Holiday Sparkle +Gingerbread Houses + First Kisses

Something about the Holidays makes me want to bust out some sequins.  Sequins are just so festive and fun!!  We had Matt's office party Saturday night and I immediately knew I wanted to wear sequins.  I bought this Tibi dress a few years ago and still love it.  I knew I needed to rock it for the JLF party.  The perfect amount of shine.  Sorry no full length picture we were running late and I had no time for self poses.

Matt's co-worker,  Melissa,  who I adore rocked the cutest sequined Badgley Mischka dress that she got from Rent The Runway.  I always forgot about Rent The Runway, Melissa's dress was gorgeous and she said the service was awesome.  I must remember for the next swanky event I have!

The two of us letting our sequins shine!

After my post Friday my mom and I decided to hit up Forever 21 and see if we could find any goodies. Guess what I scored?  This amazing sequined jacket.  $32, the perfect amount to spend on a trendy item. I swear in person this jacket seriously looks way more expensive.   I am going to wear it to a Holiday party next weekend over a black dress.

{F21 Sequined Jacket}

 It also comes in a black version online that is equally as fab!

Not that I need two sequined jackets but my favorite Parker jacket just went on sale.  I have lusted after this beauty forever!!  Reminds me of Rachel Zoe.

If you are looking for a sparkly dress my two favorite Rachel Zoe dresses are also on sale,  love them both.  They would be perfect for NYE. 

{Dolman Dress, Selita Dress}

 

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We attempted our first and last Gingerbread House this year.  Wow, what a major mess and pain in the arse.  Our house fell apart like 5 minutes after we made it, the icing was so hard to get out,  and Sterling just wanted to eat all the candy:)  Glad we tried but probably not buying a gingerbread house kit again.

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Sterling scored his very first kiss this Sunday after church.  And was no mild kiss, my little man went in for the real deal with his friend Maggie.  I captured the moment right before they locked lips and after- how adorable?  Pretty sure this means trouble for us in 12-15 years! 

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I will leave you with these funny cocktail napkins I spied at a local store here.  My mom and I were dying laughing when we read them.

Perfect Hostess gift during the Holidays!

 Happy Monday!

xoxo

Love 21

I am huge fan of Forever 21, yes the majority of it is cheap looking and made for 13 year old girls but if you dig you can really find some great stuff in there.  There is an art to shopping in there and I consider myself a pretty savvy F21 shopper. 
Lately I have started to really notice the line Love21, it is a line within Forever 21,  dubbed their more contemporary line.  The stuff is usually a little more expensive like say $27 compared to $15.  I really love the line and think the clothes are even better quality than the regular stuff.   The last three things I bought from Forever 21 came from the Love21 line.

I couldn't find either online- but don't they look nice?  Not quite as cheap looking.

If you live in Charleston the Love21 collection is at the back of the store to the left near the dressing rooms.  Try some of it on or order online I think you will be pleasantly surprised.   I rounded up some of my favorites from online.  Best part is if you are sick of the top or dress in a year you probably only spent $20 anyways!

Thoughts For Thursday

I am so excited because my parents are in town this week for two quick days so I get a fun visit in before Christmas!  I absolutely love when they are in town.  I am off this morning to help my mom finish her Christmas shopping and I think we need to hit up the new Toy store, Magnifilous on King Street for Sterling.  Has anyone been?  I mean there is a carousel inside,  he will be in hog heaven.

I came across this on Pinterest and think it is a great gift rule for kids.  I am honestly not buying Sterling much this year.  He already has so much and is still too young to quite grasp it all.  I took him yesterday to help me pick out Toys for Toys for Tots and that was a bad idea.  He wanted to keep everything we picked out!  I wanted him to understand that there are kids that need those gifts more than him,  but he was clueless all "me, me, gimmie, gimmie."  Oh well I tried.

Its official I am addictive to these Dark Chocolate Pretzel Crisps.  I am pissed at my gals (Amy and Caycee) for telling me to buy these tasty treats.  I ate half a bag in one day.  It said the bag had 4 servings but I am pretty sure I turned it turned it into 1.  I have heard the white chocolate ones are even better but I am scared to buy them in fear I will demolish the whole bag.

Happy Endings is my new favorite show. I love the entire cast.  It is so ridiculously funny- or maybe my sense of humor is just weird. It comes on Tuesday nights at 9,  tune in if you don't already watch it.

I am really trying to grow my hair out. I Loved the long bob I cut in Februray but now I am ready to have super long hair again.  Any tips for getting it to grow fast?  This is what I want it to look like.

 

I have already wrapped most of my gifts for this year and bought tags but next year I plan to make these DIY glitter tags- how cute are they?  This could be a fun project to do with kids too, Sterling loves some glitter.

(tags via)

I tried out a new color combo last night for a dinner out with the rents: Royal Blue and Rust.  Kind of random but I kind of love it at the same time.

{JCrew Top, JBrand Jeans}

My mom and Sterling at dinner last night, melts my heart.  Nothing like seeing how much your parents love your kids.

xoxo

The Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Ever!

I really need a class in 101 food photography because this pie is way better than it looks in this picture.  Why is it so hard to take pictures of food?  I don't get it, even Instagram didn't make it look better.  You have to just trust me when I say this pie is incredible.

