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.

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.

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.

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

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

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. 

"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

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!

DI(fr)Yday: Embroidered Constellation Christmas 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?

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!

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

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.

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