Holiday Weekend

I love a 3-day weekend.

What I love even more is throwing a Holiday in there!

If you celebrate Easter, have a great weekend! If not, you can at least enjoy the fun candy!

Oh and Mr. Bunny, don't forget to bring me some of these goodies if you can!

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Easter Bunny Cakes--a tradition in our family! I was very proud of this cake in 1988!

Have a great weekend!! Be back Monday!

Easter Basket Goodies

If all these things could find their way into my Easter Basket (yes I'm 26 and still like to get presents from the EB) that would be JUST SWELL!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Regardless if you celebrate Easter or not....what little things do you wish would show up on your doorstep?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

From one Irish girl to another...Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day

Enjoy the luck of the Irish...

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And for those of you in Chicago, enjoy the annual dyeing of the Chicago River!

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Have a happy St. Patrick's Day.

May your day be full of green beer, corned beef & cabbage, and some good luck :)

To 2011!

I was lucky enough to celebrate the New Year with a visit by my friend, J, who lives in Denver. She came in on Thursday and we spent the whole weekend eating, drinking, and LAUGHING!

We had sushi and wine on Thursday and finally saw Black Swan.
AKA Terrifying. Creepy. Incredible Performance.

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Friday we shopped. Got our Make-up done. Rang in the New Year with friends. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.




Saturday we Brunched. Lounged. and had Due's for dinner. SO GOOD.




Sunday it was time to say goodbye which is always sad. But the weekend was so fun I'll be laughing about it well into the New Year.


What did you do for New Year's?

Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot

It's time to say

to 2010

and

to 2011!


It's time to dream big for 2011. The unknown is full of:

hope,
wonder,
and opportunity.


Wishing each of you a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy Holidays

This year the Holidays were a little different for our family...why? Because now we're celebrating with babies! Which, by the way, make Holidays SO much more fun!!

Here are a few shots from my Christmas this year...

White Christmas

Oz enjoying one of his presents




Hope your Holidays were Happy and full of laughs. Mine definitely were both!

Vintage Holidays

This picture is from the 60's at the house my Mom grew up in.

That's my mom in the middle. She's so cute!!

I love the tree. Very Mad Men!

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I'll be taking some time off the good ol' blog to spend some time with my loved ones.

I hope each and every one of you has a fabulous Holiday with your family & friends.

Wrap it Right

The Holidays are about family, traditions, being thankful, and PRESENTS! Woohoo! Everyone loves a good present, right?

Here are some quick tips to make your holiday gifts extra special this season.


Glue guns + Michael's Sparkly Pieces = Endless Possibilities!

Take a cute wine box and jazz it up with a glue gun and some sparkle!

Decorate brown shipper paper with a cute Christmas Stamp...like making your own wrapping paper!

I'm almost done Christmas shopping. Waiting for a couple of deliveries and then I just have to pick up a couple gift cards. It seems like it's never-ending!

Gift Guide for your BFF under $30

If your friend is a bookworm...

Grab a Fingerprint Bookmark! The small book mark points to where you left off.

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For the friend who loves to cook...

A sweet and stylish apron from Anthropologie.

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For the friend who loves make-up and fun lip glosses.

MAC's 'A Tartan Tale' Lipglass Set

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For the friend who loves some glitz and glam

J.Crew's Ribbon-wrapped Crystal Bangle

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I always think shopping for my friends is relatively easy, I just wish I had an endless supply of money to spend on them!! What do you plan on buying your friends this Holiday season?

Holiday Traditions: The Walnut Room

Oooooh, Ahhhhh!

Holidays are a time for traditions and The Walnut Room is just that!

The Walnut Room is a dining room in Marshall Fields, umm I mean, Macy's.
Marshall Fields will always hold a special place in my heart!

Anyway, around the Holidays they bring in this HUGE tree and each year there's a different theme for the decorations. I'll still never forget when it was Harry Potter and I hadn't heard of it yet and my Mom and I were like umm owls? This isn't very Holiday-ish. Little did we know!

