eye candy

"R" is for....

• Robe. Jim got me a fantastic robe from Land's End. So super warm and cozy. I LOVE it. Unfortunately for Jim, it covers every inch of my body except my feet and ankles. No sneak peaks for the Mister this winter

• Red. As in the red, hand painted art work I received from my brother-in-law. I was so excited that I spent Sunday framing a few recent pictures and putting together a spot for the new painting.

• Rest. Jim and I slept in until 11:30 on Christmas morning!! (we obviously have no children) I think it the latest I've ever stayed in bed when I wasn't sick.

• Running. Well, at least according to Jennie (my mother-in-law). She bought my father-in-law a red winter hat with a big "R" on the front. Upon opening he asked her..."what's the R for?" (knowing that she had no idea it was for Rutgers University) Her response...."Running. The R is for running."

Perhaps this story is only absolutely hysterical if you were actually there (I was doubled over laughing with little tears streaming down my face) or if you personally know Jennie Robinson. Trust me. It was REALLY funny!

Monday...

"As for me, to love you alone, to make you happy, to do nothing which would contradict your wishes, this is my destiny and the meaning of my life. "

~Napoleon Bonaparte

a cappella

For a little last minute holiday cheer, check out this rendition of 12 Days of Christmas.

Thanks for the post Kim. Definitely enjoyed it. It made me wish I had just an ounce of singing ability.

Bakerella

My friend Sarah just sent me the link to this great website. Check it out for tons of creative and fun baking ideas.

In addition to super adorable cupcakes, Sarah made the cake pops for her son's birthday. They were a huge hit!

Headbands are for Babies.

I decided on a gray cowl neck sweater and floral headband from LOFT instead of the plain black turtleneck I'd originally intended to wear. It made me feel a little better. I love the black flats with little ruffles I'm wearing today too.

One of my patients is a sweet little women, originally from India(try to imagine her accent). She's in her mid-thirties.

"Oh. you look like baby. " making reference to my headband
"It's good. It's good.....You like candy?"
She then hands me one strawberry candy and a lovely keychain.
"For you. It's good for keys."

Bah Humbug

I really could just spend the day in my sweats, drinking hot tea, and reading The Stand. But that is just a dream. I'm about to force myself into neatly pressed trousers and a turtleneck sweater and inch my way to Delaware. Everyone in the office is restless about the holidays and demonstrating terrible work ethic. I will have to be stern and force them to actually work instead of texting and lounging near the cookie trays. I hate being in charge some days. I hate commuting every day. Somehow (that I have yet to understand) the holidays directly effect the traffic.

Last week....

Thursday AM- 55 minutes (average commute time)

Thursday PM- 2 hrs 25 minutes

Friday AM- 1hr 40 minutes

I thought about quitting that day.

Cookies

Snow days are fun. especially with Jim.


and now we have sooo many cookies....

happy mailman. happy dog walker. happy neighbors. happy holidays.

(these pictures were taken early on in the baking. we eventually stopped when we ran out of room on the kitchen table)

Snow Day!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

We're expecting 10-15 inches. The biggest December snow storm in the Philadelphia area since Kennedy was president. After a midnight trip to the grocery store and and some last minute errands this morning when the flakes were just started to fall, we finally declared ourselves snowed in around noon.

The rest of the weekend will be movies, Christmas cookies, pizza and wings, hot chocolate with lots of marshmallow, and I might actually get my Christmas cards done.

White chocolate mocha & vintage

Tuesday night I decided to drudge through the mall for the last of my Christmas shopping. The most delightful part of it was indulging in a white chocolate mocha. The pick me up not only got me through the rest of my shopping but also had me wide awake when I arrived back home at nearly 9:00. It had been a long day for us both, so Jim and I decided to cozy up on the couch to watch The Pianist.

Excellent film adapted from the autobiography of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Jewish man from Warsaw, Poland who survived WWII. Need I say more. Anything regarding WWII tends to leave me teary eyed and feeling a strong sense of quilt for EVER complaining. But, I've always loved the stories.

