Your Father's Christmas Party

Isn't this picture wonderful!  Mac's sister Erin found this of Bill, their father, and Jean, Erin's mom.  Bill is dead center holding the cigarette and Jean is wearing the pink blouse. I would love to be a fly on the wall at this party, judging from the bar on the right they must have had a pretty good time.  Every now and then I come across pictures of my parents in the 1960's but it is so special to me to see these of Mac's family and imagine what fun they must have had.  

Of course, now I'm wanting to plan a vintage themed Christmas party for next year maybe "Mad Men Office Christmas Party" so we can have some pictures like these of our own.     

Ugly Apron Party

My brother Sean sent me this picture yesterday and it got me thinking...my aunt has a cookie exchange every year, why not make it an ugly apron party also.  I know, I know these aprons aren't that ugly but "tacky apron party" isn't as fun to say. I go picking with Mac every now and then and I always seem to come across these tacky (yet fabulous) vintage aprons.  How fun would it be, sharing, laughing, drinking champagne, and all with fun vintage Christmas cheer.  

Here are a few fun ones I found on etsy: candy cane, nylon Christmas tree, Christmas tree with pom poms, poinsettia

P.S. The cookie exchange idea is brilliant.  I've been to cookie parties before where everyone bakes theirs at the hosts house, no thanks.  Here you bring your cookies already baked and enough copies of the recipes and everyone gets to share and visit without making a giant mess.  

Old Meets New

I saw this and thought "for me?  please and thank you!"  It was instantly added to my Amazon wishlist (wink wink Mac).  Each room in my apartment is decorated with stacks of old books and this would blend so easily! A few years ago I got one of these great hallowed out books to use as a jewelry box, brilliant!  Love the idea behind these but wish the ipod dock could be slightly less expensive.   

Bourbon Maple Pecan Pie

I can't believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow!  I'm working through this afternoon which leaves almost no time to make the five pies my family has requested, yes, five pies!  Soooooo in anticipation I made some last weekend and froze them, I know, I know brilliant right.  Last weekends project was bourbon maple pecan pie.  I didn't use this exact recipe but Pinterest does provide some great inspiration.  I followed a basic pecan pie recipe, Karo Syrup bottle, and made these changes:

• subbed 1/2 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup brown in stead of 1 cup white sugar
• added two shots of whiskey 
• subbed 1/2 tsp. vanilla and 1/2 tsp. maple flavor in stead of 1 tsp. vanilla

Have a happy Wednesday and have fun prepping!

photo via pinterest

Happy Friday!

Well friends what are you up to this lovely autumn weekend?  One of my friends is having an autumn party tonight, because we love all things pumpkin and any excuse to drink wine with good company.  Saturday and Sunday I'm hoping to get in some yoga, spend a good chuck of both days in front of the fire reading, and hopefully have a date night with Mac at the movies!  Beyond excited to have a quiet, relaxing autumn weekend.  Have a cozy Friday and weekend!

P.S. How adorable is this picture of Paul Newman!

Excited for Eames

My life has been so busy the last few days, I can not wait for the weekend and I have the feeling Mac and I may be watching this for a Saturday night date.  I admit that before I met Mac I was only slightly familiar with Eames and now a few years later I am nerding out excited to see this movie.  It is amazing to see the legacy that they created.  Anyone else gonna check it out?

Forget Your Troubles, C'mon Get Happy!

Just a little happiness to get your day going, this clip always makes me smile.  And I totally dream of having a vintage style photo shoot in this outfit one day, I'll take all the guys for the shoot too...I guess...if I have to ;)  Happy Friday dears!

Because We Can

 

Ever have those nights where you're just feeling fancy?  I embrace those!  Yes, last night was just a Tuesday, but did that stop me? Nope,  I enjoyed painting my nails, having a sip from a champagne coupe, wearing something pretty, and topping it all with a bit of chocolate.  Why...because I can.  I try to savor those moment of alone time and femininity.  Anyone else ever do this?

