This and That....

Year End Deals

Who can resist a few year end deals? 

First - do you need some new stationary to write out all those thank you's for your Christmas gifts?  Check this out:

This company is new to me, but this deal is pretty amazing. Expressionery is offering an additional 70% off their clearance prices plus FREE shipping on hundreds of personalized items.

Use code MADNESS upon checkout through January 12th.  I ordered a few things for myself and for an upcoming babyshower as gifts for some of the games.

Next up...Kohls.  They always have a sale going on, but this is cute and a great deal:

$4.99 on line.  Never ordered anything from them online before - especially since it's located just down the street from me and the one in Ladera Ranch is NEVER crowded and ALWAYS clean!  Check them out and get some great deals to stock up for birthday presents, shower gifts, etc for the upcoming year.

Bath and Body Works -

Their annual clearance sale is on.  Check out deals like this one:

$3.00 each.  Can't beat that at all!  Stock up again for birthdays, Mother's day, showers, etc.

Cold Water Creek - Online they are offering 60% off EVERYTHING on their site!

WOW - hurry up before that one goes bye bye...earlier this week in store they were offering 50% off everything..not sure if it's now 60% or not.

Talbots:

I love everything about Talbots.  A little pricey, but their clothing is excellent quality and I don't buy unless it's on sale.  The extra 25% is excellent!

I'm sure there are plenty more bargains out there, but that's all I have time for today. 

My goal for 2010 is to take more pictures and post more often.  Let's see how I do!

Happy New Year :)

  

Peppermint Body Scrub/Foot Scrub

Last week while volunteering at Ronald McDonald House - I was flipping thru a Sunset Magazine and saw the cutest little homemade gift and knew that I had to make it. 

Body Scrub - yes, that sugary mixture that you rub all over to get the dead skin off your body.  I *goggled* body scrub, and boy oh boy, there's a ton of {RECIPES} out there!! 

I started off with Extra Virigin Olive oil and sugar with a little bit of epsom salt - and can you say UGLY?  It left a yellow tint that was just icky! I put essence of peppermint and even chopped up candy canes and still, looked horrible. 

So, after thinking and experimenting, I came up with this:

It's Baby Oil, Pure Glycerine, Sugar, Epsome Salt, Candy Canes and Peppermint Essence Oil - and it smells heavenly!!!

Wrap it up like this:

What a cute little gift - and inexpensive too :)

Fa la la la la, la la la la......
 
 

Anyone else watching this?

With my regularly scheduled programs on winter hiatus, I started surfin' the channels and stumbled upon *The Sing Off*:

Anyone else tuned in this week to this show?  I must admit, these guys are EXCELLENT!  Other than the *cheesy* reviews by Ben Folds, Nichole something or other from Pussy Cat Dolls and Sean whats his last name from Boys II Men, it's a really good show - great music coming from these groups so far.  Nick Lachey is looking "hot" as the host too - easy on the eyes ;)

My favorite so far are these guys:

WOW - they are really, really good.  And the cute boys from Beelzebubs are just adorable, plus they really take a song and put some moves to it.

The final is on Monday, Dec 21st - check it out!  Although Monday night FOOTBALL is on too...hmmm...I wonder who's playin'?! 
 

Detoxing

What a whirlwind of a weekend!  It started Friday night enjoying a bottle of Vine Cliff Chardonay while taking the Rojo's Christmas Photo's:

Gonna save the one they chose for their card for you to see when you get the card :) 

Saturday was Chateau Rojo Christmas party - WOW, what a GREAT party!  It was cold and rainy out, but that didn't prevent people from coming and enjoying great food and great wine.  The highlight of the night was Melanie, Stacey and I taking a shot of Patron out of Champagne flutes - yep, it was something else :)

Sunday morning was off to the Leija Lounge to take their Christmas photo.  I must admit, Kylie was easier to take pictures of than the kids this year, and Carlos and Gwen were pretty easy too:

Sunday was our annual Sisterhood get together.  Unfortunately Sara was sick and wasn't able to make it this year, but here's the rest of the girls with the hats on that I knitted for them:

We exchanged presents, did your Garage Sale, ornament exchange and ate a fantastic lunch along with some more holiday cheer - WINE!

