Simply Having A Wonderful Christmastime

The only picture I took on Christmas. An instagram of our little Christmas feast.

I think that preparing for the holiday season is similar to preparing for a big test. Better to work in small chunks instead of trying to pull consecutive all-nighters. I was not well prepared and did the latter only to crash and burn. I didn't get to finish everything I wanted to accomplish. One being my Christmas dress, which was a disappointing because I really wanted to get it done before Sunday. But I'm still working on it and I'll have it done for New Year's. I'm going to wear it even if I stay home gosh darn-it. 

During our Christmas festivities, one of the sweetest things happened, my sister got engaged! Her boyfriend proposed in-front of our family and his and it was just so sweet and heartwarming that there wasn't a dry eye in the house, myself included. Most of our family knew about it, and the fact that we pulled it off without her noticing at all was nothing short of amazing.

As for the rest of the day, we spend it eating, watching the Lakers lose their lead from the Bulls, my brother taking our yearly family group photo with now even more extended family, and playing some trivia games. All I have to say about the games is that I rock when it comes to my aunts music trivia one. I was the team spokesperson for my group, but there were times I didn't need any help figuring out the songs. I would totally blurt out the name of the song after a couple of notes were played.

This was basically me during the trivia game:

However I need to work on my 60's and 70's music because we lost in the group tie breaker because one of the other teams got the correct answer first. Plus there were times where I knew the song, but I could not think of the title. Ugh, that's the worst. Next year, I'm probably going to be my own team. 

Finally, the older cousins in our family have their own gift exchange and this year I got the Momofuku Milk Bar Dessert Book.

It's chock-full of recipes from the famed NYC Bakery, which I really want to go to the next time I visit New York. But for now, I can make some of Christina Tosi's mouthwatering desserts at home. This book needs it's own post.

So that was my Christmas in a nutshell. How was yours?

Merry Christmas!!!

Have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends. 

Meg sent me this a few weeks ago and it had me cracking up the entire time. It's the past three Doctors on Doctor Who. So excited for the new Christmas special airing tonight!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Sunday Videos: Holiday TV

I can't believe that next week is Christmas! There's still some cards to mail out, presents to buy/make,  a dress to be made*, and a TARDIS to be built (more on that later this week). So for my last Sunday Videos for the year, (whoa!) here are clips of some of my favorite holiday themed episodes.

How can I not start without mentioning A Charlie Brown Christmas? A television staple since 1965, this classic specials needs to be watched every year.

Ok, who didn't have a crush on Seth Cohen during The O.C.'s heyday? He brought Chrismukkah into TV pop culture spectrum and I always watch the episodes for some early '00 nostalgia.

I'm so disappointed that Community is on a long hiatus right now. It's hands down one of the best shows on TV right now. Amazing cast and Dan Harmon is a genius. I do hope Community gets a season 4 just so we can have one more Christmas Episode.

Seriously isn't Sheldon's reaction to the gift Penny gave him on The Big Bang Theory's season one Christmas episode the cutest thing ever? Here's the link since I can't embed it here. 

source

Let's not forget about Doctor Who. I'm so excited for this years Christmas special, "The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe."

I know there are some Christmas themed episodes/specials that I might have overlooked, so what are your favorites?

*Thanks for everyone that voted for which dress I'll be making. The pattern I'll be using is pattern 3, so I'll be sewing it this week and pictures of the finished dress will be posted next week. :)

Style Inspirations: An American Girl Holiday

It's been a while since I did a Style Inspirations post and what a better time to do it than during the holiday season.

Having an American Girl doll was one of the things I wanted so much growing up. I remember one of my friends bringing her Felicity doll for show and tell in elementary school and just wanting to play with it. But the thing about the dolls was that they were so darn expensive and that didn't even include her clothes, furniture, and accessories. So instead, I would spend days pouring over the American Girls catalog writing wish lists (basically the entire catalog) and reading all the books. 

One day when I have a daughter or a niece, I would love to give her an American Girl doll. But for now, here are some ways you can draw holiday outfit inspirations from the dolls I grew up with; Felicity, Kirsten, Addy, Samantha, and Molly. 

Felicity Merriman Christmas Outfit by somedaysmarter featuring pearl jewelry

Kirsten Larson Christmas Outfit by somedaysmarter featuring platform high heels

Addy Walker Christmas Outfit by somedaysmarter featuring h&m jackets

Samantha Parkington Christmas Outfit by somedaysmarter featuring a cotton knit cardigan

Molly McIntire Christmas Outfit by somedaysmarter featuring mary jane heels

Sunday Videos: Favorite Christmas Songs

Unless you love listening to Christmas music 24/7, you'll be listening to a majority of it at work (especially retail) or out shopping. 

