call them the diamond dogs

How can you not love that face? The past holiday weekend I got all the attention from our faithful family pup, Macy. She's a true love bug, all about making you feel like you are the most important person in the world. I snapped her picture while she was resting on a kitchen chair- a trick she loves since all she wants to be is part of the conversation at the table.  Since I don't have my own dog, I love that all she wants to do is let me know she is glad I am there, to spend time with her of course - I got plenty of interactions with the humans at home as well. Dogs certainly make the world a better place.

she turns circles, turning circles

Silver jewelry tends to be my favorite - for years you couldn't catch me with anything gold. That's changed a bit, I do find there are certain outfits that gold or copper tend to be a more flattering accessory choice.  Silver is still my go to. I received this really simple necklace on a very delicate chain for Christmas with my first initial on it, which I love. It has a very small heart with the circle giving it a bit of flare. One of the things that I truly like is that this can be paired with a few necklaces for a layered look, all while allowing me to wear a piece of jewelry that's destine to be a favorite for many years.

little snowbird

As part of the holiday festivities, my mother and I each got a manicure before heading to church services. Getting my nails done is one of my favorite little treats, just a tiny bit of pampering, to make you feel completely girly. My mom and I were not the only mother/daughter pair in the place, a young girl and her mother were getting mani/pedis for Christmas too. While the little girl's mother was doing something in the back room (I'll leave what that was to your imagination, because I have no idea what could have been taking so long), she asked the nail tech to paint little snowmen on her nails. I definitely thought it was cute, but not something I would normally go for, until the technician asked me if I wanted snowflakes on my nails. Feeling festive, I said sure why not, which resulted in this very sweet design on the ring finger of both hands.

Wish we were kids again my sister, my friend

Another Christmas come and gone, it's always amazing how fast the day goes when all is said and done. We all spend so long in anticipation of the day, preparing, shopping, wrapping, for it all to be gone in a matter of a few hours. I love that the holiday is truly about family and togetherness. My family is small, yet the holiday always seems just the right size- good food, thoughtful gifts, funny stories. I was so excited to finally give my sister her gift after hunting for something that was really unique. This necklace is from that same Etsy shop that I frequent for myself, but I was able to find something that I thought she would truly like wearing. The two little girls in silhouette reminded me of the true bonds of sisters, that means we will always be there for each other, even when we drive each other bonkers. I hope everyone has come away this holiday season with some new memories and fond traditions.

I'll be your girl for all seasons, all the year through

Imagine my delight when this adorable calendar made it's way to me via a friend who knew I'd love it. There as a mysteriously large envelope in the mail, which just makes the mind wander into the mode of - what could this be? I couldn't have been more please to find this gift I'll enjoy all year long, and definitely something I needed. Part of me just wants to try to recreate all the delicious desserts through out the 2012 year (might we all get to enjoy the struggles of making desserts, in a gluten free way?). Here's to enjoying a sweet and tasty new year.

I believe ’cause grandpa told me so

I am still on a short cardigan kick these days (mainly because I like that you can tell someone has a waist), but I did recently find this belted sweater that has some length, which I love for a more casual basic look. It should come as no surprise that I found this at the Gap... I am a sucker for the fact there is always a sale. This sweater is one that I plan on wearing the entire time I am at home for the holidays- it goes with just about everything I am bringing with me. Plus it will be comfortable to throw on when the house gets cold at night, and just be a great thing to pair with pajamas to jeans, to dress pants. I like the gray color mainly because it's a great neutral to pair with some fun accessories but still keep a polished look.

polka dots and moonbeams

Knee socks definitely made a comeback in the past few years - ever since boots became a staple in everyone's shoe rack.  I use to associate these socks with little girls, very young ring bearers  and those unfortunate private school uniforms. Now, I love them since they not only work well under tall boots, but also keep my legs warmer during these super cold months. I've been known to wear them with sneakers just to have that extra layer of clothing. I found this absolutely adorable pair of spotted socks at Target over the weekend. I love gray (it's light black right?) and probably should have gotten multiple pairs. All I have to say is that we've come a long way from the days of saddles shoes and argyle socks my mother wore to Catholic school every day.

