It's here!

I found this cute sequins jacket on the Gap website a couple of weeks ago. Every time I clicked on the jacket it said "coming soon." Well my Gap friend I made on Friday, when I stood in line for over an hour, told me the jacket was arriving today. I think this jacket is so cute and just perfect for the holidays. I have a holiday cocktail party tomorrow night and this is just the thing my outfit needs. Who would of ever thought you would buy something else besides jeans and t-shirts at the Gap.

They are kicking it up a notch for the holidays!

ho ho ho

And We're Off!

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend in my neck of the woods. Thursday morning we woke up to this.....SNOW!! It didn't stick but my kids managed to play outside and try to sled.

We went to my sister's house for a fun afternoon and a delicious turkey dinner.
Friday morning, Libby and I decided to hit the mall. Everything was 50% off at the Gap until 10 am. This is what our Gap looked like.
Saturday we spent the day decorating. This is our first Christmas in our new home, we decided we wanted as many trees as possible. We put one in our living room...

and one in our dining room. We are hosting Christmas eve dinner and I want everyone to be able to see a tree when they eat.
Saturday night we had a dinner party with some friends, Dan did all the cooking. He spent late Saturday afternoon making a red wine reduction sauce for the filets. I love a man in the kitchen, and not just because it means less work for me!!!

Sunday morning we were off to get our real tree for our family room.
We were so exhausted from our weekend we realized at about 7 pm last night our tree was still here..
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Time for another crazy, fun filled week!!!

Black Friday

Happy shopping!!!Be careful ladies, it's a jungle out there

Thanksgiving

Another year, and so much to be Thankful for. I love that there is a holiday where we take the day off, look at all the blessings in our lives, then thank God for everything!


I hope tomorrow brings you much happiness with family and friends!

This is what I am most Thankful for......

Happy Happy Thanksgiving!

The Pie That'll Make You Cry!

Ohh, I already like the sound of that!! This year for Thanksgiving we are going to my older sister's home for dinner. This year I am in charge of desserts. I like to go the traditional route, pumpkin and pecan pies. I found this pecan pie recipe here.

Oh my, I just gained 10 pounds blogging about this!

As promised, here are the recipes from my class on Sunday. Happy Baking

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

3 c flour

1 tsp salt

1tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking salt

2T ground cinnamon

1T ginger

1T ground cloves

2 c brown sugar

1 c oil

3 c pumpkin, chilled

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

preheat oven to 350, line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a bowl whisk flour, salt, baking powder, baking salt, cinnamon, ginger,and cloves. Set aside. In another bowl mix sugar and oil until blended. Add pumpkin, eggs and vanilla. Slowly add the flour mixture with the pumpkin mixture.

Using a small ice cream scoop, drop dough on cookie sheet and bake about 15 minutes.

For the filling:

3 c powder sugar

1 stick of butter, room temp

8 oz cream cheese

1 tsp vanilla.

Cream all the ingredients together until smooth.

Once the cookies have cooled spread icing on cookie and make a "sandwich".

Chocolate Whoopie Pie

2 c flour

1 c coco powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 stick of butter, melted

1 c sugar

1 egg yolk

1/2 c hot water

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 c buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla

combine all ingredients until smooth, using a small ice cream scoop portion dough on a lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes

Use the same filling recipe as above but we experimented with the filling. Here were some of the things that we added to the filling for a different taste

1c peanut butter. (loved this, it tasted like a reese pieces)

1/2 c raspberry jam

1 T peppermint extract and 1/2 c crushed peppermint candies

1/2 c espresso

you can really add anything to the cream. The measurements for the add ons to the filling are not exact. You can add them to taste. These were the 4 we made in class and they were all so yummy with the chocolate cookie.

Enjoy

The Weekend

We had another crazy, fun filled weekend. After 3 hours with Grant on Friday afternoon I left the salon with super straight hair and headed home to get ready for a party on Friday night at a local bar.

Saturday night we had Sarah's birthday.

We drank

We ate
We laughed
We danced
We had a great time!!

Sunday I went and made whoopie pie (posting the recipes tomorrow) yum, then got home just in time to have Thanksgiving with my in-laws who are leaving for Michigan today.
Today I am going to the gym all day to run off my wine, martinis, soco lime shots, whoopie pies and turkey dinner!

Happy Monday

Making Whoopie (pies)

All the rage in the dessert world is "whoopie pies"you can make any flavor imaginable; red velvet, pumpkin, chocolate, peppermint, the list goes on and on...
Today for a little b-day treat, Sarah and I are taking a whoopie pie cooking class here. Our husbands are so immature, they love to say that Sarah and I are making whoopie today. Ha, in their dreams!

Sarah

Everyone should be so lucky to have a friend like Sarah.
Through thick and thin, good times and bad, this girl has always been there for me.
She always has my back and everyone knows it. She is one of the few people in this world who knows all my secrets.
She is not interested in gossip and cattiness. She likes to have deep and meaningful friendships that stand the test of time.

