Dainty Desserts

This ice cream scoop and stack is very clever and perfect for making delectable desserts with discs of ice cream that look gorgeous. They would also make it sooper dooper easy to freeze ice cream ahead of time for a dinner party. Plus, they come in fun colors.

Confessions of a Weekly Hair Washer

My stylist once told me this: "Long hair is big and gorgeous and sexy. Short hair is sassy and stylish and fashion forward." After that I chopped all my hair off. Like a ton of it. I went from hair grazing my bum to hair barely covering my ears. Woah. I felt naked.

That was 3ish months ago. Since then, I've changed. In my long-haired life I washed my hair once a week (if that). The shower cap was my best friend. Now, I wash every other day and (gasp!) sometimes daily.

I never knew/remembered how washing my hair frequently could feel so good. I'd forgotten what consistently clean hair feels like. Yes, in my former life I was that gross (though I cross my heart and hope to die, you'd never know it). Sometimes my husband would finally say to me "You're not getting in this bed tonight unless your hair is clean." Ugh.

I feel like a changed woman. Semi-daily hair washing has changed my life. Indeed, I feel sassier, stylisher, and fashion forwarder. But I also feel cleaner. Funny how that happens.

Macarons were Sophia Coppola's inspiration for the color palette in Marie Antoinette.

So pretty. So petite. So perfect. Lalalalove it.

To House Or Not To House? That Is The Question.

We're still looking for some permanent digs here in our new locale. It's been a struggle to find something we both like/agree on. Five months and a few hundred home tours later, we're finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

We've come to the decision that it is quite likely we do not want a house. We are condo dwellers. It was a hard fought battle. Here's how it all played out:

Me: I don't do boy jobs, i.e. mow, snowblow, rake, take garbage out, shovel, and the like.

G: I don't really do them either.

Condo:1 point.

House: 0 points.

Me: Why do said jobs when I can pay a reasonable monthly fee for someone else to do them?

G: I've built a financial model that shows the benefit of the fee as it offsets the cost of purchasing equipment to do said laborious jobs.

Me: Life is too short to snowblow.

Condo: 2 big ones

House: nada.

Me: Trash shoot.

G: 'Nuff said.

Condo: 3 ways to melt my heart

House: starting to look unappealing.

Me: I want a pool!!!

G: I want a hot tub, heated garage, gym, and clubhouse.

Condo: 4 dancing panda bears tossing rose petals for excess

House: nearing extinction.

Me: It's no NYC pad with a sweet view and wacko neighbors, but it'll do.

G: Synthetic city living. I like the idea.

Condo: 5 "you had me at HOA's"

House: 6 feet under.

Enchanting

Peachy, puffy, poofy, and perfectly over the top. What's not to like?

Plus, it's filmed in my old 'hood. Woot! Woot!

Pancakes

The Animal In You. My actress friend brought this book over. She uses it to determine personalities/habits/social interaction/general make-ups of characters she is studying. We used it for a late night of fun fun fun.

Take a short quiz. Use the answers to determine who the animal(s) in you are. The key to getting a (relatively) accurate result is to be totally honest with your answers. Don't be hard on yourself. And think of yourself in the most genuine terms. I turned out to be a cottontail/otter/sea lion. I reminded myself of The O.C. (my favorite TV show, may it RIP).

Cottontail: Summer had a pet bunny rabbit named Pancakes.

Otter: Seth Cohens spiritual animal was the otter.

Sea Lion: Signature animal of SoCal.

The bad news is my beloved turned out to be part wolf. Whimper whimper whimper said the cottontail.

Take the quiz here. Strange, as I used the same answers but got different results online. But still, which animal(s) are you?

The Song for the 3 a.m. Sled

Sheesh! I've been gone for a long time. Or so it seems to me. I didn't mean to do it. Its just that I was having too much fun...dashing thru the snow, on my no horse open sled. Down the hill we'd go, laughing all the waaay. Don't even have to walk, 'cuz 'mobiles give us rides, what fun it was to ride and laugh and sled all thru the night. Oh, sleddings great! Sleddings fun! Sledding all the way! Oh what fun it is to ride on my no horse open sleigh!

I just lalalalove it when I break into song.

And yes, in our family, we take sledding seriously. I've got the bruised tailbone, fat lip, and hoarse voice to prove it.

Survey Says

So EFFING good.

Had Red Mango for the first time tonight.

I may have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner tomorrow.

And every other day of my life.

I've had more than my fair share of the new wave fro yos.

Red Mango takes the cake.

30 Ideas For December: Put Christ In Christmas

During the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, find time to tune your heart. And your mind. Read the Christmas story in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Center yourself.