lavender dreams dilly, dilly, lavenders true

Anyone who knows me, even the tiniest bit will soon come to realize how much I love the scent of lavender. To me it smells so amazing, and I have to admit that heaven must be this fragrant. I have lavender soaps, shampoo, lotion, laundry detergent - this list could continue pretty much forever. My rule of thumb is if I can get it in lavender, then that's exactly what I am going to do. I recently got this great smelling candle from Stonewall Kitchen, which fits all my lavender requirements. My house smells so good and it definitely makes me relax a bit with that scent rolling through every room. This is truly one of the best little things to make me happy, and I just enjoy how clean it makes everything smell.

milkshake brings all the boys

The end of the year has been quite intense for me at work. I was recently promoted which was great news- but all the transitions for my new role and my old position is happening during the busiest time frames for both. It's a bit sad how much time I spend at the office these days. Luckily, there is a light at the end of the tunnel in about four weeks... thank goodness. During one marathon session at work, a break was taken for milkshakes- something I have so rarely. This was an amazing little treat- I truly forgot how delicious these are. I was instantly reminded of trips to Friendly's where my mom and I would have milkshakes and one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches (I still remember those as being so amazing). It seems like a bit of kid food was just what I needed to get through a long night.

it's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees

I

Walking around even a Christmas tree shop, smells divine at this time of the year- it makes me a bit nostalgic for the tree farm my family use to visit when we were young. We'd pile into my dad's baby blue van (always called the full name, never abbreviated) and drive out to the farm to go select out tree. It was always an adventure, and I remember doing this trip in the day time and some times in the evening when it was dark. It was still the time when snow actually was a fairly regular occurrence in Massachusetts and it would be cold and we could crunch through the snow looking for the perfect tree to bring home. My dad would be responsible for sawing it down, and we would stand in wonder as we loaded the tree on an old fashioned sled to haul back to the baby blue van. I love the family memories the holiday season creates, and even though it's been far too long since the family went in search of a tree, I can only look back fondly of this memory my parents helped create for us now. The smell of pine and balsam firs will always be favorable in my mind.

and they called it puppy love

I have puppy fever. I think it's similar to what some women feel when they hold a baby and then want one of their own. When I am out with friends walking around, At Halloween time I printed a photo of a dog in costume to decorate my office space. I almost always point out the dogs as they stroll by. "Isn't he handsome... Aw - look at the beagle- he's jaunty." In all honesty, it's probably a bit annoying that I always want to pet all the dogs similar to a young child. But I ask how can you hate such an adorable face?

we'll drink a glass of champagne

An impromptu trip to Anthropologie brought me face to face with these gorgeous champagne coupes. I kept trying to walk away and not think about what a great addition these would be to my ever growing stemware collection. The glasses ended up winning this battle -  I couldn't resist. The  flowers accented with gold dots make these delicate glasses a standout in my mind. They have a lady like feel to them as well - I can picture classy old ladies sipping cocktails on the porch out of these. It also doesn't hurt that champagne is one of my favorite things to enjoy and celebrate with. In my eyes, champagne is not just for weddings - it's for celebrating just about any thing. Hopefully I can find many celebrations (or random Friday nights) to enjoy using these in the future.

girl wants to party all the time, party all the time....

Just as I think I've made it through the holiday party season for the most part, with outfits I've truly enjoyed wearing, and feeling like I had the next few events covered, I find the perfect little black dress.  I was in the Gap, just browsing the sale racks to see if there were any treasures I hadn't found yet. I figure heck, why not try on the dress... and I knew it was going to end up in my closet before even giving my friend a chance to talk me out of the purchase. The neckline is embellished with metal, making this not like every single black item in my wardrobe (it's close but not that close). Plus, I am pretty certain that everyone knows how much I love things that are sparkly and shiny - it's like the little girl who loved to play dress up still gets to in her adult life.  Now to find the perfect place to wear this dress, though I do think with the right cardigan I could probably get away with this in the office.

step into Christmas with me

More signs of the season - I really enjoy signs of the Christmas season.  Over the weekend, I had my nails painted a candy cane red which put me into a cheerful mood.  Also bought some red and green string to tie up the gifts this year- I've been really into more traditional wrapping this year. I also love my glittery trees that add some sparkle to my living room this season.

say my name say my name

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. I love personalizing things, it might be an ego thing but seeing my name in print always makes me feel important. I've been looking for a holiday gift for a friend that was simple and personal, and these monogrammed mugs from Anthropologie seemed like the perfect choice. It also didn't hurt that the mug pretty much leaped off the shelf into my basket. My friend works from home, where she spends many hours in the basement office as not to cause heartache for her young daughter and babysitter during working hours (we all know how important mommas are). Since I know she recently got an electric tea kettle for her workspace, I thought a nice mug with some unique teas would be a thoughtful way to remember her this holiday season.

