New Shoes Baby!

I am so excited today that I just had to share... I got a new pair of shoes. Well, I haven't gotten them yet but I ordered them. It is love. A friend enlightened me to the joy that is Jeffrey Campbell shoes and when I saw these I knew I must have them. Not one second thought plowed through my budget-happy mind when this purchase went through.



I just can't wait until February 28th when they ship!!

Lingerie Party Invitations

Our friends Kelly & John are getting married in about 2 months & I have the proud honor of hosting the "personal shower" next month. I have named it the Tail Feather Lingerie Party. I thought personal shower sounded sort of lame so I came up with my own name for it!

I had today off from work so I decided to put the rainy day to good use and get the invitations put together. I chose to use navy blue invitations & envelopes with a green & pink envelope liner and a peacock feather motif. Check them out...




All supplies are from my favorite store on earth: Paper Source

I can't wait for the party!

Eating Healthy

To keep in line with my new year's resolution of being healthy, I have started buying alot of organic, kosher, free-range, hormone & antibiotic free.. everything.

Last night Mark and I decided to make hamburgers for dinner with a nice side salad - using organic lettuce & tomatoes and hormone/antibiotic free, vegetarian fed, free range ground beef... thank you Trader Joes!

This is my burger. Simple with just a touch of mustard.

And this... is Mark's burger. Complete with 2x as much meat as mine... and don't forget the bbq sauce, sauteed onions & cheddar cheese to complete it.







I'm not sure we're on the same wave length!

Resolutions...

Holy Cats! It's been an entire month since I posted last - Such a slacker! I have to admit that December was a busy month - the holidays sort of snuck up on us & have now passed and left us scratching our heads a bit!

So, where better to start than with New Year's Resolutions...
In no particular order:

- Be as healthy as possible. This seems really broad but I didn't want to say "lose weight" or anything like that. Mark and I are planning to start our family this year and it seems to me that healthy mama = healthy baby. So, bye-bye sugar substitutes & caffeine... Hello organic fruits & veggies!

- Read as much as possible. As I mentioned above, we're planning to start our family this year & the crazy person that I am, I am loving reading everything I can get my hands on about pregnancy and parenting. I am a self-admitted nerd when it comes to this stuff - I love to learn as much as I can. I've already read a handful of books & a ton of magazines - got 2 more books for Christmas & ordering another from Amazon.com tomorrow! I will be a virtual encyclopedia about having a baby!

- Take more pictures. I say this every year but I really mean it this time. Reviewing the past year in pictures from my camera was depressing. It went from Christmas 08 to July, then October and then New Years 2010. Lame! This year, more pictures. This will also benefit my blog because I'll have more festive things to show you! Yay!

It is a short list but the way I see it - more chances of success! I have high hopes for you, 2010!
Happy New Year!

Decorating part deux

I got a bug in me last night to finish up alot of my decorating - or at least placement of the decorations I have. Now that I'm sort of done with that I realize I need ALOT more stuff! This house has much more potential for holiday decor than my past apartments.


I cleaned off the entry table & added a few festive ornaments ... the tupperware bins do not qualify & will be removed later tonight.


I added a few more trinkets to the mantle & set up the nativity scene on the table between the beautiful and festive orange chairs. I just noticed how festive my pillows look - they are in the holiday spirit in their red stripes!



And finally, the tree. You can't really tell how glorious it is from this picture. Maybe I should take pictures in the dark so you can see the happy glow of the lights. I have caught the cats under the tree a handful of times already... and one ornament pulled off and placed on the kitchen floor for me to find. I am hoping the kitties will lose interest quickly. Good luck, right?!

I love this decorating thing! It is great and just cheers you up no matter what kind of day you've had! I just like to sit on the couch with all my candles lit & the Christmas lights on and just hum Oh Holy Night to myself. Love.

Decorating... Part 1

As promised, I started my decorating efforts last night. Not a major effort, but some.

First, I hung poinsettia garlands over the mirror in our entry way. (don't pay attention to the crap all over the table.. it's a work in progress!)



Then, I cleared off the mantel & added berry & sparkly garlands. I hung a wreath on the wall but not convinced it's staying there.. or in that position. We'll see.




Then I felt the need to resurrect one of my favorite holiday photos - Mark & Freddie in her holiday finery. She loves it!



More decorating to come!

Christmas Begins..

I was a bit irked this year to see how many people (retailers included) found it ok to skip Thanksgiving & decorate for Christmas mid-November. Thanksgiving is such a great holiday and I felt like it should have its own decorations. A thumbs up to Nordstrom who actually posted a sign at their front doors explaining that they would not be decorating for Christmas until November 27th. Way to go Nordstrom!

Ok.. enough of that - I actually love Christmas. I like how cheery things look all the time. This is our first Christmas in our new house & I am fear that I may turn into a crazy person over decorating. My house growing up never lacked in full holiday regalia dripping from every outpost possible - but I have always found myself a bit more conservative in my decorating quests. A tasteful tree, a nice wreath, a nativity scene.. but far from over the top.

This year I am already feeling different about my approach to decorating - there will definitely be more of it! I have already made my maiden voyage to Michaels to buy garlands that were 50% off. And who knows what will loom in the future.

Christmas is a time of celebration and what better way to celebrate than to decorate like you're having a party! Pictures to come...