The giveaway has arrived!!!

Today will be the first day of the giveaway! Just in time for the holidays :)

The prizes (yes, there will be two randomly selected winners!):
1. Assorted Vera Bradley paper products/stationery (dry erase board, notes cards, etc)
2. Toss set of 3 Marina Knot cosmetic cases

closeup of the pattern:


The actual set comes tied with a ribbon like this:

I'm a winner and you can be too!

I won a monogrammed towel from The Preppy Pink Whale (made by Preppy Parade)


The Holiday DVD from Danielle,


AND

a necklace from Erica at Jewelry Without Jewels (hosted by Jewish Girl in Wasp's Clothing)

Have I been lucky or what?? To pay it forward I bought 3 raffle tickets from Danielle for Love Without Boundaries (check them out here). Check out Danielle's blog for details on how you can help!

I am also going to pay it forward and host another giveaway this week! I am shopping today so stay tuned tomorrow (Wed) and find out what you could win!

Gossip Girl here

No, I did not forget that it is GG Monday (though no episode tonight). After my layover in Vegas, a cold, and one last final due, I am finally getting around to posting. Today's post is a bit scattered but enjoy!

I think we all loved this red Catherine Malandrino dress that Blair wore. It is on sale in sizes 4, 6, and 8.



I stumbled upon this great blog post devoted to our favorite Gossip Girl headbands. Check it out HERE

I also LOVE the coats/jackets/winter outfits in these photos (from an upcoming episode):


I need this pink jacket!


Also Tibi, often featured on GG, is having a sale through Gilt Groupe. Gilt Groupe is a members only sale site-basically every day they have new sales with fabulous designers for AMAZING PRICES! It is invitation only so to get an invite either leave a comment with your email address, email me, or use this LINK

Happy holidays!

Kim at My Life in Pink and Green tagged me to share 6 random holiday traditions/facts

1. We always have popovers for Christmas brunch (we use a family recipe but I've linked to one that looks similar)

2. Christmas Eve is spent with my dad and stepmom (my parents are divorced). We go to the movies, have dinner and then open presents

3. After we come back from my dad's on Christmas Eve, each of us (me, mom, sister 1 and sister 2) opens a present

4. Christmas morning, I used to be the first one up (now I usually have to be woken up!) and I would go downstairs and divide up all the presents that were under the tree. Each family member has her own "area" and I place her presents there. Then we go in a circle, opening a present one at a time.

5. My mom has always bought us chocolate advent calendars. The tradition is still going strong. She snuck mine in my suitcase when I flew back after Thanksgiving.

6. My dad's side of the family has a big party a couple of days after Christmas. It rotates between the 3 brothers who are all living in California. This year we are going to Newport Beach.

I tag:
Wanderlust-I want to hear how she celebrates in Australia
The Prep-E Girl (who just sent me the nicest thank you card!)
The College Preppy
Beantown Prepster Brand new blogger so check her out!

TGIF

Today M came to visit me at work. I gave her a tour and we checked out possible Inauguration viewing spots. Yes, my office is RIGHT ON THE PARADE ROUTE! Apparently Secret Service has been coming in every night from 5pm to 2am to do whatever they do (not exactly clear but they have to check EVERY building on the route). I won't be back in the office until the week of January 12. I think I may actually miss that place. I have decided to take on a new internship at the end of January (no way am I giving up my Inauguration "in" until AFTER January 20). I am going from federal to state and let me just say the perks are much better at the federal level. However, I will now get to dress casually= I can wear my "uniform" of jeans and a polo!

I am finishing up my last paper and take home. So glad I will only be taking 12 credits next semester! I am leaving for Los Angeles Sunday. Definitely ready for some warmth ;)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Today's outfit:

Work2 by katej05

PS- I have decided I will start following blogs (I usually use google reader) so follow mine and I'll follow yours :)

Happy birthday

to one of the 2 best sisters in the world ;)



My sisters and I are making photo books for our dad's 60th bday and the birthday girl re-discovered this photo (I am holding my neighbor's turtle). I love the little pink bow on my shirt--not much has changed ;)

Off to my last final

(though I still have a paper and take home final). It is cold and rainy so I am wearing (with jeans):


outfit by katej05

* I am wearing the pink elephant Lilly Pulitzer boots not the blue ones

PBTeen wishlist

Watch:


Water bottle:


heart picture pendant:


All of these items are eligible for FREE SHIPPING!

Don't forget...

Vineyard Vines 20% off ends TONIGHT!!! 12/16 CODE: THANKS08

Here is what I bought last night (and they were out of folders-SO SAD!)

Headbands!

I loved Tipsy in Madras' collage of her headbands so I decided to do my own. These are the ones I have in DC (the favorites I guess), I have other ones back home.



My favorite Lacoste pique headbands are ON SALE for $7-8 AND there is currently free shipping!!! (I have the pink and pink and white strips shown above)

ETA: Free shipping appears to be good until 12/18

7 random things

Ok better late than never! Landlocked Mermaid tagged me to share 7 random things about my day:

1. I never hit the snooze button in the morning
2. I have a 20 minute metro ride to work
3. I have chocolate milk at least once a day (sometimes twice)
4. I check my email pretty much nonstop
5. I DVR more than I can watch
6. I love watching reruns of 90210 on Soapnet before/after dinner (and watch One Tree hill during the day if I'm home)
7. I would babysit every day if I didn't have class/work

Gossip Girl guys

Enough about the fashion! Which guy do YOU like??

NATE:


DAN:


CHUCK:


The new guy AARON:


RUFUS:

(All photos from the CW)

Finally!

I think I FINALLY found a place in LA that can monogram the 500 (ok slight exaggeration) things I need to monogram! I emailed a bunch of places and they wouldn't let you monogram things you didn't buy in their store. I just found this website by some miracle: Monogrammit. Looks like a supercute place in Beverly Hills, very close to my house. Any LA ladies been there or heard of it?? I am open to other monogramming places too-any advice from my fellow Los Angeles bloggers is welcome

PS-Anyone else creeped out that you can do street view (different from google earth) on google maps now? You can see my house, cars, etc! It is nice to see what a store looks like but someone's house? Apparently street view is not available for all cities yet. With all the celebrity stalking cases in LA it seems a bit ironic that it is one of the first cities to have this option!

You've got mail

I had two packages waiting for me when I got home today!

My monogrammed cosmetic bag from The Palm Gifts. Thank you Rebecca! I love the pink and brown combination:



My swap package from Amy!

What could these be??

Anchor earrings (that are blue and white stripes), a luggage tag, and notepad!


I turned in my big paper today and feel like a weight has been lifted (making the other 2 papers and finals seem like nothing). Tonight I am going to a work holiday party-woohoo! And then tomorrow I will start the other two papers. I will be so glad when I am done with this semester! I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Blair's Alice + Olivia dress

ETA: THIS blog has some links. Happy hunting!

I saw this dress while out shopping this weekend but it wasn't my size :(







Apparently it is pretty much sold out online but I will keep searching!