Fabulous, right?

On Dec 26 you wake up and get ready to hit up your first full day of sight seeing.  Your sister insists on straightening your hair for cute pictures. And having you change your outfit a little bit.   Having slept on your neck wrong (in a bed that is not your own) you perfect the art of asking every pharmacia for a “pad of heat” to no avail.  If only your mom and sister would stop rushing you along!

What’s so great about the Spanish Steps anyways? You’ll see them again later on a tour…

Jet lag plays tricks with your head as you spot a guy wearing your  boyfriend’s scarf, and looking exactly like him, and walking like him, over to you, carrying a bouquet.

A wave of surprise hits as he drops to one knee in front of you.

The boyfriend flew, overseas, and proposed! in Italy! and only his mom and your sister knew!

Sounds like a great story, right?

And it’s a wonderful reality for my friends Kathryn & Eric.  Thanks to both of them for letting me share their story and their love! I am thrilled to celebrate the next chapter of their lives with them!!!

As of lately, I have a few things to share!

Ever buy $25 worth of products (which you probably would buy soon or later, anyways) just to take advantage of getting 14 free samples from Sephora? No? just me?

Well, one of those 14 samples ended up being Boscia’s B. B.(Blemish Balm) Cream.

This stuff? is amahzing!  It’s an oil-free, gentle (no chemical preservatives), pore diminishing, fine line fading and skin tone evening cream.  Imperfections? gone.  And! it comes in a light tint which adjusts to your skin color creating a flawless coverage. Super plus: SPF 27 & PA++.

I replaced my foundation with Boscia’s B.B. Cream.  and this post wasn’t even sponsored by anyone. I seriously love this stuff.  seriously tickled.  and getting those 14 samples honestly did their job. I went back and bought more.

Polyvore.

Dude. this site?  totally addicting and fun.  On it? find me!

“Polyvore is the web’s largest community of tastemakers where people can discover their style and set trends around the world. Trendseekers and shoppers alike come to Polyvore to discover the hottest brands, products, trends and looks.

Polyvore’s easy-to-use virtual styling tool lets you mix and match products from any online store to create fashion collections called ‘sets’.”

If you’re on Pinterest then you’ve seen a few (a ton) of these ‘sets’ go by.

Here are a few I created recently:

Which brings me to my crockpot.

This darling piece of kitchenware saved me yesterday, as I went home sick from work and didn’t lift a finger to cook dinner.  Smart “Sunday-Vicki” prepared Monday’s meal and boom.  dinner ready after a 3 hour nap.

You can find my collection of slow cooker (and other) recipes here on Pinterest.

So, what’s tickled your fancy, lately?!

Dear Universe,

I’m putting this out there, for you to hear, loud and clear:

I’m ready.  Bring it.  Do your thing.

I feel I deserve this, and it’s time. I paid my dues, I ran your obstacle course. I did my due-diligence and minded my time.  I respected and heeded your warnings & signals. So let’s take things to the next level.

Let’s do this.

Universe, do you hear me?

I’m thinking positive thoughts. I’m telling you my desires.  I’m screaming it as loudly as I can without saying too much to the public world.

Mike and I? We’d rock this gig SO hardcore.

Moving forward, I’m living my life like I own this thing.  Because I do, obvs.

And the next step into the future will be a sunny, amazing adventure.

Universe, you are going to make this happen.  And you will not be sorry.

Much love and positive energy,

Vicki

Dear readers, No, we are not talking about expanding our family.

But – what do you want the universe to hear from you?  Name your next step.

Add your wishes to this verbal vision board!

It’s that time again in Scentsy land, where the Fall/Winter catalog prices reduce by 10%*and we say goodbye forever to certain scents!  Be sure to scroll down for two major brand announcements!!!

The following scents will stay around for February only (+10% off!), so be sure to stock up:

Autumn Stroll   *   Autumn Sunset  *  Black Ruby *  Central Park Pralines *  Christmas Cottage  *  Cinnamon Bear  * Cinnamon Vanilla  *  Clove and Cinnamon *  Cocoa Clementine *  Comfort and Joy * Cozy Fireside * Embers * Eskimo Kiss * Festival of Trees * Flutter *   Honey Pear Cider * Pima Cotton  *  Pumpkin Marshmallow  * Pumpkin Roll  *   Sentimental Cider  * Shades of Green  *  Silver Bells  * Snowberry  * Spice Bazaar * Whiteout

Starting March 1, we can look forward to the return of some of our favorite spring scents, along with some newbies!

• Spring/Summer: Cherry Limeade; Honey Do; Jumping Jelly Bean; Lilacs & Violets; Lonicera; Lush Gardenia; Mums/Marigolds; Red Candy Apple; Simply Strawberry; Sugar; Surfer Chic; Beach; Tingelo; 2 Harbors; Tazu Dragon.
• New in Romance: R U N2 Me
• New in Corner Cafe: Lemon Coconut Chiffon
• New in Man: Zeppelin
• New in Spa: Awakening; Enliven.

