i'll be home for christmas.

Being home for the holidays has been the greatest gift of all. Cheesy , I know, but so true. In the past two and a half weeks I have been able to reunite with all of my friends, and all my family. I have spent lots of bonding time with my parents and my brother, which is wonderful because I have missed them so much, being away.

Every year on Christmas Eve my aunt and uncle come over and we play board games, watch Christmas movies and eat appetizers. It's the Christmas tradition that I look the most forward to. We've been doing exactly the same thing every year for as long as I can remember. We make meatballs, dry ribs, fresh salad rolls, shrimp, spanakopita, and a japanese style salad made from chow mein noodles and cabbage. It's always a feast, and I always go to bed feeling like I gained about twenty pounds. Since I don't really like turkey, or any of the fixings, I usually enjoy the Christmas Eve feast a lot more than the fancy dinner we eat on Christmas Day.

The best part of the holiday though, is the games we play. Every year my mom buys the family a new board game to add to the collection. Scrabble and Catchphrase are definitely the favorites, but no matter what we play, we always do so with the most intense competition. It's so much fun and my brother and I are always trying to outsmart each other.

I think the one thing about the holidays, is the familiarity that comes with each set of traditions. We decorate with the same ornaments, eat the same food and see the same people. It's so wonderful to be home for the holidays, surrounded by so many people that I love.

a hostess for all seasons.

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'Tis the time of year for holiday parties, which means trying to come up with the perfect hostess gift amongst all the chaos that holiday shopping brings. Flowers are a nice gesture, but rushing around to find a vase, while trying to keep your guests entertained can be stressful for your hostess. I like bringing things that can be useful all year, and not just festive things that are only appropriate for the season. Colorful napkins, wine glass charms, or a bottle stopper are all nice gestures. I have compiled a little list of cool gifts that are sure to make any hostess smile.

1. Chocolate Shoes available at Gayle's Chocolates, $40

2. Pinocchio Teapot for 2 available at Stylehive.com $56

3. Happy Hour in a box, available at urbanoutfitters.com comes with all the fixings for a cocktail party. Umbrellas, swirly straws and a lot more fun, $16 (online only)

4. Chia Herb Garden, available at most hardward stores and Zellers, price varies

5. Little Pink Book of Cocktails, I want to try the Blueberry Acai Mojito, but there are many other cool cocktails to experiment with it's really just an excuse to have another party , Urban Outfitters, $9.95

Urban Outfitters and Home Sense are great places to find cool, eccentric gifts that showcase your originality and make your hostess smile and think of you everytime she uses her thoughtful gift.

an oldie, but a goodie.

This is an old outfit post from summer, but I love it. It's probably from June or July because I was still blonde.

Leather Jacket- Le Chateau

Crochet vest- Value Village

Gladiator Sandals- Aldo

Leggings- American Apparel

Medallion Earrings- Forever 21

can't. hardly. wait.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKQ5yRFkBnE

Check out those clothes. The best part of the SATC movies is definitely Patricia Fields' work in costume design. Can't wait until Summer 2010 when this blockbuster is finally released.

from my kitchen, to yours.

Here is the recipe for the homemade hummus my mom and I just made. Hummus is a definite staple in my diet, whether paired with crudites, spread on crackers, or added to sandwiches, it gives plain food a healthy and flavorful kick! Besides the fact that it is delicious, it's also very easy to make and can be whipped up on short notice.

Pesto Hummus:

2 Tbsp Tahini

4 cloves garlic

1 can chick peas (rinsed and drained)

1/4 c olive oil

1/2 c lemon juice

2 Tbsp pesto*

3 tsp water*

Add all ingredients to blender, and blend until smooth.

Serve chilled.

* for a different flavour of hummus, substitute lemon juice for the water, and dill for pesto.

auld lang syne.

Every year around this time, I start thinking about resolutions. A new year always holds the potential for a new you. A fresh start. A way for us to make ourselves even better than we already are.

I always make a resolution, every year. For the past ten years or so, it has always been to stop biting my nails, but it's obvious that I have never stuck to it. So this year I have decided to try a different approach. Instead of limiting myself to one thing, in one year, I am going to make a list of life goals. Things I want to accomplish over the next five or ten years, and not necessarily just in 2010. I guess you could call it a Bucket List. So here it goes, and in no particular order:

* Finish my degree.

