#10ThingsILove in Winter

This is the winter edition of #10ThingsILove. Although it is a SoCal Winter Edition. Don't hate!

 

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10. Fall Like Temperatures

It was really cold here over Christmas Break and I missed it all. But to be honest I am not complaining since our houses in LA seem to have zero insulation. When Dan and I walked into our house on Saturday it felt like an ice box. The temperature outside (50s) was drastically warmer than inside the house. It's finally warmed up inside and we are jumping between temps in the 60s and 70s. Personally I prefer the 60s during the winter as it lets me wear my jackets once and a while.

 



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9. Nesting

I love the January and February months at home because it finally feels like we aren't going anywhere after weeks of traveling all over the place. It's nice to unpack, put the decorations away, and get back to a sense of normalcy at home. For us it has been rare to be home 4 weeks straight, so this is a luxury I enjoy beyond measure.

 

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8. Downton Abbey

It's back! It's like the best New Year's gift you can get every year. Downton is finally back and I become a PBS nerd every Sunday for my fix. The first episode already had so much action and scandal (well for the time at least) and I am so excited to see how this season progresses both for those upstairs and downstairs.

 

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7. Aspen

Coming up in February is our annual ski trip with my family. We go someplace out west and this year is Aspen. I have never been and am really excited to shop, explore the town, go snowshoeing and more. Has anyone ever been to Aspen? Any food or activities they can recommend to me??

 

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6. Blogging.

It has seemed so long since I have been siting down everyday to my computer. I know it hasn't really been that long, but I like routine. And working on my blog helps with that routine.

 

 

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5. Resolutions.

I love a good resolution. This year my goal is to take a photo a day and post it on Instagram. You can follow along with my progress on #photoaday at @preppy_lizzy. I love the idea of having this as a way to look back on your year and to make sure you find something worth sharing from your life everyday.

Back in 2010 my resolution was to put myself out there more in the dating pool and a month later I met Dan and the rest is history. So yes, I believe a good resolution can change your life.

 

 

4. Visitors.

February always brings my mom for a week after our ski trip and I cannot wait. I love having her here and taking a few days off to be with her. She is really one of my best friends and the fact that she gets school breaks allows her to come visit for a week at a time throughout the year.

 

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3. Gym.

Routine is something that keeps me focused and I love getting my butt to the gym after work even if it is just for 30 minutes. I try to schedule it into my work calendar so it can never get scheduled over by a meeting. And its inspiring to see everyone at the gym in January, even if a lot of them will fall off throughout the year.

 

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2. Home Cooking.

During the winter months, we get our break from softball. To be honest, its our only months off from our softball leagues and it is a really nice change of pace. I cook most nights at home after I get back from the gym and it is a great way to kickstart better eating in the new year after all the indulgences of the holidays.

 



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1. Being outside.

It is the perfect time to be outside in LA. The temperatures are not super hot and you can easily go hiking or biking or for long walks without feeling overheated. It's also a nice time to eat outside as the sun is shining but you are not baking. And the air seems extra clear in LA during the winter months.

#10ThingsILove During the Holidays

My favorite list to share each quarter. Today is a very special holiday edition. Therefore without further ado, my current #10ThingsILove.



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10. Red Cups at Starbucks

I love a good holiday drink, who doesn't? I also find that the Brulee Latte at Starbucks is even better than the PSL and their hot chocolate can perk up any day!

 9. Christmas Lights

Christmas decorations just make me happy. But there is something about driving home at the end of the day to tons of twinkling lights guiding your route. The first thing I do when I get home everyday is turn on the lights on the tree and stairwell garland.
When we were kids, my sister and I used to play the Christmas Light game on the way to our house upstate. We would each get a side of the car to count all the decorated  houses we saw on our 3 hour drive. Maybe that is where my obsession started.

8. Rain and Snow

It doesn't feel like Christmas without some snow (or at least in LA, a few rainy days). The colder temps and wet weather just feels like the holiday season to me.

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7. Shopping for Friends and Family

I love giving gifts to my loved ones. I send gifts all over the country to both friends and family and pride myself on finding the perfect gift. Also shopping during the holidays is just so great with all the decorations. This year I had to get my shopping done extra early since we are so busy each weekend, so I was glad decorations were up a little early. I know I may be the only one.

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6. Christmas Music

Christmas Music plays in my office all day long starting around Thanksgiving and I'll be honest, it makes the day fly by. It keeps me focused and engaged with a big smile on my face. If my door is shut, I may sing along a little bit too.

5. Decorating the Tree

In my family we always made a big night out of decorating the tree. Dan and I decorated last week while we watched The Santa Clause and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. It is fun to recount all the memories on your tree as you decorate. When we travel we collect at least one ornament from everywhere we have been. I also have my ornaments that I have been collecting since I was a kid so our tree is pretty full, but each ornament means something different.
One of my favorites is my Sugar Plum Fairy from the New York City Ballet's Nutcracker that I got when I was maybe 5. The paint is chipping and her wooden body is more delicate than ever, but I get a rush of joy each time I hang her on the tree.

