Book Worm

I love books! I really do consider myself quite the bookworm. I enjoy reading novels, cookbooks, design books, magazines- I don't discriminate! Every year for Christmas my sweet grandfather likes for us to make him a Christmas list to make his shopping easier. He is 85 years old and still gets out with the masses to shop for all of us! Each year I always put alot of books on my list, because I figure it is an easy gift to pick up. I love cookbooks (which ya'll already know) and design books. I always want these books but it is never quite what I want to spend my money on, so I think they are the perfect gift. Currently, the Nate Berkus, Domino, and Rachel Zoe design books are adorning my coffee table. I am ready to switch these out for some new beautiful and inspirational coffee table books. Here are a few of the books on my Christmas list this year. Any other recommendations? Coffee table books that you just love?

DESIGN BOOK WISHLIST:







This Tom Ford book is the mother of all coffee table books. I have been wanting it for years, but at $200+ I don't think I will be recieving it this year:)

COOKBOOK WISHLIST:

Christmas Card Sneak Peek

While I was home before Thanksgiving I got my sister to take some pictures of Sterling for our Christmas Cards. She has the Nikon5000, so no doubt the quality of her pictures would be better than mine and she can always get little man to smile. We got some great pictures, here are a few that I really like. And yes, I did change his outfit 3 times. Had to see which outfit was cuter for the cards! By the last outfit change, he was not a happy baby! I love all these pictures but now I am starting to wonder if I would rather have our Christmas Tree in the background. Keep in mind we probably zoom and crop these pictures before we order. Thoughts? Tree or no Tree? Any favorite picture? Now as I type this, Matt tells me he wants to do a card with all three of us! I really wanted it just to be Sterling this year. Do ya'll prefer cards with the whole family or just the baby? Or does it even matter? I need to make a decision asap! Obviously I am way over thinking this whole thing, but I love a beautiful Christmas card.







At this point we had to call it a day. Sterling had enough camera time!

Yes Please!

Just came across these great pictures of Jessica Alba at the opening for the MUI MUI Store. I want this outfit! I love the nude and yellow color combo and the sequins are just an added plus! Jessica, if you are reading and want to pass this dress along me I would be ever grateful. It would be perfect for a New Years Eve Party. And lets be real we know you won't be wearing this dress again, so pass it on to someone who would treasure it and love it! Oh and I wouldn't mind if you tossed those nude heels in too:)
photos

Mommy Time

Every Thursday afternoon at 4:00 on the dot, me and my mommy friends get together for a playgroup. We rotate houses each week, but we always have wine (lots of it), snacks, and kids all over the place! It is my saving grace each week. Come Thursday I am usually tired, definitely ready for a glass of wine and so thankful for girl time. It is so nice to drink wine and chat with other mommy friends. By the end of playgroup all the babies are usually crying, the floor is covered in puffs, but we mommies are full of wine and happy!

This week I hosted at my house. I decided since it was December I would go ahead and bust out my Christmas wine glasses. Don't judge, yes I do own two sets of holiday wine glasses and I quite love them!



I made some brie with fig preserves and apples and crackers to go with our wine!

Normally we don't put the kids in matching outfits but we all happened to buy this Shrimp and Grits outfit. We thought it would be so cute to put them all in the matching outfits and snap some pics. How precious are all the babies?


The two boys, Sterling and Carson


Me and my girl Caycee with our boys. We always swear we were sisters in another life we have so much in common. Her son Carson is the sweetest, he is definitely going to be showing Sterling the ropes! He is one year older than Sterling and the best dressed baby I know! Caycee has a wonderful BLOG too, she is the one who inspired me to start mine!



Me and my little man exhausted after a wonderful playgroup!

Snowy, Flaky Goodness

I have a confession, I subscribe to Southern Living. The magazine I ridiculed my mom for years for reading, I now get in the mail. And I'm not gonna lie I actually like it. They have amazing recipes in every issue, which is the main reason I subscribe. Their December issue is always the best. I think I dog-eared a recipe on like every page this year. If you snubbed this magazine before, I highly suggest you check it out.

