Thursday, December 17, 2015

When Stella Met Santa…

One of the things I've been wanting to do all season is take Stella for a photo with Santa.  This is Stella's first Christmas (even though she was around last Christmas, she wasn't old enough to be ours yet and I'm positive she didn't celebrate like she is this year) and for now she's our littlest family member and we treat her as a child - only the best for the pups, right?!

We finally got ourselves together on Monday night and ran out for her to meet the big man.  (He isn't my favorite Santa in the area but we were short on time and I love the pictures so all worked out) Stella's face might not show it but she loved Santa and made herself quite at home on his lap.  The flash for the camera wasn't working so she ended up being up there for a while and really made herself at home - we were cracking up!


I was planning on being done with gift guides {I previously did a gift guide for the puppy lover found here} but I couldn't help but share some of my recent find favorite treats for the pups themselves.  After seeing a "Sniffany & Co." toy on Lauren Conrad's gift guide, I got to searching on Amazon and found the mega of all dog toys. {Stella has the chewy vuitton and sniffany & co. amongst her other "regular" Christmas gifts}



Previous 2015 CLLoves gift guides:
stocking stuffers {under $25, under $50, splurge}
for the wine lover
something for everyone {gal, gent, monogram lover, home, jet setter}
for the lilly lover
under $35
for the hostess
for the hostess: holiday themed

'Tis the Season {8 days left!}

Linking up with Thoughts for Thursday today.


Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Looks & Life Lately {6}

It's been a while since I've done a "Looks & Life" which means there's plenty share today so let's jump right in to it (kind of going backwards from most recent back into summer)

A peek into "pre fall"… 

Getting the big seasonal closet switch out of the way is one of the best feelings.  I enjoy doing it but it always takes so long so I'm relieved when it's done.  I opted to do the switch a little earlier this year because the next few weekends are busy with football and I'm already feeling slightly cooler temperatures so win win.  I think we ended up with about five bags for the green drop between both of us and it always feels good to purge/giveaway.

top: one // two (similar style) // three (same look, different brand)
middle: one // two (similar style) // three (on sale!)
bottom: one (under $100!) // two // three (same look, different brand)

I got away from my candle burning a little bit with the heat waves we'd been having but after a stock up at Bath & Body, I'm ready to go for the fall.  We had the lowest of key weekends this weekend and enjoying a glass of pinot with the scent of the candle out on the deck Friday night was just what I needed.

candle: here

Cooking got lazy around here over the summer - simple meals on the grill and lots of nights out was about it.  I'm ready to test out some fall recipes and always am looking for new game day/tailgate recipes too.


This past Sunday football was back and so were game day meals.  Having the crockpot going all day filling the house with delicious smells and football constantly on in the background felt nice.

candle: here

I wasn't the only one who was happy that football was back.  In fact, I was woken up from a nice sleep after Sunday night football to hear about his big win… 


Prepping for tailgate season.  Only three more days until our first big tailgate of the season.  THREE more days.  Bring on, Happy Valley.


My summer flowers ended their run and we made a quick spur of the moment run the other night out to get some mums for our front.  I was a happy gal to find all four for just $20.  And happy to have the fall colors on our walkway.


Rarely do I nap when I get home from the office but every once in a while I'll take a twenty minute power nap.  On this day it was raining, perfect for a nap and just after I laid dow I felt something at my head - someone else was joining me too.



A peek back at the final days of summer… 

It's hard to believe summer has come to an end but we celebrated the same way that we started with a BBQ on my parents deck.


Complete with an anniversary cheers.  It's nice to have a few extra items left over from the welcome bags last year.


Nash has passed his habits off onto Stella (he ate his corn way to quick for a photo) but I think she's hooked now too.


