November Gift Guide

I should be starting on Christmas gifts but I have 6 friends with birthdays during the month of November so instead I am hunting high and low for birthday gifts.  

The problem is once you start to give good gifts you raise the bar then you ABSOLUTELY have to give good gifts.  At this point a Starbucks gift card, though very much appreciate by most, is completely unacceptable.

I want my gifts to be like those Russian dolls, you think that's it; but then one more inside...



1.

Kate Spade Umbrella

with a little pair of studs tucked inside for my prim and proper friend.








2.
For my hippie chick friend, a funky clutch

with some statement earrings inside

3.
For my friend who is obsessed with lotions, perfumes, sprays, and anything beauty

a little amazing grace shower gel

and then body oil

and a little perfume roller






4.
For my sister Jules who travels 2 weeks out of every month, a very cute carry on

and inside the bag a gift certificate for a cooking class that we will take together.  This year she wants to do a Christmas appetizer class.

5.
This gift is an easy one, every time I wear my lululemon scarf my friend keeps saying how cute it is and how much she loves it, so bam she is getting a scarf...

and I am going to wrap one of these blessing bracelets around it.

Our sons go to the same school and I am buying it from the school bookstore.  The Benedictine Monks that run the school have personally blessed each bracelet they sell for all the moms.

6.

The bestie

My BFF has a birthday in November and she is by far the hardest.  She has been some through major life changes lately so I want something special.  She is going to be the recipient of my latest obsession....

Mantra Bands

I love that you can pick a bracelet that means something, and I think mixing the metals is so on point.  I picked my favorite 3 for her

I love birthday gifts, but this is why I have no money!!

Life Lately

Does anyone else feel that September-December is just non stop busy?  I have barely had time to regroup since getting back from Costa Rica.  As soon as we got home we had my son's birthday..

Halloween..

a little Halloween cookie decorating at Williams Sonoma

and then your basic case of "reentry is rough"

But now I finally feel settled!

All I can say about Costa Rica is that it is an amazingly beautiful country.  It was never on my radar until the hubs brought it up as a possible vacation destination.  My initial reaction was , umm no!!  but I am so glad the hubs persuaded me, now I really want to take my kids next time.

our beach was amazing


The activities were endless

a little golf

as long as you can keep the monkeys off the course

kayaking

tennis on grass

which is extremely difficult

catch of the day.
Meet the resort fish monger and pick your dinner for that night, the red snapper is delish

rock climbing

zip lining

swimming in the hot springs then taking a volcanic mud bath
I know it sounds/looks gross but trust me your skin will feel absolutely amazing after this.

and a little paddle boarding

 At night you can release a wish lantern




and of course the animals were everywhere

 monkeys are like squirrels in CR, they are everywhere.

and extremely large iguanas.

It was such a great trip, I would recommend it to anyone, and to top it off, when we were checking out the concierge gave us a voucher for 3 free nights because they feel we did not experience the resort to the fullest since it was under renovations.

wow those wish lanterns really do work!!

Now I am off again today with my girls and my mom for our annual trip to Silver Dollar City

hee haw

Girl Friday

For the next 24 hours I will have to be a crazy dance mom.  My daughter is in a local dance competition, and yes some of those moms are as ridiculous as they are on the show "Dance Moms".    If you have never seen this show consider yourself lucky, if you have a daughter just wait, soon enough this show will be constantly on.

We are packing up and heading downtown to the hotel where the competition is being held just to make life a little easier (plus I am working on that mother of the year award)

I have a friend who is also a "dance mom" and we have plans to meet here for a glass on wine once are girls are settled in for the night

Then on Saturday for 11 hours straight I will be watching dance competitions!!

Saturday night I am high tailing it out of there and off to my friends annual paddle tennis party

Paddle tennis is kind of like tennis but smaller, the courts are smaller, the ball is smaller, the rackets are smaller,  you can play off the fence, and we will be playing outside in the 13 degree night air.

My friend has added her rule, a round of this after every match!!

Sunday is my friends birthday and since we will all be out paddle tennising the night before we have a little rehab/birthday/bloody mary brunch planned

Something tells me I will be asleep by 8PM Sunday night!!

Pack, Unpack, Repeat

I cannot believe I am going out of town again this morning, but this is a very quick trip.  I am taking my girls and my mom and heading down to Silver Dollar City

If you are not familiar with Silver Dollar City the best way to describe it would be a cross between 6 Flags, colonial Williamsburg and Vegas minus the hookers.  It is about 4 hours south of STL in a town called Branson.  The hubs thinks it is totally cheesy ( I completely agree) but my kids love it here.  I don't like going in the summer it is hot, sweaty and crowded but I love going this time of year.

The place is totally decked out in lights

you can ride the Polar Express

there is a Christmas parade

and of course Santa is around

This trip always gets me in the holiday mood!!

I am rolling back in town Friday night just in time to go to dinner with my adorable next door neighbors.  The cutest 80 year old couple ever.  He wears a suit with an ascot everyday and she is always in pearls.  I would love to be as classy as them when I get older.  They are taking me and the hubs to their club which I think has one of the best views of the city skyline

Saturday I am having a little staycation with for a friends birthday.  We are starting off the day with a food tour of the city.  This event is hosted by a local food magazine.  We go to 5 different restaurants within walking distance of each other for a small plate of their best dishes plus a cocktail

then we are hitting up the spa

at the hotel we are staying at for the night

with most likely some late night craziness!!

Have a beautiful weekend!!