Happy Christmas Eve!

Oh my goodness! I have been in Seattle for 3 days now, and still have many things to do and people to see! It is always so crazy this time of year, although I love every bit of it! I will be taking a bit of a break and return to normal postings in the new year (sooner if I get my Internet at home to work better)! I hope you all have a holly, jolly Christmas that is full of love, family and friends!

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Not Your Ordinary Panty!

Every Christmas my Mom puts an array on undies in my stocking (naughty Santa!) and I used to hate it. But as undies get more and more expensive, I look forward to this little tradition now. Below are some undies that will excite your stocking, dress up your gift wrapping, and allow you to listen to your I-Pod?

These Panty Pops from Victoria's Secret are SO FUN! I bought a bunch for my girlfriends and attached them to the wrapping paper as a decoration that looks good enough to eat, but also super sweet!

If you like to match your cami to your panty then the Victoria's Secret Cami & Panty Cone is for you! This sweet set will go right to your bottom, but in a good way!

Wanna be like Britney ala Crossroads and dance around in your undies? Well don't worry, with the Let's Play Panty you can listen to your I-Pod in your undies and see if Clive Davis comes calling.

Got a hot date that might last till late? Get your Panty to Go-Go and head out the door. These are my personal favorite, because the box is adorable, and the fringe is out of this world.

For the friend who LOVES anything and everything Juicy pick up them up a pair of these adorable Lollipop Boyshorts. While they are a little pricier than the Victoria's Secret ones, I also think they are a lot cuter!

Oh how I hope that Santa brings these delectable Juicy Couture 'Cupcake Couture' Boyshort Set to me this Christmas morning. I absolutely HEART cupcakes and these boy shorts are almost too cute to open. You could buy all three for someone or break the package down for all those sweet.

All these undies are sure to be a hit for whoever receives them, and also whoever sees them!

Wino Wednesday

You are probably thinking...more sparkling wines? And the answer is yes! The MPX Sparkling wine is a special treat imported from Spain. I picked up this bottle at Cost Plus World Market and was pleasantly surprised by the mild taste and effervescence. The sales associate informed me that smaller bubbles = better sparkling wine, and I must say that he was correct and now I look at all my glasses to see how small the bubbles are. I bought this bottle for under $10 bucks and I have only ever seen it at Cost Plus, so if you are lucky enough to have one near you, pick up a bottle for New Years!

Jewels & Gems Oh My!

Being a girl, and loving jewelry, pretty much go hand in hand. That is why I am so excited that my good friend Laura has her jewelry site up and running! I was lucky enough to receive a pair of gold drop earrings from Laura and now, you too can own (or give) some jewels from Laura E!

I am dying to add these Antoinette earrings to my collection. They are gorgeous, sexy and classy and would go with just about anything!

Equally beautiful and a little more earthy is the Allison necklace (also available in earrings). The delicate leaf motif with a plain white t-shirt will make everyone green with envy.

The Donna necklace is a great way to wear silver and gold this holiday and all year round.

There are a variety of colors and styles that will fit anybody on your holiday list! It is one gift they will not want to return!

Forever Frugal Friday

You will feel like a Greek goddess in this sassy, sexy number. I love the twisting underneath the bust and I know I have been posting a lot grey tops lately but it really is a good color on everyone! I am imagining dinner with the girls and drinks afterwards...wherever you choose to wear it, it is sure to be a hit!

Get Your Nog On

A few weeks back, my girlfriend Erin sent an interesting article on Silk Nog. As a lover of soy milk and eggnog, I was overjoyed by the combination of the two.

I purchased my Silk Nog at the grocery store and couldn't wait to get home and try it out. Upon pouring my first glass, I noticed immediately that it was a lot thinner than normal eggnog (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). At first sip this nog definitely had similarities to regular eggnog (spicey,nutty), but after a couple of gulps I wanted to be done with it. I figured that if it tasted alright alone, it would probably taste excellent with coffee.

NOT TRUE!

In the month of December I always bring a quart of lite nog to work and heat up a little bit before adding my daily cup of coffee. It is a cheap alternative to an eggnog latte and quite a treat to start off the morning. I added the Silk Nog to my daily cup of coffee as I always do and took my first gulp of coffee...BLECH! It did not taste good. In fact I dumped the cup down the drain, and walked over to Starbucks for an authentic eggnog latte. I tried not to judge too hastily, and decided to try it again this morning. The verdict...BLECH again!

