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For Your Valentine

Pssst.. 

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. 

Do you have plans? 

If you're attached, you probably fall within two categories:

A. You're in the honeymoon phase of your relationship, and you, along with your significant other, have an amazing evening planned down to a tee (flowers, dinnner, dancing..). 

Let's be honest, ain't nobody got time for that. 

OR

B. You completely forgot about this convenient holiday, again, and are now scrambling to put something together last minute. 

Alright, it's not always black or white.

The husband and I, for example, fall somewhere in between the two categories... 

dinner reservations made, and that's about it. 

"Let's just go with the flow" is our motto. 

But if all signs point towards the second category for you,

don't fret! 

San Diego has PLENTY of last minute options to help you sweep your luvah off his/her feet. 

Below are just a few options for a guaranteed romantic gesture on any budget:

1. Dinner at Acqua al 2 -  This restaurant, located in downtown San Diego, will be having a special Valentine’s Day menu. 

Enjoy a sampler of five items from the first course list, soup, and salad, a choice of a main entrée, and a dessert selection for $60.00 per person.

2. Cups La Jolla personalized sweetheart cookies - Cups, located in downtown La Jolla, now has “sweethearts”-inspired organic cookies for Valentine’s Day. 

These yummy treats are available in traditional organic or gluten free options. 

Get creative and write your own message on each cookie! 

$1.50 for the small and $2.50 for the big one.  

3. Sammy's Woodfired Pizza & Grill Take Home Pizza Kits - The restaurant will be selling their popular take home Valentine’s Day Pizza Kits beginning February 4th through 14th. 

 These kits provide an easy, fun, and enjoyable way to celebrate Valentine’s season. 

Partial proceeds from all pizza kit sales to benefit the American Heart Association. 

 Sammy’s will also be hosting a photo contest on Instagram. 

Customers are invited to upload their best heart-shaped pizza photo with the hashtag #iheartsammys and be entered to win dinner for two at any Sammy’s location. 

 Valentine’s Day Pizza kits start at only $6.50 each!

4. Dinner at TOAST Enoteca & Cucina - This East Village restaurant will be having a special Valentine’s Day menu. 

Enjoy a sampler of five items from the first course list, soup, and salad, a choice of a main entrée, and a dessert selection for $45.00 per person. 

For My Single Ladies

Single this year? 

Chins up! 

There is an awesome event going on this Thursday at the Andaz Hotel,

which involves cocktails, bachelors, and dancing. 

Anyone in attendance will have an opportunity to bid on the bachelor of their choice,

and the best part is that you don't even have to feel guilty about spending money,

because 100% of the auction proceeds will be donated to the American Heart Association 

Go Red For Women Movement. 

If you're having any doubts about attending,

check out some of the eye-candy you could potentially win a date with:

Mmmm kinda makes me wish I was single. 

Just kidding, hah!

Interested? Click here to check out the rest of the bachelors and find more info about the event. 

So. What are your plans for Valentine's Day this year?

Gobble Gobble

This weekend the mister and I,

along with a few of our dearest friends,

celebrated Thanksgiving.

Say whaaaat?

Yeah, you read that right.

Thanks-mother-luvah-giving.

My dress is from ASOS and shoes are by Zigi Soho.
Huzband is totally copping a feel. Woopsie.

Okay, so let me explain.

A few months ago,

we were sitting around with our friends,

enjoying a few glasses of wine (I've noticed that this activity always leads to the best ideas),

and somehow the topic of holidays came up.

After discussing each others' family traditions,

we all mutually agreed that it would be really awesome to spend the holidays not only with family, but also with friends.

But who has the time for all that?

Personally, as a married couple,

Erik and I struggle as is, splitting our time between our two families...

Then a great idea was born.

Why don't we just pick a random date before the actual holiday,

to get together, cook a traditional meal, play games, and basically do all other Thanksgiving activities that our little hearts desire?

Planners were checked,

a mutually convenient date was settled upon,

and Mockgiving was officially in the works.

Boom.

Like with anything else that I get really excited about,

every detail was planned out to a tee.

Erik and I hosted the evening at our house,

and were in charge of cooking the turkey this year.

I used this recipe to brine the bird,
along with this super cute little video from one of my favorite food blogs to truss it.
Erik also prepared a really yummy stuffing using this recipe.

Everything turned out so perfectly, and I really wouldn't change a single detail about the evening.

A few afterthoughts:

1. I didn't realize how hard it would be to find a turkey in September.

Doesn't everyone choose to roast a turkey in the midst of 95 degree heat?

2. Adult sleepovers are the absolute best. 

If you haven't partaken in one for a while, I suggest you get to planning, stat!

Back to December

Last month,

er...

last year,

really,

was one of the happiest of my life. 

To recap,

the husband and I

bought our first house,

successfully renovated it,

and even managed to move in just in time to host a little holiday dinner for a few close friends. 

We spent the holidays around our loving families and friends,

and even squeezed in a week-long vacay on the east coast. 

More details on this later. 

First I'd like to share some snaps from our holiday dinner,

which means that you get a sneak peek into our new place!

So what do you think so far?

As usual,

a classy dinner turned into a night of silliness,

which is bound to happen when our little group gets together.

The girls tend to run off and participate in some form of a "photoshoot",

while the boys typically find some "manly" activity to partake in. 

How Thoughtful of You

Do you spend countless hours every year,

boggling your mind about what to get your loved ones for the holidays?

Yeah,

me too.

Well this year is going to be different!

Not only am I going to finish my holiday shopping early,

all my gifts are going to be obnoxiously creative,

thoughtful,

and reasonably priced.*

Don't worry,

I've thought about you while I was perusing the limitless options online,

and here are some options

that will make your gift recipients say

"aaaawww.. you're SO thoughtful".

*wishful thinking

Photo-opoly

Give them the option to go past your face and collect $200!

I mean.. who doesn't love monopoly?

Print out some pics, and customize it for whomever you like.

Extra bonus: you can use this gift for some serious bonding time in between Christmas meals.

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Casetagram iPhone Cover

Alright, is there really anyone out there who is not obsessed with instagram?!

It's only the best app evah...

Choose a few of your favorite photos,

and slap 'em on a phone case for your loves.

Easy peasy.

 ------------------------------------------------------

Customized Stationary

There are sooo many wonderful options for customized gifts on Etsy,

it can be really difficult to narrow it down.

I personally love the aesthetics of these note cards.

Choose your favorite color,

and the finished product arrives at your door in an adorable gift box that will melt your girlfriends' hearts.

 ------------------------------------------------------

Personalized Family Tree

This gift would not have worked for me a couple of years ago,

but now that I'm married into a giant family,

{hubby is one of TEN kids, and that's just the immediate family}

this sounds like an AWESOME idea.

This will surely make my mother in-law gush with gratitude. Score!

 ------------------------------------------------------

Personalized Melamine Plates

Picture this:

You're hosting your whole family for Christmas this year,

and as the guests go to sit down at the dining table,

they see their names printed on their plates.

Now that's a special touch that you will be getting praised for, for years!