FBFF: New Year's Resolutions

This week's FBFF we are discussing our New Year's resolutions. Now I don't really believe in making them because it just sets you up for failure. Losing weight, joining the gym, eating better are always on the top of the list. As Style Me Bad pointed out it's good to start small. Here are some small resolutions I shall try to stick to in 2012:

1. Add more fresh food in my diet.
2. Do at least 20 minutes of stretching to start the day.
3. Walk to work at least 3 days out of the week.
4. Make more time for friends.
5. Laugh more!
And make 2012 a fabulous year!

What are some of your New Year's resolutions?

Don't forget to stop by Modly Chic to read all the other FBFF answers this week!  

Image via We Heart It

New Year's Eve Dress Ideas Under $100

It's almost time to ring in the new year! Every girl should do it with style and some sparkle. If you're going out for the occasion then throw on a pair of tights, fabulous heels and one of these dresses:


H M knee high dress, £50
BB Dakota sparkly sequin dress, $64
Oasis cowl neck dress, $60

What are you wearing for New Year's Eve?

My Christmas In Pictures

Aerial view of my parent's living room

Heidi in her jingle bell collar

My sister and her family wearing matching pajamas

Jacob was overwhelmed by all the presents

Zach jumped right in

My parents thought they were so funny

Baby mayhem on the loose

I was pretty excited...

Baby Zach helped mommy open presents

Baby mayhem at it again

My mother bought this cardboard house to play with, mostly the adults enjoyed it for napping

Happy Holidays!

Mani of the Week: Winter Funderland

For the past few weeks I have been going in every Duane Reade and occasional CVS drugstore trying to find the new holiday Sally Hansen nail stickers. Thankfully Santa found the "Winter Funderland" ones. They are black with silver and blue glitter.

Peel back the sticker.

With all the nail stickers you have to file off the excess stickers. I still think Sally Hansen's are the easiest to do for this step.

What's on your nails this week?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

No matter how old I get there is still a thrill about Christmas morning. Even though I know most of my gifts already, there is a joy to ripping off wrapping paper (I honestly could be unwrapping empty boxes). Now we get to see the excitement in my sister's kids which is always adorable.

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas! May you get everything on your wish list!

Image via Tumblr

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Today I'm on a plane heading to California to spend Christmas with my family. I'll be there for a week and looking forward to some R&R after a heck of a month (hell, year!). To say that the weather is a little different than New York is an understatement. I'm going from chilly 40 degrees to sunny 70 degrees. I'll be dreaming of a white Christmas though!

Are you going anywhere for the holidays?

Image via We Heart It

IFB Project: Favorite Posts of 2011

I can't believe another year has come and gone. But I'm ready for 2012! IFB asked us to round up our favorite posts from 2011. There were so many to choose from, it was hard to narrow it down but here are my picks:

- "Goodwill Suits You" DMD Fashion Show. I was so honored to be included in this great event.

- I Will Not Be Dress Like a Slut For Halloween... EVER! Hopefully I showed women that they still can enjoy this holiday without having to overexpose themselves.

- 18 Guidelines For a Grown-Up Wardrobe. It was interesting to see how my taste in clothes has changed as I've gotten older.

- My love letter to New York City.

- I quite enjoyed Man Candy Week. Didn't you?

- 8 Iconic '90s Looks I Want to Recreate. I still intend to!

- A fun, light-hearted post to write was "Kim Doesn't Want to Date You If..."

- What Would My Sister Do? Showing the sister some love!

What were some of your favorites? What would you like to see more of?

Image via We Heart It

My 4 Winter Skin Essentials

Winter is a time when not only the weather changes but our skin. These are 4 of my must-haves to survive the brutal cold.

1) Baby Oil
2) Nivea's Hand Creme Tin
3) Mavala's Cuticle Cream
4) Clinique's Body Butter

To use:

- Don't take steaming hot showers. It is also best for your hair to rinse the conditioner out with cold water so try to finish with a cool blast.
- Don't scrub off with a towel, let yourself drip dry.
- Before you're completely dry, apply baby oil
- Once the oil has soaked into your skin, apply Clinique's body butter (or a lotion of your choice)
- For on the go moisture - I carry a travel size Nivea's creme tin
- And to keep my cuticles soft I use Mavala's cuticle cream

What are your winter skin must-haves?

DIY: Holiday Gift Tags

Holiday season is upon us and I thought I'd share one of my money saving tips. We've all had the conundrum of what to do with our old business cards. Either you changed jobs or have a different email - it's a waste of paper! Being the recycler I am, I came up with the idea of using old tissue paper or wrapping paper to create tags. I've used maps, newspapers, paper bags to wrap my gifts. My family mocks me for reusing the items but it saves money and the environment!

What you'll need:
- Business cards
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- Pen for tracing
- Tissue paper/ wrapping paper scraps
- Hole punch (not pictured)

Layout the paper as flat as possible, if there are creases try to follow along.

