Merry & Bright

the time is here

while it hasn't felt much like christmas was near with the beautiful temps we've been having

 it is a - ok with me ;-)

i am still (of course) making a list and checking it twice but so far this i know...

the baking is done, the shopping is nearly done, the wrapping & bows have been purchased!

this year i am spread thin and i couldn't be anymore excited

i will be indulging and making memories

as i spend it with all sides of the family and in all parts of new york!

hope you have the merriest & brightest holiday of all!

<3

12 ways... (2)

This new and fun little series is my way of sharing the Christmas spirit with you all :)

This Week's Ways:

If you're weekend will be spent shopping and you are scrambling, 

rest assured I've got you covered!

Even though I didn't made a must have guide the year,

I have PLENTY for you to browse through for inspo!

Guides from

2014, 2013, 2012 & 2011

Are ALL linked in this post! 

~~~

One of my very favorite things about the Holidays are the sights & lights!

And these are simply some of the best ;-)

So make some hot chocolate, a sweet treat 

get in the car & check these houses out!

8 Patrick Dr. in Lagrangeville

Turn up your radio and roll the windows down for quite the show!

155 Vaneck Dr. in New Rochelle

You'll peak inside some beautiful window displays including one of Santa's workshop!

21 North Kensico Rd. in White Plains

To see a real life gingerbread house!

185-07 80th Dr. in Jamaica Estates 

I've wanted to go to this house for so long, 

take a look at their facebook page just to see how awesome!

Between 11th & 13th Ave. from 83rd to 86th St. in Dyker Heights

An experience that take you by foot and will require some sunglasses it's so bright!

~~~

I'll be heading into the city this weekend to celebrate the season with the Mr.

& I will certainly watch the show at Saks at least 5 times!

For more must see / do in the city, you can read my guide here & here!

12 Ways...

Once upon a time there were The 12 Days of Christmas and now we have...

This new and fun little series is my way of sharing the Christmas spirit with you all :)

I will be covering everything from recipes to crafts to party tips to movies & more!

Each Wednesday leading right up until Christmas Eve...

This Week's Ways Are:

these jams i will play over and over and over!

filled with memories from childhood and modern day faves!

turn up your volume and enjoy them too ;-)

1. Rockin Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee

2. Dominick the Donkey - Lou Monte

3. Holly Jolly Christmas - Michael Buble 

4. It Must Have Been Ol' Santa Claus - Harry Connick Jr.

5. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays - *NSYNC

6. All I Want for Christmas is You - Mariah Carey

7. Marshallow World - Dean Martin

8. Happy X-Mas - John Lennon

9. It's Beginning to look alot like Christmas - Perry Como

10. Christmas Lights - Coldplay

honestly my favorite part about the holiday is getting all into my martha...

some can be gifts or some are for keeps either way they are pretty neat 

ideas from the blog & the web all pinned & waiting for ya here!

cuddling up on the couch and throwing any of these on

with a side of hot chocolate is how any winter night of mine will be spent!

1. Its a Wonderful Life

2. Home Alone (1 & 2)  

3. The Santa Claus ( 1 & 2)

4. Love Actually

5. Elf

6. Miracle on 34th Street

7. The Polar Express

whether you're hosting, attending or want to make a sweet treat 

these are some of the easiest and yummiest

i'll be making my usuals and adding a few more from this list too

ideas from my kitchen& the web all pinned & waiting for ya here!

5 0n Friday.

 a couple of lovely & awesome distractions for you this friday!

...1...

 i am literally OBSESSED with James Corden.

i think his show is hands down the funniest & most entertaining

plus car pool karaoke is everything

take a look!

...2...

this was the exact moment when i knew, i've waited to long!

silly but true - but i am DEFINITELY in need of a haircut

...3...

i've always been a sucker for a sunset (as you know) 

so to see this years PANTONE color of the year

made me extremely happy!

can't wait to wear these all spring long!

...4...

this store i tell ya... 

they are truly making the season yummy!

 these are some of the best smelling soaps and candles ever

but i'm fighting the urge to buy them all right now

any of these your favorite?

