Happy Monday!

I Cannot remember the last time I purchased a CD. I cannot remember the last time I loved every single song on a album. Hubs bought the John Mayer Album, Battle Studies, last week and I am in love. I actually saw him in concert in Baltimore, before his first album was really popular-He puts on such a great show. If you haven't heard this album yet, get it, or download it, but you will love it! I think my favorite song is "Half of My Heart" its a duet with Taylor Swift (she mostly plays the guitar on it), but it is such a good song!

On a completely different topic, We got our Christmas Cards! Yay! I am in the process of addressing them and hopefully we will send them out this week! Here is a bad photo (I do not blend into the card! It was just an awful flash moment) of how they turned out-They look better in person and the Red is very festive!

I ordered them from TinyPrints and they always do such a nice job-plus the turnaround time is incredibly speedy!

Lastly I put up our Christmas tree last week, and a million other decorations (ill get some pics up soon) and it has certainly warmed up our little place! The Christmas Tree skirt from PB kids came and it looks really cute with the tree, now I just need some packages to go under it:)

Perfectly Polished

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Last Wednesday I met my mother in Maryland for our girly "Wednesday before Thanksgiving" tradition of delicious manicures and pedicures, and a lovely lunch. I am such a purist when it comes to my polish colors, my toes alternate shades throughout the season (Lincoln park or A-list during the winter and I'm Indi-a mood for love or That's Berry Daring during the summer) but my nails are usually some variation of a sweet semi-sheer pink-I am so boring!

Here in DC in the nail salons it has always been a pretty standard mix of OPI & Essie, further north (my corporate office used to be based out of NYC) the girls never wore anything but Essie. For all the sweet southern belles out there what do you see the most of??

These are my favorites but I am always looking for more inspirations...

OPI Sweet Heart-I will usually just ask for one coat it looks a little thick on me if I get two

Essie Sugar Daddy-Its more sheer than it looks and I like it in the winter vs my standard mademoiselle if I don't have any tan whatsoever

Essie Ballet Slippers-as pretty as its name, I prefer one coat with this and a second with sugar daddy or mademoiselle
Essie Mademoiselle-The shade, its perfect year round, but I prefer in the spring and summer with a little color on my skin

OPI Bubble Bath-I wore this one on my wedding day, its great for a mani or pedi since it is not too sheer for your toes. My Bestie and I both consider this our year round "go-t0"

Essie Limo-scene-It is a little thicker, but it also works perfectly as a 1st coat with sugar daddy for a sheer pretty pink, year round!

I am dying to know what your faves are and if there are any others I need to run out and find:)

I feel like a superstar...

My very first award(s)!!! Thank you so much to the fabulous MRS. MFC for sending me these darling awards, I couldnt be more excited.


Rules are as follows 10 facts (as interesting as I can manage) about myself and tagging 15 other fabulous bloggers (be sure to let them know) to pass the awards on too, here goes....

1. I love ribbon; I could never have too many spools. I will buy it with absolutely no intention to use it. I will buy it just because I am drawn to the colors or pattern.

2. There is a Container Store a block from my condo, I shop there multiple times a week, one week I bought something there every day for five days in a row!

3. You can see the US capitol, the national cathedral and pretty much the rest of Washington DC from my roof.

4. I used to be a baton twirler. Not like a majorette with the band, but an actual competitive baton twirler for Wheaton Majorettes. I went to nationals at Norte Dame university-people in college were so shocked to find this out, my friend Blair’s mom Martha used to twirl and she brought her batons once when she came to visit, we had a “twirl off” at a college party-people still remember that☺

5. I will only eat Heinz ketchup; I refuse to eat any other brand.

6. I went to Michaels last night (one of my favorite places on earth) and I had more garland in my cart than anyone else in line (4, 9ft long packages)-I live in a 750square foot condo. Hubs cannot wait to see where I am going to put all of it

7. I love gummy bears in my frozen yogurt

8. I never joined facebook- I do not know how I missed it! Now I feel like it is just too late, and I won’t have any friend requests!!

9. I cannot get through the week without at least a couple of Skim Mistos from Starbucks. I always get them to add two pumps of sugar free hazelnut and two sweet and lows (I have them stir them in)!!

10. I was a vegetarian for 14 years (I really did not have a good reason as to why). 3 years ago my family went to Fogo de Chao and I ordered a big hunk of Filet, and that was pretty much that. People still freak out when I eat meat☺

I tag the following sweet as can be bloggers

Tales of a Short Southern Momma

(she just started a new job this week!-so please get some relaxing done this weekend!)

