It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!?

The Holiday Season is in full swing... along with work and workouts and Junior League! I've literally only been in my apartment to sleep this week!

I had a (brief) moment to catch my breath, aka scarf down a sandwich between meetings, and had a minor panic attack about all the things I need to do in the next three weeks. The answer to minor panic attacks? To-do List! So I put making a to-do list on my to-do list and after a quick drink with friends to ignt, crossed it off.

Looking forward to a productive weekend, squeezed in between birthday parties and volunteering!

San Francisco Thanksgiving Staycation

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine was relatively quiet this year. I chose to avoid the crazy and exhausting holiday travel and stay in the city. One of my roomies stayed this year too, she had just been home the previous weekend for her brother's wedding.

It was a perfect weekend, the weather was beautiful, we got out and ran, saw out of town friends and did some fun touristy activities. We also cooked an absolutely delicious Thanksgiving for 2 (that could have fed 8)!

Our Thanksgiving Table

Only 1 minor mishap when the bourbon I was reducing for the Pecan pie caught on fire, but everything came out unscathed (including the pie).

Friday we decided to get out and be active so we rented bikes down at Fisherman's Warf. The original plan was to bike the bridge over to Sausalito, but we ended up going through the Presidio to Ocean Beach. I hadn't ridden a bike (outside of spin class) in maybe 5 years and never did anything super adventurous then. The Presidio is pretty hilly so the first part of the ride tested our endurance. The biggest ( not steepest, but longest) was at the end of the Presidio, but the down hill is along the coast and looks over Sea Cliff and China Beach.

It was absolutely stunning and made the entire ride worth it! I had run the hill before on the Nike Half Marathon, but nothing beats flying down the hill on a bike. It was definitely one of those "only in San Francisco" moments and I'd recommend the ride to anyone coming to visit. Unfortunately I was too busy soaking up the moment to take pictures, but I found this one on google! It doesn't really do the view any justice and it was a much nicer day, but its a little glimpse of what I saw.

Countdown to Christmas: The Nutcracker

I realize this is pre-mature (only 2 days, but whatever). I am just too excited! One of my favorite Christmas things is the Nutcracker. I don't know why, I just started going when I moved out on my own. Kingsley and I went to my first one in San Francisco and I've been going every year since.
Maybe it's because they make it snow outside as you walk in and actually feels like Christmas.

I just bought tickets to take my Grandma and Aunt to the Joffrey's Nutcracker while I'm in Chicago this year and I'm so excited! The sparkles, the dancing and maybe even some REAL snow!

This is my favorite part: The Grand Pas De Deux. The music is absolutely beautiful, I could listen to it all day.....and maybe I have been :)


P.S. 33 more days 'til Christmas!

Thankful Thursday

This week has really demonstrated that my goal to try and be more positive about things is a lot harder than just saying that I am going to be. You actually have to change your perspective and, especially if you don't know anything else, it's hard! Trying is what counts though, right??

#1 People that Put Up with Me
As I said in my previous post, one of the reasons I chose to start being more optimistic is because I can be pretty negative sometimes. Yes, it makes me sassy and yes, sometimes I'm hilarious and yes, some times I'm a huge B and I can't even control it. Believe me I know it and believe me I get just as frustrated with myself about it as I'm sure people around me do. I'm slowly learning (and working on admitting) that this comes from sensitivity, maybe even an over sensitivity, but meanwhile there are few who have managed to weather the storm that is ever so often my personality. This week was a tough one and there is no way I could have gotten through without them. I don't tell them enough how thankful I am that they're there to put up with me, even more than I'm willing to put up with myself.


#2 Zicam
Superficial? Yes. Lifesaving? Also yes. Everyone at work has been battling a super cold and I woke up Tuesday with a hint of a sniffle. My ever so wise self, popped a Zicam and haven't sniffled (for cold related reasons) since. A former roommate and now close friend told me about it. I rolled my eyes and brushed it off as some crazy "california hippie thing". A few weeks and tissue boxes later, I was still struggling to breathe. So I sucked it up, tried one and have been hooked ever since. Take it at your first incling of a cold and you'll be golden!


#3 My Roommates
For those of you that actually know me on a daily basis, you are going to think this is a sign of the apocalypse  but it's true. I have been crazy busy lately with work,  Junior League, Theta, drinks with friends etc and my house has become a safe place of rest. Away from muggles and cold weather and things other than sweatpants and netflix. I've really needed to know that I have that place lately and, after going through a lot of craigslist crazies I feel like I'm FINALLY in place where it 110% is that place for me.

