Dreaming of a white Christmas with every Christmas card I write...

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Happy December! This was a really fun post for me to create. I loved looking back at my old Christmas cards. The post made me dig through my boxes and organize all of my past Christmas cards and put them into my scrapbook.

I have always loved sending out Christmas cards to my family and friends. When I got Coco I began sending out Coco themed Christmas cards. Well...let me tell you they have become a hit among everyone that receives my Christmas card. Let's face it, it's a little different then seeing kids on a Christmas card (no offense, I am sure I will be doing that in a couple of years..with Coco!) Every year, I have some pretty big shoes to fill.Come December everyone is always checking their mailbox for a Coco Christmas card. Today I thought it would be fun to look back on my Christmas cards.

{2010}

{2011}

{2012}

{2013}

{2014} 

This year I am very early on getting my Christmas card picture done and printed. I wanted to do a beach Christmas card and could not believe how beautiful these pictures turned out. The sun, sky, subject, and landscaping was ideal for this picture. It can be very challenging to photograph a dog that just wants to sniff and explore. So what did I do? I put her on a rock she couldn't get down from and tadah!  I opted to order the cards from Tiny Prints this year. The quality of the card is great but the pricing was very steep from what I would normally ever pay. 

 and the 2015 Christmas card...

Now it's time to start brainstorming for the 2016 Christmas card...yep, I am crazy like that!

Friday Recipe

I cannot believe that Sunday is November first. I love the start of the holiday season. One thing I am not looking forward to is less daylight...hate that.

Last night for dinner I made skinny orange chicken. I am not a big Asian food fan (at all). The idea of MSG in my food freaks me out as my mom has suffered from vertigo (to the point of hospitalization) after eating Chinese food. 

I used the skinny orange chicken recipe from Gimme some Oven. It was good! I added broccoli by sauteing the broccoli with some olive oil on the stove and added it to the mixture of the chicken and the sauce. It would've been too plain without the broccoli. 

{I am not a food blogger/photographer!} 

Instead of rice I made quinoa. I omitted the red pepper flakes as I hate spicy anything.  Also, I used rice vinegar opposed to the rice wine vinegar (I couldn't find any in my local Whole Foods). Of course whenever possible I used organic ingredients - especially with the soy sauce.  

Have a great Halloween! 

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Fun fashion finds

Happy Thursday! Almost there.

I am not a fashion diva and anything but an expert....but I do love fashion!

I am LOVING faux fur vests this fall...I want to buy another one but I am having a hard time finding one I love....here is what I wore to Wellfleet's Oyster Fest a few weeks ago.

{Shirt: Lilly Pultizer} 

Also pictured in the above picture of me devouring oysters is my Eden bracelet. Every cape gurl must have Eden's Cape Cod bracelet. There are plenty of knock offs available to purchase. I opted to "shop local" and support local artists and purchase the only authentic bracelet from Eden. Sorry China. Eden is the original designer of the bracelet. Jewelry cannot be purchased online and only directly at their store in Dennis. They are a seasonal store and during the high season (summer) you must get a ticket in order to shop in their store. They only accept checks and cash. Usually, they open in December for the month in case you need to get some Christmas gifts! Check out their website for all the details. 

{Vest: Steve Madden got @ Nordstrom Rack}

{Jeans: KUT from Nordstrom Rack}

{Bracelet: Eden}

{Sunnies Kate Spade from Nordstrom Rack}

The Law of Attraction

By now, I am sure you have heard of the law of attraction. I truly believe that when you want to achieve something if you visual it happening you will achieve success. I started manifesting things I wanted and goals as a young child. My first remembrance of manifesting one of my desires is how I desperately wanted a dog. My parents' never would give into getting a dog. So, when I was younger I had a stuffed animal dog and put the dog's bowl of water on my 101 Dalmatians place mat in my bedroom. Well, what do you know? Coco's place mat is the one my stuffed animal used.

As a child, at the book fair at school I purchased a poster of a dog. I swear it was a shih tzu. I had that poster hung above my bureau for quite some time. I wish I still had the poster to see if actually was a shih tzu! See? When you visualize something and "pretend" you already have it, you are already half way there. 

I have been putting my focus on finding the perfect house for AJ and I to buy. We are both are working on our financial goals and straightening some things out. We have had lots of setbacks during this process, but for the most part I know we are making progress of attaining our goal. If anything our setbacks have made a stronger couple. 

I began to do some research on how to manifest the house we will be buying. I found this blog post especially helpful in visualizing our house. 

My blog is the perfect place to post step 1, knowing what I want.  I can come back here read it, visualize it, and then write how everything has come true!

Location: Littleton, MA 

Neighborhood: A side street; nice neighborhood. On Long Pond/Fort Pond/Lake Nagog

Bedrooms: 3 bedrooms, finished basement, 1-2 bathrooms, dishwasher. Medium sized backyard. Garage. 

Now, there are most certainly other areas we are willing to live in (Chelmsford, and Westford). However, Littleton meets everything we are looking for. Accessible to my work and AJ's, small community, and a top notch school system. 

