Fashion Friday: NYE Attire

Happy New Year's Eve to all of you!  Do y'all have any fun plans to ring in the new year?  We're heading up the street to a friend's party, which will be so nice - no driving, just walking (a little tipsy) home.  Thankfully for me, but unfortunate for him, my dad is "on call" tonight, so he and my mom will be staying in, in case he gets called in.  My mom and dad graciously offered their wonderful services to keep the girls at their house tonight.  A nice bottle of champagne will be given, to THANK them (to enjoy on another "not on-call" night).  And even better?  While I'm hopefully not nursing too much of a hangover tomorrow, my mom will be taking the girls to Spartanburg to visit my grandparents for the day.  THANK YOU!  If not a hangover, at least I'll get to sleep in (with the hubs), he'll finally be home from his hunting trip today!

I'm still trying to decide what to wear tonight, but if money were no option, and I was heading somewhere swanky, I'd love to wear this!

 Tibi Sequin Dress

What's weird about this dress, that I just noticed, is I guess you can wear it forward or backward (but neither description states this).  Neiman Marcus calls it a Cowl-Neck Dress, and wears the drape in the front (click here, to see for yourself).  Shopbop calls it a Draped Back Sequin Dress (shown above), and the drape is in the back.  Hmmm, is one of them wearing it backward by mistake?  Interesting.  I like the drape in the back, personally.

I'll probably end up wearing something comfortable, but still glitzy too.  Maybe jeans, and a cute top with some sparkle, perhaps?  I'm hoping we play lots of card games and board games!

I'm a huge fan of Apple to Apples, Cranium and others.  On certain occasions, like tonight, I make them games where you have to imbibe, if you're wrong.  Fun and creative?  I'd like to think so.

Happy New Year's Eve!

I hope y'all have a safe and wonderful celebration!

DMV Update and Shopping

Well, to update the DMV post from yesterday, the girls and I headed to the first one, it moved.  Then went to another, and their camera was broken.  So instead, the girls and I headed to LUNA to vent out our (okay, my) frustration!  Needless to say, it helped.  They've got a great sale right now.  They have 75% and 30% off sale racks...buy one, get one free.  I got some great deals (one example: Ella Moss Navy Cardi $132, I got it for $33 - plus, another item FREE)!  Thankfully the sale started yesterday, so nothing was too picked through yet.  There are LUNAs in Charleston, Atlanta and Bethesda, Maryland, as well.  So if you're nearby, you should stop in.  I've always loved that place!  I also stopped into Monkee's, as well.  It's hard not to stop in, when it's right near my parents' house.  There's also Scout and Molly's, Capitol, the poole shop, etc right near them as well.  The list goes on and on!  I'm thinking the next item on my list is an infinity scarf.  What do you think?

Paula Biano Infinity Scarf in Fuchsia

Oh, and when I will actually head back to the DMV?  Who knows!

I hope everyone is having a great Thursday!  Carolina plays Tennessee in the Music City Bowl tonight.

GO HEELS!

Photo Credit: 1

Wednesday Whereabouts

I'm not making this location a clue today - this is where I'll be this morning, getting my license renewed.  Boo.  The girls will be in tow, as well.  Here's hoping the line is short!  Fingers crossed!

Photo Credit: 1

Tuesday Trends: Milly on Rue La La

Milly 'Valentina' Sweater Dress
"Born out of Smith's lifelong love of fashion, Milly is an iconic brand known for exquisite prints and colors, luxurious fabrics and attention-to-detail. Sophisticated and glamorous, her collections embody modern sensibility with a vintage vibe."

Just a heads up, Milly will be on Rue La La, on Thursday!  If you haven't been invited yet, click here.  It's free!  I'm hoping to get a dress or two, at a great price!  Happy Tuesday, y'all!  The hubs is out of town all week on a hunting trip, so I've been cleaning and organizing a lot.  Out with the old toys, in with the new!  All the decorations are stored away too.  The house looks so bare now, but it's clean - that's the best part!

Snow Day!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with friends and family.  This is the first year in my life, that it snowed on Christmas!  It didn't start snowing until Christmas evening, but snow is SNOW!  Here are some photos of us enjoying the snow yesterday.  Photos from Christmas to come later this week.

"C'mon, stop taking my picture, I want to go play in the snow!"

Channeling the boy in "A Christmas Story"

This snow is like a pillow!

Ah, a really COLD pillow!

Attempting to build a snowman.

Goodbye, Christmas tree, see you next year!

Weekend Inspiration: Luke 2:11

^"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

Luke 2:11

(This scripture was on our Christmas card this year.)

Peace and love to all of you on this very special day!

Merry CHRISTmas!

Photo Credit: 1

Fashion Friday: My Closet!

