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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

OOTD & Pinspiration

I'm trying to get better at remembering to take pictures!!
My pinspiration:

Source: google.com via Becky on Pinterest



And what I wore:

Vest: Banana Republic
Shirt: JC Penny's {hubby's shirt, never wears}
Leggings: Charlotte Russe
Belt: F21
Scarf: Kohls
Jewelry: Stella & Dot
Makeup: BE
Yes I have a few pink strands of hair to mix it up a bit!
Boots {that you can't see}: Madden Girl
As much as I love the menswear look......I just love PINK =D
I think it looks so chic-a man's shirt & sparkly baubles.
I had lots of errands to run; I wanted to look put together, yet comfy.
I live in leggings.
What is your go to shopping outfit?

Birthday Shout-outs!

Today is a special day for two special ladies in my life:
My grams turns 87 today!!
My niece and grams dancing!

And my step-mom Tricia also celebrates a birthday today!
 She's a very generous person and I'm very happy she {and her son Tyler} are apart of our lives.
She's done so much for my dad, grandma and all of us.  I hope she realizes how important she is to us.
:) 
It's awesome that she fits right into our family and my friends.
She's a blast!
 Love you Tricia!

It's a little bittersweet because my grandma is leaving NY tomorrow 
and flying to CA to stay out there to be closer with my aunt.  
I wish her a safe flight and a smooth transition.

I hope she continues to do as well there, as she was doing here.

I hope that they both have a wonderful day!

Love you Grams.
I will miss you.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The Tree Tradition

Holiday Traditions
I have always loved Christmas, but when my parents divorced, what I had known as "traditions" changed.
It wasn't until Joe and I spent our first Christmas together that I really felt The Magic of Christmas again.
We try and get the tree the first or second weekend of December.
I have this thing, where, I really like it to be snowing when we get a tree. 
Even just a flake makes me so giddy!
Joe didn't have a tree here at this house until Sadie & I moved in.
Well, that just isn't an option.  I need a tree.
No fakes for us!!
In 2008: Our first tree
Let me tell you; when we successfully got through putting up that tree and the lights,
I felt like we could do anything as a couple!!
It was not as easy as we anticipated!! 
Angel Topper:
Growing up, my 2 sisters and I would want to fight over who put the angel on the tree.
My parents got smart and wrote down who's turn it was each year and we alternated.  
It was a big deal. I'll definitely remember that for our kids!
A little lean to the right...
 We always put these on Sadie & she always rips them off.
We always blast Christmas music & rap, pour some wine and go to town on the tree!
The magic of Christmas!
I just love the look on her face haha!
Christmas 2009~we were engaged!!
I loved that tree!
Christmas 2010:
First
Married
Christmas:


Our newest addition last year:
Holly Holiday! 
That dress was too big last year and
I'm afraid too small this year!
I just realized each year we had different floors! 
Luckily the hardwood worked out and we still have that for this year.

We don't cut down our own tree, but we do pick it out at a local garden shop.
I can't wait to see what beautiful pine we'll bring home this year!
What's your tree tradition?
Link up!


