I’m trying to focus on having more quality, classic pieces in my wardrobe rather than a bunch of cheap separates. However, I don’t want to spend a ton on the classics. I found some MK jeans for $9.99 {MSRP $79.50} at Ross this afternoon and picked them up with a gift card I got from my Pops for Christmas.
These are the exact jeans:
{Uh, no, I will not look nearly as good in them as this gal! Nor would I be able to pull off those heels! Image via nordstrom.com}
Love the “M” & “K” on the tush!
My MIL got me this darling MK top for Christmas:
{6pm.com}
I LOVE it! It’s so very me.
Thinking it’ll be perfect for New Year’s.
Then my BIL {bro-in-law} was so sweet to get me these beauties for Christmas:
Well, like a wedding…all the planning and attention to detail….then it’s over just like that.
Weddings and Christmases are always beautiful and we want them to last forever, but they don’t.
Here we sit on December 26th amongst boxes, ribbons, toys, books, new clothes, calendars, lemon olive hand soap, and an occasional ripped piece of wrapping paper on the floor. Regretting all the food we ate yesterday, but remembering that it was oh so good. Reminding ourselves that it seems like just yesterday that we did this exact same thing and that it will all repeat itself in 12 short months!
Our Christmas was wonderfully busy with many guests. My in-laws, Gramma, Jay’s Uncle, U-Rod {bro-in-law}, Grunc {my uncle} and his darling lady friend, Jill.
All dolled up for Christmas Eve Mass
{Thanks, Lola for the snazzy duds!}
We came home to celebrate Christmas Eve with a lasagna dinner, wine and a scrumptious pecan pie made by a true southern belle, Mama Betty. Thank you!
Then there was, of course, a visit from the man in red…
Our turkey sat in brine for Christmas Day. We couldn’t figure out a good container option, so we just did it in one of the ‘fridge bins:
{fresh 17 pound, free range organic bird}
This year Jay did the turkey on Big Blue:
It was DE-LISH, but we’ll get back to that in a minute…
***
Santa’s elves were up early…
Santa brought a 20″ beach cruiser for Elliott and a skateboard for Holden…
…along with LOTS of other things!
{Barbies Gone Wild}
*****
Getting back to the grub…my Uncle made the most to-die-for gravy with the pan drippings, a roux, Sauvignon Blanc, chicken stock and fresh ground pepper:
I did my usual cornbread and sausage stuffing/dressing, Ina Garten’s sour cream mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and maple-glazed carrots. I over cooked the biscuits a touch, but they will be great dunked into the turkey noodle soup that I plan on making with the turkey stock from the carcass {normally the carcass scares me and I just toss it, but the Moms put it in a huge pot for me and got the stock going ~ I will thank them when we’re enjoying our turkey noodle soup. Mmmmm!} I also made a couple sweet potato pies, one of which we will save for New Year’s Eve.
After our big dinner, U-Rod demonstrated his {jazz hands} while playing our new Wii “Just Dance 2″…
*****
Yes, it will be 12 more months before we share these special family moments again, but it’s well worth it!
Many thanks to the ladies behind it all…and all the generosity displayed to bring clean & safe {water} to those desperately in need.
The random.org results are in and flipflopfollies has a winner:
Ellen from Stockholm!
Yay and congrats! So thrilled to send some Havs all the way to Sweden!
Thank you, thank you for your donation and entries.
The goldies and a couple rolled rosette pins coming your way {once you send your address to amy{at}flipflopfollies{dot}com ~ thanks!}
Also, thank you to Shauna for your entry. I will be hosting another Havaianas giveaway to welcome Spring, so please check back from time to time to enter that drawing!
{Shauna, I assumed that you were entering the giveaway for the gold Havs….if you were interested in the black ones, then YOU are the winner of those! Please let me know….however, if you know someone that these cuties would fit [again size 4/5 US, but they do run a bit big], they’re yours and I’d be happy to pop them in the mail to you!}
What a great way to start out the week before Christmas.
The sleigh pulled out of the garage this morning and dropped Elliott at school in the valet line. She looked so grown up walking herself onto campus in her ruffled skirt, tights, boots, Mickey Mouse Santa hat and backpack hoisted up on one shoulder.
My little elf is growing up.
My other little elf and I did a {fly-thru} at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for a Peppermint Vanilla Ice Blended {my first, and hopefully last, of the season}. Jay was kind enough to pass along a CBTL giftcard to yours truly. Thanks, Babe!
We had several errands to do this morning before Gramma gets here and another busy weekend gets underway.
Quick run through at Dollar Tree where the mad scramble for stocking stuffers took place. Santa had not picked up anything as of yet! Goodies were hidden under large packages of tissue paper ~ it’s hard shopping with elves in tow! I diverted his attention while loading everything onto the check stand and told the woman to be on the down low.