I like to outline the cards on the back so I can use as much paper as possible. (OCD!)

Cut out the squares.

Apply glue stick to business card (typing face up - sorry NearSay!)

Apply paper to cover typing leaving the white, blank side open for writing names.

Finished! You can hole punch them and attach with a ribbon (see gifts pictured above).

You can also use different paper for different themes so it's not only limited to Christmas!

What DIY ideas do you use during the holidays?

12 Days of Holiday Nails (Almost)

I've been on a roll with holiday nails with 5 holiday parties and counting! I thought I'd share with you the manicures I wore and maybe inspire you for your own holiday manicure.

e.l.f's Light Pink from my Black Friday haul with two coats of OPI's "Rainbow Connection" from the Muppets collection (love!).

Candy cane nails.

My holiday bling for the Spa Week holiday party.

This Sally Hansen nail color in "Dazzling" is my go to red holiday color. I added some glitter on the tips.

And today I'm wearing the Dazzling red and Zoya's "Holly" from my November Birchbox with a stripe of Models Inc Gold Crackle Effect which I think kind of looks like garland.

What are you wearing on your nails for the holidays?

Versatile Blogger Award

I've been awarded the Versatile Blogger thanks to the lovely Sass 'n Curlz.

Now I'm supposed to share 7 random things about myself. This is hard because I'm not sure what is left!

1) My favorite color is black

2) My favorite animal is a llama

3) My favorite holiday is Halloween (and my birthday!)

4) I love Cinnamon Toast Crunch

5) I love Dunkin' Donuts Mint Hot Chocolate

6) Dachshunds are my favorite dog :)

7) I have two nephews.

Great Reads of the Week

It's back! Here's a round up of posts I enjoyed reading this week:

- Bright Lights, My City compares the advice for women in the 1930s to today. Glad I live in 2011!

- IFB tells us 5 things we DON'T need for a successful blog - I feel relived!

- Rarely Wears Lipstick shares her women of 2011

- Style Me BAD shares how you can reach your New Year's resolutions with a little motivation.

- Yes and Yes dishes on 15 things every woman should own. Do you own them?

What are your weekend plans?

Review: e.l.f's Nail Polish Remover Pads

You may remember I picked these up  in my Black Friday haul. The Nail Polish Remover Pads are just a dollar for 18 pads - and they are amazing!  They feature a fresh citrus scent, which is a nice change of pace from typical nail polish remover smells that make you want to pass out.

Pros:
- Only used one pad to remove all the nail polish on one hand
- Smells great!
- Only a DOLLAR!

Cons:
- I have none!


Would I buy it again? Definitely!

FBFF: Holiday Questionaire

We're going old school to the creation of those forms we used to fill out on Facebook a few years back. Holiday edition!

No holiday party is complete without: Festive decorations!
My favorite Christmas song/album: No one sings Christmas songs quite like Bing Crosby.
My favorite seasonal recipe: Anything pumpkin!
The perfect New Year's Eve outfit includes: Sparkle
At the parties, I'll be drinking: Hot cocoa :)
Eggnog, good or bad? Disgusting!
Did you ever take pictures on Santa's lap at the mall? Yes, but I wasn't too happy about it

Image via

Gingerbread Latte or Peppermint Mocha: Neither. Hot chocolate especially Dunkin Donuts' new Peppermint Hot Chocolate!
Worst gift I ever got: Oh man, anything this one aunt would get me
Best gift I ever received: I'll always treasure my Power Wheels!
My family has this weird tradition: Dressing the dogs up
My best bargain find for a gift this year: Found some good deals on Amazon for books
If I could only buy all my gifts from one place, I'd shop at: The Apple store :)
Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer or Frosty the Snowman: Aww, Rudolph!
My favorite holiday memory: Waking up to snow on the ground

Image via

My favorite Christmas movie: Elf!  
The best part about holiday decorations is: The smell of a fresh Christmas tree  
Rip off the wrapping paper or neatly pull off the tape: RIP IT OFF!  
Miracle on 34th Street or It's a Wonderful Life: Neither
It doesn't feel like the holiday season until: There's snow on the ground  
All I want for Christmas is: to put a smile on my nephews' faces!


What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

Don't forget to stop by ModlyChic to read all the other FBFF answers this week!    
 
Image via We Heart It

Holiday Festivities At The Sea Grill

The view from the restaurant

My company's holiday party was held on Tuesday night at the Sea Grill, which is in Rockefeller Center right by the ice rink (luck us!). There was even apparently a proposal before I arrived at the restaurant. So romantic!

I was a dork taking pictures of the menu

The food was delicious! I was already filled up after the chowder soup.

Delicious apple tart for desert

I was able to snap a picture of my outfit wearing my Modcloth dress:

 

Here's a look at my manicure:

I tried those Folica nail bling stickers I put on my wishlist but sadly wasn't very impressed.

Passed by the tree on my way home. Overall, it was an amazing night with great food and great people.

How did your company holiday party go?