4. Holiday Parties

I love all the holiday parties around this time of year. From our annual breakfast at work, to our Ugly Sweater Party and Elephant Gift Exchange with friends, to the Santa Monica Pub Crawl, it always seems like we have something to do day in and day out. It's so hard to pick and choose what to attend sometimes!

3. New York, New York

We spend Christmas with my family in NY each year and I love getting home to see the city all decked out for Christmas. We usually try to take in a holiday show and dinner at Rockefeller Center under the tree while we are home, in addition to all our family activities. It reminds me of growing up in the city. And I love getting to see the holiday windows each year.

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2. Wrapping Gifts

I know I am weird, but I LOVE wrapping presents. I love making the presentation just perfect. Don't believe me, I have a post just about wrapping gifts on the schedule for next week with my rules for wrapping with ease.

1. Family Time

The holidays to me are most importantly about family (and the friends who are family). We have a number of family traditions that we honor each year, and they are things I look forward to annually. We celebrate with Dan's family the weekend before each year and this year we are headed to Big Bear to celebrate for what will hopefully become a tradition like the many my family has.
For Christmas Eve, I have an annual brunch with my two best friends from high school that we have been doing since freshman year of college, dinner and gifts at my grandma's house with my family and my uncle's family, and then we drive upstate early Christmas morning (like midnight) to make sure we wake up to open gifts at the house in the woods. I am really looking forward to all the time with my family this year! I haven't seen most of my family since September!

So that's my #10ThingsILove Holiday List, what would make yours?

#10ThingsILove in Fall

Back for another round of #10ThingsILove. I love making this a seasonal post for Headbands & Bagels! You all probably already know this but yes, Fall is the best season there is. I love, live and breathe Fall. I love layering, boots and booties, football, Thanksgiving, Halloween, pumpkins, pies, anything pumpkin flavored (seriously), cider and leaves changing color. Almost every year my family goes to a local family run cider press near our country house in Upstate New York and we get all the apples we have picked from our property, pressed into delicious cider. We have ended up with more than 40 gallons in the past and we end up giving it away as gifts and freezing it so we can drink it throughout the year. Living in California, this is a family tradition I really miss every year!

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 10. Boots!

Boots are the one thing that make me feel like its officially Fall. I wear a lot more booties in Southern California then my riding boots, but I find they take any look to Fall.
 

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9. Oscar Season

 It's definitely Oscar season right now at the movies. Between Gone Girl and The Judge releasing just a week apart, you know this is the start to the Oscar heavyweights. I definitely have plans to catch a few of these in theatres.

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8. Black Friday

I know Black Friday can be intimidating but each year I go hit the stores in the late morning with my mother in law and sisters in law and I actually get some good Christmas shopping knocked out. There are great sales that day besides the door busters which require you lining up.
 

7. Conferences

I have two work conferences in October each year. Last week I was in Phoenix and next week I get to hang in LA like a tourist. SWE National Conference also means getting to spend a lot of quality time with one of my best friends, Erika.
 

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6. Thanksgiving Cooking

I love cooking sides for Thanksgiving. Classics for me are Buffalo Chicken Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese, Green Beans and Salad. I am sure I will be on the clock again for these three!

 

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5. Layering

What is better in Fall then layers. Even with the heat I strive for light layers just so I can recreate the look. Scarves are this girl's best friend.
 

4. Football

Fall means football means Sunday Fundays. I'm bummed I am not making a Giants game in person this season but the only option was vs Seattle and getting tickets reasonably priced was tough.

3. Playoff Baseball

Even though my beloved Yankees didn't make the postseason, I still enjoy playoff baseball. When I think of Fall, I immediately think of October baseball. I'm pulling for the Orioles and Royals this year. My husband is a big Orioles fan and they played great and the Royals have gone 29 years without a playoff appearance. Both are fun underdogs to cheer for!

 

2. Knitting

I've been a knitting fiend lately. I love making handmade gifts and I have really gotten much more adventurous in my pattern selection and product choices. Also Twist is a killer yarn shop near my house. Just look at the color options. Need to make another visit soon.
 

1. Family Time

Fall means lots of family time. Not only do we have Thanksgiving, but we also have plans with Dan's sister and her husband to go to trapeze school again, with our cousins to hit Fright Fest at Six Flags, for my sister in law's birthday, and maybe even a visit from my parents.

So that's my #10ThingsILove List, what would make yours?

#10ThingsILove in Summer

For the last few seasons I have shared a #10ThingsILove post after I first saw it on Twitter.  Now I like to share my list each season. I encourage you all to make your own list each season too, it's a fun experiment to see how it changes ever season! Without further ado, my #10ThingsILove for Summer!

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10. Real Housewives

The summer is for Real Housewives. I first started watching Real Housewives with New York when it premiered years ago. And while I have watched many of them over the years, my favorites are still New York along with Orange County and New Jersey. I am currently catching up on New Jersey history thanks to Hulu posting all the past seasons.

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9. The Gym

I cannot explain how great it feels to be back in the gym. Working with a trainer each Monday, Pilates Tuesday and Thursday (and sometimes Saturday), Softball Wednesday and Thursday and long walks and jogs whenever I can get them in. This is one of the most difficult moves for me in pilates, but I am getting better every time!

