TIFFANY & CO CHRISTMAS TALE

On its own original way,Tiffany and Co. spreads Christmas spirit! 

Beside dazzling customers with a stunning Christmas display at their flagship Old Bond Street store, the world’s premier jeweler and America’s house of design caused uproar in London. Last week, it’s a traditional horse-drawn coach glided through London’s busiest shopping locations celebrating the festive season.

Under the brand’s motto “The Perfect Christmas Comes Wrapped in Blue”, not only the carriage’s body was in blue, but also blue details featured on the wheels, the horse’s reigns and even the drivers’ ensembles. This Cinderella -like carriage attracted attention of shoppers, fans and photographers on its way from Old Bond Street to Sloane Square and from there to Harrods. 

Tiffany and Co. have also produced a bespoke Mistletoe Chandelier, which has previously been displayed in many of their flagship stores, which will be displayed in the Old Bond Street store on the weekend of the 14th and 15th December.

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Death by Consumption

We long for it all year and talk about the most memorable ones we've ever had. Our taste buds can't wait for what's about to come. The drinks, the feasts, the desserts. It's one big meal after another and it's one of the highlights of the holidays.

Yesterday marked the beginning of Hanukkah and my best guess is that your Christmas festivities are starting in the next day or two. This means over indulgence and a mess of wide, happy and forced smiles. Oh, the holidays. Isn't it exciting?

This year instead of completely derailing your diet and exercise plans in just one fell swoop, do a little pre-feast planning. You don't have to wait until the New Year to start with those resolutions of watching your portion sizes, sticking to just one bottle glass of vino, and making time for your workouts. Do it now. You'll feel better after the holidays, not worse. I promise.

Now, by no means am I suggesting your forgo your favorite buttery side dish altogether, or skimp out on that pumpkin pie. Heck no. Just watch how much of it you eat, of course. Portion sizes. I mentioned it before. Go for it. Or better yet - my advice - kick your butt into gear beforehand so that you're not second guessing taking that piece of pie.

Before you start the day with family and friends, wake up with a little work out. Get your heart rate going. If you're really into it, hit up the gym anytime. If you have guests and can't sneak away for an hour, try this in the morning:

via Pinterest

I also highly recommend some A.M. yoga! Stretch out your muscles and steady your breathing right from the start. A few Sun Salutations are all it takes to tighten your core, build strength in your arms and legs, and center your balance and breathing.

There you have it. A few early morning calories burned before you do anything else. Ten minutes is all it takes to get you started out on the right foot. Throw in these sequences a few times a day when you get a break and you're laughing.

Prep yourself with good food leading up to your get-togethers too. A few days in advance, more carefully, watch what you're eating. Cut down on carbs because you know there will be a bread basket at your grandma's. Skip dessert one night because of course the pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and cheesecake will be much better on Christmas Eve at your mom's. Even the Latkes at your mother-in-laws will be better than that extra heap of mashed potatoes you scarf down tonight.

Snack well too. It will keep you from over eating now and during the days when you have that big meal at night. Drink lots of water. Let's be honest with each other ... You need to stay hydrated in the tough Winter months anyway. Why not add an extra glass a day in before you take your first helping of the Who Roast Beast?

Why feel like a big, fat mess after this weekend, only to feel like a bigger crap, mess after you drink one too many on New Year's Eve?! Why should we always start the new year out on a good foot when you could go into the new year being amazing already? Enjoy your holidays because you've worked for it, earned it, and totally deserve it.

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Confessional

1. I just turned the thermostat up. Matt really hates when I do that. He likes a cool 25˚C = 77˚F. I prefer 28˚C = 82+˚F. That's really not a big deal.

2. We got two very awesome packages this week. Here they are:

This first one was from a very wonderful lady who is not only amazing to our friends but now she's overly generous to us! See Lucy in the bottom right corner there? And the top of that other box? That's our juice press that was also included in this box of goodies.

I never thought in a million years someone would be nice enough to really pay attention to this blog and send me a ridiculously thoughtful gift based on one of the posts. Thank you for making my mornings more like home! ;o)

3. Today it snowed and I couldn't be happier about it. However, only a few measly hours later it has rained and it's all gone. Check out our pistachio in the midst of "The Great Snow Fall of 2011".

