Domestic Fridays

Dear Girl at Safeway,

You passed me, my husband and my little girl at 6pm on Friday in the frozen food aisle.  You turned to your friend as we passed with a snide, 'domestic Fridays' just loud enough for us to hear. 

I want to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you are not wise enough to recognize that my domestic Friday is more rewarding than any night you may have at a bar with your friends.  As you gathered up your cocktail mixers, I purchased cookies, diapers and bread. For my family.  

I'm sorry you do not know the joy of giving birth to a being who is solely dependent on you in every way. I'm sorry you don't have someone who thinks you walk on water. I'm sorry you don't have a little, round, perfectly porcelained face staring up at you with big eyes everyday, saying 'I livyoutoo, Mama.' I'm sorry that no one thinks you are as cool as to follow you to the bathroom while you poop.  I'm sorry no one tries to be you in every way - wearing your finest designer purse, your  fedora and your jewels.  I'm sorry you don't look over and explode with love watching your daughter read out loud to herself in gibberish.  I'm sorry you don't get to hear someone coo and babble in the morning in her crib. I'm sorry you can't have the pleasure of hearing your daughter, who has just pretended to hide her water bottle exclaim 'I find it!!' with pure unadulterated jubilation.

I'm sorry you don't have a man to accompany you through life. I'm sorry that man doesn't make you breakfast in bed or buy you Us magazine and flowers after a rough day. I'm sorry he doesn't bend over backwards and work like a dog to give you and your family all the things you want in life. I'm sorry he doesn't make you laugh till you cry and stay up with you when you are sad. 

I'm sorry you can't recognize that I was once you. I've woken up with my make-up smeared on my pillow from the previous night.  I've stayed out all night laughing and carousing with friends. I've bought those same mixers you are now buying. I've put on my pre-game playlist and gotten ready with my friends. I've talked to douche bags at bars. I've traveled the world.  I've thought family life was boring and terrible.  I've been you and that's why I kept my comments to myself that night in Safeway. I've had my fun. But I've moved on. And hopefully so will you someday. 

And maybe I'm being presumptuous about you and your life as you were that night in Safeway about mine.  You assume my life is that of a boring old maid or mom who is miserable in my life. Unfortunately, this could not be further from the truth.  Your comments are sadly those of an ignorant, immature child who doesn't seem to know what she wants in life.  Or perhaps they are those of someone who knows exactly what she wants in life. Either way, you came off bitter and jealous.  I'm sorry for that.  

(And by the way, if you're so cool, what were you doing at the Safeway on a Friday night? Just sayin...)

I wouldn't trade my 'domestic Fridays' for anything in this entire world.  

~And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne!~

V-Day, on it's way!

You may dread it, you may love it, but Valentine's Day is creeping up on us.

I don't know about you, buuut...  I'm tired. I'm pregnant. I'm sick of winter.  

My husband and I decided to keep it low key this year with some sushi and a movie (and I couldn't be happier).  Even though I'm pregnant I can still eat sushi because the sushi-est I get is a crab roll.  But my true fav are cucumber rolls.  I'm just one wild and craaazy girl! SNL.  Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?? But I digress. My husband is a sushi adventurer - the weirder the better. 

We are not even exchanging gifts this year.  Going out to eat alone without the babe and not watching a movie from the comfort of our couch IS the present.  If you have kids you will understand that a few hours alone to talk without interruption, or to just bask in silence while characters on a giant screen tell you a story is truly a godsend.  Silence? Adult conversation? Getting into and out of the car without a Lifetime or soap-opera drama unfolding? Pure, unadulterated bliss. 

This Valentine's Day perhaps think about the small things.  A big huge planned special day is awesome but maybe a cozy night together isn't so bad? Celebrate one another, not the day that is a holiday.  Take some time away from your harried life to really talk and connect with your loved one (while disconnecting from your phone, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook) Isn't it more meaningful if you don't tout to the entire world via Instagram (thanks to the Hefe filter) that your bf got you 90 gorgeous roses? Then it's just between you two - something you can keep secret and remember with a smile when thinking of that person months later.  Much more romantic, in my opinion.

Even if you're spending V-Day with your friend(s) maybe take some time to reflect on why you love them and what their inclusion in your life means to you.  

