Happy Friday, kids! It’s hard to believe it’s the last Friday before Christmas. Where has the month gone??

This week was our first of Maddie’s winter break, and we’ve been spending lots of quality time together as a family. We’ll be home for the next few weeks, meaning I need to plan some serious activities for our girl. I’m still torn between signing her up for a local camp or just soaking in these long, lazy days with her while she’s home. Time just seems to be going so fast lately, and a part of me wants to just enjoy every second of these little years. But another part of me wants to just shower in peace, so there’s that.

I hope everyone enjoys their last weekend before Santa arrives!

Here are a few of my favorites from this week:

One.

The Blowout / Last week nearby Stamford officially welcomed its first DryBar; they invited me to come in on opening day, and I’ve already been back for more. They do the absolute best blowout- my go-to is the Dirty Martini- and everyone that works there is beyond lovely. I took Maddie in for their service for minis, the Shirley Temple, and she had the best time ever. If you’re local, I HIGHLY recommend stopping by.

Two.

The Winter Midi Dress / I picked up this beauty {above} this week from Zara for $129- and it is perfection. I’m always a sucker for a good midi dress, especially when it doesn’t break the bank; and this one’s will surely be getting put to good use over the next few weeks.

Three.

The Men’s Line / Phil has been a huge fan of Faherty for some time now. Their pieces are beautifully made and are equal parts sophisticated and beachy- which is pretty much his vibe in a nutshell. If you’re still in the market for some last minute gifts for the guys, I’ve linked some of his favorites below. And their women’s stuff is pretty amazing, too.

Four.

The Cookbook / I picked this cookbook up at a recent book signing event at the Asha Penthouse, and it’s quickly become one of our very favorites. Serena’s crowd-pleasing recipes are super user-friendly and delicious. And if you want to learn just one thing from her, her “Idiot-Proof Chicken” is the easiest technique for cooking the juiciest chicken at home.

Five.

The Christmas Tradition / Growing up, one of my very favorite Christmas traditions was our family trip into the city to see the Rockettes in Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. It’s always been one of the most magical parts of the holiday season, and its a tradition I’ve loved sharing with Maddie since she was itty bitty. This year, we’re bringing along miss Lila, and it makes me so happy I get to continue to make memories watching this special show with my girls.

photos by Julia Dags