As requested, here's my closet.  I'll preface this by saying, it's small, and I cannot WAIT until we move (no plans to move anytime soon) so I can hopefully have a bigger closet!  This is my fall/winter wardrobe.  I keep my spring/summer wardrobe stored away.  Now, what should I wear to the Christmas Eve service tonight?  Hmmmm.  One thing I do like about it, is that it's deep.  I can store three rows of boxes back there.

____________________________________________________________________________

Little E got a hold of my Coke yesterday, literally, right before we were headed out the door.  I seriously left the room for two seconds, and heard her slurping away.  I was actually impressed that she didn't spill it ALL over herself and the rug.  Thank goodness!  Still needed a quick change though.

She was in pure heaven, pure liquid sugar heaven!

_____________________________________________________________________________

I hope all of y'all have a wonderful Christmas Eve!  Little W is still freaked out about Santa visiting our house tonight, but she's excited to leave out the reindeer food (dry oatmeal mixed with glitter) for the reindeer.

Merry!

Merry!

Thirsty Thursday: Starbucks Eggnog Latte

I LOVE eggnog in general, but during the winter months I'm addicted to Starbucks' Eggnog Lattes!  We're headed to Greenville, South Carolina today to visit family for our "Greenville Christmas."  Can't wait to see everyone, and eat some delicious food!  I may have to stop at the drive-thru Starbucks in Gaffney on the way, to recharge before getting there!  A grande eggnog latte, por favor?

Kate Spade 'All Wrapped Up' Large Bow Ring

 How sweet is this little bow ring from Kate Spade?

I think it's so festive, and original.  Just had to share!

Photo Credit: 1

_____________________________________________________________________________

Yesterday's location was Rockefeller Center.  Love visiting that place at Christmas time!  One day, when the girls get a little older, I hope to take them there.

Photo Credit: 1

_____________________________________________________________________________

Oh, and two weeks ago I never posted that the location was Target.  Many of you figured it out, but I just wanted to clarify, since I forgot to post it.  I've done so much of my Christmas shopping there these last couple of weeks.  I sure hope the girls enjoy all of their toys from "Santa"!

P.S. W is obsessed with the big, red balls at Target.  Before we walk in, and after we leave, she HAS to give the ball a big hug and kiss...I'm obviously not a germ freak!  :)

Photo Credit: 1

 

Wednesday Whereabouts

Oh, how I'd love to be here today, celebrating the Christmas season!  Can you guess the location?

P.S. While shopping at Neiman Marcus today, I noticed the Holiday Nest candles (that smell AMAZING!), were on sale (in-store only).  I got this one for only $25!  A great stocking stuffer!

Nest Holiday Candle

"The aroma of a sparkling holiday season is created by blending pomegranate, mandarin orange, pine, cloves and cinnamon with a hint of vanilla and amber."
Hope y'all have a happy Wednesday!

Tuesday Trends: Birthday Pics

My 30th was a lot of fun!  Even if I had a cold, having all of my sisters there to help me celebrate, meant a lot!  Here are more photos from the party:

 W, E and their cousin (15 months)

 Subtly pulling E's hair - poor E did not like it one bit.

 Perfecting her singing voice on Wii Karaoke

The hubs and I

 Two of my sisters, myself and one of our double-first cousins

(My dad's brother married my mom's sister - that's why he's our double-first cousin.)

Trying not to burn E's face, blowing out all thirty candles - and yes, I did it in one breath!

 My parents.

The sisters.

Attacking the cake.

Hope y'all have a fabulous Tuesday!

Monday Manners: A Yummy Hostess Holiday Gift

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes!!  The girls and I ended up being sick with colds through the weekend, and are still recovering.  Needless to say, we had a great time on Friday night, but on Saturday, my actual birthday, we hung around the house to rest up.  We hope to really celebrate when I'm feeling better.

On another note:  Don't these Cream Cheese Cookies look delicious?  I grew up eating them throughout the Christmas season because my mom would make them for friends.  This year I thought I'd give them a try, so I could have some at my house too.  They were delicious, but still not the same.  It's probably more of a mental thing!  Mama's cooking is always better, right?

Here's how to make them:

Ingredients:

2 sticks margarine
1 3 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1 egg yolk
½ tsp. vanilla
1 cup sugar
2 ¾ cups plain flour

Cherries (I use the maraschino cherries from the jar.)

Bake 325 15 minutes.
Makes 60-80.
They do not brown. They'll appear as though they're not even cooked after 15 minutes, but let them sit for awhile, and then they won't be so soft.
Mix all ingredients with spoon.

Cream butter and cream cheese.

Add sugar and egg yolk.

Add flour and vanilla.

Drain and slice cherries.

Pinch and roll in small balls. 

Press pecan half or cherry half (drain well) on ball and bake.

Simple as that, bake them, and then you're done!  I gave half of these to my parents, but the other half stayed at our house.  They lasted three days, and I already want to make more!  Maybe this time I'll make them for hostess gifts.  We'll see...

Happy Monday!

Do y'all have any recipe you make, as a Christmas tradition?