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8. Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy
Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy is my favorite beer hands down. Perfect ice cold on a hot summer day and insanely refreshing after a long day at the office, there is no better beer in my mind. I love that the brand is considering making Summer Shandy available year round. I say yea to that!

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7. J.Crew

J.Crew has been rocking it all summer long. Each style guide that arrives every month makes me smile and swoon even more. Every time new arrivals hit the docks, I find at least a handful of items to lust after! 

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6. Iced French Roast Coffee

I am an ice coffee addict. Each and every morning I get my fix of caffeine iced style. I love that Starbucks now has the clover which lets you pick the beans you want for your coffee and is fresh brewed just for you. I love dark roasts, especially French Roast, so to have a fresh brewed French Roast Iced Coffee is heaven for me each morning!

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5. Summer Movies

Doesn't it always seem like a bunch of big movies all come out at the exact same time after waiting months with what feels like no movie options? Right now I feel like there are so many movies I could run out to see, including another shot at Guardians. 

4. Dancing
Hands down my favorite workout mostly because you get to do it with your friends and you don't feel it til the next day. It's also a great way to work off those weekend calories! With all our weddings this summer, dancing our faces off has been a great way to hold off gaining weight while still allowing yourself to splurge.

3. Sloshball

It is the tenth and final sloshball. I cannot wait for this annual Labor Day party that our friend Donato hosts. Since it's the last one ever, it's going to be quite the event! Kickball and beer? What could be a better combination!

2. Summer Weddings

Dan and I have 8 weddings in 2014 with 4 of them this summer. Summer weddings are a great excuse to see friends and family that live near and far away. We just celebrated the wedding of Dan's good college buddy Brendan this August and earlier in July we celebrated my cousin, Melissa's wedding. Still up our friends John and Lindsey and Dan's cousin, Jimmy!

1. Europe

Could Europe be any more beautiful then it is in the summer. This is my favorite photo that I took in Amsterdam and I feel like it says it all. It's beyond picture perfect, it's painting perfect. Our three week tour of Europe was just what I needed to recharge my batteries and take my day to day life by storm. Europe reminds you how young the US really is and how much we have to learn from their centuries of culture and experience.

So that's my #10ThingsILove List for Summer, what would make yours?

#10ThingsILove in Spring

Loving this new hashtag on Twitter. And as always, I love lists. Therefore without further ado, my current #10ThingsILove for Spring 2014.

10. My Birthday

My birthday is at the start of April and always celebrated with my family over Easter. Last year I celebrated with all my friends with a bowling party followed by a Segway trip the following day with my mom, Dan and our cousins Jimmy and Anna. This year will be a beach day tomorrow!

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9. Happy Hour

Happy Hour during the spring time is amazing. Whether its bottomless mimosas for brunch or sitting outside drinking some wine and munching on some apps in the evening, Spring in California is the perfect time to sit outside and have a few cocktails with friends.

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8. Spring Weddings

There is something so fresh and airy about spring weddings. They are full of color and beautiful. I especially love spring weddings that add in the color of yellow. It just makes me smile and want to dance. Can't wait for some of our spring weddings to attend this year!

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7. Pilates

While I have started training for my half and spending an evening a week with my trainer, pilates is still one of my favorite activities each week. I try to go 2-3x a week for reformer classes. My body just feels overall better when I am going to pilates. My muscles are relaxed and stretched properly and I love the tone I am starting to see in my muscles.

6. The Beach

The best part of living in southern California is that we can hang at the beach all summer long. Nothing better in my mind then friends, a football, volleyball, my kindle, cold drinks and the ocean.

5. J.Crew & Factory

J.Crew Factory and J.Crew have been having killer sales over the last week. I definitely snagged a few pieces but I have to say I may be most excited about this piece from J.Crew. Both have been offering 25-30% off everything and Factory is having an additional sale on top of that. 

4. Jack Rogers Customized Sandals

I love my Jacks. They are beyond comfortable and absolutely look amazing with everything. I have a pair of platinum Navajos that I wore all night at my friends wedding under my bridesmaid dress and I had no problem dancing all night. I just ordered this customized ones and I cannot wait to see them. Jack Rogers customization service is amazing. You can literally get whatever is perfect for you!

3. Pastels

Honestly there is nothing better than adding beautiful pastels to your outfits during spring weather it be with a great handbag, a top or a great pair of shoes like these from J.Crew Factory that I just ordered on sale!

2. Easter Weekend

This is Easter almost 6 years ago, but still one of my favorite pictures of my cousins with Meme. Luckily we will be able to add Dan and Amelia to the photo this year. Easter weekend with my family comes complete with an awesome egg hunt, amazing food and lots of red wine. Oh and maybe  a cutthroat game of Monopoly. 

1. Tuckernuck

Tuckernuck is killing it right now. It has become my favorite store for online shopping and I swoon at their new arrivals which seem to happen daily. Right now I am eyeing this adorable nautical rope print top. 

So that's my #10ThingsILove List, what would make yours?