December Cheer

I have a confession to make: I don't like December. Something to do with the combination of cold weather, snow, icy roads, presentations, final exams, and the holidays are enough to make me want to go into full-on hibernation mode. Which might explain why I haven't made an appearance here on the blog in three weeks. As I get ready to pack my bags and head to IL for the holidays, I have been trying to focus on things that are making me happy. So, I thought I'd take what I've been enjoying this week and share it with all of you. Hopefully this will bring a little joy your way if, like me, you are having a dreary December.

I love sheep. I can't explain it, but they are adorable and they make me ridiculously happy. I had a sheep pillow when I was little that I refused to get rid of. I lovingly referred to it as my "plillow sheep". That's right, I couldn't say "pillow" when I was little.

I can't stand Christmas music. I won't listen to it more than 24 hours before Christmas. I talk on the phone when I go to the store this time of year so that I don't have to listen to it. The list of Christmas music that I can tolerate is really short. The list of songs that I enjoy is even shorter. It includes N*SYNC, 98 Degrees, and Mariah Carey (Apparently I'm stuck in the 90's). And this song. I hesitantly clicked play when it showed up in my Google reader queue the other day, but surprisingly, I really like it!

Please note the 40+ temps and the lack of snow. I just checked the forecast for Christmas at my Mom's and it is showing a sunny, snowless, 40 degree day. I know everyone in the Midwest is hoping for a white Christmas, but I couldn't be happier about the lack of snow that is predicted for the rest of 2011. And, the fact that I haven't needed more than a sweater when I went outside the past two days is enough to make me forget that I don't like December.

What's making you happy right now?

xoxo

Tights on Thanksgiving

Coat: Fog by London Fog, Dress: Ross,

Tights: Target, Shoes: Missoni for Target,

Bracelet: Max & Chloe, Bag: NY & Co.

This was my Thanksgiving outfit. Word to the wise: don't wear tights on Thanksgiving. They are constricting and don't allow for the all you can eat marathon that is Thanksgiving. But, if you're on a diet or don't want to eat more than you would at a normal meal, then by all means, wear the most constricting tights you own. I would give anything to have this weather back. It may have been freezing that day and too sunny to take decent pictures, but at least it wasn't icy and snowing.

 The past 24 hours here have been a little hectic. If you follow me on twitter, you may have seen where I mentioned that I had a crazy, super dangerous drive home from campus last night, then my power went out as soon as I got home. Well, the power finally came back on at about 3:00 this afternoon.  But, before that, the alarm system here apparently had a low battery and started screeching bright and early this morning. And, I couldn't get it to stop. There was lots of confusion and a bit of anger involved. And I might have been thisclose to smashing it with a rubber mallet. But, after about an hour, the house was finally silent again. Or maybe I just went deaf from the ear piercing noise. Either way, the snow and ice are melting, the power is back on, and the alarm is in pieces on my counter. All in all, I'd say it's been a pretty eventful day.

Hope you're day was a little calmer and a lot warmer than mine was!

xoxo

Black Friday Recap

Happy Saturday Loves!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are having an amazing weekend so far!

I went shopping on Black Friday, which is something I've never done before and really never had an interest in doing. But, I had an assignment for a marketing class that required it. So, I convinced my superfantastic momma to get up ridiculously early with me and head to the mall. All the stores (with the exception of the department stores) were supposed to open at 5:00 AM. So, we arrived at 4:15 ready to stand in long lines. Turns out, the mall had emailed all the stores and told them they could open whenever they wanted as long as they were open by five. So, long story short, we missed about 90% of the openings and 100% of the crazy shoppers that I needed pictures of for my assignment. 

I was kind of pissed that the mall told me that the stores would be opening their doors at 5:00, but this did not stop me from spending way too much. Mostly at Loft, who actually did open at 5:00.

So, it is officially the third day of the holiday season and I have already spent way too much money. Here's a little round up of my Black Friday purchases:

Loft: (Everything 50% off)

Scoopneck Pullover Sweater

Animal Print Henley Blouse

Stripe Button Down Back Sweater

Side Zip Hem Dolman Sleeve Sweater

Striped Long Sleeve Scoopneck Tee

Talbots: (Everything 30% off)

Sparkle Stripe Sweater

J. Crew: (25% off purchase of $150+)

City Mini

I also got the most comfortable crew neck sweatshirt 

ever, but I couldn't find it online anywhere.

Ulta:

Laura Geller Spackle Primer

(In Bronze)

Ulta Polish

(In Concrete Evidence and Taupe on a Rope)

Essie Polish

(In Too Too Hot)

Essie Super Duper Top Coat

Lake Forest Bootery: (Buy 1, get 30% off 2nd item)

(Links to Zappos)

Big Buddha Casi

Minnetonka Side Zip Boot

Yankee Candle: (Buy 2, get 1 free)

White Chocolate Mint

Do any of you go Black Friday shopping every year? 

If you went this year, did you find any great deals?

I'd love to hear your Black Friday tips/stories in case I go again in the future.

xoxo

Cherry White Chocolate Chip Applesauce Cookies

Good Morning Loves!

Hope you've all been well during my not-so-brief blogging absence! I've been getting dressed on a daily basis, promise. But, I haven't gotten home before dark a single time in the past two weeks. Don't believe me? On Monday I left for campus at 1:00 PM and got home from campus at 1:45 AM Tuesday morning. Fun Stuff, let me tell you. So, outfit pictures haven't really been my priority this week, having a constant supply of coffee has been though. And, now that I'm feeling a little bit more awake than the comatose state I've been in all week, I decided I should post something on this little blog of mine. But, then I realized I didn't have any unposted outfit pictures that I liked all that much. So, you're getting a delicious and healthy (until I added chocolate chips) cookie recipe instead. I hope you'll forgive me.

Cherry White Chocolate Chip Applesauce Cookies

Ingredients:

3 Ripe Bananas

2 Cups Rolled Oats

1/3 Cup Applesauce (I used the no-sugar added kind)

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1 Tbsp. Ground Flax 

1/2 Cup Dried Cherries

1/2 Cup(ish) White Chocolate Chips

Cinnamon (I didn't measure it. I just threw some in the mixer)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Using a fork, mash the bananas in a bowl.
3. Stir in the remaining ingredients.
4. Mix well.
5. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto a lined baking sheet.
6. Bake for 20 minutes.

Now, keep in mind that these aren't "Oh My Goodness! My friends are going to be amazed by how good these are" cookies. They are designed to be healthy. Now, with that in mind, they are really good for a healthy cookie. Especially since they have no added sugar/flour/eggs/butter. And they are great for when you are on a diet but you're craving something dessert-like that isn't going to wreck the progress you've made.

Let me know if you make them, or if you've ever made an applesauce cookie before!

xoxo