Cookies, Cocktails, and Victoria's Secret

Every year for the past six years, a few of my friends and I have gotten together to listen to Christmas music, make and frost Christmas cookies, make holiday-y drinks, and watch The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. It's one of my most favorite holiday traditions. But why, you may ask, do we stuff ourselves full of cookies and icing while watching a Victoria's Secret models look amazing? And my answer to that question is, I have no idea. It doesn't really make all that much sense, but that doesn't really matter. It's a great time and I love it so I thought I would share it.

So, I don't necessarily help that much when it comes to making the cookies. I'm terrible with cooking/baking. One of the first questions my friend Chrissy asked me when we made cookies the other day was if I had read the whole recipe. Skimming/not really reading recipes is one of my bigger kitchen errors. And she was right, I had not read the recipe. But, I'm always there to stir things or add things to a bowl, but what I'm really best at is making drinks and then proceeding to drink them while others bake. I'm also pretty good at poorly decorating a few cookies and then proceeding to just dip the cookies in the bowls of frosting and eat them :)



Let's start out with my favorite part: the drinks! We make different drinks every year, but they are always some kind of nod to the holiday season. The drinks below are cranberry Mojitos, which were delicious. I love Mojitos so I really liked these guys.

We had to do something with the cranberries on the stove (I'm not going to lie, I'm not sure what. Chrissy did that part). But I strained them! Look!

Unlike the picture above, where I look calm and collected, this is how I actually feel when baking and stuff.

We used a recipe (do you still call it a recipe with drinks?) that I found here.

And for the cookies, we used a recipe that my mom has. I would post it here, but I'm not going to lie, I have no idea where it is. And I have no clue where my mom keeps recipes and such. So I just suggest you google sugar cookies and work from there. I also suggest having a friend who can bake (see picture below).

I'd like to say the plate on the top right is mine, or the one on the bottom, but I think most people would know I was lying. The top right is Chritine's and the bottom is my sister's. Mine is the one on the top left (yeah, the one that looks like a child decorated the cookies), but IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS PEOPLE.

So, if any of you are getting together to watch the show tonight (or just having a girls night or movie night or whatever), I highly suggest a cookie and cocktails night. 

Happy Victoria's Secret Fashion Show day ya filthy animals.

Party Pants

I love these sequin leggings. They're so festive and fun and would work perfectly for a holiday party.

Leggings: I got last year from Nordstrom. Similar ones here and here.

Top: Banana Republic

Shoes: Chinese Laundry, I've had them for a while. These would work too.

Earmuffs: Banana Republic. Similar ones here.

Blazer: Is from my dad's closet :)

B&W

It's finally getting colder here in Half Moon Bay, which means winter(ish) clothes!

Skirt: Gap

Top: Topshop

Jacket: I got last year at Francesca's (and then had that black piece on the sleeve added because, of course, the sleeves were too short). Some other cute coats I would wear with this here and here.

My "necklace" I made from a piece of ribbon that was wrapped around a present I got for my birthday :)

Grown-Up Stuff

So guys, I think I just may be entering the early stages of adulthood. It only took 26 years, but I'm finally showing signs of grown-upery. My younger sister and I joke that I'm "forever-15", but there have been a few things about my personality lately that have me thinking that things may be changing a bit.

1. I now eat foods that I never touched before. I used to pick stuff out of my food with great precision. For example, I would never eat zucchini or eggplant. But now, I eat them. I mean, I still don't like them very much, but I eat them, BECAUSE I'M A GROWNUP. I don't pick stuff out of my food, I just eat it. Unless it's beets, fuck beets. Beets are disgusting and I imagine eating a beet is what eating a human heart would be like. I'm not going to eat beets and you can't make me.

2. I've started looking at the "home decor" section of Pinterest. I've never been interested in that section before. I usually just look at "women's fashion". But now the home decor stuff keeps my attention for a good 10 to 15 mins.

3. I can't watch The Real World anymore. I used to love that show. I watched every season, but recently I've tried to watch it and I just can't. They're all yelling at each other and I end up yelling things like "grow up!" at the TV (and yes, I talk to the TV).

4. I can't drink like I used to. Gone are the days of going out and drinking (a lot) three or four times a week. Now, I go out drinking one night, and I'm hungover for the next two days.