Kelsey@ Seattle Smith's

Jami at Imagine

Keeping up with the Davidsons

For the love

Veuve & Varsity

Lily Lemontree

Brown Eyed Belle

PammyCakes

Livi & B

InkOBESSIONSdesigns

La Belle Vie

Step Inside

Thyme for Wine -She has totally turned me into a cook:)

Brown Eyed Girl

Hope everyone has a wonderful week & and Happy Thanksgiving. I am certainly Thankful for such wonderful fellow bloggers and such as sweet, supportive community!

Beauty Disasters!

I had a serious meltdown last week and Hubs decided it was time to take me to the mall. I knew whatever I was doing to my face was wreaking major havoc but I just didnt know what to do! So I am trying a totally new line and I really hope this helps!

Dior Hydraction

The woman at the counter told me the reason my "fine lines" were so pronounced was due to major dehydration, so hopefully this will work on those! The serum already seems to make a difference.

In the past I have used La mer, but the mineral oil just didnt work well for me during some seasons, and La Prarie is great as well but I feel like I have hit plateau with both product lines.

My Hairdryer also exploded (sparks flew!) on Friday so Hubs got me a new T3 Pro Dryer (its pink) we picked it up from sephora and I have used it for one blowout so far. It has gotten really mixed reviews online so I will have to let you know how well it works. Talk about being helpless, It's not like I had a backup hair dryer!

Lastly, this community of women has once again taken the guess work out of beauty products for me. After almost being set on fire by my hair dryer and basically crying at the skincare counter at Nordstrom, I knew I needed some mascara. I have been a devotee to Chanel for years, and I am proud to annouce a conversion. Thanks to many of you, I picked up YSL Singulier Mascara in Deep Black. It is AMAZING! I am also an eyelash fanatic and I am always in search of the best mascara. Go get it now!


On a note involving less vanity (oops!!) I have a phone interview today, and I hope it goes well! Say a little Prayer for me:)

Buffy

I hate the gym.

I especially hate my gym, hubs lovingly refers to it as "globo gym" and meatheads are everywhere. All day, everyday. I have, for as long as I can remember, been a slave to the cardio equipment. I would run, do the eliptical, some abs and leave. I was so intimated of the weight lifting areas, and the guys here in Arlington are so "hanz & franz" esque, its obnoxious!

I purchased a book that I was planning on using to get in shape for my wedding. Somehow I only managed to use it for a few weeks then I got so nervous I would eat nothing but sweets and drink coffee, just to get through the day. It was really pathetic! 10 weeks ago I decided to give it another go. I had no idea that I could actually "transform" my figure-I thought that was just what people on infomercials say. The workout takes like 45 minutes, and the pictures are so helpful! My arms are toned, my waist has shrunk and my legs have thinned out! Sometimes when I am doing the workout I really dont feel like I am dying, but boy have I seen results! The inital weight lifting program is 24 weeks so I am not even half way through yet:) It is all free weights, and she suggests different cardio on off days. It's light lifting but it has made such a difference that I just had to share.

PS-Today was soooo yucky and cold and rainy here- I wish I was on vacation...

Hubs brought a koozie from our welcome buckets on our honeymoon (we had hot pink in addition to the navy) How cute is it on the sand with that water in the background?!

This was the view from our villa at Cap Jaluca in Anguilla (Sigh). Turquoise water is my favorite!

Side note***I feel so lucky to have met so many of you wonderful girls through blogging! I hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday:)

Frames & Giveaway Winner

Each year my mother and I head down to Richmond, Va (about 2 hours from DC) to the biggest, baddest craft show ever called Bizarre Bazaar. We usually get most of our Christmas shopping done at the show, and they always have tons of girly, adorable, preppy, stuff -It is truly amazing! So a few years ago I discovered a company called "Feel Good Frames". They specialize in custom wooden, hand painted & personalized frames, ornaments & even bulletin boards. I emailed the owner last week to see if I could place an order in advance to pick up at the show, only to find out she wasnt coming to the show this year=( They have an amazing site online, so I picked up a few things and I am having them shipped here, but I am just so in love with the products she offers it is completely worth it!

I ordered this one for my little nephew with his name on top and his birthdate on the bottom

I ordered this one with our names and wedding date for the tree this year, I have one from last year that says "engaged"

And who can resist the festive Christmas colors?

The quality of the products is amazing, and everyone always compliments the ones we have in our home. Plus they make perfect gifts! www.feelgoodframes.com

And now for the winner of my Lilly giveaway...

Lindsey @"Sweet Simplicity"

-send me an email (pinklacecupcakes@gmail.com) with your mailing address when you get a chance!

I took a hilarious picture of Hubs shaking up the names in a teacup this morning while he was still pretty much half asleep in bed, but I figured if he ever found out I posted it he would be furious!