4. I started a new job yesterday. It means that I wake in the morning before 9 AM and don't return home until 12. This girl needs a nap after that. Waking up is hard work.

5. Kenny G is still some of the best Christmas music out there. If anyone in Asiago wants to be the next Kenny G I'll support your dreams. {That was a generalized statement.}

6. The other day Matt said, "Guys, we're going to have a baby soon!" Except we're not. Our friends are going to have a baby soon. He just really thinks it's all of ours.

7. Sunday we're picking up Matt's younger brother in Venice. He'll be here until the 25th. I'm very excited for his visit. Mostly because it will be nice to see him. Partly because he's bringing me Frank's Red Hot and possibly a hoodie from my other brother-in-law. GO BROCK BADGERS! -- If that plug doesn't get me a hoodie I'm going to be ticked. --

8. I ordered the Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown from iTunes. I'm usually fine on the yoga front without videos, teachers, classes, etc., but I'm actually enjoying having someone else lead me instead of coming up with a half hour all on my own. Probably not a great comment for a wanna-be yoga teacher eh?

9. Read this email from a disgruntled Mike. Poor guy. He's lost it.

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{Ho Ho Ho}liday Party

Last night was our team's Christmas party. There were close to 200 people in attendance from (obviously) players and their significant others, coaches, management and staff, sponsors, and a select few fans who are consistently showing amazing support to this team. Along with the abundance of people there was plenty of food. We live in Italy! There's a reason this place is known for its cuisine.

A five course meal (sort of) consisting of an array of appetizers, potato ravioli with sausage, duck with raddichio, a cake-type dessert and coffee. Notice that's four things of food, and then coffee. Coffee is its own course here. They're so proud of it. Part of the reason they won't let Starbucks in. {Major bummer.}

It was delicious and not at all overwhelming. Our first course wasn't served until around 9:30 and we weren't finished until just before midnight. We celebrated one of the guy's birthday with some cake and candles and got to hang out with all of our new friends!

We spent the rest of the night out at one of the local watering holes where we consumed a few more cokes and then Matt and I were treated to one of the girls taking our picture for our "Christmas card". We actually don't send out Christmas cards. Never have. It's just not something we do. I love receiving them. Don't get me wrong, they're great. But we're not all for doing it ourselves. Maybe when we have babies?

With Christmas fast approaching I can't help but keep looking at things that I would want for a gift. I already have my present (see here) but I'm a girl and that means I'm addicted to online shopping. Or maybe those don't come hand-in-hand, but they do in this house.

Right now I am loving head bands of the winter sort. Check out a few of my favorites and wrap up those little ears and stay warm this season!

For those brisk winter runs you take, lulu lemon's Lucky Luon headband is awesome at only $12.

Love the button detail on this. Plus, if you can knit, I'm sure this would be a fun project on a blistery winter day.

The feather pins on these are beautiful. Basically you could throw your favorite pin on the side and have a unique little piece.

And who wouldn't love to pair these guys with super warm mittens? It's called bundling up. And I'm a fan.

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Today I Pick Up Our Christmas Tree

This was our Christmas tree two years ago when we lived in Fassa. Today I'm heading back there to get it -- oh, and see Matt's game too! It's finally going to look a lot like Christmas in this place!

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Happy Thanksgiving Mi Amigos!

Did you know they don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Italy?

That was a joke. You do know that, right? I'm not an idiot. I swear. :o)

I hope you all have a fabulous Thanksgiving and you get to spend it with some awesome people. Unfortunately I didn't get to spend today with any of my family or my husband so that was kind of crappy. But I got to be with some good friends and Lucy was being super cute all day long. Which is always a plus. In fact she's half laying on my computer as I type this. It's bed time here.

Now I know turkey is the Thanksgiving staple, along with stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and I'm sure a whole bunch of other things, that are just going to make my mouth water and not accomplish anything other than lending to the length of this sentence, but I didn't have any of that. We may have a belated Thanksgiving on Sunday, but I'm not sure? We'll see how the schedule goes. We're very busy around here.

So instead we spent our Thanksgiving another way. Immortalizing another culture by way of food. Mexico, you deserve a round of applause.

