Birthday and Christmas Haul

Well, the month of December is over which means my chance to unwrap stuff is once again gone for another 11 months. Having a December birthday is less fun than I imagine having a birthday in another month might be. Anyways, here are the pictures of what I got. Because it's my blog and I do what I want, yo. First up, the birthday pics!

Purse from Luke

Slippers from Dad

Complete Series of Friends from Joe

Necklace, Bracelet, & Scarf from Amanda

Socks from Liam

Too Faced Naked Soft & Sexy Eye Shadow Collection from Jessica (not pictured)

Now Christmas!

Calendar from Dad

Cricut Cartridge from Dad

TomTom from Dad

TomTom Case from Dad

Chocolate Orange from Dad

Leather Gloves from Dad

Burt's Bees Gift Set from Dad

Mini Hipster from Jessica, Uriah, and Liam

ITunes Card from Matt

Salon Gift Card from Mom

Walmart Gift Card from Mom

Victoria's Secret Gift Card from Mom

Instant Lotto Tickets from Mom

Mini Heater from Mom

Ghiradelli's from Mom

Chocolate Cherries from Mom

Chex Mix from Mom

Ferrero Rocher from Mom

Socks from Mom

Grey's Anatomy Season 9 from Mom

Head Massager from Mom

It was a great haul and I'm genuinely excited about everything I received. I have amazing friends and family who know me so well!

Friday Faves

It's the last Friday Faves of the year! Starting this blog is the best thing I've done this year. I'm really looking forward to more Friday Faves in 2013!

1. Joe

I got to spend lots of time with Joe this week! He made an extra great nurse while I felt like death. I love him.

2. Christmas Eve Dinner

Joe's family was kind enough to invite me over for lasagna for Christmas eve. Joe's mom makes amazing lasagna and I was completely obsessed with the chicken alfredo lasagna! Om nom nom.

3. Silver Linings Playbook

If you haven't seen this yet, go do it! It was great! The acting is amazing and the story is great. Joe thought it was predictable but I really loved it. I loved that both Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence were the focus rather than just one lead character.

4. Christmas with Liam

I had a blast spending Christmas with Liam. I think Jessica and I had more fun playing with the Little People Farm than Liam did but it's fine! Liam wasn't super into opening presents but we still had a lot of fun and I think everyone really enjoyed having a little one running around.

5. Jingle Cards

At B&BW, the sales leads have been handing out "jingle cards" for a good shift. They are these little scratch off cards for free products. I received two cards for my floor set shifts so I got a body butter and a lip gloss. We also have our big sale this week and I picked up this berry scented shower gel for just $3!

Fall 2012 Target Beauty Bag

The Target Style page on Facebook seasonally gives away beauty bags. They are these cute little bags filled with beauty product samples and a coupon book. They are hard to get because they run out so quickly. I got so lucky that my sister got two this time around. I haven't tried all the samples but I'm looking forward to it since my sample box is getting full.

Isn't this bag cute? It's vinyl and seems pretty decent. I like the size a lot and I think I'm going to use it to carry my every day make up on trips to Joe's and such.

(Clockwise from the top)

Jergens Daily Moisture lotion- I've been using lotion a lot more lately so I'm pretty excited to try this one out.

Pixi Flawless Beauty primer- I had never even heard of this brand but since trying a Smashbox sample and breaking out, I have been looking for a new primer and I'm hoping this one goes well.

L'Oreal EverCreme shampoo, conditioner, and masque- This line is supposed to be super hydrating and all the EverCreme products are sulfate free. 

Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy shampoo and conditioner- I've been really intrigued by this brand since it came out. I've had scalp problems since I was in middle school so I'm curious to see how well this one works.

Fekkai shampoo and conditioner- Is it wrong to say I want to try high end brands because I like their packaging? 

I'll let you know if I develop any strong opinions off these samples but no promises. Shampoo samples usually only last maybe two washes for my thick hair. It's hard to develop strong opinions off one or two washes.

Friday Faves

It's Friday again? This year has gone by so fast. It's only 4 days until Christmas, people!

1. Friends

I've watched Friends for a solid two weeks and I am not ashamed. I'm almost done with season 10 and I plan on starting over again at season 1. Sorry I'm not sorry?

2. Hickory Farms Turkey Summer Sausage

I am obsessed. So freaking good. I could eat this all day every day.

3. Miss Universe

Watching Miss Universe with Courtney was super super fun. Although I think Miss France was way prettier, Courtney and I cheered for Miss USA when she was crowned.

