Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

God Bless Everyone!!

25 days of Christmas on Amazon!

Amazon has gone above and beyond and given us a wonderful Christmas present!! Everyday until Christmas it has a free Christmas mp3 download!! How fun!! What a great way to celebrate! And if you miss a day or two you can still get all the past ones too! Thanks Amazon!!



Just go to Amazon and select MP3 Downloads Department!

Great Sales!!

There are some great sales out there right now, here are a few of my favorite...

D&G Dolce&Gabbana 'Romina' Flap Satchel


http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3003953/0~2376788~6002242~6007538~6007596?mediumthumbnail=Y&siteId=BolFSqx4S4U-wY0eIrwt8tgR8j9PJaf3zA

Nicole Miller - black guilded crest silk jersey shift dress

http://www.bluefly.com/Nicole-Miller-black-guilded-crest-silk-jersey-shift-dress/cat60019/302230201/detail.fly?cm_mmc=CJ-_-1656501-_-1827884-_-302230201&referer=cjunction_1827884_10436858_541410-0-178-1

Tory Burch - Grania Top


http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=282574492713347&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446205017&R=884089597701&P_name=Tory+Burch&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474399545537&bmUID=1228566986402&siteID=BolFSqx4S4U-YvyGywpZmGEkag41KN7Xrg

Kate Spade - black patent leather 'Gina' peep toe pumps


http://www.bluefly.com/Kate-Spade-black-patent-leather-Gina-peep-toe-pumps/cat20022/301423001/detail.fly?cm_mmc=CJ-_-1656501-_-1827884-_-301423001&referer=cjunction_1827884_10436858_541410-0-143-10

Jones New York Dress Sleeveless Lace Back Dress


http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2943290/0~2376788~6002242~6007533~6007554?mediumthumbnail=Y&siteId=BolFSqx4S4U-80XQ9KylZMdCVzRcsFVC0A

Tennis anyone?

So one thing that I am sad I missed out on growing up is tennis lessons. My family always made sure we did all sorts of lessons, and made sure the lessons were well-rounded, but I never got into tennis for some reason. Both my parents loved tennis and played often, but I was too busy dancing, baton twirling, tumbling, cheerleading, playing soccer and instruments to get into tennis. So for about two years now a group of friends and I have been talking and trying to plan learning to play tennis, so when our company offered tennis lessons, free play and lunch at the tennis club just down the street from my house we were ecstatic!! On one of our Fridays off just for twenty dollars we got free tennis lessons from 5 professional tennis instructors, which usually cost $65 an hour, free time to play on the courts, a gift bag, and a wonderful lunch buffet, that included one of my favorites chicken marsala and miniature desserts spread, yummy! We had such a good time!! The weather was perfect, the food was wonderful and we actually did great! I learned so much!

Gingersnap??

I want to know what's the deal with Starbucks not having the holiday usual Gingerbread latte and instead having an impostor latte Gingersnap. Its not as good I swear!! I wait all year to have my Pumpkin Spice and then my Gingerbread lattes and now its not going to be here. I am not a regular coffee drinker because it makes me crazy hyper and jittery, yes even one cup, but I make exception for those two. A special Happy Holidays to myself! I am so disappointed!! Did they just change the name and its all in my head, maybe, but still gingersnap isn't Christmasy, it just reminds me of the frosted cookies I chose to throw at others in preschool instead of eating. Okay I didn't realize I could get so passionate over lattes, but still...its not the holidays without a gingerbread latte from Starbucks.

Happy Happy Turkey Day!!

Give Thanks!!

Turkey day is almost here

I am so excited Thanksgiving is almost here. I love Thanksgiving more than any other holiday, and I am so happy that we are starting to celebrate a week early this year. Of course I started a long time ago...my Thanksgiving decorations have been up since before Halloween. This week we are having two Thanksgiving meals, one Wednesday for the whole company, and a potluck on Thursday with my new program. I am a sucker for potlucks, I just love them (when I know the people cooking at least), so I have to participate. This one is great because management is buying almost everything, turkey, drinks, rolls, some sides, all we bring are other sides and desserts. I have decided to make my aunt's squash casserole that she has made for years and I have made before. I loved this even before I knew what yellow squash was.

SQUASH CASSEROLE

MAKES 8 SERVINGS

PREP: 20 MIN., COOK: 20 MIN., BAKE: 35 MIN.

