Merry Christmas

A Christmas Story Music Montage

Classic ... Tonight was Christmas Eve dinner at Nana's and the full-belly veg out with the marathon of A Christmas Story. Love it!

True Meaning of Christmas

It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. What if Christmas doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. -- Dr. Seuss

Wishing you and your family a very blessed holiday season and a bright beginning to the new year.

For You and Yours

Holiday Travel

The skies (and airports) were filled with seasonal travel today! I'm convinced that 12/21 may be the busiest travel day of the year these days as it seemed all of Dallas and Houston huddled in the DAL and HOU airports today. Surprisingly, my flight was relatively on time and it feels great to be home for the holidays.

Ready for the Holidays

Spent the day wrapping up to-do's in prep for the holidays. :o)

Ralphie's House Rocks

It's on my wish list for '08! Let's go to Cleveland to visit the house from the iconic holiday film "A Christmas Story"! Don't kid yourself, there's even an official "Christmas Story" Chinese restaurant just blocks away. What could be better than being behind the scenes at Ralphie's with his Red Rider and the Leg Lamp!? ;o)

Cool Tool for Christmas

Thank you, Kristin, for such a fun surprise Christmas gift! This jazzy little Gorillapod is the most resourceful and flexible tripod for snapping shots anywhere and everywhere. It will absolutely come in handy in Switzerland over New Year's and for keeping this photoblog interesting. Brilliant and generous gift idea!

Tour of Lights Date

Tonight I was asked on a very sweet date to take our annual tour of Christmas lights around the neighborhoods of HP Dallas. Thanks, Matty!

Join Us to Celebrate Christmas

Christmas Lights, O' Christmas Lights ...

I l-o-v-e Christmas lights! The all-white, multi-colored, solid colored, static, blinking, mixed-up, mashed-up, any way you can string them up, Christmas lights. It ranks up there with fireworks in my world (and that pretty much tops the list). I can't get enough of these twinkly little lights' of magic.

It's beginning to look a lot like ...

What a magical Christmas tree this was to see today in front of Hancock Center. Quite a whimsical feeling from my little vantage point looking up into the zillions of lights.

View from my hotel room onto Downtown Chicago and the lake.

Busy Sidewalks

Christmas-time in Chicago is simply incredible! I get to walk to work each day this week along the Magnificent Mile through the glittering trees of light. Love it!

Smoking Kills

Are you kidding me? While walking through the Chicago airport this evening, I noticed this woman toting her Duty Free cancer sticks. What struck me was the blatant warning within the
bag announcing, Smoking Kills. Obvious observation ... wish more people took these warnings to heart.

Discoveries on Daily Candy

Daily Candy is like having your own personal assistant provide you with the scoop on arts and culture, beauty, gadgets, drinks and food, fashion, travel and more. "As useful as it is entertaining, it's like getting an e-mail from your clever, unpredictable, and totally in-the-know best friend. The one who knows about secret beauty treatments, must-have jeans, hot new restaurants -- and always shares the scoop."

An Advertising Parable For The Holidays

When I Grow Up I Wanna Work in Advertising

Annual Bivona Christmas Party

Went home this weekend for our pre-holiday party with the Italians. It's our 50th annual Bivona party where my Nana's side of our family gathers to catch up, feast on the deliciousness of our traditional Italian dishes (sauceasettis!), join in on the holiday questionnaire, and play hours of Pokeno for treasures only we could appreciate ;o)

Memory Map

I love this map! It lives in my office and is a daily reminder of where my journeys have led (outside the US) and where my friends and family live. It's a great reminder of just how much more is out there to experience! (Orange: Grad school pals, Blue: Former colleagues, Black: Family outside Texas, and Green for international travel so far.)

Grateful

Virtually There

Everyscape isn't an online world, it's the world online. This is quite the experience to check out for 3-D online tours of various cities, with views both from the streets as well as inside the stores. Talk about the world at your fingertips ...

An Easier Way To Plan Your Travel

I’ve recently discovered what I think must be one of the coolest free travel websites out there to help plan, coordinate and share travel itineraries, called Tripit. Simply shoot TripIt all your confirmation emails in no particular order, and instantly your entire trip is organized in one easy-to-read itinerary. It “automatically organizes your air, hotel and car bookings into one itinerary, adds daily weather, local maps, directions, travel guides and more.” There’s a notes space for including restaurant reviews or reservations, sightseeing options, venue maps, you name it. Bring on Switzerland!

Spin the Wheel of Lunch

Can't choose where to eat lunch? New in town and don't know where to find a good sushi bar? Pop your zip code in and the wheel fills up with a list of local eateries. Spin the wheel and let it choose for you! Warning: Always follow the advice of the wheel. Do not taunt the wheel. The wheel knows where you live.

Thanks, Robert!

Recharged the Batteries this Weekend

The Crossings in Austin

I don't remember the last time I simply slept until I couldn't sleep anymore. Today was reserved for getting as much rest, hydrotherapy, hiking, and holiday lights as we could take. :o)