This was the second time I'd seen the movie, but the first time I took note of the beautiful fabrics and decor of the early 1940s displayed in the beginning of the movie (this is quickly replaced with bare necessities as the families are taken from their homes and forced into ghettos). Lovely floral and paisley patterns, prestine china and vases, conservative knee length wrap dresses and pencil skirts. If you're in to sewing check out this website for lots of patterns for vintage dresses.

In summary.
White chocolate mochas.
The Pianist.
Vintage dresses.

Monday...

"Be the change that you want to see in the world."

~Gandhi

A.M. yoga

I usually go to spin class on Monday mornings. I must admit I was a lot better at keeping up at 5:15am when it was warmer and there was actual light at that time of day. Today I was up but just didn't go. To be truthful, I just feel like getting sweaty. I plugged in the tree and did yoga on the floor next to it for about 45 minutes. It was so quiet and dark aside from the tree lights. I love the way it feels to breath in and move deeper into a pose on the long exhale.

It was a nice way to start my Monday.

Fireside

My in-laws hosted their annual holiday bonfire last night.

It was a successful night with clear, crisp (& chilly!) skies and no one leaving with any major injuries related to the fire or the roasting sticks.

There were plenty of marshmallows & hot chocolate. For the adults, Peppermint Schnapps was a popular additive. Holiday tunes filled the air.

Gabby told me about kindergarten. She's learning that if she leaves her boots in the hallway St. Nicholas will come and leave candy pieces on them. She couldn't really think of much else that I needed to know about school.

Her brother Steven was a huge help in assisting with the fire. He had a hard time controlling his roasting stick. The problem was eventually solved by filling him up with sugar and giving him a much shorter version that was more a mini sword.

kids really make the holidays fun.

especially when they don't come home with me at the end of a sugary night.

Holiday Dinner

We had a great little dinner party last night and I didn't take one single picture. Not the food, the guests, the table. Not one! But some details from the evening are still worth sharing...

I brought out these wine glasses that were my moms. It's only a set of 4, so I mixed them with a more modern set I received as a gift several years ago. I liked the contrast between elegant, victorian set and the sleek, modern ones.

One of our guests was vegetarian so I made this delicious roasted vegetable pasta. It turned out perfect. It was also nice because I had all the prep done before everyone got here and just popped it into the oven during appetizers.

Jim made mussels as a first course. Typically he makes a red or basil cream sauce, but last night he tried a new recipe. They were a huge hit! We served fresh baguette slices and everyone loved soaking up the licorice flavored sauce.

The evening was a good start to a stream of fun holiday related events over the next 2 weeks. I really do love the holidays!!

Costa Rica aquí yo vengo

I want to go here. I have been looking for a way to dedicate myself to learning Spanish...I have a small fear that I might never come back.

Christmas cactus

This is the first year our christmas cactus really bloomed. We bought the little guy on clearance at Lowe's 3-4 years ago for $1.00. The last few years we've gotten a few blooms at the start of winter that quickly die and fall to the ground. It's a pretty cool looking plant without flowers but it's gorgeous and is even better when it fills with tons of deep purple and fushia flowers.

It's apparently a common problem for them to drop the flowers quickly, even before blooming. The November issue of Martha Stewart Living included some tips from Martha herself about caring for Christmas cacti.

• Keep away from radiators or drafting windows. The best temperature is 64-68 degrees. (but no draft! this is mentioned several times in the article)
  
• Evenly moist soil (avoid over watering or letting the soil become completely dry)
• Bright, indirect sunlight. ( I think this was the key to our success this year. We moved it to a window on the side of the house instead of the front windows)

'Tis the season

I bribed Jim into showing his holiday spirit early this year with this festive chocolate cake filled with crushed peppermint candy. It was a cold weekend with the first dusting of snow, so it was the perfect time to get the holidays under way. The house is now filled with sparkles and snowflakes, cinnamon and spice, reindeer and santa.

Monday...

"Prepare your mind to receive the best that life has to offer."

