MY LIPSTICK GUIDE.

There are not many days that I leave the house without lipstick. I feel that even if I don't take the time to put the rest of my makeup on, simply applying lipstick makes me feel so…womanly, I guess. I bet I have 30 tubes of lipstick but these four are my staples.

1 // Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fuchsia // $7.99 at the grocery store
2 // YSL Volupte Shine in #19 // $34.00 at Sephora
3 // MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo // $15.00 at MAC Cosmetics
4 // MAC Lipstick in Cyber // $15.00 at MAC Cosmetics (looks fabulous with MAC lip liner in Fuchsia underneath)

A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED FAMILY CHRISTMAS.

 

 

As always, we had a great holiday with my family. I've come to the conclusion (which I'm completely fine with, by the way) that my parents will never allow us to not spend the night at their house on Christmas Eve and wake up to what Santa brings. Even when my brother and I both have kids, I bet we will all camp out at their house and have Christmas there. It's a fun tradition and I love that we can't break it. I know that a lot of kids after they are grown up and out of the house just treat the holidays as blah, but in our family, it will always be the most exciting time of the year.

I always get really bummed out once Christmas is done and over with, this year is no different. Luckily, I have enough to keep me busy that I haven't thought about it as much.

THE CALM AFTER THE HOLIDAY STORM.

We had a great Christmas with my family and Greg's family, however, I'd be lying if I said that it doesn't feel good to be home. It's crazy that the time of the year where you are supposed to be sitting back and relaxing with family and friends, simply just enjoying each other's company, turns into the most exhausting few days of the entire year.

The past couple of years we have a new tradition where my family, Greg, and I go to Snowbasin Ski Resort and watch Greg's parents in the Torch Light Parade, followed by fireworks, and then all join together for dinner and drinks at his parent's house. It's been a fun tradition so far and I'm really hoping that we continue it in the future. It's also a tradition with my family to open one present each on Christmas Eve, new pajamas.

My little brother (he's 3 years younger) always was the first one to wake up on Christmas. His entire life that is the one day of the year where he actually wakes up early. It used to be as early as 4 or 5 AM, luckily, at the age of 20, he's now no earlier than 8 o'clock! The older that we get, the slower that opening presents gets. I like taking our time and enjoying the morning together as a family. Not too shabby.

I got a bunch of new fun cooking tools and whatnot that I am super excited about. Now that we are back in Salt Lake, I have spent the last 5 hours reevaluating my kitchen and trying to find a place for all of these goodies. All the while, hinting around to Greg that we REALLY need to find a new place to live soon because this kitchen is too damn small. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

THE INFAMOUS JMR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY.

 

JMR and the other Chalk Garden family throw a huge Christmas party every year. I remember my first year working for them and all of the other girls kept telling stories about it and saying how excited they were for the next. I soon saw why. Although we sometimes get a biiiiit out of control, it is always a great night with amazing friends. Our company is like a giant family. I wouldn't trade my opportunities that I've had there for anything.

THIS BOY IS 25!

Greg turned a year older and a year wiser on Sunday. Apparently, by the look of this photo, he spent the day contemplating life. Every year I make him his favorite homemade treat for his birthday, Oreo cheesecake. This year I had to hold back on chowing down on some myself and trust me, it wasn't easy.

OREO CHEESECAKE
Recipe by Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Ingredients:
36 Oreo cookies (crushed)
1/4 cup butter
4 package (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
4 large eggs
4 oz. semisweet chocolate
4 oz. white chocolate

Directions:
1 // Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2 // Line a 9x13 baking dish with aluminum foil. Finely crush 24 Oreos, mix with butter, press firmly on bottom of dish to create crust.
3 // In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and sugar with a mixer. Add sour cream and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, mix well. Chop remaining cookies and add to mix. Transfer to baking dish.
4 // Bake for 35-40 minutes or until center is set. Remove from oven and cool completely.
5 // After the cheesecake is completely cooled, place in refrigerator for 2 hours or until serving.
6 // Melt the chocolate and the white chocolate, put melted chocolate in two separate Ziploc bags with a small hole in the corner. Drizzle chocolate over cake. Chill until you are ready to serve.

