the magic of Christmas...

Is sitting on the living room floor in your pajamas, watching the person you love most in this entire universe, rip wildly through paper and bows to get to the tiniest of things; squishy slimy bugs, Buzz Lightyear pez dispensers, hot wheels. It is watching his face light up with overwhelmed joy and disbelief that these incredible treasures are ALL HIS!!! It is, of course, having the resources to provide these little, silly, superficial things that bring my sweet boy so much joy and wonder and this year, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, I would remiss if I didn’t take note that there is magic in the fact that we have a roof over our heads to keep us dry and safe. But the most magical things for me are the memories of when I was little and would wake up at who knows what ungodly hour and sneak out to the living room to check and see if Santa had been there yet. When I would see my stocking stuffed full and overflowing with presents, my heart would race and I’d barely be able to contain myself….SANTA! WAS! HEREEEEEE!!!!!

That stocking. That lopsided, red velvet and green satin contraption that my mom made for me was always one of my most cherished possessions. Last year, while searching high and low for a stocking for Ben and coming up short everywhere I looked, it came to me out of nowhere…of course I wasn’t going to find the perfect stocking for Ben at the mall….at Target….at Pottery Barn. The only perfect stocking for Ben was already in my garage, sewn together with all the love his Grandma Hallie was saving up for the day she’d get to hold him. She never got to hold him, but every year at Christmas, when he sits on the floor with that stocking in his little lap overflowing with presents, I will know that they are together. And THAT is Christmas magic.

We have a winner for the Kohl’s gift card giveaway!!!!! Congratulations, Skye!!! Now go buy your new knife set!!! I can’t have you slicing and dicing with dull knives, woman.


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leavin' on a jet plane...

Well, technically, we’re not leaving….we already left…and came back! And we kind of snuck away without much of a warning which is where I disappeared to all last week.

We went on a quick little jaunt down to Hilton Head to see my best friend in all the world. It was Ben’s very first trip on an airplane and I’d like to say he knew exactly what was going on and was totally stoked about it, but alas, he had no clue. Also, he was still pretty sick so the flight down was slightly apocolyptic….to put it mildly. The other passengers might have wanted to toss us out the emergency exit doors with no parachutes, but the flight attendant took pity on us and offered my demonic screamer his first pair of wings anyway. And I cried. And snapped a million pictures. Cuz I’m a sap like that.

Once back on the ground in Savannah and settled into a good snooze in the back seat, things slowly started to return to normal…whatever that is...and my heart just filled up with love and overflowed for being right next to my best friend again….my home base.

It was a great, long, not entirely relaxing but thoroughly delightful weekend and I’ve got lots more to share including why I am obsessed with World Market, how my kid loves dogs SO hard and the tragedy that is why he will never have one and also, how I am moving to Hilton head come hell or high water.

In the mean time, have you guys entered my $50 Kohl’s gift card giveaway yet???? It’s a good one! Get on that!

it's your last chance!!

did you enter my birthday giveaway yet?? i'm picking the big winner tonight! get in on that sweet action now while you have a chance! go here!   and in the meantime, have a superfly weekend, my little chickies!!!    

happy birthday to....you! my first giveaway!

Ladieeeeees!!!!! (and gents...hey...we take all kinds here!) today is the day!

Birthday doom. I'm fighting it. I'm fighting it hard. This is easy for me to say because it's sunday night as I write this and the "celebration" is over. Let's call it like it is, birthdays that fall on mondays are crap, so for the sake of argument, I "celebrated" today, Sunday.....and how did I celebrate? I went to my Weight Watchers meeting to find out I hadn't lost an ounce in 2 weeks. then, I drove past the gym I was planning to join and I stuck my tongue out and kept driving. then I came home and moped, went to the splash park with Ben (highlight of the day. I wish I brought my camera...it was awesome!), came home, moped some more and went to dinner...

But nevermind about all that because I am a big moper and I will forever be pissy about my birfday. love me for me.....

Let's talk about YOU! Let's talk about how it's your lucky day! I have some goodies for you guys! I have been wanting to do a giveaway for a long time now, but I wanted it to be something that I really loved and believed in....

Stuff that was my favorite.....

So twist muh arm, I went to the mall......


and I got sommmmmmmmme-lucky-follwer a prezzie!!!!

Here's what's up for grabs, gals...

I love lipsgloss. did you know? I'm obsessed. and one of the BEST ones I have found is a semi-cheapie by NYX in "natural". It goes on looking almost translucent with a little sparkle, but it complements your natural color perfectly. It would be a great color on anyone....it's slick and not sticky, it smells yummy, and I'm giving one to you! Along with a gorgeous MAC dazzleglass in "rags to riches" which is beautiful, flattering, sparkly gold. so pretty for fall....PLUS, a cutie little bag for 'em to ride in....

But wait! there's more!!!

Who likes to munch?

Have you had the Trader Joe's dark chocolate caramel bar with black sea salt? You haven't? Let me help you. Let me also send you a box of fluer de sel caramels......thank me later.....

Do you want a new bronzer brush? How about a new BOBBI BROWN brozer brush? I love this brush. I have one.Iit's the bomb. And let's just face it. fall is coming and our tans are gonna fade. You need a bronzer brush....

