Alive and Well

Hello there. How is your January going? 

Besides the cold, it has been pretty positive over here. The last few winters have been filled with sick kids and not enough sleep, and this year has been much more fun. So while zero degrees is not cool, healthier kids and well rested adults make up for it big time. 

There have been lots of cozy dinners and Netflix time, and besides that here is what is on my favorites list...

1. Can't wait for these new sneaks to arrive at my door step. A little something to make the winter more fun. 

2. I picked up these jeans at the J. Crew outlet and have worn them every day since. They feel like comfy leggings, but wear like worn in jeans. Size down if you order them. 

3. This miracle product is great for kids and adults. I keep one at the sink and slather on hands and feet. Got the idea from my BFs, Julia and Victoria. 

4. A couple pairs of these socks make for cozy pattering around the house. 

5. Finally signed up for Docusign and it is changing my professional life. If you work with contracts and signatures for your work, do not delay and get on board. 

6. Making popcorn on the stove is my favorite snack and this "all natural" (whatever that means) white cheddar seasoning is delicious. 

7. I am slowly running out of non-tech things for my kids to do in this weather. For some reason the act of writing something and erasing it is magical to them. These cards have come in handy. 

8. Have you been watching Downton??? I have cried during every episode. Loving the dowager's zingers this season and Mary's new handsome love interest. And can Anna please have a baby?!

9. I was over my mismatched dish towels, so I ordered this set and love them. They double as napkins and are cheap enough to throw out and just reorder when needed. 

10. I have been using this Honest oil after the shower for both me and the babes to fight this insane dry skin. I love the smell and it feels luxurious without the big price tag. Like this one I have been eyeing. 

11. If you follow my Instagram, you already know my obsession with this bread recipe. I am possibly one of the world's worst bakers, and I swear this bread recipe is fool proof, only requires three ingredients, and insanely easy. Try it! 

xo

Erin 

Best & Worst Dressed: Golden Globes 2016

The Globes are my favorite. Since TV stars are almost becoming bigger than movie stars, it is nice to have them all on the same red carpet. There were some risk takers and some interesting choices, which I love. And let's start at the top of the top... 

Newcomer Alicia Vikander nailed it. The ingenue in white LV made an apron dress look really good. Sweet, but sexy, and cut gorgeously. Best Dressed of the night. 

Some of my runners up are kind of random, but I had an instant reaction to. 

Julianne in sequined perfection. Love that color with her hair. Kate is posed so strangely, but that dress is gorgeous. Amber looking regal in an elegant gown in a great color for her. Love the lipstick. And I loved this delicate, sweet dress on Miss Golden Globe (Jaime Fox's daughter). 

And another lady w.ho looked gorgeous..

Hair, make up, dress, all on point. Channing's facial hair and weird side part? Not so much. 

White was a nice choice...

Judith Light showing who really is the boss (had to do it) in this tux. Slay. Pretty young things, Saoirse and Lily, in nothing earth shattering but pretty. And Taraji did this weird pose with her train all night, but I like this simple column on her. 

 Black word as well...

Sophia kept is simple with black, diamonds, and a red lip. I am a fool for velvet and I like Kirstin's make up a lot. Though maybe a bit more coverage would be good. I am also a fool for a tux and Taylor looks chic. Amy's dress was great on her. 

Shades of blueish...

I really wanted Anna to win! Loves this on her. This blue gown on Jane the Virgin was just a bit overwhelming on her frame, but pretty. Lily Tomlin's dress is plain, but I think so great on her. And Kate, while boring, looked nice. A little Ramona blue never hurt anyone. 

 Singers who also act looked good...

Jennifer covered up and looked awesome. Thank you for showing us that wearing clothes with no cut outs is even better. Zendaya looks pretty and can pull off this volume. Katy's dress is somehow slightly ill fitting, but she looked good in pink. 

And a few shades of green I liked...

Forgot this girl on the lefts name, but I love her dress. I know Olivia's is super controversial, but I love it. If anyone can pull it off she can. I know you prob hate it! And the girl on the right won and was hilarious. This green did her good. 

Red and orange was a popular color...

I like the drape of Natalie's dress. Amy took a risk in orange as a red head and nailed it. I really loved Jennifer's. I did not love that necklace with it. Angela hasn't aged in years and looks great in this red number. 

There was a little sparkle that worked...

