a smattering

are you still there, dear readers?  sorry i have once again gone MIA.  between work and getting ready for our move, i feel like i haven't hardly had a moment to sit still.  i'm still a bit frazzled {thank goodness for a two-day work week!}, so please forgive my random stream of consciousness post below.

*i've lost 5 pounds since i started fit train friday!  i would like to lose 10 pounds more.  my goal is to be down another 5 pounds by the beginning of 2011.  that would put me just slightly above where i was this time last year.  and it's good motivation not to overdo it at all the upcoming holiday festivities.  not that i'll be denying myself pecan pie or mashed potates, mind you.

*speaking of pecan pie, tomorrow i'm headed to maryland with the beau to spend thanksgiving with his family. while i'm looking forward to seeing how many ways one can incorporate old bay into a meal, i needed to make sure i had a taste of home.  being from the south, i can't have a thanksgiving without pecan pie, so i offered to bring one.  my grandfather was a college professor back in the day and the first lady of the college where he worked was famous for her pecan pie.  my grandma managed to get a hold of her recipe, which she passed on to my mom, and she in turn passed on to me.  i make two adjustments: one, i use smitten kitchen's all-butter pie crust recipe.  it really is the best.  two, i add bourbon.  because i can. and because it's delicious.

*the big move is in t-minus one week. yikes! my apartment is currently a maze of boxes, bags, and rooms in various states of packing. bad news: i've got a LOT of work left to do.  good news: this move is the swift kick in the pants i needed to trash or donate a lot of the clutter i've accumulated in the past twenty-five three years.

*on the advice of preppy 101, i did my best eddie ross and headed to the goodwill a few weekends ago to see if i could find any steals for the new house and boy howdy, did i ever! two pairs of lamps for a grand total of $14.  and they are GORGEOUS.  a pair of brass lamps {for my operation tory burch living room project} and a pair of bronze-y, brown laquered lamps for the master bedroom. pics to come.

*i started the oil cleansing method last night. i'm starting out with a mix of 50/50 castor and extra virgin olive oil with a little bit of grapeseed oil mixed in.  i'm doing it every other night for the first week or so just to see how my skin reacts, but i'm very optimistic and feeling good about putting natural products on my skin.

*i am so excited for this week.  the period between thanksgiving and christmas is my absolute most favorite time of year! i will be ducking out on blogging {again} this week while i enjoy some QT with the beau and his family, but will be back next week with a post-turkey day series on things i'm thankful for and then a series of my favourite things.  i hope you all enjoy a wondeful week of celebrating and relaxing with your family and friends.  travel safe, eat lots of yummies, and be grateful for where you are in your life.

lots of love!