Last, but not least, I also want you to have these earrings I picked out just for you Friday night at Francesca's when I went birthday shopping with my biify, Mich. Then we went to Cheesecake Factory. I wish you were there!!!! But since you weren't, I got you earrings. Do you love them? Cuz I do. i love them like WHOA. and I'm giving them to you! LUCKY!

The bottom line is, guys, you make me happy. It makes me happy to know somebody reads this nonsence, that maybe it makes you smile, or laugh, or relate. It's a human thing. It's awesome. and, I can think of no time better than my birthday to tell you thank you for sharing this journey with me. And I think I got you some pretty fun stuff...

Nnow who wants it?

The giveaway starts at midnight tonight (8/20) and will run through Friday (8/24) , when rafflecoptor will pick a winner....I think...I have never used rafflecoptor before. *fingers crossed*

Good luck! I hope it's you!

Love you guys!!!

xoxoxoxoxo



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thursday's brain vomit

That's a pretty gross title. maybe I should change it?

Warning people….I have a lot of browser windows open right now…I’m reading blogs, doing work, entering contests to win this GORGEOUS chunky gold chain bracelet from Taylor Morgan Design, that Elisabeth is giving away over at her blog La Vita e Bella...I'm leaving comments, procrastinating answering emails, brainstorming upcoming blog posts, weekend plans, dress ideas for wedding season,  toddler dinners….my brain feels ultra caffeinated, but in that strung out, crackhead way, not in the productive sort of kicking ass and taking names way. It’s exhausting.

So forgive if this is all over the map, k? cuz I think somebody slipped some pop rocks in my lean cuisine or something.

That doesn’t even make any sense.

Also? Lean Cuisines? Vom.

Source: someecards.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Hey, if you guys follow me on the twitters? Sorry for the major flood of sandwich texts last night. I've mentioned my crush on Adam Richman, and he was live tweeting last night during the first episode of his new show, and I was feeling saucy and trying to get a little twit-enntion (just made that up. like?) to no avail, so yeah….sorry. I am obviously a loser. That’s ok. I was just using him for the food porn anyway.

(just kidding Adam. You know I still want to share spaghetti with you like Lady & The Tramp. I'm just trying to look cool and aloof on my blog.)

I have to talk to you guys about my hair dryer drama. Is anybody even interested? Because it is pretty aggravating, and I am trying to stay away from the bitching on this here blog, but man oh man….so stay tuned for that. I know. You are panting with anticipation.

Escuchame! I also need to break down the latest with my Weight Watchers adventure.

Sigh.

It’s not the prettiest. I need to get my ass back on that elusive wagon. I am quitting my old gym this weekend, joining a closer gym and working hard on my list of excuses motivation. But I’ll save the gory details for another day….right now? I think I need to just have a cup of tea and do some deep breathing or something.

Peace out, sprouts.

i've never been so great at saying thank you

or maybe i do an okay job with it, but i just never feel like i am adequately conveying HOW thankful i am and how lucky i feel and just how very, very blessed.....because i am...but the words just don't ever seem to be enough. or right.

i've felt this way ever since i was little. i never wanted to open my birthday presents at my party. i think i didn't feel worthy or something? and opening the gifts was almost embarrasing to me...like really? me? YOU got this gift for ME?

not much has changed. i still don't like opening gifts in front of people. i'm a much better gifter than i am a giftee. but some occasions just call for a really extreme amount of THANKS. and this is one of them.

last week, one of the sweetest people i have ever had the honor of calling my friend and one of my FAVORITE bloggers ever, ashley from hudson's happenings hosted a giveaway to celebrate 500 followers to her blog. first of all, i want every single one of the 7 of you who are reading this to go to her blog right this second and follow it. that is really important to me. i would never lead you astray. she is magic.

look how pretty she is. look at her sweet little boy. honestly. my heart, these two.

anyway, so she hosted this giveaway for this gorgeous dress from shabby apple and cross my heart hope to die i never in a million years thought i would win. first of all, she has FIVE HUNDRED FOLLOWERS so, as if i had a shot, and really, i only entered so she would know i was celebrating with her and cuz... well... cuz also, the week before she held her giveaway, she posted this picture and i kept getting hysterical every time i thought about it....

not that only 12 people would ever enter her giveaway....it just kept cracking me up thinking about it....i reserve the 12 person giveaways for ME!! wait till i hit 100 followers people....it's on!

anyway, so i entered, cuz i loves her, never thinking i'd win....but guess what?

i won!!!!!

this dress is so pretty. i needed to feel pretty so badly. i have been feeling like a real pile of poo lately in my janky sweats and my husband's pilled up fleece half zips.

basically? i love it. and "thank you" just doesn't even touch it...

sweet ashley, you made me feel pretty. for the first time in a long time. and i love you for it more than these silly little words can say.....

and more importantly, HAPPY 500 you little rock star MINX you!!!!

p.s. shabby apple is fantastic. have you shopped with them? they contacted me the day after i won and my dress was shipped a day later! the quality is amazing. it's lightweight, but still elegant and more gorgeous than pictures could ever do justice...

p.p.s. speaking of pictures....sorry for this ridiculous myspace style photo collage hot mess. i tried to get my husband to help me with this photoshoot and.....no. just no......so....it was just me and my iphone. i apologize. a lot. believe me.