  I made it for Thanksgiving dessert and it was a huge hit.  Peanut Butter desserts are my all time favorite.   I could eat them every day.  This is one of the best peanut butter pie's I have ever had - if you live in Charleston it rivals the one at 5 Loaves which is awesome.  The chocolate and creamy peanut butter filling go together so well.   Pure decadence I tell you.  Serve with whipped cream and you are in business for a fantastic dessert for any company!

Here is what the pie should really look like (via)

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Recipe adapted from Food & Wine

Serves 8-10

Chocolate Crust

1/2 stick unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons

8 ounces chocolate wafer cookies, finely ground (2 cups)

Peanut Butter Filling

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 cup chunky peanut butter

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup well-chilled heavy cream

Kosher salt

Chocolate Topping

4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped (1/2 cup)

1/2 cup heavy cream

Garnish

1/4 cup Chopped Peanuts, chopped

1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate, chopped

MAKE THE CHOCOLATE CRUST: Preheat the oven to 375°. Melt butter and stir into the cookie crumbs. Press the cookie crumbs over the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan and 1 1/2 inches up the side. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, or until set; the crust will continue to firm up as it cools.

MEANWHILE, MAKE THE PEANUT BUTTER FILLING: In a large bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the peanut butter, sugar and vanilla extract until blended. In another large bowl, using the same beaters, whip the chilled cream until firm. Fold one-third of the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture to loosen it, then fold in the remaining whipped cream. Spoon the filling into the crust, smoothing the surface. Sprinkle lightly with salt and refrigerate until set, about 3 hours.

MAKE THE CHOCOLATE TOPPING: Place chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat cream over medium heat until simmering. Add cream to chocolate and stir until melted.

Spread the chocolate topping over the peanut butter filling and refrigerate until just firm, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle the chopped peanuts and chocolate around the edge of the pie. Carefully run a thin knife around the pie crust to loosen it, then remove the springform ring. Using a sharp knife, cut the pie into wedges. Run the knife under hot water and dry it between each cut.

Obsessions

{ANNIE GRIFFIN LIBBY DRESS}

Remember the Social Dress Shop giveaway I hosted a few weeks ago?  Well Sarah was nice enough to help hook me up with this fabulous number.  I had never heard of the brand Annie Griffin before but now its a new favorite of mine.  How fabulous is this dress??  I wore it to two holiday parties last week.  I am obsessed, there are still a few left HERE.

{ANTHROPOLGIE FROSTED PANES TUMBLERS}

Newest glass obsession, these fabulous etched stemless wine glasses from Anthro.  They make me so happy while sipping my wine.  They are even more gorgeous in person it is hard to see the detail in pictures.

{WAFERBITES}

These are my new favorite snack.  These crackers are paper thin and addictive.  They don't have many calories so you snack without the guilt.  I tried the double cheese flavor and loved them.  I found mine at Publix.  They are great with cheese!

{JCREW BOWNECK BLOUSE}

J.Crew has done it again, I have found yet another blouse I need for my closet.  I want the Cobalt blue version such a great color on everyone!

{CAPRI BLUE TIN CANDLES}

I have a real weakness for fabulous smelling candles and these are my new favorites.  I smelled the Blue volcano one burning at the Anthropologie store opening and knew I had to have one.  The Aloha Orchard also smells amazing.  They won't break the bank at $14 and they make such cute gifts.

{BOBBI BROWN EYE SHADOW PALETTE}

Ever since reading Erin Gates Best of Beauty List I have convinced myself I need every product on there.  First I want to try this eye shadow palette.  I have used my Naked by Urban Decay Palette (which I love) for so long but I am ready for something new and these colors look perfect.  Great neutrals for anyone.

Weekend Happenings

Can ya'll believe Christmas Eve is two weeks from today?  Pure craziness I tell you. 

Matt's best friend from Charlotte and his fiance stayed with us for the weekend and we had such a great time.   She is a wine rep (hello dream job) so we drank some fabulous wine all weekend.  We started Friday night off with a bottle of Tattinger Champagne and it was amazing.  I may never drink the cheap stuff again.  I have been spoiled, thank you Alice.

Saturday we took Sterling to see Santa at the Yacht Club.  My child does not like Santa.  Check out his face- pretty priceless.  I think it is the beard, he does not like men with beards.  And this Santa's beard was huge and obviously fake.

Here is our picture from last year.  We are starting to build a pretty impressive collection of I hate Santa pictures.

Somehow the past two years I have been roped into to sitting on Santa's lap.  Santa this year was extra frisky.  He was insistent I sit on his lap too and then he proceeded to rub my back.  Akward.....

This is us having a moment.  I should have told him what I really want for Christmas is a Goyard bag.

Saturday night we had a fabulous dinner out at High Cotton.  It had been years since I ate there and it did not disappoint.

 I rocked my Joie Dress again.  Telling you such a perfect LBD.

This is Matt's standard face when he doesn't want to take a picture.  Total cheeseball.

In other news did ya'll see Serena and Lily is having 25% off everything online!!  Just use code SHIPTODAY25. 

 Thinking it is a sign I need to order these things I have been eyeing.
{Coro Glasses, Nova Napkins,  Throw Pillows,  HA Kids Fish PJs, Bookends}

Have a great Monday.  I am off to the gym for the first time in weeks, seriously it has been awhile since this body got a good workout.  I have been way to busy eating, drinking,  and watching Lifetime Christmas movies to work out:)