I think I will stick with my lite eggnog from Trader Joes and leave the Silk Nog for other noggins.

Wino Wednesday

This is another wonderful sparkling wine that we sampled at our wine tasting party that scored very highly (mostly 5's and a few 3's). This was also Coco+Kelley's favorite bubbly from the evening. This sparkler is very different from the Yellow Tail Sparkling White Wine that we are also serving at our wedding. This one is not as fruity or sweet, but still bubbly and yummy. It has much more of a bitter/crisp taste but in a good way, and it comes from France which makes it feel a little more authentic.

Elon and I were recommended this sparkling wine by a very helpful worker at BevMo in Torrance. I was not disappointed and at $9.99 a bottle, I don't think you will either. Next on my list to try is their Rose, which I hear is incredible. Stay tuned.....

I'm So Excited...and I Just Can't Hide It

I have been waiting for 90210 to come out on DVD for years! Those who know me well know that I have had a minor....okay major obsession with Beverly Hills 90210 since I was 10 and it first aired on Fox. I did have a poster of Dylan in my bedroom, and I still own the soundtrack (although it has MANY scratches on it). I watched 90210 religiously for those 10 glorious years. I stuck with it through Brenda & Dylan, Kelly's diet pill addiction, Steve stealing the legacy key, Brandon's political aspirations, Donna's awful hairstyles, David's budding keyboard career and the introduction and dismissal of Valerie and Gina.

There were definitely some tough years that were hard to watch but I was so excited to see that the BEST season EVER (season three) is now available for purchase.


Season three is by FAR the best. Brenda and Donna study abroad in Paris in the summer only to come back and find out that Kelly and Dylan are now an item, Dylan's dad dies, Donna Martin almost doesn't graduate....what more could you ask for?!

This season is definitely a must-have for anybody who grew up in the 90's and still watches the reruns on the soap network. You can get all three seasons for $105 at Amazon or you can pick and choose your favorite seasons. You won't regret it!

Donna Martin Graduates!

Holiday Cheer Part III

Waldo wanted to wish ya'll a very great weekend and happy holidays!

Forever Frugal Friday

This shirt will have everyone thinking your are totally Pretty in Pink (or grey or brown). I love how the ruffles and belt make this top super girly.

I recently purchased a cream satin top from Forever 21 and am happy to report that the top wears and looks quite well-considering how cheap it was! I can totally imagine this top for after work cocktails, the office holiday party or with jeans for a weekend gathering with friends. Get it here!

Redlining

Flat lining? Got a lot of stuff to do? Holidays leaving you in a daze? Try Redline Energy Drink!

Now I must advise that I do not enjoy energy drinks at all, mostly because I think they taste disgusting and I never feel like they actually work. Well this drink definitely falls into the disgusting taste (SOOO SWEET!) but I must say after 4 ounces of this drink I was feeling alright (uh-huh).

I had read about this drink originally from an article on Jennifer Love Hewitt, she said she drinks it on set and it gives her energy and a serving of vegetables. I thought, well it is worth a try and was surprised when I found it at my local gas station the same day! I was a little intimidated when the label said, Cautious: Do not drink on an empty stomach, and do not exceed 4 ounces. I figured if Jennifer Love Hewitt can drink it, I am fine! Then the gas station attendant warned me to only drink half and share the rest or save it for the next day. What the hell was I about to put in my body?

Elon and I split a bottle and it tasted just like liquid grape jolly rancher *blech*. Now I am not generally very sensitive to caffeine so for me I felt great for like honestly 6 hours. I wasn't shaking, I wasn't off the wall hyper, and the best part is that I didn't come crashing down. Instead I was pleasantly alert and not tired at all.

My verdict is that this stuff is awesome taken in small quantities and if you are not sensitive generally to caffeine. If you need that extra boost, this is the drink for you!

Wino Wednesday

The fine folks at Michael David Winery in Lodi have literally put heaven in a bottle with this chardonnay. 7 Heavenly Chards is by far one of my favorite chardonnays out there. The bottle is pretty, the cork is a lovely shade of blue and the contents within are a DREAM! This chardonnay is flavorful and delicious. It is not overly crisp, nor buttery, and it goes well by itself or with a meal.

