Holidays 2010

Happy Holidays! Since I decided to host Christmas Eve dinner last minute, I really got into the festive nature a little late in the season. I hit up HomeGoods for a centerpiece and place mats but forgot cloth napkins so Mr. K had to go out and get those on Christmas Eve. I redecorated our tree to hopefully make it a little cuter and I bought some festive potpourri and candles to spread around our little casa.

Here is how it all turned out:

Desserts on my tripoli server. Double chocolate crackle cookies, peanut butter cups, kisses and peanut butter cup cookies

Decorations atop our liquor cabinet

Dining room table set with centerpiece

O Christmas tree! Super tall and skinny

Marc Jacobs

Ironic that today's spring inspired post coincides with the first (albeit small) snowfall of the season. I came across this dress while researching other items at Nordstrom.com (might have been NeimanMarcus.com though). This is the Alta dress by Marc Jacobs. With a pricetag of just $198, it's not too far out of the realm of possibility.

Piper - December 2010

Piper has found her spot in the new kitchen - on the mat in front of the sink.

Shopping Bag

Today I finally pulled the trigger and got Piper a new collar. Her current one is just plain black nylon and I'm tired of people thinking she is a boy! Hello - she is only 43 lbs and so delicate looking! Hopefully this will clear up the widespread confusion.

I had been looking for something extremely feminine, like a collar that resembled a pearl necklace or one with flower appliques on it but as with most things I have my mind set on, no such things exist. Etsy had a really cute design called Mojo from the AmandaBrewerTextiles boutique. Her collars are reasonably priced too - this one worked out to just $19 with shipping.

Hopefully Piper likes this one, it fits, and Mr. K doesn't think it's too prissy looking.

Christian Louboutin

It's time to get back to the basics: Christian Louboutin 85 mm pump in camel patent leather. Doesn't get more fabulously basic than this!

Celebrity Hair

With 7 weeks of dark root growth, I am thinking maybe I should stop highlighting and embrace ombre hair! I am not sure how this is achieved but I would imagine that low lights are put in just to the top half of the hair and highlights are discontinued. (Or maybe I should wait until January since my trusty stylist is on maternity leave).

Anyhow, Jessica Biel, Rachel Bilson and Drew Barrymore are all rocking the ombre hair trend. I think mine would probably end up like Rachel Bilson's since my highlights are about the same and my natural color is close to hers also.

Opinion poll is open so please either leave a comment or send me an email to weigh in with your thoughts.

Lynne Hiriak

Maybe it's the flurries in the air but I am totally "feeling" sweaters and cozy garments. Today I am lusting after the Lille cardigan in wheat by Lynne Hiriak. What do I not love about her line? Having to size up to a medium.

Lynne Hiriak

Maybe it's the flurries in the air but I am totally "feeling" sweaters right now! Today I am loving the Lille cardigan in wheat from Lynne Hiriak. What do I not love about her line? Having to size up to a Medium!

Philosophical Friday: Part 6

(But stay away from the Juicy Couture on 5th Ave becuase apparently they have bed bugs)

Coach

Reason # 8,536,212,709 why I love my husband:

This morning he told me I needed new boots then recommended that I select Coach ones. I understand he is in possession of a 25% off coupon but that doesn't make the boots free!

*muah*

Christmas List

Apparently the list previously given to Mr. K wasn't any good. He doesn't feel like buying me a North Face parka, Asics running shoes, or LuluLemon workout gear for Christmas even though those are the things I really NEED! Though I suppose I need a new iPod too. Or perhaps iPad - hmm!

So here is my list, oh darling hubby, of things I don't need but want!

1. Coach giraffe print ponytail scarf.

2. Amazing Grace by Philosophy perfume. Need to have something subtle since my migraines are so bad.

3. I found this one on today's Gilt Groupe sale. Kate Spade Amelia bag. Though I suppose we can add "anything patent leather" to my list as well.

4. Some kind of ivory cashmere scarf. This particular one is Magaschoni from BlueFly.

5. Betsey Johnson bow earrings. Awwwwww.

Juicy Couture

After obsessing over the j.crew plumage skirt only to realize there is no possible way Mr. K would let me spend $1000 on a skirt, I decided to look for alternatives. This is the best alternative so far - the Juicy Couture faux ostrich feather skirt which retails for $298 from Bloomingdales. I am loving this skirt for the holidays and beyond!

Piper - Cyber Monday 2010

Perhaps I am *slightly* obsessed with my 14 month old boxer, Piper. She now sleeps in bed with us. She is so content on our bed we can hardly get her off it anymore! Here she is guarding our bed while I booted up the computer for some Cyber Monday shopping!

Success: Turkey Cupcakes!

I suppose at this point everyone is in Christmas mode but I had to share my Thanksgiving attempt at baking. This one was a total success.