This recipe is from the current December 2010 issue. We made these for my brother-in-law's birthday last weekend. We did them instead of cake and it was so nice because everyone each got their own little tart! I think they would make the perfect dessert for a holiday party. The white sprinkles of coconut look like snow to give a festive feel! If you like coconut you will love these. They are as tasty as they look!






My sister showing off the treats for her hubby!


COCONUT CREAM TARTS

-1/4 SUGAR
-1/3 CUP ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
-4 LARGE EGGS
-2 CUPS MILK
-1-2 CUPS SWEETENED FLAKED COCONUT
-1 TBLS VANILLA EXTRACT
-WHIPPED CREAM
-1 PACKAGE FROZEN TART SHELLS

WHISK TOGETHER 1/4 CUP SUGAR, 1/3 CUP ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR, 4 LARGE EGGS, AND 2 CUPS MILK IN A HEAVY SAUCEPAN. COOK OVER MEDIUM HEAT, WHISKING CONSTANTLY, 10 MINUTES OR UNTIL A CHILLED PUDDING-LIKE THICKNESS. REMOVE FROM HEAT AND STIR IN 1 CUP SWEETENED FLAKED COCONUT AND 1 TBSP VANILLA EXTRACT. COVER AND CHILL 6-24 HOURS.

BAKE 1 8OZ PACKAGE FROZEN TART SHELLS ACCORDING TO PACKAGE DIRECTIONS AND LET COOL SPOON CUSTARD INTO THE PIE SHELLS. DOLLOP WITH SWEETENED WHIPPED CREAM, SPRINKLE WITH ADDITIONAL COCONUT.

MAKES 8 TARTS

PRINT RECIPE HERE

Deck The Halls

I can't believe today is December 1! 25 days til Christmas and I really have yet to start Christmas shopping=anxiety! I did however get a head start on decorating for Christmas this past weekend. I would consider my taste in Christmas Decor traditional with a modern twist. I am pretty picky about my Christmas decorations, preferring only a gold and silver palette with hints of green. I thought about adding some red in this year but was afraid I wouldn't like it, so I stayed my path. I don't go overboard decorating, although Matt would probably disagree after helping me bring down the 5 bins out of our attic. I snapped a few pictures of what I have done so far. I still have a few things to put out and I am sure I will switch things around but for now this is it!

Our Tree. Picked her up on Sunday, she is the perfect size and height, we choose well! I still need to get Matt to trim the top a little. Also thinking I might should have put more lights on, I am obsessed with tons of white lights on trees!

Our Tree Skirt. I love, love white so I always knew I wanted a white tree skirt. I had this monogrammed shortly after we got married and I still love it!

A few close ups of our ornaments. I have been collecting them a few years now. I used to just buy the balls in the boxes but now I really enjoy picking out individual ones. I still lean towards the glass ball shape though. My mom and I always go shopping the day after Christmas and scarf up all the ornaments when they are 75% off. Some of the balls on my tree had been $25 and I got them for $2.99!

This is my first year mixing in green ornaments. So far I am digging them.

The table in our entry way. I hung the wreath on the mirror and added the silver stars.


The Buffet in my dining room. I bought the mirrored Christmas trees probably 6 years ago and still really like them.

I also hung another wreath on the mirror above the buffet.

These reindeer are currently sitting around our tv. Not sure if I love them here, but its hard to find a spot for them!

And last but not least my two favorite holiday candles. Voluspa Frosted Pine and The Nest Holiday. They make my house smell fabulous!

And best of all they are both in beautiful containers that look great sitting out while you entertain.

Princess Style

I have always thought that Kate Middleton was gorgeous. But it wasn't until just recently I started noticing how impeccable her style is. Probably because she is on every news show, magazine cover and gossip site as of lately, she has permeated my brain. I think she always wears outfits that are classic yet not stuffy. She always looks so polished and put together. I can't wait to see what wedding dress she chooses! I think she will make the perfect Princess, especially since she already has the style icon part down! Here are just a few of my many favorite Kate looks! I adore that Pink Gown, if only I had somewhere to wear it!







I had to include a picture of her gorgeous ring! How special to have Diana's old ring. It is truly amazing. Maybe for my 10 year anniversary I can talk Matt into getting me one of these babies!

photos via: people, just jared, daily news, google images