One Last Patch...of Snow!

I know what you are all thinking: no good blogger takes that much time off between posts. And I also know that you know that this isn't my real gig. So cut me some slack! 

I realized while uploading today's photos that I didn't post any snow pictures this past winter (oh yeah, if you haven't realized, it's actually spring now. Yes, spring!) I wonder why? I'm sure that some of you would have appreciated some of my winter looks. You know, the ones that fashion some of these items:

1. Knee-high boots that are covered in thigh-high snow. And on very trendy days, decorated with muddy, car "splashings."
2. Puffer coats layered with only two scarves. At some point, observers (more like gawkers) start wondering if there is actually a neck under there.
3. Cracked hands that look more like cracked souls (yes, not a typo; I meant it). Okay, sorry. That was too dramatic. But do you get what I mean?

So in order to have at least one snow post, I had to get these shots today while the photographer was able to capture one last patch.

Hope you all have seen the last snow patch!

Best,

H.

Here's the look:
Blouse: jcp
Blazer: Evan Picone. Fine similar here.
Jeans: Nine West. Find similar here.
Shoes: Anne Klein. Find similar here. 
Necklace: groopdealz
Earrings: Brighton

Lace on Lace

Here's the look:
Peplum Top: jcp, last year
Skirt: jcp
Shoes: Franco Sarto
Purse: Longchamp, Au Sultan. Find here. 
Scarf: Boscovs

Necklace: Groopdealz.

Polka Dots on Sunday

Happy Sunday! Hope you all had a great New Year's. My family and I rang in 2015 while attending a midnight mass. It was beautiful. 

Any resolutions? Sure. A ton. Any repeats of last year? Of course, a couple. Besides the proverbial "losing weight and exercising more" or "eating more fruits and vegetables" or "picking up a new hobby (or any hobbies for that matter), I want to increase my daily intake of scripture reading. Last night, my dad said to me (well and to the kiddos as well), "One of the things you should try to do in the new year is to read the Bible more. Just three chapters a day. Nothing more, nothing less." I love how he never gives up on me.

Another thing that I want to take a jab at doing, after seeing it posted on facebook, is to save $1,378 by December 31, 2015. It's called the 52 Week Money Challenge. Although you can basically alter this any way you choose, I'm going to try to stick to what was suggested.  You can see how it's done here. 

At the end of the year, I will really have disposable money. I'll definitely share my progress with you.


Stay warm.

Best,

H.

Here's my money jar. Basically an old jam (date jam) jar. My mother-in-law would be proud. Can't wait to save my disposable money. What to buy? What to buy?

Don't mind my roots. I'll be seeing Tiffany (my colorist) in about two weeks. Here's the look:

Skirt: jcp, old
Sweater: Preswick & Moore. Find more expensive version here.  Cheaper version here. 
Blouse: Adrienne Vendetti
Shoes: Aerosoles

I'm not trying to act cute. It was actually colder than it looks.

Watch: Michael Kors
Leather and gold cuff: Cara. Find similar here. I love this leather cuff. It makes me look tough!

Necklace: Old, Erica Lyons. Find collections here. 

Earrings: Old, Erica Lyons.

Highlights of 2014

I know this may seem like a cop-out but for my last post of 2014, I'm going to do what most bloggers do. Yep, highlight outfits of 2014...only 10. But I'll do something even more special and that is to include some of my favorite instagrams shots.

I hope 2015 brings you all your heart's desire.

Best,

H.

Meanwhile, One Month Later...

I can't believe how lazy I have been. Well, yeah... I can believe it. I guess I have just been living and working and just too busy for the written word. 

December is almost over and during this month, I have witnessed both the miracle of life and the finality of death. My niece gave birth to an itty bitty little boy (this makes me a great aunt), and one of my friends lost her father to cancer. The one thing that still resonates with me is that at her father's viewing, her mother said to me, "He was my caretaker. He was always taking care of me. " I really couldn't find any comforting words at that moment, but thanks to the hubster, he said to her, "Well, he'll still take care of you from up there. And you know, he's already having a good time up there." That made her laugh. 

I still haven't grasped the whole viewing thing, but...

Earlier this month, we also had our Christmas party for the vet hospital. It was successful...even though I miscounted and accidentally left out...that's enough of that story. 

December also allowed for a mini-vacay (exactly 2 1/2 days and 2 nights) with the family. There's something always magical about Hershey, PA. There's always something magical about the Hershey Lodge; one of my favorite venues. The Lodge is currently decked out for the holidays with a huge tree, a sleigh and poinsettias. So many poinsettias in fact, that while the kids were enjoying hot cocoa, and I was enjoying my chocolate martini, we decided to count how many were in the lobby (from the front door to the bar area). I guessed around 40 (I love counting games) but the actual count was 16. I was a little bit off (I know what you're thinking, and no, the martini had nothing to do with my exaggerated estimation). We also took the kids to see the Sweet Lights, over 600 illuminated light displays stretching over 2 miles. And the highlight of the trip for me was the the Holiday Dinner Musical. And believe me, I'm not a thespian who needs to go see shows on Broadway, etc. But what made it nice was its Christmas theme, and that I had 3 of my favorite people in the entire world with me.

And of course, December 25th. This year, we went to my sister's house and celebrated with my brother and his family and my parents. It was nice...having Christmas at my parents' house feels like home though. 

One Christmas down, another one to go. 

Hope you had a blessed Christmas!

Best,

H.

Scenes from the office Christmas party.

Scenes from our mini-vacay

Don't know who this kid is but he would not get out of my way.

Sweet Lights display #1

Sweet Lights Display #2

Sweet Lights Display #3

Playbook for Dinner and Musical show

The show's actors caroling before the show.

I had to throw in a picture of Cuddy.

And our sweet puppy, Gracie.

Blog features my sister-in-law, Gina. My brother snapped these pictures for us outside of my sister's house on Christmas Day.

A green Christmas this year. I love how Gina's blue cape flutters in the wind.

I can't remember what she was saying here, but she could have been saying, "take it easy;" "hang loose;" "call me, maybe?;"  or "aloha."

I like this color palette; blue, black and white. 

Gina's watch is a Michele. Find similar here. 

Tory Burch. Find similar here. 

Jewelry by Sabika.

Love this guy! Had to sneak a picture here too.