Cheers to 2014 :: A night in with friends
Wishing you all good things in 2014.
xx - C
Holidays
Thursday, January 02, 2014
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
The Greatest Gift of All :: My Bar Cart
Santa made my Christmas wish come true this year and put a bar cart under my tree.
I. LOVE. IT.
Rich knew I was getting the cart, so he got me these cocktail books and the decanter and glasses I was coveting in this post.
Paper straws & an adorable bottle stopper :: Some yummy mixers
We're having a few friends over tonight for NYE, so I can't wait to put it to good use.
CHEERS LOVES!
xx - C
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Christmas Eve 2013 Recap :: Better late than never!
I've just about recovered from my Christmas hangover. Most of our gifts have been put away into their rightful places and with each passing day the Christmas tree annoys me a little more. But before I put a period on Christmas 2013 and start taking down all of the holiday decor -dreading that- lets quickly go back to Christmas Eve...
My aunt who usually hosts called and canceled the morning of because she wasn't feeling well. Before my Dad could even get the full sentence out of his mouth, my hand shot up like a kid that knows they have the right answer in class....ME, ME, I'LL HOST, PICK ME!!! My brain was immediately flooded with visions of my family at my house, being blown away by the food I made, how I had decorated the house, and playing games...so much so that a new tradition would be born!
This kinda/sorta happened...
My sister took the news of not having to go to my aunts with great enthusiasm and quickly decided that she would now spend Christmas Eve with her boyfriend and his family and took off. My Dad and brother had been sick (flu sick...gross) the days leading up to Christmas Eve so they were not entirely disappointed at the thought of staying home for the night and getting some rest. My Mom did want to come but also didn't mind the thought of staying in...but I wouldn't have it. I was a woman on a mission to adopt Christmas Eve as my own, and they (reluctantly?) ended up coming down. We also invited our good friend Mark to join in the festivities which added to the evening being that much more special.
Now, not to toot my own horn or anything -although that is exactly what I'm doing- but I think for such short notice I kinda pulled it off...
:: It's crazy how much I love laying a table ::
Holiday Bingo and Christmas Crackers, check! :: place cards for 6...necessary? no. adorable? yes.
Santa Hat Brownies...I know, I know, too cute :: Recipe here
Swedish meatballs, paper hats, & Cards Against Humanity :: It was a perfect night
xx - C
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Christmas Shopping Stress...(& a few last minute suggestions for yours truly)
Tomorrow my mom and I head out on our annual pilgrimage to finish up our last minute Christmas shopping. This usually results in about two hours or so spent in GAP and Banana Republic finishing up buying for the men in our lives, then promptly heading out to a leisurely lunch accompanied by a moderate amount of wine consumption.
However this year we may have to spend a little more time on the shopping aspect of our trip. I'm really behind (like haven't really accomplished anything behind) and the best part is that I'm not to blame! No one is being terribly helpful at all with what they want. I feel like some of the little things I've managed to pick up are just 'filler' gifts. I don't feel like I've found anyone a gift that has a serious WOW factor, and between you and me, it's becoming a little stressful.
SOOOOO to eliminate anyone from feeling the same way about me I've decided give a couple examples of items I would like to unwrap next Wednesday morning and post them here since I know for a fact there are some elves that check out my site once in a while...
The packaging alone sold me :: Nirvana Black - Elizabeth & James
Kinda dorky I know, but I want to learn :: Calligraphy: A complete kit for beginners
No, I don't smoke cigs -sick!- but I want this...why? I just do. :: Ploom Pax
I want a bar cart so flippin bad it hurts :: this one from Society Social is divine, but I would settle for this one from Target if it meant I could finally have my own little cart to mix drinks up on...because I do that ever so often...
So there you have it, just a couple items I would love to find under my tree or in my stocking come Christmas morning...fingers & toes crossed!
xx - C
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Christmas Memories :: I'm (still) an American Girl
Hi, my name is Chrissy, I'm 28 years old, and I love American Girl dolls....and if I could still buy them and justify it -I'm not entirely sure what I would do with them-, I totally would.
I love how they have back stories with all the correct period piece accessories and clothing. I think it's a great way to teach young girls about history and other cultures. I still remember my first American Girl, Kirsten, who has since been retired -- the nerve!. She was Swedish and from reading her books and collecting all of her little accessories, I learned about certain Swedish traditions and what it may have been like to emigrate to America in 1854. Obviously being a little girl I loved the doll itself as well, and played with her all the time, but it was also a way for me to learn about history while still having fun.
My parents still get the American Girl magazine at their house and my Mom saves it for me. It's CRAZY how much the company has grown from when I first started collecting my dolls. They have everything from a science lab set (complete with microscope and working slides!) to an 'allergy-free' lunch option...seriously.