ALSO ALSO ALSO! (can you tell I’m excited?)

Beginning March 1, Scentsy’s TWO new lines become available:

1.  Layers – personal care products like Shower Gel, Shower Cream, Body Lotion, Body Butter, Hand Cream, Body Spray, Solid Perfume, AND laundry products like: Dryer Disks and Washer Wiffs!

• Layers products available in the following scents: Coconut Lemongrass, Luna (!), Quiver, Love Story, Enchanted Mist, and Sugar Cookie & run $6 (USD) / $7 (CAD) for Hand Cream to $18 (USD) / $21 (CAD) for Solid Perfume. Laundry care product pricing is being finalized.

2.  Sincerly Scent – customizable, scented greeting cards purchased and mailed through an on-line store. Each card comes with a Scent Spot, a quarter-sized, scented wafer infused with one of 15 fragrances from Scentsy’s Favorites Collection. Cards are priced at $2.85 each ($3.82 CAD) including postage.

So go and stock up before our fall/winter line disappears with the weather.  And be sure to check back again on March 1 for the Spring/Summer 2012 line, Layers, and Sincerly Scent!!

*with the following exceptions which are not on sale: Licensed products (Campus Collection, Charitable Cause Buddy, and Patriot Collection Warmers), Close-Out products,  February Scent of the Month – Pixie, and Warmer of the Month – Flutterby, as well as Combine & Save warmer sets.

However, even though Mike owns a dress and a wig, he refuses to indulge me and make a “Shit My Wife/Vicki Says” video.   I also lack the ability to film and act in my own video. That ruined my own chance of making a video.

Instead I bring you a list of Shit My Husband Says.*

*I love my husband very much. This was created with love and humor and with no meaning to do harm.  Just for funsies.  And he’ll probably want to do one back at me, which I accept and welcome!

(and I hope you will comment with some of your hubby’s isms, too!)

• I need a nosh.
• There’s no good games on TV right now.
• “Oh Bagel, doo doo doo” (<–There’s a song about bagels?!)
• Grab me a beer?
• I need to do my reading for class, first.
• I guess I’ll take the dog for a walk.
• At least someone takes care of the dog.
• Is it really my day to empty the litterbox?
• Etsy will survive without you.
• Why can’t we sit after dinner? Why must we clean right away?
• That’s dirty?
• Oh, the Mets!
• Damn the Packers!
• Really, Mets? Really?!
• Your face is ________ (a retort to whatever I just said)
• This level is so hard to beat.
• [Random yelling at the TV]
• How can you go to sleep before 1:30?
• I hate mornings.
• At least the dog likes to cuddle.
• Why is there Scentsy everywhere?
• Bathroom time! (Why do men announce this?!)
• Son of a motherless &@$%!
• That’s what you get for making me put away the laundry.
• You’re tired? Really?
• Turn it up!
• Does this match?
• You’re just jealous of my style.
• Shuttupa your face!
• The Mets are doomed.
• I just got killed [in this video game] because you were talking to me.
• Ew, vodka?
• Tequilla tastes like old socks.
• You spent how much?

Hrm, when I think about it – most of these things are about me! huh!

Does your husband have any tag lines?

TODAY IS NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CAKE DAY!!!!!!!!

Some smart woman somewhere did a very good thing by making today happen.

If you ever find yourself at a bar with me, about an hour or so after we arrive, you will hear some version of these words: “I could really go for some chocolate cake right now.” (and after years of saying this, I do know which DC bars serve beer and cake)

I love chocolate cake.

• I love chocolate so much that the top tier of our wedding cake (currently in our freezer – talk about self control) is a death by chocolate, chocolate cake with chocolate butter cream icing.

• I love chocolate cake so much I made a personalized serving in the microwave the other night.

• I love chocolate cake so much that I rushed to write this post minutes after my friend notified me of today’s significance.

I apologize for not getting the word out sooner.  With proper notice I might stuff my face with chocolate cupcakes for breakfast.  A good ol’ fashioned chocolate cake might have graced our teacher’s lounge.  But of course, some chocolate truffle cake will on the plate for after dinner.

I always need a good excuse to have me some chocolate cake for dessert.

So what are you waiting for?

Go now. Stuff thy faces.

For today? Is National Chocolate Cake Day!*

Changing the world, one slice of chocolate cake at a time.

(Please leave links to any awesome chocolate cake recipes in the comments, to celebrate!)

*feel free to do the same on 1/28 if you missed the cake festivities on 1/27. and the same for 1/29. ah heck we all need more chocolate cake in our lives.

And we state the obvious, “I can’t complain!”

Because honestly: everything rocks. But I really don’t know what other answer to give.  Mike and I dated for almost 6 years before engagement, 7 years before marriage.  During that wonderful time, we lived together for 5 years. We anticipated what lay ahead of us.  He knew about my selective hearing, I knew his tolerance for mess.  He accepted my need for cleaning, I accepted his love of all things sports.

