A New Year

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne

Wishing health, happiness, and love to you and yours.

Let's Get Ornamental

One of my favorite after holiday traditions is scooping up heavily discounted ornaments during after holiday sales. After they are packed away and forgotten, it is almost like an early Christmas present when opening up the decoration box at the beginning of the next holiday season.

I also have a slight obsession with all things Jonathan Adler. If you are nearby a Jonathan Adler store, I implore you to go check it out. It will make you swoon and want to move in immediately. Love Love Love.

So in perusing the web for some fun new ornaments for 2010, I "stumbled" upon the Jonathan Adler site and found these gems.

Pop Menagerie Giraffe Ornament

Original $28, Now $19.20

Adler Dove Ornament

Original $28, Now $19.20

Peace & Love Ornament

Original $48, Now $38.40

A Christmas Recap Quickie

Our Christmas was wonderful.

We took a cheesy picture or two

Santa brought us all fantastic presents

We drank one (or a few too many) white russians on Christmas Eve

We spent a wonderful weekend in New York with my famiglia

We saw one of my favorite broadway shows...which was beyond amazing.

I cannot wait for next year. Our first official Christmas as a married duo.

How was your holiday?

Happy Happy Holidays!

Well, we're off to the FIL's for a Christmas celebration and then heading down to NYC to spend the weekend with my family. I'll be back on Monday with lots of fun pictures.

Wishing you all a happy holiday season! xo

Wrapped Up

I'm wiped after a rather productive evening. It began with a homemade eggplant pasta dinner, which took much longer than necessary and kind of ended up tasting like pasta with canned tomato sauce. Oops. Then it was on to a wrapping marathon. I finally received the last of my parents presents in the mail today (ah the love of online holiday shopping) and I need to ship out the Chicago present package this week. My mom, dad, and younger brother will be the lucky recipients.

This is the first year of the inevitable holiday trade off that includes me not spending Christmas in Chicago. Last year, I spent Thanksgiving with M's family in Philly while he joined me in Chi-town for Christmas. This year it was the reverse. Though I have to admit I am being a bit more spoiled than he was about spending the holiday away from mia famiglia. It's tough not having our families in the same area which would allow for the eve / day holiday split. Instead one of us does not get to share in the holiday traditions, comforts, and joy of our family. Now don't get me wrong, I love M's parents but as most of you can probably relate, it's just not the same.

Looking on the bright side, we'll be heading to New York City the day after Christmas for a weekend trip with my peeps. So I guess I should stop whining.

Oh, and I finished up the night with a second try at baking my mom's famous Mint Meringues. Fingers crossed they turn out. If so, I'll post the recipe tomorrow.

Etsy Finds: Hydrangea Blossom & Diamond Ring

What young bride does not swoon over hydrangeas? Well, second only to peonies of course. Wouldn't this be an adorably thoughtful wedding day present? Or holiday gift? (hint hint)

Hydrangea Blossom & Diamond Stacking Ring by Patrick Irla Jewelry

$136

Gifting Myself

Currently gathering ideas for a Christmas wishlist to provide to M. I've decided that it cannot hurt anyone to have a little nudging towards the perfect gift.

Snake Skin Clutch by Lauren Merkin

$225

New Q Printed Wristlet by Marc Jacobs

$168

And there's nothing wrong with swooning over funky clutches. I'm a sucker for snakeskin and Marc Jacobs.

Fa-la-la-la...A Christmas Beagle

It's Edison's favorite time of the year...all the ornaments he can break and tree water he can drink.

Letterpress, Yes!

I've been doing some serious bloggy oogling of the 2010 letterpress calendars that are being created. So I decided that they would be the perfect holiday gift and ordered one from Pistachio Press to give to my dear mamacita for Christmas. Eye candy! After receiving it today after just 2 days, I have decided that I must purchase one for myself also.

Fantabulously Frugal Giveaway

Fantabulously Frugal has 3 amazing holiday giveaway packages, including amazing gifts such as:

• $50 Gift Certificate to BeautyTicket.com
• Warm Vanilla Sugar Triple Moisture Body Cream from Bath & Body Works
• Gucci Buckle Sunglasses
• Voluspa Yuzu Rose Bubble Bath Candle
• Pencil case from Etsy seller Made by Hank stuffed with little goodies
• Paper Source note cards
• Gold leather Kate Spade passport case
• Gold Amrita Singh twisted hoop earrings

Check, check, check it out...because who doesn't need a little holiday cheer?

Labor Day = Backyard BBQs

I hope you all have enjoyed a fantastic long weekend filled with friends, family, and backyard bbqs. Labor Day Weekend is always bittersweet as to me it represents the last summer weekend. Next year we have two (count 'em 2!) weddings Labor Day Weekend so we will not be participating in the typical Labor Day traditions.

We're thrilled though to celebrate with two of our best friends (and hoping that we can swing it with one wedding in Denver and the other in Boston).

Lastly, to all of you lovely ladies who celebrated your weddings this weekend...congratulations!

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