String up some lights

Hello blog! I'm back just in time for Christmas. I have been savoring the past two weeks since finishing my semester (only one semester of law school left and then I am a working woman. Can. Not. Wait.) Though I have failed to decorate you, blog, with pretty Christmas pictures like the rest of the blog-world (I'm sorry that you're kind of like that one house on the block that refuses to go out in the cold to put up Christmas decorations, or, even worse, only has one tree lit, or one measly wreath up), my life the past couple weeks has been full of Christmas. I have...

...attended a Christmas dinner party at my boyfriend's for his dad's law firm, catered by an out-of-this-world chef, Chef Michael. Everyone should visit his French restaurant on the North Shore. His mom is the cutest and we had an ornament exchange- his dad read "The Night Before Christmas" and every time he said the word "and" we would pass the ornament we were holding. I ended up with a sparkle star. Oooh how I love sparkles.

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...sipped afternoon tea and champagne at the Four Seasons. It sounds fancy, but of the five people in our party, one spilled her glass of champagne and the other three poured the tea without the strainer, filling our cups with tea leaves. More than once. And we asked for extra tea sandwiches.

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...did plenty of Christmas shopping on the Mag Mile.

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...decorated our apartment with lots and lots of lights. I have a great idea for any extra lights that hang down from a doorway or mantle- stuff them in a pretty clear glass vase and place it on the floor, a table, or the mantle.

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...finished a Dexter marathon. 1 season, 3 nights. It was wonderful.

...munched on burgers, fries, and shakes at The Counter. Such a fun restaurant.

...viewed the windows at Marshall Field's (fine, Macy's) and saw the gorgeous tinseled tree. The theme this year was believe in Santa.

...baked a coconut cake and made a gingerbread house, all in one night. I was in my kitchen for like 6 hours.

Our gingerbread house did not look anything like this. Lets just say it was sort of a California-style house, as in, it had been through an earthquake and a landslide.

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...went to a cookie baking party with my boyfriend's family. This was no ordinary cookie baking, this was serious cookie baking. All the sprinkles were hand-placed and we made at least 15 different kinds of cookies. My favorite were the spice stars- the pepper flavor was a nice reprieve from all the sweetness! Unfortunately I cannot find the recipe for the life of me.

...went to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Christmas concert for my dad's birthday.

So there, blog, now you have at least a few pretty decorations and some Christmas spirit.

Make it be over

Hello blog, it's me. I have been buried in a book for the past week straight (okay fine, with the exception of the awesome Bears game I attended today). I will be free in 4.5 days though, and I have already started a list of things I am going to do once I am free. Right now these include:

*Start and finish Christmas shopping!

*Replace one of my mom's fabulous silver earrings from White House Black Market that I lost at the game today : ( Not sure how I am going to track them down, but I've seen a couple close options so far- Ralph Lauren almost does it. Also, I know, what was I doing wearing earrings like this to a football game? I always wear dangly earrings to sporting events. I think it makes me feel more girly and standoutish.

*Go to Forever 21 and check out their "Tres Paris" collection in person. Super cute ideas, no?

*Splurge and buy myself a chunky layered necklace. Just because.

*Re-button a coat I got at Banana Republic like a million years ago that I still wear almost every day. Its just a plain black peacoat, kind of masculine looking, that could really use some new buttons to give it a new look. Feminine with bows? Military with brass? Fun with large shaped buttons? Hmmm...

{From Forever 21's "Tres Paris" collection}

*Put up my Christmas tree, finally!

*Bake some Christmas cookies and use my extensive collection of cookie cutters.

*Go to tea at the Four Seasons with my boyfriend's family! I am still planning the outfit, but it will involve tights with one of two pairs of fabulous shoes that I got months ago and haven't worn yet!

So. close. to. freedom.

Do judge a book by it's cover

No time for reading, but aren't these books pretty to look at?

My favorite. Reminds me of a fantastic artist friend from college.

Thankful for...food

The next two weeks for me are a time-out from the real world- it is not holiday season, it is finals season. Needless to say, posts will be limited. I just wanted to share this thoughtful contribution on the tail end of Thanksgiving weekend.

PS I don't know what came over me, but I could not get enough of my mom's came-from-a-bag stuffing with added dried cranberries this weekend. Yum.

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