Goodbye 2013

2013 has been a pretty good year! In February Dan and I traveled for Denver to see my grandma and then skied/snowboarded in Breckenridge. I started a new job in March landing me back in the events industry where I feel I belong! We celebrated friend's wedding, birthdays, and family get-togethers. We hosted numerous parties and cookouts at our house (Super Bowl, Indy 500, Halloween and Christmas). We celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary with a trip to NYC! I started running, made some new dresses, enjoyed decorating our house, and truly living our life to the fullest. We feel so thankful for all the memories made over the year!

Breckenridge 

 My sorority sister Carly's wedding. 

 29th Birthday

Bought some new furniture 

 Summer festival fun

 Times Square

Central Park

 New York City

Summer fun

 Ran my first 5 mile race. 

 family

I'm looking forward to 2014 and the new memories we will make in the next year. Dan and I both turn 30! (ahh) are planning to travel, do some home renovations, update and enhance my blog, continue sewing, running, cooking, shopping and all the things I love to do! Cheers to the new year!!
Happy New Year! And thanks again for following along!! I appreciate all my blog followers so much!

Spicy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

This was the appetizer I was most excited about making for our annual holiday cocktail party. I saw this recipe a few years ago on Pinterest and finally made it. It was delicious! Even Dan said he was hesitant at first, but loved the cranberry flavor mixed with the jalapeno spiciness!

I only have one terrible picture because I was in a hurry before our guests arrived. But you can find more and the original recipe here.

Spicy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
Ingredients: 
1 (12 oz) package of fresh cranberries
1/4 c green onion chopped
1/4 cilantro chopped
1 small jalapeno (remove seeds to make it less hot)
1 1/4 c sugar
1/4 tsp cumin
2 Tbsp lemon juice
pinch of salt
2 (8oz) packages cream cheese

Directions: 
-Use food processor or hand chop the cranberries.
-Hand chop the green onion, cilantro, and jalapeno.
-Add all ingredients (minus the cream cheese) in a bowl. Refrigerate for a few hours or even overnight.
-When ready to serve, spread cream cheese onto a plate and smooth cranberry mix over top. Serve immediately with crackers or chips!

Enjoy!! 

Christmas Cocktail Party

We have had a Christmas cocktail party for the last few years. I always enjoy planning the menu and decorating for the party. This year was the just the same. I began thinking about what to serve and how I wanted to place the food and drinks as soon as Halloween was over. It's always difficult having a party during this time of year because everyone is so busy and you never know what kind of turn out you will have.

Our party was last Saturday and we had a great turnout! Thanks again to all that came! I made a lot of the foods I have every year because they seem to be crowd favorites. I added in a few new recipes this year, which I will post soon. The party was a success! We danced the night away and the food was all gone! I took a TON of pictures on our camera, but much like the end of the night, they were all blurry.

 Our Christmas tree

 Tissue Tassel Garland tutorial here. 

Party Food: click for recipe - Jalapeno Deviled Eggs (added bacon), Marinated Shrimp Appetizer,

 Peanut Butter Crunch Buckeyes, Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies, Rolo Pretzel Turtles,  Ham and Pickle Roll ups, Charcuterie Board, Spicy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip, and Beef and Blue Cheese Crostini's. (recipes coming soon)

The dining room table. I didn't take a picture of the drinks or cocktail/champagne table but it looked very similar with the silver and gold accents. 

Looking forward to next year! 

Fair Isle Sweaters

Old Navy // H&M // ASOS // Topshop // Old Navy

Forever 21 // J.Crew // Boohoo // C. Wonder // H&M

 



The "ugly sweater" is back! I'm sure you've dug through your parents or grandparents closets to find something similar with sparkles on it for an ugly Christmas sweater party, but now these sweaters aren't considered ugly anymore. In fact, they are right on trend! If you are lucky you have a "vintage" one. But if you don't, they are pretty much everywhere right now and perfect for the holidays and cold winter! I'm especially fond of a few of these and hope to scoop one up before Christmas!

Wednesday Wishes: NYE Style

I am SOOO excited because we have New Years Eve plans this year!! The last few years we haven't had big plans, so I am thrilled to have our plan set early this year. We're going to a party, where cocktail attire is required and I'm thrilled. Yesterday I found THE most amazing dress ever! THIS dress is everything! Leather bodice with feather skirt. I couldn't be more in love. I have been eyeing feather dresses since my bachelorette party a few years ago. I'm obsessed. Also, how great is this candy looking clutch? Perfect.

As the title of this blog states, sadly this is only a wish. The price tag on this dress is a little pricey and not so much in my "wear it once" budget. Bummer. It IS gorgeous though isn't it?

