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Monday, December 30, 2013

Our Christmas Recap (in Photos)

On Christmas Eve, we went to the Fohl Christmas party with Ryan's extended family on his father's side. We did a white elephant gift exchange, played games, and even got a visit from Santa! Ryan spent most of the evening throwing Owen into the air and helping him rescue my Grumpy Cat from a Christmas tree. Oh, Grumpy! He just kept getting stuck in that tree.

Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013

When we got home that night, Ryan and I opened each other's gifts in bed. He gave me an amazing plush Vampy Cat that he'd commissioned his brother's girlfriend to make for me months ago. It was so unexpected and thoughtful and perfect! I knitted him some fingerless gloves. It was really hard to find the time to knit them in secret, but I managed to finish them just in time by getting up at 5:00 on Christmas Eve to knit for an hour before work as well as knitting all through my lunch break and rest breaks that day.

Opening each other's gifts in bed
Kind of the best thing ever. Ryan had Sam make me this Vampy Cat for Christmas. Thanks, guys!
Oh my gosh, I actually finished them in time! It took knitting al through my lunch hour and both rest breaks, but it happened. Since he's not on Instagram, I had to share my success. He'll get them tonight.

On Christmas Day, we visited my grandma in the morning, and then my immediate family came over to our apartment for presents and way too much food. My family gave me a bunch of books from my to-read list as well as a great tribal-print coat, and both seasons of Pushing Daisies on DVD, among other treasures. I felt incredibly spoiled. This was our second year hosting Christmas at our place, and I really enjoyed it. We're hoping that, by next year, we'll have a place big enough that we can host Ryan's family and mine all at once.

For those of you doing the math, yes, I did get two plush cats for Christmas. I also got a thermal hippo in the white elephant gift exchange. I'm pretty excited about it.

Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013
Christmas 2013

All photos by me except group shot. Photo credit: Eric Villegas 

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Friday, December 27, 2013

What I wore today: 12/21/2013 (Sugar Plum)

Sugar Plum Fairy outfit: pink ballet tights, Jeffry Campbell for Free People "Cast & Crew ankle boots", vintage suede mini skirt, lace Anthropologie blouse, Phillip Lim for Target crossbody bag, Anthropologie horseshoe "Lucky Icon" necklace

Last weekend, Ryan and I saw The Nutcracker (Thanks for the tickets, Annette and Leah!) We were having unseasonably warm weather, so we ate tacos in an open-air restaurant and walked around downtown. It was lovely. 

Sugar Plum Fairy outfit: pink ballet tights, Jeffry Campbell for Free People "Cast & Crew ankle boots", vintage suede mini skirt, lace Anthropologie blouse, Phillip Lim for Target crossbody bag, Anthropologie horseshoe "Lucky Icon" necklace
Sugar Plum Fairy outfit: pink ballet tights, Jeffry Campbell for Free People "Cast & Crew ankle boots", vintage suede mini skirt, lace Anthropologie blouse, Phillip Lim for Target crossbody bag, Anthropologie horseshoe "Lucky Icon" necklace

"Cast & Crew Ankle Boots" - Jeffry Campbell, Free People
Pink ballet tights - Capezio, Discount Dance Supply
Vintage suede mini skirt - thrifted
Lace blouse - Anthropologie
Crossbody bag - Phillip Lim for Target
Horseshoe "Lucky Icon" necklace - Anthopologie

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Monday, December 23, 2013

Merry and Bright Playlist 2013

Since 2006, I've made a new Christmas playlist every year. I wrote about how I got started and what songs have been featured in a post last year. You can see it here.

So, for now, I'll leave you with this year's playlist. May your days be merry and bright!

Merry and Bright Playlist 2013

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Friday, December 20, 2013

DI(fr)Yday: Embroidered Constellation Christmas Ornaments

DIY painted sculpy Christmas ornaments and embroidered astrology constellation ornaments

I've been on quite the garland-and-ornament-making kick this Christmas. I really love the simplicity of these DIY clay ornaments, but I wanted to give them my own twist. So I made some simple painted ones and also developed a plan for making embroidered-constellation ones.

I made one with Leo and one with Gemini since those are Ryan's and my sun signs, but I think it would be really cool to do Orion, Ursa Major or another favorite constellation as well.

I followed Kelli's instructions for rolling and cutting the Sculpy, but  before baking, I made small holes for each star with the tip of a toothpick. After the ornaments baked and cooled, I used the running stitch to trace the shape of each constellation with embroidery thread.

