Christmas Brunch

Even though we'll be guests of my parents at the beach this year I'm still planning to carry on the tradition of hosting my Christmas morning brunch...

Babe is gonna be thrilled to find out that I'm planning on carting a few extra holiday accoutremonts and a cooler full of specialty food items in an already sure to be packed to the hilt whip...

Williams-Sonoma's scrumptious Mini Croissants have been shipped ahead...

And, the Easy Sticky Buns I could make in my sleep...

But, just in case, I've got my Barefoot Contessa's FAMILY STYLE, at home and back to basics cookbooks with the Slow-Cooked Scrambled Eggs, Maple-Roasted Bacon annnd Sticky Buns recipes ready to travel...

What I dooon't have, is a solid plan for bribing Emma, Hilbils and Genevieve into peeling a couple dozen oranges for juicing and cracking and hand whipping several dozen large eggs on Christmas Eve like they did for me last year. Hmmmm she said, rubbing her hands together like Dick Dastardly....

Looks like I may have to don my Christmas morn fox buckle on the Eve of too since a li'l outfoxing will be called for with a certain trio that surely banded together with their citrusy paws on their way out last year to never EVER get roped into doing that again...

Babe, Pligie, Lolly and I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah and a joyous New Year! Please be safe in all your holiday travels and we look forward to seeing y'all in 2012...XXOO 

Christmas Groove On

Time for a little down shifting...

Oh, there's still a never ending to-do list hanging over me but, I'm going to adjust my focus so that I may start enjoying the true meaning of Christmas with my loved ones... 

Lolly and I have the Christmas playlist queued up on the iPod and are about to get our Pomander making on with some clementines and cloves...

I've a brand new needlepoint ornament just begging for a pot of tea, a millionth viewing and dissecting of  The Family Stone, trying to see what makes my family say Meredith is ME, and some stitchin'...

There are some senses that need stimulating...

And, a kumquat and bay leaf garland in need of finishing...

Yeeeaaah that one maaay turn out to be a solo project...

Kindness of Lolly for being my beeest girlfriend who's always game for my whims. Sorry Kimba, but I don't think you'd be nearly as pleasant if it were you I woke from a toasty, deep slumber to string fruit...XXOO

Naughty AND Nice: Ti-Babes

The Ti-Babes are gonna have more under the tree this year than their Mama...

At the tipee top of their joint Christmas list were lotsa Sleepypod products...

As soon as they read that the Sleepypod earned LIFE + DOG Best in Show Product, and heard Mummy refer to it as the Cadillac of pet carriers, they just had to have one. White to match the whip please Santa... 

And, since Mummy and Daddy are nutz if they think they're jetting off to Breckenridge without them in February, the Sleepypod Air better be on that sleigh too. Black would coordinate best with both Mummy's red and and Daddy's black T. Anthonys...  

Might as well round out the collection with the Sleepypod Atom since our peeps over at Cat Fancy gave it the Editor's Choice Award. We're choosing to ignore the fact that Dog Fancy bestowed it with the same honor...

The Yummy Bowl really should count as one as Mama's gifts since it will allow her to store, transport and serve our food and water simultaneously without mixing or spillage in the whip. Frankly, we're just trying not to toss our cookies on these road trips...

We just KNOW Mummy's hiding something special for our stocking behind that attic door cuz we caught a whiff of catnip as she hustled the bag in there. Oh puhleeeze let it be the fox, pink flamingo, mallard, squirrel and mouse Skinneeez we asked for...

Now, we heard the vet tell her that t/d Dental Health were the best treats for our teeth but, we'll be the judge of that.  Santa better be prepared with some soft Pounce backups...

Mummy gave us one of our Christmas presents early and we looove it! Now, instead of the three of us sharing her glass of water through the night we have our very own C. Wonder red enamel lined heart shaped dish that sits right next to her Simon Pearce glass. We sure hope Santa brings her that matching nightstand so we can all stop slummin' it on the floor...

*Unfortunately, C. Wonder doesn't show this cool bowl on their website but, you could call the NYC store at 202.219.3500 and inquire about charge sending. I think it was a steal somewhere in the neighborhood of $20...

But, more than anything Santa could bring us, we wish everyone would visit Freekibble and play the pet related trivia question to earn free kibble for Animal Shelters. It would mean the world to us if you helped our less fortunate friends. We want everyone to feel as blessed and loved as we do everyday..


Kindness of the Ti-Babes for taking time out of their très busy day of napping, Cyclamen destroying, shedding and more napping to help me with a post. Santa will reward you handsomely...XXOO

All In The Name Of Skinny

Added a couple new items to the lineup this weekend...

First was an expedited pair of the Under Armour ColdGear Frost Compression Tights...

