Jingle Bell......Jingle Bell.....Jingle All the Way...

1. Take about 8 inches of 16-20 gauge wire and twist one
end into a loop.

The complete loop!

2. String about 30-32 miniature jingle bells along the wire.

3. Now, bend the wire and bells into a wreath. Twist the
remaining wire on the loop at the other end.

4. Now attach some ribbon of your choice. Jingle Bell Napkin Rings.

Use larger jingle bells and make a door decoration.

My Winter Skin Care Routine

(1) Eminence Organic Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser
(2) Eminence Organic Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant
(3) Dr Jart+ Water Max Sleeping Mask---I love this stuff! It's a mask you sleep in!
(Tip: Take this mask with you on a long flight...perfect to keep your skin hydrated)

(4) Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cream---LOVE! It saved my skin!
(5) LUSH Mint Julips---Not only does it taste good...yum mint-chocolate chip...but it keeps your lips smooth
(6) Eminence Stone Crop Hydrating Mist

    During the winter, my skin is dry, dry, dry. So extreme moisturizing and exfoliation is in order!

These products together saved my skin from the change of weather.

DIY: Cinnamon Stick Candle Holder

I hate being wasteful. So I'm always thinking of ways to reuse or recycle items before tossing it.

One great way to reuse your burnt out glass candle jars...make it into a reusable candle holder! And since the holiday season is here...how about a cinnamon stick candle holder?!

Here are things you will need:

acetone nail polish remover
hot glue gun
cinnamon sticks (i found mine in an asian grocery store...$2.99 for a large bag! Total bargain!!)
ribbon

First, place the candle in the freezer for several hours or overnight to harden the wax. It makes it easier to remove from the glass container. After a couple of hours, remove the candle from the freezer and crack the wax...place the knife straight down into the wax and twist.  Now remove the fragments of wax, all that should be left is the wick.

Next, to remove the wick, with some candles, you can simply take a Q-tip and dab some nail polish remover around the metal part of the wick...this will melt the glue and the wick will slip right off. However, it's not always that easy. For my candle, I poured about 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of nail polish remover in the glass container and let the acetone soak into the glue that holds the wick in place. Then, removed the wick with the help of the butter knife.

Once you have removed the wax and the wick, wash the glass container with some dish soap and warm water. Remove the labels as well. Dry and it is ready for the cinnamon sticks.

Simply glue the cinnamon sticks one at a time onto the candle holder. Once you have glued the sticks all the way around, decorate the candle holder with ribbon of your choice.

DIY: Seed Bead Ornament

           What You Will Need:

• 1 hanger
• 1 clear glass ornament
• 1 craft paint brush
• Clear Gel Tacky Glue
• seed beads (I used a mixture of 3 colors)
• ribbon

1. Paint the ornament ball with a thick layer of the clear tacky glue (the thicker the better).

2. Run the glue covered ball in the tray of seed beads.

3. You may need to patch up some areas by attaching the beads with your hands.

5. Once you have glued on the beads, attached a ribbon to the ornament and hang to dry on a hanger.

Napa Wine Country Food Adventure

So my girlfriends and I like to do something we like to call "Food Adventures!" It's basically trying out different restaurants or a different type of food that we haven't tried or have wanted to try. A few weeks ago, on a gorgeous autumn day, we went up to Napa Valley area for an amazing food adventure going to my favorite restaurants in town. For brunch, we went to The Boon Fly Cafe, located at The Carneros Inn (the blood orange mimosas and doughnuts are too DIE for!!!). And...we couldn't leave the wine country without my favorite dessert of all time...The Campfire Pie at Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen in St. Helena.

My Thanksgiving

Hope everyone had a delightful Thanksgiving! The last couple of years I have been in charge of the Thanksgiving dinner in my family. After years of celebrating Thanksgiving at my aunt's house, she decided to pass the Thanksgiving cooking torch to me. Here is my thanksgiving menu for this year:

Pumpkin Bread and Pumpkin-Pecan Tart

Sourdough Chestnut Stuffing

Green Bean Casserole

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Shallots and Garlic

Duchess Potatoes

And of course, my homemade cranberry sauce and the turkey!

Fall for a Sweater Dress

 Neck Warmer- Mossimo (Target)- Available Now, Banana Republic Sweater Dress, 

Target Black Ribbed Tights, Vintage Black Boots, Melinda Maria Slice Ring

I'm going to see The Lion King Broadway show tonight in the city! I'm so excited! I've been wanting to see the show for years now. So I thought that I would share with you the outfit I am wearing. This outfit is perfect for any day during the fall season.