Christmas shopping at its finest

Me and Cam at the big Christmas party we helped plan. And my hair is really misbehaving in this photo.

I love Christmas. Love, love, love it. I really enjoy buying presents and this year my budget is much tighter than normal, so I have been trying to be all thrifty. And in my search to be thrifty, I have come across a number of websites that I thought I would share:

• Z Gallerie Home Furnishings: Holy crap, the stuff on this site makes me drool.


• Red Envelope Try to stay on this site for just five minutes. You can't do it, can you?


• Amazon A classic favorite.


• Etsy Handmade gifts are so unique and personal, and my little sister recently turned me on to the artist Duy Huynh and his prints can be bought at the Etsy Lark & Key Shop.

Do you have any suggestions?

Smile, smile, smile

So many things have made me smile recently, but today there are a few things in particular that have kept a grin on my face.


Couldn't you just eat her up?!


Unbelievably beautiful. Both of them.


My boyfriend is a goober and I love that.


Please turn up the volume and listen until the end. I have listened to this thing no less than five times. By 2:30 I am laughing so hard I am crying. I knew there was a reason this was my favorite Christmas tune.

My weekend in photos

I just had the most wonderful weekend. Seriously, top notch. But instead of writing a diatribe about all the events, I'll post photos. With commentary, of course.

FRIDAY EVENING


Cam and I and Wendy and Brandon went to the Fulton County Development Dinner at The Ritz Carlton in Atlanta.


Doesn't my trouser/shirt combo look like a long, elegant dress?


The decor was gorgeous. And Brandon and Wendy aren't that much taller than us. It is completely the angle.


As Cam's aunt said, this looks like a Christmas card.

SATURDAY MORNING/DAY


We helped out at Clark's Christmas Kids with Clark Howard (from AM 750 WSB). So, I can cross #3 off my 108 in 2008 list - Volunteer for a worthy cause. Here we are laughing at Bridget. I like how Rick looks like he is praying.


Here's the whole gang with Clark Howard.


Cam secretly took Wendy and my photo as we shopped for the kids. It looks like I am patting an imaginary cat here.


Me and the beautiful Wendy. Notice a subtle difference between this photo and the next one?


And it's not our smiles.


Cam and I pause for a photo op between bagging presents up.


Sorry mom and dad. But you are meeting him this Sunday!

Afterwards, we all went to Hot Dog Heaven - located in Woodstock - for THE BEST hot dogs in Atlanta. And they have the best sweet potato fries and onion rings and friend green beans and... I HIGHLY recommend trying it out.

SATURDAY EVENING

Cam took me to see A Christmas Carol at The New American Shakespeare Tavern on Peachtree Street. I absolutely love this place, and the show was awesome! They still have tickets available for upcoming performances and I highly recommend you going to see this show. I also had food there for the first time and it was very tasty (and reasonably priced!). AND I was able to cross #5 (see a play) and #70 (go to the Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern) off my 108 in 2008 list.


Cam and me before the show. I still look a wee bit tired from the day's activities.

SUNDAY

On Sunday, Cam and I met up with Wendy and Brandon at a political reception.


Don't they look fabulous?


I LOVE this photo of them. They look so happy!


Cam and me.

Sadly, I have no photos from Sunday evening, which I spent having dinner with one of my best friends, Julie. I hadn't seen her in quite a while, so it was a real treat to hang out.

Can you see why the weekend was so fabulous? And except for dinner on Sunday, it was all planned by Cam. He is phenomenal.

I'm in LOVE

Yesterday, Cam and I were walking around a mall because (a) I need new jeans, (b) I had no idea what size I am currently in different brands, (c) I want to shop for clothes on ebay because it is cheaper and need said sizes, and (d) I needed an excuse to hang out with Cam.

Anyways.

While we were walking around, I saw a new store: Heritage 1981. Which I just looked up and found out that they are a new concept store from Forever 21. Oh my clothes-y goodness.

And apparently I strut around when I try on new clothes. A little bird named Cam told me that last night.

But wouldn't you, if you were able to try on these items?




I'm in love with this store!

Quietly thankful

So, rather than post about the hundreds of things for which I am thankful, I am just going to give you some very sage advice:

When a Lean Cuisine package says to cook something on 50% power, you should. Trust me.