...5...

last but certainly not least...

everyday wednesday leading right up until christmas  i will share with you

my list for the 12 ways to christmas before christmas!

covering everything from movies to recipes

First time for everything...

For the first time in the 5 years of this blog
I will not be providing a Holiday Gift Guide.

You see we tend to overwhelm ourselves with the chaos

instead of sitting back to enjoy the sparkle and the wonder of the season.

So this year, I will craft and I will bake but I won't be shopping from a must have list.

Because...

We already have it all.

We stress on all the ways we can out do ourselves from years past.

We spend an awful lot of time and money trying to make this part PERFECT.

(right down to the coordinating wrapping, ribbons and tags.which I am guilty of doing &  already purchased.)

We set ourselves up for unnecessary anxiety, about shipping and parking spots.

While all of that is normal, since we've been doing it for ages.

It's the meaning of the season and the purpose of giving that is so entirely lost.

By all means, I will still shop for my loved ones this year.

And I would never ask you or advise you not to!

However...

 I am supporting all the other ways we can be the best and give our best this year.

I will give gifts solely from my heart.

I will give a gift of purpose.

That will have meaning for years to come.

That the person will always remember was picked with just them in mind.

I am doing this so I have more time.

Time for gatherings, for merry and for cheer!

This will truly be a December to Remember
And we will make it memorable in so many ways

I hope you will join me! <3

Happy for...

This Thanksgiving "Break"...

I am happy to be revisiting the past - 10 years ago to be exact.
At my high school reunion and seeing my best friends non stop!

This Thanksgiving...
I am happy to be spending so quietly and so comfortably with my core!
Just missing Dad, who is lucky enough to be at the parade & my angel of course.

This Thanksgiving Weekend...
I am happy to be free of plans or anything too far out of reach.
To regroup, to relax and NOT stress!

Giving Thanks because I am Happy ...
For my life, my family, my love, my friends, my work, my dreams.
I am happy in my heart, in my voice 
and in this little bubble of space that is mine!
I am happy to share with you all
to laugh, to listen, to love and to learn.

So from my grateful heart to yours...
<3

This story is based on true events...

It all started back in October...

I read the press release that Sugar Paper LA would be available in early November.

So I waited and duh I put it in my planner!

(so I would remember to go & look)

In a cruel twist of chaos... 

I saw on Instagram thanks *but no thanks* to the wonderful little hashtag

#SUGARPAPERFORTARGET

That some stores had released their shipments early and people already had THEM!

WTF?! OMG!? STAAAAHPIT!

I stalked my TARGET for 2 weeks.

I made the Mr. go to the Target near his office for 2 weeks.

And there was nothing each and every damn time.

NOTHIN'

This would simply not fly.

Because I was prepared. And I was getting my planner.

You see in years past I got lucky...

In 2014 : Didn't even know the brand and found it on an end cap in January & it was on clearance!

In 2015 : I forgot all about it, but found it close to Christmas while not even looking for it!

Then on Tuesday morning (11/3) to be exact.

I waltzed into Target at the ripe hour of 8am I marched frantically toward the stationary section

Still nothing there but this time was different.

This time I found my soulmates... 

Virginia & Samantha

They knew what was up.

They were the only two employees in my two week long quest to know what I was talking about.

And they brought me to the red door...

After about 9 minutes a burst of sunshine mixed with glitter

and the best damn drum roll you ever did hear...

THE PALETTE OF SUGAR PAPER LA WAS ROLLED TO ME!

I was the first one to see them.

I was the first customers hands to touch them.

This was the ONLY supply they had.

Rumor has it, this display still has yet to make it on to the floor!

And I literally, got the golden ticket.

