Peace Train Holy Roller

Lately I've been drawn to anything with a 70s vibe lately, which is why I bought these bell bottom jeans. I love how they look with my new Tucker for Target top, which was a Christmas gift from my sweet in-laws! We just got back from spending a few days with them. Although our tree and decorations are still up, having the last family Christmas means that Christmas is officially over. It always makes me a little sad. 

But, I can't be too sad, because tonight is New Year's Eve! I love the start of a new year--I always feel refreshed and ready to start new goals. Aaron and I are going to dinner with some good friends, then spending the rest of the night staying in with them. I'm not much for going out on the town for New Years--it can be too expensive. Instead, good food, great friends, fun games and some champagne is all I need to ring in 2011! What are your plans for tonight?

Blazer: Loft; blouse: Tucker for Target, gift; jeans: Gap; necklace: Fenno Fashion; flats: Isaac Mizhrahi for Target


Song: Peace Train by Cat Stevens

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You're Uninvited

An uninvited guest showed up at my doorstep Christmas day: a cold. Now there's an unwanted gift I'd like to return! Luckily, it waited until after Christmas day to really work its magic. Therefore, my look today is comfort-inspired. I got this flannel shirt from Target.com for $8 last week. Eight dollars! What a deal! And this cute little scarf I picked up at Loft yesterday, when everything was half price. (I felt crappy, but not too crappy to shop! I just filled my purse with kleenex and powered through. I didn't last very long, but the time spent was well worth it.)

I'm going to go have Christmas part two with Aaron's side of the family this week, so forgive me if I'm absent for a few days. Hopefully by the time I get back I'll be feeling great and ready to ring in the new year, and Santa won't be bugging me to guide his sleigh. It's not that red Santa! Until then, I'll be trying to cook up some good New Year's Resolutions, and holding myself back from opening my Book Lover's Calendar 2011 before January 1. 

Shirt: Mossimo, Target; jeans: Loft; circle scarf: Loft; boots: Target


Song: Uninvited by Alanis Morissette

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Dinner Tonight: Ginger Lime Chicken and Rice

I'm sure you're far from hungry; if you're anything like me you've done your fair share of eating this weekend. But, tonight's dinner turned out rather tasty, so I thought I'd share it with you. The recipe is Martha Stewart Everyday Food's Crispy Ginger-Lime Chicken Thighs, but I used chicken breasts (bone-in, skin on, cut in half) instead. The only thing I had to change was the cook time--I increased the broiling time on each side by a couple minutes, then turned the oven down to 450 on bake and let it cook an additional five minutes.  If your chickens had less voluptuous breasts, you won't have to cook it for as long. 

While the chicken was in the oven, I cooked the rice in chicken stock. When it finished cooking, I added ginger, lime zest and juice, and butter. I was impressed by this easy-to-make, quick meal. It was packed with flavor! And, it's a complete departure from the traditional holiday flavors you've been daintily nibbling (okay, chowing down) on.

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Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum

When I was little, I was afraid of the song Little Drummer Boy. Who is afraid of a Christmas song? Only yours truly. 

Oddly, I can't think of anything else to talk about other than my irrational childhood fears. I also really hated the music from the show Unsolved Mysteries, but I feel like that's a little more reasonable. I wish I could say I've outgrown such things, but I still harbor a deep fear and hatred of clowns. I realize they're supposed to bring joy and laughter, but the only thing they bring me is a quickened pulse and the urge to run away screaming. 

So what were you afraid of when you were a kid? And now?

Cardigan: Loft; top: Liberty of London for Target; jeans: Express; belt: Target; oxfords: Target


Song: Little Drummer Boy by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone

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It's the Holiday Season...Giveaway! WINNER!

Well friends, I have another reason to celebrate! Not only did I win a bit of money last night at poker (I got second, so it wasn't a lot, but it was more than I came in with!) but also, I am now completely done with my Christmas shopping! It may have taken all of my time and energy today, but it was worth it. 


Now it's time for you to celebrate too, because I am picking the winner of my CSN Stores giveaway today! 

Our holiday snack moose is responsible for choosing a winner. I put the names into his hollow belly (which was once filled with people "puppy" chow) and came out with...

Domestic Diva! Congratulations Domestic Diva, I will be e-mailing you with your $55 gift code! 

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There's Gone for Good and There's Good and Gone

My vacation started approximately two hours and thirty minutes ago. The best part is that I'm almost completely planned for the first few days back to school, so I don't have to do a darn "teacherly" thing over break. What I do need to do: finish Christmas shopping, watch Christmas movies with my friends, do some holiday baking, and find something fun to wear for New Year's Eve. With the exception of Christmas shopping, it's not a bad to-do list is it? 

I'm going to take a little nap, then it's off to go play poker with some math nerds! (Some of Aaron's math teacher friends.) Last time I came home with some moolah, let's hope my luck holds on tonight. Winter break, I love you.