The yellow rose of Texas

Everything is bigger in Texas... or at least that's what I am hoping. I am so excited to head to Austin in about two months. All my Friday Night Lights dreams could come true, though football season will be over then (what do people do on Fridays in the off season?). I can't wait to explore the local culture and check out some new places. I am also looking forward to escaping to a warmer climate just when winter becomes a bit too much in the northeast. Is it so wrong to be counting down the days already?

I hope you dance

Over the weekend, I finally got around to decorating my apartment for the holidays. If it had gotten much later into December I probably would have skipped the task all together since Christmas is so close to Thanksgiving this year, and the fact that I still go away every single holiday to visit my family in Massachusetts. My mom loves to give my sister and me new decorations each year for presents- adding new additions for the house to each coming year. Half of the fun of displaying the cheer is opening the storage boxes and stumbling across memories from past Christmases. I love to look at the ornaments and think about the people who gave the to me, or remember a trip when I picked something out to remember a great vacation. This little joyful leaping deer is one of my favorite pieces year after year. He always brings a smile to my face when I walk by the mantle every day.

I want to thank you

December is a time to remember those who help us out through out the year. I don't often give gifts outside of friends and family, but this year I wanted to send a colleague a thank you for all the times she's gone above and beyond the call of duty. I find that coworker presents are extremely difficult to tackle- people are unique and you don't always know what their favorite treats or things are (really everyone should blog about what they like- it would make gift giving a snap). After a bit of snooping, or what I would call covert affairs of having my boss email her boss, I discovered that brownies are a favorite baked good. Armed with some good information, I was able to send Dancing Deer Brownies with confidence that the treat would truly be welcomed. Hopefully she enjoys them as much as I have appreciated all she has done for me.

picture in a locket that I wore around my neck

I found this locket from Etsy, from the same shop I bought this necklace earlier this year. I wasn't really shopping for anything particular for myself, I was looking for a unique Christmas gift for my sister, since she's a big fan of jewelry - but more on her gift after she receives it. What drew me in to this necklace, despite the same old time feel of the other one I have, is the unique statement inscribed on the oval. A definition of the word Heart, in terms of the organ that keeps us alive. Immediately drawn to how a piece of jewelry that is meant to hold a picture of your loved ones, has a very different meaning of heart written on it, is supremely ironic and clever. The necklace takes into account the two things that keep us alive - the heart beating inside each chest, and a place to love with in each of us.

December come to me

Signs of the holidays are everywhere and I love seeing how different places are decorated.  I snapped a few photos over the weekend of different things that just put me in good spirits.

The wreath was outside a great brunch spot and I love how it looks against the pained window. White lights are my favorite - just the simple twinkly lights- I cannot wait to start walking around when night falls later on and look at all the houses all decorated.

The Merry Christmas sign is actually on display at the cube right behind mine at work (oh the joys of cube life). One of my colleagues comes in for a visit the next week and everyone likes to get the place all nice and cheerful.

Another package tied up with string, but half the fun of the holidays is wrapping up gifts. I am a big fan of unique wrapping, and despise the holiday gift bag. Bags are not nearly as fun to open and wrapped boxes. I love personalizing the box itself and to the person receiving. This is one of the first gifts I've wrapped up, but I love adding to the pile under the tree.

I come undone in this mad season

I remember when my best friend in elementary school brought Mad Libs to the playground somewhere around third or forth grade. A group of girls gathered on the playground to provide words to fill in the blanks, creating silly tales. The stories made up were absolutely hysterical with crazy mixed up sentences, sending us into fits of giggles. I was so excited when I found these treasures to play with again. I can only imagine that with my friends' much more expansive vocabularies these will be even more fun now then Mab Libs were when my entire grade use to play cops and robbers together. I am looking forward to gathering the gang to my house to play this one night.

diamond girl, you sure do shine

Remember in the movie, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days", there was big gala where the ladies in attendance all got to wear beautiful diamonds? I love that idea of "frosting yourself" - mainly because it sounds a bit dirty, but also because I love an excuse to wear fancy things. I was in search of the perfect pair of faux diamonds (maybe one day I'll have the real thing) earrings to wear with my green dress. I am a sucker for anything shiny and it's even better if it boarders on a bit tacky. The shape of these is different then the standard pair studs I prefer, and elegant enough to feel like chandelier earrings without the trouble I usually have of having them fall out of my ears.