Wedding Anniversary & Happy New Year!

Today is my 15th wedding anniversary!

I met DH 21+ years ago when we worked in the same office. We started dating shortly thereafter and have been together thru thick & thin (literally & figuratively) ever since. Incidentally, he’s the guy behind the camera and very supportive of this little endeavor. Thank you honey!

It’s going to be a family night in, with kids in PJ's, videos, assorted snacks…(plus maybe a little rum-spiked Silk Nog for Mama & Daddy!)

We actually don’t mind staying in and not joining in the typical revelry. Being home with the kids is a celebration of a special sort and one we relish with all our hearts. I've mentioned that I went thru infertility; it took us 5 long years to have our first child and then 5 more before our second was born. Both births were fraught with serious problems as well. Truth is, there's really no place else we'd rather be to usher in another year & celebrate our union as a couple than with our two precious babies anyway -- together, healthy, as a family :)

So Happy New Year to all, may it be rung in with joy, health & happiness and may you be with the ones you love!!!!

Gray Lady

This gray turtleneck from Target is a teeny bit on the long side, but that's what makes it perfect to pair with my INC black velvet skinny jeans, I think. Also from Target are my new slouchy, brown Mossimo Kiley boots -- one of my very favorite holiday gifts from DH & the kids :) They are uber comfy, too.

The shrug on the left is from the Gap, the cardigan on the right is Mossimo for Target.

On the left I'm wearing a brown beaded necklace found by my DH and a silver circle from The Avenue.

The necklace I'm wearing on the right was made by me -- I took the square goldtone filgree piece off of an old wooden trinket box and used a vintage chain to turn it into a pendant. I love to take broken bits of jewelry and turn them into new creations :)

Enjoy the day everyone!

In the twilight

This picture was taken in the early evening and tho it's getting dark the colors are still pretty close to true.

I'm wearing the same plum cardigan from NY&Co that I recently wore with the green Chadwick's dress. Here I've paired it with a Croft&Barrow brown striped shirt from Kohls (that I also have in gray stripe -- yes I *am* the multiples queen!)

The pin holding the cardi closed is a REALLY beautiful one from Target that I'm totally in love with. The simple black beaded necklace is from a dollar store.

The denim skirt is from Old Navy and I'm planning to wear it to death I adore it so! (Thanks again OhThatGirl from What That Girl Wears for turning me on to it) This time I'm wearing the pencil skirt with brown Merona Karla boots from Target and -- no, not tights -- but black long johns, lol! Would you have been able to tell?

Have a great Monday everyone, see ya Tuesday :)

More fun with the box!

Since his sister made her blog debut, DS has wanted equal time (ok, he's only 2 so not really, but go w/me here, lol)....oh, and notice where the box is from!

Yes, he does need a haircut -- but I just can't bear to touch his soft baby locks quite yet...soon, but not yet.

See ya Monday w/an outfit pic...have a great post-holiday weekend everybody!!!!!!

Festive & fun!

This holiday season just wouldn't be complete without at least one red & green outfit. Now, add the hat, some well timed snow, and heck -- you've got yourself a merry little dash of style :)

The cardigan is NY&Co (and I have it in red & blue, too) the red cable knit sweater was a long ago gift -- as was the initial pin cinching it closed. The glass teardrop pendant is vintage and was my mom's, tho I put it on the black choker chord. The bracelets are just a miscellany of red, green & gold bangles.

The jeans are from Target, as are the short, black, Merona Kenna boots. Oh, and the hat is from Target, too ;)

Won't post again until Thursday so have a very Merry Christmas !!!

A tale of three dresses...

Back about a week and a half ago when I wore the Black dress from Chadwick's you see here, I mentioned I had two other of the exact same dress and was trying to decide which two of the three I should keep, since owning three of the same dress seemed excessive (or so I thought). A couple people suggested I show photos of the other dresses. I've actually already worn the blue one but also took a newer photo of it, tho I'm not thrilled with the cardigan (too long, too bulky).

Of course it's all a moot point now since I've changed my mind and am keeping all three of the dresses! (Oh come on, you knew I would, didn't you, lol?)

But before that decision was made (and before the snow hit) I took some pix of the green printed one, too -- and since I'm not going anywhere today and therefore not really getting dressed beyond sweats & a tee, I thought I'd go ahead and post the photos of the three dresses.

Oh, and I particularly like the pop of color from the plum cardigan w/the green printed dress since it's a pale shade of sage (tho not quite as pale as the photo portrays). Incidentally, that cardi is the same one (sans fur trim) worn in the awful original pix from the once dubbed "that red dress", before the improved photos of the renamed "Lady In Red".

Wow, so now I guess I've come almost full circle on all this: I'm keeping all three Chadwick's dresses, the red dress is redeemed and I've even kept the plum cardigan -- gee, all that's left is to use the fur trim!

Yuletide Greetings on Winter Solstice!

Today is Winter Solstice, the first day of winter, and this is the holiday my family and I celebrate. While we do observe Christmas to a small extent, this is the BIG one, lol -- the day we exchange gifts, have a special family dinner and enjoy other festive traditions of the season.

The winter holidays all share many symbols & themes in common despite varied cultural ideas. Perhaps chief among these themes is hope...miraculous, abiding, blessed hope. And what better way to epitomize the gift of hope than with light, whether it be from a bright guiding star, an enduring flame's glow, or from the life-giving sun itself as it makes the journey thru the shortest day of the year and into the waiting arms of the longest night...to return anew tomorrow, perhaps even a little brighter, lasting just a little longer day by day until the next Solstice in June when the cycle begins again..as it has done since the beginning of time.

So whatever you celebrate and in whatever way, may your holiday season be brimming with hope -- shining, glorious, beaming HOPE.

Bright blessings & happiest of holidays to all!!!!

(See ya Tues, I'll still be celebrating on Mon)