Sorry Santa but, I didn't think I could tolerate one more early morning, long run with that bitter wind whipping off the Sound while I waited on your chance delivery...

And, the second was the insert angels breaking out in glorious song Run Tracker -GPS app...

After recently selling the unused Garmin I strong armed Babe into giving me several Christmases ago at a $300 loss on eBay, I was on the verge of losing all credibility AND purchasing privileges by buying another one...

This li'l  $1.99 app saved me TWO decimal points in cost compared to the new watch I was eying, was sooo simple to use and, no deAmExing by Babe...

Kindness of the bff's husband Bryan for the heads up on the Run Tracker - GPS app. Can I just tell you how mentally skinnier I felt on Saturday once I discovered that our Tod's Point running route was actually 8.6 and not just 8 miles? We're talking a Versailles croissant. A Starbucks Mint Mocha with whip. And, if it's not, don't tell me cuz Idon'twannaknow. That's my story and I'm running with it...XXOO

Naughty AND Nice:The Minnies

As of this morn, ole Maxminimus has two new monikers pour moi; AllieVonAintNevahSeenaBudget and AllieVonChaChinger. Let's just say, that if I had minnies of my own, it'd be more like AllieVonPostinBail and AllieVonDivorcée cuz I'd have less than zero discipline and less than zero husband. But, for y'alls sake, I'll show a little restraint and keep it a smidge more in the cerebral, less in the dressed to kill, vein...

I'm going to have insist upon the bff getting the Mysterious Benedict Society Collection for Will and Ella so that I may borrow them as beach reads when they're through...

I coulda used the imaginative Rory's Story "generator" Cubes growing up. Wherewereyou whowereyouwith and whatwereyoudoing last night Missy?! Just a sec Daddy, shake shake shake...  

Perf for adding to their future bag o' Irish party pieces. But, may I suggest swapping out the Dollar Origami practice currency with the real stuff. THAT would be family lore worthy...

 Jason Lee retro Stereo Vinyl Cruiser...

You just have to trust me with this one. Or is Babe gonna have to play cameraman again while I dust off my frontside 180?

Another book I would have totally gotten lost in...

Annnd, one that may have instilled good habits at the onset and kept me on the right side of the law Butt Police...

This is the second post from the Lego Architect Series this week but, they are just that fab. My nephew Teague is gonna faaahLIP when he opens this on Christmas Eve. Per usual, favorite Uncle Babe will get all the credit queue the confetti and trumpets while poor Aunt Allie does cartwheels trying to redirect the credit where credit's due queue the golf claps...

Babe can take credit for the Math Dice Jr. Nerd...

Kindness of Emma, Hilbils and Rob, who I KNOW are gonna read this then lie in wait for my arrival to the beach next week, for giving me a good 24 hours of practice before being expected to ante up on my rusty skateboarding prowess for their entertainment...XXOO

Naughty AND Nice: A Girl And Her Horse

The path to a guy's heart is through his stomach. And, although the path to a girl's heart may blocked by her horse, it sure makes them easy to buy for... 

Whether they're grownup...

Or little...

Girlie girls...

Or sporty girls...

Fashionable...

Fun...

Orrr, all the above...

They usually have BIG hearts.  And, I've just made some room in mine...

Kindness of Babe who will take note that I consider myself girlie and sporty with a BIG heart. Hint hint...XXOO

Naughty AND Nice: Renaissance Man

Just a few li'l gift suggestions for the...

Thank you note writing...

Cashmere wearin'...

Polo playin'...

Renaissance guy on your Christmas list...

Kindness of Ali Culver for placing the engraved, hunting motif note cards in my crosshairs. Guys, shmuys, I want them in MY stocking! And, Babe, for exponentially increasing his brainpower with excessive Lego building as a child. The view from the first class seat of your smartypants coattails has been better than anything Santa could possibly bring...XXOO

Entrance Table Christmas Face Lift

Before Kimba left she made me promise to post about the face lift I gave the front table for Christmas...

Ya mean the the face lift Greenwich Orchids gave the front table? All I did was fund the container and amaryllis pairing...

And, dump the cranberries into my Nantucket Hurricanes...

Thank goodness at least one of my holiday tablescapes required minimal execution cuz the round the clock guarding and maintenance of my cyclamen and paperwhites has become a bit much...

Yup. Nothing like rounding the corner after sweeping, swiffering and steam vac'n the joint to see this mess...

I'm like Buford Pusser patrolling the place with a dust pan and broom holstered around my waist...

Looking to catch and break up the criminal element responsible for these heinous acts of destructions...

Mmmmhmmmm...


Kindness of one Miss Lollycakes who will please allow the cyclamen and paperwhites to at least make it through the 25th. Lest she find some coal in that li'l stocking of hers...XXOO