Merry Christmas!

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

{photo courtesy: Julie Christensen}

Homemade Baking Box

I picked up these darling holiday boxes from the Martha Stewart line and filled them with peanut butter fudge (Waite tradition), pralines (Meier tradition) and Stella's decorated sugar cookies. Yummy!

Busy and Crazy

Whoa! What a crazy holiday season this has been--I'm sure most of you have been feeling the same way. But I think this year has gotten a little bit out of hand. I've literally been on about five hours of sleep every day just trying to stay a float, while still enjoying all the joys of the season. Food intake has been candy for all three meals--it's ridiculous. Too busy to make dinner. Blogging has been crossed off my list this past week so I can just get things done. I feel like I've been missing a ton in the blogging world, so please forgive me for not reading up on posts and not leaving posts. Luckily, things are calming down. I finally mailed off our Christmas cards, the last of the packages are mailed and jewelry orders are completed. Now it's on to hours of baking and wrapping.

{via Flickr}

Ornament Craft Project

I made a few of these ornaments for small gifts--thanks Jori for the idea! Click here to see instructions. They were really easy to make, but finding the supplies was a different story. As I've said before, there is a huge lack of supplies for the demand out here. All the stores who sold clear ornament bulbs were sold out. So, I had to use ghetto plastic bulbs, but I think they still came out okay. Hope they like it.

Past Week

A few things we've been up to this past week...

Gingerbread Adventures

Graham-Cracker Decorating Party for a few of Stella's preschool friends

Holiday Lights at Bronx Zoo

Stella's Christmas party celebration

Decorating sugar cookies for our homemade baking boxes

Happy Birthday!

Here's a quick shout out to my sister Marleen--Happy Birthday! I'm behind on her big day. But better late than never. Check out her blog and see what she's up to. To Marleen: I love you, I love you, I love you! You are the best sister and thanks for everything you do for me! Wish I was there for your birthday get together.

Church Christmas Party

I was so impressed with our church Christmas party--it was so good! The activity committee put on this amazing pageant that was focused primarily on the birth of Jesus and everything else that makes Christmas wonderful. There is hidden talent in our ward! There was a lot of singing, dancing and rockin' out. It really helped to have two Broadway actors be the star of the show. I hope someone captured it all on camera--it will be fun to look back on. And guess you showed up? Stella made sure he knew she wanted a princess set.

Origami Trees

We went this weekend and saw the origami trees at the American Museum of Natural History, and of course all the stuffed dead animals.

Gift Wrap Embellishments

I picked up a few gift wrapped embellishments at Michael's last week from the Martha Stewart line--3-D poinsettias stickers and little bells. Don't you just love receiving a present that is so beautifully wrapped? Here's a few from Paper Source that I wished I ordered.

Go Boys!

Away Station is spotlighted on the front page of Myspace Music and has a new live performance video. Chigity check:

Away Station Live Performance

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Don't Forget

The Las Vegas show "market @ Bleu Gourmet" is going on tomorrow from 10-4 p.m. I know that Saturdays are busy days, but stop by and have lunch while you do a little shopping. Bring friends. Lots of promotions going on too--you will not be disappointed. Bleu Gourmet 8751 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas.

Deck the Halls

Okay, I'm no decorating pro, but I get excited when I do something different. So this year I put up window wreaths, and I like how they look both inside and out. I wanted to be different and used gold ribbon instead of red. You can't see the bows, but there are bows. Maybe next year we'll be like everyone else and use red ribbon to add the color. We'll need more bow action too. For lights, we did the single candle in each window and white lights on a few bushes. Christmas decorating is finally done.

The Stocking Were Hung..

...by the chimney with care. Finally.

Other People's Christmas

I've been enjoying reading the Christmas entries on Absolutely Beautiful Things. It's fun to see how other people decorate for Christmas. Good ideas for next year.

Sweet Wishes

Here's an idea to package your homemade treats if you are making caramels or hard candy. All you need is square cardstock paper and ribbon. Cute idea! Click here to get the instructions and label.

Funny Girl

My ultimate favorite classic movie--when I watch it I'm singing along the whole time with Barbra. This actress framed the poster and hung it in her little daughter's room. Perfect for silly little girls.


{via Domino}

Holiday Boxed Cards

Lux Paperie has some hip, whimisical holiday boxed cards that are letterpress.

Nativity Babies

We went to a nativity exhibit that my church puts on for the community. So lovely and beautiful of all the nativity scenes from around the world. There was a children's area and a dress-up zone. Stella and Lucas had a lot of fun and is still talking about it.

New Favorite

These are my new favorite earrings. Don't be surprise if I wear them a lot. I'll have these at the Bleu Gourmet show at trunk show prices and in sterling silver. They will be available on my website in a few weeks.