I love the way they turned out. Don't you think they'd make great gifts, stocking stuffers, or even personalized gift tags?

DIY painted sculpy Christmas ornaments and embroidered astrology constellation ornaments
DIY painted sculpy Christmas ornaments and embroidered astrology constellation ornaments
DIY painted sculpy Christmas ornaments and embroidered astrology constellation ornaments
DIY painted sculpy Christmas ornaments and embroidered astrology constellation ornaments
DIY painted sculpy Christmas ornaments and embroidered astrology constellation ornaments
DIY painted sculpy Christmas ornaments and embroidered astrology constellation ornaments

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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

My Winter Marie Antoinette Themed Bridal Shower

My Winter Marie Antoinette Themed Bridal Shower

My maid-oh-honor Kelly threw me a lovely shower last weekend. I didn't know what to expect at all, and I was really impressed by what she put together. The decor was adorable, and she served the best cupcakes I've ever had (Blueberry, people! Blueberry!) along with cold milk from a pretty dispenser. It felt like Christmas at Versailles.

It was really amazing to see so many of my favorite peopled gathered in one place, and the driveway full of Priuses spoke volumes about who my people are - haha!

Everyone wrote things they love about me on Kelly's chalk-board pantry door and gave me really sweet and personal gifts.

We played a few games; my favorite was definitely a quiz Kelly made by playing a video she made of Ryan answering different questions and everyone wagering on whether our answers would match up.

The whole event was a little overwhelming (in the best way), and I felt absolutely showered (I guess that's the idea) with love.

Thank you so much to everyone who came for helping make this season of my life so special and memorable!

My Winter Marie Antoinette Themed Bridal Shower
My Winter Marie Antoinette Themed Bridal Shower
My Winter Marie Antoinette Themed Bridal Shower
My Winter Marie Antoinette Themed Bridal Shower
My Winter Marie Antoinette Themed Bridal Shower
My Winter Marie Antoinette Themed Bridal Shower
My Winter Marie Antoinette Themed Bridal Shower
My Winter Marie Antoinette Themed Bridal Shower
My Winter Marie Antoinette Themed Bridal Shower

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Monday, December 16, 2013

What I wore today: 12/08/13 (Snow Shower)

Bridal Shower Outfit: gold sequin mini skirt, mock-garter dotted white tights, vintage brown leather riding boots, Feathery Anthopologie "Guimauve Top", Gray Anthropologie "Casado Cardigan", Gold Anthropologie "Ore-Fringe Bib Necklace"

This is what I wore for my bridal shower. (Look for a post all about the shower on Wednesday.) I originally bought these tights with the intention of wearing them under my wedding gown. I've since decided to go another direction, so wearing them to the shower instead seemed appropriate. Though, looking at them now, I think they may be more bachelorette-party material.

Oh, well. Something you accidentally dress a little too sexy for your bridal shower. Also, sometimes you are accidentally 10 minutes late for said shower, even though you were attempting to be early. That's life.

Bridal Shower Outfit: gold sequin mini skirt, mock-garter dotted white tights, vintage brown leather riding boots, Feathery Anthopologie "Guimauve Top", Gray Anthropologie "Casado Cardigan", Gold Anthropologie "Ore-Fringe Bib Necklace"
Bridal Shower Outfit: gold sequin mini skirt, mock-garter dotted white tights, vintage brown leather riding boots, Feathery Anthopologie "Guimauve Top", Gray Anthropologie "Casado Cardigan", Gold Anthropologie "Ore-Fringe Bib Necklace"
Bridal Shower Outfit: gold sequin mini skirt, mock-garter dotted white tights, vintage brown leather riding boots, Feathery Anthopologie "Guimauve Top", Gray Anthropologie "Casado Cardigan", Gold Anthropologie "Ore-Fringe Bib Necklace"
Bridal Shower Outfit: gold sequin mini skirt, mock-garter dotted white tights, vintage brown leather riding boots, Feathery Anthopologie "Guimauve Top", Gray Anthropologie "Casado Cardigan", Gold Anthropologie "Ore-Fringe Bib Necklace"

Mock-garter tights - online somewhere (don't remember)
Vintage brown leather riding boots - thrifted (last seen here)
Gold sequin mini skirt - Victoria's Secret
White feathery-textured "Guimauve Top" - Anthropologie (last seen here)
Gray "Casado Cardigan" - Anthropologie
Gold "Ore-Fringe Bib Necklace" - Anthropologie

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