 

Dress Idea

I have been thinking about this fit and flare dress for 2 days non stop.  Should I just buy it? We currently don't have set NYE plans or another occasion I could wear it. I've also been thinking about how to make it using these 2 McCalls patterns. I already have the skirt pattern and have been dying to make a skirt with it. All I would have to do is add the top to make the dress and I could pick out my own fabric. I'm really getting into this project. Now all I have to do is find a party to wear it!

Plaid Skirt

I made my friend Danielle this plaid skirt a few weeks ago. It's one of the easiest skirts I have ever made. I used this tutorial I found online. A few weeks ago I saw an Etsy shop that sells this type of skirt for $50-$60 and thought how easily I could make it. I became obsessed with the idea and bought several different plaid and holiday fabrics. So far I have made only 2. One for me and one for Danielle. ha!  But, I think I would like to make myself a solid red and black one for the winter and think I would get a lot of work wear out of them.  If you are a beginner sewer, this is an excellent project to begin with. If you want to make it easier, omit the pockets.

 

 

 

Holiday Dresses Under $100

Still looking for the perfect holiday party dress? Here are some of my favorites for under $100. I kind of love all of them! I can't wait to make New Years Eve plans just so I can buy a dress!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

All that Glitters and Shines

I love all things sequins! I wish I owned more of it. Or really I wish I had more places I could wear it. With the holidays approaching, are you breaking out your glittery garments? Maybe try something new this year, like sequins pants or shorts! I really like the sequins maxi skirt too!

 

Motel black dress
asos.com

Naven open back dress
pacsun.com

Crop shirt
$36 - newlook.com

ONLY black blazer
$29 - newlook.com

Wayf track pants
nordstrom.com

J Crew long skirt
jcrew.com

Gold sequin shorts
sheinside.com

Maxi skirt
dailylook.com

Jimmy choo shoes
net-a-porter.com

BCBGMAXAZRIA pink purse
bcbg.com

Topshop pink purse
topshop.com

Yoga Pants/Leggings

Last winter I searched high and low for yoga pants. I was looking for a pant I could wear to the gym. I tried on pants everywhere, Lululemon, Gap, Nike, Under Armour, Old Navy, seriously you name it, I tried it. Nothing seemed to work. According the founder of Lululemon I probably shouldn't be wearing yoga pants to begin with, but everyone else does and I needed a pair too, damnit.

Spring came and my need for pants was no longer there. All was forgotten until this fall I started running outside and I had a need for the pants again. Maybe I am a little picky, but I didn't want to be that girl at the gym with the see through pants or awkward camel toe. But I also don't want to pay 100 bucks for pants. What's a girl to do?

My friend sent me THIS blog. Hilarious and helpful! Perfect, I never really even thought of wearing the same "work out" pants as leggings. It's a MUST read!

And just like that, I ordered my pair of Zella leggings and I love them already! They are really thick and tight, holding it all in. Plus they are decently warm for outdoor activity. I have only worn them to work out, but am anxious to wear them this winter as leggings. They are reversible and I have considered turning them inside out for another wear. Is that gross? I'm not sure. That's gross, right?

And, while I'm at it. I'll just let you know that I am on team: "leggings are NOT pants". I admit there are people who can pull this off, mostly of the younger high school/college age. The general public cannot. SO PLEASE, please, please - wear a shirt that covers your ass. And while you're at it, figure out appropriate undergarments.

That's my lesson on leggings for the day!

Weekend Wrap Up

I had the most productive weekend possible! Dan was out of town, so I made a list and checked it off. Most of it boring stuff like cleaning and laundry, but other fun stuff too like shopping and sewing.

 Made this plaid skirt for my friend Danielle. 

Went on a long run Saturday. Took this picture afterward to show my mom and sister I'm ready for the Turkey Trot on Thursday! 

Found this Trina Turk dress, perfect for the holidays at TJ Maxx.

 Saturday was obsessive tartan day. I bought plaid napkins, wrapping paper and fabric. Plus, I had on my new Lord and Taylor scarf. Someone is ready for a very tartan Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas... I watched Christmas Vacation. Best. Movie. Ever. 

Continuing in the holiday spirit, I made 2 loaves of Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread to take to work. 

 Started getting ideas for my holiday table scape. (new plaid napkins, World Market chargers, and polka dot fabric from Joann Fabrics). 

Almost finished this skirt, but realized it's not going to work. More in another blog. 

And just for fun-  These are my brother's kids. If you know my brother, this is nothing new. He's a hunter and apparently his kids are going to be too. Hilarious!!