INCHES AWAY.

At 11:59 PM tonight, I will finally be done with my first degree. I walked at graduation in the spring but still had a few credits to finish up. This past week has been so busy, sorry for my silence. Two huge papers, work everyday, and Christmas parties all weekend, I'm exhausted. I can't wait to be able to enjoy the holidays more come tomorrow. But I feel like I still have so much to do. Send packages, wrap presents, and much more. Here's a few things on my mind this fine Tuesday:

// The scene in this picture looks so warm.

// I need a manicure.

// Our air in Salt Lake City needs to clean its act up.

// I keep making lists of any last minute gifts to grab and then I keep losing them.

// I would do anything to get back in my bed right now.

Photo: anthologymag.com

SIZE REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.

 

I was really hoping that since we don't have a big tree this year that we weren't going to have to worry about the cat climbing it. Wishful thinking! First, off came all of the ornaments being knocked down by one paw swipe at a time. Next thing we know, here's a full grown cat laying on the branches of our mini tree. Her bum didn't fit and she ended up resting that on the armrest of the couch. Quite the problem solver, this one. This was last year...

CREATIVE GIFT WRAPPING.

I've made it my own little tradition the past few years to get creative with wrapping gifts. Two years ago I wrapped everything in black and white newspaper (it made for some dirty fingers) and then made homemade colorful felt bows to go on top. To learn how to make those bows, click here. You can make them out of paper, fabric, anything really. Last year I wrapped everything in brown craft paper and then made these glittered feathers for the tops of all of them. I used the brightest colored feathers that I could find at the craft store. They turned out great.

I know what I'm doing this year but I'm not going to post them until they are nice and wrapped, under the tree. Here are a couple of cute ideas that I found around the internet and wanted to share.

1 /// Whimsey Box Blog
2 /// Oh So Beautiful Paper
3 /// The 36th Avenue

I AM MY MOTHER'S DAUGHTER.

Greg and I have been looking to move lately and have both been busy with work so I was thinking that I would skip putting a tree up this year. Last year we just had the cat climbing it constantly, plus it takes so long to put one up and take it down. Then I realized, I am my mother's daughter, I have to put a tree up. My mom goes all out on Christmas. There is a gigantic tree, sometimes even two trees, there are the most perfectly wrapped gifts, everything is in its perfect place. So I, feeling a little guilty, went and bought a mini faux tree. I'm happy that I did because our house feels much more complete for this time of year. I'm sure I will love it even more when it snows tomorrow.

I texted Greg today after I put it up and told him that I'm making him watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with me tonight by our tree. He isn't as big of a Christmas fan as I am (I mean, he is a boy) but I know he secretly loves the decorations each year. But I'm sure he also loves to tease me for the fact that I have watched Home Alone every night while making dinner for the past two weeks.

ONE MONTH PALEO.

I decided a month ago to try a paleo diet. I hadn't been feeling well after eating, I haven't been able to lose weight, there are a lot of factors that went into the decision. It hasn't been easy at all (I would die for pasta) but I have felt a million times better, as well as losing four pounds. One of the hardest things has been making and then watching Greg eat a different dinner that the majority of the time sounds so much better! Most nights I make him the same as I make myself but once in awhile, I want him to get the regular meals that I used to make that he loves. And I'm not going to lie, I have had a few cheat meals.

I wanted to post some of my favorite meals so far...

BREAKFAST //
Egg whites. Bacon. Banana. Sweet potato mash.
Sweet potato mash. Sausage. Onions. Green and red peppers.

LUNCH //
Chicken breast. Brussels sprouts.
Ham. Carrots. Sweet potatoes.
Lettuce (to wrap). Shredded chicken. Green onions.

DINNER //
Salmon fillet. Sweet potatoes. Steamed broccoli.
Chicken breast topped with bacon. Steamed carrots.
Zucchini. Tomato-meat sauce.

SNACKS //
Almonds.
Carrots.
Celery.
Apples.