A Festive Hodgepodge

Hello, dear friends.  How's your week going?  Mine is going great.  I shopped 'til I dropped yesterday.  Please don't ask if I got anything for anyone besides myself.  I will take the fifth.  Is it my fault that the stores are having unbelievable sales?  The bad news is I lost my prescription sunglasses.  The good news is they were found at JJill so I get to go back to the mall today!

1.  What is your biggest "first world" problem?

My biggest "first world" problem at this time is to lose 10 lbs. by Christmas.  I only have 10 to go.

2.  Each year Time Magazine names a "Person of the Year", someone who has for better or worse... done the most to influence the events of the year.  It was recently announced they've named Angela Merkel Person of the Year for 2015.  You can read more about this year's selection here.  Your thoughts?  If you were in charge, who would you declare Person of the year?

Pope Francis was named Time's Person of the Year in 2013.  If I had been in charge this year, I would have awarded it to him again for all of his efforts in re-branding the Catholic Church and spreading love and tolerance throughout the world in his signature humble way.

4.  Do you make an extra effort to  give back in some way during the holiday season?  How do you encourage those who need encouragement this time of year?

The Mister and I do make an extra effort to give back during the holiday season.  I do not encourage other people - I don't feel it is any of my business.  

5.  Who is your favorite person to shop for?  Why?

I have two favorites to shop for and I will tell you my reasoning.  Chowdah and Chili never complain about the choice of the gift, they don't care that it's not gift wrapped, and they never ask for the receipt so that they can return it for the money.

Chow and Chil are always delighted with whatever I give them and never forget to thank me with licks and kisses. 

6.  What's the last delicious thing you ate?

The last delicious thing that I ate was in NYC when I had steak tartare.  I've been dreaming of it ever since.

7. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is _____________.

The best way to to spread Christmas cheer is to be polite and respectful of others.  If that doesn't work, help yourself to a few extra helpings of some spiked egg nog.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Remember the days when the Salvation Army bell ringers did their thing with a bored look on their faces?  No longer!  Not in NYC.  The new ones have a boom box and plenty of holiday spirit.  They're the best show in town!

What's your biggest "first world " problem?




Until next time...

Scenes from a Holiday Fair

Good morning, dear friends.  The Mister and I spent the weekend in the Big Apple in sixty-degree weather.  I took lots of photos to bore you with and I will post them soon.  

A few weeks ago, I dragged the Mister to the Annual Christmas Market at the World Trade Center.  I made many promises of cookies and a sumptuous lunch to follow.   

Usually, we get to these fairs as they open and it has yet to get crowded.  We couldn't do it this time though due to the pups' beauty appointment.  It was packed with anxiety-ridden, hyper women pushing ankle aiming strollers.  I thought I would have to medicate the Mister.   

I had never seen this booth before.  They had lots of unique items.  Love this switch plate.

I tried to strike up a conversation with these handsome guys but they were on the quiet side.

It was great to see my buddies, Anne and Debbie from Fudge Everything!  Their sauce is beyond delicious.  

The Mister can spot a cookie counter within 5 miles. 

I met the lovely couple behind this counter last year.  She makes the prettiest tassells.

Cute idea.  Even I could make these!  Maybe.

Look at this girl on the right.  She's picturing herself being the belle of the ball in her new fascinator on New Year's Eve.

We headed over to Boston - Legal Harborside for a couple of lobstah rolls. 

We sat at this bar so we could enjoy the water.

What a great way to end the day!

Until next time...

I would give my right arm for those eyelashes!

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas... In the Sunroom

Hello, dear friends.  TGIF!  Today is the first day that I feel like my old self, which is good because the Mister and I have a big weekend planned.  I don't want him to go away with just a shadow of myself.  He might like her better. 

I did very little decorating this year because I am lazy a minimalist, which is fine with me.  When you are in your early forties, such as myself, it is essential that you conserve your energy for important things like Real Housewives and Homegoods. 

It's very interesting when you move to a new state and your kids have already flown the coop.  Their room was never really their room.  They don't have any friends to visit, and they have no car.  So essentially, they are captives.  It works for me. 

Sorry, I got off track.  The sunroom is the only room that is considered fully decorated.  The tree is done in the den, but the mantle still looks like Halloween.  One day at a time.   

I bought these boxwood wreaths through Amazon and I was really impressed with the quality and the price.  I had to keep the price point down because I had quite a few windows and I didn't want the Mister to consider the wreaths one of my Christmas presents.  The best part was that they came with the ribbon and bow so the Mister we didn't have to do any measuring or cursing.  

I found these pillows on Society 6.  The reds don't exactly match the rest of the room, but who cares.  All the lights are on dimmers and it's Christmas.

I bet you're pretty impressed with my decorating skills.  
What can I say?  It's in the genes.

I visit a lot of blogs every day.  I come away so impressed and in awe of the talent out there.  It seems as though everyone is waaaaay ahead of me even in the paperwhite category.  Today I talked to my stubborn paperwhites and warned them "15 days, guys.  That's all we got."  Another note - totally forgot to polish the silver bowl.  Now it's too late.  I'll just dim the lights more and serve a lot of wine to the guests.

Another masterpiece.  

I'm expecting a call from HGTV any day now.

All this would not be possible without the assistance and support of my humble interns.


Until next time...