Merry Christmas Eve!

What a fun day-before-Christmas we've had. Tons (and tons) of baking, lounging around the house together, attending a candlelight service at church, and we got to open up our stockings early! Today was also my last day to drop off packages. Sorry to my friends who won't be getting gifts from me tomorrow. ;) And, as you can see, I'm cross-stitching a bell pattern from the 1970s that I picked it up for a dollar at a thrift shop yesterday. Should keep me busy for a while.

My siblings and I ended up matching really well for the Christmas Eve service. Not even on purpose, we're just that talented. Also, aren't my little brother and sister so cute? 

After church we were visited by a Christmas elf a little early, and discovered that my Vanilla & Lace Lucy Pevensie dress had arrived just in the nick of time! What a beautiful surprise! My mom was so excited that it came in time for Christmas, that she let me open it as soon as we got it. I'm really impressed by the workmanship of the dress, and the fit is just perfect. I love it and I'll be ordering another one of Abi's dresses in the future.

Then we took a few Christmas photos!

My mom and I tried our hand at baking a special date pudding recipe, too. My grandma on my dad's side wrote an autobiography a few years back and it includes tons of Hungarian recipes, along with a few others she's collected along the way. She had marked the date pudding recipe as my other grandmother's favorite dessert. It was really nice to bake something sweet with my mom and remember her mom together.  

Oh, and we had to eat dessert while we baked our new one. Right? 

Needless to say, I'm stuffed and it was a really wonderful day. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

K

Makin' a gingerbread haus.

Last night my brother and sister and I made a gingerbread house. There were two main factors behind this project. 1) Our mom had been asking us every single day when we'd be putting it together. And 2) I really wanted to make one because I can't remember the last time I made a gingerbread house. I'm afraid to admit that it's possible I've never actually decorated a gingerbread house in my 25 years on this earth, and if that's the case, I need to apologize to myself and the rest of my friends. (I really hope this isn't the case.)

Enjoy some photos from our night together. We had a lot of fun and it was nice to do something as just the three of us.

I feel as though I've been eating my dad's homemade chex mix nonstop for three straight days now. It's my favorite part of Christmas snacking and if I don't stop soon I'm going to be in trouble. I will take a salty snack over a sweet any day of the week. Man, just typing about it makes me want to go grab another handful... 

Thankfully, my sister is an amazing baker. She helped us whip up the icing and gather up all the extra ingredients from our pantry. She should have a TV show, she's just really that good and so very cute in the kitchen. 

Luke and I watched funny YouTube clips while we set up. I introduced him the Honey Badger, and he introduced me to a homemade beverage that tasted as sweet as honey.  

  

Ta-daaah! The finished product. Please take note of that little wreath above the front door. It's a little pretzel that we chipped the middle out of and covered in icing and sprinkles. haha.

Have you ever made a gingerbread house? Have you ever gone to extreme measures to make it look exquisite, or do you typically just throw it together for the fun of it?

K

Christmas in Chicago.

Like I mentioned in my last post, I am lucky enough to get to spend Christmas with my wonderful family in Chicago! If you are a new reader, you may not know that Chicago is my favorite city in the whole entire world. I love the busy energy in the city, the kindness of strangers, and the warm feeling of "just being yourself" that you get when you spend time in the midwest. (Or, maybe that's just me.) 

I lived near Chicago (in Naperville) when I was much younger, and now that my parents live here again, it's been fun to revisit the same places that I used to love. I actually spent much of my time here this past summer just driving around and reliving old memories -- visiting my old acting studio, walking around in the park, exploring along the river like I used to do during family outings, and taking the train into downtown Chicago for an adventure. 

So far, my holiday visit has been filled with dentist visits, primarily. I found a little cavity last week and because I don't have a dentist in Tallahassee yet, I begged my mom to beg her dentist to fit me in to the schedule. However, they've been really great and accommodating, because I'm not exactly wonderful when it comes to shots and Novocain. (Ugh.) 

I took this photo after my second dental visit, earlier today. (One when I didn't get a cavity filled.) As you can see, it seems that Santa came a bit early this year, because I'm wearing my gorgeous new bow headband by Lindsi of People Webs. Isn't it super darling? I'm in love with it. Plus, I get to cross a gift off my wish list a tad bit early, which is awesome for someone who is in super-gift mode. 

