happy new year! 2011!

image via bonjour!

man, things have been going pretty great around here. christmas with the fam was terrific and i spent new year's in chicago with lots of college friends i had not seen in a long time. and now i am glad to be back in st. louis and back to a semi-normalish schedule. still easing back into being home... i swear i will unpack my bags soon.

even though we are only four days into 2011, this year is already providing lots of exciting opportunities. i hope to share more about those on here soon, but for now i am feeling a bit superstitious until concrete plans and decisions are made. but just for a teaser: there may be some exciting last minute trips this month!!!

the past 2 years i have participated in my yoga studios january "yoga bender" -- 30 days of yoga. i signed up again this year and am excited to rededicate myself to my yoga practice two weeks of little excercise and over-eating and drinking.

last night in my yoga class my teacher spoke about new years resolutions or as she called them new years intentions. she challenged us to make new years intentions that would add things to our lives, rather than omit things from them. for example, rather than resolve to stop drinking caffeine which can often set you up for failure, one might make the intention to be more aware of the amount of caffeine you consume. this got me thinking about my new year's intentions and thought that by posting them on here it might help me hold myself accountable.

BT's New Year's Intentions:

1. Make an effort to be better about correspondence, in work and personal affairs. Respond to emails, letters and phone calls in a more prompt manner.

2. Start an esty shop. I have all the tools I need, now I just need to take action and DO IT!

3. Help a few friends who are at crossroads in their lives find more fulfilling jobs/careers. I've had some luck with this in 2010 and want to continue to help in the small ways I can in 2011!

"cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."- oprah

please christmas, don't be late!

it's almost here! just have to get through another day of work, pack my bags and drive north! can't wait to be with family and friends in iowa! where will you be spending your christmas?

image from weheartit.com

you know you're turning into your mother when, pt. 2

you know you're turning into your mother when.... you start wearing her clothes.

when i was home in iowa a few weeks before thanksgiving, i raided my mom's stash of clothes from the 70s and 80s. she had saved her polyester paisley bridesmaid dresses, a velour jacket from my grandmother, and all of my sisters' and my prom dresses. can we say major score?

one dress included is the one i am wearing, although it's not intended to be worn as a dress. i wore it two nights in a row to back-to-back christmas parties. the dress is actually a silk tunic with matching silk pants. PANT SUIT, HOLLER! to make the outfit look more contemporary i thought i would fore go the pants and sport the tunic as a cocktail dress with some black nylons and patent leather black booties. it's hard to tell but there are all these awesome magenta sequins towards the neckline adding the perfect amount of pizazz for the holidays.

while i'm home for christmas i'll try to dig up this great picture of my mom wearing this pantsuit with my dad at a christmas party of their own and post it up here :)

all 100% red velvet.

if i am ever in a bad mood, i watch this and BAM! my day just got 100% better.

"i look at 100% real paintings through 100% real crystals."

scenes from the freakin' weekend, baby.

some weekends you have so much fun that you end up more tired than you were on friday. that was this past weekend. i hit up black swan with kate friday night followed by drinks and gossip at the maryland house. saturday i brunched with jenny. we spent most of the time chatting about wedding blogs, this is why i love that girl. wine date with kate on saturday, who also made me awesome chicken enchiladas sunday night. channeled by inner 8 yr old self and created a glowing holiday scene on a light bright. more brunch on sunday, including live cheesy covers of route 66 and norah jones. celebrated a dear friend's birthday. saw the joe jones exhibit before it closed at the art museum. drank hot chocolate and threw snow balls while strolling through forest park. watched youtube videos of the sing-off in bed.

kate and i drank every last drop of mother's milk saturday night. a very hilarious and ironic gift from my mother -- go figure.

christmas shopping for my niece and nephew.

sunday night drank vintage cocktails as part of the cocktail museum at the royale.

what's entertaining me this week:

another reason why dogs are better than cats.

full moon eclipse tonight!

guilty pleasure of the week: mike posner

my love for j. crew continues: j.crewing

witty gift guide for the gentlemen in your lives.

squirrel love: business edition

squirrel paper clips from modcloth. for keeping yourself organized while taking care of business.

december lonny.

lonny's december issue is out and brimming with gorgeous interiors and inspiration: pink ribbons and evergreen. champagne saucers and mercury glass votives. record collections off on bookshelves. purple lamp, seafoam curtains and pink pillows. mauve walls.