Elon and I happened upon this little piece of heaven while we were trying to pick out a bottle to take to a friends house. We have officially hooked most of our friends onto this wine. So much so, that last time I tried to buy it at our local wine store, the owner informed me that one of my friends had already bought the last three bottles.

7 Heavenly Chards is definitely a staple at our house, and will hopefully be enjoyed by all at our wedding. If you know of a chardonnay lover and need a bottle for this holiday season, I suggest picking up a bottle for them, they will definitely think you are heavenly!

Mini Must Haves!

Now I know that big bags are all the rage right now, and the things you can fit into that big bag are endless. However, if you have a formal affair to attend and a clutch is all you can bring, these little minis below will have you not missing that big bag at all!
I happened to stumble into Sephora at lunch today, and was pleased to see that my favorite daily must have is now available in a new flavor! Smith's Brambleberry Rose Lip Balm not only leaves your lips ultra soft, but also with the faintest tint of pink. I use mine at least 10X a day!
I use my Tarte Cheek Stain in Flush everyday because it gives you perfectly rosy cheeks, like you just came in from a cold winters day. The We Wish You Happiness Cheekstain Set comes in totally cute packaging and has three exclusive colors that you can pick and choose for your mood.
Another important must-have everyday is mascara. My blond eyelashes are nonexistent without it. Benefit's A Little Bit BADgal Lash Mascara is a great way to add a little something, something to your evening occasion. And aren't we all secretly a little badgal ourselves?
Lastly, as girls we are supposed to smell good at all times. Well with Philosophy's State of Grace trio, that won't be a problem at all.

I might add that since all of the items above ARE mini, they could also make GREAT stocking-stuffers. So treat yourself or someone else, you gotta love all things mini!

Party Dresses

After weeks of searching I finally found and purchased my dress for my companies holiday party (a.k.a. Prom 2007), and I love it!

The dress is by BCBG and fits like a dream. It is available at Nordstrom but I got mine on sale at Bloomingdale's. I am going to pair it with some gold heals and big gold earrings, smokey eyes and pale pink lips. I can't wait!

Some other great dresses for this holiday season:

I love the shape and unique details to this dress.

I know many people are scared of sequins and all things that sparkle, but this dress is a great way to look classy and sexy but also bring some bling into the party.

This jade dress by Calvin Klein is the most gorgeous jewel toned dress I have seen in a while, and I love how it pulls the waist in to make you look teeny!

My runner-up dress, I loved how simple the style is and color is mind blowing! I have been searching all over for a dress of this color.

All these dresses are available at Nordstrom.

If you love the flash and bling of sequins, you should definitely check out Avery Bleu's posting on Sassy Sequin dresses. She has a wide variety that will definitely put you in the spirit.

Forever Frugal Friday

Today we had rain in LA, which made it all the more fun to pull on my new boots and favorite wool jacket. I am going to see Enchanted after work today with some friends, and was trying to plan out what I should wear that would be cozy (since theatres are so chilly!), yet still cute if we got drinks afterwards.



This sweater is EXACTLY what I had in mind. You could wear a fun/fancy tank underneath in case you hit the bars later, but stay comfy and warm while watching the movie. I love the wide sleeves, fold down collar and kangaroo pockets, and I have to say at $29.80 it is a total steal of a deal!

Have a wonderful weekend and stay warm everybody! December is here, time for some holiday cheer!

Project Runway Rundown

Have I mentioned how much I love this show? It is seriously, SO GOOD!

So last nights challenge was to design an outfit for Today Show correspondent Tiki Barber. Most of the designers FREAKED out at the thought of designing an outfit for a male, which made all for better television viewing.

The winning designer was Jack:

I thought this outfit was nice enough, but not very original.

My personal favorite was by Kit (the runner up):

I thought the whole ensemble was classic, sharp and sporty. Plus the jacket was made from fleece material, so comfy!

Another one I loved (although not for Tiki Barber) was Kevin's:

This outfit was so rocker, school-boy chic and I loved it! The best part of the evening came when Heidi Klum said she would not like her husband Seal in this outfit. She is seriously too cute!

The Auf'ed design belonged to Carmen:

Awful! She totally ran out of time and couldn't complete a shirt, the pants fit awful and the jacket was just not doing it for anyone.

