Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should
old acquaintance be forgot,
for
old lang syne?
 
(fun fact: Auld lang syne means old times sake)
(another fun fact: hearing this song makes me cry... its so bittersweet and beautiful)
 
Hope you are ending 2011 with friends and good cheer, and I wish you a very happy New Year!

Friday, December 30, 2011

New Years Resolution

I don't know that I've done New Years Resolutions in a while, law school isn't really conducive to anything but law school.

But now that I've been working for three months, I'm an attorney, my relationship is going well, and pretty much everything is hunky dory... I think I'll resolve to make 2012 better.

(Just a note: 2011 was pretty freaking fantastic, but there is always room for improvement.)

In 2012 I resolve to...

1) Save more
2) Weigh Less/Be in Better Shape
3) Connect with people better (this involves making time for them and listening once I make that time)

I know, because I've already read January's Real Simple and InStyle, these are not uncommon goals. But hopefully by writing them down, in public, I'll be more inclined to stick to them. Also, a year from now I can look back and see how I've done.

What are your New Years Resolutions? Do you have any?

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

What watch?

Men's Timex
Back in May of 2010, I spent less than $40 and bought this watch.

Now its a year and a half later, and I've loved this watch. It was big and clunky and I like that its easily read and simple and it tells me the date.

But now I'm kind of over it. I wear a watch to work every day, because sometimes I need to know the time and I don't want to walk around carrying my cell phone. But I kind of want something more dressy.

These are some of the options I've been considering:

Citizen's Women's Watch
Citizen's Women's Watch
Citizens Women's Watch with Black Watch Face
Bulova Women's Gold Watch
 Clearly I'm hovering around a central theme. But since I can't decide that I like any one in particular better than the others, I'm going to stick with my current watch and just be on the look out.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Sparkle for New Years

I like New Years Eve. I know some people think its overrated, but I like celebrating the end of the year and the beginning of the new one with a big party. I've been going to the same New Years party for the past few years and it is the BEST. I get to see old friends, there is lots of drinking, and sometimes the host gets drunk and tells us all how much he likes us and appreciates our friendship (in a football movie esque pre-midnight peptalk, its my favorite).

But this year I might be doomed to wear the exact same thing I wore last year if I don't get my act together!
Now ideally I'd wear anything and these amazing heels and that would be my outfit. But they're a little out of my price range, and the party is so crowded that no one will see my shoes, also Boston and snow.. so... thats a no go.
Jimmy Choo Glitter Platform Pump
But a dress is more doable.
Tinley Road Sequin Tank Dress
Or maybe a really amazing top?
Michael Kors Scoop Neck Sequined Top
I'm not sure yet... But I do know that if I wait too long, I WILL be wearing the same thing I wore last year :p

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!
I hope your day is full of family, friends, presents, naps, cookies, or whatever makes you happy.
I will be spending my Christmas with my parents, cats, presents, and a fire... :)
Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Happy Holiday of Lights

I think Hanukkah is awesome. I love lighting candles on the darkest days of winter, it is beautiful. (While finding the images for this post I realized that Hanukkah is a metaphore for religion in general, providing a light, a miracle, a little more oil, just when we need it most, in our darkest days, or when under siege... I like it.)

Simple, silver menorah
Take a gander at some of these beautiful menorahs...
Frosted Glass

Manzanita Candelabra-- I WANT!!!!
Pomegranate Menorah
Tree of Life Menorah
I have the last one, but one of the holders broke, so on the last night of Hanukkah I'll be a candle short... oops.
Happy Hanukkah everyone!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Its that time of year...

Between Grandma's christmas party last, the colder temperatures, exchanging gifts, getting holiday cards, and lighting my Menorah last night... it really feels like the holidays are here...
Christmas waltz is my favorite christmas song... and I think the line "its that time of year when the world falls in love and every song I hear seems to say "Merry Christmas, and may all your New Year dreams come true"

I suggest listening to it, even if you are at work... its a good song to put you in the holiday mood.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Jcrew Holiday Wishlist

I know its too late for Christmas shopping, but I'm oogling some pre-christmas sales with some gift cards burning a hole in my pocket from last weekend....
If I were to spend them this is what I'd get:
Patent Leopard Wedges.... ahem Martina Tortoise Wedges
Cashmere Crewneck Cardigan in Red Poppy
I love this sweater! I wish I had six... but that might be over kill... honestly I want it in red and black and then I'd never not be wearing it!
Double Cloth Metro Coat
My coat (now a sexy 10 years old) is starting to show its age... and I would love to replace it with this green beauty... or maybe "dark eggplant" ohhh I do like the color after all these years of black!

