It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

SNOW!!!!! And lot's of it! We got about 10" here in the Boston area yesterday. Luckily so many people were freaked out by it (lots of schools and businesses closed), that the roads actually weren't that bad when I left work yesterday. I left around 4pm, so only about 1 hour earlier than normal (but last one to leave at my company), and not too many cars were on the road so there was no traffic!! Wooohooo! Last year when we had a rapidly accumulating snow storm...it took me over 3 hours to get home (normally 30min)...that was awful.


What better thing to make it really feel like Christmas time than snow??...I know, PRESENTS!! My roomie and I exchanged gifts on Thursday night because her friend from work had come over to exchange gifts and little did roomie know that her work friend and I went in on these awesome shoes she's been wanting. These are them, but in a more purple/pink color combo...and of course not on sale when we bought them.

We also sipped wine during presentsI'm usually not a huge red wine fan (trying to get better though), but I LOVED this one! It was super cheap at Trader Joe's too


I also got her a pair of dark purple leather cashmere lined gloves.

Now my turn!! She got me so many fun things!!

#1: Fun pink sparkly cupcake ornament! Which I immediately placed on the tree#2 - (the box was from Anthropologie so I got excited)

B Mug! Similar to Amy's!
#3: Incredible set of sticky notes!!
Ahhh they are so cute!!

#4: Gift card to Penzey's Spices! they have a shop a couple towns from here...whoohoo!They have like every spice, but also some really fun spice blends...can't wait to try some new ones :)

Last, but not least, #5: Cookbook stand!I have wanted one of these for a long time, and was going to register for one! It's an adjustable stand with a glass protector for the top of the pages so they don't get dirty (I get messy when I cook and bake!)

Perfect Presents Jocy!! (thats my roomie)

Last night we stayed snowed in, so we took the opportunity to get some presents wrapped! And maybe had some more wine...
I also made banana bread to give to Brian's mom...she's on Weight Watchers and doing great so I was going to portion out pieces for her that are 2 points worth!

Dry ingredientswalnutsI was looking at a few different recipes online, then adding my own tweaks...but I guess I got a little distracted because after it went in the oven I realized I forgot vanilla (no big deal) and OIL!! Woops! I mean I was going for low calorie, but I usually add at least a little!

However, I tried it this morning and it was great!Yankee Swap Update:

Due to the snow, and a big storm coming again tomorrow, Brian's mom decided to post pone the Yankee Swap til after Christmas some time.

Thanks for the gift ideas!! I'm almost positive I will go the Starbucks route. I also get another chance at making this banana bread even better...I guess we will just have to eat this one ourselves...shucks! ;)

Calories Burned Shoveling

Double exercise for me this morning. I schlepped out to the gym for some running :) Then later when I was back, we shoveled the driveway!

I also...

Enjoyed coffee in my new mug
Had the most AMAZING grapefruit EVER!
Broke into the cheese and baguette my roommate bought for a wine and cheese party that she never went to last night

My mom and I first tried this cheese at WF's...its so rich, creamy, and amazing

So I decided to make a little breakfast sandwich with baguette, cheese, 1 egg, and 1 slice of Canadian bacon

So far no plans...but I can't sit still much longer :)