Fabulous Holiday Blog Challenge

Monday, November 28, 2011

Cleaning & Organization

If you say it and act it, you will believe it. 
Well, maybe not, but it does feel SO good to have a clean and organized house.
I must admit that choosing to stay home this year is a bit of an adjustment.  All of those housework "things" that I just didn't have time to do properly, are quite literally staring at me in the face. Every.Single.Day.
It can be overwhelming, but like anything, you have to start somewhere.
I of course turned to Pinterest and shared some of those ideas in this post.
Well, I am not quite finished with the paint job yet, but I did go and spend $50 at the Dollar Tree in bins and cleaning supplies. This is what I have accomplished thus far.
Top bathroom drawer 
(just needs more of these cute little bins! 2 or 3 for $1 and they link together!!)
Now this drawer needs them too! Ick.
Yes that is a dreaded stick.
And yes, that is fake hair that I bought but it's not the right shade of blonde 
and I don't need more hair anyway! haha
Isn't funny how a simple organized drawer brings peace?
Or am I just a freak...
I also grabbed some cute bins for under the sinks. It is SO much easier to grab a bin out and take the cleaning supplies that I need, rather than knocking over half of the items in the front becuase what I really need is in the back.
 I also took the time to group things in bins of what I use the most, 
and extras keep in the back.
And most of my day was spent in the shower. 
It's older. 
It was gross. 
My nails hurt from scrubbing so hard.
But it was so worth it. 
We had so much junk lined on the top, it drove me nuts!
Another $1 store purchase!
I also scrubbed the floors and cleared away magazines etc.
Zen.
That's my goal.
We are thinking of "re-doing the bathroom" as our Christmas gift to each other.
I'll pin about that later.
And for my final act, I organized hubby's second closet.
Yes, he has two.
I can't judge though.
The "guest room/future nursery" is my closet for the time being. 
Sigh of relief and satisfaction.
For now.
There are many more closets and rooms to be organized.
Cleaning supplies I cannot live without:
Oh, and my secret weapon? My daily living room sidekick:
Roomba
It does cost a pretty penny, but I run it every day.
Then every other day I go through with a dry mop and the hardwood floor cleaner afterwards.
If you have dogs and hardwood floors, I HIGHLY recommend getting one.


Any great cleaning supplies I'm missing out on?
What are some ways you organize?

Cyber Monday began with some shopping for my man and a few others {who may read this lovely little blog} but I can say that I saved A LOT and I officially started my shopping.
 I made a delicious dinner and ended the night with a glass {ok, two} of:
I also purchased Michael Buble's Christmas CD.
I'm hoping it gets me in the mood to decorate!
A little snow would be nice too, thanks.



Chicken cacciatorre~ Slow Cooker

Since the holiday season is here, you will needs lots of easy and healthy recipes to get you and your families fed during this time.
Chicken Cacciatorre {Hunter's Chicken}

Rustic, yet not difficult or too rich.
Ingredients:
3-4 lbs. boneless breasts and/or thighs
1 large onion, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon each basil and oregano
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 bay leaves
1 large can of crushed tomatoes OR diced...whatever your preference
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups red wine
Parmesan cheese, for sprinkling before serving

Place sliced onions on bottom of crock pot. Add chicken.

Stir together remaining ingredients and pour over chicken.

Cook on low 7-9 hours or high 3-4 hours. Serve over pasta, with a salad on the side.


*I used bone in one time--TOO many small bones--because it all fell apart, there were so many tiny bones I would just be on the safe side and do boneless thighs/breasts*

Delicious taste, you don't even need pasta, 

but if you married an Italian, he'll probably want spaghetti!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

A little of this and that on Sunday

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving weekend!
Did you start or finish your holiday shopping?
Or, perhaps, you are like me and haven't even started yet...oops!
A few new things in my life:
I received my nail polish from the swap I was in.
My partner was very generous!
Saturday brought the Fed Ex man dropping off my new Erin Condren Life Planner.
How did I survive before you?
Thanks fellow bloggers, as I had never heard of her before I began blogging.
 
 I'm pretty excited about it!
Saturday night hubby decided I could get one of my Christmas gifts early.
Remember how I spilled coffee all over my table and cell?
Well, he called the Apple store and they had a white iPhone 4s in stock!
Merry Christmas to me {early!}
Source: google.com via Cierra on Pinterest
I picked out this fun cover for now.
And of course, the "OMG I just got a new iPhone, here's my cheesy pic!"
 
I had a fun little Sunday.
Coffee & bagels with my girl Kristin.
Pasta Sunday with the Italian side (Joey's gram makes the best pasta!)
We caught up on Modern Family & Revenge. Those are good shows!!!
And as I finish this post, I gag as Kim K & Kourtney take NY.
Anyone else still wonder what the???
Kris H.
Anywho, have a great night and a fantastic week ahead!!