Thanksgiving Fajitas!

Today was so un-Thanksgiving-like that I decided to put up some Christmas decorations as well. Normally this waits until at least the day after but I had nothing to do today. So why not? Plus I'm going on a little girls trip tomorrow. Can't be bothered with decorating when I have Slovenia to see!!

Love covering up that TV.

Our hutch. Yes, that's an old banana and a kiwi. Not exactly Christmas fruit. Maybe next time!

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Go Big or Be Prepared For Breakage

In December of last year I left Denmark to head home for my brother's wedding. I missed my cat, Matt, and the team's Christmas party. Not to say that it wasn't for a good reason, obviously, but it sucks being away sometimes.

Since I was gone, and it was so close to Christmas, I got to go on a few little shopping trips with my mom. This definitely lifted my spirits. Anytime I go shopping I feel better. Retail therapy is dead on.

I wanted to treat myself to a new purse because the one I had been carrying was already about 5 years old. Not that that's a bad thing. I firmly believe in spending a little extra for a bag that you can wear forever. Or a scarf you can wear forever, or boots, or a coat, or really this list could go on and on. Because yes, classic style and quality beat a cheap price any day.

Problem. I didn't find anything I wanted. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Niente. So I settled, for the first time since I was a pre-teen, on a cheaper bag just for the sake of getting something. Well, that decision bit me in the ass twice in the last two weeks.

While walking down the street in Barcelona my larger strap came off in a pristine fashion. Right from the seam, and it swung just perfectly to land at my feet. I immediately screamed THIEF! But there was no one else around. Just my cheap bag that was now strapless.

At the last home game I went to go zip up the piece of crap so thieves could not steal my awesome fingerless gloves and the zipper just kept going. Right off the track and into the palm of my hand. There was no saving it. The purse has died.

I'm sure, by now, you have figured out what all of this means. It means an awesome Christmas for me this year. It means lots of shopping coming up. It means a full blown awesome Italian purse. Or possibly French born, Italian made? British born? Okay, basically what I'm trying to say is that I'm going designer and I'm not coming back.

So far, my top choices are as follows:

Louis Vuitton Neverfull (any size)

Burberry - love the Nova Check

Marc by Marc Jacobs

These are just a few of the great choices I have. Let's be honest though, Italy has so much more than just these designers, so I may end up with something completely different. All I know is that I'm doing it. I'm going big because otherwise I'll end up screaming at an imaginary thief again and in turn look like a complete moron. Again.

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Apples and Tureens and Scrubs {Oh My!}

As the Christmas markets opened in town yesterday I found myself perusing the shops looking for ... well, nothing in particular. Who cares! Christmas has come early to Asiago.

Now, I'm not spoiling Thanksgiving or anything. Decorations for the Ho-Ho-Holiday will not be put up in our house until after November 24th; so Turkey Day can have it's ... day. Okay, enough with the dot, dot, dots.

I did grab myself an amazing brulé alla mela (it's just hot apple cider, folks) and that reminds me more of Fall, pumpkins, hayrides, and Thanksgiving than it does of Christmas. It was also really nice to walk around town with my husband and some friends. There's nothing quite like it when the weather is nice and there are fun things to do in town.

I've also been on a huge apple kick lately. Hence the brulé alla mela. I can have myself a Fuji, Pink Lady, Golden Delicious, and (my all-time favorite) a Granny Smith any day of the week. They're all over the place! They're delicious. Grab an apple, add some whole-grain toast and a teaspoon of honey and there's breakfast.


They're not only tasty. Apples are so good for you:

• They're a great source of Vitamin C. You know what that's good for? Your immune system. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!" You're mom wasn't yanking your chain.
• Apple eaters have lower levels of C-reactive protein. C-reactin protein causes inflammation which has suggested an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes.
• For you athletes out there, an apple before a workout has proven to increase exercise endurance. Apples deliver an antioxidant called quercetin which makes oxygen more available to your lungs. Thus allowing you to work those glutes longer!

Yes, this could totally be a post for A Recipe for Fitness at this point, but it's really just this amazing little food that I've been loving lately and I wanted to share it with you. So go eat an apple. Do it.

