meet me at the barre.

well. it is new years eve.
tomorrow will be a new year.
while i am certain nothing can top 2013 . . .
{have you seen my baby?!}
i am looking forward to a great 2014.

every year around this time people start chatting about 
their grand new years resolutions.
i resolve to stick to my diet.
i resolve to start running every day.
i resolve to do this & do that.
these are all novel goals. but the problem is that in actuality  
very few people actually stick to their resolutions.
my lovie. mister disciplined. is one of the very few people i know who actually
accomplishes his new years resolution. 
goodness. i love that man.

that being said.
i decided to start my new years resolution a few weeks early. 
without declaration. without announcement. 
because hey. a girl has to protect herself.
i can only say 
i am giving up diet coke.
or. i am going to take up crossfit.
so many times without following through.

but. i have big news.
i have totally followed through on this one.
i resolved to attend pure barre three times a week.
& i have succeeded!
for two whole weeks!
ta-da!
i deserve a cookie!
no. really. i really want a cookie. 


anyways.
i can honestly say. i am really enjoying pure barre.
as we all know. i am not a work out kinda gal.
a fast mom walk is my ideal form of exercise. 
but this. i am digging this.

i may or may not flex my arm muscles for my lovie every night.
and he promises me that he can see a difference.
i am choosing to believe him.
ok. in all seriousness. 
i can start to see a teeny-tiny-itty-bitty difference after just 6 classes.
it is really quite encouraging. 

so . . .
to really kick off the new year in an exciting way . . .
i have a fantastic pure barre giveaway for one lucky reader.
a three class giftcard to pure barre is up for grabs!
that is a 60 dollar value.
if you have not heard about pure barre yet. 
check it out here.
it is a great total body workout.

to enter in the giveaway. complete the following.
1. share this post on your facebook page.
2. share this post on two other friends facebook pages.
3. leave a comment on this post stating why you deserve this.
{if you are not already my friend on facebook. friend me. kristen brett mills}

winner will be announced on sunday. january 5.
good luck. get ready to lift. tone. & burn.

bookworm baby.

there are so many things i adore about my lovie.
but one of his most adorable qualities is his undying love for the written word.
i am proud to say that i am married to a quintessential bibliophile.
he is a complete & utter non-fiction nut. book worm. nose in a book. of a lovie.
with a penchant for diction & a love for his collection of books . . .
my lovie is the cutest little scholar there ever was.

i am hoping & wishing. with all my fingers crossed.
that baby patrick will inherit this love for reading from his daddy.
and to be quite honest. i think there is a strong possibility that will just be.
my little babe already loves looking at books. turning the pages. 
& chewing on the stories. 
{literally. he chews on them}

you can only imagine how thrilled i was to stumble upon 
this most darling. most magical. little baby book company.
meet babylit
a fashionable & delightful way to introduce your baby to classic literature.
inspired by the likes of bronte. carroll. austen. & shakespeare.


these whimsical chipboard books are just perfect for a bookworm baby in the making.
the colors are saturated. the illustrations are captivating. & the history is fantastic.

not to mention the fact that each book is also a primer for a specific area of development.
within the collection you will find primers for colors. numbers. sounds. & the like.
but you will also find more fun primers like fashion & camping.
how brilliant is that?!

check out a sample of the pride & prejudice counting primer.


so impossibly darling. right?!
these are a few of our all-time faves . . .





definitely check out the babylit shop to peruse the entire collection.
. . . plus lots of other adorable things. too
  
oh. how i love my bookworm baby.

ruffle collars.

i am coveting this tibi top.
there are hardly words to express how stunning it is.


the silk & organza. the ruffle neckline. the silhouette.
this is elegance to the tenth power.
chic top perfection. without a doubt.

i especially love the black version. 
being a girl who frequently dons monochromatic black outfits . . .
this ensemble would be a staple in my daily wears. 


now. in my book. being overdressed is always a fantastic problem to run into.
i truly believe that you can rarely be too overdressed. 
i would wear this little get-up for the simple everydays.
out to lunch. shopping. coffee with girlfriends. 
{except i would trade those heels for some black ballet flats}
simple. classic. elegant. chic. 

i also love the white version.
this combo feels more cocktail party-esque.
a fab new years eve outfit. 


do tell.
would you don a high standing ruffle collar?!

bakers box of recipes: mocha chocolate chip cupcakes.

it's time for another edition of bakers box of recipes.
i am beyond excited to share this one with you.

tonight you all get the absolute pleasure of learning how to make
hands down. no questions asked. without a shadow of a doubt.
the absolute worlds best mochas chocolate chip cupcakes.

now. i don't use those words loosely. you know. worlds best.
i only throw those out there when i realllly mean it.
and girlfriends . . .
i realllllllly mean it. 