#4 My Old School Pajama Set
Yes, I'm talking cotton, button up top with matching pants. It's been chilly here at night and they keep me nice and warm. I've loved them so much I'm considering upgrading from my VS pair to J.Crew, monogrammed of course :)

#5 Christmas suggestion e-mails/texts from my Mom
Okay so maybe this one is a little greedy, but I'm allowed to cheat once right? Even though I don't want a "knock off keurig thats on sale for $39.99" it means she's looking for suggestions and it's time to start compiling my list!!

Obsession: Halcyon

Just downloaded the new Ellie Goulding album Halcyon and I'm OBSESSED! Her voice is like fun and dance-y meets chill, which I know sounds like an oxymoron, but its the truth.

Countdown to Christmas: Holiday Cards

I hope you've all received your December issue 'Real Simple' which includes a fabulous checklist of all the things you should be doing to minimize the stresses of the Holiday Season.

 First up on their list is to order your holiday cards by November 30th! I would say a little earlier to insure there are no bumps in printing or delivery, but that's just my anxiety prone self. 

Needless to say I've already begun my search for the cutest Holiday Card ever. Between Kate, Lilly, Ashley, Etsy & Minted I don't know how I'm ever going to make a decision!  Below are my favorites so far!

Kate Spade's 'Shine On' Holiday Card, because the holiday's are the best time to sparkle!!

Inside Reads: 'tis the Season to Sparkle

Love the Art-Deco lettering and fun Turquoise! A New Year's card is great for a neutral Holiday card and it gives you a little more time to get them out! Definitely the best choice if you're going to be busy entertaining for both Thanksgiving AND Christmas!

Inside Reads: Happy New Year

"Spread" The Cheer Cards from Kate as well, because who doesn't love some "cheesy" holiday humor?

Inside Reads: Spreading Good Cheer

Lilly Pulitzer's "Falalala Lilly" card is fun and sassy!

Ashley Brooke designs has a lot of fun, unique options as well! 

Both her "Favorite Things" & "Santa Baby" cards come in folding cards AND postcards!

She also offers gorgeous customizable cards for the couple and the single gal! She does have ADORABLE photo cards available, but what is more custom than a portrait of yourself??

They make me want to get a twirly skirt for all the upcoming Holiday Parties!!

Minted is a stationery/card website that allows you to design your own cards and share your designs with others (& vice versus). I found this card last year on Tumblr and fell in love with it! I sums up the holiday's perfectly for me! Maybe I'll suck it up and get it this year??

So now that I've shown you all these fabulous options where on earth can you find them?

Kate Spade's Cards: Nearest Kate Spade Store or Crane Stationery website
Lilly Pulitzer Cards: Lifeguard Press Website

Ashley Brooke Designs: In her Holiday Shop Of Course!

Minted: Minted.com

Thankful Thursday

Happy almost Friday! Being that its November, the month of Thanksgiving, and I'm making a conserted effort to be more positive about my life I thought I'd start doing Thankful Thursday!

Things I'm most thankful for this week:

1) People with everyday manners.
 Please and thank you go a long way and I think our generation forgets that a lot, especially with each other.

2) The right to vote! 
Duh.

3) Fall weather. 
Finally getting to bust out my sweaters!

4) Amazing San Francisco restaurants
Never ever cease to amaze, transport and satisfy me!

5) Holiday Spiced Teas 
Mostly Winter Solstice from Peets :)

6) Visits from Out of Town Friends
1 last weekend and 1 coming up this Weekend!!

National Health Blogpost Month

Since I was slacking on the blog front in October I completely missed the chance to give a shout out to Dysautonomia Awareness month and my friend, and fellow blogger, Kingsley over at Life as Griki who was spending October blogging about her experience with P.O.T.S, a  condition of dysautonomia.  Lucky for me November happens to be National Health Blogpost Month and I can make up for it, because she's spending November continuing her posts!

MyWegoHealth is sponsoring the blogging event and providing prompts for everyday in November.
Yesterday's prompt (day 4) was "What do you have to carry in your purse for your health needs?".

