Christmas at Club Chestnut

This is my first Christmas at my new apartment so I wanted to make sure I documented the decorations. I'm not feeling very festive but I do love the lights and the coziness of the holiday season.

Gracie and Sadie think the tree is really fun to lay under. I got this Merry Christmas sign at a holiday gift exchange years ago and it's one of my favorites.
The little tree in my office/library area.

It's hard to see but I got a sign that says Country Christmas for the kitchen.

The tree in the kitchen. I've had this tree since college, so it's OLD.

The tree in the foyer. I love the way the white lights look from the outside. I'm getting a bigger one for next year.

Another look at it.

This is the little tree in the living room. I just used cookie cutters on this one. I needed to look at lights in the living room.

The back entrance

Happy Holidays from Club Chestnut!

Thanks

I haven't blogged in awhile. The reason is because I've had a lot going on that I couldn't really write about (mostly all good). But today I wanted to take a pause to write about what I'm thankful for. I'm thankful that this year has brought me so many life lessons. I'm thankful for the wonderful people in my life--the people that love me no matter what happens and tell me so when I need to hear it. I'm thankful for new friends that have opened my heart a little more. I'm thankful that I've found some inner strength to deal with some aspects of my life that have been unpleasant for a long time. Mostly, I'm thankful that I've started a new chapter in my life and finally feel at peace with who I am and what I want. It's nice to finally feel that way. I'm thankful for the tiny blessings in daily life...

Today was a nice Thanksgiving. My friends Jared and Lizz (newly engaged) came over to celebrate. They brought the turkey and I provided the atmosphere and the desserts. :)

Here is the table before the food...The spread...Jared and Lizz actually brought a turkey that they killed at a local farm (free range--grass fed). I was really impressed with them. I might go do that next year. Here they are unpacking it. It was delicious too. Probably the best turkey I've ever had.Thankful we were finally about to eat...It was a great day with good friends. I even managed to bring a plate of food & one of my pies to a friend that couldn't make it today. Today my heart and stomach were happy and full--and I'm thankful for that.

I hope you all had a great day with friends and family. Happy Thanksgiving!

A Little Bit Country...

I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet and I've JUST put away the Halloween decorations but I had to share this cute Christmas decoration I picked up last weekend. Although I'm in NO way ready for the holiday season (in fact I'm dreading it a bit this year) I do like to decorate for it.

Cute huh? Other than that it's Thursday and it's been a busy week. I was excited to watch the Country Music Awards last night. I love that Carrie and Brad hosted again.And Carrie's performance was great.
And how cute was Taylor Swift winning Entertainer of the Year?
But my favorite part was Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews performing. Loved it!

Did you watch? What was your favorite part?

Happy Thursday!

Boots & Bags

I mentioned my love of boots right now. Well, I didn't share the story of a few weeks ago. I went shopping on a Saturday morning (after a terrible night) to cheer myself up. I decided that getting new boots would be the answer to all my troubles for the moment. So I tried on this pair of black riding boots. They were cute and I was pretty much sold. But I had seen another pair in a different store and I wanted to make sure I didn't like those better. So I put my boots back on the shelf and went to check out the others. (My friend works at this shoe store so I told her I'd be back in a few) After about 20 minutes I decided that the boots at the first store were the ones for me. So I went back in to purchase my boots. Only to discover that my size was no longer there. I found my friend and asked her. They were being bought by another lady. (who would not wear them as cutely as I would have, I might add) So that was that. No boots for me that day. Sadness.

That was a few weeks ago... I still don't have those boots (I think later this week/next week) BUT....

Check out what I just got to fill the void

I love them and actually am wearing them today with a jean skirt. I don't think the picture captures the cuteness, but I assure you they are cute.


And I'm also carrying this little cutie that my friend Cristina brought me as a little surprise on Saturday. The handles are green--I just hadn't taken off the tissue paper yet. And I'm taking a half day at work. It is a good day!

Happy Tuesday!

Falloween

Well. Halloween is officially over now. In my world, anyway. I know it's a week late but the 1st Halloween at Club Chestnut took place on Saturday night. It was fun to dress up and hang out. Halloween night wasn't a good night for people with kids or any of the people that work at a college campus so it had to be this weekend. I love theme parties so I had to have a costume party.

Here are some highlights:

Jill, Me and Alisha

Emily and I
Jared and Vinny proving that dance does matter.

Batgirl and Emily

I think Jared and I were doing a high kick contest here. Yikes.

Now on to planning the next event...

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend!

What To Wear

When I get bored, stressed, or have a few minutes of free time I like to think of new ideas of what to wear. I people watch ALL the time to check out what they are wearing. I'm sure we all do this in varying degrees, right. I definitely plan out my hair or outfit for the next day while I'm sitting in a boring meeting.


Anyway, during some of these fashion brainstorming sessions I remembered a fashion statement I made back in high school (it was the 90's). The Eastland loafer. I used to ROCK the Eastlands. I even did the Eastland knot. Wow! I really loved these. Did any of you wear these or was it just my high school? I almost want a pair again. I remember them being really comfortable.

But back to 2009. I am obsessed with boots right now. As everyone seems to be right now. I am loving boots of all kinds. I really love boots with skirts. I love wearing skirts and dresses and want to find ways to incorporate them into winter. These are the looks I currently want to try out (both are taken from gap.com)

I love this look. So cute.

And this one is great. I adore the boots but I saw a girl wearing the knee socks with them the other day and I thought it was great. I need to go get knee socks. pronto.

(http://www.gap.com/)

Now I want to go shopping.

Have a great Friday!

New Tunes

Happy Tuesday! I've had a busy day. I just got home from work at 11 pm. So there isn't much to write about today. I did want to share that I got the new Carrie Underwood CD and I listened to it in my office today and I'm happy to report that I really like it. Of course, I'm a big Carrie fan--she's a Tri Sigma, after all. I really needed some new music in my life so this was good timing.
Sometimes it's the little things. What new music are you listening to?

Shout out to Dad

Yesterday my Dad, brother and I took a trip up to Buffalo to watch the Bills vs. the Texans. It was a fun day (although the Bills lost. Big time.) The weather was beautiful there (weird for the November, really)

I have a confession. I am a Buffalo Bills fan by birth. That may seem strange but it's true. My father is a HUGE Bills fan and I can't think of a time that this sports team wasn't a part of my life. Seriously, I don't have any recollection of a time that I didn't know about the Bills. I spent the four years of high school treading water cautiously after the Super Bowl losses. (sorry, Dad) I don't really consider it a Sunday in the fall or winter if I don't hear the gentle sounds of whistles blowing or commentators talking about 1st downs. It's just a way of life. And there is something comforting about the fact that I always know where my Dad is on any given Sunday when the Bills are playing. He'll be sitting in his recliner with his some Buffalo shirt on watching his boys play. Because of this, I feel a connection to this team. I always check to see how they did if I didn't watch the game. And I always feel happy when they've won and sad when they lose. But not because it's going to impact me in any way. I just want them to win because I know it'll make my Dad happy. I'm a good daughter.

My brother & I
Dad under the stadium sign

A little of the game...
Dad & I

Let's Go Buffalo!