From Ralph with love

My tree is up, my balcony is decorated, I listened to Christmas music all day long, and I've watched the Kate Spade Christmas Slide Show more than a few times.

And today, I began a Christmas tradition that accidentally became mine a few years ago...

Putting together my family's Christmas card.  How I earned this project, I'm not entirely sure, but Snapfish has become my very dear friend in recent years.

I thought I might get creative this year and switch up the site for card generating.

In the process, I've fallen for Ralph's Grocery.  The cards are so cute! Although, in the time I spent picking which ones to post on my blog, I think could have put an entire card together on Snapfish...

But I really can't blame Ralph for that.

For the candy caner....
For the caroler...
 And for Little J....
Ralph's Grocery via apartment 34

whimsical wednesday {shall we vest?}

"Gretchen: Regina, you're wearing sweatpants. It's Monday. 
Regina: So...? 
Karen: So that's against the rules, and you can't sit with us. 
Regina: Whatever. Those rules aren't real.
Karen: They were real that day I wore a vest!" - Mean Girls

I have a real problem. I constantly want to buy cocktail dresses.

It takes an inordinate amount of self control to abstain from buying them, and usually results in me asking myself: why, on earth, would I need another cocktail dress? I don't go to enough cocktail parties to warrant yet another LBD, sparkly shift, or red strapless...

I feel the same way about faux fur vests.  My lifestyle doesn't warrant fur. I rarely wear vests. And yet, I find faux fur vests to be completely irresistable.  If I were the type of girl that had a closet that beckoned a faux fur vest, I'd indulge in the following...

When feeling preppy, I'd opt for the Aqua Faux Leopard Fur Vest from Bloomingdale's. The bow adds an element of sweetness to the animal print.

 
When feeling fabulous, I'd opt for the Michael Kors Faux Fur Button Front Vest from Macy's. You really can't not wear Ray Bans with it.
When feeling trendy, I'd opt for the Faux Fur Midnight Vest from Ann Taylor + shorts. Combining two trends, flawlessly...
When feeling less bold, I'd opt for the Sanctuary Natalie Faux Fur Vest from Piperlime. It's understated.
 And when feeling outdoorsy (shall we hike?), I'd opt for the Faux Fur Vest, from Eddie Bauer.
The fact that I just thought of five occasions for vests makes me think this whim might be worth indulging in.

...It makes me wonder how I ever say no to a cocktail dress.

...and eat it too

I realize I'm basically the last person on earth to get on board with cupcakes, but I consider the fact that I'm more of an ice cream girl to be my handicap.

Last week, after burning Jim's first birthday cake, and totally messing up the second frozen birthday cake (I know.), I decided it was time to give cakes a rest.  However, I still felt like I kind of owed him a decent birthday dessert, and thought I'd try my hand at cupcakes.

However, after I had the batter made and was ready to pour it into the cupcake tin, I realized I had made 24 cupcakes and only have one tin for six cupcakes.  I also only had enough time to make one batch...

So, I had to make a cake.  Again.

However, this time, I didn't mess it up.  It was a chocolate cake with peanut butter icing and although we were way too full for dessert last night, we ate it anyway. And it was very tasty.

However, the combination of a chocolate cake + peanut butter icing + me being in a hurry = decidedly the ugliest cake ever.  So, instead I'll leave you with this...
And, in case you're now having unbearable cravings for cake, I'll also leave you with this...

photos via cooking light and busy being fabulous