TINY BITS OF TRUTH.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

As Christmas day comes to a close, I wanted to wish y'all a Merry Christmas!  As many of ya'll can attest to, the holiday season sweeps in like a cold front (similar to that seen in Texas today!) and is gone before we have time to sit back, relax, and savor the moment.  Year after year, I awake on December 26th to a more somber realization that life picks up right where everyone left off before Thanksgiving and without even so much as a brief pause to stop, take a breath and regroup from the hustle & bustle of the holidays.  Thankfully, for me, my birthday happens to be on the 29th, and as someone who believes wholeheartedly in starting each and every day like it's my birthday, I jump at the opportunity to  celebrate the month of December, every single one of the 31 days calls for a celebration.  So this got me to thinking recently, and the truth is, I've always wondered why we wait till December, the final month of the year, to spend time with loved ones, gather together for dinner and holiday parties, tell those who are near and dear to us how much they mean to us, and spread goodwill & cheer to strangers and friends alike?  My hope for you, my readers, is that as we come to the end of the 2012 holiday season you find a way to carry on the holiday spirit year round, spreading love & cheer throughout the 2013 year! 

I also wanted to share this thought provoking and inspiring Op-Ed article in the New York Times today, and I would definitely take a few minutes to read it if you have some free time or are traveling over the next few days!

TINY BITS OF TRUTH.

HOLIDAY COCKTAILS.

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Hope ya'll had a wonderful weekend and start to this fabulous week, which just so happens to be the week before Christmas.  If ya'll are in a crunch and need the perfect holiday cocktail for your next soiree these two are sure to be a hit! Do ya'll have any other delicious holiday cocktail recipes? Would love to try those out too, so make sure to share in the comments below! 

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: FOR THE FOODIE

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While I admit I am certainly not an expert when it comes to the kitchen, I did come across some pretty awesome finds in the past month or two that I just had to share with ya'll in case you were on the lookout for the perfect foodie on your list.  If ya'll haven't tried Mast Brothers Chocolate, it is like a party in your mouth, yes, that good, and highly recommend it.  My personal favorite is the Sea Salt, but I know all of the chocolate bars are phenomenal! Happy gifting!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: FOR THE HOME

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Only 13 days until Christmas, that means it's officially time to freak out & scream!  Of course only joking about the freak out & scream, because if you're like many (including myself), you are just getting started on that Christmas gift list.  Thankfully, there is still plenty of time to get some fabulous things for those on your list!  I have two final Gift Guides for 2012 that I'll be posting later this week and then you're on your own! Happy Gifting!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOO RADLEY!

Excuse me for a minute while I unleash my inner dog lady, but I couldn't let this day pass without wishing the cutest Bichon Frise in town (of course I'm a little biased!), Boo Radley, a very happy birthday.  Whew, and what a year it has been with her.  Those of ya'll who know me are very well aware of the many health problems Boo Radley has had from day one.  I mean what puppy has to have open heart surgery at eight months?  I can promise you, not many.  Looking back on her heart surgery seems like a walk in the park compared to her past year here in NYC with me.  I'll spare ya'll the details of her health woes the last 12 months, and just say Boo Radley truly is a little miracle dog with more life and personality than I could possibly have imagined.  I often say & truly believe that dogs teach you, for the first time in your life, to think about the well being of someone other than yourself, and that has been such an important lesson for me personally to learn.  Fellow dog owners, wouldn't ya'll agree? Hope ya'll are having a wonderful Tuesday!

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS...

YOU. Or this version of Mariah Carey's holiday classic "All I Want For Christmas Is You" on repeat. forever.  If that does not put you in the holiday spirit, I don't know what will, wouldn't ya'll agree? Absolutely one of my favorite songs. ever. Hope ya'll are having a fabulous start to the week! 

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: STOCKING STUFFERS

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Just in time for the weekend, because I know some of ya'll will be out & about doing some holiday shopping, I've got the perfect stocking stuffer ideas for anyone on your list!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: GEEK CHIC

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A few of my of the moment favorites for the gadget guru on your list this year.  Do any of ya'll remember the original Polaroid cameras (ok, not dating myself here ya'll, it wasn't too long ago!), but seriously I loved my original Polaroid and can not wait to try out this new and improved 2012 version.  Do any of ya'll have the Polaroid Instant Digital Camera? If so, would love to know what you think of it! Another fabulous find is this Switch Hooks storage plate.  For those of us who live in tiny places, every little inch of space counts,  and it would be perfect for the switch plate by my front door. Any other favorite geek chic must-haves I missed? Be sure to let me know in the comments below and have a fabulous Friday!

