Lucky #13: 13 Things to Look Forward To in 2013

Pin It Happy New Year, blogosphere!

For me, New Years is always a little bittersweet. While I like the concept of a new beginning with the new year, I hate that the holiday season is officially over. I'm a huge sucker for Christmas, and it breaks my heart when my sweet little across-the-street neighbor starts taking his holiday decorations down outside! 

However, in an effort to focus on the positive and the promise of a new year with 365 days to watch the 2013 story unfold, let's discuss 13 things that I'm looking forward to this year!

1. The Great Gatsby Release

One of my favorite books hitting the screen courtesy of one of my favorite directors (Baz Luhrmann).

This is likely going to be too delicious and glittery for words, and I am going to love every minute!

2. Award Season Fashion

The Golden Globes & Screen Actors Guild Award shows are my bowl games, and the Academy Awards are my Super Bowl. I cannot wait to sit and watch E! for 3 hours before the award show and watch all the beautiful gowns, dapper tuxedos, and horrific fashion maladies arrive. 

The starting line-up? Oscar de la Renta, Armani, Marchesa, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Siriano, Diane von Furstenburg, Ellie Saab, and Verg Wang.

3. Convention in Orlando, FL in June

4. Finally Assembling my Wedding Album/Scrapbook

5. Reading (and DIY'ing) my way through Young House Love, and 
The Things That Matter by Nate Berkus

 

I have been reading Young House Love's blog for a few months now. They are the coolest, most creative couple ever, and I secretly want to be in their family. I received their book for Christmas, and I have been bookmarking all kinds of DIY projects that I want to complete this year. I love a good DIY project, and many pieces in our home are DIY projects that I have worked on.
Secondly, I LOVE Nate Berkus. He is so freaking cool, and I can't wait to delve into his new book and become inspired by his impeccable taste!

6. The Royal BABY!

Easily one of the most anticipated births of my generation! This little nug will be 3rd in line to the throne (regardless of gender; sorry Harry!). With an anticipated (rumored) due date of June or July, 2013, I have no doubt that the crazies will come out of the woodwork once again to hold a vigil (read: Extended CNN viewing) to keep tabs on Princess Kate's labor. God Save the Royal Nugget!

7. The Reality TV Royalty Baby!



I won't lie, I am a sucker for the Kardashian franchise. I don't know why I am oddly fascinated by them. And the spawn of Kim Kardashian and Kayne West is no exception! I can't wait for all the speculation on baby names, the impending E! Reality Special, Kim trying to pull the kid out like her sister Kourtney did and probably being too much of a wuss to do it...Can't wait!

8. Summer Theatre Under the Stars 
(especially the opening night for the season!)

9. Being a bridesmaid in a dear friend's wedding on my birthday!

10. The Bachelor



I looooove The Bachelor. I think that what I like just as much as watching the actual tv show is the community that comes along with it. Twitter blows up, it's a water-cooler topic of conversation, people actually make betting brackets for this thing. I always prefer The Bachelor to The Bachelorette. The women going insane is half the entertainment. 

11. Becoming a Yogi



This is a personal goal that I have for myself this year. I have wanted to get into yoga for a while, but just never had the time or resources. Now that I do, I can't wait to get started. Plus, it gives me an excuse to buy fun things from Lululemon!

12. More of this guy:




13. Spending it with this guy

10 Most Fascinating People of 2012: Part Deux

Pin It Alright, party people! Here is part two of two in my list of the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012. 

5. Amanda Bynes's Publicist

I don't actually know who this person is. However, he/she is a fascinating individual. Being able to put a spin on a few DUI's and pass it off as exhaustion? FASCINATING! Calling Amanda's stint in out-patient rehab a "spa get-away"? YOU DON'T SAY!. Seriously, I think I'm most fascinated because if they just came out and said, "Hey, Amanda Bynes has a bit of an issue and is suffering from post-child-star-traumatic-stress-disorder," I think we would all be like "alright. Cool. Amanda's getting the help she needs." Your client has probs, Mr/Miss Publicist! Own it, yo!

4. The Brown Family: the cast of Sister Wives




I will admit that I'm a pretty faithful viewer of the TLC series, Sister Wives. Polygamy is a concept that I don't really know too much about, and Mormonism is a religion that I am not all that familiar with. I really don't agree with the concept of polygamy, and I certainly do not agree with the way that Cody Brown runs his family, I still can't look away!

3. Mindy Kaling



I don't know what else to say, other than I kind of want to be Mindy Kaling when I grow up. She is beyond hysterical, and it's just the kind of humor that I appreciate...slightly quirky, sarcastic, and ironic. I think that she is the next generation in women in comedy.

2. Guiliana Rancic




Not only do I find this woman fascinating, but I also truly admire her. This woman has been to hell and back over the last year or so, with her challenges conceiving a child, being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer, and undergoing a double mastectomy. However, I think that she is the face of resiliency in the face of adversity. I also think that she is a perfect example of the saying "God wouldn't bring you to it if he couldn't bring you through it." She and her husband, Bill, were blessed with their little baby boy, Edward Duke Rancic, via surrogate, this fall. Everything happens for a reason!

