So this is Christmas

Here are a few pictures of the last two days!



Scarf: Gap
Top: Target
Jeans: Gap
Slippers: parts unknown

I wore two outfits yesterday, and this is what I was in most of the day. I was baking, cleaning, wrapping, etc. all day Saturday, and for the most part I just needed to be dressed in some manner. The kitchen looks pretty good here but by the time I was done today it all looked like a bomb had gone off.



Cardigan: parts unknown
Dress: Target
Belt: Target
Tights: JCPenney
Wedges: Shoe Carnival
Cat: Lucky

This is what I wore to mass last night. Also, this is essentially this outfit with the dress backwards and belted instead of the cardigan buttoned at the waist. Why mess with success? Also, when did it become appropriate to wear a halter minidress to church? I make my annual appearance so I might be a little out of it, but I thought modesty was still a key in the church. Next year I'm breaking out the tube top for church. I hope it doesn't snow.



My dear nephew L. is 10 months old now--holy cow, the little sucker has teeth and nails and can pull himself upright. He's kind of a jerk in the way that he throws things on the floor and kicks you when you're holding him and if you get in his face he tries to hit you, but he'll be over that when he's old enough to remember what he's doing. I hope. I can't not love him though.



Here's what I was baking yesterday and today. I really wanted to try out this pin, but my mom wanted chocolate cake. So we compromised and I made a chocolate cake with white (green) chocolate trees. I'm really pleased with how it turned out--this is actually my first cake; I usually bake pies and cupcakes and small things like mints, things that don't have to be delicately pried out of a tin and hopefully not smashed into pieces. The cake turned out beautifully though! Aside from a mild crisis involving a bit of chocolate cooling too fast and not having some trouble spreading frosting, things went smoothly (haha frosting pun) and everyone loved it. I'm all caked out right now but I won't rule out making one in the future!



Sweater: JCPenney (gift from parents)
Top: Target
Jeans: Gap
Flats: Toms

Here is my awesome family. From left--me (of course!), my dad, my mom, my former supervisor/work sister M., my former supervisor's daughter S., and baby L. Ellie's the dog in the forefront :) We consider M., S. & L. part of the family, and I can't imagine life without them. They're so stinking awesome--S. has come to curling and we went to see Kesha together over the summer, and M. has been a source of constant hilarity and support. It's so great to have them because most of my biological family is in NJ and my stepfamily is spread all over, so after moving to SC we didn't have anyone to spend the holidays with. Now we do, and it's awesome! Even more awesome: they may have given me bacon band-aids for Christmas. Yep.

Merry merry, everyone! Enjoy the rest of your holiday and I'll see you all tomorrow!