Since Thanksgiving is coming up super soon I thought you hostesses might enjoy a little treat. Anthropologie has ridiculously adorable things for your wardrobe and your home and now they have this adorable little tureen. Tureen is new to my vocabulary and I feel very Susie Homemaker using it in a sentence.

I discovered something awesome a little bit ago: Homemade Exfoliants. I know, I know, it's not exactly brand new, or life-saving, but it works and I loved the way it made my skin feel! So here's the recipe I used: {notice how make-shift it truly is}

• 2 packets of Turbinado sugar (coarse brown sugar) that I stole (term used lightly) from a café here in town
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 drops of eucalyptus oil

     Mix together all the ingredients in a little bowl and there you have it! A homemade exfoliant.

Easy enough right? SUPER EASY! Here's a list of a few more types of at-home exfoliants you can use if you're just not that into mine. But you should be into mine. It worked you know.

During out trip to Barcelona I kept saying that I wanted to bring back something to always remind me of our time there. Matt wanted to get me a new watch (he's seriously awesome - and knows me oh-so-well), I was looking for a shirt of some sort (no, not an I ❤ Barcelona shirt), but I ended up with something totally different, unrepresentative and exactly what I've been wanting for awhile.

I don't care what they're supposed to be called, I call it my Russian Hat. I've been searching for just the right one for a few years now and I found it. This isn't mine specifically, but it's close. I discovered yesterday that I should really only wear it when my hair is curled, but that's okay. Looks like I'm going to start curling my hair more often this winter!

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It's Not Christmas Just Yet!

It has been awhile since I've heard of e.l.f. Makeup & Cosmetics. It was this same time two years ago that my mom came to me, ecstatic about this not-so-new-but-new-to-her brand called e.l.f. I was skeptical at first. Why have I never heard of this? Ever? Did one of her crazy work friends just randomly say something and then Mom (like usual) blows it way out of proportion and thinks it's the next Sidney Crosby on skates kind of thing?

{Actually I must throw in this little piece of information: My mother has no idea who Sidney Crosby is. I should have said something along the lines of "the next Gillian Michaels in spandex" or "the next Footloose movie!" She's a sucker for that song.}

But lo and behold she had finally gotten something right (hehe)! At that particular time, Nordstrom was getting rid of e.l.f. and bringing in something else - I think. Okay, okay, I forget exactly. All I know is that everything was $1. We spent almost $100 on these products, just to stock up on things we never really can bring ourselves to buy otherwise. It was so worth it.

I still love the mascara I got. Don't worry, it's not the same one from two years ago. I know when to throw out old make up! The eye shadow colors were so pretty and there were so many choices. There was even a nail kit, with a nourishing cuticle pen (that is still available) and nail polish remover pads that are perfect to throw in your purse. Just in case, if you're like me, you find yourself chipping away at polish all day long and then looking like a middle schooler with ADHD.

Last night I came across e.l.f. again. Why I have been completely oblivious to its existence since that one day, two years ago, is beyond me. Unfortunately, based on my shipping location, I will not be able to receive any merchandise in time before I leave for Italy. BUT all you lovely ladies still Stateside are in luck. It's great stuff, and although it's not all $1, most of it still is!


My top picks from the e.l.f. line.

Essential Liquid Eyeliner in Ash

A liquid eyeliner for $1? Yes, please. And with 9 different colors to choose from you could never go wrong.

Essential Natural Lash Kit - Black

These are the only fake eyelashes I have ever seen for $1. Just based on how much I like all of their other products, I'd definitely give these a go. It's called brand loyalty. Just saying.

Studio Lip Balm SPF 15

I'm a lip balm kind of girl. No glosses or sticks for me. My lips are big and red enough all on their own. No need to highlight them further. What I do need to do though is protect them. SPF 15 and no tint - I'll take one for $3.

Studio Mineral Face Primer

My mother believes every girl should use a primer. So why not a mineral primer? Combat harmful effects of long makeup wear by prepping your skin for the day. At only $6 it's a steal.

These really are things that were sitting in my shopping cart until I realized I'm only 5 business days away from being off to a far away land. With a few days to process an order, then a few days for shipping, I'm bummed. Although, I will be having some visitors this year ... maybe they'll bring me some Christmas gifts??

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