Grading has never been so much fun!

So we're in Taos this weekend following a big winter storm that dropped lots of snow all over New Mexico. As I type, Andrew is on the mountain boarding, and I am in our adorable room at the Austing Haus B&B. As many of you know, I'm not the biggest fant of snowsports, so I'm chilling in our room grading!! If only grading could always be this peaceful!




My fire



















The view from my "office"



















Our lovely B&B

















Stay tuned for more from our weekend getaway!

Hello February!

Per a severe weather alert, with bitterly cold temperatures (tomorrow's high is 14 and the low is -1 degrees!!) and snow showers throughout much of the day...the University of New Mexico declared a snow day and closed the campus. After sending in Andrew's graduate school application (WOOHOO!!), we took to the park for some fun in the snow!! Then we were off to happy hour at our favorite local spot, Savoy Bar and Grill, and took a few cool pictures around town while we were out.

Andrew sends in his application!

The Heights got some snow!

When I don't miss, this is how I entertain Leila

I'm getting better at my snow angels

Yay, snow day!

Peek-a-boo!!

That would be Andrew's celebratory cigar

Our neighborhood hangout, Quigley Park

Andrew doesn't look awkward with a bat at all

Leila LOVES the snow

Santa Fe Snow Day

While the house is still a wreck as we are in the midst of unpacking Andrew's belongings, unwrapping and putting away wedding gifts, we have somehow managed to get out of the house and enjoy all the glory that is New Mexico. First stop: Santa Fe Ski Area. We took Leila and Rocco to the snow and boy did they have a blast. Afterwards we stopped in town and got a bite to eat at the local Del Charro where you can get a mackin' soup and sandwich for only $4.

My first snow angel. Note to self: wear snowpants next time.

Our babies, Rocco and Leila

Family portrait

Rocky

Christmas in New Mexico

Well, it's that time of year again: the smell of burning firewood billowing from chimneys, hot apple cider, christmas lights and holiday cheer. I love the holidays!! This year, my good friend Lara had a Christmas party full of spiked egg nog, yummy food and of course a white elephant gift exchange. I decided to get a little creative and make orange-cranberry infused vodka for my gift...everyone else decided to be funny. Check out the pictures below! It turns out that at least three of us were on the same wavelength, as three Snuggies made there way into the gift exchange. I was a recipient of one of them...a stylish zebra print Fuzzie Wuzzie!

While Christmas in New Mexico was a delight (thanks for creating the holiday cheer, Lara), I am anxious to be on my way to sunny and warm California to spend Christmas with my family. It'll be our last Christmas in our home in San Diego for awhile, so we're going to make it a good one! Stay tuned for "Christmas in California".

Cranberry-Orange Infused Vodka

Christmas tree with White Elephant Presents

Opening my Fuzzie Wuzzie!

Enjoying my Fuzzie Wuzzie

Matt has the real deal Snuggie

Team Snuggie: Me, Matt and Emily

Andi got Candyland!

Skully speakers for Tony

Lara got these cool water bottles, then Nicole stole them from her!

Sew Much Fun!!

In an effort to adultify our house and get ready for Andrew's big move-in, I've decided to redecorate one room at a time. First: the the living room. I'm continuing with the light blue, cream and champagne color scheme, but I'm replacing the furniture and updating the home accessories decór. Here is a sneak peek at the pillows that I am making (via my roommate Shamsi's sewing lessons and vintage Singer machine!).

Gorgeous fabric!

Fun crinkly blue

Color combination

My first pillow! I sewed it mysefl!

The revamping will be complete in a couple of weeks. I will be back to post before and afters. Until then, it's happy sewing for me!

Procrastination

I'm sitting at my desk right now...a hot cup of tea next to me, chill music on my iTunes, my proposal scattered all around me and procrastinating to NO END! In an effort to prolong this current stint of procrastination, I thought it was time to show the world my new hair cut. Three weeks ago I debuted my short 'do that I had done in NYC. Well, it just wasn't short enough. This past weekend I went to Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy and had my hair cut even shorter by a student barber! Eight dollars and two and a half hours later, this is what I have! Check it out!

Before

After

My Two Sense...

There's a lot of 'serious' stuff going on in the world today, and since I have this wonderful venue to express my feelings, here are my two sense:

LeAnn Rimes: The Cheater and Homewrecker

As many of you know, LeAnn Rimes has recently been embroiled in a scandal in which she cheated on her husband (now ex) with co-star and now new love, Eddie Cibrian. Rimes was recently on the cover of Shape Magazine, which received a lot of criticism for "promoting" husband-stealers and cheaters. Really!? First of all, who cares? Second, LeAnn isn't the hottest chick around...I think we should actually give her some credit for landing a stud like Eddie Cibrian!

$60,000 Children's Birthday Tea Party

On tonight's episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Taylor Armstrong throws the most ridiculous party for her daughter's 4th birthday. With a Tea Party theme (both unoriginal and Republican in nature), Taylor Armstrong blew $60,000 on the Houdini Estate, teapot flower arrangements, a pink tent, and gold and diamond necklaces for her daughter and all the little girls. Seeing as how her daughter was NOT thrilled about this party, you'd think that Taylor would have asked her daughter what she wanted to do for her birthday. By the looks of it, the party was for Taylor not her daughter. Nice work, mom.

I Think I Love You, David Cassidy

The beloved former teen idol David Cassidy faces drunk driving charges after he was found swerving on a Florida highway Wednesday night. Cassidy failed several sobriety tests and blew a .14 on his breathalyzer. He told the officer he had a glass of wine with lunch several hours earlier and had taken a Vicodin a few hours earlier. Nevermind the half-empty bottle of bourbon that was found in the backseat!! I still love you, David (even though I really don't know who you are!).

Jessica Alba: "I Don't Like Being the Center of Attention"

Look out everyone, Jessica Alba has checked her ego at the door! In the latest issue of Elle Magazine, Alba confesses that she'd "prefer to fade into the background on film". Alba cites motherhood as the main reason for the shift in focus. She says that the time she's not with her daughter has to be worth it, so she'd rather NOT be the lead. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but whatever. While Jessica Alba may be beautiful, she is a hideous actress...I think that should be her reason for not wanting to be the center of attention. Have you seen 'The Eye' or any of the new 'Fantastic Four' movies? If you have, you know exactly what I'm talking about. If you haven't, don't even bother. I'm just glad she finally has her priorities in line.

Lil Wayne Walks Out of Prison on Top

Rapper Lil Wayne was released from Rikers today 8 months into a 12 month prison sentence. He was convicted of having a loaded gun on his tour bus in 2007. This wasn't the first time Lil Wayne has run into trouble while on board his tour bus. Not too long ago, Wayne's tour bus was pulled over at a Border Patrol stop in Arizona, where all sorts of goodies were found on board! Anyway, back to the story...while Lil Wayne was in prison, his newest album, I Am Not a Human Being, was released and went straight to number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Both Lil Wayne and Martha Stewart are living proof that life does go on after prison!