The room is full of tables that start around the tree and move outward in a huge circle. The room is always full of excitement and holiday cheer. I don't even care how corny that sounds. It really is wonderful.

The theme of the tree this year is The Believe Symphony. It's whimsical and glittery. The perfect combination for a Christmas Tree.

And now onto the food! I started with the Poinsettia which is a cute way to say champagne & cranberry juice :) I had the Chicken Pot Pie and my Mom had the Butternut Squash Tortellaci. We split the Frango Mint (which is only at Macy's, well was only at Field's...) ice cream pie.
Frango Mint Ice Cream Pie = YOWZAS!!

I've been going to The Walnut Room for lunch or dinner with my Mom for as long as I can remember. My Grandma used to come with us too. It's a fun girls day and we usually go Christmas shopping after we've enjoyed our meal. It's definitely a tradition I hope to carry on forever.

If you're ever in Chicago during the Holidays you should stop in The Walnut Room even if only to see the tree!

Holiday Dresses UNDER $125

When I think about the Holidays I always think PARTIES! And more importantly, what to wear to these shindigs?!?

Sequins? Emerald Colors? Lace?

I always feel like I need a lot of different "looks" because the Holidays include a slew of events.

You've got your work parties. Dinner Parties with friends. Christmas or Hanukkah with the family. New Year's Eve with any and everyone!

That's a lot of dresses. A lot of events. A lot of $

Here are 12 dresses I could see myself wearing this Holiday season. All without breaking the bank :) Why buy one when you can buy five? ha!

For your more casual events, when you want to look chic but still comfortable:


1. Gap Cowl Neck Sweater Dress $78
2. J.Crew Blakely Dress $118
3. Anthropologie's Rugged Carats Dress $118

I'd wear #3 on Christmas with my Family.


For your Work events. Sophisticated, festive, and pretty!


1. Calvin Klein Pearl Trim Sheath Dress $118
2. Taylor Pleat Trim Stretch Satin Shift Dress $98.90 (on sale)
3. Banana Republic Silk Betty Layered Dress $110

I'd wear #3 w/ a cardigan for my work party.

For your more laid back New Year's Plans. Fun, Bold, Flirty.

1. Charlie Jade 'Marie' Silk Dress $98
2. Free People 'Tea for Two' Lace Trim Dress $98
3. Charlie Jade 'Yuki' Dress $108

#1 for me. Love that color!

For your PARTAY New Year's Plans. Glitz. Glam. Fun!!

1. Calvin Klein Sequin Tank Dress $98
2. Maggie London Side Bow Stretch Sheath $98
3. Suzi Chin Paillette Sheath $87.90 (on sale)

#1 just screams fun to me!

What kind of outfits do you wear for all your Holiday parties? I love all the dresses here, but let me just say that finding a dress under $125 is quite the challenge...

Happy Holidays, everyone!!

And So It Begins...25 days of Christmas!!

I'm a 26 year old nerd. 100% so and not even ashamed about it.

And December 1 always starts one of my favorite holiday traditions.

ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas

We're talking cheesy holiday movie overload!

The Santa Clause

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

The Polar Express

And I'm definitely looking forward to Christmas Cupid

This is just one part of my holiday traditions. Is anyone out there with me on this one? Anyone? haha

Here's the full line-up. Get excited!!

Give Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving!!

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This year I'm incredibly thankful FOR:

My dog, Ozzie, who always snuggles.

Series Recordings on my DVR so I never miss a show.

Pumpkin flavored anything.

My lovely parents and brother.

Belly-aching laughs with my friends.

Celebrating Thanksgiving with those I love while on a vacation. 2 for 1!

Enjoy your time with friends and family!

Be Thankful.

Trick-or-Treat

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!


May your day be full of:

Pumpkins

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Candy Corn (or your candy of choice!)

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And Spookiness everywhere you turn!!

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Enjoy your day!