Then it was off to my friend Joe's house last night.  ended up taking photo's of him and his girlfriend Jen.  He is doing the "post processing" on those himself, but once I see them, I'll share one here too.

Tomorrow night it's off to Disneyland with my parents to enjoy the lights, decorations, dinner and then the fireworks along with some snow.  Looking forward to it!
  

Toothpaste

I know, what a weird topic, but I just had to share this little tidbit of information - brought to you from my dentist.  I was there a couple weeks ago getting my teeth cleaned and the hygentist and I were talking about toothpaste.  She said that the best one on the market for fighting gingivitis and tarter is this:

Yep - listerine toothpaste.  It's a little strong, but man, i must admit, I do see a difference :)  She also suggested using something different at night..not really sure why. other than I can't imagine going to bed with the taste of the listerine stuff in your mouth - so I tried this:

And man oh man - I love the taste of this at night...and true to it's box - i feel like i have a cleaner mouth in the morning :)

So..if you are looking for toothpaste, give them a try and let me know your thoughts!
 
 

Thanksgiving

OK - once again I'm a little behind - story of my life lately!  And wouldn't you know it, I have somehow developed another cold.  This time it's more like a sinus thing going on.  At least I don't have a fever, just stuffed up and sounding like a frog :)

Here's a couple pictures from the park on Thanksgiving Day:

I'll post pictures from my weekend with Riley tomorrow!
   
  
 

My favorite new snack

I LOVE these!  There is just something about eating pretzels shaped like a goldfish - but these are the absolutely BEST :)
 

The Schwald's

Yesterday I met up with Melanie, Clint, Emma and Ava to take some photo's.  What an adorable family! Love you guys!!!

 Don't want to give to much away  - I'm sure you will see some of these on your Christmas card - so here's just a sneak peak:

 

 
 

Sunsets never get old...

In Southern California, we get the best sunsets.  And when there is a fire in the area, it somehow intensifies it!  On Monday there was a fire off Ortega Hwy, which is right around the corner from me.  Little did I know as I sat happily filling out Common Methods templates working my little fingers to the bone (Iknow that sounded like a forgein language, so just take it as I was working!).

I decided to head down to the beach to take some sunset pictures since I had borrowed a lens from a friend and wanted to give it a try.  When I headed out, I saw the big plume of smoke and thought, "Oh no...not a fire", but at the same time I couldn't drive fast enough to get down to the ocean because I knew the sky would be stunning....

The view from Aliso Creek Beach only provides a view of Catalina and looking over to the right is the Montage Hotel.  I prefer to go to the Montage, but I was so close to missing the sun go down, that I pulled in to the quickest place I could.  By the time I parked and steped out of my car, the sun had already gone behind the island, but it was still such a beautiful sky!

 
 
 
 
 
 

Go - Fight - Win!

Cheerleading...isn't that what they used to do?  Stand on the side lines of Football, Basketball and whatever other sport was going on at the time and root for their team? 

Not anymore!!  Nope  - Cheerleading is now about loud music, dance routines, gymnastics and throwing girls in the air and hoping to catch them when they come down.  It's about syncing the routine to the music - did I mention LOUD music?!?  And words to the songs are really funny too...my brother at one point was singing a song to me....something about how girls don't like boys, they like fast cars and money!  We were both cracking up - and neither one of us could figure out all the other words in the song. 

My niece Elyssa is on a team - they wear black and green...and bright green eye shadow!  My cousin Amy was also their performing for her team.  Here's a bunch of photo's of the day - and by the way - it was really fun watching !!  Not to mention the fantastic dinner we had afterwards at Johnny Rebs in Orange :)