It's been a difficult Christmas this year. My fizz has fazzled. Other things seem far more important at the moment than Christmas. But when I take a step back and remember the true reason for celebration, my heart swells. I have renewed hope. I'm so so grateful for the birth of Christ. For all he did for us. No matter how buzz-buzz-busy you get this holiday season, don't forget to put some Christ into your Christmas.

30 Ideas For December: Kick Back and Relax

The shopping is done. The presents are wrapped. Grab some Chinese take out, kick your dogs up, and watch the greatest Christmas movie of all time. With some one-liners that'll knock your socks off. Plus, it's got that gorgeous leg lamp.

30 Ideas For December: Stay Sweet

Oh the weather outside is frightful,

Stay inside---make minty 'mallows!

The recipe is simple and easy, so

let it snow let it snow let it snow!

Sister and I made these and ate a whole whole whole bunch. Then we put some in our cocoa and drank them in all their ooegy gooey glory. Mmmmmm. Yummy to my tummy.

For recipe and more on these delicious mallows get thee over to Your Heart Out.

30 Ideas For December: Bundle Up & Stay Warm

With snowstorms in the forecast, there's no excuse for staying inside. Get out and enjoy the winter wonderland. Sledding. Snowmobiling. Skating. Skiing. Snowshoeing. Snowman building. Head for the hills (or your local school yard) and take advantage of a white Christmas season.

Plitter Please

If wishes were kisses...

All I really want for Christmas is a ray or two of warm Arizona sunshine.

Both literally and figuratively.

30 Ideas For December: Lend A Hand

Think of others. Think a little more. Then do something. Lend a hand. Buy a gift. Donate. Spare some change for your local bellringer. Help out. Be someones Santa. Let them know you care. Sorry for the cheesepuff photo, but it expresses things so well. In serving others, we often find ourselves.

30 Ideas For December: Don't Lose Hope

Right now my Christmas spirit is dwindling. Especially since recent events have threatened to snow on my collective Christmas parade. So suddenly Christmas doesn't seem like the most important thing anymore. But I'm determined to get through Christmas with cheer in my heart and a smile on my face. And so should you.

If you don't feel like Christmas, you can at least make it smell like Christmas. Which will make it seem like Christmas. And you'll (er...I) will be back in the swing of things in no time flat. Warm and delightful smelling things are a surefire way to warm the heart and the home. Tiffany's Wondiferous Smelly Stuff could be just the cure for what ails you (er...me). It is simple and spice-like and sure to bring the sensation of Christmas bursting into your home. And smack anyone else who enters it in the face with a powerful dose of Christmas cheer.

Plus, Tiffany says it makes a great neighbor gift too. Great idea, as most of us start thinking of these sorts of things right about now.

30 Ideas for December: Spice Things Up

Make a gingerbread house. If you're feeling ambitious (or lonely) make a whole flippin' neighborhood. We recently went to a gingerbread house-making party, and it was loads and loads of fun. Especially when we could use those pre-made kits that keep popping up these days (ours were from Costco). They smell good (but don't necessarily taste as good as they smell), and come with all the fixin's you could possibly imagine. Great great idea. A Holiday tradition made simple. Love it.

30 Ideas For December: Think Of Others

Head to the Sevey, buy all your friends a bevy

The cocoa station is delicious, though not necessarily nutritious

But it warms the soul, and that is the goal

Now remember there is nothing to fear

For you can easily spread some good Christmas cheer.

Stuff The Socks: Sweet Treats

In lalalalove with the packaging for these Juicy Couture boy shorts. How fun is it to get a beautiful treat in your stocking that looks tasty yet doesn't pack on the calories. Talk about guilt-free goods. I must be in heaven.

30 Ideas For December: Get Some Culture

Make a kissing ball with fresh mistletoe. Then make like the French and kiss your lover underneath it. Like you mean it. Every single day. Encourage others to do the same. Mwah! Mwah! Double Mwah!

You can always go with hanging a simple sprig of fresh mistletoe and getting your groove on that way. But I find the kissing ball to be much more charming and romantical. Plus it smells sooooo much better. Marthas how-to is here.

30 Ideas For December: Keep It Classic

For idea 8, I encourage you to watch a Christmas movie every night this weekend. Curl up with a blankie, and start with It's a Wonderful Life. Move on to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Finish things off with How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Or make it a marathon with cookies and cocoa for all!

By the way, I always find this to be a good time to write out all my Christmas cards and send them on their way. Nothing passes the time better than a classic film.