* Marry the man of my dreams.

* Start a family, and have healthy kids.

* Find inspiration in the smallest things.

* Laugh more. Aim to make others do the same.

* Learn how to play poker.

* Own my own home.

* Have my own event planning business.

* Publish a cookbook. Also a coffee table book, about parties.

* Be an editor of a magazine. Preferably, one that I start myself.

* Backpack Europe. Alone, to conquer all of my deepest insecurities.

* Become bilingual.

* Finish Grad school.

* Always find the good in people.

* Skydive.

* Go green.

* Make my own clothes.

* Make it onto a best dressed list, somewhere.

* Run a marathon.

* Save money.

* Stop biting my nails.

I think this should do it. I love setting goals for myself, and it looks like I have my work cut out for me.

Happy Holidays!

damn! i feel like a woman.

Lately, I have been very into the androgynous look for women. I love the idea of rolling out of bed, and throwing on the first thing you can find off your boyfriend's bedroom floor. I bought a pair of black Oxfords from Aldo back in the summer and I can't get enough of them. They add an unexpected cuteness to practically every outfit, and I have always been a firm believer that a classic men's white button up is an essential part of every woman's wardrobe.

This winter, androgyny has definitely been the trend to watch. Celebrities such as Kate Moss, Agnyss Deyn, Katherine Moennig, and Rihanna are channeling Diane Keaton's character in Annie Hall and embracing this masculine vibe.

Above are some of the hottest androgynous looks of the moment, from H&M's F&W09 collection.

california, here we come. right back where we started from.

As the weather turns disgusting and I feel like huddling inside the covers like a little bug, I think of California. Single handedly my favorite place on earth for so many reasons. Mainly, the lack of seasons, and therefore lack of any real winter. The copious amounts of beautiful, shirtless men, potential for star spotting, and some of the best restaurants and nightlife aren't exactly points against them.

I could have stayed there forever. One for the beautiful sunshine, which just makes everyone radiate from within, and the other for the ocean. There is nothing better for your hair and skin, and ultimately, your soul, than the warm breeze that comes off the ocean. Besides, any place where the weather permits mini dresses and high heels 365 days a year is always number one in my books.

If there is any way for me to do my Masters in Santa Monica, believe me I will. I loved the way the Pier was always bustling with vendors and tourists, and the way the air smelled like a combination of vendor food and salt water. I've never felt so alive, nor have I ever seen so much liveliness and excitement in one place.

In my opinion, some of the best places to hang out:

Restaurant: Ketchup- Featured on MTV's reality show, The Hills, this red and white eatery on Sunset serves a trio of fries, skinny fries, sweet potato fries and yukon gold fries with 5 of their signature ketchup flavors. I liked the wasabi best, but for those who don't like spice, you have the option of mango, chipotle, dill and maple. The decor was cool with red lacquer tables and white leather banquettes, and silver chandeliers. It's definitely not a place to miss out on!

Club: H-Wood- A Hollywood hotspot, located in the heart of Hollywood itself. This club was massive. The concept was cool too. It was designed in a half inside, half outside style so you could enjoy the California sun, drink in hand, or dance the night away indoors, upstairs. The crowd was young and stylish, but the drinks were a little overpriced.

Store: Fred Segal- I know, way too out of my price range. Or most people's for that matter, but it's still worth checking out. From the cool shoe section, to the uber trendy patio cafe, the store has definitely hit the trendy mark, spot on. I picked up a cool pair of legging jeans, by Current Elliott, which I love. They have the feel of leggings, but are actually made out of denim, so even non jean wearers like myself can enjoy them. Fred Segal also has really cool selection of guy's clothes. I could have shopped all day for my brother.

Beach: Manhattan Beach- Santa Monica was beautiful, with its bustling pier, but Manhattan Beach had so much character. The cobblestone streets were lined with mexican restaurants, sports bars, surf shops and hand-made jewellery stores. The girls and I enjoyed $4 margaritas and fish tacos, and could literally smell the salt water because we were so close to the ocean. I could have stayed there forever. I would have, had I had the funds to support my ridiculous spending.

California, you've stolen my heart.

Above are a couple pictures from our girl's trip back in july.