I go back and forth on this gold dress on Brie. The top did not fit, but she looked pretty. Heidi was fun and festive. I love a retro 70s vibe like one on Melissa. And the girl on the right (why do I not know so many names? probably a good thing, actually) was really someone I should have put at the top. This dress was really great. 

Another best/worst couple...

Olivia looks amazing. And Jason could have, but then decided these sneakers would be a good idea. They were not. ugh

Lady Gaga went full Marilyn...

This dress was really gorgeous, but sometimes I think she dresses a bit old for her age. Taylor looks a bit off too. 

And now a few questionable ladies. Was it good or was it bad? Hard to tell...

Maggie's dress looks intricately beaded and pretty, but that yellow is a bit off to me. The cut of Rachel's dress is gorgeous, the print I have a love/hate relationship with. Eva was this close. If she would have lost the bow on the belt, this could easily be a best. A the Great Cate, who can never really go wrong, might have gone a bit far. I can appreciate the art of this dress, but I don't like the hair and there is such thing as too much of a good thing. In this case, fringe. 

And the worst list...

I think I saw that this lady's name was Mariel or something. There are no words. Sorry, girl. 

Blush dresses did not do these ladies good... 

Amanda and Rooney both wore shredded up dresses that do not look good at all. Poor Savannah, just a bad color choice, length, and all around selection for her. Kate is rocking, no doubt, but I saw her pull at that tube top (yes, she wore a tube top to the Globes) twice and the choker thing is not my fave. 

Saffron (yep, that is her name) kind of looks like she has a beach cover up on. I am really over the full cut out dresses and Guliana's has to add the floor length sleeve? Yea, no. Felicity looks like a contestant for Mrs. America. yikes. Regina's is actually not that bed, but the addition of the cape and shoe selection makes it a worst. 

Emilie's dress is just too much fabric and so heavy on her. I do not like that neckline either. Calista looks dowdy. I want to love Jane's, I really do, but it is too heavy. Jada has those sweeping sleeves like Guliana. They bug. 

 I have a love for RHW, and I thought these two were off their game last night. 

Not horrible, but somehow his tux, the cut and color of the dress. Don't love it. 

So what do you think? What were your best and worst????

xo

Erin 

And so it begins...

New year! New you! New life! Everything is going to be awesome! You're awesome! 

This message has never resonated with me. I always saw the new year as the start of winter and the end of my favorite holiday. Not in a dark way, but just sort of a blah way. Of course I have made resolutions in the past, but trying to change your life just because we did a countdown and its January again seems silly. 

So many resolutions are about taking things away. The food, the booze, the screen time, the spending, the fun really. Ha 

So maybe this new year we think about what we want more of. Adding things that can improve our lives instead of taking things away seems way more fun and easier to mentally get behind. 

Here's a few things on my MORE list... 

1. Hygge: I am obsessed with this Danish word/concept. It is basically a word that embodies coziness. Lighting candles, eating meals with those you love, fire burning, getting under blankets, warm tea. It is fascinating and really a way of life which I hope to have a lot of this winter. 
2. Creative cooking: I have been good about cooking, but I need to get back to making more exciting meals in the kitchen. There is a heavy rotation of the same and the kids could use some exposure to other flavors. Nothing complicated or fancy, just new recipes.

3. Epsom salt baths: I took one of these on a moody morning when I was recovering from the flu while the kids were at school. It was glorious and restorative, even if it was only fifteen minutes.

4. Wide Open Spaces: The interior shots that I gravitate to most these days are pretty sparse. Not a ton on the walls, not a pile of pillows on the sofa, just fresh spaces that you fee like you can breath in but still feel warm. More of this style in the house would be great and that includes closets/toy baskets, which could use more less is more. (see what I did there? ha) 

5. Dark chocolate: More nightly sweet treat is usually of the frozen variety, so I might as well start making it something that is "healthy." Dying to try these bars from Compartes.  

6. Books: Ah, reading. The elusive pastime that has been shoved to the side by Netflix and small people. I have figured out that downloading books onto my phone is my best bet. A little here while waiting for a Dr appointment, a bit more there while the kids are playing nicely for ten seconds, I can make it to the end! Have you read Brooklyn? Looks good.

7. Dance: I would more than anything love to start taking class again (hard to find in an adult class right now) once a week. Anyone want to get one together? And in the meantime more dance parties all winter long. 

This is definitely a list I can get behind. What's on your list???

Happy New Year! 

xo

Erin