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday:)

Christmas Tree Skirts

Dont get me wrong, I love Thanksgiving. But I am counting down the days until "black friday"-surprisingly not to go shopping but to decorate for Christmas! I get it all from my wonderful mother, who never misses a beat with any holiday. Growing up our home was perfectly decorated (and still is!), and I look forward to each holiday season to see what she has added to make it even more special.

My parents put up three live Christmas trees in their home and my mom has two beautiful tree skirts which over the years she has sewn an image onto with the year on it representing something significant that took place in our family. She has really sweet ones from when my brother and I were growing up, an image of a cruise ship from a wonderful family vacation, an image of our darling sweet departed doggie Dede, and many many more. This year I am determined to be the keeper of family traditions and I am in search of my own christmas tree skirt, one that I will hopefully be able to fill with as many wonderfully beautiful memories as my Mom has.

I have found a couple and only one that I really love but I have run into a dilemma. I want to have the skirt monogrammed or have our family name put on the skirt, but the one from PB kids wont allow enough letters! What to do?? Im going to try and give them a call to see if they will help me out.

This is the one I really like but "The-our last name" wont fit:(

I Like this one as well (the red and white) but just not as much.

If anyone knows where I can find a monogrammed Christmas tree skirt please let me know!

Giveaway

My very first giveaway! I am so excited:) I love, love, love, Lilly, and pink and coffee, and smelling pretty! So this is perfect:)

The winner will receive a really cute Lilly pink and green travel coffee mug and Lilly "squeeze" perfume and lotion, it's my fave and perfect for everyday:)

Just leave a comment and I'll use a random number generator this week, hubs will help me pick the winner on Wednesday!

Rain Rain Go away!

What a yucky day outside! The rain that has been blanketing most of the east coast showed up here this morning, and it is so gross! Luckily I have a few pink and green things to brighten up this day

I did some major re-organization to my desk/nook (our condo is super tiny) last week. I decided I needed some pretty "desk related goodies". Thank goodness Lilly came out with stationary products in the past year (unfortunately not in time for my wedding invites) this is what I scooped up...

The "time flies" planner is my favorite, I love the fresh slate of a new year, and I cannot wait to add all the fun weddings and events in 2010.

I am always looking for pretty ways to package shower gifts, and presents. Yesterday I came across coffee filter flowers! I am sure many of you have seen these, mommymakesflowers.com was featured on the Martha show, and her flowers are truly a work of art! I kinda made my own up as I went along (they do not look nearly as pretty as hers!) but I thought they would be a pretty addition to a wedding or baby shower gift, or a diaper cake for the new mommy...

I am sure its custom everywhere, but at bridal showers one of the maids will take all the ribbons and bows to make a "bow-quet" for the bride to use at the rehearsal, I thought that a coffee filter flower would make the perfect addition!

Hope everyone has a great day, Think sunny thoughts please:)

Happy Monday!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

My mini shopping excursion on Saturday went really well. I found a dress for an upcoming event and I love it!

I almost bought this one from BCBG but wound up putting in on hold for an hour so i could check out the other stores (and because they have a crazy return/exchange policy)!

I am so glad I did because I found this one that I absolutely love!DVF Fiorenza Dress in Viloet-The color is sooo pretty but its hard to get in a picture:(
It is such a departure from my standard black cocktail dress, I am so proud of myself for branching out!

Has anyone tried this eye pencil yet? I love a smoky eye for holiday parties and the like, and this looks like a departure from the crazy Hard Candy sparkly eye pencil (in lilac) I had in high school (yes I am ashamed!) I usually line my eyes with black liquid liner and this might be a pretty change without being too drastic? Thoughts?

Softsparkle Eye Pencil by MAC (its shown in Iris-but I would get black)

6 months ago today (please excuse the dumb looks on my face!) I was in Lala land!

Time Flies when you are having fun! Love you Hubs:)

Something no man will ever understand.

I adore my husband, have a wonderful Father, my big brother is the best, but they wont ever understand.

There is a bond that women are able to develop that men simply are not capable of having. No Im not talking about friendships among women, I am talking about women and shoes! The way you feel when you slip on a georgeus pair of heels, like nothing in the world could stand in your way. They are empowering, not to mention they make your legs look so skinny:) Plus you can change them all the time! My Husband thinks I am nuts. Dont get me wrong he is quite fashionable, designer denim a must, and his tiny little section of our closet is packed with labels to rival that of the mens section at Bloomies. He just doesnt get the shoe obsession, and most likely never will.

A great pair of shoes can change your attitude, turn a bad day into a great one and make you feel like a million bucks! I Know I am way late to this party, but I just got my first pair of Louboutins! Simple 100's black (so basic, yet classic). My feet are tiny and not narrow but not wide, so I was worried about the fit. I put them on and wouldnt take them off for an hour-I am in love. The red bottom is, obviously, so hot but the toe cleav is too much for words! Obsessed. The comfort of these shoes speaks to their quality and I want a million more right now!