3 pounds yellow squash, sliced
5 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided
1 small onion, chopped (about ½ cup)
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
20 round buttery crackers, crushed (about ¾ cup)

COOK squash in boiling water to cover in a large skillet 8 to 10 minutes or just until tender. Drain well; gently press between paper towels.

MELT 4 tablespoons butter in skillet over medium-high heat; add onion, and saute 5 minutes or until tender. Remove skillet from heat; stir in squash, cheese, and next 4 ingredients. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish.

MELT remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Stir together melted butter and crushed crackers; sprinkle evenly over top of casserole.

BAKE at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes or until set.

So yummy!!

Change...

So I found out last week I needed to get on a new program at work, I got called about an interview Tuesday morning for Tuesday afternoon, then got an email Tuesday night telling me to start the new program Wednesday morning at a brand new location (good thing I happened to check my email at home that night). So in a matter of two days I have a new program, a new role, a new office at a brand new location...crazy!! I hate change, I love my routines, and even if something has to change I like a lot of warning to prepare myself for it. Its all the little things, new drive to work, have no idea where a microwave is, no free sparkling water at this campus...and the worse part of all...this program is only for 4 weeks...I start yet another program in December. I guess I shouldn't complain, I still have a job and its still with the same company, changing programs only changes what work you are doing and for who, it doesn't change compensation or benefits. Sometimes I think that its neat that you can do so many diverse jobs all at one company, but for someone who hates change 6 programs in 5 years is a lot to handle.

Tea Party Baby Shower

I finally got the pictures from the tea party baby shower back! I wanted to wait to tell everyone all about it when I could show you!
The day went perfectly, everyone had a great time, and loved all the details. My sister couldn't have been happier and everyone said it was the best baby shower they had ever been too...wow!! I think it was all the food, and the yummy champagne punch that made them say that! Here are a lot of pictures...














Cake balls made to look like flowers, yummy!!


The diaper cake!

The favors! tea cups with tea and a lifesaver binky.

Good Deal: Sephora

Great Deal!! I love Sephora! And they have free shipping if you spend $50!! Since I love love love makeup its too easy for me to spend way more than $50 on it!

Happy Halloween!!

Costumes, Costumes, Costumes...

My friends and I love dressing up, and we will make any excuse to do it...theme parties, Halloween for days, we just love it. Making the costume is really my favorite part, I love trying to get all the parts and then bringing it all together. I always make my own, I never buy, and I will spend at least a month executing my idea, so its very weird that this year I havent done one thing yet...I think I have an idea, but even that is shakey...Hmmm...What will I do...So out of character for me...pun intended! Since the party isn't until Saturday I still have some time.

80's Cartoons

The Spice Girls!


Cartoon Theme Party (Jessica Rabbit!)


Superman and a Fallen Angel (I am 6'4 here! Crazy boots!)

Its the great...Halloween favorite!

Its the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown is on tonight at 8 on ABC, yay!! I love Charlie Brown and I am a fanatic of Vince Guaraldi, so I cant wait to watch it for the ump-hundredth time!

Brrrr...

48 degrees in Florida in October...brrrrr...Cold front!! I have to say I love this kind of weather, cozy sweaters, more lattes, and lots of snuggling to keep warm. Its helps with missing the north this time of year, I love the Fall!! Hope it warms up for the kiddies to go trick or treating, I hate when the weather interferes with that. One year when I was ten there was a encephalitis scare and we had to trick or treat during the day...just not the same!!

Countdown until shower tea party

The baby shower tea is in two days, I have gotten a ton done, but still have so much to do.
Things complete:
Make Diaper Cake
Buy Punch dispensers and test out
Buy tea cups
Make baby clothesline for a streamer/garland
Make lifesaver binky favors
Put together binky/tea bags in tea cup
Buy elegant tablecloth with pink in it
Put in food orders
Things to do:
Clean silver
Clean china
Clean glassware
Make cake balls
Make finger sandwiches
Buy flowers
Make flower arrangements
Make blue cheese biscuits
Make punches
Pick up food order

Wow thats even more than I thought, good thing I am off tomorrow! I hope everyone has a good time! There will be 16 of us including me, thats more than I thought would be coming, but the more the merrier and I always go overboard with food and drink so I am all set in that department.

Weekend Recap

What a busy weekend!

