Designer... De Better!

This color is from Opi's Muppets Collection. It is really pretty and definitely not what I expected. It's like a foil, with bronze and silver flecks. Perfect for the holidays.

Christmas Goodies

Christmas went by so fast this year. It was busier than usual.. We spent Friday at my in-laws, Saturday {Christmas eve} at my parent's house, then on Sunday we went to each of our family get togethers. All in all, it was a great weekend and I'm always happy to be spending time with family.

Here are a few of the gifts I got. :)

Christmas Notd

This is Opi's The Show Must Go On from the holiday collection last year. I wish my iPhone camera could capture this color accurately. In certain light, it is sparkly red with gold flecks. In others, it looks like a sparkly pink-red. I LOVE it. :)

Five Things Friday

It is not even technically winter yet and my hands are already so dry. For the past week or so, I have been using this hand cream that I bought a while ago and forgot about. It really works well!



One of my favorite things about cold weather is warm, pretty sweaters. I bought these from Loft and Jcrew. Can't wait to wear them. :)



Nothing better than a pretty color that goes with any outfit. This is Opi's Step Right Up. Probably one of my favorites.



The other day I went to my Parent's house to do some online shopping for my Mom. She gave me this stuff. OMG. It completely changed my hair after just one use! It has never felt so silky and soft. I want to get the shampoo now.



Ever since I got married, I have been addicted to greek yogurt. For a while I was buying the Fage with honey kind, but decided to try a new brand with less sugar. This Chobani brand is so yum! And has half of the sugar {just the vanilla}.



Happy Friday! :)

Five Things Friday

Found this on Pinterest.. Love it. I want to have it framed and hang in it my makeup area.


Opi's Warm & Fozzie. This color is so pretty! I want to get the whole collection now after seeing The Muppet's movie last weekend. {On a side note.. the theater was SO loud it gave me tinnitus in my left ear. That was a fun thing to deal with.}


Picked this up earlier this week from TJ's. So yummy. I had like 3 cups the same day I bought it, lol.


These were on sale at BBW 2 for 25. I love these candles!


Lastly and most importantly, no more studying for finals! This is what my dining room table looked like all week from about 9am to 7pm. UGHHHHH. Words cannot express how happy I am that I'm done with this semester. :D

Vodka and Caviar

Over the weekend I picked up Opi's Vodka and Caviar. I own many shades of red, but nothing compares to this. Really. The application was jelly- like, and FLAWLESS. Looks great with my skin tone, too. If you don't already own this, go buy it. Now! Thank you, Opi, for this little beauty. :)

Notd

I haven't posted a nail of the day in a looooong time, so I thought I'd do so. Here is Opi's Pink-ing Of You and Spark De Triomphe on ring finger. This is a really pretty pink and very feminine. I needed 3 coats as it was a bit sheer.

Five Things Friday

My 27th Birthday was on Sunday and we bought this cake from Whole Foods. It was so yum! Husband wants to buy another one just because it was THAT good. Haha.


Our Christmas tree! Not done decorating it just yet.. I want to get some bigger gold or silver bulbs. Then it will be complete.


Love the lights in downtown Rochester.. Right down the road from where we live. So pretty.


We bought a Life magazine from 1961 for this pic! Love the black kitties.


Also found this ad in the magazine!

Weekend

This was the first weekend in a while where I didn't have homework.. Which was WONDERFUL! On Friday husband gave in and we bought our Christmas tree {he thinks it's way too early}. Lol. We had a few ornaments to put on it, but we need to buy more. Saturday we went to a going away party for my cousin who is going into the army, then Sil and Bil came over to hang out and we watched Bridesmaids. On Sunday Husband and I went to the mall, and he bought me an early Christmas present! I have been wanting a pair of Revas for a while, so I was excited to get a pair. I think I want them in silver, too! I also got my Christmas cards from Papyrus {obsessed with that store!}. I had on Essie's Smokin Hot. Love this color. Sorry if this is a bit choppy, I'm trying to hurry up as I have to get to my chem lab pretty soon here. Happy Monday!

Williams Sonoma Orange Spice Pumpkin Bread

This time of year, I am always looking to try new pumpkin recipes. I recently came across an AH-MAZING recipe from the Williams Sonoma website for pumpkin bread. This is the second time I have made it, but I forgot to buy an orange at the grocery store for the zest. Still turned out great though. There is also a glaze included in the recipe, which I didn't make because I don't like the extra sugar. I think this will be a go-to for every fall.













For the bread:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
10 Tbs. (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. finely chopped orange zest
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup pumpkin puree

Directions:
Have all the ingredients at room temperature.

Position a rack in the lower third of an oven and preheat to 350°F. Grease a pumpkin loaf pan.

To make the bread, over a sheet of waxed paper, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat together the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and orange zest on medium speed until well blended, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and pumpkin puree and beat until incorporated, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour mixture in two additions just until smooth.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the top springs back when touched and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes.

Recipe from Williams-sonoma.com

Recents

Happy Saturday! Today is going to be such a busy day for Hubs and I. First, he wants to go to the Fiat dealership to see if he can trade in his 500 for a black automatic.. Or see when the Abarth comes out. Right now he has a gray manual, which he is getting really tired of driving. After that we are off to the in-laws to get the Mariner all cleaned up and ready to sell. Then I get to study for the rest of the day as I have 2 exams on Tuesday. What fun. Hopefully I can get a lot reviewed tonight so that I can relax a little tomorrow. :)

Decided to stock up on Christmas candles from Bath & Body Works. Can't wait to burn these, they smell YUMMM.


Recent OPI purchases. Suzi takes the wheel, uh oh roll down the window, warm and fozzie, and rally pretty pink.

Got all of these China Glaze on sale for 3.99 at Ulta! Super shimmery and way prettier in person. Ahoy, light house, and white cap.

This is Essie A-list. Gorgeous red, but a little patchy and had to use 3 coats.

My baby boy. Why do kitties ALWAYS look so perfectly snuggled when they sleep? I want to squeeze him! <3

New car! :)

For a while now husband and I have been thinking about getting me a new car, as my 2006 Mercury Mariner is starting to show its age. Now that hubs is a direct employee at Chrysler, we get pretty great discounts. I had my mind made up about getting a Jeep Liberty.. But when we got to the dealership, I saw a black on black Chrysler 200 Limited, and decided I wanted that instead. This car was a LOT nicer than I expected. I test drove it and we ended up buying it that night. So excited, I really love it! :D

Currently loving: Navy

I think navy is such a great color for fall. Always a classic. Lately I'm loving it paired with orange and red. All images via pinterest