What do you think? Do you agree with the judges? What was your favorite look? Rate the runway yourself at Bravo TV.

Until next week, in the words of Tim Gunn, "Carry On!".

Wino Wednesday

I love this time of the year because it gives me even more excuses to drink champagne. Let's be honest here, basic math teaches us, Champagne = Celebration Time.

We recently had some friends over for a blind wine tasting, to help us choose our wedding wines (posting on this event is soon to follow). We had selected four sparkling wines for our guests to sample and rate either: 1(hate it), 3(ok), 5(love it). We had nine judges (including Elon & me), and let me just tell you that the Yellow Tail Sparkling White Wine scored 5 points from almost everyone (except my good friend over at Coco+Kelley who gave it a 1!).

I loved this sparkling wine for many reasons:

1. The name is Yellow Tail, my favorite color is yellow, as is the main color for my wedding :)
2. The label is pretty and fun, I mean who doesn't love kangaroo's?
3. It was fruity, bubbly, refreshing and fun!
4. So cheap! I bought it for $7.99 a bottle at BevMo!

Yellow Tail's mission with this sparkling wine, is to allow everyone the opportunity to enjoy sparkling wine not only on special occasions. Come to think of it, shouldn't we be celebrating life everyday?

Pick up a bottle for your next celebration, whatever it may be :)

Total Splurge vs Total Steal

I was in New York for the first time ever in September, and experienced this great store Scoop. I instantly fell in love with these adorable Anya Hindmarch pouches sitting at the checkout counter. They came in a variety of colors and had such cute labels, that I couldn't wait to take one home with me. I loved this one the most:

Unfortunately for me, if I had purchased this sweet pouch, I wouldn't have had any dollars to put in it. I also loved all the designs below, which are available at Shop Bop.

A place for all your Bits & Bobs sounds good to me!

Need a place for all your Lotions & Potions? Look no further!

Now, while I would love to receive one of these as a present (hint, hint), I was happily surprised when I was perusing Target the other day and found these!

I sure do love me some Isaac Mizrahi. These pouches are total knockoffs of the Anya Hindmarch pouches and while they are not labeled with cute quotes or sayings, they are an absolute steal at 3 for $15.99 right now!

If you are not a fan of the bright pink, why not try this set instead?

The tweed is a little classier, yet the addition of the silver and gold still makes it fun and flashy. I am thinking I might just buy both sets, stuff them with some little trinkets and hand them out to my friends as gifts this season.

Whether you choose to splurge on the real thing or save on the knockoffs, you definitely won't be dissatisfied with these sweet pouches!

This is a Story....

Of a girl and her quest for the perfect black boots. This story begins back in fall of 2003 and ends on a brisk evening in Redondo Beach.

Is it just me or is it damn near impossible to find high black boots that fit? I felt like Prince Charming looking for Cinderella... this boot was too high for my short legs, or this boot didn't have a high enough heel, or this boot didn't have the right toe shape.

Leave it to my good friend Jaime who is always on top of the trends to find the PERFECT boot! This past September, Jaime trotted into Nikki Beach wearing them and I instantly fell in love. Jaime being the kind soul that she is, gave me the thumbs up to copy her awesome style and purchase the boots also. The only problem, they were already sold out online and in the stores in my size.

Fast forward two months, I was browsing my local Nordstrom when I saw the Jeffrey Campbell "Flawless" boots in turquoise. I quickly snatched up the boot and begged the sales associate to find me this boot in black, size seven. After calling ten different stores, victory was ours!

My boots are currently en route to my home and I cannot WAIT to pull these puppies over my skinny jeans, or pair them with some tights and a fun dress and walk all over town.

Wino Wednesday

I just recently tried the Liberty School Chardonnay, which was absolute bliss to my taste buds. I love, love, love how buttery and smooth this chardonnay was. Liberty School Chardonnay is fruity and lively on the tongue, but has strong notes of vanilla and oak that are lacking in other chardonnays on the market. It makes for a fantastic wine to drink alone or paired with a chicken or pasta dish. Liberty School has jumped to the top of my favorite wines and you better believe I will keep a bottle always on hand for enjoyment.

I have found this wine at Ralphs, Pavillions, BevMo and Cost Plus World Market for about $11.99-$17.99. So go swing by and try it out yourself. I would love to hear what you think!

Turkey Time? It's All Gravy Baby!