my sweet friend {amy} has nailed these little treats.
being a self proclaimed "cupcake snob" she doctored up these cupcakes into perfection.
they are moist. they have intense depth of flavor. they are delicious.
& in my mind they are suitable to replace your morning coffee with.
{oh. they are quite pretty to look at. too}


for the cupcakes. you will need  . . .
24 cupcake liners
1/3 cup water
4 tsp instant coffee granules
1 package yellow cake mix
1 package instant vanilla pudding mix
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup oil
4 eggs
1 cup mini chocolate chips
chocolate chips to garnish

for the icing. you will need.
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp instant coffee granules
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 bar of German chocolate bar, grated
3-4 cups powdered sugar


for the cupcakes.
preheat oven to 350 degrees & fill your cupcake pan with liners.
{complete step #1 of icing below and set aside}
microwave water and coffee granules in small glass dish for 30 seconds.  
stir and set aside for 5 minutes to cool.
mix cake mix. pudding mix. milk. oil. eggs. & coffee in mixing bowl until well blended.  
fold in 1 cup of chocolate chips.  
spoon batter into lined cupcake pan.  filling 3/4 of the liner.
bake for 18-20 minutes.  remove from pan and let cool on wire racks.

for the icing.
**place milk & coffee in small glass bowl.
microwave on high for 30 seconds. or until hot enough to dissolve coffee.  
place softened butter in large bowl & add coffee mixture & grated chocolate.  
blend on low for 30 seconds.
add sugar and blend until incorporated.  
increase speed & blend until fluffy or forms peaks.  
pipe icing onto cupcakes and garnish with chips. 

voila!


oh my goodness. i am totally craving one right now.
i just might have to bake some of my own tomorrow.

i can promise you. this recipe will quickly become one of your faves.
these mocha chocolate chip cupcakes are worth every little calorie in them.
thank you. amy. for sharing your sweet treat recipe with us!

santa baby.

jolly ol' saint nick came for a little visit to our house the other day.
a little visit to let us know if we were on the naughty or nice list. 
& of course. for us to share what is on our wish list.


























we love you santa baby.
hurry down our chimney!

twelve days of christmas: mens edition.

i always find it challenging to find a great guys gift.
nevermind the boxers. the work shirts. & the gym clothes.
there has got to be a gift way more witty. wise. & wonderful that all that.

i have been on the hunt for some fantastic gifts that are sure to wow the men in your life.
and i have come up with twelve slam-dunk guys gifts for under your christmas tree. 
here is my twelve days of christmas: mens edition gift guide.

on the first day of christmas. the gift to him from me.
the art of shaving  luxury kit.


on the second day of christmas. the gift to him from me.
a cashmere scarf. 
& the art of shaving luxury kit.


on the third day of christmas. the gift to him from me.
a tool kit.
a cashmere scarf.
& the art of shaving luxury kit.


on the fourth day of christmas. the gift to him from me.
disposable flasks.
a tool kit.
a cashmere scarf.
& the art of shaving luxury kit.


on the fifth day of christmas. the gift to him from me.
boooooooocce ball.
disposable flasks.
a tool kit.
a cashmere scarf.
& the art of shaving luxury kit.


on the sixth day of christmas. the gift to him from me.
a golf ball monogram press.
booooooocce ball.
disposable flasks.
a tool kit. 
a cashmere scarf.
& the art of shaving luxury kit.


on the seventh day of christmas. the gift to him from me.
a great vintage map.
a golf ball monogram press.
booooocce ball.
disposable flasks.
a tool kit.
a cashmere scarf.
& the art of shaving luxury kit.


on the eighth day of christmas. the gift to him from me.
one bottle of hermes.
a great vintage map.
a golf ball monogram press.
booooocce ball.
disposable flasks.
a tool kit.
a cashmere scarf.
& the art of shaving luxury kit. 

on the ninth day of christmas. the gift to him from me.
a studly watch.
one bottle of hermes.
a great vintage map.
a golf ball monogram press.
booooocce ball.
disposable flasks.
a tool kit.
a cashmere scarf.
& the art of shaving luxury kit.
  

on the tenth day of christmas. the gift to him from me.
warm cozy slippers.
a studly watch.
one bottle of hermes.
a great vintage map.
a golf ball monogram press.
booooocce ball.
disposable flasks.
a tool kit.
a cashmere scarf.
& the art of shaving luxury kit.  


on the eleventh day of christmas. the gift to him from me.
vintage scrabble.
warm cozy slippers.
a studly watch.
one bottle of hermes.
a great vintage map.
a golf ball monogram press.
booooocce ball.
disposable flasks.
a tool kit.
a cashmere scarf.
& the art of shaving luxury kit.  


on the twelfth day of christmas. the gift to him from me.
personal grill set.
vintage scrabble.
warm cozy slippers.
a studly watch.
one bottle of hermes.
a great vintage map.
a golf ball monogram press.
booooocce ball.
disposable flasks.
a tool kit.
a cashmere scarf.
& the art of shaving luxury kit.  


there you go ladies.
the way to make all of the men in your life very merry this christmas.
the prep. the bookworm. the chef. the athlete. the world traveler. the fashion plate.
we've got them all covered with this gift guide.
let's hear it for the boys!
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