Personally I don't mind Christmas music, but when my work has the same 50 songs on rotation, with multiple versions of certain songs no less, I just want to crawl under a table and rock myself until it's over. Ok, that's exaggerating it a bit, but I have learned to tune them out. 

In an ideal work experience, here are some of the songs I would gladly hear on a continuous loop during Christmas.

Bing Crosby & David Bowie - "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth"

Jimmy Eat World - "Last Christmas" (Wham cover)

 Judy Garland - "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" 

Ron Sexsmith - "Maybe This Christmas"

Mariah Carey - "All I Want for Christmas is You"

Zooey Deschanel & Leon Redbone - "Baby It's Cold Outside"

Sunday Videos: GASP! Holiday Movies I Haven't Watched Yet.

I'm just going to say that by Christmas, I will have watched these:

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

Home Alone (1990)

What other Christmas/Holiday movies should I watch?

I also failed to add White Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street on my favorite holiday movies list last week. My bad.

Sunday Videos: Favorite Holiday Films

With Thanksgiving passed, the holiday season has officially started and for the next four weeks I'll be posting clips of my favorite Christmas movies, songs, and shows. I'm starting off this week with my five favorite movies. These are practically required viewing every year.

Elf (2003)

A Christmas Story (1983)

Love Actually (2003)

Christmas Vacation (1989)

Little Women (1994)

Turkey for Me and Turkey for You

Dress: Shumaq dress via Swirl

Lace Top (underneath) and Necklace: Express

Tights and Belt: Target

Wedges: Payless

Thanks to my brother for taking my outfit pictures.

Seen through the eyes of Instagram, my Thanksgiving consisted of:

Lots of yummy food

Food Mountain!

Making Caramel Apples

Playing Apples to Apples. At one point I was falling asleep, but I still managed to win a round. :P

Playing with my cousins new dog Nala. She's so cute!!!

Gobble Gobble

(source)

To my U.S. readers, have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Relish spending time with your loved ones and enjoy the 3 lbs of food the average person will eat today.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Image Source

Cause Baby You're A Firework

Cardigan and Purse: Old Navy

Dress: H&M 

How was everyone's 4th? This year I kept my 4th of July festivities local. In the morning, I went to the annual 4th of July parade in Old Town Temecula with my friend Rachel and her son. The last time I was at the parade was when I was high school, so it was nice checking it out again. Later that night we along with her husband, and some of her family headed over to the Ronald Regan Sports Park to check out the fireworks. The park is usually crowed, but this year it more packed than usual. Fireworks started at 9pm and it was an amazing show to watch. I think fireworks in glitter in the sky, but with the after smoke and the possibility of it setting trees on fire. We ended the night with some all-American hamburgers from In-N-Out. All in all, a good 4th of July. 

A parade isn't complete without a marching band

Giddy up!

4th of July

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

So Everybody Put Your Best Suit Or Dress On

Dress: Rodarte for Target

Slip: unknown

Blazer: Target

Belt: Gap

Sparkly Tights: NY and Company

Heels: Steve Madden

Bag: Old Navy

Ring: Forever 21

So how was every one's new year? Mine was a girls night out with some of my co-workers and we celebrated the new year over at Pechanga. First we had dinner at Blazing Noodles and I have to say the food was really, really good. Plus they had some pretty good Thai Iced Tea. I would definitely make a return trip and I want to go there on the weekends when they serve Dim Sum. Then we headed up to the Eagles Nest for the party. It was fun and interesting.

Some observations...

• There was a guy wearing a box made to look like a hunters hat.
• A guy was totally not dancing to the beat. I think him and his dance partner were trying to swing dance to this song. Fail, haha.
• When I was dancing with my co-workers, some guys were trying to hit on us. But we just ignored them and later on we saw them making out with some other girls. Crisis adverted.
• A little after midnight, they had to turn off the music for 20 minutes because the Casino EMTs where helping out a party goer that had too much to drink. Luckily the party goer was ok, but it was a buzz kill because they shut the music while we were about to dance to Flo-Rida's "Low" aka The Apple Bottom Jeans song. Such a guilty pleasure song!

