Animal Instincts

I am so in to animal prints this season.  I currently have a multitude of scarves, a couple sweaters, a purse, a pair of shoes, and even a pair of jeans.  I am looking into incorporating a dress before the new year.  


This is the dress that started my search.  

$985

I love the silhouette and the print.  It also comes in a long sleeve version

$1,195

Unfortunately, we haven't been able to hit the powerball, so I can only admire from afar.  I have been looking for a similar affordable version.

Here are some top contenders

Just Cavalli $187.50 on sale

www.theoutnet.com

Vince Camuto $78 on sale 

Dillard's

Leopard Print Cashmere $227 on sale

Neiman Marcus

Nine West $77.40 on sale

Dillard's

Miss Sixty $76.36 on sale

Asos

Lauren by Ralph Lauren $89.40

Dillard's

Magaschoni $209

www.bluefly.com

And last but not least, my new favorite which is currently sold out in my size.  If you are a size 2, you are in luck.

Topshop $95

Celeb inspirations

Thanksgiving Recap

We hosted Thanksgiving this year in our new home.  This was my first real Thanksgiving as the hostess, and I was nervous about how it would all come together.  Thank goodness for Honey Baked Ham and Bojangles.  I am not a fan of their ham, but love love love their sweet potato souffle.  It is always a huge hit.  I also got their cranberry walnut chutney this year.  Oh my gosh, where has this been all my life!  It is so good y'all.  


We ate fried turkey last year and wanted to do that again this year.  Unfortunately, our friend who cooked last year has a 9 month pregnant wife, so we were on our own.  I was a bit skeptical when my husband suggested Bojangles' fried turkey, but it was delicious, and was ready in about 2 hours!  I usually don't want turkey again for Christmas, but wouldn't mind this fried turkey again.

This was the line outside of Honey Baked Ham on Wednesday.  So glad I went the day before.  A friend was  in that line and she ended up waiting 1 1/2 hours.

I was a little underwhelmed about the table decor.  It didn't have that wow factor to me.  Oh well, I am definitely excited to try something different next year.  

I obviously need some serving dishes, so forgive my bootleg setup.  I made the cornbread dressing and my MIL helped me out by making the green beans and mac and cheese.  

 I have started putting up my Christmas decorations, and only have a few more items left to get.  The only place I went on Black Friday was Hobby Lobby and I am so glad I did.  I went again this week and there is hardly anything left. Can't wait to show the finished product.  Have a great weekend!

New York, New York

Sorry for the long break.  Between the holidays and our out of town trips, I was/am just beat. My husband and I went to New York the first weekend of November to support his business partner who ran in the NYC marathon.   I had not been to New York in 5 years and this was our first trip there together.  We had such a great time, and hope to go back at least once a year. We stayed with his cousin in upstate New York.  

FYI: Roosters start crowing at about 3 in the morning, and keep on crowing.  Luckily  I only know that because we stayed up very late our first night.  I would not have liked to be woken up 

We were in the city for a bit, but not quite as much as we would have liked.  We will definitely be staying in Manhattan next time.  These are my view (i.e. cell phone pics) of my trip. I obviously need my camera.

Brooklyn

Bronx

Chinatown

Manhattan

Grand Central Station-- My Grandmother and Aunt came in from Connecticut for  dinner with us

My actual first NYC hotdog

and pizza

Jewelry shopping

This restaurant/bar was amazing in Brooklyn.  We all met up there Sunday night after the race.  It has southern fused cuisine.  They have an amazing caramel martini that I will have to do at home. My phone died while I was in the restaurant, so I took this pic from their website.  Its vanilla infused vodka, Bailey's caramel and toasted marshmellow.

We are off to New Orleans tomorrow, and we will be staying in the French Quarter.  Any recommendations for places to go/see/shop? This will be my first visit, and hubby hasn't been there since he was a child.

Mint Chocolate Chip

My sister-in-law loves mint chocolate chip ice cream.  When I came across this recipe, I knew I had to make it for her.  I have not made cookies from scratch since I was in 4-H in grade school.  (Less time and clean up with the commercial refrigerated dough).  Thankfully, this was so easy and they turned out delicious.  I ended up adding more food coloring than recommended, so they were very green.  I probably put in about 15 drops.  I also put in 1/2 teaspoon of the mint extract, so they were very mint-y.  She loved them.

I got the tin can from Hobby Lobby for $2.99

I will definitely be making these again.  They will be a fun Christmas and St. Patty's day cookie.

Happy Halloween

Sorry for the blog-cation.  Between preparing for our Halloween party and preparing for us to be out of town 3 times this month, I had to take a break.  


The party went even better than we expected.  Everyone had a great time.  Unfortunately, I did not take many pictures.  With the party being on a Friday, and getting some last minute things, I only had a few minutes to get ready before guests arrived.  Then I was drinking playing hostess.  If I get any additional photos from guests, I will share those as well.

This is only some of the food, however I forgot to take any more shots.  I also had the cheese dip in a cauldron beside the chips cauldron, as well as shrimp cocktail and wings. The wings were in the oven keeping warm.  My sister-in-law made some amazing swedish meatballs and oreo balls which are also not in the pictures.

"Brain Freeze" punch made with cranberry juice cocktail, frozen lemonade from concentrate (thawed) and ginger ale

You can't see this very well, but we had a fog machine outside.  Inside was lit with red lights in the entryway

Drink Menu-- the signature drinks were a hit.  My favorite is not on the menu.  It is a jolly rancher cocktail with cotton candy vodka (by pinnacle) blended with jolly rancher candy and Simply Lemonade raspberry lemonade.   

After several tries (and fails) with making a dessert, I found these at Walmart.  They were cream filled and delicious.  I will definitely get these again.

Everyone loved these in our guest bathrooms

Kitschy wall/floor decor

Graveyard  shift

Favorite costume of the night.  Michael Myers scared everybody.

A blurry pic of me and the hubs as Barbie and Ken.  A lot of people thought I looked like Nicki Minaj, so I will probably reuse the wig next year and go as her.  

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween