new years.

are your resolutions all ready!?

i just can't believe we are nearing the end of 2010!

wow, a year goes fast...

hope you all have a fabulous new years celebration!!

2011 here we come!

{image via}

refresh.

the weather was so invigorating today... it felt like spring around here! we "played" a bit outside and enjoyed a little fresh air... and shopping :)

sadly the days of winter are still here... settling back in tonight. it sure was nice while it lasted...

hope you caught some rays.

stockings anyone?

just to add a little personality to your dinner chairs.

too funny.

{via charles and marie}

happy tuesday.

did you survive the holiday happiness/craziness?

we sure had a fantastic time with oodles of family all around! stayed up way too late, ate way too many goodies, sipped mugs of cocoa and hot teas, watched christmas movies, listened to hours of music, shopped till we dropped, our stockings were hung by the chimney tree with care on a sweet little shelf that barely survived the ordeal! it was all glorious.

now on to new years... well technically we have one christmas left on the second! but first is our new years bash, the divine ethi food and friends and family once more.

hope you savored each moment. i know i learned so much this season. amazing how the simple story of Jesus' birth reveals itself new each year!

God bless you everyone!

{image via}

merry christmas!!!

from our home to yours!

comfort and joy!

december is just a flyin' by!

i still have a few gifts to shop for tomorrow... probably along with a million other procrastinators! at least i got my christmas cards labeled/addressed/stamped tonight... i'm not too late am i? :)

reading about the wisemen today... "and when they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy!" matthew 2:10

may your Christmas be filled with God's joy!

a shoppin' away!

i was super excited to get an email from CSN stores to review a product and blog about all things modern!! i am a big fan of their websites especially all modern! gotta love this stuff!

lots of sleek designs and the oh so modern feel i am usually after.

they have over 200+ stores and just about everything you could ever need and absolutely endless products; modern duvet covers, kitchen gadgets, home decor, kid toys, furniture (a bedroom set i could order right now!), and dontcha love that towel rack?? they carry a bunch of my favorite brands: le creuset, all clad, and shun knives!

all modern and csn carry the coolest stuff. definitely check these out... and stay tuned for a review!

happy monday!

we're back.

it was a short and sweet trip down to st louis.

one christmas down, 6 to go... plus our annual new years party and an extra little get-2-gether... we will be so ready for that diet come january! g and i get to play host this year for many of these events... love that.

well the laundry has piled up, but thankfully i made sure the house was sparkly when i left so it felt extremely good to come home to that! i always need a few extra days to recover from the vacation :) my poor hubby had a cold - still has a bad cold, so here's hoping i don't get it too! i know it's going around.

g's sis introduced me to home goods whilst down in saint louee. i could have shopped all day! ideal brands, modern decor and for amazzzzing prices. i'm sad we don't have that store here! i picked up this shimmery green star to hang on the door - love it!

hope your weekend was dreamy...

on to Christmas!

off to st louis!

goodies. check

presents. check

bags. check

makeup! check

booties, gloves, coats. check check check!

it looks as if we are moving out! bags everywhere and boxes full of sweets, gifts and games. think the hubby and i are ready!

we are off for our first christmas party - in st louis! g's sis lives there... it will be such fun to have a change this year and celebrate somewhere new. hope it doesn't snow! or do i....

wishing you a wonderful weekend and an early merry christmas!!

{image via}

a goodie bakin'

making these and these today... and maybe a few other treats.

the rolo turtles are delish and so so easy...

rolo pretzel turtles

ingredients:

small pretzels

rolos

pecan halves or christmas m&ms

directions:

1. heat oven to 350°f. line cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil.

2. place one pretzel for each pretzel treat desired on prepared sheet. top each pretzel with one rolo.

3. bake 3 to 5 minutes or until caramel piece begins to soften, but not melt. remove from oven; top with either pecan half or additional pretzel. cool completely.

i need to make more cocoa mix too! it's nearly gone.

why i cleaned yesterday and decided to bake today... i have no idea ;)

happy holiday bakin'!

shutterfly. i heart you.

where has this month gone?! it's almost christmas!! and i have yet to order our christmas cards! you would think they would be in the mail... but alas the bus-eee-ness of the prep for the holidays got in the way...

at least we took a few photos back when it wasn't freezing... well it was... but we didn't have red rudolph noses :)

i love sending out holiday cards and receiving them in the mail. one of my favorite things of the holiday by far! i especially like to see the fridge fill up with sweet smiling little faces!

nearly 3 weeks ago i received an invite to blog about shutterfly and get some free christmas cards! well... i am just getting around to it! (better late then never i suppose)

i have been pa-rousing through some of their cool designs, adding our photos with ease... it's hard to pick a fave!

great designs and so easy to use...

i like the bright colors that say christmas... but are not red and green :) i love how pink is everywhere.. even target wrapping paper... what's a girl to do!

i super like the calendars idea... a perfect gift for the papas & grammies. a little something extra to share with them all year :)

the holiday cards, christmas ornaments and photo gifts are quite nice. i've ordered several cards and photo albums and been impressed with the quality of print. it's so cool to customize cards and gifts with photos... i love photos! ... as if you can't tell!

hope you are ahead of the crazy schedule and actually got your cards out! :) our 1st christmas is this weekend with a whirlwind trip to st louis! it will be great... looking forward to the relaxing part and family! merry christmas!

holiday ads

put that in my stocking!

{via etsy}

owl love u longtime (wink*)

honeysuckle pink.

the new hues for 2011 have arrived.

can you believe it's almost 2011?!

that feels weird to type!

the top pick for next year is definitely pink. soon there will be shades of honeysuckle pink paired with bright turquoise and orange for sure.

our newspaper (well... okay the wsj - not the local one) stated, "it's funny how colors just start to look good!"

really?! i dont think that is true, but this color isn't so bad... if you are into pink ;)

the iband.

um... yum!

new recipe.

not healthy... not. at. all.

caramel melt brownies

1 14oz pkg caramels

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1 2-layer cake mix with pudding

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans

1/2 cup chocolate chips (you can always add more :)

first, melt caramels with 1/3 cup evaporated milk until smooth. meanwhile, mix 1/3 cup evaporated milk with cake mix and melted butter. mix well. press 1/2 mixture into a greased 9x13 pan. bake for 6 minutes at 350 degrees. remove from oven and sprinkle nuts and chocolate chips over crust. top with melted caramel mixture. spread to edge of pan. top with spoonfuls of remaining cake mixture (easiest to flatten in hand and lay on top). bake for 20 more minutes at 350 degrees. enjoy!

delish!

happy monday!

hope your weekend was fabulous!

ours was quite great. i love this season!!

we have been decorating. hanging snowflake lights this year... outside. brrrr... the lights sparkle so that adds a little more christmas joy. little "snowmen" and baby christmas trees are out front on the walk. we decorated 4... (yes 4) christmas trees - one for the living room, one for the door, a mini one for my kitchen and then my WHITE ONE!! i love it :) prettiest thing ever!! (photos to come)

g and me have been shopping shopping shopping! i am half way through my christmas list!

lots of christmas dates in between the shopping too. (that's my favorite part!) we always try to hit a new place to eat or do something different every time.

we drove around looking at the pretty lights for a while yesterday... beautiful in the ritsy neighborhoods, but boy are there some griswolds out there, wowza. ha!

i saw one today that was hilarious, we will have to backtrack and find it - definitely worth a photo!

christmas will be here in no time!

etsy shoppin'

like like like these gift ideas!

cream and sugar {via}

white lolite amethyst earrings. {via}

cream taffeta bow belt {via}

giselle baby booties. {via}

dual docking station. {via}

petite love stone. {via}giant fork tee. {via}

handpainted portrait mug {via} (of course i wouldn't order it as is, ha)

my husband would definitely get a chuckle out of this!

the photo just cracks me up. {via}

etsy is overflowing with great stuff, check it all out!

they even have guy/girl gift sections so shopping is a breeze :)

christmas specials.

there are oodles of goodies out there time of year!

here are just a few good deals i've run across:

kohls online coupon codes get you some really inexpensive items. enter FREECCDEC to get free shipping and code NEXTORDER20 to get an additional 20% off... even clearance!

$5 off $5 purchase at hallmark stores coupon

target has a legos sale today with free shipping! enter code ER5PVIIO for an additional 10% off. they also have a $10 off legos coupon and a $5 off easy bake oven to use in the store.

100 piece mega blocks are on sale online at walmart for only $10.00 +.97 shipping

if you are hoping to get photos with santa the healthy baby boutique is offering them for $5 and santa will be wearing a vintage green suit!! click for info

botanica illuminations is open! we hope to hit this event before we are off to st louis for christmas. i love seeing all the lights this time of year!

the pillsbury holiday cookbook is free to download here

happy shopping!!

holiday ideas.

David Stark Holiday Collection from west elm on Vimeo.

okay, all silliness aside... these are pretty creative. happy decorating.

{yes, these things really are for sale via!} ha! :)

baby it's cold outside...

{image via}