Who knows... depending on the after christmas sales I might just get my wishes!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Gingerbread for Cousins

I have nine cousins and I'm too poor to get them all big gifts, but to show them I love them I give them boxes of gingerbread cookies for Christmas. 
I just made cookies for half my cousins, and now I'm nursing a burnt finger....
Do you have a cookie you make a lot of this time of year?

My Gingerbread Cookie Recipe:
1.
1 cup molassas
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
4 tsp ginger
4 tsp cinnamon
2.
3/4 tbsp baking powder
3.
1 cup butter
4.
2 eggs
6 cups flour
Preheat Oven to 325. Put 1 in a double boiler, stirring until sugar is melted. Add 2. Stir until it bubbles. Add to 3 in bowl. Mix and let cool to body temp before adding eggs. Add eggs and flour alternating while mixing. Roll out dough on heavily floured surface. Cut out cookies, reform into ball, cut out cookies, continue until all dough is used. Bake on parchment lined baking sheets for 15-20 minutes (depends on stove and thickness of cookie, mine are usually about 17 min) until firm to the touch. Let cool on pans or on rack.

They're easy and delicious.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

WOOOOOOOOO!

I'm done with all my Christmas shopping and my Christmas wrapping!!!!!!!
(except for cookie baking and my work secret santa gift... but still...)
WOOOOOO!
I don't endorse this website, I'm just using them for their image
My parents tree looks a little bit like this... except every so often there is a cat chewing at the wrapping paper.... :)

Monday, December 12, 2011

Brrrr

Its finally cold and I want to curl up with Parsley in my new nightie from Jcrew and read...
Flannel... mmmm
I really like how cozy this nightie is... and warm... and not hideous like many warm things I wear to bed!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Book Review: When We Were Strangers

I suppose the quote "a heartbreaking debut" should've warned me. But I didn't read the back cover, I just picked it up and started reading When We Were Strangers by Pamela Schoenewaldt. And to be fair this book is beautifully written and is probably a more accurate account of immigration to America than I've ever encountered before.

But it is also heartbreaking.

I tell you now. The main character does not die.

But that's all I'll say about that. Except that this is a fairly quick read about an young Italian woman immigrating to America on her own in the 1890's.

I have great-grandparents that made similar journeys at a similar time, so this story appealed to me from the outset. Maybe you have relatives that made similar journeys, maybe not.
But I do not recommend this book for the faint-hearted.... Lots of serious crimes are committed, both by the main character and to the main character, but not all of them are really terrible.
There is also a lot of good in the book, major themes are family, friendship, helping the poor, and self improvement.

If I was in a book club I'd really enjoy discussing this book, so someone go read it and then talk to me about it :p

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Holiday Candles

I like the warm light of candles during the holidays... here are some I'd like to have arranged on a tray on a coffee table to give a living room a festive glow...
Pinecone Candles-- Orvis
Polar Bear Candle-- West Elm
Tall Tree Candle-- Crate and Barrel
And I recently got this tray at Ikea that would be perfect to put them on... sigh my future apartment is going to kick butt.
Groggy Ikea Tray
(yes the tray is called groggy... but its so shiny you can see your reflection in it, perfect for candles!)

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Romance is in the air...

I love this time of year, I don't know if its the holiday lights, the chilly evenings making you want to snuggle, or a perceived notion that I should be happy and so I am... but I frequently feel extra goodwill to my fellow man during the holiday season. Especially for my Tallman :)

I know its not just me, the number of engagements that happen during this time of year is intense. (Congrats to AWM & RPG who got engaged over thanksgiving!)

Which is why when I saw this list, I had to share it with you all...
A Kids List of Things that are Romantic
I would add the month of December to that list... maybe in place of Duck Tales... but honestly how adorable is that?
Hope your holidays are full of romance... and Duck Tales :p

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Book Review: Stone's Fall

I frequently think that I read a lot of "girl books" but Stone's Fall: A Novel is a gender neutral awesome piece of excellence (did I over state it?).
If you're wondering what to get for a hard to shop for dad, brother, aunt, grandma, second cousin, etc. I'd highly recommend this book. It isn't a light read, but I read it in a week without too much trouble.

The story is set in reverse beginning with a death in 1909 England. Then discussing a character from that part in 1890's Paris. Then discussing Venice in 1867 where it becomes clear the story started... on the last page. Honestly, the book keeps you guessing about so much until the very very end. It was amazing because each part is wholly satisfying as well, describing a coming of age, if you will, through the unfolding events.
I highly highly recommend this book.