Resolutions...

hmmm New Year's resolutions....oh the pressure to keep them and frankly I don't feel like working out more or eating more vegetables or drinking less ;) . How about just doing my best to be more patient and thankful this year. Everything else is small potatoes in the grand scheme of things anyway, right?

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Display your holiday cheer

Show off all your friends and family this year by displaying your Christmas cards in a new way. This year I hung all my cards and photos that I have received in my kitchen over the wood blinds in the shape of a Christmas tree.

holy.cow.that's.good.

If you are looking for that last minute small gift for a neighbor, teacher, co-worker....yourself :) look no further.

TRADER JOE'S DARK CHOCOLATE SEA SALT CARAMELS ARE FANTASTIC!

They are $4.99 and like heaven in your mouth. I am not getting paided by TJ's to say this, however if they want to pay me in a lifetime supply of these treats....bring it on!

Salt + dark chocolate + caramel = happy girl

(husbands/boyfriends may want to stock up...just sayin')

p.s. thanks to my friend Dara for introducing me to these aaahhhhmaaaaaaazzzing morsels.

Man oh man(tle)

This year my downstairs got a woodsy Christmas make-over. Everything I did was in attempt to achieve that "au naturel" look....and I love it. Take a look at what me and my talented momma came up with on the fireplace. 

The garland is a mix of white pine (costco), dried hydrangeas (friend's yard), and jute bows (leftovers from the days of making "hemp" necklaces, I promise at least 10+ years old). The wreath in the middle came from Target and is made out of a thousand pieces of star anise (smells a bit like licorice) and was a steal at $8...originally $40!


Next year (and by next year I mean this year when xmas stuff is 80% off) I think I will get new stockings and holders that are bit more rustic and natural to add to this woodsy theme.

neat-o

I saw this on "Live with Kelly" this morning and thought this was such a genius idea. I would have loved it if our house had speakers installed throughout when it was built... unfortunately when it was built I was still attending frat parties and complaining about 10am classes.

These light bulb speakers are called , AudioBulbs, and can be installed into almost any light outlet. You could  put them in the ceiling or even a floor lamp. The bulbs supposedly last for 60 thousand hours! They are a bit pricey at $ 300 but good luck getting surround sound installed in your home for that price. I wish I knew someone that had them already. It would be great to hear if they are as cool as they sound :) (get it sound? nerdy? yes! oh well.. )

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Christmas cocktails

Bottoms up! Celebrate with friends and Santa this year with some of these holly jolly hot (or cold) toddies :)

Gingerbread Martini

Pecan "Milk" Punch

Orange-Cranberry Gin and Tonic

Apple-Ale Wassail

Hot Buttered Rye

this.is.so.cool.

Forget the charms...give your wine glasses a little dip in some chalkboard paint... that way you can personalize your glasses over and over again.

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