Sarah's birthday is today, there are about 10 couples going out to dinner then dancing. She has somehow managed to get 10 husbands to agree to the dancing part. Dan does not dance so I told him he could just buy me drinks and hold my purse all night.

Happy Birthday Sarah!

To Keratin or Not

I am sure you have all heard of the 'keratin smoothing treatments" that everyone is talking about. I have heard of it, but don't know much about it. Last week my hair dresser talked me into getting a keratin treatment. I do not have curly hair, but with my hair, if I don't blow dry it until it is completely dry then flat iron it, it just looks bad and kind of fuzzy.

This treatment will "change my life" according to Grant, the hairdresser. I will be able to wash my hair, let it air dry, and it will look like I just walked off set for a L'Oreal shoot. I have mixed feelings, I did a google search and you will find people who swear by this and then people who claim their hair has fallen out because of this. I have already called Grant twice to talk about it and now he just thinks I am crazy. Has anyone had this done? What do you think? Should I go for it? Am I crazy? My appointment is Friday at 2:30, help!!

Splitsville

And another one bites the dust! Longoria-Parker RIP

Deals and Steals

I was browsing Nordstrom website and came across this little Tory Burch number.while it is on sale, so you will get a deal, I don't know if it falls into the "steal" catagory. Anyway, my love affair with fringe continues so it looks like I have a Thanksgiving gift coming my way!

gobble, gobble

Man's Best Friend

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about our dogs Ziggy and Marley. These dogs were my first babies and I loved them dearly.They were a big part of our family
My lovable, loyal Marley. March 29 1996~ March 16, 2007
Ziggy was always the little mischief maker.
Always hungry and would eat anything and everything
My sweet little Ziggy. January 26, 1999~ May 23, 2009
I think it might be time to start thinking about another dog. It broke my heart when my boys died but as any dog lover can tell you, the amount of joy they bring you is beyond measure.

woof, woof

Weekend Recap

Thursday afternoon, I picked the kids up from school and we headed down to Branson, MO. We arrived at my parent's condo just in time for dinner. Friday morning we were up bright and early and headed off to Silver Dollar City for their Winter Wonderland. We had perfect weather for the day. We rode the rides, saw a Christmas play, decorated Christmas cookies, and had a little visit with Santa.At night, when the entire park is lit up with over a million Christmas lights, there is a Christmas parade. Scarlett was mesmerized.
This is one of my favorite things to do with my kids. I always let them skip school for our special trip.

Saturday we headed back to St. Louis so Dan and I could have a date night. We saw "Due Date" then a late dinner at Flemmings. Today I spent the entire day cleaning our house. We were gone for only 48 hours, and I had the kids with me, I swear my house was so clean when I left, some things I will just never understand!!!

Models and Hillbillies

Today is going to be a great day. I definitely have the Christmas Spirit!! I am starting off my day at a luncheon and fashion show. My friends and I have gone to this particular luncheon for the past 7 years. Today's event raises money for Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital right here in STL. The fashion show is all about what is hot for the holiday season. Good thing because I still have not bought my "holiday dress"After the fashion show, I am picking my kids up from school and heading to Silver Dollar City.
This time every year, they have a Winter Wonderland. It is so beautiful with all the lights, trees, decorations and of course Santa. To make Silver Dollar City more festive, they replace the hillbillies with elves. My parents have a condo in Branson so I am meeting them down there. Dan unfortunately has to stay here and work. We will miss him, but we will be back home by Saturday afternoon.
Dan and I like to make our jokes about Silver Dollar City, the hillbillies, the lack of dentists, the inbreeding etc. but all kidding aside, it is amazing at Christmas, and to quote my dad, "if this doesn't put you in the Christmas spirit, then you must be on drugs!"

I Have The Golden Ticket!

Each December, Nordstrom hosts an "invitation only" Christmas party. The store closes early to get ready for the party. They bring in carolers, a catering company to prepare small bites, a hot chocolate station with any topping imaginable is ready and waiting, and wine and drinks are served as well. Nordstrom knows the best way to get women to spend money is to give them a little wine first.I love this party, I look forward to it every year. I even love the holiday shopping bags.
Nordstrom's decorations are so classy and so beautiful.

The icing on the cake, you get 10 points for every dollar you spend. If anyone has a Nordstrom charge, you know this is like giving away money!

What I really love about the night, is the 3 hours that I go shopping with my friends. When I was in my 20's I would spend hours upon hours at the stores with my friends just shopping, every weekend. 15 years and 3 kids later I do it once a year at the Nordstrom party. Just me, my friends, and some wine!

Let the holidays begin!!

Bieber Part 2

Last night, Libby and I headed downtown with about 10 other moms and 15 little girls for the Justin Bieber concert.That boy can dance!! He also self taught himself how to play about 6 different instruments. I think he is a great entertainer, and I have to admit he is not a bad singer. When Sean Kingston came out and they sang "Eenie meenie" the girls went crazy...
and this group of girls can scream....loudly!
Today I was fitted for my hearing aid.

Bieber Fever

Bieber Fever is running high in our house. I am so lucky, I have, I mean get, to take Libby to see this little man tonight!