And it works, as our almost 6 months (longer than the Kardashian marriage, ahem) proves.

We carry on like we always did, with the exception of “always and forever” in marriage contract form, instead of merely implied.

But the one difference lies outside of our marriage.  Let me set this up for you…

The other day, a local radio station publicized a contest in which you and three friends win a trip to London to party with Rhianna. Awesome, right?! Immediately I start brainstorming the potential amazing trip (instead of picking up the phone to call in for the contest).

And I came up with nothing.

Me, Mike and ??

I don’t know if our newlywed status scared friends away, or I’ve been so wrapped up in our honeymoon time frame, but it dawned on me…I have no bestfriend.

Sure, I have my bestie from high school, Meg, who lives in Atlanta; My college roomie, Ali, lives in Orlando; my BIFF Nicci resides somewhere in Minnesotan Sasquatch land.  I have several displaced besties across the nation whom I keep in touch with via the interwebs.

Locally I have several girls whom I can call on to plan a night out, shop, or gab.  But if you ask me who that one girl is, my bestfriend?  A girl who might drop everything for me and knows me inside and out?  I have no answer.  And if you were to ask me who relies on me and knows they can call me up at a moment’s notice for advice or help?  yup.  nothing.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not applying blame at any avenue. If anything I step up and take responsibility.  But if married life is grand, shouldn’t my friendship life be too?  It’s hard to weigh the playing field on both sides.

If there’s anyone I want to spend my day with at the local market, wandering around the mall, or flying abroad and jamming with Rhianna — Mike’s my number one choice.

There’s a reason he’s my “always and forever.”

So, I guess if you ask me how married life is — my strong, resounding, proud answer will be:

My husband is my bestfriend.

And that is what really matters.

(and I’m more than OK with that)

And if I’m being honest here, I’m more into The Hunger Games than I led on with Twilight.

If I’m being super honest?  I loved Twilight, but not like I love The Hunger Games.

{source}

So what’s the hype all about?  Honestly I always found myself drawn to books about futuristic dystopian societies (ie: The Giver, Iron Heel, Fahrenheit 451;  and  Running Man is on my list to read).  This series takes the futuristic, fallen United States and sees it from younger, impressionable eyes.  Katniss’ fight to the death through the televised Hunger Games mimics much of viewers lust of reality TV these days, death aside (maybe?).  The focus on politics and how government runs a nation in need, and oversteps boundaries, intrigues me.  The heroine’s fiercely independent side makes her look far better than another leading lady in a young adult series ::cough cough Bella cough:: And let’s not forget the love triangle as Katniss “chooses” between Gale and Peeta.  Oh Peeta.

These Hunger Games, the unbalanced power of the Capitol, the poor people starving while others thrive, the feeling of loss.  All this could happen.  There is just so much I could say.

That idea that a young adult book drives me to think beyond surface value, really forces me deeper into these books.  Suzanne Collins weaves a stunning plot line with twists I honestly didn’t see coming.  And while I might still be slightly bitter at the ending of the series, I am still pleased that a book caused me to be angry, caused me to cry (the part with the cat!), and caused me to want to write this post and move on from Twilight.  (I think we can all rejoice on that last one, no?)

Sure, maybe Mike and I are jointly reading The Hunger Games Companion and continue our discussion by forcing the book on friends in the form on holiday presents…but one thing’s for sure — I can’t wait for the movie in March!

(And I love my Kindle.  Best multipurpose toy ever.)

So, those of you not under a rock:

1. Gale or Peeta??
2. Were you satisfied with the ending?
3. Can you believe they are written for 12+ ??  or does that make sense?

And, may the odds be ever in your favor…

For the month of January Scentsy offers 20 popular, discontinued scents out of retirement for this period of time, only!

“After tallying more than 5 MILLION votes
from our dedicated fragrance followers,
we’ve selected 20 of our most popular
“retired” scents to bring back as Scentsy
Bars in January 2012.”

There are some awesome scents available!

You have until the end of this month to stock up on all the scents you’ve been missing—these
fragrances are available as Scentsy Bars during January 2012 only and are only $5 each!

• Amaretto
• Berries & Bubbly
• Bubblegum
• Buttermints
• Cherry Almond Pie
• Cinnamon Cider
• Coffee Tree
• Cranberry Spice
• Eucalyptus
• Flower Shop
•  Mad About Mint
• Mysterious
• Pretty in Pink
• Spiced Grapefruit
• Spring Clean
• Taj Mahal
• Toasted Apple Butter
• Toasted Caramel Sugar
• Twilight
• Vanilla Walnut.

Don’t they sound *amahzing*?!

You can check it out and order here!

(remember, use a multipack to save money! 3 bars for $14 or 6 bars for $25!