Then we ran into TJ Maxx to grab a few finds I spotted yesterday, but passed on. {Jay received a AMEX gift card last night at his department Christmas party and guess who he gave it to? Again, thanks Babe!} I quickly shot through the doors to find my treasures STILL there….that never happens!
I picked up a gorgeous pair of Talbot’s black trousers for $16.99! {Reg. $119.00} I desperately needed a classic pair of black slacks. Dry clean only, but who cares for $16.99. Yay!
The sleigh then headed for the Post Office to get several overseas Christmas cards off as well as a couple packages {one that is WAY overdue to a cute little guy in PA who was born in June! Sorry Baby Bryce! ;-( }
I then scored a couple more stocking stuffers in the form of 75% off Hallmark ornaments. A “5” with a little bear drinking hot cocoa for Elliott and a little bear with a cape and a “3” on his chest for Holdy! I’m not normally a Hallmark ornament collector, but for $2.50, I’ll take ’em!
You may want to grab a cup of coffee, tea or hot cocoa. This is going to be a mile long Monday post!
Things are heating up and the clock is ticking ~ less than 2 weeks and Santa will be coming down the chimney. This week is BUSY. So much on the holiday plate {more like a HUGE platter!}:
Make loads of puppy chow and saltine toffee, share holiday traditions in Elliott’s class, shop for white elephant gift and gift for Jay’s boss, pick up Christmas card photos, print letters, address, seal and stamp 120 envelopes, menu plan for 7+ guests here for Christmas, etc. etc.
Not to mention I’ve only bought about 2.5 gifts and haven’t wrapped a thing!
Last month when I glanced at “December” on the calendar I knew it was going to be full, but isn’t it always? Something BIG going on every weekend…Vegas, Jay’s b-day and company party, Elliott’s Winter Recital and then, BAM!, Christmas! And, of course, there are all the little things sprinkled in amongst the big ones ~ school parties, playdates, laundry, dishes, homework, studying sight words, dance class ~ which brings me to the “something’s gotta give” thing. This week dance class lost out. I finally realized that I was packing WAY too much in. I felt terrible that she had to miss it, but at that moment, I needed to make sure that Jay’s b-day dinner was top priority.
*****
Saturday evening was Jay’s holiday party which is always a good time. It’s held at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley. It’s so neat to sit under Air Force One and enjoy appetizers, martinis, dinner, chats and dancing with fun co-workers!
Each year I stress on what to wear…finding the perfect dress, shoes and accessories. This year a new dress was out of the question. I do have a gorgeous plum colored number from Banana that I got earlier in the year that I was planning on wearing, however, my foot/ankle has really been bothering me the last few days so I knew heels were also out of the question. I decided on a pair of shoes and then built the outfit around them.
I bought these little plaid mary janes for like $2.50 at Target and then glue-gunned on the rosettes.
Jay said it was “business casual” {perfect!} so I immediately thought that the festive pantalones rojos would make an appearance. I just paired them with an old black top, cropped short-sleeved sweater, my crazy “Vegas” necklace and red rosette statement ring.
Done.
Comfy. Festive. Comfy. Casual. Comfy. {did I mention that?}
{The above pic cracked me up. I think, in this situation, Jay enjoys being the photographer because he doesn’t have to dance!}
{California Gurls!}
Cheesy background shot:
Group Shot:
We hired a babysitter for the first time ever! A super sweet girl from across the street. No, I didn’t call once to check up, however, SHE called us at midnight to get some idea of when we’d be home! Oops…I think I forgot to mention that. We were still in Simi waiting for the valet to bring us the car!
I think it’s evident by the photos that we had a good time.
*****
Then yesterday I had my monthly Bitch Bingo session with the ladies.
So much fun….and I won twice!
It was a brunch and I brought Creme Brulee French Toast. This is a recipe that my sister told me about years ago and I am just now getting around to trying it. I MUST share it with you!
It’s the perfect thing to assemble on Christmas Eve and then bake up Christmas morning and serve while opening gifts.
*****
Last night Jay and the kids decorated the annual gingerbread house.
Royal icing and mini gum drops everywhere!
*****
Oh, and the weather is crazy warm for this time of year. There’s something just not right with going to see all the Christmas lights in a tank top and flip flops!
Elliott and I had a little TJ Maxx date this morning while Holden was in school.
I was on the hunt for something for Jay’s Holiday Party.
I found a gorgeous, fully-lined black & silver houndstooth belted pencil skirt for $10.00…
I envisioned wearing it with tights and possibly some low boots ~ a look that was completely opposite of what I originally had in mind, but all of a sudden excited about ~ more of a classic look this year.
{similar to this, but the black houndstooth print was silver on a black skirt}
