At the Ballet!

This weekend... I'm crossing off a BIG to-do from my bucket list, New York City must-do list and things to do with Jose list. Yeah, lots of lists but it's so true! We are about to share a dreamy day in the city at Christmastime [my favorite time in Manhattan!] and all while one of my biggest dreams is coming true...

We are seeing the Nutcracker at the New York City Ballet!!

For as long as I can remember, I have loved the Nutcracker. My mom and aunt brought me to a performance of it in a local theatre when I was maybe 5 or 6 and since than I have been in love with it. I listen to the music all year long but even MORE at Christmas and have always dreamed of seeing a professional performance! What is more professional than The New York City Ballet?? At the gorgeous Lincoln Center [which I visited earlier in the summer to see the Philharmonic!] No matter what - when you visit NYC, put a visit to the Lincoln Center on your list of must-dos! And see a performance! I'm all about the Arts so I love it there :)

me in front of the opera house earlier this summer :)

Not only that - but just enjoying New York at Christmas time is the greatest. I'll be making a few trips to NYC in December and in all different parts of the city too! This weekend I'll be checking out Uptown Manhattan at Christmas :)

I'll be sharing more of our day next week! [but follow me on Instagram for LOTS of pics the day of!] WHOO!!

Have a fabulous weekend!! :) 

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Host!

I LOVE this gift guide, mostly because I love home accessories just as much as girly accessories. Most likely you'll be attending a Holiday Party or Get-Together this Holiday season and why not thank your host or hostess with a sweet thoughtful gift! It's something the host never expects and is an easy way to gift and say "Thanks!" - and they are all under $100! 

Shop the Gifts Below:

And though I couldn't find a good link for the champagne - it's made by Pommery Champagne and you should be able to find it at any local liquor store ;)

Holiday Gift Guide: Sparkle & Shine!

Ladies - you may want to pull your boys into the room to carefully look at this blog post. This is made for YOU! The girly girls who love to a little sparkle, glitter and bling every once in a while. On your nails, your feet or in your jewelry - there are so many ways to make a statement and rock it through the New Year. I'm absolutely in LOVE with this gift guide. This is for the girls who like to sparkle and shine! :) 

Shop the Gift Guide below [with an extra sparkle at the end!]

::coughcough:: gosh Jose is that the CUTEST watch ever or what?? :P 

Wonderful Thanksgiving!

Can NOT believe Thanksgiving has come and gone and it is officially the holiday season! Time goes by when you're having fun! Our thanksgiving was so nice & I hope you all had a great one as well! We spent the morning in our pjs watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade, the afternoon with my family having a traditional Thanksgiving meal and the night with Jose's family... it was a great day! And now the house is all set for Christmas! These are the last few months we'll be living with my mom before going off to live on our own again and we are enjoying and not taking for granted being so close to family this Christmas :) Here are some photos from our Thanksgiving...

us in our pjs [yes the dogs too!] in a scanned polaroid we tookk

what a trooper!

it was amazingly delicious

did i mention my husband is crazy talented and creative? made that out of pipe cleaner!

so happy... and soooooo tired

jose and his mom, who is home from puerto rico :)

How was YOUR thanksgiving?? 

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Desk!

Today's gift guide is "For the Desk". It's safe to say with how technology is A LOT of us spend lots of time at our desks - whether working in an office or running your own business at home, these gifts can come in handy for most people! And what I love about it is it's simple things with a twist - like the gorgeous le pens or the fun poppin tape dispenser! :)

Jonathan Adler iPhone dock / Tory Burch desktop calendar / Poppin tape dispenser / J Crew Pocket Datebook / Kate Spade paper weight / Pop phone handset / Le Pen from Design Darling / Kate Spade headphones

I am in love with this Gift Guide! and think it's safe to say I'm asking for all of the above this Christmas :) 

Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty Obsessed!

It's officially the Christmas season! Time to start getting in the Christmas mood here on the blog! :) 

This year I've decided to do some Holiday Gift Guide's here on the blog, with a bit of a twist! Instead of doing "For her" or "For him", I'll be doing gift guides targeted towards one certain type of person. Because we all know people just like that! Today's is for the Beauty Obsessed! 

Buy your Holiday Gifts right here!:

Any of these are sure to please any type of beauty girl and are well within our "Christmas Budgets" Have fun trying not to buy yourself one too! :) 

Be Thankful!

I think it's safe to say after so many posts saying the same thing this year that I'm SO thankful for a lot of things. This statement rings very true this year! 

I'm SO thankful for everything we have! Our crazy supportive friends and family, our growing business and the opportunities that have come with it, our pets for being here keeping us sane and happy every day, my husband for being the best husband and friends in so many ways... I'm SO thankful for my blog! This year has been rough for my poor blog, I've put her on the backburner a bit but I'm glad I pull through and still get comments on it! There seem to be a LOT of exciting things happening for my baby [this blog] this year and next year so stay tuned!! It's going to be hard to balance my actual job, our photography business AND this blog but I'm up for the challenge for as long as I can!

And to everyone who reads and comments on this blog I am THANKFUL FOR YOU!! Thank you for letting me know you're interested :) I may not be a big blog but I appreciate any and all love I get!! 

HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING!! :D

Birthday Polaroids!

This year I vowed to take A LOT more polaroids and I'm happy to say I've done so - especially on my birthday! This isn't all the polaroids I took! It's so great to have a real photo in your hands and it's so fun to take photos like this! Everyone seems way more up to taking pictures when a Polaroid is around :) 

Birthday Instagrams!

When it comes to my birthday - I suck at taking photos. [you'd think Jose - my photography "business partner" -  would think to take photos? no!] Thank god for Instagram or I wouldn't have shit from the day! Tomorrow night we are going out and REALLY celebrating my birthday and I WILL take pictures but my actually birthday was fantastic :) I loved every minute of the day and felt truly blessed to have spent it with my awesome co-workers and my loving fantastic family :) 

blowing out my candle at dinner!

my cake at work - the yummiest cake EVER!!

my moms gifts to me - the kate spade planner i wanted & tickets to finally!!!! see the nutcracker!! only my close CLOSE family understands the extent of my absolute obsession with the nutcracker - now finally seeing it again after YEARS! :) 

my own personal champagne bottle at dinner :) 

me... 27 years ago or so with my 27 year old teddy bear [Happy Birthday to Pooh Pooh too!!] 

make a wish!

Yay to a fabulous birthday and a fun night out tonight!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND! :)

Shopping for Holiday Dresses!

We are hosting a holiday party this year and though it's more of a dessert party - it still has me itching to dress up. I almost wanted to make it mandatory for everyone to come dressed up but decided to chill. But since I'm playing hostess I miiiight just splurge and buy myself a fancy holiday dress :) I immediately gravitate to ModCloth for their holiday dresses because they UNDERSTAND the curvy girl. With a huge variety of a-line dresses and flattering silhouettes and the most gorgeous colors, it's no wonder I love them! Here's a peek at some of my favorites!

Shop the dresses below:

Aren't you DYING over my favorites?? Seriously, they are too gorgeous and perfect for the holiday season! Somebody throw a Christmas cocktail party cos I will be there sparkling!