Raw Sushi

My friend Becca sent me this picture of me when she came to visit this summer. I couldn't help but share. In this picture I'm eating for the first time raw quail egg sushi. Becca, who was the first person to introduce sushi to me in 7th grade, convinced me to try one of her pieces (this was after she described it to me as "slithers down your throat".) So I tried it with a little bit of disguise. She is a very persuasive person.

Favorite Christmas Pics

I'm probably one of the few that doesn't throw away Christmas cards and pictures I receive each year. I like to keep them to see how families and friends change throughout the years, and to get ideas for my next year's card. Here are a few selections of Christmas pictures that I like and that are a little bit different from the usual.

I like how the card colors coordinate with the picture.

Love this card from my friend Sarah. The card said "Happy Holidays from the Bay".

Just a joyous picture. And the kids all laughing makes me smile.

This picture has a story behind it, which they explained in their card. Picture was taken on a movie set that they were all in.

Perfect picture from my friend Lauren, who is a yoga instructor.

Baby Jewelry

A few new baby jewelry has been added to my website. Click here to see.

Makeup

I love buying new makeup or face products. It's always fun to try new ones out. Well, I've been low on my makeup situation--no blush, bronzer, foundation or eye shadow. This gave me an excuse go to the MAC store and replenish. However everytime I go into the store (which is only when I need to replenish) I like to buy something new. This time I bought new color of eye shadow. I'll try it out for the party this weekend.

Coco on Screen

I heard Audrey Tautou will play Coco Chanel in an upcoming French film. I'm excited! It will be about Chanel before she became famous.

Bleu Gourmet

I'm excited about my next upcoming show at Bleu Gourmet in Las Vegas. If you are in the area, it will be Saturday, December 15th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop by and try one of their yummy artisan sandwiches and shop while you eat. This place has a great ambience! I will also have new styles there.

Happy Birthday Jonathan!

Happy Birthday to my older brother Jonathan! It was so fun talking to him today as he was working away at work. Hopefully I distracted him for a few. I think it's finally hitting him that he is only getting older and those youthful days are quickly passing by. But he still looks young and he sure acts young (especially when he hangs out with my other brother Aaron). I love to see Jonathan interact with his four little daughters--he's like a magnet to them and is such a good father. He is also a gentlemen and has always treated me like a lady. Yet another brother that has looked out for me. I also liked that he gave me advice about the guy's point of view. I'm sure he'll train his daughters well. He has a carefree spirit and just goes with the flow. He's ambition, smart and open-minded. I love to see his reactions when you tell him something he didn't know. He can play the piano really well. And he likes to go running with me, but I out beat him every time. I think it keeps him motivated.

Christmas Dress

I'm in desperate need for a Christmas dress. I just found out (not surprising) that Seth's company Christmas party is this weekend, and I have nothing to wear. It's a fancy party. I'm thinking about getting this or this or maybe this. Nothing more than a cocktail dress.

Keep Ears Warm

I need to buy me some earmuffs--it's cold out here and sometimes a hat doesn't always work. J.Crew Outlet has a huge selection with lots of fun patterns and colors. Fun stocking stuffer.

Christmas in NYC

During the holiday season the city just lights up and there are so many fun things to do and see. It so fun living close and being able to participate in some of these activities--many of them that don't cost a fortune. Here's a few on the list that we had done or will do this year that are good for children and good with the wallet.

• Ice skating in Central Park


• See the tree at Rockefeller Center , then head over to Saks to check out their window display.


• More window shopping on Madison Avenue.


• Get some hot chocolate then take a carriage ride through Central Park.


• Go see the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden.


• Stop by Time Square's Toys 'R Us and play with the toys--there's an indoor ferris wheel and barbie's dollhouse, then head over to the Hershey Chocolate store and buy a gift of personalize chocolate.


• Attend one of the festivities at South Street Seaport--listen to the carols by the Big Apple Chorus.


• See the holiday lights at the Bronx Zoo and enjoy the nightly entertainers.


• Stop by the American Museum of Natural History to enjoy the origami trees and holiday dinos.


• Gingerbread exhibit at the Marriott Marquis in Time Square (although I'm not sure how long it will be open to the public).

Help me out if I'm missing any....

Here She Is...

One more thing to do: Drape big shimmery ribbon through the branches. I like to fill her up to the max.

Sunday Afternoons

Favorite Sunday afternoon activity: dancing. Most requested music: the Nutcracker.

O Christmas Tree

We headed out this weekend and got our Christmas tree. When we lived in Utah we use to make it a tradition with Seth's family to go out in the woods and cut our tree down. I think one year we strapped the cross-country skis on for our cutting-tree adventure. Those were the days--and it was all free. Now that we live in an urban area, it's really not possible unless you go to a tree farm. And that's what we did. By referral we headed over to Jones Family Farms, bundle ourselves up (it was freezing!) and searched to find our perfect tree. So many choices, but we finally chose one once Lucas refused to quit crying from being cold. Seth and I thought it funny how they charged more to cut your tree down and haul it back to your car than just buying one of the pre-cut trees. That's Connecticut for you!