In 2003 Elon and I hosted our first "Orphan Thanksgiving" with all our friends who would also be spending their Thanksgiving away from the family. It was kind of a big deal for us both, and we had no idea where to begin with the turkey. Enter Williams Sonoma .

If you are ever hosting a dinner or Thanksgiving of your own and feel hopeless or unsure of what to do with food, look no further than your local Williams Sonoma. We knew we were in good hands when the whole front half of the store was Thanksgiving themed, full of ideas to try out and best of all lots of samples to taste of all the goods!

I found this jar full of dried fruit, salt and sugar and asked the sales associate, "What is this?".
She explained that it was a brining mixture, a popular method of marinating meat. I thought the idea was genius and of course bought the jar. The directions couldn't have been easier to follow, and the results were fantastic (some of our friends said it was better than their parents - which was music to my ears). You can buy the brining mixture at the store or find brining recipes online and make your own. Brining was such a success that we have continued the tradition of brining year after year.

The next addition to my basket were these yummy herbs which I added to some softened butter and spread all over the outside of the turkey as well as a little bit inside of the turkey for that golden, delicious taste. Elon's secret trick (not so secret), was to puncture a can of beer and stuff it half way into the turkey (so you can pull it out). As the turkey heats up the can releases some of the beer, assuring you a moist turkey to enjoy.

Being our first year cooking Thanksgiving dinner, we did have one major error...the gravy. Who knew it was so difficult to make good gravy?

Problem solved with Williams Sonoma's Turkey Gravy Base. You just add turkey drippings, some milk/cream and viola! It tastes like you are a seasoned gravy-making pro, and once you throw it in a gravy boat, no one has to know that you didn't make it from scratch!

So if you are hosting your first Thanksgiving dinner, try out the items above and I promise your guest will gobble, gobble, gobble all the food right up!

Holiday Cheer Part II

I picked up my mom from the airport on Friday and was trying to find some appropriate music to listen to in the car with her (she is NOT obsessed with the new Britney Spears CD). I turned to our local "soft hits" station 103.5 The Kost (pronounced the coast), and was shocked and excited to hear Christmas music playing on the radio already!

If you haven't noticed already, I heart the holidays and love all things Christmas. So, the day after Thanksgiving always begins my marathon of Christmas music (also 1st Eggnog Latte - 3 days and counting!), which means I only listen to Christmas music at work, in the car and at home. Luckily for me, my co-workers also enjoy the sounds of the seasons, and Elon will endure it at home because I love it so much.

If you enjoy the music as well and want to listen to all things Christmas, I suggest Warm 106.9 a Seattle radio station that plays a great selection. Just click the link and select listen live (look for the headphones) and you will have all the Christmas Music your heart desires.

Cheers!

I want, I need, I must have....

This beautiful clutch from Banana Republic is TDF. The Kayak Yellow is the prettiest golden yellow in person (looks like a yellow/green on my computer) and would be the perfect accessory for my May wedding (my colors are yellow, pink and navy). It also just happens to be on sale right now, so I am pretty sure I am going to treat myself to it.

I also adore these shoes from JCrew...

Which would look so fun underneath my wedding dress. I love the Burnished Yellow or the Soft Azalea, and since they both are in my wedding color scheme I figure either one would work. The price tag is a bit more hefty ($225), but I have a feeling I would TOTALLY wear these shoes again and again!

They may say yellow is mellow, but I would argue that these two items are anything but!

Forever Frugal Friday

I thought it might be fun to post a find that you can possibly wear out this weekend, so what about this flashy fun sequin vest? It it from the line Twelve by Twelve which is "technically" owned by Forever 21 (thus qualifying it for Forever Frugal Friday)!




Not to be confused with a mullet, but this vest is totally, "business in the front, and party in the back"! I love how the ribbon in the back really sets it appart from other vests. I think this would look hot at the bars paired with your favorite wife beater or a V-neck T-shirt, jeans and flashy heels. Or perhaps you could spice up you work wardrobe by pairing it with a button down shite shirt and your favorite suit. Imagine the look on your co-workers faces when you remove your jacket for happy hour drinks!

I always see people sporting the vest look in LA and admire how cute it looks, but I have yet to try the trend myself...however I do adore sequins so this might just be my chance! Get it here for only $26 bucks!

Have a great weekend!