merry christmas to all

from our house to yours.... 

 we wish you a very merry christmas!

kissing santa

 i have always loved going to see santa....

so when he showed up at the office brunch yesterday, 

i just couldn't resist.

sure hope i'm on the nice list this year!

ladies who brunch

we had a lovely time at our santa brunch 

on sunday and were put in quite the festive spirit.

my girlfriend and her daughter 

(muffy's bf since the day she was born) 

joined us for a ladylike day.

we first visited with santa

and both girls said they didn't know what they would like

(could it be because they both have EVERYTHING already?!?)

muffy did not eat much, since there was a piano man 

asking children to join him on stage to sing and dance....

(the girl LOVES a stage)

and speaking of stages, we went to see our local presentation 

of The Nutcracker afterwards.

our dear little friend was a mouse. how precious.

we are in full-on Christmas mode here ....

just a few more sleeps!

jingle all the way

leave it to kate spade to put a little jingle in the season

love the ring

think the bobby pins are adorable

but am wondering if i would have a 

constant ringing with the earrings

hope you're ringing in the week before christmas 

with fun, and laughing all the way!

christmas brunch

amid cookie baking and parties, 

the annual trip to see the nutcracker ballet, 

the event muffy and i are most looking forward to 

this weekend is the 

christmas "santa" brunch at lake pearl.

we'e going with two of our very good friends 

so it should be a real festive, lady-like affair! 

(then we'll all go to see the nutcracker together)

lake pearl is actually a beautiful club set on, 

you guessed it, lake pearl, near our home.

the facilities are gorgeous and the food is amazing.

mr prep and i just attended a christmas party 

there last friday night, 

and we help muffy's post-baptism party there years ago.

the forecast calls for snow...a dusting would be nice to amp up 

the festivities, but not a blizzard. 

last year it snowed 14 inches the day of 

the nutcracker performance, 

mr prep was out of town and i was left to shovel!

afternoon (starbucks) delight

as you're running around during your lunch hour

doing everything for everyone on your list

take time for YOU 

and enjoy this sweet little pick-me-up

a starbucks peppermint cappuccino

(a lot less calories than its peppermint mocha 

cousin also on the menu)

but just as tasty!

christmas angels

one of my favorite christmas traditions is 

selecting an angel from the salvation army's angel tree.

i have done this for many years, 

and it's a great thing for muffy to do with me now.

she loves selecting a child her age 

and picking out things the little girl might like.

not wanting to dispel any beliefs that santa 

would not deliver for a deserving child, 

i try to explain that this child is not as fortunate 

as others and might like a few extra things under his or her tree.

this year, "our" five-year-old girl asked for a baby alive doll. 

muffy was so excited to pick it out and wrap it up with me.

we added some snuggly jammies, an outfit and socks, 

a soft stuffed teddy and coloring book and crayons.

she was so excited to deliver it last night to the drop-off location, 

and thankfully, all the angels on the tree had been adopted.

i hope in some small way, 

my little christmas angel has made a happier holiday for another.

bundle up

it was cccc-cold in chicago last week, but near what it is now!

boston is bracing for a freeze too, so i decided to update my winter wardrobe, courtesy of my mother-in-laws generous pre-christmas gift!

laundry by shelly segal

(detachable fur collar)

and patent leather accented duck boots

(a significant upgrade from my l.l.bean navy ones)

here's to keeping warm!

snowy chicago weekend

it's snowing in chicago and i'm still going!

despite unseasonably warm weather in the northeast, i'm taking off for chicago for work (and a little fun, too!)

i'm staying across from the historic water tower 

and, as luck would have it, 

across from the polo store and the new nordstrom rack! 

(yay!)

i always try to fill up my schedule so that 

i'll have plenty to do on my downtime...

this time i've got

fireworks and ice skating at navy pier

cappucinno at the four seasons

dinner at la colonial

it's a wonderful life stage production

bloomingdales

american girl place 

now, if only i could get last minute tickets 

to see michael buble!

any other festive suggestions you have?!?

holiday stroll

tonight is our town's annual holiday stroll

mr prep, muffy and i are so excited 

because our little stationery store is along the main street.

after the tree lighting and caroling at the college 

in the center of town, residents make their way 

through our historic downtown to shop and 

enjoy goodies from more than 35 shops.

at then end of the line is the big furniture store, featuring santa!

it sounds like a fun, old-fashioned event we need more of!

(i'll try to get pictures of all of us in our matching red!)

blue christmas

 thanks wills and kate 

for putting diamond-encrusted sapphires back in fashion 

(as if they were ever out!)

instead of a ring, i've put earrings 

on my wish list from santa this year!

oval studs

or emerald-cut drops

i even liked these surrounded by sterling silver

ahh, i hope it's a blue Christmas at the prep house!