The Perfect Holiday Outfit

Merry Christmas Eve Eve lovebugs!

I hope you are all heading to family and friends homes today and tomorrow.  Spending time with loved ones and giving gifts from the heart.  I'm so happy to have been a part of you daily reading this holiday season and I cannot wait to continue in 2011.

Today's post is about the perfect semi-dressy outfit for __________. You know what I mean, church, Christmas dinner, holiday party, take your pick.  You want to look fabulous (obvi) but you don't want to look like a walking Christmas card either.  My advice is to stick with a few basics: cords, chunky sweaters, dresses and skirts with tights.  Use your accessories to show you Christmas spirit.

Wyatt, olive stretch jersey dress, $80

Love, love, love.  Wear with a long necklace or a skinny belt.

Ann Taylor, Flocked plaid mini, $47 with code SAVE40

I love this skirt, so much visual impact without making your hips look wide.

Halogen, Beaded sweater, $39

I love the embellishment right down to the top of the pockets. Pair this with black skinny cords.

Modcloth, Sheer with me dress, $52.99

Not too holiday, just perfect for dinner or a party with maybe a shoe like this.....

Modcloth, Deck the toes, $30

Be fabulous today.

Dos and Don'ts of the Holiday Party

Hey there!  As the best of holiday of the year approaches, I wanted to show you something that I think most certainly qualifies as the handbook of holiday parties.  This list has been circulating the web lately and I just had to share it with you!


1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls. 

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare... You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas! 

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat. 

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission. 

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello? 

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog. 

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again. 

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day? 

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards. 

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. 

Warm and Cozy

Lovebugs.  I'm sick.  It's official.  Welcome to winter.  My face feels like a water bed.  Major bummer.

While I would love to offer you an adorable intro to today's post, it's pretty much this:

This is what I really want to be wearing right now.

Nordstrom, Shimera knit pjs, $58

LL Bean, Wicked good moccasins, $49.50

Nick & Nora, footed pajamas, $23

Charter Club, Super Soft Set, $18

Forever 21, warm slipper socks, $10.80

Stay warm and healthy this week!

Be fabulous today.

Guest Post- What Will You Do Differently Next Year?

Today's guest post is from LadyxMusketeer .  We are doing a blog swap about what we will do differently next year.  She rocks, go check out her blog if you get a chance.  And look for my post over on her site later today!

 

The topic is Action: What will you do next year that you’ve been putting off for too long?  So what will I do next year that I’ve been putting off for too long? 

I will learn to love myself.

It sounds simple, to love oneself,  I’m aware but in actuality it is one of the hardest things that I think anyone could possibly do.  I know for me it’s been one helluva struggle. To be able to actually like who I am  as an individual and to like what I see in the mirror on a daily basis is difficult. I’ve always struggled with fully loving myself and this year has been no different. However, I did not actively try to love myself this year. Instead I opted to pretend to love myself whenever I was in the presence of others or to sit and feel sorry for myself.

This insecurity has followed me around for some time now. There have been times where I have tried to learn to love myself but I would then turn around and allow a single negative comment to completely throw me off track. I’m here to say, not any longer. This year will mark a new beginning for me. I am going to actively work on loving myself. Not partially. Not three quarters of the way. The whole enchilada.

I WILL love myself. I WILL change what needs to be changed in order to achieve that goal. I will buckle down and make the effort to go to the gym on a more regular basis. I will look inwards to my faith for strength and deliverance when the going gets tough. I am going to do this because 2011 is the year for change. I will be happy with who I am and be comfortable in the skin I am in, once and for all. No longer will I let one persons opinion of me completely tarnish the way I view myself. After all, it is just that, one persons opinion. I will not depend upon what others think to make me happy. I will make myself happy.

So, give me your best shot 2011, try to break me down but I will learn to finally be at peace with who I am and love myself unconditionally.

Until next time,

LadyxMusketeer