Shirt: Old Navy; jeans: Old Navy; scarf: Loft; socks: Target; boots: Aldo


Song: What Kinda Gone by Chris Cagle


Today is the last day to enter my CSN giveaway, so don't forget!

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Merry Christmas Pasta

Sorry about the lack of food posts of late. It's not that I haven't been cooking, it's that for some reason I've been making dishes that aren't very camera-friendly. (It's possible that they could be camera-friendly if they had a competent photographer. Let's just say I won't be winning any food-styling awards any time soon.) But finally I made something that looked decent in pictures. This is Rachael Ray's Christmas Pasta. 

If it looks ridiculously meaty, that's because it is. In fact, I didn't love it the first time I made it just for that reason. But Aaron, being a "there's no such thing as too much meat" kind of guy, loved it. And the more I fixed it, the more I wanted to keep making (and eating) it. I think maybe it's about getting the right ratio of meats for your taste. We use bacon (not because we don't like pancetta, but because we'd rather not spend all our grocery money on one slab of cured meat), ground beef, and Italian sausage (hot when we can find it). Also, I use rigatoni instead of penne, but it doesn't really matter. It's the perfect meal for a cozy winter's night in. 

By the way, you still have a couple days to enter my giveaway. I accidentally posted the wrong deadline, but I changed it now. I'll be choosing a winner on Wednesday. 

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It's Getting Better All the Time

Yesterday I was bit of a grinch, but today I'm in a decidedly better mood. Could it be that it's Friday? Could it be that I only have to work two days next week? Yes and yes, I think that might just be it. 

I'm making this short (but sweet I hope) because I have to go get ready for my first holiday party of the year. Woohoo! Tonight I'm off to my friend's grandma's yearly holiday Christmas caroling party. I've been going since I started college, and it's always a treat. Friends, food, drinks, and Christmas carols--what could be better? And tomorrow, it's holiday party numero deux. The hubbie's good friend will be hosting an "Ugly Christmas Sweater" party. I'm not sure whether or not I'll be participating in the "ugly sweater" part, but I will be there regardless! 

What about you, any holiday parties this weekend?

Sweater: Loft; shirt (under sweater): Gap, oldie but a goodie; jeans: Loft; earrings: mom; necklace: Paris; socks: Target; shoes: Isaac Mizrahi for Target


Song: Getting Better by the Beatles


Hey friends! Don't forget to enter my CSN giveaway! I just might pick you!

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Your Heart is Full of Unwashed Socks

You know what I love about winter? Other than the awesomely cold temperatures, of course. I love leaving in the dark every morning, then some days coming home in the dark as well. I mean, if my goal were to see as little daylight as possible, then by golly, I've achieved it today! Sorry, this sarcastic whine-fest is over now. It sounds like what I need is a wine-fest. Well, tomorrow is Friday, so that just might be possible. 

On a happier note, Finals start tomorrow! Which means I'm just three days away from Christmas break! Thank goodness. My sanity has really missed me.

One last thing--if you still haven't entered my CSN giveaway, stop procrastinating and do it already! (Yes, I'm the pot that just called all you kettles black.)

Cardigan: Loft; t-shirt: Loft; skirt: Forever 21; necklace: Forever 21; tights: Loft; boots: Franco Sarto, Macy's


Song: You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch [Random, yes, but I was feeling a little grinchy today.]

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Hey Santa

I was too much of a weenie to go outside for pictures today. But it's thirty degrees, and this shirt is far from warm. So it's me, Santa, and awkward lighting. But, I really like this outfit you see, and I've been terribly lame about posting lately. (I'm blaming it on Finals Week and winter, and not necessarily in that order.) 

How's your Christmas shopping coming along? I've done a lot of online shopping, which for some reason I've done little of for previous Christmases. Holy time saver! The only down side is getting all these packages in the mail, and none of them are for me. However, the less time I spend fighting crowds of crazy Christmas shoppers, the better. The later it gets though, the more I realize I'm going to have to drag my butt to an actual store sooner or later. Probably later. 


Speaking of Christmas shopping, have you entered my giveaway to CSN Stores yet? I'm sure you could pick up an awesome gift there if you won! And you wouldn't even have to put on a coat.

Shirt: J.Crew, thrifted; skirt: Nanette Lepore, thrifted (two of my very favorite finds!); necklace: Anthropologie; belt: Loft; tights: I don't remember; oxfords: Target


Song: Hey Santa by Carnie and Wendy Wilson

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5 4 3 2 Ready Run

Is it winter break yet? No? Seven days and counting. I'm not quite sure where this weekend went, but I do know that it's ending way too fast. Do I say that every weekend? Well, don't you agree?--they're always too short! 