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One way I have started executing the law of attraction is that I have begun to purchase items for our house. This past summer, I purchased a beautiful drawing from Nick Martinez. This picture (below) means a lot to me as Saratoga is one of AJ's favorite places and where we have so much fun together. We are going to get the picture framed soon! My Saratoga tips will be posted next summer as I know I have kept saying I am going to give my tips out. 

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Friday Four aka Friday Five

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Hello loves! We made it to Friday, whoo-hoo. No big plans this weekend. We are going to stay local this weekend as we are a bit tired of all the traveling we have been doing lately.

Today, I am going to be doing something a little different on the blog. Instead of Friday five I am going to do Friday four!

Do any of you listen to Wake up with Taylor on XM radio? It's on channel 109 on XM. I listen on every morning on my way to work and I love the show. One of my favorite regular guests is Carin Rockind. Carin defines herself as a happiness coach. Carin is a breath of fresh air to listen to in the morning. I subscribed to Carin's newsletter and I decided to share one of the activities Carin developed to "fill your positivity tank." With the negative world we live in and daily stresses it is important to sit back, reflect and realize how much we truly have to be thankful for.

{1} I am GRATEFUL for my boyfriend who loves me unconditionally. My parents' who have given me so much. My Coco who makes me realize that there are angels surrounding us everyday.

{2} I take great PRIDE in my work ethic, my ability to organize and lead, and caring for others.

{3} I am INSPIRED by my friends' who work hard to achieve success and my almost 93 year old grandmother who is one of the strongest people I know.

{4} I am EXCITED about my upcoming vacation and the future with AJ and Coco.

Next week is my Saratoga tips. Have a wonderful weekend!

Cape Cod vacation rewind

My first summer '15 vaca is over! Man, do I hate returning to work after vacation. Please tell me I am not the only one?  But, we made some great memories that will be ever lasting. I ate too much food and drank too much and now my clothes are feeling too tight. UGH!

{Sunday} For an early dinner we ate at Sesuit Harbor Cafe in Dennis. What a great little hidden gem. Not too hidden though, the lines here can become insanely long. It's a 'takeout' kind of place; no indoor seating or servers. AJ was in search of a lobster roll that wasn't disgusting. There's outdoor picnic tables overlooking the marina and ocean. Not to mention this place is dog friendly...and the best part is that it's BYOB. We didn't realize it was BYOB. OH WELL! Like I always say, the key to not having to have an insanely long wait for dinner at the cape is to arrive somewhere between 5pm-5:45pm. Or after 8/8:30pm. Otherwise you are usually stuck waiting.

{the clam chowder was excellcent}

{AJ's lobster roll which he loved and my fried scallops} 

{Monday} Unexpectedly on Monday we entertained some of AJ's friends. We had dinner at Captain Parker's. It's a great restaurant that happens to also have a outdoor bar and eating area. Surprisingly, this place looks like it may be your typical cape tourist trap but the food has always been excellent. It's open in the winter too.

{Tuesday} We started our day by walking to the beach. IT WAS SO HUMID. I was sure glad I walked after eating some ice cream that night! 

{my sleeping beauty} 

Sundae School is a cape must. I'll let you in on a little insider info though. If you're going during a peak time go to the Harwich Port location and not Dennis! Dennis' parking lot is a nightmare. The Harwich Port location is a little further but a much larger and better parking lot. Sundae School is my top choice for ice cream on the cape.

{coco trying to get some of my yummy yummay..not gonna happen} 

{Wednesday} We went to downtown Hyannis and I indulged in a cupcake from Little Miss Cupcake. OMG, they were to die for. So fresh. So moist. The owner, Taylor was super sweet and helpful. She only uses real ingredients. Believe it or not, you can tell immediately with your first bite that the cupcake is high quality and no fake sugar! We also checked out the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum.  I personally was disappointed after paying the $10.00 admission fee. I love the Kennedy's and was expecting more from the museum. There were a lot of pictures; it was more of a picture museum. 

{I love Jackie's Lilly dress}

 "I always come back to the Cape and Walk on the beach when I have a tough decision to make. The Cape is the one place I can think and be alone" 

Wow, no wonder why I gained weight after this trip. All I did was eat! Look for my next post talking about my Saratoga vacation! I've been receiving a lot of questions from friends about the race track. I will be sharing my tips with you. Believe it or not, there is a science behind having a fun and successful day at the track. Sorry, I don't have any betting secrets :) 

My Favorite Fabulous Face Products!

Today on the blog I am going to be discussing my skincare routine. My skin is anything but flawless. It's oily, dry, and I've always been prone to acne breakouts. The big 3-0 made me think more about my skin care routine. I've always been adamant about washing my face nightly. I knew I needed to change my habits and find better products suited to my needs.

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My wonderful esthetician recommended a list of products & it turns out I am actually digging 'em!