This is how the turkey cupcakes were supposed to look:
And these were mine: (not too far off!)

Here's how I did it:

1. Baked devil's food chocolate cupcakes
2. Let cool, frosted with chocolate frosting
3. Squeezed candy corn into the frosting of double stuff oreos
4. Painted faces on nutter butters with gels
5. Placed the nutter in the cupcake, closer to the front of the cupcake
6. Put the oreo with the candy corn in it behind the nutter, closer to the back of the cupcake
   

Betsey Johnson

Considering the only places I ever go are to work, the gym and the airport, I have little use for such a fancy peep toe bootie but I do quite like these.

Betsey Johnson WALFORD available on ideeli today!

Shopping Bag

The Monday after Thanksgiving I am having a nasty cyst removed from the back of my dominant (left) hand. I am SO nervous that my hand will be sore and lifeless so I am making preparations in advance so that I don't look ugly. What if I can't put eye make up on? What if I can't simultaneously blow dry and style my hair? What if I can't put contacts in? Oh dear! My first instinct was to purchase new glasses so that at least if the rest of my appearance is terrible, I will maintain some stylishness in my new Tory Burch frames!

Thursday's Material Wishlist Vol. 19

This week has been amazing yet exhausting! Last night I didn't make it back to my house until 1:30 AM - a very late night for me! Thankfully, I made it into work just half an hour late this morning. I take Piper to daycare on Fridays so I dropped her off and planned to leave the office around 3:00 in order to get home at a reasonable hour and kick off the weekend ... only to discover today is NOT Friday!

As today is Thursday, a Material Wishlist is in order! Today's wishlist is hereby dedicated to J.crew. The new catalog came in the mail and it was filled with beautiful holiday items!

1. Polka dot back seam tights. LOVE!

2. Velvet skirt. The charcoal color is TO.DIE.FOR.
3. Plaid Eliza tee. It doesn't get more "holiday" than red & black tartan.

4. Merino lace tank. Perfect for layering under a velvet blazer.

5. Leather and wool herringbone oxfords. Not necessary but totally unexpected and cute.

6. Gold cowl neck top. Again, perfect under a blazer or sweater.

7. Jeweled sash.

8. For daytime: fair isle sweater.

9. Last but not least - draped sleeve top.

Christmas List

Dear Mr. K,

I've been good this year.

Project: Kitchen Remodel 2010 (update)

I would say at this point our little project is about 80% complete! We just have to put on the finishing touches (backsplash, hood over the range, curtains, area rugs and furniture) and we'll have a completely brand spankin' new kitchen!

Here are some images of what we started with:

1. A very cute puppy ... and ugly linoleum. We learned when we ripped it up that this wasn't even the original ugly linoleum. There was another layer beneath!

2. A lovely mother/daughter duo "complemented" by hideous 1980s wood trim and a window valance stuffed with tissue paper. Blech.
3. The "Kristiyns" posing in front of almond colored appliances, faux butcher block counters, and honey colored cabinets with brass hardware. A pretty rough looking backdrop!

And the after!!

1. The view from down the hall - white cabinets, hardwood floors, granite counters! Updated and welcoming!

2. A refrigerator and freezer combo that are spacious and actually OPEN! Stainless appliances, white window trim ... everything is pretty and newwwwww!

3. Appears we'll also need to add lazy susan reinstallation to the to-do list! It is the black hole in the corner. Other than that - NEW NEW NEW!

4. A close up on the granite. Disclaimer: I am not a photographer!

Philosophical Friday: Part 5

I'm fresh off a business trip to California and though it's been over a year since we've had a "Philosophical Friday", this sign warranted one! I saw this one in a ladies' room while visiting a dairy farm located just south of Fresno, CA. Don't ask what I was doing there!

Trick or Treat! Piper - Halloween 2010

Hope everyone had a great Halloween! This was our third Halloween in our house but the first we were actually home to see trick or treaters come! We had a ton of kids and Piper really enjoyed guarding the candy by the door and waiting for the next kids to arrive.

We had SO so many kids come! My husband said he saw a hayride full of kids driving through the neighborhood ... they definitely made a drop off on our road. Thankfully we were stocked with a huge variety! We had so much we even have some left over.

Happy Halloween!

Shark Attack!

Thursday's Material Wishlist Vol. 18 (Friday Edition)

TGIF! And to make it even better ... J.crew factory online is open! While I have noticed that a lot of the factory items are retail store items from last year (2 "factory" sweaters I bought retail last year for $98 each), there are still a few items that I LUST!

The ruffle jacket. So sweet. Quite a versatile piece too.

The ruffle scarf. Hmm, do I like ruffles?
Ombre pearl cluster necklace.

Fair isle cardigan. I think I blogged about my love for fair isle last winter ... this sweater might have been blogged already!

Asymmetrical bow neck sweater ... available in a few colors but I like this punchy coral.