2011!

Hello people of the future! I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday! K and I brought in the new year by sharing a nice dinner at Bandera in Corona del Mar, then we trekked to the old bar at Five Crowns, and then ended back up at our hotel at the Balboa Bay Club to scream and cheer with a ton of 50-60 somethings. It was a very "mature and classy" new years, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm super excited for this year, and have once again loaded my resolution list with many things:

1. Leave the country at least one time (K and I are planning a Euro trip in the fall, CHECK!).

2. Start a real budget- excel spreadsheet and all. Depressing, but necessary.

3. Close my first real estate deal (I may be doing my first open house this upcoming weekend!!!).

4. Do at least one class at the gym per week, in addition to the reg. work out routine.

5. More church, more prayer, more God.

6. Host more get togethers.

Well, cheers to a happy, successful, exciting, adventurous and fun 2011!

Awesome Christmas card

Heck ya I'm doing this next year!

Dinner Date Decor

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I know Christmas is over :( but these colors can easily be switched out for any little backyard shindig or just a Tuesday night dinner with the bf :). Such an easy and inexpensive way to decorate! I wanna stock up on those Christmas balls in all colors. Hopefully Target still has 'em in the dollar bins!

Baby, it's cold outside

Welp, it's yet another wet and dreary day in downtown LA. But despite everyone's complaints that it is miserable and MUST BE STOPPED!!!, I'm actually loving it [even if I do have to walk in the rain in heels (okay I could wear tennis shoes like every other downtowner but eww) from the parking garage to the office boo hoo]. This week/past weekend/up-coming weekend, have been full of Christmas cheer (just how Buddy the Elf and I like it, oh ya we do). Between Christmas parties, shopping, rain, baking and gift wrapping, I could not be happier. Hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas season!

Today I'm thankful for having a warm and cuddly bf during this omgtheworldisending tsunami.

Mrs. Claus

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Happy Monday!

Good morning, people! I hope you enjoyed your weekend. The bffs and I threw our annual Christmas party, this year donning ugly sweaters, vests, hats and the like. People got so creative with their outfits and their white elephant gifts, and the food that everyone brought for the potluck was de-lish. I had so much fun with everyone; I couldn't have asked for a more perfect evening. I feel completely, 100% blessed to have such wonderful people in my life! Next weekend is my big family Christmas party. We spent all day yesterday making tamales for it and my stomach and I are really excited for next weekend. Anyhow, have a great week! Below are some pics from our fiesta.

Merry Christmas!

DIY holiday decor!

Okay I know my blog looks like Christmas threw up all over it, but I just love it so. I found some simple decorating ideas that I think I might try.

Sparkly ornaments! So easy and so super cute. Instructions here (although I'm sure you could figure out how to do this without them).

Make your own ornament wreath, found here. FYI the $1 bins at Target have cute ornaments like the ones below. I wanna try a gold and silver one oh yaaa.

Super simple, but super cute! Just add colorful sequins to jars and stick a candle right on in there. I also really want that gold stocking!! Love this.

Also for you to jam out to: my favorite Christmas song, GLEE STYLE: Baby It's Cold Outside

Christmas party ideas

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Only 4 days until our Christmas party!

Holiday gift ideas

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I don't think there's anything that my mom and I enjoy more than a good comfy throw blanket and a pretty candle. These are the perfect gifts for a girl (aunt, cousin, grandma, mother in law, etc) who is difficult to shop for. I LOVE the fur blankets above found at West Elm, and these etched tealights are to die for. Happy shopping!

Deck the halls!

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Oh boy oh boy I can't wait for Christmas! We'll be throwing a few holiday get togethers at my house this year, so I've been keeping an eye out for holiday party decorating ideas. So far, I'm loving (to no surprise) gold and silver themes. But we all know that Tiffany blue is always a good color to decorate with...

Post Thanksgiving Wrap

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Hey peeps, hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend! Mine was great, as I led my band all across America as pictured above! Jk gotcha good. But seriously, I had an awesome time. We caravanned-it up with my family to Rio Vista (right outside of San Fran) to stay with my aunt. I made a few dishes that thankfully did not poison my family, the guys fried a turkey (omg nom nom), and Kevin got drunk and passed out before 8. Guess white boy can't hang with the Mexicans...We also took a little day trip to the city to watch the tree lighting in Union Square (aka we went down there to bar hop and happened to stumble upon the tree lighting). Although we didn't have the patience to actually wait for it to light up, mom and I did manage to start some Christmas caroling within the crowd as we all waited (a la the movie Elf); it was rather comical. AND I actually started my xmas shopping this weekend too!! Me, on top of my Christmas shopping game?? Not sure what's gotten into me, but I like it. Oh I like it a lot. I'm so excited for Christmas woooo!! Hope you all have a great week! Below are some pics of us from our bar hop. In these, we were at Lefty O'Douls right in Union Square.

Mom, Me, Aunt Linda

Mustache Mafia: Uncle Joe, Dad (double-fisting), Kevin

Crimson

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I would do nearly anything to own that dress. I swear I'd wear it to every single holiday party for the rest of my life. Seriously, I would. I'm not lying. Please, santa!!!!

Feast Mode

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Hi peeps! Well one of my favorite holidays is officially upon us. Last night Melissa and I threw a little Thanksgiving potluck with some girlfriends and it was so much fun! Although they did find out that we sneakily (or not-so-sneakily) bought the bird pre-made :( woopsies. Oh well, our apt looked so cute and that's really all that matters, right? Well I'm leaving on Wednesday with my family to head up north to stay with my aunt for Thanksgiving this year. I'm hoping she doesn't already have a set menu, because I've been perusing recipes all week. Below are some of the recipes that I'm deciding between (dessert first, always):

- apple crisp: http://deliciouslyorganized.blogspot.com/2010/10/apple-crisp.html (Kev and I made this on Saturday, and it's super easy and super delicious!)
- mashed sweet potato brulee http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2010/11/19/mashed-sweet-potato-brulee/
- mini vanilla bean cheesecakes http://www.handletheheat.com/2010/11/mini-vanilla-bean-cheesecakes-with.html
- Creamed corn with bacon http://www.foodchannel.com/recipes/recipe/cheesy-cream-corn-with-smoky-bacon/
- super duper easy roasted brocolli: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/roasted-broccoli-with-parmesan-recipe2/index.html
-mashed cauliflower: http://www.elanaspantry.com/mashed-cauliflower/ (dad said I can't make this because it's too healthy :( my dad, a twig, likes manly stuff or whatever. But I love them so I might do it anyways tehehee)

Happy eatin'!