What Happens At The Office Christmas Party, Stays At The Office Christmas Party

I went to visit Stephan for one last long weekend in Kansas (single, glistening tear) and we went to his squadron Christmas party. It's kinda lame, but any excuse to dress up and I'm there!

I was having a Carrie Bradshaw in the final episode of Sex and the City moment. I rocked my BCBG corset seemed strapless dress and dressed Stephan in a velvet blazer and tweed pants and no tie (going rebel). He is my Ken Doll. But that is another post altogether.

We had fun despite the prom like atmosphere, the white elephant gift exchange, lame games like 2 Truths and a Lie and the Newlywed game, mediocre food, drunken debauchery, and the fact Stephan somehow got put in charge of taking pics.

At least we have some new cute pics!

Girl Meet Diesel, Diesel Meet Girl

I finally met Diesel!!! So excited! He is the cutest thing ever, is growing like crazy (I think he might actually be mixed with horse or something). He is very sweet, quiet and well-behaved. He breathes so heavy and it cracks me up! He also "talks," he never really barks just whines and talks to us. So cute! He is all front paws and ears and will have to grow into them. He is so in an awkward stage and like trips on himself and looks like he is walking with flippers on. Can't wait for him to meet Bentley.

We also discussed his registered AKC name and ended up just being silly about it on the 2 hours drive from Kansas City to Manhattan. Things like Kerstone's Diesel McDiesel and Sir Diesel von Dieselson... yeah... we were way bored.

I have lots of nicknames for Bentley:
-Bentley Bear
-Mr. Bentley
-Punkin
-Bentley Boy

So I had to start making some for Diesel. So far I have:
-Diesel McDiesel (too catchy to pass up)
-D-Bomb (cause it's awesome)

Tufted Goodness

Here's the new couch and loveseat!!!! Obsessed with tufting...so vintage and glam! It was 33% off over Thanksgiving weekend!!! And it passed the man-comfort test. Stephan had to do the ol' sit-er-oo test and it passed. First piece of the living room puzzle that I just can't put together...

Chloe Velvet Sofa and Loveseat

I'm having one heck of a time getting this thing, though. I seamlessly ordered it over the phone with Macy's (because I went to the store twice and no one would help me so there was no way I was giving them my commission!). And was so impressed with the customer service. And then, long story short, I've been on the phone back and forth for a week with Macy's and Discover card. Grrrrr. They keep trying to double charge and blame each other. Then they wouldn't deliver to the new house zipcode...lame. Eventually they made an excpetion but only for a day that no one would be there...ugh.

I had to ask my friend who already lives in the area to go to the house to let them in. She is preggers with two toddlers and lives over 30 minutes away which officially makes me a bad person. ANYTHING FOR MY COUCH (crazy look in the eyes)!!!!!!

Just imagine some mirrored side tables, blown-up black and white wedding photos, sunburst mirrors, faux fur throw, crystal lamps, zebra ottoman, parisienne burlap pillows...maybe I do have the beginnings of a room in mind... I DIE!!! Can't wait to sit my butt on it :) NO SHEPHERDS ALLOWED!!!

Thanksgiving!!!!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! On Thanksgiving day we ate with my side of the family (couldn't hit both because Stephan booked his flight too last minute and ended up arriving at 3:00pm). And then did a dinner with Stephan's familia on Friday night.

We ate and had fun and I was asked to tell my story about the customer that shopped in my store for 8-hours (you don't wanna know). All the girls ended up making a dessert so we had to have a family bake-off. Here were the contenders:

Mom: Pumpkin Cheesecake torte

Me: Chocolate Pecan Pie (Martha Stewart's recipe, of course)

Matt's girlfriend Rich: Coca Cola Chocolate cake

Nate's girlfried Dianna: Oreo Balls (they need a new name, I know... I'm thinking Oreo Truffles)

Austin was the judge since he was not biased by dating or being married to any of us:)

He gobbled them all up.

Then we had our traditional Thanksgiving photo shoot for the Christmas card picture. No matter what we always end up by the fireplace:) And my mom was amazed at the use of the self-timer on the camera:) Oh, goodness, there were more outtakes than actual good shots though...

Awkward Family Photoshoot AKA White Socks, White Shirts, No Problems

Over the busy Thanksgiving weekend we did a family photoshoot with Stephan's family. Getting that many people in a family picture is always funny, awkward, and hilarity always insues. Stephan's mom wanted to do the white top and jeans thing (not my thing, but it was for my Mother-in-Law so we did as we were asked for uniformity's sake) The only thing I put up a tiny fight about was wearing white socks. To be photographed without my heels on is like asking Diesel to not be adorable...

Here's what made it awkward and hilarious:
-The wardrobe: matching white shirts, jeans, and socks
-Two dogs (both drugged up on Benadryl...don't judge me)
-Two dads (At the last minute Stephan's dad got added into the mix)
- The poor photographer who had no idea who went with who and what the heck was going on

I went to my happy place and just let it happen. Here's is what we came up with (Please, Picture People, don't sue me!)

Yeah, not the most attractive pose for the figure but cute-ish

In acting they always say never work with animals or children...

Absolutely ZERO sibling rivalry here:)

We look like the cast of a CW or ABC Family TV Show...Yeah

Congratulations Matt and Rich!!!!

My brother Matt and his girlfriend, Rich got engaged this week and we are beyond excited about it! Especially me since I am the only girl sibling in the family and now have someone to talk to at family gatherings!!! Yay!!! Best Wishes and Congratulations!!! Love you guys mucho!!!

Love Is... Going Appliance Shopping on Black Friday and Letting Your Wifey Sleep In

Stephan and I love a good bargain! He says I shop alot, but I never pay full price... for ANYTHING. I always have a coupon or cyber stalk things I wanna buy until they are on sale. I also sign up for email with EVERY store that I like or may like something at one day. Stephan thinks I'm crazy because I get like 60 emails a day from stores. It's worth sorting through it for a bargain!

As we looked through the Black Friday ads we were on a mission for these things:
-A new camera under $200
-Fab deal on a Washer and Dryer
-Matching stainless steel kitchen appliances (very important that they match)

We are splitting the camera as our Christmas present to each other and the appliances are must-haves. You know you are a grown up when this is what you get for Christmas!

Unfortunately the new casa does not include a refridgerator, microwave, or washer and dryer. It has a dishwasher, and oven, but they are white and we long for stainless steel chic-ness. And with the generous tax credit we will get in 6-8 weeks, we can actually afford to do the whole shebang at once (thanks, Uncle Sam!)

Knowing that I worked at 8:00am, my wonderful hubby offered to wake up at 3:30am and brave the sales to look for these things and let me sleep. That is true love. When he left I said "Don't be that one guy that gets trampled to death this year." He responded with "I've been to Iraq twice. Do you really think I'm scared of being trampled?!?" Fair enough.

He braved Sears for an el cheapo washer and dryer that was already sold out when he got to it, but it ended off being better because he ended up getting a nicer Kenmore Elite set. It's front load, baby! Then he ran to Best Buy to brave the line around the building to look at cameras. He left with a fab Sony camera with a huge screen and super clear pics. He lastly stopped in Lowe's (which he said was totally empty, if you ever wanna go there on Black Friday) to look at a "stainless look" kitchen appliance set. He was disappointed in it and we didn't want to rush into anything because of the adrenaline rush of Black Friday.

Just another example of what a good manslave...ummm, I mean, husband he is:)

Overall a successful trip and all done before 7:00am. Can't wait for my washer and dryer to come so I can start on the road to being a domeestic goddess! Woo Hoo!!!