bow Tie in Pindot 10. Deciduous Dock

All my favorite things for all my favorite guys in my life.

And all under $100! Happy shopping!

Holiday Lovelies For Her

1. Llama iPhone Case 2. Essie - Plumberry 3. Anthozoa Bangle 4. Touchscreen Gloves
5. Elephant Bottle Stopper 6. Tech Hearmuffs 7. Classic Pocket Datebook 8. Capri Blue Etched Jar Candle
9. Personalized Initial Necklace 10. Dotted Leather Pouch  

This year I tried to organize and be early with my Christmas shopping. I started December 1st and have been hitting the mall and online shopping ever since.

In typical "I have undiagnosed OCD" fashion I tried to organize with two lists this year: per person & per my favorite things and then matched the two up.

My lists generally cover lots of people from 'For Her', 'For Him', 'Kids', to 'Coworkers' (and sometimes mayyy be inspired by things that I would love to have). So I thought I'd share some of my lists this year to help mid-December shoppers!

Today I have my list of favorite gifts "For Her" that I love to give to family and friends. The bonus is that all these cuties are under $100 because this girl's on a budget frands!

Club Belmont's Christmas Tree

Since Saturday marked the official first day of December and there was light snow fall we decided it was the perfect winter day to get Club Belmont's Christmas Tree.

Last year we had a magnificent small fake tree because the thought of dragging in a tree bigger than us seemed like a lot of extra work. But thanks to our new roomies a real tree was to be had this year!

So we packed up the Jeep with whoever was available (four out of six ain't bad!) and as many holiday tunes as Pandora had to offer and we were off to cut down our own tree!

Oh yes, we're no wimps buying precut trees over at Club Belmont, we cut those bad boys down Griswold family style. (note: I was somehow allowed the honor of carrying our tree saw - basically a lumberjack now)

After several laps around the lot lost in our indecision we finally found the perfect one to bring home with us. We each took a turn cutting it down and it's a beauty!

Just got to decorate it and make it look like Christmas exploded in our house now, at least it smells heavenly in the meantime!

Club Belmont's tree drying off in it's new home - welcome friend!

Sometimes you just need some wine...

Recently there was a call for wine and who am I to say no to a nice glass of Pinot (or two, or three...counting's hard).

This is pretty serious business so my lady frand Amy and I decided we were long overdue for one of our classic Cheesecake Factory get togethers - made famous back in our super cool high school years.

I'm not sure what happens when you get older but it seems harder and harder to make plans with friends. Maybe I'm just bad at it but it seems we let things like work, relationships, stress, lack of money, and all around tiredness get in our way and I'm the number one culprit. *Gasp!*

I'm so embarassed to say that the words "I'm just so tired, work was rough today" have been used many a times as an excuse and I've been trying (key word here - I'm work in progress people!) to be better about it.

So wine and cheesecake it was!

Needless to say we caught up on the important topics of work, boys, life, etc and it's so nice to be able to just laugh about things. I need to remember this next time I'm "too tired".

So friends this is my call to action! More date nights with each other and less tired nights catching up on TLC (though often also very therapeutic). 

We were so proud of ourselves for taking the most flattering pictures of our gluttony so clearly I posted the evidence of us in all our glory on my lil bloggy. - Sorry Amy! At least we think we're funny amIright??

My plate post Cheesecake Massacre 2012

If One Thanksgiving's Good, Two Must Be Better!

Happy Monday after Thanksgiving break all!

After a glorious 5 day weekend full of food, naps, football, family, and friends my body's still in recovery mode. We ate until it hurt and spent lots of time just hanging out in the kitchen. It was holiday perfection.

My family even has the ingenious tradition of "Second Thanksgiving" where more people come over my parent's house the Friday after Turkey Day and we have a giant lasagna dinner with even more desserts. Heavenly!

I highly recommend adopting this second dinner party. A second day to eat till you burst and more leftovers...need I say more?

This weekend was then full of lazy movie marathons interrupted only by the creation of many turkey sammies, the reheating of lasagna, and quick winter-y walks to get hot chocolates and coffees.

I hope you all had a happy and healthy Thanksgiving also! Let the countdown to Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/New Years begin!

• Dining room ready and waiting • Papa Dukes carving up our Tom • Grammy helping herself • My ambitious plate (round 1) • A sampling of treats • Second Thanksgiving Lasagna #2 • Second Thanksgiving Lasagna #1 Post Massacre • Lemon Meringue Pie (no need to share, I'll take care of this one guys) •

*Note: My family's super resistant to letting me photograph them, especially while eating...ergo more food pictures! It's something I'm gonna have to work on or just get better at sneaking pictures...

Little Things - Life Lately

I've been a bad blogger lately but in my defense it's the beginning of the busy holiday season!

Also, I've been sucked into Homeland and I'm busy catching up. If you don't watch it yet, well...you should. So run to your Netflix Que immediately!

Though, despite Homeland's and the cold weather's best efforts to turn me into a hermit, I HAVE managed to sneak in some activities that do not involve my couch.

So I thought I'd post a quick little montage to highlight the little things in my life making me happy right now because I'm too overwhelmed to post about things like Christmas just yet. (As I reflect on my pictures I've noticed a common theme: food & drinks. Yum!!)

• Nov. 6th yo - Might as well go wait in line for 1.5 hours for the sticker • It snowed. Wah. •

• Margaritas make the world go 'round • Saturday night is eat your weight in cookies night didn't ya know? •

• My fave Anthro mug from one of my fave ladies • Mutant Tomato! •
• Monday Night Roomie Taco Night - complete with Big Bucket of Margs and lederhosen apron •
• Tacoooosss • Sadly smooshed frosting on an amazingly delicious Apple Cobbler Cupcake •

• Roomies bonding with our old friend Jameson • Risk 2210 - board game Friday people (don't judge) •



Wait...Next Week's Thanksgiving??

My fancy, snow free garage! I think I'm in love...
And he plows the driveway - win!

Last week I let my fear of snow get the best of me during the Nor'easter which may or may not have ended with me purchasing two winter coats, new gloves, and splurging on a garage spot for my car this winter.

What's up fear induced spending!

Now that it's forecasted to be up to 67^o today I feel rather silly butttt I'm pretty sure I'll be pleased to pieces when I don't have to dig my car out every morning in January. (muahaha all you suckers with shovels, you may have saved money but I'm not crying over my snow covered car)

Also, you may have already heard the rumors but apparently Thanksgiving is next week...what??

I feel so underprepared for the holidays this year and I'm mildly stressed about their arrival. I need to get into the Thanksgiving spirit people! And what better way than perusing the Food Network website for inspiration? Maybe I'll try and impress my mom this year and bake a dessert!

Here are the recipes that seem to have the perfect ratio of not too intimidating/look amazingly delicious:

Paula's Pumpkin Cheesecake



Paula's Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars with Streusel Topping
(sans Pecans - those things are my nut allergy's worst nightmare!)



Barefoot Contessa's French Apple Tart