5 on Friday

 

1. 

I'm not going to post the infamous Kim K picture here, because, well.....we've all seen it. There is no way that is real? Right???? And, like, can they go away now?

2. 

I stayed in every night this week, and even though it was a touch boring....getting 9 hours of sleep every night and not waking up with a hangover from a happy hour has been really, really nice.

3. 

As a hostess gift, to myself, I'm going to buy myself a new Thanksgiving day outfit but I have no idea what I'll be comfortable in all day long (besides leggings). I'm thinking something like the below is the way to go. I'm going to hit up Loft after work today to hopefully find something fun.

 

4.

 Thanks to a few suggestions from yesterday's post - I'm starting The Andy Cohen Diaries. I'm only a few pages in, but.....hilarious. 

5. 

 I have a "book/wine club" with a few new friends tonight and then we are heading to San Diego early Saturday to finally meet my nephew Sullivan! I'm actually excited for the road trip because it'll be 2 straight hours of Christmas music.

Have a great weekend! 

Brain Dump

 

:::I think because it's not cold and snowy, I have to try extra hard to get into the Christmas spirit, so Christmas music has started and I'm sneaking in Hallmark Christmas anytime Joel isn't home.

:::When is the best time to send out Christmas cards? I don't want to be the first or the last, so I'm thinking maybe December 10th?

:::We've been hating the limited wine selection at Sprouts- and paying way over retail - so we've started buying cases from different wineries when they go on sale. We're getting way better wine for what we are paying (about the same per bottle) and it feels like our grocery bills each week are a little less "shocking". Our last few shipments have been from Milbrandt Vineyards.

:::Speaking of wine, we have our first Napa trip planned for January and I'm already salivating

:::I'm averaging 6 days a week of leggings

:::Normally I love Christmas shopping, but I haven't even started and already it feels too expensive.

:::Since we have family staying with us over Thanksgiving, we aren't going to be able to get our Christmas decorations up until Monday, December 1st. That just doesn't feel like enough time to fully enjoy the anticipation! I'm ready for Thanksgiving to fall on the 19th again.

:::We read a Christmas book to Roscoe this week. We've lost it.

:::Since my half marathon, I haven't run at all. My foot really took a beating the last few weeks of training so I'm trying to get in yoga and spin twice a week and long walks on the off days.

:::I need a good easy-read book to get through. I enjoyed Lena Dunham's book, but it wasn't amazing. I need another Big Little Lies in my life.

:::I have no idea what I want for Christmas, or what to get anyone

:::This year Joel and I are going to really narrow down what holiday traditions we want to start and/or keep. I'm all about traditions, and I want to make sure we follow through on all of the things we want to do.

:::I've been spending so much time on Pintrest lately - I think it's my favorite website of all.

:::I'm in need of new slippers but I can't stomach spending more than $20 for them. Are the ugg slippers really worth it?

:::Daylight savings is actually ok with me. I sort of enjoy it getting darker earlier this time of year.

:::Michael's has a 40% off sale on their pillar candles in case you are in need. I've been filling my fireplace with candles from Crate & Barrel, which was getting way too expensive, so I picked up 10 big pillar candles for a total of $22 bucks.

:::Happy almost weekend!

Hosting Thanksgiving ::: Help Needed

First of all, I'm hosting Thanksgiving and mostly I'm just beyond excited. I have pretty much dreamed of the day that I would host my own family for a holiday, at my own home, with my own stuff....and it's actually happening. 

I'm excited to use my fancy new china from our wedding, platters that are still in boxes, and the beautiful table linens that are desperate to be used. 

I've raided the aisles of HomeGoods and Michaels and I'm pretty sure I've got everything we will need. (Joel would tell you that we god damn better)

I'm hosting 14 for dinner/16 for dessert, so we are renting an extra table and chairs and hoping to coordinate the whole thing as flawlessly as possible for a somewhat small condo. 

This is my china, table cloth, and chargers- so I'm picking up the silver theme and running with it.

I want lots of silver pieces on the table and the more candles the better in my book. 

 

 

We are sitting down for dinner at 5:30/6, but are asking people to come closer to 2pm, so we can enjoy lots of appetizers and get people as drunk as possible.

Besides making everything as early as possible, what are YOUR tips for a successful, stress-free, and fun Thanksgiving? Lots of wine??

But seriously, I'd love to know if you have little tips that have made your hosting job a bit easier, so throw them my way.

As for Joel & my family...just remember...

What I Wore

Pretty much if the outfit calls for boots and leggings, I'll wear it. #basic #amazing

I've been out of the habit of snapping pics of my outfits because I was starting to feel silly posting them on here, but a couple nudges at a girls night out recently, and I'm going to try and keep at it.

TGFGirlfriends, right? 

          Work It Girl

 

Halloween

 

Elie Tahari sweater, Banana Republic tank, J.Brand jeans, Cole Haan boots 

Practice Thanksgiving

 

Banana Republic sweater, tank, and belt, AG Jeans, Cole Haan Boots

Traveling

 

Joie shirt, Burberry scarf, j.brand jeans (that ripped and had to be thrown away!!) and Franco Sarto boots

 

Work Meeting

 

Target dress, Banana Republic belt, gap leggings, Cole Haan boots

Working from Home

Monday catch-up session brought to you by #basicallypajamas

Calvin Klien sweater, target tank, gap leggings, TB flats

Weekend Report :: Chicago

I finally had a work trip in Chicago which clearly makes for the best work trip destination possible.

I landed Tuesday afternoon and my mom picked up up at the airport to head straight into the city. We met up with my sister in Bucktown after she got home from work and had a quick drink before heading out to dinner.