Paint your nails, wear your pjs, chitter chatter till the sun comes up, do whatever it is that you do, but leave the phones alone.  Because unless you are the guy in the movie Her, you have no real relationship with your phone.  Sorry.  Whatever you do, do not bemoan your single status because Valentine's Day is about love.  No one ever said it had to be romantic, Sleepless in Seattle-style love. Have some fun, tell some jokes.  Love.

Here are some low key things to help you celebrate. Be chill.  Less is more.  (Ok, I'm done with cliche phrases now).

H&M Chambray Pink PJs - great for cozying up and lounging

Lime Crime Lipstick in Geradium - a little glamour for your chill night in.  Or out. 

Glam Glow Tingling Mud Mask - To prepare for your night out or to enjoy your night in.

Nordstrom 'Love' Pillow - snuggle some love even if you're not dating someone

More pillows can be found here

J.Crew Tippi Sweater - throw this on for some understated glamour

J.Crew Vintage Tee - layer a comfy tee under a sweater for loungin

Heart Cake Tutorial - eat some cake to celebrate!

Fancy a little breakfast for dinner?  Good, try this strawberry nutella french toast.

Love Mug - a homemade gift.  I'm gonna do mine on a cereal bowl since my husband doesn't do coffee. Or tea. Or hot liquids in mugs.  

You can find more of my Valentine's Day pins on my Pinterest page, here.  Or follow me on Pinterest using the button at the top of the page.  

No matter what you do, grab some people you love and celebrate.  Having love in your life makes it so much richer!  

~And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne!~

Van Gogh and Vino

We trekked south this Christmas to visit my in-laws in Georgia.  The 80 degree weather was a welcome change from the 30 degree temps of the mid-Atlantic.  After much eating, celebrating and movie watching my SIL surprised the ladies with a night out.  So we headed down the road to Van Gogh and Vino.  

The room

This 3 hour long class teaches you step by step how to paint a picture. 

Our lovely teacher and her masterpieces

It's like paint by number for adults, except you get to sip vino all the while. (I think this may actually enhance some people's skills.)  You bring your own wine and snacks but everything else is provided for you - paint, easels, brushes, aprons, pre-drawn canvases (shh, no one has to know you don't have natural talent hehe).  

Our painting was Christmas-themed so it was a bunch of hanging ornaments that you could decorate however you pleased.  

Shh, no one has to know it was pre-drawn for you

When the class began I thought there was no way painting four ornaments would take 3 hours but, in fact, we almost ran out of time.  We got so into painting and creating the time just flew by! 

Kim, painting away

Kit, hard at work

Kim's painting

My painting

I'm not the most artistic person in the world but I tried my best and that's all that matters lol.  Right? Or at least that's what my parents always told me.  

Great for a girls night out, a birthday party or simply a change of pace, Van Gogh and Vino lets you bond with your friends, get creative and drink some vino.  What could be wrong with that?!  And you have your masterpiece to go home with - a souvenir of fun times with the ones you love. 

~And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne!~

Look up a similar class in your hood and get painting! 

DIY Christmas Gifts

So in an effort to save some cash and put more effort into gift giving I decided to DIY some presents this year.  

If you need some ideas, keep reading.  If you're done getting gifts keep reading anyway, what else are you doing for the next five minutes? ;)

My first project was courtesy of your favorite and mine - Pinterest.  The oh so famous DIY handprint reindeer (full tutorial can be found here).  Ever since our bundle of joy has entered our lives my husband and I have come to realize how crazy our parents are for her.  Head over heels, proud, bursting with love, obsessed.  Whatever you want to call it.  So what better way to make the grandparents happy than a little  ornament made by hers truly bearing her teeny, chubby little handprint?  And since it's Christmas and all, might as well slap some extra paint on that and make it a reindeer.  Thank you Pinterest.  (You can follow me on Pinterest, just click the button at the top of the page).

My second DIY was much simpler - homemade chocolate chip cookies.  But I didn't just want to simply put them in a tin and send them on their way.  I wanted them to look cute and pretty.  Like the Pinterest ones.  F****ing Pinterest! 