1. I first start off with the Ocean + Pure Mousse. I leave this product on for about 30 seconds to make sure all the dirt of the day gets off my face.
2. Next, I use a skin toner called Bioelements Calmitude Hydrating Solution. I spray this about 3 times all around my face and neck. This part is probably the biggest pain as you need to let it dry before applying your moisturizer.
3. My last step is to moisturize. I love using Ocean + Pure Rosacell product because it's a moisturizer I can use for summer and winter. My skin feels hydrated all day long. 
   

Currently, I am washing my face when I wake up and before I go to bed. It is a little bit of a hassle to add something to my morning routine but my esthetician did suggest that I wash morning and night. 

My once a week routine is to exfoliate my skin. I happen to do this every Tuesday. Let me tell you girl, I love using the Bioelements Pumice Peel. OMG does my skin feel fabulous and smooth after I exfoliate!

You probably thought I was done talking about my fav face products but there's one more I can't forget to share! It's the Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes! I keep these guys in my car and the second I get out of the gym I use a wipe to get rid of all the sweat to prevent my pores from clogging.

What I like best about all the above products is that they have a minimal smell to them. I don't know about you, but I can't stand products filled with perfume smells that stick with me all day. The less ingredients in the product the better. 

NOW for the grand finale....one of the most important steps to flawless skin (as we probably all know) is to drink more water. UGH. I don't know about you, but I constantly struggle with increasing my water intake. I only drink water (ok, and cocktails). I gave up soda a few years ago. I usually have coffee in the morning but the struggle is real to get in more glasses of water everyday. 

Thanks for reading! I would love to hear what products you love and if you have any tips. Next week, I'll have a vacation rewind for you.

Friday 5

{1} Friday at 4:30pm this gal will be on VACATION. I am already checked out. The last time I took some time off was for my dirty 30 in Vegas in February. I can't wait to sit at the beach, and win some money at Saratoga. Growing up I HATED horse racing...my Dad is a huge fan. It is too funny that AJ loves it just as much as my Dad. Saratoga is such a fun place. Even if you aren't a horse racing fan you must go at least once. Fun party atmosphere and fun people! 

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RHONY at Saratoga! 

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{2} I want to read more. Now that I am out of grad school, I want to make a better effort to read more books. Educational? I don't care. Trashy? Sure, why not? I ordered Ramona from RHONY's new book, Life on the Ramona Coaster. I love Ramona for her bold attitude and how she tells it like it is...not to mention she also has a shih tzu named Coco. For a fun beach read I bought Elin Hilderbrand's The Rumor. It takes place on Nantucket which is my favorite beach island...another one of my happy places.

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{3} I am still working on my summer bucket list...it's not that in depth but still some fun summer ideas

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I must go to the Chatham Bars Inn (CBI) The Beach House restaurant. How amazing is that view? 

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I want to have a romantic dinner beach picnic with AJ!

{4} I don't even want to mention the F word.... fall. Nordstorm is having their anniversary sale and I found this cute vest. I want to get a Nordstrom credit card but with trying to keep my credit report perfect for when we buy a house, I've decided to wait on opening one. Card holders get to order early from the sale, points, and a few other perks. One of my fall must haves is a faux fur vest. They look so comfy. I'd pair it with a nice pair of leggings. I know Marshall's will have them soon enough so I will resist the urge...

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{5} Can we just um, discuss the Miranda and Blake divorce? WTF?! I was actually disappointed to hear about their divorce. Of course in the media there has been rumors of marriage issues for quite some time; I actually just never believed the rumors. They were so cute together. And let's face it, I have a total crush on Blake! 

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On Wednesday look for a post on my favorite skin care products. Time for vacation!

Weekend Rewind

The weekends always seem to fly by, do they not? We had a great weekend at the cape. The weather wasn't so cooperative but at least it wasn't raining. AJ & I started our weekend off with a delicious smoothie from J Bar in Harwichport. I got the Mave Berry smoothie. It was alright; but I think it could benefit from some grapes as it didn't have enough flavor for me. 

{Mave Berry from J Bar}

We tried to go to one of our favorite spots, The Beachcomber in Wellfleet but traffic on Saturday was AWFUL. We ended up turning around and because we were starving we stopped at an awful tourist trap called The Lobster Shanty. Don't ever go food was terrible! 

{not digging the food} 

On Saturday night we stayed in and cooked a delicious homemade meal. AJ is a great griller! Sometimes I much rather cook at home then go out to eat. 

Yesterday, we went to the Hyannis Craft Fair for a bit and I picked up some cannolis from "The Orginial Canoli Girl." They were delicious and Rene was super friendly. See what I mean about eating too much on the weekends? Ugh! 

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We then had lunch at The Naked Oyster in Hyannis. I had the cobb salad and AJ and I shared some oysters. The oysters were great.  The Naked Oyster has their own oyster farm located in Barnstable Harbor. I am an oyster snob and I can say that these oysters were on point and nice and cold (the way I like my oysters!). I also enjoyed a nice refreshing glass of Sangria with my lunch. 

And now here we are at Monday again. My countdown to our vacation has officially started...four more wake ups!