Posted in At Home on 12/19/2011 12:22 pm by Jenn
I think any kid would tell you that the best part of Christmas is December 25th when Santa has visited and left all those goodies under the tree. Or, if you are allowed to open presents on Christmas Eve (which I was not), it might be December 24th. That’s Christmas, after all.
I fully believed that all the way through until high school, long after waiting for “Santa” ended. That is, until one of my teachers was trying to prove a point in English class. She said, “After all, the best part of Christmas isn’t Christmas morning! It’s the days leading up to Christmas that are the good part. It’s the anticipation of Christmas, not Christmas itself that is the best!” I remember how we all laughed at her and shook our heads in disbelief. Of course the best time was Christmas morning!
Over the years I have come to agree with her. When you are opening up all your presents on Christmas morning, the end of Christmas is fast approaching. Then come some family events and everyone is on to New Year’s. I like the weeks leading up to Christmas; finding the perfect present, making plans to bake, buying some new decorations, wondering what Santa is going to bring you…
Each year I look at all the home magazines and the perfectly decorated Christmas trees and perfectly laid tables. I drool over the exotic turkey recipes and the sugary cookie confections. I look forward to making plans with family and friends and think about all the wonderful outfits I could wear. The Christmas music and holiday shows are new and fresh; friends from years past. By the time Christmas morning rolls around I realize I never did attempt those almond balls, my tree looks bare from the back, my apartment wasn’t transformed into a winter wonderland, and I look fat from the knees up in every picture. I am sick of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Mariah Carey’s latest Christmas hit. The thought of even having to go out for milk sends me into paroxysms of fear over traffic and parking and I am praying that the snow holds off until after our day of driving. Presents need to be returned, hangovers need to be nursed, and the pressure to have the perfect New Year’s Eve is on to make up for the stress-filled holiday begins. For many, there is also the thought that the next day means back to work for a few unproductive days before the 31st.
I love Christmas Eve the most. When you are spending time with family, eating turkey, and wondering Santa is going to stop at your house. You can indulge in the goodies and one last Christmas movie together until new video games and books take your attention. Perhaps you go to church and everything is filled with Christmas hymns and candles. Carollers are out in full force and all along the street houses are lit up with family all cozy inside. Those traditions are the ones that I hold most dear and I wish would last just a little bit longer. Unless Santa is bringing me those books that were on my Santa list. In that case…see ya next year Christmas Eve, I’m moving right into Christmas morning!
That Just Happened!
Posted in Shoes on 12/08/2011 02:11 pm by Jenn
The holiday season is upon us and the parties are starting up. From a work party, to house parties, to dinner parties, to New Year’s and everything in between, the question on most women’s mind is “What do I wear?” Well, there are a plethora of commercials, magazines and blogs to help you decide what works and how to dress your body type. Frankly, I don’t really care what I wear because as Facebook has shown me, people will take unflattering pictures of me and then post them online, no matter how much I suck in, or stand on a ¾ angle. I swear I don’t look like a beach ball with arms in real life! I also have a chin, don’t have size GGG breasts, or a lazy eye. Just sayin’. I am inevitably disappointed with how I look in most holiday pictures because in my head I’m a 5’10” supermodel from Victoria’s Secret.
So. This year I am declaring an embargo on taking pictures form the knees up. Let’s just focus on the shoes, shall we? And this year I would love to be rocking one of these awesome styles.
Jewels and Feathers and Suede, Oh My!
Drinking Champagne While Wearing Champagne...If I Drank Champagne
I Think I'm On the Naughty List.
A Little Bit of Shine Goes Along Way.
Not Your Mama's Mrs. Claus! What would the holidays be without a pop of red? Plus, the height gets your lips closer to Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome. Pucker up!
These are just some of the wonderfully sparkly, bedazzled, and colorful shoes for the holiday. Plus, they all go with black which is my holiday clothing colour of choice. Hopefully all eyes (and lenses) will be drawn to my feet and I will be the first person tagging myself in holiday photo albums.
What shoes will you be wearing this holiday season?
That Just Happened!
Posted in Books on 12/05/2011 04:16 pm by Jenn
Kaling, Mindy. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and Other Concerns) Crown Publishing Group. November 1, 2011.
Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck-impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?”…
Chapters.Indigo.ca
I received this book courtesy of Alita @ Alita.Reads for the Book Blogger Holiday Swap. I read it in one night and I laughed out loud the whole way through. It is easy to see how Kaling was chosen to be a writer for “The Office”. She is funny, sarcastic, and seems like the girl-next-door. There were so many times that I found myself nodding in agreement to what was written on the page. Why do boys take so long to put on their shoes? Will Ferell shooting himself with a tranquilizer dart in “Old School” was comedic gold!
She talks about being a teenager and trying to make it in comedy, but without the “woe is me” attitude that comes across in other biographies. She hasn’t done a stint in rehab, she hasn’t had any illicit affairs, or been slapped with a DUI…she was a good girl who went to college and worked hard to get where she is. Kaling could be one of your friends who just happens to be on TV. I could totally relate to her experience with friend groups in high school, her love of designer fashion, and taking pics with your phone to make sure your makeup/hair/clothes look alright.
I would say this book is second only to Chelsea Handler’s books in making me laugh out loud. If you are looking for a funny book for someone this holiday season, this is it. I would say this is a Must Read. So thanks again to my Secret Santa for the lovely gift!
That Just Happened!
