Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! See you in 2014!

Isabel Christmas 2012. 

Today Christmas vacation begins! We are looking forward to spending two whole uninterrupted weeks upstate in our new home! We leave tomorrow... so today I will tie up some up loose ends such as buying my own Christmas presents...hey why not...Valentino's too busy so I told him I'd be glad to help out.

When we are upstate we will most likely just relax, entertain various friends we have coming to visit, try some outdoor activities like skiing and sledding, and maybe even tackle a home project...or maybe not. Overall,  it really will be about spending quality time together,  reflecting on the past year,  and planning for the year to come!

I wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and New Year! See you in 2014!

If you would like some entertainment over the next two weeks...here are some fun things from around the web!

• Oxford dictionary word of the year...try to guess what it is before you click! I did and was so surprised I was correct!
• I wasn't surprised to read that this is a real life phobia.
• And since 60%+ people aged 18-43 have this phobia here are some pointers on how to detox.
• We ended up going to this restaurant for my birthday dinner...I didn't realize how much went into making the steak frites I ate until I read this. Fascinating! 
• I am a big fan of the 40 watt incandescent light bulb...like a really big fan. Um...did you know that after January 1st they will become extinct? Yep, better start stockpiling now!
• Finally...we should all have the chance to live carefree...even if only for a second