Aside from the dentist, I've enjoyed spending time with my family and catching up on my Christmas card writing. I have really enjoyed waking up and sitting in the living room while everyone warms up for the day, half asleep. This morning I made myself some tea I've been wanting to try for awhile, and yesterday morning I flipped through my grandmother's old memoirs about growing up in "Old Country." She and my grandfather were married in Hungary and she grew up in Croatia. They moved to the United States in 1956, when my dad was born. I like getting to flip through my family history during this break. It's given me so much to be thankful for. 

Tonight we took a family trip downtown to eat dinner at a delicious restaurant and do a little shopping. There's something really magical about riding the train into the city. It's always been a favorite moment for me. While we were there I snagged a couple of my favorite teas from Argo Tea and a cute ring from H&M.

  

Do you have a favorite city you grew up in? 

K

All I want for Christmas.

Hello from Chicago! 

I'm in the midwest spending Christmas with my family this week. My flight got in a few hours earlier, and I've already had so much fun eating sushi and opening up little trinkets my dad brought home from his last business trip to Japan. I've been getting into serious gift mode this week, trying to wrap up the last of my to-do list in time. I've also been getting excited to see what's waiting for me! So I wanted to share a few items I'm hoping and wishing for this Christmas morning. 

One

I first discovered People Webs through Vanessa's blog and I've been drooling over Lindsi's bow headbands ever since. I'm asking for one in peach. (Also, if you're crochet-inclined, she has a great tutorial on her blog.) You can tell I have a thing for peach bows, right?

Two

Mod Chevron Clutch Purse by RVA. After numerous restocks, this clutch finally sat in the online store long enough to snag one. Crossing my fingers to find this under the tree this year. I want to carry it around all January. It's the cutest thing ever and such a statement piece. 

Three

A new scent! This spring, I want to smell like Eau So Fresh by Marc Jacobs. My little sister and I are both asking for this scent, so lets hope the Suveg sisters smell like flowers in 2012. I'm crazy about this scent. I love feminine florals with honey or vanilla undertones, and this one just smells like the color pink to me. It's so sweet. 

Four

A Darlingtonia bow belt. I'm asking for a belt in either rust or sand. I couldn't decide! Really crossing my fingers on this one. I've wanted one for nearly three years. I love how girly and fun it would be to add a little bow to many of my favorite tops.

Five

New goodies from Photojojo, my all-time favorite camera shop. I'm asking for some more Instax Mini film, a DIY Twin Lens camera, and a super-compact tripod. And, oh my, have you SEEN the new Lomokino 35mm Movie Camera?! Now I know what I want for Valentine's Day. 

Six

A few new pairs of We Love Colors tights. I love how warm and cozy they are, and the way they fit me reminds me of all my jazz and ballet classes I took growing up. I have a few fun colors already, so I'm looking to add some more layer-friendly colors to my wardrobe. I'm requesting a pair of navy, black, and light tan. 

Seven

Nail polish! I just can't get enough. This year, I'm asking for a couple new Essie colors (this one and this one), and a very pretty sparkly pink from the Hello Kitty line at Sephora. And, speaking of Hello Kitty...

Eight

I'm asking for a pretty little compact mirror and some black sparkly eye shadow in a great HK compact. Confession: I really love Hello Kitty. However, there was a season when I received wayyy too many Hello Kitty-themed gifts, so now I have to keep my love for her sort of a secret. I'll always be a Sanrio fan for life, but I don't really let any one know because I don't want plastic clip-on earrings and other ridiculous things for my 26th birthday this year.

Nine

A bottle of Benetint by Benefit. I wasn't sure if I could do the whole cheek stain thing, but I stopped into Sephora over Thanksgiving break and tried it out and fell in love. I mean fell in love with this color. It's perfectly pink and stays on all day long. Really hoping this little bottle is hiding in a stocking or in a teeny box under the tree. 

Ten

A record player! I've been begging Harbor for a record player for a while now. Otherwise, I'd be happy if I got some records to add to my collection for the eventual record player in my living room. I think listening to records is just so cozy, and it's one of my all-time favorite things to do with him. He's really really into records and music and that crackly tone in music. (It's really romantic.) This turntable in teal would suit me just fine. 

It seems that most of what I'm asking for falls into the pink family and most-likely contains a bow. I guess subconsciously I'm preparing to welcome spring with an extra-feminine flair. What are you asking for this Christmas? 

K