While Visions of Sugar Plums Danced in Their Heads

 My outfit on Christmas Eve!

I was so drawn to this outfit in the Anthropologie catalog:

First the idea of a white sequined dress over burgandy tights and turquoise heels really appealed to me. I already had such tights and shoes in those colors but not a similar dress. So, I searched and searched for weeks for a similar dress at a lower price with no luck. I even checked out the actual dress on the website hoping for a sale but it was still full price and already out of my size.
So I got very excited when I saw this dress at F21 website. It wasn't sequined but it had the shift dress effect and material was upper quality then their usual cheaper versions. And it had a very interesting back detail.
When it arrived it was more light grey than white but it still worked.

 The dress is a perfect base to add bold accessories. I went GOLD! The headband helps covers my dire need for a root color and the updue shows off the back of the dress. Although my bun did not stay put through the night.

 The necklace was perfect and looked almost part of the dress. Then the glitter belt to add a bit of a shape to the shift dress....

And here is that back detail I kept referring to!

 It is just perfect cause it covers the bra strap and yet has a lot of sex appeal....Even when my bun came undone it was showing!

 Don't you love these contrasting hues together!? I love it...

Dress, belt - Forever 21

Tights - We love color

Shoes - Michael Antonia (Zappos)

Necklace - Charlotte Russe

Earrings - Thread Show

Headband - Send the Trend

Ring - From Turkey

Bracelet - gift from bf

TODAY:
We went out to breakfast just the 4 of us this morning. It had been a while since we had done that. It is hard cause my son gets up almost an hour before my daughter and is starving and eats right away. So this morning we had to ask him to wait a bit and had to wake up my daughter to eat at the same time.
After breakfast my husband dropped me off at home and took the kids to the indoor play area to decorate cookies for Santa and then to Chuck'e'cheese for lunch!
The entire time they were gone I never sat or stopped. I cooked, chopped, peeled and prepared everything I possibly can for tomorrow's meal. When the kids were napping, I ironed the table clothes, set the table and took out all the serving ware for tomorrow's dishes. I even made this elaborate breakfast that will just be popped into oven tomorrow morning for us to eat hot and fresh. It was as involved as making an apple pie.  

Here is the menu for tomorrow:
Breakfast: Apple baked French Toast
Xmas Meal: 
Herb pasted brined Turkey
Orange basil spinach salad with dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds
Garlic basil green beans
corn cassarole
And my family is bringing potatoes, stuffing and dessert.
I am also going to make my cider drink and champagne punch since they are so popular....

We got ready and got the kids dressed in their holiday clothes and headed onto my mom's for a Christmas Eve get together party...
It was great to be with everyone and enjoy the night. My camera had a malfunction so most of my photos were blurry but got a few shots here and there:

My little Santa's Helper:

 My mom and stepdad had presents for everyone! They were so sweet. And my mom gave me the coolest thing ever. She made my daughter and I matching crochet mini skirts and berets! I will take a photo tomorrow to show and plan to wear it very soon. It is going to be soooo cute!

Laughing with Grandpa (Dede):

With my best friend:

 These 3 girls look adorable but man were they trouble. They got a hold of glass of milk poured into a frisbee and dipped their faces in it to make face painting.... By the time we discovered this the room had milk everywhere. My poor mom will have some project tonight!

Then when we came home we dressed in our matching PJs and set out the cookies kids made today for Santa. My son wanted to leave him some fruit cause he said he would eat too many sweets. We then took my brother and SIL's advice and left 8 celery sticks for the reindeers.
Then my husband read 'The Night Before Christmas' and the kids went to bed.
We brined the Turkey and wrapped Santa's gifts and put all the gifts for the kids under the tree.
The santa gift comes under their own tree the rest is under the big tree...

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!