~Ernest Holmes

Flower power part II

My nephew Austin and I on turkey day.

photography by Elliona (my 3 yr old niece)

A bit too personal

It was a surprisingly warm morning yesterday. I even had my window down a little bit as a crept along, inch by inch in morning traffic. The bright, sunny blue skies were spread over barren tree tops. Suddenly I was hit with an overwhelming feeling of sadness. The kind that wells up inside of you. The rest of the emotions and memories that came streaming through following that instant just seem too personal to relay out into the blog world.

I used to keep a journal fairly regularly in the past but haven't for the last 3-4 years. Looking back through the dusty pages is sometimes therapeutic and sometimes help me realize how much I've develop and grown as an individual. So, I decided to start a journal again. I picked up these eco-friendly journals made from recycled paper in fun shades of green to get me started.

I love blogging to help keep track of of things that inspire me, fun projects, photos, and events. It also helps eliminate piles of magazines and clippings of articles I find interesting or want to reference later. I have a place to store, organize, and share all that stuff now. But, I think that starting a journal again will help me keep track of the rest of my life.

NYC

Jim and I celebrating our anniversary with a trip to NYC. We had perfect weather that weekend (unlike our actual wedding weekend!) and enjoyed hours at Central Park, Wicked, and brunch with our dear friend Erica.

Jim's first trip to Central Park.

We stayed at the Bryant Park Hotel and were very pleased. It's very modern, which was a fun change from the typical Holiday Inn style we're accustom to. The location was great and there was a fun skating pond and little boutique type shops set up for the holiday season in the park area across the street.

We finished the weekend with brunch at Roberto Passon. Delicious...and really a great deal if you enjoy endless mimosas!

Flower power

Jenn rocking her sexy headband.

Torch

My dad got a puppy. He's so adorable. I love soft puppy fur. And little puppy paws. SoFee dog was deathly afraid for 5 straight days. She's a bit neurotic.

Cozy fashion

Loving Anthropologie's sweater collection.

One of each please!

Furbish Studio

I want to move to Raleigh, NC just so I can shop here.

(Link courtesy of Oh Happy Day.)

Thoughts about the day.

• I'm happy it's "The Holiday Season." I listened to a solid hour of Christmas music on my way home from work and it made me feel pretty bubbly inside.
• I think gray will my black this winter.
• I should've taken at least one business class in college. I spent the good majority of my day making decisions based on some aspect of business. It's slightly disheartening that being a doctor isn't more about being a doctor.
• Reindeer are my favorite holiday decor.
• Jim is super handsome with a beard.
• Asparagus is delicious, especially with a little squeeze of lemon juice.
• Red wine is the perfect way to end a Monday.

Monday...

"We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world. "

~Helen Keller

Deck the Halls

Check out HolidayLEDS.com for energy efficient (50,000-hour-life) christmas lights. Lots of varieties to choose from and they even recycle your old ones in exchange for a discount.

Monday...

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. "

~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

1 year

I can't believe it's been 1 year already!

Happy Anniversary Jim and thanks for making me so incredibly happy.

Cheesy Black Beans

We made some cheesy croutons to add to black bean soup last week. It added the perfect extra spice and a little crunch.

• Toasted bread (we used a marbled rye) in the toaster oven. Add cheese (highly recommend spicy pepper jack!) toward the end until melted. Cut into quarters.

Fun with Shadows

Monday...

"Energy and persisitence conquer all things."

~ Benjamin Franklin

Burrr

Wish list for my 'cold weather' wardrobe.

• tall black boots
• ski/parka type coat
• brown gloves
• cream long sleeve shirt
• cordoroys
• cardigans in brown/tan and red
• cozy sleepwear
  

27 down...

At some point during college I made it a goal to visit all 50 states in 30 years. Between lack of funding followed by lack of time, my traveling has been fairly limited over the past 5-6 years.

States I have yet to visit.

1. Alaska
2. Alabama
3. Arkansas
4. Georgia
5. Hawaii
6. Idaho
7. Kansas
8. Kentucky
9. Louisana
10. Maine
11. Minnesota
12. Mississippi
13. Montana
14. Nebraska
15. Nevada
16. North Dakota
17. Oklahoma
18. Oregon
19. South Dakota
20. Utah
21. Washington
22. Wisconsin
23. Wyoming

Boy. I better hit the road! Some of the states I've actually driven through but that doesn't count in my book. I've decided to make my entire year of being 30 count as well, so I have just under 2 years. So, if anyone's interested in a road trip let me know!

