Friday, December 28, 2012

After Christmas Deals

I hit up the after Christmas sales on Wednesday despite the hideous weather and was pleasantly surprised to see how few people were out.  I didn't go shopping until the early afternoon and usually the aisles have been picked through but I think the rain kept a lot of people away. 

I picked up a swag for our mantel 60% off at Michaels...
Pier 1 had some amazing finds like this table runner at 50% off...
Mom gave us a Coton Colors ECU ornament that I wanted to display year round so I found a stand for it.


I love these tree candles but I've never purchased one because I knew I wouldn't burn it.  This one has an LED light and I love it!  R's mom gave me the frame in my stocking and I haven't found a photo for it yet.
I also picked up a box of Christmas cards, ribbon, and wrapping supplies.  Pier one had a great nutcracker that I picked up on a whim for my kitchen (I've bought a nutcracker every year for the past 3 years so I have a budding collection).  I got an early start on my Christmas shopping for next year too by picking up a few gifts for my coworkers.  I plan to visit a few stores today after work too so my fingers are crossed that there will still be some nice things available.  After Christmas sales can be really sad especially with all the "build up" to the holidays.  However when I open my box of Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving every year I love to see the new purchases...its like my very first present to myself!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Christmas Day 2012

R and I had a fantastic Christmas!  Christmas eve was all ours so we had to travel to both families on Christmas Day.  We drove down to my moms Christmas morning for brunch and opened presents from Santa while waiting for family to get there...
 Stainless steel trashcans for our kitchen and bathroom with lids so Baby can't get into the trash anymore.  Santa was checking our wedding registry!  This is a functional "gag" gift, my mom is disgusted that the dog gets into the trash when we are away - not every day but every single time my mom is over we come back to dryer lint, cans, bottles, etc all over the floor. We also received an awesome bamboo chopping block and a steam mop from our registry.
 I can't honestly remember every gift R received.  I lost track trying to keep up with my own - our families were really generous to us.
 Pandora charms for my bracelet, I got two new charms and a spacer.
 Santa left me money for a new phone and I'm clearly excited about it.  R and I have been discussing switching service providers and signing up for a family plan.
 R loving the new dart board for his "man" space.

In the early afternoon we traveled to my future inlaws home to spend time with them for the holiday.  I didn't get many pictures at R's mom's house but here is her yummy treat display.  Her house was decorated beautifully but I wasn't comfortable putting pictures of the family up without their permission.  We took a lot of photos of R's nephew but none of ourselves when we were there. 
 Happy puppy on Christmas Day.
I won't list everything I received but I loved it all.  I picked a few standouts for blog purposes.  R gave me a new wallet and a pair of the softest most comfortable house slippers.  My mom gave me money for a phone, a few registry items, pandora charms, and a lenox porcelain santa ornament (I LOVE Lenox!).  R's parents gave me a pair of plum Coach gloves and a John Hardy bracelet.  I also wanted to mention the Shine On cosmetic compact from Bare Minerals that my "secret" santa (R's sister) gave me...I used it today and the colors are perfect - it will be a great travel item.  The set included a waterproof pencil eyeliner in dark plum, it's so easy to use and the results look almost identical to liquid liner.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Happy Birthday Baby!

We celebrated Baby's 12th birthday on Christmas day when we returned from visiting with R's family.  I think it was meant to be sliced but Baby wouldn't have any of that...she wanted the whole cake!
 It looks good doesn't it?
 We sang happy birthday to her and she would not sit still for a photo.
 Checking it out...
 And away it goes, into the living room to be devoured.
 A dog after my own heart, she licked all the icing off first.
 And about 90 seconds later the cake is gone and she is a content puppy.

Monday, December 24, 2012

On the 1st Day of Christmas...


We officially started our Christmas Eve celebration around 1:00 pm when I got home from work.  R went grocery shopping and finished wrapping presents this morning while I was gone.  Last year we started the tradition of reserving Christmas Eve for the two of us.  We love to cook together so dinner is going to be amazing.  I created a holiday menu using a template online but I couldn't get it to publish to blogger.  Imagine a blue background with snowflakes :-)

Appetizer:

  • Holiday Brie with Chives and Lightly Salted Pita Crackers
  • Cheddar Cheese Straws
  • Sausage Balls

Cocktail: Eggnog

Main Course:

  • Seasoned Steak with optional blue cheese crumbles  
  • Gnocchi al Gorgonzola
  • Kale, Edamame, and Cranberry Salad


Wine: Apothic Red

Dessert:

  • Assorted Holiday Cookies and Truffles


Wine: Duplin Christmas Eve

This is a double tray cookie tin that a sweet patient brought me at work. I'll probably bring this one on the family rounds tomorrow.

We also exchanged gifts.  R likes to stick to a list for me but I LOVE surprising him.

R loves his scotch!


 My new wallet has polka dots just like my blouse!
We also had gifts for the furbabies...