It started out with me leaving work early on Friday to have a Photofacial...this was interesting! I had first researched it because I thought my face was a little too red, most likely from too many visits to the tanning bed when I was younger, and decided to try it. Turns out from others before pictures I am not that "red" after all. It hurt a lot worse than I thought it would, not bad, but annoying, we will see if the results are worth it in a few weeks. After the medspa I drove to Dan's old place where we were spending the weekend, after one stop for a few baby gifts for the shower it was a relaxing night of movies and Chinese food.

Saturday was a gorgeous day for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, sunny, breezy and not one drop of rain. We had a wonderful time, we got there early and did a couple of regular Epcot things, which I had never done before, and then hit the World Showcase for the festival, so good!! The first round I didn't do that much wine and did food mostly, Austria and Morocco were the best foodwise! I of course had to do the Norway ride, I love it! Its silly and from the 70's or 80's but I love it regardless! The second round I did more wine and champagne, just enough not too much! My favorite Rose Regale I even found at a kiosk in Italy that wasn't part of the festival, yay! made my day. The best country for wine was by far Germany, but I like sweet whites. After an exhausting, but fun day we went home to take a nap, hit the grocery store then after much insisting I got Dan to put in some old videos of him playing college basketball...too cute!

On Sunday I got up early to make sausage balls for my parents birthday party, then off to the party at my Aunt and Uncle's house, so convenient that Dan still has his place it only took us 20 minutes to get there. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and mimosas to start the party, then presents, a wonderful dinner, lots of talking, football and then dessert, wow thats a lot of eating...It was a great day and I was able to borrow two beautiful teapots from my aunt that will go great with the baby shower decor for this weekend. Home to Dan's old place where I was in a food comma and Dan finished watching football. What a busy food filled weekend! Thank goodness the weather was unbelievable!

Things to do: Epcot Food and Wine Festival

I am so excited, we are going to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival this weekend! I always love The World Showcase, it takes you around the world in one afternoon and the shops, people, and buildings really make you feel like you're somewhere else. The Food and Wine Festival makes it even better, the food, wines and beer at each country are so fun to try and are so yummy!! Yay!!

Things I love: Mary Engelbreit

When I was in about 4th grade my aunt introduced me to Mary Engelbreit's artwork, and I just fell in love. I just love the sweet innocence in her drawings and the downright cuteness really. Back then I collected everything I could find and to this day love finding new stuff. I was so excited to find tons of cute little Mary Engelbreit things at Michael's crafts in the dollar section...note cards, magnets, boxes, stickers, all Mary Engelbreit and all for a dollar!! So cute!!

Weekend Recap

What a busy weekend, like all of them it just flew by!



The weekend started off kind of rough...at my job we get every other Friday off, but we hadn't had one in over a month because of tropical storm Fay makeup days...fun! So this was my first Friday off since Labor day weekend, and I get a phone call from my sister Thursday night that the littlest baby girl, Payton was sick and they needed someone to watch her...in comes Aunt Molly. Turns out she was fine the next day so we had a nice day of playing, eating, and a long nap. Dan and I left their house around 7 after watching some baseball in my brother-in-law's new Chicago theme man room (he converted the old one so they have room for the new nursery) to have a nice dinner out and then home for me to crash.


Saturday up early to make stuffed French toast, and do some stuff around the house. Then our usual Saturday lunch routine Parmesan garlic fries, Cajun wings, and college football at our favorite sports bar then Publix for grocery shopping. After we put away the groceries I decided to leave Dan to his football and run some errands for the baby shower in two weeks. I accomplished so much...found beautiful teacups and saucers for the favors, ordered the dessert platters for the tea, bought a damask pink tablecloth, a new cream teapot and matching sugar/honey/lemon bowl, a three tire serving platter, a teacart playset for my nieces, and two punch drink dispensers...wow, thats a lot! Plus some more fall stuff and a rug for one of the guestrooms, but that has nothing to do with the shower...oops! After shopping I came home to relax and finish cooking the homemade chicken soup I started in the morning. It turned out really yummy and was even better the next day...and today.

