Beating Army and a Holiday party

Yesterday was a day full of parties...we had a "Beat Army" party at a friend's house.  CJ wore her Navy Cheerleader outfit and ate her weight in chocolate gelato.  With a side of animal crackers for fiber.

After beating Army and learning how to Mid, we went home, changed really fast, and ran off to Tom's holiday office party.

Trim up the tree...

...with Christmas stuff
Like bingle balls, and whofoo fluff
Trim up the town with goowho gums and bizilbix and wums
Trim every blessed window and trim every blessed door
Hang up whoboohoo bricks
Then run out and get some more!
Hang pantookas on the ceilings
Pile pankunas on the floor
Trim every blessed needle on the blessed Christmas tree
Christmas comes tomorrow
Trim you, trim me!

--How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the cartoon movie)

Pillsbury Doh! Girl

J Crew Jackie Cardigan
Vintage Brooch (you can't really see it in the picture but I LOVE it)
Ann Taylor Loft Blouse
Tracy Reese for Anthropologie Peppered and Striped Skirt
Target Shoes

Pillsbury because I'm channeling Emma, and by channeling I mean "straight-up stole her outfit" (thanks to WWEPW for the screenshot):

Doh! because I've fallen off the blogging-wagon.  But I'm back on!  No harm no foul!  Etc!

As an apology, please accept this picture of me, my mom, and CJ doing a little pre-holiday non-baking (it was a staged photo shoot for Christmas picture gifts, though CJ did wake my mom up and demand she make peanut butter cookies for breakfast that morning, so close enough?):

The aprons are from MamaMadison on Etsy...she's unfortunately not taking any more Christmas orders but if you're in the market for an apron (or a matching grandma-mom-daughter set) you should definitely head over after the new year starts.

Success!

Target scarf
Talbots sweater
Sunny Leigh blouse
J Crew Pencil Skirt
Bandolino shoes

And a picture of my (almost) winners from the weekend (second place in the novice division):

Thirty

Sorry for the grouchy faces--we took these at like 9:30 at night and I was sooooo tiiiiiired.

Ann Taylor Sweater
Eva Franco Dress
Anthropologie Gift Bow Belt
Lifestride Shoes

Me on Video!

Want to see your favorite debate-coach-lifestyle-blogger (wow, there's a niche!) in action?

Head on over to the debate blog "The Permutation" and check out this video!

It features me and several of my colleagues from other schools talking about what we learned from a year of debating immigration policy.

(Big thanks to Joe Bellon at The Permutation for putting that together, there are a lot of really interesting posts, including some cool pop culture stuff, over there.)

Trick or Treat!

(Scary witch face.  Followed by "You can't be a scary witch!  You're a silly witch!")

Target Witch Hat
Target Halloween shirt
Anthropologie Licorice Lanes Skirt
Apron by Four Retro Sisters via Etsy
Life Stride Shoes

Pumpkin Patch

Field trip with CJ's school today to the pumpkin patch.  Nothing like last minute!  (Actually, it was scheduled for earlier but then it rained for most of October.)

Petting calves

Chillin' with scarecrows

Picking out a pumpkin

The finished product, awaiting tonight's trick-or-treaters

Etsy Thanksgiving Faves

I put them together in an Etsy Treasury this time.

Some highlights:

Ming Ming Duck

October Favorites

Market Pantry Noodle Soup
This is the Target brand version of Lipton Ring O Noodle Soup.  I grew up eating this at least once a week and remain totally obsessed with it.  Unfortunately, CJ now shares my obsession, which means I have to share my soup.

Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice (no whip no caramel drizzle on top)
I am trying to cut down on caffeine but they haven't turned on the heat in my office yet and I hate tea.  So I need a decaf hot drink for mid afternoon and decaf coffee seems ridiculous to me.  Solution--hot apple cider.  When I get it at the USNA Coffee Mess instead of the 'bux, I get hot cider with a shot of sugar-free cinnamon and shot of sugar-free caramel syrup.

FitFlop Suede Clogs
I wear these as slippers around the house.  I highly doubt that they are doing anything for my legs/butt/whatever but I guess there's some risk they will, plus the soles are hard enough to wear out of the house if I want to.

Flannel Pajamas
I have many of these but my faves are definitely the Nick and Nora sock monkey ones my in-laws gave me for Christmas last year.

Candy Apple Handibac Anti-Bacterial Hand Lotion
This smells exactly like a Caramel Apple Spice and kills all the germs the nasty midshipmen leave all over everything.  (I love you dudes, but seriously, you all are disgusting during the winter months.)  I like the moisturizing kind because usually hand sanitizer makes my hands feel like the Sahara.

Aveda All-Sensitive Moisturizer
Amazing under the Bare Escentuals makeup I wear fall/winter/spring.

Birthday Brunch

Brunch at Georgia Brown's with 2 of my BFFLs to celebrate my big 3-0 (and actually one of the women I was with also turned 30).  Of course, the one weekend I am home and have actual plans to leave the house, it would snow.  At least it's not sticking--my parents have 3-4 inches on the ground back in PA.

Scala Hat

Handmade scarf via Etsy

J Crew Coat

Theory Cashmere cardigan

Anthropologie Floreat Sugar and Cream dress

Lifestride Shoes

Weekly Post

Apparently I can only handle posting once a week.

J Crew Ruffled Merino Cardigan
J Crew Vintage Closet Blouse
Anthropologie Peppered and Striped Skirt
Target Shoes (What?  With heels?  Have I run mad?)

One of my debaters took a couple of photos this weekend, so if they're any good (aka, by some miracle I don't look like I'd only gotten 4 hours of sleep the night before) I'll post them!

Tired Tuesday...

Theory Cashmere Cardigan
J Crew Tulipe Cami in Charcoal
LOFT Autumn Roses Skirt
Target shoes

Sorry for the sparse posting--I love debate but it makes blogging hard.

Open House!

Open house at CJ's school today!

Here she is learning about the continents.

Here I am looking sassy.

Tommy Hilfiger Cardigan
J Crew Perfect Tee
J Crew Minnie Pants
Steve Madden Ruffle Flats (Ruffles AND flats?  Steve Madden, get out of my head!)
Belt from Kathryn at inpursuitofprettythings.com

I had intended to take pictures at the debate tournament this past weekend but slacked off and didn't...hopefully I'll be better at Vandy.

Fruity!

Theory Cashmere Cardigan
Banana Republic Blouse
Juicy Couture Fruity Skirt
Life Stride Shoes

It's hard to tell, but those aren't just random inkblots on my skirt, they're actually apples and pears.  This was one of those days when wearing something you love is one of the few things that is preventing you from committing acts of violence.  Of course, I still have my granny shoes on in case I need to sprint over to someone's office and kick them in the face (it's always important to be prepared for this option).

"I look forward to the opportunity to nail her to the wall."

Oh look!  It's my favorite Emma Pillsbury sweater ever.

(Thanks to WWEPW for the screenshot.)

Milly Sailboat Cardigan
Banana Republic Blouse
J Crew Denim Pencil Skirt
DKNY Shoes