Like I've mentioned before - every so often Mom and I enjoy a shopping day together - we were hoping for some fall clothes this day but it was a little early for that as there wasn't much out on the racks but we did each walk away with a few fall shoes including a matching pair.

shoes: exact style dress: similar styles here and here

Our girls shopping days are on of my absolute favorites - we always end with a lemonade for each of us to enjoy on the way home.

dress: similar styles here and here

Derek happily tags along to Phillies games to just enjoy the baseball setting and night out but it's always a fun (rivalry) night when his Mets are in town.  Looking forward to another series with them in a couple weeks.

top: here & 40% off (similar styles for fall: here and here)

Someone thought it might be okay to tag along with her parents to Providence for the weekend.  I think she made a perfect fit! 


Such a treat to find one of my favorites on our doorstep one day from my main man.  I love Baked by Melissa because you can eat a few cupcakes and it's okay because they are so little.


We've enjoyed a few more dining under the stars nights with the family.  I had to laugh when I looked up and both of my parents were on their phones since they are always giving me a hard time with theirs.  The boys provided a good laugh too.


Of course "National Dog Day" didn't go unnoticed with us.  Life would be nothing without these sweet pups who are becoming quite the duo.


I was at the grocery store preppy for our most recent lake weekend when someone finished golf early and gave me quite the shock pulling my cart away from me.  Grocery shopping is much more fun with a buddy.


I know Giuliana Rancic's wine came out a while ago but I had never seen it (even searched for locations close by online)… until now.  I was happy to give it a try.  

One of the big house touches we needed to finish up was something for above our bed.  I stumbled upon these wall hangings.  Now just a handful of items remain on the "to finish" list.  Slow and steady.


And like always, just because… 


Don't forget to enter here for a chance to win a $300 Nordstrom gift card.  Good luck! 


Monday, August 31, 2015

Lake-ing


Last night we got back from another great weekend at the lake - our last one of the season.  We arrived just in time for cocktail hour on Friday night and enjoyed our relaxing weekend.  Last week was a hectic one amongst the family and everyone was exhausted as well as ready for a cocktail and relaxing. Last week's occurrences brought in some out of town family and we had a larger than normal group which was fun and very like old times when we were kids - there were about 15 of us total and everyone enjoyed the extended family time.

All day on the dock, some time relaxing on the couches in front of the TV's, long cocktail hours and time spent on the porch, a big champagne brunch, walks with the pups, s'more making over the burner and most of all great family time with lots of laughs.


Because sometimes when Friday night hits all you want is a delicious pizza.  And time on the bouncy chairs.


The weather was gorgeous all weekend long - low humidity, a nice breeze and very bright skies.


The two biggest fans of the lake house spent the majority of the day IN the water.


There's a big rock not too far from our dock that everyone always swims out to (Nash made the trip this time too) so Derek's not walking on water… just standing on the rock.  We have two water toys that the dogs could chase for hours (well, mainly Nash - Stella is more into wading and swimming in little circles).


She finally dried off by the time the sun went down…


Some of the family went on a booze cruise while some of us got cocktail hour set up on the porch.  There was about  15 of us up there and the porch was at capacity.



We've been trying to make s'mores all summer long but get too full or too tired or something like that but we finally got around to it and all gathered around the burner and enjoyed the gooey treats.


Sunday morning brunch was more food than we could have even imagined (I was too ready to eat it to remember to take any pictures) and it's not a bad way to kick off the day with a mimosa and lake view.  We had all the fixings like the brunch used to be "back in the day." 


It's a very peaceful setting to take a walk in - we enjoyed a long one to burn off some of those extra brunch calories.


My sidekick found a shady place to relax from all of her swimming.


The boys had a successful fishing outing which resulted in the catch of a catfish.


If these aren't the looks of too extremely happy pups then I don't know what is.


The boat got a lot of action with plenty of ski runs.


One of my favorite places - we stayed much later than expected and got the full use out of a great summer day.



I think last night everyone was feeling like the pups were here (how cute are they cuddling together?!)


Past lake weekends this summer… 
On the lake
Fourth-ing at the lake