Tweed Blaze, Jeans, and Scarf: Old Navy

Heeled Oxfords: Dollhouse

The next day I had some bonding time with my sister that is visiting from NYC. We had dinner at Sonic (yum!) then watched Black Swan. It was my second time watching it and it was the first time for my sister. She liked it but said it would give her mild nightmares. :P

It's one of my favorite movies this year. Along with Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Toy Story 3, How to Train Your Dragon, and Inception.

Christmas Time is Here

Dress: BCBG

Velvet Short-Sleeved Jacket: Old Navy

Flower Puff Pin: Anthropologie

Flower Bracelet: Forever 21

Tights: Target

Heels: Steve Madden

 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Went to Orange County to celebrate  with my dad's side of the family. It's crazy to think that I used to be the oldest of 6 cousins 20 years ago and now I'm the oldest of 15 cousins. But it was great seeing relatives that I don't get to see all the time. Plus we had some special guests in the house. My sister's boyfriend went with us and one of my cousins boyfriends also made an appearance. The more the merrier I say.

 Besides food coma inducing amounts of food and presents, there were some family games. Including an intense game of Name That Tune. I think I might have scarred my sister a little bit with my "I know what song that is!" freak outs. I am to Name that Tune to what Will & Grace are to charades. At one point, we were even Rick Rolled. Well, more like my aunt picked Rick Astley's"Never Gonna Give You Up" as one of the songs.
I will proudly say that my team won and I was MVP. Oh, yeah.

 Who knows their top 40 hits? I do! I do!

Also my Christmas outfit was grandma approved. Yay!
I was actually inspired by this Kate Spade ad from last year:

The cool thing is that I already had the dress hanging in my closet and the jacket (to cover the arms) is from 5 years ago. I was so glad that the jacket fits, since the last time I wore it was three years ago. The only things I bought for the outfit were the bright red tights, which I might be rocking more frequently and the flower puff pin. Originally I wasn't going to add the pin, but I'm glad I did. A nice alternative to a necklace. I'm definitely going to have to find another place to rock out this outfit again. 

I will leave you with some of the glorious food (aka: food porn) that was eaten yesterday.

I will say I had a kick-ass lunch today. Thanks Christmas dinner leftovers!

My aunts lemon cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

My ube cupcakes (stay tuned for the recipe)

Dinner rolls that my aunt made from my grandparents recipe

My dinner plate.Om Nom Nom!

Christmas Wrapping

30 for 30 Items:

Old Navy Navy Striped Shirt, Brown Corduroy Skirt and Brown Flats

The Icing:

Tilly's Owl Ring

Avon Necklace

Brown Tights (unknown)

 

 

December 1st. Where does the time fly? I already know that besides work, this month is going to filled with baking, gift shopping and possibly some crafting. I'm going to put up my little tree later tonight and officially start listening to Christmas music. BTW, Target has some cool Christmas songs you can download for free from the likes of Coconut Records, Best Coast, Wavves, and Guster.

 

So this Christmas I plan on...

• Bake my first pie from scratch.
• Making a gingerbread house for my cousins to decorate.
• Going to an outdoor ice rink and learn how to skate.
• Seeing a Christmas light display.
• Sending out Christmas Cards on time.
• Seeing a production of The Nutcraker  

Today I also saw Part One of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows with my brother and I really liked it. I totally missed out on seeing the previous 6 movies in the theaters, but I will be going to the midnight screening for the final film. I will admit that I like this more than the Twilight movies. For one thing, they way less angsty than the gang up in Forks.

I wore my crazy owl ring to commemorate going to the screening. As you can tell in the picture, it's pretty big. It's more of a cocktail plus happy hour ring. The ring also serves as a great weapon if you need to punch someone in the face. For uh, defensive purposes only.

 

Don't forget to check out my last post where you can create a 30 for 30 outfit for me!

 

Gobble, Gobble

30 for 30 Items:

Express Sequin Shirt

Old Navy Denim Skirt

Payless Black Mini-Wedges

The Icing:

Forever 21 Headband

Old Navy Tights

Kohl's Watch

Look who wanted to make an appearance...

 I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with turkey and pumpkin pie. 

Unfortunately, I had to work. Ah, the life of a retail worker. But I still got my turkey dinner from Fresh and Easy which I have to say was very good. The pumpkin soup was especially yummy. 

So while I didn't get to see all my relatives on Thanksgiving, I'll get to see them all on Christmas. 

So yay for that and

let the holiday season officially begin!

Also thanks to all those who read my little blog. :)

Now who's ready for some shopping?

Oh... wait can't do that yet. Err... nevermind. :P