My last DIY project was more overwhelming. Homemade hand salve.  I was not familiar with the ingredients or how to use them, but I found the simplest recipe I could and crossed my fingers.  And said a prayer. And threw a penny in a fountain and made a wish.  Ok, I didn't really do that last part.  

I headed to Michaels excited to cultivate  my inner Martha Stewart. When I got there however, I realized how not crafty I actually am.  I wandered around Michaels like a lost puppy studying different kinds of paint and markers and stickers.  Oh my! Do you know how many different kinds of labels and stickers they sell??? Yea, me neither but it's a lot.  

I managed to find washable paint, ribbon  and a piece of oak tag for the reindeer handprints fairly easily.  Then I walked the whole store before stumbling onto, or rather into, the baking aisle.  I picked up some mini plastic baggies in an hourglass shape and some ribbon.

And then the confusion ensued.  I needed tins to hold the lotion, beeswax, coconut oil, essential oil, and sweet almond oil.  The coconut and almond oil I had to get from the Vitamin Shoppe but the rest was from Michaels.  I eventually found everything I needed in the candle making/bath area.  Did you know Michaels sells bath salts and other random bath products?? I studied the beeswax for about five minutes before my daughter started begging for the Minnie Mouse book across the aisle.  

I headed home to begin.  

I knew the reindeer might be the hardest in terms of cooperation from the little one so I laid down some garbage bags and made us some garbage bag smocks.  She rocked that garbage bag if I do say so myself.  And they worked like a charm! No paint on our clothes or floor.  

I mixed up some red and green to make brown, rubbed it on her hand and patted it down all over the oak tag before she even knew what was happening.  Then I gave her the part of the oaktag we hadn't used and let her go nuts finger painting it. She had a blast and so did I! I glued some googly eyes on, painted a red nose, punched a whole, tied some ribbon and wrote my holiday message. On the back I wrote the year, and my daughter's name and age.

Next, I baked some cookies using the Nestle Tollhouse recipe, put them in baggies and tied them up.  

But I decided they just didn't look cute enough.  I tied ribbon around them and made label in MS Word to tie onto each bag.  

Much better.

Lastly, the hand salve.  Using a double boiler I melted equal parts almond oil, coconut oil and beeswax. 

This is where things got tricky.  I discovered the hard way that I'm allergic to one of those oils.  As the oils heated up and melted, my throat was shrinking in size.  

I began coughing and wheezing so I ran and opened the windows which helped a bunch.  Except I was an icicle by the time the oils had melded together.

I think it's the coconut oil because this has happened once before at Benihana in Hawaii. On our honeymoon.  On the first night.  I had to leave the restaurant and order a $31 burger from room service and my husband got his food to-go and had to eat it on the balcony alone outside because just the smell of it made my throat start acting up all over again. Romantic right??

But I would not be deterred so easily.  Once melted, I took the bowl off the heat, added a vanilla and lavender essential oil and poured it into the tins I bought.  Then I washed my hands, changed my clothes and got out of the house as quickly as I could while it aired out.  What better way to spend a morning out then visiting Santa? So that is just what we did.  (I forgot to take a picture, but they look pretty cute if I do say so myself.)

I will be delivering my goodies tomorrow so I hope everyone enjoys them!  I never got to test out that salve so I hope it is silky and soothing.  But I guess I'll never really know.  Stupid allergies!

Doing something meaningful and thoughtful brings joy to others but really giving just feels darn good.  Happy Holidays!!!!

~And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne.~

NYE Looks for Girls, Guys and Mamas-to-Be

2014 is right around the corner and if you're anything like me, you've been so focused on the holiday gift-giving that you have not picked out your NYE outfit.  

Well, I'm here to help so here we go.

This dress from Target doesn't look like much in the picture, but I just saw this today and it looks WAAY better in person.  Thick fabric, well made and classy with sheen but not too much shine.  And cheap at only $17.49!

I think this dress from Arden B is cute but I could never wear it.  $79.00

One, I'm too old.  Two, the sheer part reminds me too much of a dress I wore to a Sweet 16 in my sophomore year of high school.  Never go back in your fashion people, only go forward.

