Au Revoir, friend

Dear Snowball,

As I embark on our last days together, my heart gets heavy knowing that you will no longer be there to get me where I'm going. I also feel like it is the ultimate betrayal to leave VW community and sellout to, well .... Lexus. But what I would like to remember is the good times we had and how well we fit together. You and me. We were a team, weren't we? I like to think that is because we are so much alike. A little crazy - for the heck of it, far from perfect, a little banged up, and never really taken seriously. Many times I was told that you were so "me". You were even featured on one of my companies brochures! You were known by name by many. Most of all you were loved. And although I will soon be driving a fancy grown up car, in my heart I will always be v-dub girl.

Because I love a good quote

Det Jess Design Files

You know. I've started my own personal space to save all the design inspiration right here on my blog, I love that. Reference is a good thing.

When I really get down to business and get this place in order (ha! haha). This picture will definitely get me inspired. Dreamy... ethereal.

...and I notice? I have a thing with tufted ..anything.

Just gorgeous.

My Christmas ADHD got in the way of the blog

Excuse the crazy settings and layout, the format has been altered beyond my scope of knowledge by our friend Brian who is, like, a kickasssuperbad graphic designer that has done AMAZING work on Sugar Stache .. go see it NOW. I demand it. He has his own company Hopperface. Yep, the real deal. Anyway, it is late and I'll have to contact him tomorrow to figure out how to fix Det Jess and get it all back and aligned, hang in there with me. It is making me a little nuts at the moment but you get the gist.

Come hell or high water, the day after Thanksgiving, it is on. In the tradition of my crazy Christmas mother, I put up two trees and I got some fantastic garland for $15 at Sams that I draped over the entryway buffet. Unfortunately, I got lazy with my Christmas decor pictures and all I have is a picture of the main tree - our new pre lit one! I ordered Brian to buy me one..and he obeyed (heh..heh..) ..actually I begged and used the words pretty please a LOT

In between the all the Christmas cheer, my mom and I worked in that chocolate course we signed up for. And the only notable thing worth talking about here is how my $16 Target shoes matched my apron, natch ;)

To say the class was a huge FAIL would be an understatement. The teacher was an unorganized ditz. I learned nothing and the class was basically pouring chocolate into molds, which a monkey can do. I'm still not over it.

...moving on!

What has really been consuming my time has been the annual gift boxes I make for a lot of Brian's clients. I had to go at it all by my lonesome this year, as my mom was traveling for work all week. But it wasn't so bad and even though I made 12 of them total, it was relaxing with little pressure since I myself didn't have to work. All in all a success!

So, next week is big. I'm hosting Ms. Potato Queens family for a Christmas Eve dinner. Usually I make a fancy dinner for my dad and Brian but this year we have even more. How I love a dinner party. The menu is set and I'm ready to battle it out in the shopping aisle with all the crazies.

For something so innocent and pink it is pure evil

If you would like to be THAT relative at your next family get together and live to regret it, this is your martini. Not for the faint of heart. There is a reason I didn't blog about Thanksgiving with my parents. Because I don't remember it. - true story. I only had two of these, I swear.

*tip* sip it.

recipe courtesy of Ina Garten

2 cups (16 ounces) good vodka (recommended: Stolichnaya or Finlandia)
1 cup (8 ounces) orange liqueur (recommended: Cointreau)
1 cup (8 ounces) pomegranate juice (recommended: Pom Wonderful)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (3 limes)
Lime peel strips, to garnish
Directions
Combine the vodka, orange liqueur, pomegranate juice, and lime juice in a pitcher and refrigerate until ready to use. Pour the mixture into frozen martini glasses with a twist of lime peel and serve immediately.

Det Jess Gift Guide - Volume 3: Stocking Stuffers

No words needed. Available at Amazon

I'm sorry. This just makes me laugh for so so many reasons. Dad, I'm thinking of you. Buy it at www.thefutureperfect.com

Neither Brian or I smoke but I still thought these were hilarious. - isn't that the point of stocking stuffers? For the most part? ...maybe not. In any event, I know some smokers who could use these. Get em here.
This could really come in handy for me. I, mean, really. Get them at The Container Store.

For the fab working women out there. Z Gallerie can hook you up ;)

Lastly, you can't forget man's best friend and their stocking... ! www.harrybarker.com

Because I love a good quote