1. Baby Kimye






Oh, Kardashian family. You really are the masters at pop-culture and publicity gold. Announcing the pregnancy merely days before the premiere of Kourtney and Kim Take Miami? Like I said, PR GOLD. The spawn of Kim Kardashian and Kayne West will, undoubtedly, be the talk of 2013...so we'll name him/her number 1 on this blog and give the little nugget a jump start. 
Congrats, Kimye Nugget! You're fascinating!

10 Most Fascinating People of 2012: Part One

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Hey friends!

   Yes, I am still alive. I have been a naughty little slacking blogger lately.  Life has been sooo busy, but I am loving every minute of my new life as a "Mrs."!

So as you all probably know (unless you're into that whole living-under-a-rock thing), Ms. Barbara WaWa is getting ready to air her 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012. I have been an avid viewer of this annual special for several years, mostly because Babs typically has some humdingers that leave me scratching my head..."they're FASCINATING? Let's not get carried away here. *Ahem Justin Bieber ahem*." 

That being said, inspired by one of my favorite bloggers Taylor, over at The Daily Tay, I decided to compile my own list of the most fascinating people of 2012. We'll split this into two parts, because I know you'll be waiting with baited breath for the second installment (and mostly because I can't think of 10 people right now...because there are so many people I'm dumbstruck  fascinated by).

10. Andy Cohen, Bravo tv.

Ok, I'll admit, I love me some sweet, sweet Andy Cohen. I think that this dude, as an Executive Producer for the Bravo TV network, really has an eye for the mindless crap that will suck viewers in. And, Andy, you have made a believer out of me! Not only that, but, dear Andy, I have to commend you for sitting through all of those interviews with Theresa Guidice and not smacking her false eyelashes off of her face. Bravo, Andy. Bravo, indeed.

9. Antoine (aka, the dude that looks like an alpaca)

If you haven't seen this video somewhere on the inter webs  please take a moment to view it. I think my fascination with him lies in two parts-- 1) he basically coined the phrase "hide yo kids, hide yo wife". And 2) how many people have YOU seen that look like an alpaca? And I don't even say that to be mean. I mean, seriously, he OWNS IT. You work it, you little alpaca, you!

8. Hugh Jackman

  

Oh, Hugh. Sweet, sweet Hugh. Honestly, is there anything that you cannot do? I've been a fan of Hugh Jackman's for YEARS. Ever since he was in that little movie with Ashley Judd, Someone Like You, and I used to listen to The Boy from Oz, which he starred in on Broadway. And now, we've got him portraying one of the most demanding roles in musical theatre and film, Jean Val Jean in Les Miserables. I admit, I'll probably be one of those cookoo's that goes to see it on Christmas Day, and I'll probably cry through the whole thing, but you know what? I ain't even mad about it.

7. Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge

Full Disclosure: I'm kind of a geek about British History. Even more so when it comes to the monarchy. So, you can imagine the level of geek-dom that occurred when Price William and Kate tied the knot. And now, she's going to have a cute little royal nugget! I think Kate is fascinating for so many reasons, but among them, I think that she just seems so approachable. I find this so endearing because her grandmother-in-law is just the opposite, I feel. Additionally, I love her sense of style, and I also think that she has gotten William to chill out a little bit.

6. Mama June

I know that my girl, Babs, named Honey-Boo-Boo as one of her 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012. But, I truly think that her mom, Mama June, is the most fascinating. She is, after all, the originator of Go Go Juice and the brains behind the operation that IS Honey Boo Boo. Mama June likes to cool off in the local swamp on hot summer days, and also enjoys making lemonade with straight lemon juice and exactly one pound of sugar. Mama June also loves her man, Sugar Bear. Well you know what, Mama June? You make my heart smile.

Stay tuned for The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012: Part Deux!

Friday Letters

Pin It Today, I'm linking up with Ashley from Adventures of Newlyweds for Friday Letters!

Dear November: I can't believe you are here! Welcome back! Dear Bath and Body Works: I'm greatly excited that you have brought back your Holiday candles. Especially the Balsam one that makes my house smell like a Christmas Tree (since mine is fakey-fake). Dear Hurricane Sandy: I appreciate you holding off for one week so that my wedding went off without a hitch, but man! You were a beast. Thanks for not giving it to my friends in NYC too rough. Sending prayers to all of those affected by Sandy! Dear Netflix: Thank you for having Revenge! DK and I are now obsessed with this show. 

Dear DK: Thanks for being a good husband for the first 2 weeks. I think I'll keep you around. Dear Bank Account: This is your official warning that I will likely be tearing you apart in the coming weeks in order to finish out our registry items that we didn't receive. #sorrynotthatsorry. Dear Target: Thank you for giving me the biggest laugh of my week by coming over the loud speaker and announcing, "Ladies and gentleman, if there is a Savage in the building, please make your way to guest services. Again, any Savage, please head to guest services." This lead my sister and I to think that there was a terrorist in the building and we were about half a second from running and hiding in the aisle by the marshmallows. 

Thackary? Thackary Binx?