My Sugar Paper LA Planner Collection <3

Error...

having a lot of trouble with formatting while i restructure and design the new layout!
i'm getting super upset and frustrated :(
please bare with me! 
<3

#BalmainNation

did you take your excessive line waiting patience, 

duking it out fierceness and your life savings to the BALMAIN x H & M launch?!

if you didn't, neither did i.

if you did, please know i envy you and give you a world of credit!

honestly, i don't know what i wanted more... 

to be at the launch show which included the BACKSTREET BOYS 

or having half the collection in my closet?!

i knew this wasn't something i would be getting involved with

 just seemed a little bit out of my reach. 

 i mean, do you remember the debacle over Lilly for Target? 

so yeah - NOT doing that again.

you're options are, swoon over the photos...

the entire collection

pray for returns or random pieces to show up again,

 when the site is back from crashing...

the H&M website...

or stalk your prey on e-bay, instagram and the like!

RESALES & UPMARKS BABY!

e-bays offerings

according to my camera roll

just a few snapshots from the past month... 

you know i am so glad i live in a world where there are octobers

Go Pink or Go Home

While I agree more then just ONE month (or day) 

should go toward awareness for any cause

this month happens to be 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month...

And with that comes so many stories of beauty and of bravery.

The post I originally had planned to share was all about

 how to give back, how to help, donating time and services, 

about being educated, to get screened early, 

making sure you get your mammos.

All of those things, we should do. 

And not just this October.

For today, for all the tears, for all feels... All the most amazing feels!

Please watch this video, right now!

Glued to the Tube!

 this week is certainly going much better than last, in more ways than one!

 (as you saw from my previous post)

but what has me entirely too excited are the return of the best shows!

i have my little list of shows, new and old ready to go

as for the new ones i'm ready to check out:

ABC

With Revenge gone and my constant missing of the ever so handsome Daniel Grayson

I'm hoping that a little Nate Archibald (oops, Chase Crawford) can cure the blues!

Blood & Oil on 9/27

CBS 

Surprisingly has me really interested in 3 shows!

Scheduled throughout the fall here's what I'm looking forward too...

Who doesn't love a good medical drama? And Marcia Gay Harden is EVERYTHING!

Code Black on 9/30 

Jane Lynch is hilarious and who remembers Maggie Lawson from MODEL BEHAVIOR?!

Angel from Hell on 11/5

I love a good family sitcom, I think this will bring a few good laughs! Hope it lasts!

Life in Pieces on 9/21

FOX

I adore John Stamos & Rob Lowe so these were a given!

Can't guarantee I will be front and center at the TV 

but the DVR will record it and I will catch up with it sporadically!

Grandfathered &  The Grinder on 9/29 starting at 8PM

Now, as for the OGs & the holiest night of the week...

T.G.I.T.

the goblets are in the dishwasher and the wine waiting to be poured

as i get ready to be re-acquainted with oliva and annalise tonight

and yes, we are on a first name basis ;-)

 here is the full schedule from TV GUIDE!

what are you most excited to watch this season?!

Getting Balanced...

while i may have 

started there     yet      ended here

it was the in between that i am grateful for

let me explain, i am a notorious planner.

i live for my lists and my lists have lists.

i have folders for clients and personal projects

color coded, alphabetized, you name it.

i use multiple planners.

i am okay with this.

it makes me happy and makes my world go round.

keeps me on top of everything.

it is truly, all i know.

but you know what they say, we make plans and god laughs.

the hospital it can be overwhelming place, never mind when your parent is in it!

it was not an emergency which i am grateful for, but still an issue that had to be handled.

therefore, it was a tough week and when you aren't close by it can stress you out more.

being that i am such a focused person and with a need to be in control 

this "event" put some things into perspective for me 

the scramble for time, moving things and being on top of things...

ALL the things, i perfect and juggle on a regular basis

seemed to consume me more than i wish they had.

and i simply, need to chill the hell out.

so i will do just that, gotta get back to my center 

and i have a nice road ahead of me to make it pretty and perfected

 but this time with just a few new ingredients!

like i mentioned in today's feel good monday post, 

the two best ingredients to carry through our days and in our lives

are hustle and heart

i am going to keep focusing on my plans,

 manage my struggle between the two

 but really practice the BALANCE and the WEIGHT of it all!

something so simple to keep in mind <3