Wednesday
Go out of work early! Yay! Went home and had some dinner with my roommate and then headed to Boston’s left bank (Cambridge) to see my friend Jay’s band – the Bodega Girls. I can’t even tell you how fun and amazing this band is. If they’re in your area, go see them. They have some songs on MySpace but to be honest, their recordings don’t even do them justice. You have to see them live. Absolutely worth it.

Thursday
Awesome day with these awesome people:

There was pie, and food, and pie, and more food, and coffee, and Baileys and more pie. SO MUCH PIE.

During the evening my sister put on an episode of Hoarders. Have you seen this show? Oh my god. I threw up in my mouth. Twice. And then proceeded to go home and stay up until 1:30 in the morning cleaning and disinfecting my apartment from top to bottom.

Friday
Headed back over to Cambridge for brunch at the Friendly Toast. Great food. Terrible service.

Later in the evening, a group of us headed over to Harvard Square to see the Donkey Show. This was by far the highlight of the weekend. The show is so fun – you dance, you sing, you’re part of the show … but you’re not. It’s rather impossible to explain. Go see it for yourself. Tickets are $25 for standing room, and trust me, you want standing.

Post Donkey Show a group of us headed to our gayborhood bar for some alcohol-fueled group antics. PS. Thanks SE boys. Hearts, hugs and laughs.

Saturday
This was a very productive day actually. I got a lot of work done (who works on a holiday weekend? THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.) Due to the ridiculous ASSUMPTION that baby showers are held on Sundays and the fact that I didn’t think to check the invitation sitting on top of the gift, I worked through the afternoon only to discover I missed by friend Sarah’s baby shower. Because I’m a terrible friend. Getting sucked into work is a vicious cycle of disaster.

The evening was spent at Danny’s with the Usual Suspects and Danny’s adorable parents. Where Danny’s adorable dad schooled us in Apple to Apples.

Sunday
Sunday was a Tour de el South End. My friends and I started with brunch at Metropolis (great food, again terrible service. UGH), followed by a quick shopping stop at Flock, my new favorite boutique, followed by cocktails first at Ginger Park (formally Banq), then, per usual, at Stella. Eventually we all made our way over to Joe V’s for pizza, wine and trip making plans.

Yeah that’s right. Trip making plans. Vieques? Yeah I’ll be seeing you for a week in March. Bioluminescent plankton? Get ready to get swam with. I’m coming to get you. Oh yeah – and Jean? You better start getting ready NOW. This birthday is going to be the best one yet…

After all … you made it this far :P

This weekend was all family, all weekend. And it was great.

I spent most of Saturday afternoon hanging at my Dad’s with my Dad (obviously), my Mom, two of my Dad’s sisters and my grandparents. It was supposed to be a quick visit so I could drop off my car( long story) that turned in to an all afternoon “Hey we’ve been here for hours, let’s order some pizza” affair.

Saturday night I spent with a whole bunch of friends to see off our good friend Rena. She’s moving to New York and is going to be wildly successful in everything she does – I just know it. I spent the night with her, Danielle/Dink and an assortment of other fabulous people. I finished the night off with the cheesy cab ride home:

Cab Driver: Can I ask you a serious question?

Me: Sure.

Cab Driver: Are you going to be around for Christmas?

Me: Uhhhh …. no? What?

Cab Driver: You’re not? That’s too bad. ‘Cause I need an angel for my tree.

Me: *groan* Let me out here please.

Sunday was a lovely day all around. I spent it with the people I call my “Urban Family”. They are some of the people I love most, and luckily for me, all live right in my neighborhood. We get together once or twice a week, but we decided with everyone splitting up for the holiday to go visit their biological family, we needed to celebrate Thanksgiving amongst our family.

We split up the menu, all brought wine, turned on some music, lit up a fire and had one of the most amazing afternoons into evenings I’ve had in a long time. My friend Pia gave a toast before dinner that was so beautiful, it literally made the whole room cry. I have it on video, but with the crying and all, I’ll keep that for us.

You can however look at some pics. Here, ladies and gents, is the Urban Family I refer to so frequently here, on Twitter & on Facebook. I hope all of you are as lucky as I am to have people like these in your life.

Jon & Pia

Matt, Lisa, Julie & Mary

Adam & Jon

Me & Jean!

Ad & our food!

Me & Adam

Julie

Jean

Danny, me & Matt

Matt, Lisa, me & Danny

Matt, Adam, Jean & Pixel

Back Row: Steve, Julie, Pia, Mary
Front Row: Danny (with Pixel), Jean, Matt, Me, Lisa, Adam & Jon (with Heidi)

The whole set is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alleyesonjenny/sets/72157622861349000/

Department stores are decked out in Holiday decorations. Not one but TWO radio stations in the Boston area are already playing holiday music 24 hours a day through Christmas. Yikes. I know.

The Holiday Season is upon us, people. And what better way to stay sane, than to stay out of the stores and shop online?

I’ve rounded up some of the yummiest online Holiday Gift Guides around. I’ve made sure to include something for all the men, women, children and pets in your life. You can thank me later.

TARGET

Gift Guide Highlights:
* Gifts separated by price points starting as low as $15!
* Boasts a whole section dedicated to affordable holiday decor.

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ETSY

Gift Guide Highlights:
* Esty is all about handmade goods, so you know the gift you’re giving is as original as the artist who created it.
* Don’t neglect presentation: This gift guide has specialized categories like “Cards, Ribbons and Wrap”.

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CRATE & BARREL

Gift Guide Highlights:
* Get free shipping on select orders over $100
* Don’t know what to get your finicky boss? No worries, this guide has an entire section dedicate to corporate gifts.

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DESIGN PUBLIC

Gift Guide Highlights:
* Go green! This gift guide features a selection of sustainable gift ideas!
* Worried the gift isn’t right? No worries, DP has an extended return policy for the holidays so you can shop with confidence!
* DP is going to GIVING AWAY free gifts and doing other Holiday promos – so sign up for their newsletter ASAP to get in on those deals!

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SEPHORA

Gift Guide Highlights:
* Get more for your dollar by purchasing value sets!
* Three magic words: Free Gift Wrapping.
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APPLE

Gift Guide Highlights:
* Know someone with a fitness related New Year’s Resolution? Help them kick off the year on the right foot with some iPod Workout Gear.
* Stumped on what to get the music nut in your life? iTunes gift cards cover all your bases.

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WILLIAMS SONOMA

Gift Guide Highlights:
* Get personal: this gift guide features one of kind gifts each engraved with an initial or name.
* The customer is always right: browse Williams Sonoma’s customers top recommended picks.

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MIGHTY GOODS

Gift Guide Highlights:
* Get access to not one, but THREE gift guides in one: Might Goods, Mighty Junior and Might Haus.
* This is a guide to keep checking up on – new ideas and featured lists are being added all the time!

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I’m going to keep adding to this list throughout the holiday season. If you know of a great Holiday Gift Guide that I should include, let me know!