 

My dad was in the city for work too, so we met up with some family friends for dinner at Eduardo's Enoteca and had wayyyyy too much fun.

 

My parents were staying at The Thompson, so I crashed with them on Tuesday night since all of my meetings were in the city on Wednesday.

After a few meetings, I met up with my girlfriend Sara for a drink at her house, and then we made our way to my cousin's for dinner. Amanda had a few friends over for pizza and a much needed catch-up sesh. I'm so lucky that no matter how much time goes by without seeing my friends, it feels like nothing has ever changed.

 

 

I had an early meeting Thursday morning in the suburbs, so I took the train in and then was able to spend the rest of the day shopping with my mom. 

I'm really hoping it cools off here in LA, because my mom got me some awesome sweaters and those below black boots, and I bought a few new pairs of jeans.

Thursday night we had dinner at the country club with some of my parents friends and then made it home early. 

Friday I got to have lunch with my grandma, ordered in Thai food for dinner, and had my cousin Gia sleep over.  My parents are building a new house so every time I'm home I'm extra sentimental at how perfect our current/old house is. It has been so good to us, and I miss it every time I leave.

I had to leave early Saturday morning to get home. October brought lots of work trips for Joel and I, so I was anxious to just be home with him. My flight home was easy and smooth- besides the awful football played by the Hawkeyes and Wildcats.

 

I got home at lunch time, and literally couldn't keep my eyes open. Joel snapped this pic of me and my boy finally getting our cuddle on together after 5 long days apart...and we both require gold polka dot pillows in order to nap properly.

 

Saturday night we walked to sushi which was a fun and low-key date night, and then Sunday we tackled our mile long to-do list.

After a long week away, I'm thankful for a fresh and hopefully healthy week. It's not even the holidays and I can already tell all of the indulgences and exceptions I'm making are creeping up on me.

My Makeup Bag & Routine

I'm posting this over at Natalie's blog East Coast Chic as well today, so pop over there if you want to peak inside other bags too!

 I am not a makeup girl. I barely know what I'm doing and since I work from home, I find it silly to have gobs of makeup on my face during the day. However, the older I get, the less I can get away with 100% au natural. 

I use the least amount of products, in the fastest way possible and feel like I have started making a decent crack at it. 

 

These are the products I use every single day. I probably spend 6 minutes going through my little routine. 

Under-Eye: Fake Up

Concealer: Maybelline in Nude

Bronzer: One Hot Minute

Blush: Lolli-Tint

Brows: Gimmie Brow

Lashes: They're Real

Lips: Victoria's Secret in Forever Yours

And, who doesn't like a little before and after?

 

What's your must-have makeup piece?

Thanksgiving Salad Must-Have

This is the second salad that my girlfriend Laura has turned me onto that I've become literally obsessed with. She brought this salad originally for our Fall-themed girls night, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since.

I made a few changes and just had to share because it is the perfect 5-minute salad (minus the quinoa) to bring to Thanksgiving. Or practice Thanksgiving.

The Goods:

I will double this recipe for Thanksgiving

1c Cooked Quinoa

1 bag shaved brussels sprouts bought pre-done at TJ's

7-8 pitted dates, sliced into thin strips

Shaved parmesan 

Dressing:

Whisk the following

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup of stone ground dijon mustard

1tbsp of maple syrup

Good shakes of sea salt

Massage the dressing (with your hands) into the salad and let it chill for ten minutes before serving.

Fancy but simple. 

 It's amazing.

Enjoy.

Weekend Report

This weekend might go into the books as once of my favorites of the year. The weather was perfect in LA and I could just feel the shift in season. Bring on the holiday cheer!

Friday Joel got home from a week long trip in Ohio so Roscoe and I decided to visit him at the office with some fun Halloween treats. 

   

When Joel got home we took Roscoe out for a long walk around the neighborhood so we could stalk on all of the cute costumes. I love our neighborhood at Halloween because all of the parents sit out on their driveway with candy and wine so it's a great chance to meet the people that live right next to us.

 

 I made turkey chili in the crock pot, and was honestly a little nervous for the turn out. I read some of the comments on SkinnyTaste.com that it was a touch bland, so I upped the heat factor with "hot diced green chilies" and a bit of sriacha. It was to die for! SO good!

 

We had some wine, watched all of the DVR'ed Halloween episodes for the week and called it a night.

Saturday I met up with a girlfriend for a long walk and then spent most of the day at home with Joel. Our nephew had to spend some time in the NICU after we was born last week which has been really hard for everyone....especially my brother and sister in law. Thankfully he is doing wonderfully and and their hospital has webcams for us to watch him from.

 

I spent way too long watching his sweet face. 

We made pizzas, watch the Vols win in overtime, and had another early night. 

 

Sunday after a hike we had a rehearsal thanksgiving with some friends who graciously decided to be our guinea pigs. 

We have never cooked a full turkey, and we are cooking it on a charcoal grill, so it was necessary we do a trial run.

 

While Joel was prepping the bird, Shelby, Dawn, and I took the babies and dog out of the house and over to the park.

Our neighborhood has a really cute park about a half mile away so we got in a good walk and the kids got to swing and hang outside for a little bit before dinner.

 

It was so funny to watch their boys - Max and Tucker - interact with each other. They're almost a year apart so Tucker was pretty intrigued by Max. 

 We sat down for dinner and I can confidently say that our Thanksgiving guests are in for a treat!

Dinner and company were beyond lovely - it was a really fun night to top off a perfect weekend.

I'm off to Chicago tomorrow for work which means I get to sneak in some extra family and friends time.