Friday, December 28, 2012

Girl Friday/NYE edition

It is hard to believe that this is my last Girl Friday post of 2012, does anyone else feel like time is flying by??   When you see your life on paper (or a computer screen) it is much easier to remember the little details that make life sweeter and sometimes a little sour.  Looking back over my blog and my entries of 2012 was definitely bittersweet.  We had so many happy days, but another year has come and gone!!

We had a great Christmas and the festivities are still going on. 


My sister is in town until tomorrow, we have a few days of down time, then my sister in law and her family come for 5 days.

During our "down time" we have NYE to celebrate.  We have a friends' party that night and I like to ring in the new year with a little sparkle.

If you are in need of a little sparkle, look no further...
free people and on sale!!

free people and on sale!!



bloomingdales

bloomingdales


nordstrom and on sale!!


Don't forget the accessories!!
anthropologie



I am obsessed with the Free People sparkle pants, they would be perfect for our party!!


Here's to a beautiful and sparkly 2013!!

Friday, December 21, 2012

Girl Friday/Merry Christmas

The holidays officially start today for me, my sister and her family fly in tonight from Michigan.


Tomorrow my sister and I have our list of things to do.


last minute Christmas shopping...


last minute grocery shopping...


baking with all the kids...


then it's on to mani's...


pedi's...



dinner with our hubbies...


and a friend's Christmas party...


Sunday my hubby and brother in law need to take care of last minute prepping, since they are cooking Christmas Eve dinner at our house, so my sister and I are taking to kids to see the Christmas train exhibit...


then Sunday night the park right down the street from us has a drive through winter wonderland


Monday, we have all been good over here so we are expecting a visit from him...


Have a Merry Merry Christmas!!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Christmas with the Girls

Tonight I have my annual Christmas dinner with my girlfriends.  We have been doing this dinner for the past 7 years and I always look forward to this fun night.  We each take turn hosting, my friend Mandi is hosting tonight and we were each told to bring a bottle of our favorite champagne, an appetizer to share, and a $30 gift.



I am bringing a cava instead of a champagne, this one is my favorite and is about $12.00 a bottle.  If you ever see this in your store I suggest you buy it!!  (and of course drink it)



For my appetizer I relied on pinterest.  Mandi wanted to make sure we had some hearty apps so I decided on the sausage balls, I have never had these but how can sausage and cheese be bad!!


The hardest part was finding a gift, I had my mind made up that I was going to buy something at Nordstrom a couple weeks ago when I went to the Nordy's Christmas Party.  It was 10 points for every dollar you spent that night so it was a no brainer.  I had a few ideas when I showed up at the party...









Ultimately I ended up getting this..

and I am so excited, this necklace just flew out of the store and you cannot find it anywhere!!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Here Comes Santa Claus

I love the excitement that comes with this last week before Christmas.  Tonight we have a Santa visit with our neighbors, this is our third year for getting together with friends for this special night so I can say it is now officially a holiday tradition for us and one that I hope my children will remember with pure happiness when they are all grown up.

This year my next door neighbor is hosting so we will all head over for dinner...


drinks for the kids...


drinks for the adults...


and of course the guest of honor...


I have my list ready to share with Santa too!!

ho ho ho

Monday, December 17, 2012

Done!

Amidst the chaos of getting ready for the holidays and training a new puppy, my powder room was finally wallpapered.


the before...




and the after...


I need a few more accessories but that will have to wait until January.

ho ho ho, it's crunch time!!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Girl Friday/Meet Luna

First off I need to introduce our new German Shepherd Luna...


Second, OMG!!! I forgot how much work puppies are.   I got nothing done these past 2 days.  It's almost like having a newborn but at least I can put her in a cage and go out!!

anyway on to our weekend..

Tonight we have a big Christmas party, this one keeps growing and growing.  I suspect this year there will be well over 200 people at this big event.   There is always a band at this party which means dancing until the wee hours of the morning,  Cheers!!


Saturday morning, I think I am going to ignore my puppy!!


Saturday night we have dinner with some new friends.  My son started a new school this year and I instantly hit it off with another mom.  Have you ever met someone and you immediately click and you can make your funny, politically incorrect jokes with someone and not worry about offending that person, well she is one of those people.  I have seen her at lots of events at the school, but Saturday night we are grabbing our hubbies and meeting for some good food and good wine...



Sunday, I am still ignoring my puppy and then taking both girls to Sugar Plum Fairy tea, then to the Nutcracker...


Sunday night I will probably still ignore my puppy!!

Have a beautiful and bark free weekend!!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Christmas with the Girls

I rolled back in town yesterday, with a puppy in tow, just in time to shower and head out to my annual dinner/gift exchange with my tennis girls.  In addition to the holidays, we were also celebrating the fact that our team is currently ranked #1 for women's doubles in STL (woot woot)

For our exchange, everyone brought a $50 gift.  Sometimes it is hard to find a gift when you don't know specifically whom you are buying for but I think last night everyone went home with an awesome gift.  Here is what was in the loot...




The Bobbi Brown holiday eyeshadow palette.  I actually brought this gift and was not all that thrilled with it, but the girl who got this loved it.










Ugg fingerless gloves, we are all going skiing in February so this too was perfect...







The best smelling lotion that is almost too pretty to use...  




The fragrance sampler from Sephora.  I have never heard of this until last night, but what a clever gift.  You get a box with 12 different perfume samples and a  gift card.  After you sample the perfumes, pick your favorite then take the card to Sephora for a full size bottle....GENIUS!!





Lululemon top, we are all known for wearing nothing but lulu...




A gift certificate for a blow out and make up at the second dry bar to open in STL


and who doesn't love a gift card to Nordstrom


and here is your first place team all smiles!!

Monday, December 10, 2012

One the Road Again

Heading back to Chicago to pick up the newest member of our family....

We are so excited!!  But still undecided on a name.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Girl Friday/Branson/Early Edition

Today after school I am heading about 4 hours south with my mom and my girls to Silver Dollar City.  This is a tradition I have done the past couple years with my kids.  I always have to leave Dr Beautiful behind to work, but this year I have to leave my son.  He started a new school this year, it is much more academic and pulling him out for 2 days is just not a good idea.  

I will miss my boys, but I know we will have a fantastic trip.  The lights alone are amazing...


we also plan to catch a performance of "AChristmas Carol"...


watch the giant tree light up every night...


ride the polar express...


 see the Christmas lights parade...


and it's a bit chilly but most of the rides are still open...






I will be rolling back into town Friday afternoon just in time for one of my favorite parties, the Nordstrom Holiday Event...


 In addition to some great deals, there will be a hot chocolate bar...


passed hors d'oeuvres from a fabulous catering company...

and the holiday martini...


I never pass up a chance to eat, shop and drink all at the same time!!



After the party, my friends and I are trying out the new champagne bar that opened a few weeks ago.



I hope I exercise some common sense Friday night, because Saturday I need to be in the most beautiful ballroom downtown at 8:30 am for our annual Breakfast with Santa...

breakfast with Santa last year...



Saturday night the hubs is working so I am hanging with the kiddos doing some of this...


and watching this...

Sunday we have another Breakfast with Santa, this one is a fundraiser for my daughters school..



Sunday I need to...



and...


I have a couple gift exchange parties coming up and I hate waiting until the last minute to shop and wrap!!

Have a beautiful weekend!!