I've been admiring the Academic Chic girls' looks lately, especially their forays into scarf-belting. I decided to try the look myself, and didn't realize until after I wound up with this look that it's pretty much a dead-ringer for this 30 for 30 look of E's. Sometimes I start with a look in mind and I try to recreate it, but this time it was more of a subconscious effort! Either way, I wonder what I would do without all the great inspiration I get from the blog world. Especially during times such as these, when my brain is pretty much mush.


Oh yeah, and don't forget to enter my giveaway to CSN Stores!!

Cardigan: American Eagle; t-shirt: Old Navy; jeans: Old Navy; scarf: Merona, Target; belt: Loft; boots: St. John's Bay, JCPenney


Song: 5 4 3 2 Run by SheDaisy

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I Read the News Today Oh Boy

All I could think of when I put this outfit on yesterday was a joke that always made me laugh when I was little. Are you ready for it? Okay: What's black and white and read all over? A newspaper! I can hear you groaning. But I just can't help myself, I'm going to give you another one. Where does the lone ranger take his garbage? To the dump, to the dump, to the dump dump dump! Wow, I slay me. Here's my all time favorite: Knock Knock. (Answer me, just do it.) Dwayne. (Come on, you know your line.) Dwayne the bathtub, I'm dwowning! 

**Disclaimer: the hilariousness of my jokes is not a direct indicator of the amount of sleep I've had. I'm always this funny. It's a gift.

Black and White tee: Old Navy; "Red All Over" sweater: XT, shopmamie.com; pants: Gap; necklace, Target; belt: Loft; flats: Isaac Mizrahi for Target


Song: A Day in the Life by the Beatles


In all seriousness, have you entered my giveaway yet? It's a $55 gift certificate to CSN Stores. Come on, do it. I know, it's hard to stop laughing. It will only take a second though. Then you can get back to my funny jokes.

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It's the Holiday Season...Giveaway!

As much as I anticipate it every year, I still can't believe the holiday season is already upon us! Yes, I've been enjoying (maybe a little too much!) the Christmas music and holiday food, but I'm far too behind on my Christmas shopping! Thinking you may be feeling the same way, the lovely folks at CSN stores have offered one of the readers of Bon Chic Bon Gastronomique a $55 gift certificate, so you can buy a gift for someone on your list, or even for yourself! They have an amazing selection of products: everything from children's luggage to beautiful jewelry boxes. 


Here's what I would pick if I could win my own giveaway (which, darn it, I can't!).


This Calphalon grill pan so I can grill even in winter!

This adorable yoga mat:

Or maybe this comfy looking dog bed for my sweet girl Ellie.

So are you inspired to enter the giveaway yet? It was the dog bed, wasn't it? Well here's what you need to do:


-Be a US or Canadian resident.
-Follow Bon Chic Bon Gastronomique with Google Friend Connect or BlogLovin' and let me know about it.
-Visit the CSN site and tell me what you would buy if you won.


That's it! Good luck and good night! 


***By the way you have until Tuesday, December 21st at midnight to enter.
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Run, Run Rudolph

I feel like I've been running nonstop from one thing to the next, and it's only Tuesday! It's that time of year for teachers and students... getting ready for finals! So forgive me if I'm a less than stellar blogger over the next week or so. I'll make every effort to continue with outfit photos and food posts (and even a giveaway!) but I may be a little stingy with the words. But since they say a picture is worth a thousand words, an extra picture or two here and there will make up for it I suppose. 

(On a side note: I've found that it is possible to type while wearing mittens with the fold down flap thing. I've also found that it is not possible for my house to be warm. Hot cocoa seems to help. Ice cream doesn't.)

Capelet: Mossimo, thrifted; t-shirt: Gap Outlet; cords: Loft; scarf: Merona, Target; oxfords: Target

Song: Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry

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Bus, Magic Bus

I need another weekend to recover from this weekend! I was really dragging today, but I tried to act extra enthusiastic to cover it up. As a result, the students probably thought I was even more weird than usual. Anyway, every year for three of my friends' birthdays (that fall in late November-December) we rent a party bus to take us out on the town. We had a great time, even though we realized we were getting old when we got bored at a dance club. It was so loud--we couldn't even hear each other! Yes, old. Regardless, I had all kinds of fun and I feel so lucky to have such awesome friends. Happy birthday Tom, Jeff and Cassie!

Sunday I tried (and failed!) to get everything done on my to-do list. You would think I would learn not to procrastinate, but year after year I continue to do it. Sunday wasn't all work though--I did go to my little sister's piano recital. I was so proud of her: she played her music beautifully! That brought back memories. (I played piano for eleven years.) I teased my dad about trying to reach some sort of record when it comes to piano recital attendance. I hope when Aaron and I have a kid she'll play the piano too, so he can go to even more! 

Blazer: Lavender Star, Kohl's; blouse: Limited; shorts: Loft; earrings: Loft; tights: Gap; shoes: Jessica Simpson, DSW

Song: Magic Bus by the Who

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