On Christmas we are spending the morning with my mom and eating lunch with my whole family.  Then we will spend the afternoon with his family.  No post tomorrow so Merry Christmas to all my  readers and blog friends and I hope you all have a safe and festive holiday!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

PopSugar Luxury Box

The reviews on this box were very mixed.  I loved mine!

 Everything was individually wrapped and it made opening the box even more special.


A peek inside:
 There were different variations of some of the items and it was the luck of the draw which box you received.  I was a little weary to open it after seeing some of the items posted from other bloggers.

  • Deborah Lippmann Lip and Nail Duet in Love Notes.  The polish is My Old Flame and the lipstick name is Let's Do it.  I don't own a true red lipstick and this one is surprisingly wearable.  I love the polish!
  • Tocca Candle in Cleopatra.  My favorite Tocca scent, I own the hand lotion so I'm thrilled that I own a full size candle.
  • Vosges Mini Chocolate Library.  I received the box with only three flavors.  I tried the Amalfi right away and it was delicious!  This would make a fantastic hostess gift.



  •  Epicuren After Bath Moisturizer in Rose Petal.  Fancy!  I can't wait to try it.
  • Compagne de Provence Liquid Hand Soap in Olive and Figue.  I'll use the soap and I'm keeping this bottle, it's gorgeous.
  • Heather Belle Niki Cuff, it's pretty and it makes a bold statement
  • JewelMint Clutch, I love the metal bladder style one that I received!  This has a beautiful vintage look to it.

I hope everyone that splurged on this mystery box enjoys what they received.  Even though I was slightly underwhelmed when I read the spoilers, the brands that were included were on target with what I was expecting from Popsugar.  I certainly wouldn't say no to another luxury box purchase in the future after seeing this one is person.

On the 2nd Day of Christmas...

We enjoyed a day with R's extended family....it was a double celebration for Christmas and for his grandmother's birthday.  There was a giant lunch complete with eggnog and dessert.  We brought a honey and sea salt chess pie that we purchased yesterday from PieBird.  After dinner was gift giving and football on television.  We had a great time!

Tonight we met up with my mom and saw the community Christmas lights.

Waiting in the long line by the barn.





Not the best picture but my mom took it while we were riding on the train through the lights.

Tonight we are watching:


Oh and I got my Popsugar Luxury Box tonight.  I'm planning to do a separate post on all the goodies!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

On the 3rd Day of Christmas...

We went to the museum today!

R planned a fun filled day with a lot of "us" time.  It was the very best Christmas present!  He went out early and brought me a skinny peppermint mocha.
We went to PieBird in downtown Raleigh for lunch.  We each had a slice of savory pie and dessert (which we rarely ever get).  I love pie!

This is the remnant of a slice of honey and sea salt pie.  It's nickname is "crack" pie and rightfully so.  We bought a whole one to carry to R's grandmother's Christmas celebration tomorrow.  It is a basic chess pie with a homemade crust but the addition of a warm honey drizzle and sprinkled flaked sea salt is what makes it addictive.  Piebird serves their dessert pie with a large scoop of freshly made vanilla bean ice cream.  R  decided he would eat his with a fork.

After lunch we went to the Museum of Natural Science, I've been dying to see the Titanic exhibit.  Upon entering we received our "boarding passes".  I was Mrs Brown, a 59 year old first class passenger who attended a funeral in England and was on my way home to America.  R was a 21 year old third class Norwegian passenger who wanted a new job opportunity in Chicago.  At the end of the exhibit you find out if your assigned passenger survived or died when the ship sank.


We were both survivors!
No pictures were allowed inside of the exhibit so R and I took one in an adjacent exhibit.
It was our first time in the new research facility as well.  I loved the globe "theater" and I thought the weather exhibit was really clever.
Oh I wish I were in middle school again...I bet field trips here are a hundred times more fun with the new facility addition.  There are a ton of classrooms where you can do "experiments" and learn from the researchers...my 12 year old self died a little inside.

We went to the Museum of History next so I could tour the "Gone with the Wind" exhibit.  Oh My Goodness - actual dresses from the movie were displayed.  I couldn't take photos there either but I wanted to!  The movie posters, the autographs, the costume sketches!  We had just enough time to tour the other exhibits and take a photo with the beautiful tree by the main staircase.
R and I took a photo with this tree last year at his sister's wedding reception so it was fun to revisit this year.

I wanted to share a photo of my new earrings.  I've worn them a few times this week with different outfits.  I zoomed in on one of the pictures from today so I hope you can see the detail on them.
I wasn't trying to get creepy close to my eye but I failed miserably.  These little tree earrings are so pretty - I'm wondering how I can get away with them year round.  The star at the top is pink and the little beads in the center of the tree are pink and red.  I've gotten so many compliments on them!  I purchased them from a vendor back in November at a Christmas show in Greenville and I wish I could remember the name of her shop because everyone who has seen them wants a pair.

On the agenda tonight - R and I are watching one of his favorite movies:
I didn't like this movie the first few times I watched it but over the last couple of years it has grown on me.