Nine Lives By Paul Varjak

It's a Paul Varjak kind of day.  Well, maybe a Breakfast at Tiffany's kind of day but I am craving Paul.  I want that cozy autumn feeling, curling up in front of a typewriter with a bourbon. I've always had a crush on Paul, which may have something to do with me ending up with Mac...he's got that vintage feel now we just need the New York flat. I don't just want to be in New York...I want to be in New York in the fall..in Breakfast at Tiffany's.  

shoes, typewriter, tie

Rainy Day Skinny Cupcakes

What's better then sleeping in on a Sunday morning?  Sleeping in on a Sunday morning to find that it's raining!  I was so thrilled to have a cozy day in and it gave me a great excuse to spend the some time in the kitchen trying out this recipe I found on Fashion Meets Food.  It is rediculously simple and takes away more than half of your normal cupcake calories, cuz lord knows my hips don't need more of those.  

You can find the recipe here and I'm sure, like me, you're going to think "you want me to put 7-Up in my cupcakes...not happening, but that's for the laugh."  But believe me they taste just like real cupcakes and the texture is fluffy and pure happiness.  The frosting doesn't taste exactly like the real thing but for almost no calories it's great. 

I baked mine for about 19 minutes and they were great!

 I was shocked by how good they are!

 Mac was having fun with the cupcakes. 

 

Sneaking a taste. 

A cupcake from me to you.  I can't wait to try more combinations, next week I may try something with chocolate cake. 

P.S. I got the cupcake wrappers at Target, aren't they fun!

 

Happy Rainy Friday!

It's raining in Southern California!!! Can you tell I'm excited?  I love, adore, and cherish rainy days (I know and I choose to live here).  Mac and I are the kind of people that get excited days in advance when rain is predicted.  So tonight will probably look something like this-leaving my wet galoshes at the door, drinking Irish coffees cuddled up under Mac's Hudson Bay Blanket watching Frasier by the fire.  Because yes, we are that cool that we spend our Friday nights watching Frasier.  I can't wait to relax, cuddle up, and listen to the rain!


blanket, galoshes, frasier

Sick Days

Well I've been sick off and on since Sunday but I am convinced that my body knows when I have plans.  It's illness schedule is going something like this:

Sunday-pumpkin carving with friends...sick
Monday-Halloween plans with friends...sick
Tuesday-no plans...feeling so much better
Wednesday-housewarming party/one chance to see visiting fried...sick
Thursday-work dinner...feeling so much better, so far

I think my body is plotting against me.  This on and off pattern of sick when I have plans to see a visiting friend, and healthier when I have a free night is not very considerate. Anyone else ever have this on and off pattern?

60's Inspired Comfort

I've been invited to a costume party and I came across this picture of Jane Fonda looking for 1960's makeup inspiration.  I love how sexy and cozy she looks at the same time!  Next time I'm at home with a book I may just have to draw on some winged eyeliner and pull out my favorite nude lipstick.  No reason why you can't feel sexy even in your lounge clothes.  


sweater, lipstick, eyeliner

Treat or Treat

We had an interesting little trick or treater last night, well group I guess.  It was towards the end of the night and a group of about five kids and four adults came, we were thrilled to have more show up.  

This cute little bat girl (about six or seven years old) comes up as I hold the bowl down for her and she says "a little or a lot," I say that she can take "a couple."  She then grabs a handful and the next four kids do the same.  The parents come up and grab candy as well, then the little bat girl comes back and grabs three more handfuls emptying our candy bowl except for one piece which her father then comes and takes.  Bat girl then turns to my brother and says "got more junior?" 

Is it just me or is there a type of trick or treating etiquette?   Almost all the other kids we had that night took no more than one or two pieces.  We were so excited to pass out candy to the kids and the greediness of this group brought down our night a little.  The saddest thing of all was having to turn down a big group that came right after because bat girl and her friends had cleaned us out.  Anyone else ever have a similar problem? I guess next year we'll have to hand it to the kids ourselves.