Lately 12/3

Can you believe it is already December?! I really can't. This year has flown by faster than any year I've ever lived. I can't believe we are less than a month from 2016! 

Gifting: So if you are like me and love to give gifts, and you have a lot of friends, you can empty out your wallet pretty quickly around the holidays. This is no bueno and kind of spoils the season once you realize your wallet is empty!

I still like to show my friends my appreciation for their friendship, so each year I come up with something adorable that I know won't break my bank! This year, I decided to do a cheeky little DIY gift. 

I'm so not a DIY person, but this is not too involved and you don't need any special tools. I ran to my local Michael's and got red ribbon, fake mistletoe, cellophane and then to the grocery store for altoids and gum. The red lip color is Bare Minerals' holiday red color and is flattering on almost everyone. It' comes gorgeous wrapped and the tube itself is beautiful, too! At under $20, this is a great gift for any great girl friend!

Another BareMinerals product I have been loving lately is their holiday contour palette. It is THE BEST I've ever used. The colors work so perfectly with my skin tone and I love love love that it is all I need so my makeup bag is so much lighter now!

Reading: This article on Volvo's first concept for the autonomous car. How amazing do the mockups look?!

Loving: Have you heard of the Amazon Dash buttons? At first I thought it was a little ridiculous, but after watching the video, I'm now loving the idea. I only wish they offered the button for Nespresso pods, if they did, I would order it in a heartbeat! 

Watching: You guys, this video is the best thing I've seen. It is so heartwarming and such a good idea. A couple put a GoPro on the back of their dog on their wedding day and the video is amazing. This is a must watch.

Also Watching: Have you seen this advert for Edeka, a German grocery store? Tears. Killed me! It really shows you to slow down and appreciate all of the wonderful people in your life. Major kudos to the team that created this campaign.

Drinking: I always stock up on champagne when it is on sale. I know that champagne is usually reserved for a special occasion for many, but it is always my drink of choice. If I am coming to your house, 9 times out of 10, I come with a bottle of champagne in hand! If you are in Pennsylvania, Chandon is on sale for $17 right now. It's a great one to bring as a hostess gift because it is very affordable but has a really nice dry flavor (brut)... the bubbles are smaller than others in this price range, which makes me love it the most (I love tons of small bubbles)! If you want a slightly bolder taste, go for the blanc de noirs. The color is a little darker than that of the brut-- it's only slightly 'sweeter', although still dry! Chandon rose is great, too (nice and dry!).

Veuve Clicquot is also on sale right now (as is Moet and Chandon) for well under $50, which makes for a really good deal. I just stocked up on both-- and they come with the sleeves, which makes for a nice presentation when you give as a gift. I love Veuve Clicquot yellow label, but lately, I've started to prefer for Moet!

Eating: This weekend I am getting together with some girlfriends to try a new restaurant, Poros. It is Mediterranean and located in Market Square. I've heard good things and the space looks beautiful, so I am looking forward to it!

Listening: It has been all Christmas music for me, lately! Check out my Christmas playlist, here. I also love Pandora for Christmas music. My favorite stations are Frank Sinatra (holiday), Wynton Marsalis (holiday), Classical Christmas, and Vince Guaraldi Trio (holiday).

Pittsburgh-ing: I am going to see the Nutcracker this weekend! So excited... this is really something that gets me into the Christmas spirit. And how much fun is getting all dressed up and spending a night at the Benedum?! Whenever I see a show, I always feel like I step back in time. Everyone still dresses for shows which is so wonderful!