Sunday, December 7, 2008

Key learnings, holiday spirit and hittin' the town

I am loving this Sunday. Well minus the fact that I didn't go to bed until 3 a.m., but despite being tired and mildly hungover, I was very productive this morning.

Why do I say that? Well, my little apartment is now decorated for the holidays, with the tree and ornaments in full display and with a few gifts for others under the tree. (Pictures below) I used to do Cirque du Soleil acts to hang tree lights around the apartment, but I'm leaving that alone for now. Or until I can convince one of my tall guy friends to help me out. I say thank you in beer.

Moving on, here are my key learnings!

Key Learnings:
  • Holiday shopping on Michigan Avenue on Saturdays is m-i-s-e-r-a-b-l-e
  • Champagne + Bloody Marys + beer = a fun night
  • I am a Rock Band goddess when singing Oasis' Wonderwall (100 percent baby!)
  • Beer makes me sing a lot better in front of people
  • Never keep your parents waiting when they're in town to visit (they don't stop calling)
  • Watching your parents while they're intoxicated is funny but also unnerving
  • When it's 10 degrees out with a windchill, leggings and a fleece jacket are cute, but not weather-appropriate attire, go put some real pants on
  • Do not stand in front of the Twilight section at Borders. Tourist girls will push you out of the way to get a poster 
  • Always call early to schedule any pre-holiday "lady-scaping" appointments, otherwise your eyebrows might have to wax themselves 
  • Mild, hunger-driven temper tantrums still happen in your twenties
  • Getting a St. Nick stocking from your parents still rocks
Typical Nordstrom event behavior

My parents came in to town this weekend for their annual pre-holiday shopping trip and our attendance at the Nordstrom's customer appreciation night. My behavior from last time is fairly infamous within my family, but fortunately, dad was the one who was "overserved." *Insert evil laugh* Now we're even and I was even the bigger person and didn't lecture him the way I was after my past behavior.

But I did have fun trying on silly hats like this one. Personally, I think it works for me.


Gal's Guide and Banana Republic

On Friday, I went with some awesome co-workers to the Gal's Guide event at Banana Republic on Michigan Avenue, where we got free hair and make up consultations by Maxine Salon and the opportunity to shop the entire store at another 25 percent off. A nice stylist curled my hair, which looked adorable, and I walked out with riding boots (which will be from Santa), an LBD for the holiday and the real find, a khaki trench coat with brown tortoise buttons for....$44, marked down from $250. Woo woo!

My apartment's holiday decor

I did fall short of getting my Christmas cards done, but I did get my tree up and decorated. I even put out the Pottery Barn festive jewels on some furniture and the windowsill to really set the mood.

Here is a picture of my tree. It's not much, but it's adorable and my apartment really feels festive :) I'm enjoying looking at it right now, lit up in my apartment. Yay!

My holiday bejeweled windowsill

So how was everyone else's weekend. Anyone else go holiday shopping or have a nightmare time at the stores? It's high tourist season here now so the sidewalks are bananas.

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

We got all of our ornaments today and got home to realize we had no hooks...we spent an hour in the Macy's jungle looking for them. Now that the tree is finally up, it looks great! But I'm a little worried... http://twitpic.com/qzl1

erin said...

omg too many tourists. was at my office yesterday and saw all of them out shopping at macys.

am slowly getting myself in the holiday spirit...

Anonymous said...

I love the tree :) I definitely want to decorate this year. I have a miniature tree on my living room table, but beyond that.. not too much. I think working in retail makes it a bit difficult to get into the holiday spirit.

Stephanie said...

Can't wait to see what those riding boots look like! I went shopping this weekend and it was stressful. Move out of the aisles people!

Anonymous said...

Way to steal my hat style!

How am I supposed to make my mark!?

Anonymous said...

Your tree is great! :) Our tree has lights, but no ornaments yet. It's hard to do holiday things when your husband is a retail manager!

I am so jealous of your new trench coat!

Pretty Unfamous said...

Haha, I played Rock Band over the weekend.

Except I sang Korn's Freak on a Leash.....

Hahaha

Heidi Renée said...

That hat made me laugh so hard!

Maki said...

Aw the hat put a smile on my face.

The tree is so adorable.

And the last photo - it looks really cold outside!

