Christmas Fashion, Peacock Style

Happy New Year my fellow fashionistas!

I'm still alive, if not a little worse for wear. I was able to go home for Christmas this year to see family for the first time in three years, for which, I am extremely grateful and one reason I have been oh so delinquent in posting. I was also the president of the committee that put on my command's annual Christmas party. I rocked out in a full length blue velvet gown, ordered at the last minute (the day before the party) from Nordstroms.

Please ignore my satan eyes, its my inner devil coming out!
I love the way it hugs my fairly generous curves, and the color really works with mine and my eyes. I am still in love with this dress and the way it made me feel in it.

The party was an amazing success, with other people from the hotel trying to crash it. I also managed this shot of one of my besties from the ship, in between songs and glasses of wine.

Though the flash didn't go off, like it was supposed to, artistically speaking, I love this pic!
I plan on rocking in the New Year in something similiar and looking equally divine. I hope everyone had a festive, fashionable, fabulous Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve is upon us! I have spent most of the day in the kitchen, whipping up one appetizer after another for this evening's annual Hors d'oeuvres Buffet. Pinterest has fueled the fire this year so I have several delicious new additions to add to my usual repetoire.

I refuse to wear seasonal holiday sweaters (unless it is specifically for a Tacky Christmas sweater party... or photoshoot...) but today's outfit gives a nod to the holiday: reindeer T-shirt, red pants and a bow necklace.

Now that daylight is fading away, we are about to pile in to the car and drive around time in search of the best Griswold-esque tacky holiday lights display. Happy Holidays to everyone out there! Whatever your reason for celebrating this season, all of us have our friends and family at its core. With my husband leaving for a military school for 6 months right after New Years, I am going to hug him and everyone else just a little closer and take the time to let them all know how much they mean to me.

Sweater: Old Navy
T-shirt: Old Navy
Pants: Old Navy
Ballet Flats: New York & Company
Necklace: Modcloth
Earrings: New York & Company

Too Much Of A Good Thing

It is a universal truth that fat kids like cake. I am kind of chunky henceforth I like desserts... usually. But last night I went to a Holiday Martini tasting at a local watering hole. I have been to the wine and beer versions of this tasting and they were fabulous. Unfortunately, said watering hole decided to pair super sweet martinis with desserts for all five courses. The Sugar Cookie martini got paired with... a fancy sugar cookie. The Gingerbread martini came with a chocolate gingerbread mousse. Five sickly sweet martinis accompanying five super sugary desserts. By round three, my entire party was making plans for a burrito run. Nothing like cheesy, salty, greasy goodness to cut through all that sweetness.

Dress: H.C.B (cute online store with great prices)
Blazer: Nicole Miller from JCPenney
Earrings and bracelet: Forever 21
Shoes: Payless

Remind me to never allow my husband-photographer to take a picture of me from the kneeling position. Bad angle.

Even the poor gingerbread man is drowning in sugar.

Trying to plow through the Sugar Cookie martinis. This is only Round 3.

 

Caught in the act showing down on a burrito post-party.

Christmas Decorating Southern Helle Style

So far Leather Peacock has been holding down all decor-related posts on this blog. My excuse: I have new home owner's burn out. When I first bought the house two years ago, I lived at Lowe's and Home Depot. I juggled at least five projects simultaneously. Upon collapsing in to bed exhausted each night, I would turn on HGTV only to see an awesome backsplash idea and add that to my to-do list. It was too much. But I am slowly coming back around to liking the idea of home improvement and decoration projects again. Christmas really brings it out in me.
I see beautifully coordinated trees in stores and truly love them but I believe your tree tells the story of you and your family so our ornaments are all over the map.

Leather Peacock isn't the only one with Star Wars ornaments!

Elvis lives!!! (on my tree, at least)

I have no idea what sushi has to do with Christmas. Except my husband and I love it. So that's good enough.

Another Bryson City find. There is something so beautiful about this ornament.

Our cheesy "We got married in Jamaica" ornament

This one never ceases to make me laugh. Something about Jesus whispering to little kids about his arch rival Santa Claus.

Needless to say, my stepdaughter HATES this ornament. Which makes us love it even more...

I was going for a shooting star theme for our tree topper. I have had at least five people tell me it looks like a Vegas showgirl's headdress. That works for me too!

The mantle. I love blue Christmas decor.

Nothing Says Happy Holidays Like Tacky Sweaters

Traditional Christmas cards are boring. This year my family decided to jazz it up and make our own. The seed for this photoshoot was planted after my stepdaughter and I found these awesomely tacky Christmas sweaters at Goodwill several months ago. My husband quickly joined in on our ludicrous endeavor. The planning was fun but the actual photoshoot itself had us in stitches. And that is what the holidays are supposed to be about: enjoying time with your loved ones... no matter how weird and wacky they are.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Happy Holidays from the Truitts!

Remember that your family and friends are the central focus on the holiday... no matter how weird they are...

Get tangled up in the holidays!

Keep things in perspective: It isn't all about presents!

Sneek a kiss under the mistletoe

Allow yourself to be swept away!

Hang your stockings!

Mind your manners: See no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil

Christmas at the Peacock Place

After spending too many Christmases deployed, including the last two, I finally broke down and bought a Christmas tree. My first, very own, Christmas tree as an adult. I know, its about damn time. I had been collecting ornaments for a few years anyway and on Thanksgiving weekend I finally got to use them. I didn't do too bad if I do say so myself.

And if you can't see it, my tree comes complete with a Tardis and C3PO:

A nicely, geeky Christmas tree up and lit, a full Maple Crown and Coke, and Die Hard on the TV. Yes its Christmas time. Life is good.