Let The Best Of's Begin

I am a Best Of List Lover. Apparently I become a lot cooler around the mid-to-late portions of December every year as I catch up on the best of music, movies, tv, theater, books, and everything else that we all love. It's almost gross that I usually end up being more familiar with stuff on the worst list than best, but whatevs, there's always next year.

Today I got a hold of the podcast of NPR's All Songs Considered: Best Music of 2009. Picked by the listeners, this is a little under two hours and sure to make your ears happier than most of the stuff on the Billboard list. (But who am I to judge?)


You can download the whole show or just have a listen to all of the great songs right here.

What was YOUR favorite song of the year?
Pia The Pig wants to know!

2009's Most Awesome Mashup

I just want to put on this dress
and pretend I am Taylor Swift and Beyonce and dance from '09 into '10 to this awesome mashup of the Top 25 Billboard Hits of '09.


Who's with me?
Pia The Pig

Sketchy Santa=Awesome

Visiting Santa. It's a rite of passage. Personally, my fondest memory of visiting Santa (there are very few) went a little like this:

Circa 1990, I'm on a covered wagon ride through the parking lot at Spring Creek Village. All of the kids are taking turns sitting on Santa's lap, telling him they want the latest Jem and the Rockers Rocker or Pound Puppy. I waited patiently until it became my turn:
Santa: "Hi sweetie, what's your name?"
Me: "Jill"
Santa: "And what do you want for Christmas."
Me: "Well, I'm Jewish."
Santa: (whispering) "Me too."

Hilare! Anyway, only semi-creepy, wholly endearing. Check out
Sketchy Santas for all sortsa Santa weirdness fun.


Did YOU see Santa this year?

Hope you got what you wanted!
Pia The Pig

You've Been Awesome

Merry Christmas to you all! I am hitting up the movies and Chinatown in Richardson with my family (and many, many other Jews tonight), but wish you all a fabulous day.

Hope Santa was good to you!

And how incredibly adorbs is my nephew Jack in this photo from last Christmas?

XOXO,
Pia The Pig

Wrap It Up!

I am a gift wrap whore. I literally have 40+ rolls of paper lying around my not-that-big-house. It's okay. Not everyone feels this way. It takes time. While I could dedicate an entire blog to the beauty of The Gift Bag, there is always something classy about a beautifully-wrapped box. Here are some gorgeous gifts and wrapping ideas courtesy of a new blog I just found (a gift in itself!), Brunch at Saks.

Music sheets, a ribbon, and some extra small bells make for the perfect gift wrapped present!


A little newspaper and a few ribbons will give you this chic, flower topped gift:


Get out your watercolors, crayons, markers, etc. and let your imagination go:


Read more here and here.

Enjoy. Remember, presentation counts! (Even though such gifts will be ripped open in just seconds. They'll pick yours out first!)

Merry Christmas Eve!
Pia The Pig

It's Not Too Late For Something Awesome!

It's Christmas Eve! So, the stores are closing early today and you forgot one last present and can't fathom walking anywhere near the mall. I get it. Time to make BOOB COOKIES!

Of course, these are just thumbprint cookies (an AWESOMELY classic crowd-pleaser), but I can't help from think they look a little like boobies. (Sidenote: am I the only person that feels weird about eating Sprinkles cupcakes because of this same reason?)

Anyhoo, I made a bunch of batches of these the other night and they are awesomely easy as well. And, I certainly won't tell if you need to sample a bunch of Hershey Kisses just to "make sure they're fresh" as my dad would say.

Here's a recipe, although I just cheated and followed the very simple one on the package of pre-made peanut butter dough. Yum!

Don't forget to add a sparkly ribbon!

Great for Santa, too!
Pia The Pig

Hello (Again), Lova!

Can't Wait! I will wear something SPARKLY!
Pia The Pig