Sunday was the best day of the weekend, I finally used the spa package I got from Dan for my birthday...first a massage, it was so great and I could barely function after, he knew exactly what was causing my shoulder tension...typing! Then a manicure and pedicure, OPI has these beautiful French inspired fall colors, I got "I'm fondue of you!", very pretty wine mauvish color, not as brick as the picture looks. Last but not least a hair cut and style...the head massage was the best part, I never look very different after hair cuts, it was just a trim I guess. To wrap up the day a nice lunch and champagne, yummy! With the massage and champagne combo I was ready for a nap, home to relax and enjoy a nice dinner Dan cooked on the grill.

Happy Birthday Mom!! Hope you have a wonderful day!! ...My dad even took the day off to "pamper" her, how cute is that! Even after 34 years of marriage the romance is still alive...too sweet!

Target One Spot Find: Silicone muffin cups

I love Target's One Spot, they always have such great little things that I really dont need, but are so cute I have to get. This week's finds, silicone muffin cups...so cute, I got bright blue ones, fall recipe cards, and fall cheese spreader knife set.

What's cookin: Cuban Pork Roast

My boyfriend and I both love to cook, and love the Food Network, so a lot of meals get inspired from there. Right after we saw Bobby Flay's Cuban pork roast Throwdown, I searched for a good Cuban pork roast recipe(that didnt require the fancy box the winners used), and did I sure find one. This has now become Dan's and others favorite dish I make and it is so simple!! Crock Pot cooking is so wonderful! I now have the dry rub premixed in a big jar and just have to add the orange and olive oil when making it. Yummy, and easy...doesn't get much better!

Ingredients:
2 tbs ground cumin
2 tbs black pepper
2 tbs garlic, granulated
2 tbs salt
2 tbs dried oregano
2 tbs Spanish paprika
juice of 1/2 orange
zest of 1 orange
3 tbs olive oil
4 pounds pork shoulder

Directions:
1-Combine dried ingredients with zest orange juice and olive oil, mix well to form a wet paste

2-Rub this paste all over the roast

3-Place in Crock Pot on low for about 5-6 hours or until extremely tender.

Two of my favorite things together...

Fall and Food! Lucky me!! My sister received a pumpkin gift basket from William Sonoma and decided to pass it along to me. She knows how much I love anything pumpkin. It contained their pumpkin bread mix that I have never had before and their pecan pumpkin butter that I already tried and loved. Online they have the cutest pumpkin bread loaf pans that I might have to get before making the bread, Aw Fall!!

Super cute Marshall's find

I just love wandering around Marshall's, TJ Maxx, and Ross and finding something absolutely adorable on clearance or not on clearance even, since their prices are so good. On my latest trip to Marshall's I found two super cute Tommy Hilfiger watermelon roll-up beach mats on clearance for $5 each, what a deal!! I might redo my pool patio to be green and navy just to match them! Here is a picture of them I found on the internet. They will look so cute on two white lounge chairs with a navy and green umbrella...now to find an umbrella...

Correction

I just tried using the Ann Taylor Loft promotional code 8940012 to get $25 off a $50 purchase, even on clearance, and the code is 89400012, sorry! It works though and what a great deal!

Tea time

So my only sibling, my sister that is about 3 years older than me, is pregnant with her third little girl. I just love spoiling family and friends, especially when they are pregnant, so this is a great reason to have a wonderful celebration. I thought since this is baby number three I would do something a little different than a baby shower, so I decided to have an afternoon tea in her honor. Lots of great foods, savory and sweet, teas, punch, champagne, for those who can drink it, tea cups with tea bags as favors, just enough beautiful flowers, linens and decorations to still be elegant, and I finally get to use my fine china. Right now the menu is just a draft (I always have way too much food) I am thinking...a really elegant cake, not made by me, cake balls, chicken salad tarts (a request from the mommy), finger sandwiches, mini quiches, these little pastry appetizers that we love, scones, chocolate covered strawberries, rose punch (found online ::fingers crossed::), at least three flavored teas, and Rosa Regale champagne, my favorite!!
And for decorations I am going to get a couple of flower arrangements done in teapots, make a clothesline of new baby clothes to hang like party streamers or a banner and make my diaper cake that I do for all my friends. We decided not to have any games just to have the tea and enjoy the food.

Coach change of heart

I have never been a Coach purse fan, those C's make me a little ill really, but then shopping with my boyfriend's mom I came across this beauty and had a change of heart. This bag is beautiful and I fell in love with it as soon as I spotted it. I never knew Coach had gorgeous purses like this, but without one "C" on it I guess I wouldn't know. It is a very large purse, even strangers comment about my "overnight bag", but I love big bags and its even prettier in person (really nice cognac color leather not shiny at all). Who knew Coach...

