Elle Is For Living!: January 2016

I have been so busy, with work and travel, that I wasn't able to get in for my bi-weekly manicure. With gel nails, it doesn't look pretty when they are growing out and you are in desperate need of a fill. After I painted my nails, to disguise the 'gap' by the cuticle, I painted it with a light glitter polish to look like it was glitter falling. I actually think it turned out cute

We went out to a little brewery place called Fate

that serves pizza and salad. I am not a big beer drinker except when we go here - they have a knack for always bringing me a beer that I love (this time it was a hefeweizen - not too hoppy and just a hint of sweetness).

Everytime we go there we are struck by their AMAZING service (the wait staff is always so nice). They do an amazing job with their food. I had the caesar salad which had just a bit of basil pesto in it - try this at home and let me know what you think. Yum!

Mark got the house salad which was fresh and tasty.

We split a mushroom, pepperoni pizza (I got ham and sausage on my side) which was woodfired. So delicious. If you are in Arizona, I definitely recommend you go by one of their locations and check them out.

We traveled and ate out a lot! Sometimes I was healthy like with this Shrimp Lettuc Wrap

and other times I was not...like with these Flautas (SO filling and good)

I was only able to make it to one of my two bookclubs this month, but had a fabulous time. I was also able to get together for lunch with three fabulous girlfriends that I haven't seen in way too long (one of them I hadn't seen in 5 years! Yikies).

I hope that your year is off to a great start!

Elle

I absolutely love Christmas - having the tree up, the lights, the music and it just feels so cozy. Mark & I drove around and saw lights and we had Christmas music on all the time at home - as I said, I love it all. Having time off of work when everything slows down is also amazing!

Right before Christmas, a dear girlfriend sent me this gorgeous Amaryllis plant...she timed it perfectly to bloom for Christmas. It brought us both so much joy every day to see how quickly this plant grows and to think of our wonderful friends.

Mark & I at a Christmas party:

Olivia is doing well but has had to juggle chemo treatments to make it so she has a space where she can feel good to do well on her Provincial exams. Here is her school photo and I promise to include an update on her in January favorites.

For New Years, we did a dressy but still comfortable attire (I love those black suede shoes with the gold heel!)

We went to one of our favorite little Italian places and had the most amazing dinner. Then we went back home and watched a movie snuggled up together on the couch....the perfect way to usher in the new year.