first fashionistas

Michelle Obama has been hailed as the White House's fashion savior, and while I don't deny that she gives me serious closet envy, I think the crown(s) actually belongs to the first daughters, Sasha and Malia.

Check out what Michelle and Barack's girls wore to the turkey pardoning (sounds weird out of context) last week. I don't even know where to begin. Is Sasha's dress Marc Jacobs? And Malia's blazer and booties? Nope. Just too freaking cute to be true. They're turning into mini sartorialists and I am loving it.

picture perfect pumpkin pie milkshake

The last thing you want to see after last week is more food, but you have to check out this recipe. If, for some crazy reason, you have any pumpkin pie left, this is the perfect way to finish it off.

I made A Cozy Kitchen's pumpkin pie milkshake on Saturday and it garnered quite a few fans. I didn't even mess around with the whole pumpkin puree and pie crust thing. I literally just stuck a piece of pie in the blender. It was awesome!

eat, drink and be merry

Happy Thanksgiving! I'll be spending all day eating and drinking with about 50 of my loved ones. Today, I'm thankful for all of you! Hope you're enjoying your holiday with friends and family.

a thanksgiving matchbook girl

I love this little list from Matchbook. They always have the sweetest little graphics and images to go along with their whole vibe. I don't know about the whole "rising early" thing, though...

he drinks a whiskey drink, he drinks a vodka drink

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, but for many, tonight is the big night. These cocktails may be a little heavy for a November night of drinking, but how delicious do they look?

The Jack Daniels slushie, featured on Sweet Peach Blog, is from Victory Sandwich Bar in Atlanta, Georgia. The vodka rootbeer float, on Creative Culinary, comes from Laau's Taco Shop in Boulder, Colorado. Liquor-inspired road trip, anyone? I can see it now: The Booze Crusade.

I'm salivating over these cold concoctions. Out of all the frozen Thanksgiving drinks out there, this pumpkin pie milkshake may be my favorite and I think I may have to spike it. What liquor do you think would go best with it? Whipped cream vodka? A splash of bourbon? Mmmm.

let's talk about black friday

Black Friday is pretty unappealing to me. First of all, the commercials. Shudder. Shopping for me is therapeutic, creative. It's either great alone time or a way to bond with friends or family, bouncing inspirations off each other. It isn't a time when I want to feel stressed, hectic or claustrophobic. Shopping is one of my favorite activities! I'd rather not hate myself, and everyone else, while doing it. And I have more respect for my clothes than to make purchases simply because I can't stand being in the mall any longer and what I really wanted was sold out but I can't leave empty-handed because I've Just. Sacrificed. Too. Much. But who am I to turn down such amazing sales? Certainly a shopaholic like me must adhere to the longstanding tradition of Black Friday.

When Black Monday came along, I finally found solace. When Black Friday/Monday became Black Seven-Days-Starting-On-Wednesday, I felt like the consumer gods had answered my prayers. Now, I can embark on my bargain hunting before the food coma, but with momentum from anticipation for Thanksgiving, and all from my own bed.

There's a lot of... well... crap, out there. I narrowed it down and here's a list of the sales I'm actually interested in!

1) Kate Spade: Starting today, 50% off select handbags, clothes and shoes
2) Asos: Starting today, 30% off winter styles
3) Gap: Starting today, up to 60% off everything
4) Banana Republic: Starting today, 30% off entire purchase with code BRJUMP30
5) Old Navy: Starting today, 15% off with code ON15OFF only today!
6) Shop Bop: Starting today, 20% off new items, and save up to $500 with code BIGEVENT
7) Steve Madden: Starting today, 25% off with code TURKEY plus Thanksgiving specials. On Black Friday, 30% off everything with code STUFFING
8) Forever 21: On Thanksgiving, save up to 75% off everything. On Black Friday, save up to 90%
9) Saks Fifth Avenue: On Thanksgiving and Black Friday, save up to 70%
10) Rachel Roy: On Cyber Monday, 40% off 

semi-formal thanksgiving

For me, Thanksgiving isn't a time for messing around. All that delicious food? And those drinks? I don't need something silly like clothes getting in the way of my feasting. At my house, it's not formal, but dressing up is encouraged. Especially since my parents host everyone, I have to adhere to stricter guidelines (read: I'm more prone to disapproving glances).

There are tons of jeans-based outfits that would be appropriate, but tight waistbands and fitted shapes are not what I'm looking for. A-line dresses, slouchy sweaters and boyfriend trousers are right up my alley. And, since I'll be in the kitchen "helping" (or sampling... whatever), and will inevitably gain five lbs. at the table, dark colors work better. It's easy to punch up with vibrant accessories.

petite pumpkins

So, apparently I've got a thing for sparkly pumpkins. That's sort of weird, but this idea certainly isn't.

I fell in love when I saw these silver pumpkin place cards on Everyday Occasions. My dear mama has upwards of 25 guests at our house each Thanksgiving. Every year, she struggles with how to make the place cards. Recruiting my little sisters works, but the construction paper turkeys stick out like a sore thumb against her beautiful dishes and tablescape.

These little pumpkins are the perfect idea. They're cheap, insanely simple, and absolutely adorable. You just buy mini pumpkins, wrap painter's tape around the stems and spray paint. Then you make simple name cards, remove the painter's tape from the stem, make a small cut and slide the name cards in. Very easy, very fun and very pretty.