4. Liam Time

Liam and I got some quality time together this week. I got to see Jessica's house and I'm so excited to see how it looks when they are all done. Liam and I played lots of games and I can't wait to see him on Christmas.

5. Jeffrey's Christmas Medley

Since Christmas is upon us, here is my favorite version of some Christmas classics. :)

Influenster Holiday Treat 2012: Ferrero Rocher

Disclaimer: I received this product from Influenster complimentary for testing purposes.

I was very excited to find out I was receiving Influenster's Holiday Treat. I had my suspicions of what it could be but my expectations were totally exceeded. The holiday treat was a box of 18 Ferrero Rocher hazelnut truffles. Like an actual package of Ferrero Rocher you could buy in stores!

Product Information: Ferrero Rocher® is a unique and delicious chocolate experience made by Italian chocolatier Ferrero, since 1982. The chocolates are a tempting combination of smooth chocolaty cream surrounding a whole hazelnut; within a delicate, crisp wafer. . . all enveloped in milk chocolate and finely chopped hazelnuts. The chocolates are individually wrapped in gold foil. Ferrero offers beautiful, premium gift boxes that make any moment truly golden! Ferrero Rocher® chocolates can be purchased at most grocery, drug and mass merchandiser stores.

Ferrero Rocher® specializes in making gifting a golden moment for everyone and asked what my golden gifting moment is. The best gift I've ever given was a sleep-over kit to each of my grand littles. Mary Kate made the sweetest face and I realized I had found a mini me in her. No one else in my family is a hugger but Mary Kate is. She loved her present so much and it made all the frustrations I had had with the gifts worth it.

This gift was absolutely amazing! I love how crisp the exterior is and how sweet and creamy the center is. I am so excited to have received this from Influenster and Ferrero Rocher. If you want to know more about these yummy chocolates, check out the Ferrero Rocher website.

Friday Faves

I just realized this list is all about stuff. I'm not that materialistic. Really. Don't judge me.

1. New Purse

The boy bought me this bag for my birthday. I'd like to say I feel bad that I spent the whole car ride to the restaurant paying attention to the boy but that is not true. I actually spent the whole car ride entranced by my bag. I'm not actually that sorry.

2. Influenster Holiday Treat 2012

This came in the mail this week! I was expecting a small sample but instead it was a full box with 18 Ferrero Rocher hazelnut truffles! Read my review later this week.

3. B&BW Holiday Gratis

Our gift from B&BW is a travel size of the new Paris for Men 2-in-1 Body Wash and Shampoo, a travel size of the new Sparkling Blackberry Woods lotion, a mini Merry Cookie candle, and a lab sample of Japanese Cherry Blossom 24K Silk Lotion. I exchanged the mini Merry Cookie candle for a mini Winter Candy Apple candle because I already own the Merry Cookie candle.

4. The Roommates

I love these girls. They took me to the ER so I could get pain medication for a migraine in the middle of finals week. That is real friendship.

5. Grumpy Cat

I love you grumpy cat. :)

Pesto Pasta Salad

Do you like regular pasta salad? You know, macaroni drowning in mayo and mustard? I don't. Pasta and mayo tastes like mayo which makes me feel so gross. But pasta salad emerged during the great depression as a way to use a lot of cheap food with a little expensive food so the whole family could have some expensive ham while filling up on the cheap stuff. I've never had pasta salad with ham in it so maybe I would enjoy that.

But anyways, when you are working at the mall on Black Friday, you know the crowds are way too big to ever get in and out of the food court in 30 minutes. So Bath and Body Works had a potluck so it's poor associates don't starve to death. My contribution was this pasta salad. Because pasta is cheap. I found a recipe on the internet for a pasta salad that used pesto sauce instead of mayo. I took that inspiration and made my own pasta salad recipe. I doubled this recipe and got 16-20 servings of pasta salad. That's less than a dollar a serving! See? Cheap! You could add some cubed, cooked chicken to make it a meal. The girls at work really loved it. I divided the leftovers up into smaller containers to make great meals that can go to work.

Pesto Pasta Salad (Inspired by this recipe)

• 1 lb pasta (I used penne but you could use cavatappi, farfalle, fusilli, or macaroni if you would like.)
• 2 cups peas, cooked and drained
• 8 oz. pesto sauce (I used bottled sauce but you could make your own.)
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, quartered
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil

1. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water until pasta is cool. Drain thoroughly.
2. Toss pasta with peas, tomatoes, and sauce until well coated. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 4 hours. If you make it ahead of time like I did, the pasta will soak up all of you pesto so either wait to to add the pesto or add a couple of extra tablespoons of olive oil to keep it moist.