30 Ideas For December: Add Some Sparkle

Get Glitterati. The ultimate holiday candy. Idea number 7 is delicate, delicious, dazzling. Sittin' pretty in a dish on the table, don't be surprised if they're mistaken for gems and jewels.

Miss (er, Mrs.) Brown

The one, the only, uptown Katie Brown has made her way onto the pages of this months Real Simple magazine. I'd like to say a few things about this fun and fabulous friend. But I think sister does a better job of it here. Take a lookey if it tickles your fancy.

30 Ideas For December: Lighten Up

Idea number 6 is a favor you can do for yourself. Buy an Aunt Sadie's candle. The Tree-In-A-Can is TDF (to die for), though I really don't think you can go wrong with any of them. Burn it every single night for at least an hour. Your nose will thank you.

*I know they have them at Anthropologie this time of year. Usually a few local boutiques sell them too. I'll keep my eyes peeled while I'm out and about.*

Stuff the Socks: Scarves

I'm such a sucker for a lovely and inexpensive scarf. I hoard them. Scarves make good sense for gift giving because they are practical, yet whimsical and pretty to look at. Paired with gloves or a hat, they make great gifts. Better yet, on their own they are the best stocking stuffers.

All from F21.

30 Ideas For December: Make A Friend

I think Mastercard (click on the 'carrots' commercial) expresses idea number 5 best:

"Carrots, raisins, charcoal, and hot cocoa: $16"

"Having the best snowman on the block: Priceless"

There's plenty of snow out. Go big or go home.

30 Ideas For December: Shop 'Til You Drop

Ok, so I know what you're thinking right now. Idea number 4 isn't my best idea ever. Trust me, you'll thank me for it later. The best favor you can do yourself this weekend is to get ALL your shopping done. If that seems like too much, at least get the gifts done. Stocking stuffers are easier to buy in a crunch. If you're stumped for ideas, head on over to YHO, where this week (and next, I think) are gift guide week. I've used a few of their ideas already. Which brings me to my next point. I much prefer online shopping this time of year. Every other month of year I'm drawn to the stores like a moth to the flame. But I despise it during December. I'd much rather do my shopping from the comfort of my own home.

Nothing feels better than being able to (kind of) relax and enjoy the rest of the holiday season with the stress of shopping gone. So no matter which way you go, just get it done. Really, I guess the idea here is to relax after this weekend. Or stress out about all the other things you don't have done. Pick your poison.

30 Ideas For December: Love Actually

Ok, I'm giving you a head start on idea number 3. Cancel all weekend plans (or make some), and watch Love Actually. Watch it with friends, watch it with your lover, watch it with besties, watch it by yourself. All are acceptable options. This is my favorite Christmas movie. I like to call it a Christmas kick-off film, as it takes place 5 weeks before Christmas and builds up to the big day. Plus, I love airports just as much as they (the filmakers) do. When you work(ed) for an airline, you're bound to end up in them from time to time.

P.S. It's on sale at Target for $7.50. Hip hip...

30 Ideas For December: Snow Angels

Idea number 2 is a no-brainer (if you live in the Great Basin area). With 12 hours of straight snowfall (hurrah!), there's really only one sensible thing to do: cover your lawn in snow angels. Bundle up, grab your kiddos (or not, if you're like me), and make your front lawn a beautiful display of snow angels. Sometimes it feels so good to just lie there in the snow, letting the snowflakes tickle your tongue.

Then run inside, grab a cup of 'cho and admire your artwork from the front window.

Reason #22 I Miss Manhattan: Cucch

In Manhattan, we have a friend named Cucch. That's not his real name, just what everyone calls him. He's a big-talking, wise-cracking, hard-working Italian from Boston with a thick accent. And one of our dear friends. He always has a good story to tell, and his most recent email was no exception.

He sent a recent news article about his uncle, The Cheeseman, who owns a cheese shop, and is also the supposed mob boss of Boston. People who know people like this are priceless. Not something you see everyday. Unless you live in New York City. Where things like this are pretty normal. Virtually everyone is a transplant from somewhere, which makes for great storytelling. Love that about the city. Take a few million people from all over, pile them on top of each other on a tiny island, shake it all up, and you'll end up with some of the most amazing life stories you've ever heard.

I Want Candy

I know everyone has seen this like 1,000 times. If you haven't, shame on you! But all I want for Christmas is one day just like this. Creampuffs, 'oohs and ahhhs', flowing champagne, billows of beautiful fabric, a rainbow of fruit-flavored shoes, card games, a tailor to cater to my every clothing need, dogs with diamond necklaces frolicking about, besties who giggle, and a hairdresser who makes housecalls and tells me I'm 'ravishing'. Pretty please.