From our house to yours, Happy New Year!

Halliday Highlights

My cousin Becky did such an incredible job hosting Christmas Eve this year -- and with a 3 week old baby in hand, we were all so impressed and thrilled to be able to spend time with the little man! Was really wonderful to see all of my family and to enjoy the excitement of Christmas vicariously through all the kids...

they truly are the reason for the season :) 

HOME FOR THE HALL-IDAYS!

It's SO great to be home :) 

Upon pulling into the driveway with my mom, 

conversation went as such:

Me:
Hi Dad! Hey, do you need some Tums?

My Dad: 
No, why? 

Me: 

Ummm, because it kinda looks like
you puked Christmas all over the house...

Clark Griswold re-incarnate: 

I think it looks nice!

***

Bring on the figgy pudding ;)

EATALY

Although I haven't written and/or sent any of my Holiday cards, I'd be remiss to forget to post about my newfound love for Eataly. 

I now know why the lines have been around the corner since it's opening in September -- this 54,000 sq ft brainchild 
is truly not to be missed! 

A bookstore, a cooking school, a food emporium of awesomeness, 

seven restaurants and mozzarella made on the premises...
How could you NOT love this massive gem?! 

We ate dinner at the pizza and pasta section and
as I was having a serious moment with the caprese salad, 

one of my besties told me she was expecting and I nearly
cried from the overload of greatness happening all at once!!

Cheers to Oscar Farinetti, Mario Batali, 
Lidia Bastianich and Joseph Bastianich...

You complete me :) 

Brilliant

Last night I asked my 93 year old Grandma if she knows who Mark Zuckerberg is and she confidently replied...
"Yes, he's that 'wiki-woka' guy. The one who started that big insurance company." She then proceed to tell me that she "bets he makes a whole lotta 'do-re-mi'" but she "hadn't read the article yet."

It was such a priceless moment I could hardly laugh.
I just love that woman!

My Favorite Things (December Edition)

Treat

Invention

Ok, I know I shouldn't make jokes about rosacea
(aka: hot face when I drink the vino roso)
because I know many many people suffer true problems from this condition. But if the invention of this little gem means I can drink red wine again without looking like a lobster, then consider me 

off to the liquor store!

Oh, montepulciano how I've missed you so!

(sigh)

Accessories

Two toned tights and 

Fleece boot liners...

Who could ask for anything more?!

Book

Good god this man makes me LAUGH!

Gift

Cheese/serving tray that looks like an artist palate! 

LOVE

Gizmo

Seriously, this thing works wonders :)

Wavy hair in 20 minutes!
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Gadget

Stay tuned for a web series I'm hoping to post in January
featuring my Grandma Stella! 

When do I go so South?! And WHHYY?!

It was such a nice day in Washington...

Got to spend time with this little man

picking out a Christmas tree in Maple Valley :)

Got ready with Em & Greg, they prepped the babysitter, 

and we were off to Bellevue for the PL Holiday party!

Danielle planned such a great event

and it was so nice to see all the Nuts!

The drinks were flowing, 

dinner was super yummy, 

and then (for reasons still unknown)  

I came out as a frog

and sh*t got bananas...

Why the manager of this fine restaurant never came in to ask us to stop dancing on the table is beyond my wildest comprehension.
And why the next bar ever even let me in is an 8th wonder...
But holy hot damn, was it fun to go out with a bang and say goodbye to my co-workers who have become more like 
a family of friends :)

Many CHEERS to the past three years!

Color Me Katie

This blog is too incredible not to pass along!

Thank you, Sadia for sending to me :)

The Final Horaah...

Today's trip to Seattle is a bittersweet milestone --

one last adventure West, marking 3 years of awesomeness.

I'm so excited to see the team 

to toast an official farewell to

and raise a glass to our future as

Lots to look forward to in 2011 :)

Best Present EVER!!

Last night we had our girls Secret Santa party 

(Thank you Abs & Sar for hosting!)

and I scored quite possibly 

the best present on the planet...

(THANK YOU, KATELYN!)

I love my frog onesie so much,
I not only slept in it last night, 

but also wore it to work today :)

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December: 1 Me: 0

I don't know how people with kids do it. Seriously.

I'm just a party of 1 and am positively certain 

that if I didn't have a neck, I'd lose my head.

For the past two weeks I've literally had a fun-ction 

to attend every single night which means two things: 

I'm on minimal sleep auto-pilot mode and

I'm down to bikini bottoms 

(definitely sporting Speedo briefs right now)
because I haven't had a chance to pick up my laundry.

One day I'm gonna get my act together and'll laugh at the highly functioning idiot that is currently me. Until then,
thank you, neck!

(BIG) CHILLS

I not so secretly wish I'd been one of those 113,000!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

Sorry to go MIA -- trying to keep up with life at the moment
and haven't had a chance to tend to the blozzoggle :(

This past week's been filled with "firsts"...

1st time I've ever:

 Performed at Upright Citizens Brigade :)

Used a fire extinguisher (thrilling!)

 Went to a company holiday party in NYC

Visited Doylestown, Pennsylvania for work

and purchased a live Christmas tree off the street

AWESOME

Tonight I'm psyched to go to The Little Owl 

and continue this fun path of newness :)

Hope you're staying warm wherever you are 

and have a WONDERFUL weekend!

Not so much a "need" to have...

but I wanted 'em

 

so I splurged ;) 

Best $5 Ever Spent

Last night we went to see 30 Rocks'

Scott Adsit & John Lutz do an improv set at UCB

and holy hot damn are they funny :) 

I think it's so cool that these guys still take the time to teach and perform on the side. Makes me love that show even more than I already do!

Dear Mel... Who are ya?!?

Confession: 

I get more excited than one probably should, 
upon receiving real mail :)

So you'll have to try and understand my roller-coaster of emotions, when our very first Christmas card of the season arrived in the form of this lil' gem

After tilting my head like a confused puppy,
I turned to Alyssa and asked,

"Umm, do you know this rather creepy character?"

As she looked equally perplexed,
we proceeded to read the back together:

Happy Holidays from your 

Central Regional V.P - working 4 you.

Mel

After busting a gut with laughter (and pondering what company it is that has graciously promoted this man to the prestigious status of Vice President)

we were faced with the following predicament:

Do we keep this this Christmas treasure for our viewing pleasure?

or 

Do we walk over to 20 Clinton Street 

to deliver it to it's rightful owner?

Knowing it is in fact a federal offense to keep someone else's mail, we've chosen the latter. But not gonna lie...
I kinda wanna meet the person that knows this mysterious Mel. And then I kinda wanna ask if we can keep it until someone else sends us a Christmas card, so I don't feel so sad that I was left off his mailing list ;) 

and

'Tis the Season!

Tonight, after walking past the Upper Rust antique shop

I got super inspired to turn the page to Christmas :)

And since I can't afford a single thing from their store,

I headed straight to Lot-Less for some Hall-iday decor.

$30 later... shazam!

Can't wait to put up the tree when Alyssa gets back from Cali :)

Best Day Off EVER!!

Instead of shopping with the masses on Black Friday, 

I decided to do ab-a-sa-lute-ly NOTHING :)

Not gonna lie, I did not leave the couch for a full 16 hours and watched 7 great movies (only to be interrupted by periodic naps and snacks in between. Teehee!)

Coming from a person who is always on the go, I was ever so "proud" to accomplish this highly unimpressive task ;) 

Then on Saturday, while mourning the loss of Michigan's once respected football legacy (tear), we went to see

and loved it!

Jake on the big screen butt-nekkid for 2 hours...

Ummm, yes, please, thank you. Don't mind if I did.
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