I love this embellished strapless number from Express. Don't forget your spray tan.  Be bold with a faux fur bolero or neck wrap.  Or be edgy with a black moto jacket. $178.80

If you want to class up your New Years this dress is the perfect mix of class and sparkle.  And the shoes, who doesn't need a pair of red stilettos?! Charlotte Russe Jeweled Waist Midi Dress $32.99

  

Ring in the New Year boldly with this Chain Strap Dress.  This is for you perfect-bodied, risk takers.  Not a look everyone can pull off.  But if you're gonna try, it may as well be on New Year's!  I hope you juiced all day to fit into this thing. $34.99

Want to eat and drink a ton and not have to worry about erupting out of your dress?  My kind of dress - comfy, cute and self-UNconscious this   Asos Swing Dress has your name all over it.  Free People-esque but way cheaper, I'm loving this slightly boho swing dress. $68.97

Feminine, soft (and not black) this green Modcloth Warehouse Lace Back Soft Dress ($123.41) is festive and great for holiday soirees.

Asos Check Dress is a little preppy, a little 1950s and a lot holiday.  Keep Christmas around for just a bit longer this New Years with this midi dress. $99.82

Sticking with the 1950s vibe, this metallic Modcloth Subtle Luxury Dress ($51.99) will channel your inner Betty Draper. 

If you choose a simple dress, add some interest to your outfit with these Modcloth Vegas Earrings $16.99

Or add some sparkle with these bad boys Modcloth Razzle Dazzling Earrings $16.99

I've wanted a hard case clutch for a while and this just fit the bill.  Cute, simple, and cheap, the Express Pave Bow Topped Hard Case Clutch ($23.94) hits the nail on the head.

Perfectly edgy for a night on the town, this Express Oversized Ball Bead Clutch ($35.94) will hold all of your party essentials.

Express Suede Foldover Clutch $35.94  Similar to the Clare Vivier foldover I've been coveting, this much cheaper version, adds interest and the suede just screams winter.

Want something not so...black?  Why is every dress and purse always black?!  Anyway, this is a great winter white option.  Also comes in silver. Express Soft Top Foldover Clutch $20.94

Gentlemen, I did not forget about you!  Here are some NYE looks for you too.  It's pretty easy if you're a guy - dressy jeans, nice shoes, button down, sweater, blazer, jacket - you're set.  

Express has some good options to help you ring in 2014.

Like this tux blazer ($136.80), plaid shirt ($41.94) and bow tie ($23.94). 

You can go fancy and pair it with tux pants, but I prefer it with dark jeans.  If the bow tie is too much just leave it out, you'll still look suave.

Sidenote:  If you love ties and bow ties you must check out The Tie Bar.  A million options, they WILL have the tie you're looking for!  They are very reasonably priced and even offer longer length ties than the standard tie if you so desire.  

I just love this Houndstooth Blazer from Express ($136.80).  It's hard to see the houndstooth in the picture so go to the website and zoom in.

Perfect for a cold winter's night, I would dress it down with a solid colored sweater layered over a button down and jeans.  

Lastly, I have more pregnant friends right now than I can count so I thought I'd pop (pun intended!) some ideas up here for them too!

ASOS has tons of great options for mamas-to-be. 

Like this Long Sleeve Embellished Cuff Dress by Mamalicious. $63.52

Or this  Mamlicious Embellished Front Fitted Sleeveless Dress $63.52

A little dresser and elegant, thisNew Look Maternity Dress with Necklace ($36.28) is perfect for a fancy dancy night out. 

A little more comfortable with a pop of color this Skater Dress with Lace Trim and Contrast is perfect and can definitely be worn again.  And at $50.82 it's a steal!

Maybe not the most holiday of prints, but I LOVE this Midi Skater Dress with Large Floral $50.82

If you want something other than black that's suer cozy and wintry this Sweater Dress with Leopard Sleeves ($36.30) is perfect.  The leopard sleeves will draw attention away from your belly so people might actually look at your face while you talk. 

These two dresses from Target are very reasonably priced and can be worn many times after the holidays.

Target Liz Lange Sleeveless Ponte Dress $24.74

Target Liz Lange Beige/Black Colorblock Sweater Dress $29.99

No matter what way you choose to ring in 2014 be sure you are safe and most importantly, that you are with those whom you love the very most!

~And that my friends, is worth a glass of champagne!~