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Alright. I won't sugar coat this for y'all. I actually am not a huge Halloween fan. #sorrynotthatsorry. 

I think that much of it stems from the fact that every Halloween, our costumes revolved around what wouldn't look too stupid with tight/leggings and a coat and gloves. I can remember one Halloween when it snowed, and that was pretty much terrible. I can also remember my sister and I getting in a fight over dumb stuff every year, someone ended up crying, and then it was all downhill from there.

One thing that I did always really like was that my sister and I always had the best and most creative Halloween costumes. We rarely bought costumes from the store growing up..."Hi, I'd like a $49.95 Tinkerbell costume that my kid will outgrow in 4 months, kthxbyeee." 

Take, for example, this year. I will say this was not one of my better costumes (I was in that phase where I only wanted to be a ballerina and literally walked the neighborhood in my old pointe shoes...#woof).


I was going for Ballerina, however, I think I am more so channeling Wynona Rider in the Beetlejuice movie. My sister, however? A grocery bag!

While I was unable to find pictures in time for this blog entry, some other memorable costumes were me as the Pillsbury Doughboy, Tay as a Table (complete with her head as the center piece), Taylor and I as Raggedy Ann and Andy, and Taylor as a Laundry Basket (with a sock tied in her ponytail). I think my only good costume as an adult would have to be me as Audrey Hepburn circa Breakfast at Tiffany's.




To this day, the only thing I really like about Halloween? That Hocus Pocus is on ALL. THE. TIME. I mean you can't go wrong with that face:


And who doesn't like a good song and dance number featuring Bette Midler!?



And lastly, we have this cute virgin who lit the black flame candle...


ps- whatever happened to this kid!?

Thackary Binx turned out to be a cutie...which is good because he was kind of gross and sweaty and his nostrils flared when he was in that cage thing in the movie...



And this moment at the end?! Ugh! Thackary Binx! You heart breaker!




And so, dear readers, I leave you with a non-sweaty Thackary Binx in my favorite line from the movie...

Just a little Tuesday Happy!

Pin It Just a few things to, hopefully, make you smile on this Tuesday!

These are a few of my favorite (fall) things...

Pin It It's no secret that fall is my ABSOLUTE favorite season. Don't get me wrong, I truly love all of the seasons, and I'm fortunate that growing up in the Midwest, I'm able to fully experience all of them...from the sweltering heat of July, to the arctic tundra of February. BUT...who doesn't love this cozy-pumpkin-smelling-boots-and-sweaters-wearing-season!?

In honor of all things autumn, here are a few of my favorite (fall) things:


Yummy smelling candles are obviously a fall staple. I've been bugging DK to go with me to Bath & Body Works just about every weekend to smell candles and wallflowers. It's also safe to say that our house smells like a combination of a pumpkin patch and a caramel factory, and I'm totally ok with that. This is one of my favorites! You can find it here!

If you're not really a candle person, you can also get this delicious scent in a Wallflower!




You can't get through the next few chilly months without some cuddly sweaters! This multi-way gem is available at Victoria Secret. You can wear it as a hoodie, off-the-shoulder, or as a cowlneck. And, it's available in 5 cute colors. Perfection.



If cable knit doesn't say autumn, then I don't know what does. This gorg sweater (which I just ordered two of...oops!) can also be found at Victoria's Secret. PS- it's on sale right now!



One of my other fall staples is tomato soup and grilled cheese...but look at this! Mac & Cheese made with a can of tomato soup! See the recipe below: (Recipe courtesy of ALocalChoice.blogspot.com).

Grandpa’s Mac & Cheese

Grandpa John always used a combination of cheeses, elbow macaroni and a can of tomato soup in his recipe. It sounds unusual, but it tastes like blending the classic comfort food combination of grilled cheese and tomato soup. PS it is even better the next day!

INGREDIENTS

• ½ lb whole wheat elbow macaroni
• 1 package (roughly 5 oz.) Blue Jacket Dairy Mountain Mist Quark
• 5 oz. Blue Jacket Dairy Ludlow, shredded
• 1 (10 oz.) can condensed tomato soup
• 10 oz. (roughly 1 soup can) fat-free milk

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Set aside 1 oz. of shredded Ludlow
• Place Quark in large mixing bowl
• Cook pasta in boiling salted water until less than el dente (about ½ the normal cooking time)
• Drain pasta
• Pour hot noodles over the Quark and mix together
• Stir in shredded Ludlow followed by tomato soup and milk
• Mix until fully incorporated
• Pour into 8x8 baking dish or individual ramekins and bake for 25 minutes
• Sprinkle reserved Ludlow on top and continue on broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese is brown and bubbling

This is on my list to make this fall: Pumpkin Spice cookies...using only 2 ingredients! I plan on adding some chocolate chips to this. 




For those of us with a coffee addiction (such as myself), this is the perfect little addition to your fridge for those cool mornings! As much as I adore Starbucks version, this is much more wallet-friendly! 


And lastly, it just wouldn't be fall without the glitter, inappropriateness and fishnet stockings of The Rocky Horror Show: Live!. Insert shameless plug here.

Happy Fall Y'all!