It looks like you had a fun weekend:D

Lys said...

i went all cirque du soleil on my lights, and i've only got one room done! i love the plant in the jewel picture :)

S. said...

That trench was a total find!! I'm not brave enough fight the holiday sale shoppers so my hat's off to you (it's not furry or white or 3 feet tall).

Anonymous said...

love the tree! And the hat!

LBluca77 said...

That hat is the best. I want one. I still need to do all my decorations, but I am feeling really lazy.

Maxie said...

I hate shopping around the holidays-- it's just all so hectic!

Cheryl said...

I had a nightmare time at Trader Joe's. All because I decided my friends deserved fresh grated Parmesan for the penne I served for dinner. Oy!

L.C.T. said...

A girl who likes beer - yay! My guy friends think I'm odd for liking beer.

Anonymous said...

Nice tree!

We had a brilliant Sinterklaas celebration, and I got some really lovely gifts. I also went to two birthday parties and installed my mum's new computer. That's why my blog has been pretty quiet lately...

Anonymous said...

Cute Tree!

Also:

When it's 10 degrees out with a windchill, leggings and a fleece jacket are cute, but not weather-appropriate attire, go put some real pants on

That made my life...especially because I thought it would be fun to wear leggings while my family walked around Philly on Saturday night....then it began snowing..and that was NO fun at all!

Anonymous said...

I'm bummed I didn't make it out to Banana Republic. You got a GREAT deal on that coat!

Mandy said...

Woot Woot for great shopping deals! Alcohol always helps singing in front of people. Your tree looks great!

KA said...

you're tree looks really sparkly! ours looks very sparse. It actually bums me out a little bit.

Ray said...

That hat is amazing.

Also...champagn+bloddy mary+beer=the worst hangover I can think of! :)

You're tree is adorable.

This has been the most random comment I have ever written. :)

Anonymous said...

So jealous of your tree. I'll be lucky if mine makes it up this year.

Anonymous said...

Aw.. great job decorating! And how much do you heart rockband b/c I heart it a wholeeeee lot! :)

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

I think everyone and their mother was out running errands this weekend. My husband and I tried to do two or three simple things and it took us forever (and also took out of us an uncountable number of swears!). I don't know how you survived Michigan Ave.

SA said...

That's why I shop online. Just easier.

That hat is totally cute. I hope you got it.

Katelin said...

oh i love your tree! it's so cute and festive. i can't wait until matt and i get our tree this week, woo!

Megkathleen said...

Your tree is very cute!! I did go shopping this weekend and it actually wasn't too bad...minus the creepy carolers who seemed to be following me around.

jamie said...

Cute hat!

I HATE shopping on the weekends during December. HATE HATE HATE. Nothing makes me feel more anxiety ridden.

Kate said...

Luckily it's a little less crazy out in the 'burbs, but I realized Friday night that Toys R Us totally freaks me out. Too many people, too many pink things and still no idea what to get my nephew for Christmas.

Lauren Elizabeth said...

Sounds like a fun shopping weekend, even if it was crowded. Love the hat!

Kyla Bea said...

The hat is so cute on you! And the tree is beautiful - I'm hoping to get a tree up this week so we can go from Medium Festive to Uber Festive. Because there really isn't any in between.

EP said...

Your apartment decorations are absolutely cute! And your tree! Loves it!

I need to get to work decorating my apartment! I bought a tree last week, but I haven't decorated it (and need to get an extension cord to light it up!) I'm excited about it, even though I don't have many decorations.

Anonymous said...

I got a 99% singing Wonderwall on Rockband once!!

And I totally get it with the Michigan Ave shopping... ugghghghggggghhhhhhhh stupid tourists and people who walk slowly.

a girl said...

i have the hat you're wearing in mink gray. i love hats and the displeased stares. lol. hats really do make a statement.

Mega said...

Worked, party, Bears game, worked. Yep, that's it. Also, someone effing broke my car window. Again.
PS that pic is freaking great. New desktop wallpaper woo!

bianca said...

1) I'm so jealous of your trench coat find! I'm dying to get one but I can't find one that I like

2) Wonderwall is my favorite song to sick on Rock Band. It reminds me of being in jr. high

bianca said...

1) I'm so jealous of your trench coat find! I'm dying to get one but I can't find one that I like

2) Wonderwall is my favorite song to sick on Rock Band. It reminds me of being in jr. high

Pam said...

I totally agree about St. Nick's gifts! My parents have celebrated it with us since we were little and I still get excited when December 6th rolls around.

I love your tree! So cute!