I realize that I don't have much evidence in favor of me becoming an adult, but trust me, it's progress for me.


Although I think I might be on the road to adulthood, there are still quite a few things that may be holding me back from becoming a grown-up.

1. I still use the term "grown-up".

2. I can't cook. At all. I usually only make things in the microwave. I have a mild, maybe irrational, fear of the oven (I dropped a lasagna once like 10 years ago and haven't liked using the oven since). I hate cooking, and I'm terrible at it. I'm not even good at reading recipes. I tend to skip steps and not notice that I skipped them. It's just not a good situation for anyone.

3. I lie to children, about stupid stuff. And I love it. They believe everything you say. It's the greatest.

4. I'm a 26 year old human who lives with her parents and, at the moment, does not have a job. But does that really prove I'm not a grown-up? Inconclusive.

5. I enjoy my 16 year old sister's high school gossip and drama more than she does. But to be fair, my sister is an 80 year old woman trapped in a 16 year old body, so this isn't surprising.

6. I whine. A lot. You name it, I've whined about it, probably in the last 48 hours. But to be honest, this may just be a character flaw of mine, not an example of my childishness. I'll let you decide.

There might be a few more examples on the side of me not being a grown-up, but you never know. I just might surprise everyone and wake up one day a full fledged adult. Watch out world.

70's Flare

There was a seal :)

The 70's are back, and I'm into it. I really love flared denim right now. These are high-waisted and flared, which is just perfect :)

Jeans: Banana Republic. Top: Also, Banana Republic. Shoes: Asos.

Overalls and Calvins

Overalls. One of the many things I used to hate, but now I love. That list is getting longer and longer, and I'm getting quieter about trends/styles I currently dislike, or at least I should be. I definitely think about not saying anything about clothes I don't like, but staying quiet about things I dislike is not my strong suit. Anyway, I really love these overalls from ASOS. They're a tall size, which is great because I can't wear regular overalls because I'm too tall for them :( 

Also, this Calvin Klein bralette is the best thing ever. I wear it all the time. It's the comfiest. I want one in every color.

Overalls: ASOS. You can find the regular size ones here

Bralette: Calvin Klein from Macys

Shoes: Converse

Girl Meets Boy

So, I hardly ever wear pink. Like, almost never. But recently, I've been liking it more and more, in small doses of course. It just feels a little too girly for me (I wear A LOT of black) but I love this pleated dusty pink skirt from Banana Republic. I've just realized that I need to wear some black or something with it, or in this case add some masculine touches. I wore it with a pink top I had, which looked cute and had that whole monochromatic look going, but I just didn't feel like me in it, so I knew next time I had to add some more "me" touches to it.

 I liked putting the super feminine skirt with some chunky boots, tube sock-esque socks, and an actual men's sweater. Also, this black crop top has been the best thing I've ever bought. I wear it with EVERYTHING. Seriously. It's the best. Super comfy. Super cute. LOVE.

Skirt: Banana Republic. Top: I got a few years ago from Nordstrom. There are a few others I like here, here, and here. Sweater: I originally bought for my brother many a year ago from Banana Republic, but he grew out of it/probably shrunk it so now it's mine. I like this one too. Boots: LuLu's. Socks: Banana Republic.

Faux Suede Mini

I'm really loving all of the suede that's happening now, but I don't wear real suede so I've been keeping an eye out for good faux suede alternatives. I really love this nude/tan one that I found at H&M. I'm also really into anything a-line and button down.

Also, Willie likes to join in when I'm taking pictures. He's such a ham.

Skirt: H&M. Shirt: I got a a year or so ago at Forever 21. Shoes: LuLu's. Others I like here and here.

Tropical

I LOVE this two-piece set. It's fun and tropical; a perfect vacation outfit. You can wear both pieces together or wear them separately. It's just good all around you guys. 

Two-piece set: LuLu's. Shoes: Also LuLu's. Similar ones here and here. The flowers on my arm are Mr. Kate BeautyMarks; you can find them here.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Military-inspired jacket + Beatles graphic tee + high-rise denim + leopard print sneaks = a few of my favorite things.

Jacket:Banana Republic (and it's on sale!). Jeans: Gap (my new favorite pair). Shirt: Forever 21. Shoes: Vans. Leopard print slip-ons I also love here.