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: FOR HER

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Can ya'll believe Christmas is less than three weeks away? This time of year just flies right by doesn't it? So while some of these items on my ladies list might not be for all of ya'll, they are certainly items I'd enjoy. Happy Wednesday!

HELLO, DECEMBER.

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And the countdown is on... the final and *my personal favorite month of the year* is upon us-hello fabulous month of December, I know you'll be good to me & all of ya'll too! The final month of the year never fails to bring the very best to each and every one of its' 31 days.  It certainly doesn't want to close out the year on a bad note, and I completely agree with that philosophy. I hope your Monday and first few days of December are off to a fabulous start! 

TINY BITS OF TRUTH.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: PAPER

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Another round-up of all things fabulous for the paper lover on your holiday gift list.  I am loving the 2013 Paper Fashion calendar, definitely take a look at the rest of the prints over on  Paper Fashion because they are all fabulous! I also love the fill-in-the blank card to send to someone as a sweet reminder that they rock at something, and who doesn't love getting snail mail?  Do ya'll have any other paper favorites you've got on your list this year? Have a fabulous Thursday!

INSPIRING ME THIS WEEK.

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Hope ya'll are having a good start to the week! A few things I've come across that are inspiring me this week. And that quote, I'm certainly guilty of standing in my own way more often that I'd like to admit, and think I'm going to put this up on my bathroom mirror for the week to hopefully serve as a daily reminder.  I tape quotes to my full length, bedroom, bathroom, and hallway mirrors, not to mention on the refrigerator and even framed in the living room (ok, so maybe I go overboard with the quotes, but they really can be motivators!).   Do ya'll have any quotes or favorite words of wisdom you tape somewhere you'll be certain to see on a daily basis for inspiration?  If so, I would love for you to share them with me, because (just in case you couldn't tell), I absolutely love the power of words and quotations. 

HOLIDAY SPIRIT.

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This is by far my very favorite time of year! With Thanksgiving feasts behind us, that only means one thing, it's officially the holiday season.  Time for holiday parties, festive drinks, decor, christmas trees, holiday music and more. There truly is no better time in NYC than during the holidays, and I'm so excited to enjoy the lights, decorated store windows, and take in all that this fabulous city has to offer to put me in the holiday spirit over the next few weeks!  Just a few of my favorites for this holiday season.  I am absolutely loving these cute Mr. & Mrs. Holiday Cocktail Glasses and these Cheers! coasters would be perfect for your holiday soiree. Another favorite is the cute Jingle Bells pillow, think it would bring the perfect amount of holiday cheer to my sofa, wouldn't you agree?  Would love to hear if ya'll have any other holiday must-haves you've come across!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: FOR THE GUY IN YOUR LIFE

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Hope ya'll are enjoying a relaxing and fabulous Sunday after the Thanksgiving holiday! Tomorrow happens to be Cyber Monday which all but guarantees to be a great holiday shopping day online if you are in need of a few holiday gifts, these are a few of my favorites for the guy in your life.  I hope to get up a few other holiday gift guides in the coming days, so make sure to check back for those this week! Happy Sunday & enjoy the last bit of your weekend!

TINY BITS OF TRUTH.

ADVENTURES IN COOKING.

Now that is a fabulous mindset to have, isn't it? Hope ya'll had a fabulous weekend & Monday yesterday to kick off Thanksgiving week. This weekend, I made the most AH-MAZING Grilled Cheese Sandwich and if you're anything like me (and consider yourself a cheese-ologist) then this recipe will be sure to light your tastebuds (or your oven quite literally) on fire.  I'm not what you would call a seasoned chef, heck, I'll be honest, I'm not even a decent cook unless you are referring to picking up the phone and ordering delivery (sorry, mom, it is true).  Now baking, I can do, but a real meal, not gonna happen without something going terribly wrong. 

Craving a delicious grilled cheese, I thoughts surely this recipe would be no problemo to whip up for a quick meal.  AND to spice things up (or in the words of Emeril, kick it up a notch) I decided to go rogue and add bacon (the oven-baked, crispy, delicious kind).  After pre-heating the oven, I put the bacon in, set the timer, and began to work on the red onions.  About 10 minutes later, Boo Radley began frantically sniffing and pacing in the oven/kitchen  area-to be honest, I'd go ahead and call it the living room/bedroom/hallway area as well.  I really didn't think anything of it until the smoke alarm started blaring over & over getting loud with each repetition.  Well, I opened the oven to check things out, & found in the bottom, underneath the sizzling bacon, what used to be one of Boo Radley's squeaky tennis balls, now engulfed in flames.  If you're wondering how one of her toys ended up in the oven, your guess is probably better than mine because I have no clue.  In an attempt to shut the smoke alarm off, I decided to wave a towel in front of it and in doing so, knocked off the hallway sconce which shattered into a million pieces throughout the front hallway and bathroom.  DISASTER.  Moral of the story, always check your oven before turning it on, you never know what you might have hidden inside.  Would love to know what you think of the grilled cheese... guarantee it will not disappoint...and highly recommend adding bacon.

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TINY BITS OF TRUTH...

WINTER LOVELIES.

Happy Thursday, and day before the weekend, ya'll!  I had to share with ya'll a few things inspiring me this week.  With the cool temperatures and countdown to Thanksgiving (which honestly, I could skip right over and celebrate December for two months if I had it my way!), it has me more excited than ever for my VERY. FAVORITE. MONTH. EVER. This is not an understatement, with all of the most fabulous things happening in December: Boo Radley's birthday, MY birthday, Christmas, New Year's & the holiday spirit in general.. what's not to love about the most fabulous month all year long?  Wouldn't you agree? Working on several fabulous gift guides, and not to mention a VERY exciting blog design update, with a new logo and all, can't wait to share these with you in the coming weeks! 

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HURRICANES & HALLOWEEN & HOW YOU CAN HELP.

HELLO AGAIN, WORLD. Wow. While there really are no words to describe what the past few days here in NYC have been like for those of us in the midst of Hurricane Sandy, to say that I am immensely grateful and lucky is quite an understatement.  If you turn the corner one block, 25th Street and essentially the rest of downtown NYC, remain in the dark, without power for the 3rd day today. Miraculously, my street was the cutoff point with those to the south losing power, and I've never appreciated electricity more than the past three days.  As someone who has seen and lived without electricity in Ghana, a third world country where clean drinking water was not an option much less electricity in the area of the country I visited, I've never imagined life without this luxury in the United States. It has served as an enormous reminder of how dependent we are, all of us, on electricity to function in everyday life.  Yes that might seem an obvious observation, but honestly it is frightening to think about how much Americans depend on electricity to function in everyday life.  And furthermore, the stark realization that Mother Nature, can and has proven she will, at any given moment, strip us of these essentials, and we must find a way to continue life as normal as possible.  It is impossible to ignore the fact that these natural disasters that used to be so rare and monumental have now become a common occurrence and we have to to address these harsh conditions, rather than ignore them.  Also, please remember if you would like to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy, you can donate to the Red Cross.

Love this video which seems to be the best so far that I've seen showing the true impact of Sandy on Manhattan and the moment the lights went out in the Big Apple, pretty incredible when you stop to think about it...

      

A litte Halloween inspiration.... Do ya'll have a fabulous costume in store for Halloween? Any fun plans? Would love to vicariously live through your fun plans as due to quite the chaotic week here in NYC, I'm going to make it a low key night. 

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{Side note: Had this ready to post yesterday on Halloween, and due to a glitch in my internet  wasn't able to post it, so better late than never, right? Hope ya'll had a very Happy Halloween!}

NEIMAN MARCUS + TARGET HOLIDAY PREVIEW

The {fabulous} Neiman Marcus + Target preview has arrived!  Target partnered with Neiman Marcus and 24 CFDA Designers this year on a 50-piece limited-edition holiday collection officially launching in both Target and Neiman Marcus on December 1st.  Thankfully, images from all 50 pieces in the collection have been released and I had to share with ya'll a few of my favorites.  Prices for the designer collaboration start at $8 and go up to $500, but thankfully most items are under $60, meaning you won't break the bank!  The collection has quite an impressive designer line-up including Judith Leiber, Marchesa, Tracy Reese, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Alice + Olivia, Carolina Herrera, Diane von Furstenberg and more... making it the ultimate in designer collaborations for the 2012, in my opinion of course! Check out the images below and find the entire 50 piece collection here.  What do ya'll think? Isn't it fabulous? 

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