My biggest health issues are chronic headaches and severe migraines. Mind numbing, vision affecting, limbs go numb, can't eat, can't sleep, "Am I having a stroke?" migraines. For those I carry Maxalt dissolving tablets with me everywhere because you never know when those first symptoms will hit you. When they were first prescribed I only took them when my headaches would get to that can't eat- can't sleep phase. Serious medication like that made me nervous. I've slowly begun to learn that the best way to avoid those life-inhibiting headaches is to take it BEFORE it gets that bad. Before my migraines I usually get a pinching feeling on the bottom of the right side of brain and the light sensitivity and nausea start coming in waves. THAT's when I have to pop a maxalt, not when I'm already laying in bed and can barely stomach the tablet on my tongue.

The other thing that goes with me everywhere is Advil (yes, my purse often makes the sound of pills shaking in the bottle). I used to be an all tylenol girl and then I found out tylenol can actually cause backlash headaches, especially when you take it 3-5 days a week so I've converted to ibuprofen  I've just recently read that the gel capsules absorb more quickly so I've just switched to those. Every second counts when you're living an active life!  It usually takes me a little less than a year to go through a 350 pill, family sized jug and I always joke that I have a bottle from almost everywhere I've traveled because my travel bottle ALWAYS runs out.

November Goals

Well it's finally November. Just 2 more months left in the fabulous year of 2012. October was a little hectic for me with work, out of town visitors, brunches, boys being their ridiculous selves, Fleet Week and the Giant's World Series chaos it literally flew by (and I only managed to squeeze out 1 blog post).

So I made my #1 goal for November to get my act together, organize my life and make some goals for the month! We'll have to wait and see how they pan out, but I have to start somewhere and, if anything there will have to be a follow-up post (contributing to Goal #6)!

#1) Be More Positive

One of my favorite things about myself is my sarcastic, and somewhat cynical, sense of humor. While, I wouldn't really think of myself as a "Debbie Downer" I do think those abilities stem  from a more pessimistic view of life. I've started to notice this, outside of my sense of humor a lot lately. Whether it's being sad about feeling like I have no control over my life, to getting up every morning and dreading the people I will encounter on public transportation, it's all becoming exhausting. So I've decided to put it in writing to remind myself to think out side of my usual tunnel and notice the positive things that are happening!

#2) Finish 1 Book

For the last year...and maybe longer I've been starting books and not finishing them (except for the 50 Shades of Grey series all of which I finished in 1 month). I currently have 5 partially read pieces of literature sitting by my bedside and I'm vowing to finish 1 by the end of the month.  My re-reading of The Great Gatsby seems to be the best contender, but Fitzgerald's The Love of the Last Tycoon is close behind. I do still have Decision Points, Let the Great World Spin and MWF seeking BFF as well. So many choices!

#3 Workout 3x a Week

With the start of the Junior League active year, the school year and work swinging into full production. I have had zero time to work out. Exercising has always been more efficient for me to do after work and now my weeks are jam packed full of extra-curricular commitments. Since it's not coming easy I'm going to have to make more of an effort to get myself out of bed in the morning and off to the gym. Classes are most motivating for me and I was doing Bar Method for a while this summer. I loved every part of it except for the "I already worked out today so I don't have to do cardio." that got stuck in my head. I'm looking into BurnSF a cardio and pilates studio not too far from my house. I keep reading that us 20-something gals need both Cardio and Toning to keep our slowing metabolisms up and I'm trying to find the best way to do that. Stay tuned.

#4 Be More Budget Conscious

Apparently with all the craziness of October my credit card got a little crazy too. I have a budget outlined, but it's always kind of worked itself out. I guess I'm going to have to start paying more attention to it. Any good apps or tool tips would be appreciated!!

#5 Get Christmas Shopping Done

Now that it's November is officially the Most Wonderful Time of The Year in my book. As much as I love (zero-sarcasm there) spending December weekends in the decked out stores it's always stressful (see dreading of crowded public places in Goal #1) and December goes by so quickly. I'm hoping to be a little more crafty this year; pinterest as so many amazing things, but all those things mean I need to start early! I'm hoping to ready for crafting, baking and/or wrapping by the end of the month!

#6 Blog 2x a Week (at least)

I always get great ideas for blog posts, but never actually sit down to write them! I'm hoping Goal #6 will give me the motivation to make the time, write them out and entertain you lovelies with my oh-so-fabulous life (read sarcasm).