Hi loves, I wasn't going to post until the new year but in the middle of me tackling my inbox, requesting design changes for my new blog design to launch (SO excited for you to see it) and also hearing drilling, banging and such around the house with the home expansion I really felt like I needed a break and wanted to pop in and say hi and wish you a Happy New Year.
Please consider this your digital Merry Christmas from us since we would love to send everyone a card if we could have! *wink*
Our 13th pajama Christmas party! Can you believe it? I can't. I never imagined that after our first Christmas party which was not a pajama party, that we would continue this tradition every year. And yet here we are again, 13 years of friendship behind us with so many memories that bond us for a lifetime. A huge thanks and appreciation to Lilly Pulitzer from all of us for providing us for the second year with the most comfortable, luxurious pajamas. My heart is bursting with my love for the Lilly brand and their generosity of support.
I'm aware many of you are enjoying a gorgeous winter wonderland this season (I envy it), but for those of us living in Zone 9, including Phoenix - we enjoying an extended gardening season! You know this is my favorite time of year - fall. I used to love spring but with allergies it made me change my mind, tee hee. But I still do love spring because everything I planted for fall really flourishes come spring!
Gift cards - the ideal gift that guarantees it will be used and not be regifted, right?! Ha! Sometimes though, picking out a gift card can be confusing -ย you want that person to like where you are telling them to retrieve their gift and give them a card that's a little more glamorous than one they can pay their bills with. Happy Cardsย is the versatile gift card it isn't a credit gift card or a gift card to one location -ย Happy Cards are themed gift cards that allow the gift card recipient to use the gift card balance at several stores. You can find Happy Cardsย at neighborhood grocery stores - Safeway, Kroger, Albertsons, and Giant Eagle, so the next time you're at the store, grab a few and cross off your grocery and Christmas list at the same time.
You may already know I'm a big online shopper - and with the holidays and this home expansion coming up, the quicker the better to order gifts online and wait on delivery. I also don't find much joy in the crowded malls, and often find myself frustrated finding parking spots so I try to tackle my Christmas shopping list online. I will make it to the mall at least once just to get the Christmas vibes and spirit but just once, ha! Do you ever worry about the information you pass through the Internet - especially if you are on public wi-fi? What about identity theft?
Did I ever tell you the time I wanted to be a ballerina when I was little? My mom came home with the beautiful shoes and I looked at them and was scared and I never actually took a class. I took gymnastics, but I quit before I could do a cartwheel because the challenge frightened me (I can do a cartwheel now by the way).
I decided to take last week off - an entire week! It's something I could do any time, but I wanted to give myself permission to not work especially with Christmas coming up. It is incredibly difficult for me to not work as I often feel as though working can be more productive than cleaning or organizing the house. The return on investment being in front of my computer is something I can see in my bank account, but then I had to realize (with Benjamin's help), I've done enough. I've worked hard enough, I've reached goals I didn't know I had, and if I didn't take some time off, I would feel like I didn't enjoy the holidays.
Last week was productive, and this week I'm kind of off. I say kind of because it's blocked off but the reality is a few campaigns landed in my inbox that I couldn't say no to, but really after this week, my editorial calendar is full. I had to find Mr. Wonderful an anniversary gift for our SEVENTH anniversary. It really feels like we got married not long ago, I mean our wedding in Sedona to me still looks timeless and very relevant (good job photographer Ryan Ray) also a perk to picking the right photographer!