I can't wait to hopefully one day have a daughter of my own so I can pass on my collection of dolls and accessories to her, and then help her start her own with the dolls and stories she chooses for herself. Until then, I cant' wait until my little nieces grow a little and start to like the dolls so I can start shopping!
xx - C
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Guests, Christmas, The Weather (& more reasons I've been slacking)
Its been one week since my last post! I try to never go that long without a little something for ya, but I feel like time is getting away from me this month. Here are a few of my excuses reasons for being so MIA:
My in-laws came up for a visit last weekend and stayed with us, so we were busy spending time with them before the Holidays. Brody turned seven, so I baked some dog cookies and we celebrated. Christmas is getting SOOOOO close and until yesterday we hadn't done ANY shopping. We never had the opportunity to take our Christmas card pics, so I had to use a slightly older pic and RUSH order -$$$$!!!!!- the cards so that I could get them here to mail in a timely fashion. We also got a lovely snow/ice storm yesterday that ended up cancelling our friends holiday party, so that was a total bummer. Oh, and somewhere in between all of the above I caught a horrible cold/cough and Rich almost cut his finger off while making his cutting boards. To say it's been a little stressful/crazy here at the Slades would be an understatement...
Celebrating the birthday pup :: Rich all bandaged up
Now for a little ray of light amidst the above chaos...
As I mentioned, yesterday was our day to start shopping. After hitting the mall and then grabbing some wine -I mean lunch-, we set off to HomeGoods to get some Christmas scented Yankee candles, **SIDENOTE** These candles make the absolute BEST last minute gift, and they are so much cheaper to buy at HomeGoods than the Yankee Candle store itself. I highly recommend picking up a few to have on hand for those moments when you come home from work and those people you didn't think you were exchanging gifts with have dropped off a present on your front step...or any other awkward one sided present exchanging you may encounter during the Holidays...
ANYWAY...back to my exciting news...
Since we finally have the couch all set, the next order of business has been the rug. I've been swooning over this , this, and this for a while now -are you seeing a pattern here?- but I really have not been able to justify the prices on any of them. But we needed a rug so while we were at HomeGoods I figured we would just pick up a cheap temporary rug to get us through the holidays. Rich started flipping through the rug rack while I stood back and mostly said no, no, no, when all of the sudden he stopped, looked at me and said "This is the one you're going to want." I figured it would be a large chevron pattern *yawn* been there, done that, but thought whatever, its just temporary. I prepared myself to settle when WHAT TO MY WONDERING EYES SHOULD APPEAR....MY RUG!!!!!!!
I freaked out. I may have even ran up and hugged it while the guy who worked there watched me, rolled his eyes, and patiently waited for me to be done so he could take it down and roll it up. But I didn't care, I found my rug, at HomeGoods nonetheless, and it's perfect!
Merry *early* Christmas to me!
xx - C
Sunday, December 08, 2013
Holiday Things :: Oh Christmas Tree...
Cutting down the Christmas tree is a tradition Rich and I are desperately trying to start. We have this mental picture of us and all our friends trekking up to the tree farm together, parking in the lot and having coffee, bagels, and maybe some mimosas before we hop on the hayride and go cut down our trees. It's one that we hope we can continue each year and as we have kids, it would be something they would look forward to....cute huh?
:: pick a tree, any tree ::
Unfortunately, as with most activities this time of year people already have traditions they follow with their families or maybe other friends, but after this years outing, I think we have a pretty solid group that is willing to make Rich's and my tree chopping dreams come true...-lame, I know-. We had two couples who came with us for their second year now, and two others that came for the first time, so it's kind of a tradition now...right?
I think we were the first to find "the one". Probably because our only concern was if it would fit into our little living room.
some prospects :: the winner
chop, chop, chop (or saw, saw, saw) :: all tagged up and ready to go
It was a great day and an awesome way to kick off the holiday season with our friends.
xx - C
Sunday, December 01, 2013
Holiday Things :: Christmas Cards
Since today is the first day of December, I'm feeling pretty festive so I wanted to share with you one of my favorite parts of the holidays, the cards!
I think holiday cards are in one word...AMAZING!
Why you ask? Let us count the ways....
1.) I love to send them. Since Rich and I got together we have been sending out cards. In the beginning it was pictures of our dogs in Christmas outfits, yes -- we were/are those people. Then the Christmas we were engaged we did our first card that was a picture of us. It was actually taken at our engagement party and looking back at it, I realize how drunk we both were, oops. Then there was last year, which was my favorite because we got to use a wedding picture, so it was taken by a professional and edited. Obviously, this was my fav.
Q.) Would it be weird to use a wedding picture this year too? :: A.) YES, extremely.
2.) In a world where everyone is sending invitations and announcements by text and email -ugh, my feelings on that crap could be, and probably will at some point be an entire post in itself- I think it's refreshing that during the Holiday season people tend to put some effort in. Who doesn't love to come home to more than just bills and crap mail in their mailbox?
3.) You get beautiful cards with adorable OR not so adorable pictures of people and their families. My parents always receive a plethora of Christmas cards, which make my Sunday visits that much more fun during the holiday season. I love grabbing all the cards out of the basket, sitting down at the kitchen table within earshot of my mother and critiquing each one. She acts like she doesn't approve of this practice, but I secretly know she loves it.
the ghosts of Christmas cards past :: awkward
4.) If you're REALLY lucky, you know those people who send out the "letter". This details the going on's of their family from the past year. Personally I see it as a chance for people to brag about who goes to college where, who is the best on their high school sports team, what fancy vacations they took, etc., etc. Interpretive readings of these are almost always in order.
I haven't figured out what we're going to do for our card this year. I would like to incorporate the front of the house or the front door somehow since it's our first Christmas here, but I havent figured out a way to do so without being terribly corny.... -sigh-
xx - C
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