New low calorie product

I am not a Weight Watchers member or anything, I just love to try new diet foods, and add them to my menu of things that are low cal and don't taste like...it to trick myself. So yesterday when I was shopping in Super Target I came across these babies!! ...Weight Watchers Golden Sponge Cake with Creamy Filling...aka diet Twinkie, they are a little pricey I think at $3.99 for 6 tiny cakes, but are well worth it since they are surprisingly yummy and only one Weight Watcher point. The filling is a little gooier, but that was never a bad thing in my book and just a heads up don't let the raspberries on the box confuse you like they did me, there is nothing raspberry about these, I had to double check.

Moving Day

It's official, my boyfriend of a little over two years, Dan, finally moved in this weekend. He was living 80+ miles away, but still drove back and forth 4 days a week, and I did it twice during the week...lots of gas! He finally got the okay from his company to work from home a few days a week so home will be over here! Yay! What a difference it will make, I am so excited!

First Day of Fall

Fall is definitely my favorite season and Thanksgiving is definitely my favorite holiday, and even though our fall is not like up North's I can still feel a difference in the air. I decorate for fall almost as much as I decorate for Christmas, I just love these pictures from Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel...



Makes me want to have and Fall themed party or Thanksgiving right now.

Birthday Weekend Recap

What a great birthday weekend! In my family birthdays are always spread out.

This years birthday celebration started on Tuesday with my best girls, way to many hors d'oeuvres, pomegranate martinis, ice cream cake, and Taboo. Good times!!

Friday I took a very very long lunch, Starbucks first, then some shopping...I had a lot of savings cards from Ann Taylor Loft that were burning a hole in my pocket (code 8940012 to get $25 off a $50 purchase, even on clearance!!). I also wanted to hit up some stores to get some nice fall decorations for the house, Kirkland's, and Target had plenty! Great deals too!! Then Panera for some lunch and back to the office. After work I went shopping for some new jeans and mineral makeup then we went out to dinner and Dan watched the Ryders Cup.

Saturday at 12am I was woken up for my first "Happy Birthday", of course I went back to bed then was woken up again around 8:30am with blueberry pancakes and fresh squeezed orange juice, yummy! After eating and getting ready it was present time, my main gift from Dan (my boyfriend of two years) was a new fancy grill and cover, this has been on my list to get for a while, I also got a DVD of Jim Gaffigan(he is just too funny, if you haven't seen him yet you have to!!), season 4 of The Office (that came with a Rabies Run t-shirt, wrist band, and water bottle...hehe!), windshield wiper blades (so practical and I really needed them, what a guy!) and last but not least a spa package with mani/pedi, massage, and facial at my favorite spa.

After presents we went to my favorite sports bar Coasters to watch college football and try an "Only A Rated" beer sampler, and a ridiculously good bacon cheese burger (you can be bad on your birthday). Then to the gourmet grocery store Green Turtle, so Dan could pick up ingredients for my birthday dinner. Home to rest up and talk to friends calling to wish me a happy birthday, then my wonderful dinner of macadamia nut mahi-mahi, brown rice salad, and asti. What a wonderful day!

Now the family birthday! Sunday we went over to my parents house around noon for heavy hors d'oeuvres (I see a pattern), swimming and watching football. Lots of great family time with my sister and her little girls, 2 and 4, more presents and one of my favorite meals, chicken cordon bleu. After the long day and weekend we crashed in bed!

What a great weekend!

Tis The Season!

I am so excited! Its that time of year...the Pumpkin Spice Latte is back at Starbucks!! Yay!! That means its almost Fall, my favorite season!

Welcome!

I was googling what to wear with a chartreuse Banana Republic top I got at an after Christmas sale last year and I accidentally fell into the world of blogging.... and of course became obsessed, not with writing my own just with reading them. I just love getting all the tips, and good finds and reading about the day to day life of others. It helps that I sit in front of not one, but two computers for 9+ hours a day 5 days a week, and when it comes to work I have the attention span of a 5 year old... reading blogs is a great break and you still look like you are working! So now I have decided to start writing one too, Saturday is my birthday so I figured what's a better way to start off the new year with a blog of my own! Here I go!