Please Excuse our Heinous Burbur carpet, we live in a rental!

Happy Friday

Every year I have a ridiculous day of Christmas cookie baking (Im talking like 12 hours). I usually make a bunch of different recipes, but this year I was thinking of just making one. Cranberry Hootycreeks. They are the best cookies ever, people gobble them up in an inappropriate fashion because you cannot just eat one. They freeze really well, so I usually double bag them in ziploc bags then pop them out of the freezer and into a cute box to bring along as a homemade hostess gift.

5/8 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup rolled oat

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Yesterday i found these Monogrammed pastry boxes from Williams Sonoma!! This might be the most perfect holiday hostess gift ever. A cute monogrammed box stuffed with red and white delicious Hootycreeks, I DIE!

I am going on a mini shopping trip tomorrow in Georgetown so naturally I have been scouring the websites of most boutiques down there. I just might need to snag these two little beauties. I am just in love with this color purple!

Kate Spade, really stepped her game up lately:)

Happy Friday to everyone:)

Christmas in November!

A confession...

As some of you may know I was lucky enough to be laid off in June as part of a huge cut to the health care industry (specifically pharmaceuticals) only one month after my wedding, when things in life should be great. I have a really positive attitude toward it, and I am very lucky to have an incredibly supportive Husband, and Family and this will never be a "woe is me" posting forum. There are many others who are in far worse situations and I am blessed and lucky to have all that I do, during such a trying time.

That being said, I spend a majority of my day on the computer researching companies and trying to find jobs to apply for. As of late my 4 year old Dell has really been spastic and pretty much falling apart. It got so bad that a page would freeze loading halfway through then the computer would just spontaneously shut down! I mentioned to my mom last week that Hubs and I might buy a Mac. There is an apple store about a block from our condo so we did our research and yesterday we were going to look into purchasing one. My dad called at 2 or so, he had a meeting in the area and wanted to take us out to dinner (keep in mind he lives a state away) he got here before hubs got home. He asked to look at something online, I said good luck and hoped that it didn't freeze up on him. He attempted to take one look at something, said grab your coat. He marched me down to the apple store and Bought me the brand new Mac desktop! Hubs almost had a heart attack when we walked back in! My dad is so incredibly generous and he has always been like this, but yesterday was crazy! So I am posting from my brand new Mac (I'm totally a convert), and loving it! Thanks dad, it really felt like Christmas yesterday!!

This is the image I want to use for our Christmas card, I keep waffling over the design of the card, but I cant decide whether to use black and white or color?? What do you think?

Weekend Recap

Hope everyone had a great weekend! I usually don't get super excited for Halloween (i save everything up for Christmas!), but this year was unexpectedly fun:)

Saturday morning I joined my mom downtown at the Nationals Baseball stadium for the American Cancer Society "making strides against breast cancer" walk. It was a great turnout despite the icky weather, and all of the pink was too cute not to share. We met so many amazing survivors and their families-it was truly an inspiring experience.
Saturday night Hubs and I drove down to Richmond for a party hosted by our hilarious friend Todd. He was squatting to give the full effect of his leprechaun ensemble (he tried to pay in gold plastic coins the entire night at the bar, and the sober bartenders did not think it was nearly as funny as we did) and I obviously was taking my "sailor salute" way too seriously!
Hubs called and pleaded with multiple Starbucks in the area to let him borrow an apron and when he finally found some poor employee who would do it they actually gave him a hat too, and told him to keep the whole thing! People were ordering drinks from him all night, and "calling bar" was heard every few seconds. I am tempted to put it on and try to casually stroll behind the bar at our Starbucks and whip myself up some drinks!!
PS.. Does anyone have an idea for a sweet treat that would ship well? I have some girlfriends I need to send some stuff too and I cant figure out what would hold up the best??

I need your help!

I am not very computer savvy, nor do I have photoshop so I was in way over my head when I decided I wanted to make our Christmas cards this year. After a couple of hours of banging my head into the wall I finally figured out how to "layer" in a word document-which I know is pretty rediculous- and I came up with a really cute design. I thought why not try printing one on our home computer. It was wishful thinking I guess because the color came out wrong and the picture looked really granular, plus I should know better that nothing is ever that easy:0)

So here is where you guys come in... Please help me figure out where to take these to have them printed. I really dont want a glossy photo card, I really want it to be on cardstock or something similar (including the picture). Office Depot maybe?? I am hoping that I can just give them a disc with the document saved on it and they can print it like that??? Fingers Crossed. Any help you girls can offer would be wonderful, and Thank you in advance:)