25 Random things.

Some of the blogs I read on a regular basis have posted a few life "to do" type lists. I really love list making in general, so thought I'd jump on the band wagon.

I posted this on Facebook back in February but think I'll come up with a few new ones this week as well.

1) I NEVER stop cleaning.
2) I'm unsure about changing my name to "Robinson"
3) I LOVE kids...returnables are the best!
4) I don't drink soda.
5) I still feel guilty that I never learned to play the guitar Jim bought me.
6) I miss Ohio.
7) Size 10 shoes
8) I love wearing dresses.
9) I have a serious addiction to coffee and don't plan on seeking therapy.
10) My grandmother was an "off the boat" from Ireland.
11) Still using bunny ears (this is no longer true b/c of the switch to digitial. now i have NO cable).
12) I don't know how to put songs on an iPod (this is also slightly outdated b/c we recently got a Mac and it's the easiest thing. plug in iPod and you're done)
13) I love to travel.
14) I'm afraid to get bangs.
15) I'm an eco-friendly wierdo....non toxic cleaners, biodegradable trash bags and sofee dog bags, compost, and of course i recycle everything i can.
16) I fall asleep on the couch A LOT.
17) I ran over my girlfriends cat in high school. Sorry Rachel...I still have nightmares about that!
18) I've worked as a bank teller once....and cleaning tanning beds....and mowing grass.
19) I love being tan but hate tanning beds. May have something to do with #18
20) I obsessively read the whole Twilight series in 10 days.
21) I've had the same best friend since I was 5. Hi Nicolette!
22) I have lived with more guys than gals.
23) really...i'm not done yet. Ok, what else? I think that my dog Sofee can really understand sentences better than single word commands.
24) I love B/W photography
25) I still send a lot of snail mail.

Monday...

"I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority."

~E.B. White

Kitchen...

in sepia tone.

Little birdie's view.

The jar to the left is for coffee beans. It's empty. Probably indicating I should drink less coffee.

Sunny...

It's sunny today.
But I still know.
Winter is coming.

Definitely missing Aruba.

Beautiful sunsets for your weekend....

Crafts

Oriental Trading

Great website for holiday craft supplies, kids projects, party supplies, Christmas tree ornaments, scrapbooking materials, stationary, and party favors.

Salad

It's always a little harder to force fresh fruits and veggies into my diet once winter rolls in. The selection goes down and the prices go up. I whipped up an easy salad last night with what was in the fridge and it turned out to be pretty delicious. I used english cucumber, red grapes, and goat cheese over a bed of romaine (spinach would also be really good). I like things to be of the same general size so I sliced the red grapes lengthwise and 'cubed' the cucumber. Drizzle with Trader Joe's poppyseed dressing. Quick& simple.

Enjoy!

Monday...

"By perseverance the snail reached the ark."

~Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Boden

I randomly started getting the Boden clothing catalog. A UK based company, they provide a lot of variety for work and play, plus some really cute accessories. Definitely worth checking out.

My Decor

I grew up surrounded by home decor. My mother sold Home Interiors (imagine Avon home parties with pictures, candles, sconces, figurines, etc. instead). I spent most of my childhood watching, and eventually helping, her arrange and group wall hangings, accessorize for the current holiday season, and making floral arrangement and centerpieces. Every room in our home was beautifully decorated in a country or sometimes victorian style with coordinating figurines or greenery and filled with the aroma of the season.

Country. Victorian. Swags and sconces. Not really my style. But between only have a wild collection of hand me down items and moving frequently throughout college and graduate school, it took me a long time to realize that I could carry on all the concepts I had learned from my mother and add my own flare and style to make a beautiful home of my own.

Home buying/moving has been put to the back burner for the time being. So I decided to make some decorative upgrades to our apartment instead. This bookshelf nook filled with photos is one of my favorite completed projects.