womp womp

i won't go into detail right now as i am in a complete state of shock, but the beau and i have called it quits. three days before i was supposed to go and meet his family. came out of nowhere. i'm a total wreck. i'm still here reading, but i may disappear again for a little while. everything just hurts right now.

for unto us, a child is born

i know i've been mia over the past week, and honestly, it's been a really tough couple of days for me. but more on that later.

i spent today making my annual lemon-coconut cake, wrapping a few last packages, and watching white christmas with my grandmama and her demon dog. tonight is chinese take-out {a belle family tradition}, church candlelight service, my sister and i opening our one christmas eve present, and the first of many viewings of a christmas story {thank you, tbs!}.

tomorrow will be traditional christmas morning brunch, the opening of presents, and maybe a movie, but most importantly, celebrating the reason for the season!

wishing you and yours a very merry christmas, whether you were naughty or nice!

last chance...

...to win some tom ford sunglasses for your truly {and maybe gucci ones for yourself}!

hop on over to fantabulously frugal's giveaway and be sure to tell her that i sent you. today is the last day to enter!

http://www.fantabulouslyfrugal.com/2009/11/you-deserve-best-giveaway.html

sunday afternoon silliness

oh yeah.

my darling blogger friend, annabel manners, has already posted about the ridiculousness that is mtv's jersey shore. guidos and spray tans and eyeliner, oh my!

so when one of my IRL friends sent me this the other day, i knew i had to share it will y'all. i give you the jersey shore name generator. i'm "the hot spot". the beau is "the deltoid". oh yeah.

i'm spending this cold rainy afternoon making homemade cheese straws to give out as gifts at the office and jersey shoring all of my friends. stay warm!

zomgeez....so good!

ummm so life of a suburban princess posted about these a few weeks ago and i have been on the hunt for them ever since. of course in small town, virginia, they can only be found in a large canister {not the little 100-calorie packs} at kroger for like 8 bucks. and i need the 100-calorie packs. or else i will eat the whole canister.

so i was in target tonight looking for christmas cards {found! but that's another post...} and what did i spy? but a box of the 100-calorie pack cocoa dusted almonds on sale for $2 a box. and they. are. AWESOME! sooooo delicious. really, go out and buy them now! they are going to be a must-have staple in my purse.

christmas meme

this has been floating around, and i thought it would be a fun way to kill time this friday afternoon. i would love to see all of your answers! have a wonderful weekend, m'dears!

Q: What is your favorite Christmas movie?
A: home alone and home alone 2. a christmas story.

Q: What is your least favorite Christmas movie?
A: babes in toyland.

Q: What Christmas song(s) drives you crazy?
A: christmas shoes {blech}

Q: What is your favorite Christmas song(s)?
A: dominick the donkey (the italian christmas song) {totally annoying, completely addictive.}

Q: What is your favorite Christmas drink?
A: double tall one pump peppermint one pump white chocolate nonfat no whip extra hot peppermint white chocolate mocha. ahem.

Q: What is your favorite Christmas memory?
A: not really one in particular, but i ache for those christmases with my granddaddy and my aunt. those were such happy times and it’s just not the same without them.

Q: What is the best toy/gift you've received on Christmas?
A: my samantha american girl doll. i will never forget that christmas morning as long as i live. i wrote santa a letter every day that year and when i saw the top of her head peeking out over the chair where santa always left our gifts, i thought i had died and gone to heaven!

Q: What is the worst toy/gift you've received on Christmas?
A: a pink new york yankees beanie from my grandmama. i’m a red sox fan.

Q: What do you LOVE about the holidays?
A: oh gosh, what DON’T i love? i loooooooove shopping for presents for my loved ones. finding the perfect christmas cards and wrapping paper. making buckeyes and cheese straws with my mom and sister. christmas morning bloody marys. time spent with family. tacky christmas sweaters. and then the ultimate favorite: DECORATIONS!

Q: What annoys you about the holidays?
A: the commercialism. wal*mart, you do not have the market on Christmas! also, that they start playing christmas music after halloween now. wtf?!

Q: Do you prefer a star or an angel on top of a Christmas tree? Or something else?
A: a bow.

Q: What is your favorite family recipe at Christmas?
A: garlic-stuffed pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes and mushroom-sour cream gravy! my mom and i make it for christmas day dinner every year. and my mom’s homemade cream cheese braids for christmas morning.

Q: Are you a Grinch or a Who at Christmas?
A: a who. a hoo, to be more specific.

Q: Christmas light displays - Love them or hate them?
A: i loathe colored lights. and those icicle lights are a little tired. but i love looking at them on other people’s houses. is that weird?

Q: Santas at the mall - fun times or creepy?
A: creepy. except for the macy’s thanksgiving day parade santa. he’s the real deal.

Q: Christmas cards...do you send them?
A: always. although i STILL haven’t found ones for this year. might be new year’s cards this time around…

Q: What is the best thing about Christmas in your opinion?
A: christmas trees. i am 24 years old and they are still magical.

Q: What is the worst thing about Christmas?
A: when it's over!

Q; When do you put the tree up and take it down?
A: up the saturday after thanksgiving. down whenever i get around to it.

Q: Out of the 12 Days of Christmas, which item would you want your truelove to give to you?
A: anything but the swans. swans are mean, spiteful creatures. i was attacked by one once, so i know.

Q: Why do you think grandma got run over by a reindeer?
A: she sampled too much of the punch.

Q: Who is your favorite reindeer?
A: prancer. he was just fabulous in that movie.

Q: Do you believe in Santa Claus?
A: obvs. who do they think leaves the presents under the tree?!

Q; What is your favorite smell at Christmastime?
A: fresh-cut christmas trees

Q: What would make you happy at Christmas this year?
A: knowing that everyone i love is happy and healthy. and a chanel 2.55

i love lonny!!

hi lovelies! if there is one thing i'm obsessed with {other than shoes}, it's interior design. love, love, love it! if you're not already following the blogs of erin gates, tobi fairley, eddie ross, heather clawson and ronda carman {they are my daily dose of inspiration for all things fabulous!}, then you really should.

i know most of us were super devastated when that darling of shelter mags, domino, went out of publication last year {r.i.p.} but michelle adams and patrick cline, two of the geniuses behind the dearly departed, launched a groundbreaking online shelter mag this fall called lonny {combination of their respective homes, london and new york}.

it. is. FABULOUS! although i would still love to have this in glossy, real-life form to cuddle up with under a blanket, what they are doing is truly wonderful. they're also major supporters of the blogworld. woot woot. please click on over and try not to spend the next hour drooling over the gorgeous pictures and wonderful articles {the articles on the new j.crew and kate spade stores are to die for}.

you'll thank me, i promise.