Go For The Gold.

I am a bit of a traditionalist, so while red and green will always be front and center for my holiday decor, I have always infused a large amount of gold. I saw these shells in Martha Stewart Living, and they made me think of how I can incorporate even more gold into my home this Christmas.

Enjoy these gold holiday items that made it onto Kiki's List:

1. Gold Sequin Pillow- $32.95

2. Gold Lacquer Tray- $18.95

3. Set of 12 Glitter Drenched Christmas Balls- $44.99

4. Downy Mini Tree- $18

5. Metallic Leaf Garland- $39.95

6. Four Brocade Goblets- $29.95

7. Gold Tipped Pinecones- $6.95- $12.95

8. Raj Candle Holder- $3.95

9. Assorted Shells- $17.95

10. Metallic Spray Paint- $5.26

11. Set of four Burst Napkin Rings- $64

12.Chhavipaor Prestige Plate- $696

Tis The Season: Gifts for Him.

Wondering what to get that special man in your life? Your sports-loving, gadget consuming, beer guzzling better half? Oh, is that just my husband?... I say that with the utmost affection.

Men are from Mars, and women are from Venus.. so rather than your husband making the I just got kicked in the n$%s face when he opens his gifts this year, use this gift guide to replace that grimace. I enjoy making those that I love happy at Christmas time, and these gifts are sure to do the trick!

1. 1 Year Subscription to ESPN The Magazine- $26

2. Callaway Diablo Driver- $599

3. Engraved Flask- $24.99 ON SALE

4. The Book of Basketball- $19.80

5. Apple TV- $99

6. Timex Ironman Watch- $34.99

7. The Godfather Trilogy- $39.85

8. NFL Hoodie- $54.95

9. The League, Season 1- $11.99

10. Speaker City Tee-$20

11. Magnetic Wristband- $19.95

12. Beer of the Month Club- $22.95

Giving Thanks.

This Thanksgiving the Salmons had one very big reason to give thanks. Tuesday morning may have been the single most frightening day of my life. I almost lost my baby.

Last week we headed down to Florida to spend Thanksgiving with my Dad, and his wonderful girlfriend, Helen. They had just purchased a new home with a pool. Before leaving I had expressed much concern about the pool and how safe it was for Anna. Dad assured me that the locks on the door were child-proofed and all would be okay.

Upon arriving we went through the rules with the girls several times. I was not too worried about E, as she can handle herself in the pool and had a level of respect for the water. Anna, on the other hand, is fearless, and absolutely loves the pool. I was on high alert, as some weird sixth sense was telling me that Anna was going to be involved in some sort of episode.

Fast forward to Tuesday morning- Mike had to fly to Colorado for two days so he was not there. We were hanging out in the family room that has a sliding glass door leading out to the pool. I quickly ran to the bathroom and both girls were inside. When I returned, they were both outside. After gathering them back inside I locked the door to be sure to keep them in the house. I grabbed my iPad that they had been watching and took it to the charger in the kitchen. Within 30 seconds, I turned around and Anna was gone. I asked E where her sister was, she said she didn't know. Then I saw that the sliding glass door was open. I ran outside and quickly panned the perimeter. I did not see her. I focused my eyes downward to see her floating in the pool... IN THE DEEP END! She was quietly mumbling "I want Momma. I want Momma" There were no screams, no big splashes, nothing. Luckily her head was above water, and she was actually able to hold onto the pool cover. I screamed what I think was her name and ran over and swooped her out of the pool. Helen heard my scream and came running and we both could not believe how fast this whole incident went down. Literally 30 seconds-- and she was in the pool. She was reaching for a toy that she had thrown into the water.

I am still replaying this incident over and over in my head and cannot believe how blessed we are that it happened the way it did. If the cover was not on, she would have been face down. If she had not been able to grab the cover, she would have been trapped under it, and I initially would have missed her. By the time we looked for her, it could have been too late.

I held that baby in my arms all day, and still find it hard to let her go. If Tuesday morning taught me anything, it is just how vigilant you have to be with children and water. It doesn't matter if it is a pool, a baby pool, or a bathtub. It can happen in a matter of seconds, and it can happen to anyone. The other thing that it assured me of, is that our guardian angel was watching over my baby that morning- Thanks again, Mom.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing all of you a healthy and happy Thanksgiving!

A Lemony-Dill Bowl of Bliss.

After I had the Avgolemono Soup at Le Petit Greek in L.A., I couldn't stop thinking about it. I love making soups. Something about how the flavors meld together in the pot soothes me. And I love eating soup, especially in the winter.

I was dying to make this soup in particular, so I mixed together a few recipes that I found online- and the results were delish. It's low fat, and takes less than an hour to make, Word to the wise: Don't add the rice and eggs until about 20 minutes before serving, otherwise it will get mushy.

INGREDIENTS

10 cups chicken stock

1 shredded rotisserie chicken
1 1/2 cups of white rice
4 tbsp. olive oil

1 onion (chopped)
2 carrots (chopped)
2 stalks celery (chopped)
1/2 teaspoon oregano
salt and pepper to taste
2 eggs
2 lemons (juice)
1 handful dill (chopped)

DIRECTIONS

1. Sautee onions, carrots and celery in pot until golden brown.

2. Add Chicken, oregano, salt and pepper.

3. After 2 minutes, add chicken broth.

4. Bring the soup to a boil and simmer.

5. 20 minutes before eating, add rice to pot. Cook 15 minutes, or until rice is tender.
3. Take the pot off the heat.
4. Whisk the eggs in a bowl until frothy.
5. Whisk in the lemon juice.
6. Slowly whisk in some of the liquid from the soup to temper the eggs.
7. Mix the avgolemono sauce into the soup.
8. Stir in the dill and serve.

Hampton Paper Designs Giveaway Winner

And the winner is......... #6..... Congrats Meredith! Send me an e-mail with your address and we'll get them shipped ASAP.

Tis the Season: Gift Guide for Kids.

For the next upcoming weeks, I will be doing a gifting segment called Tis the Season. Each Tis the Season post will be filled with ideas for all of the special people in your life.

Today, I am kicking it off with kids. They are what this season is all about right? Ah, to see Christmas through a child's eyes. I will never forget when E was two, and she came downstairs from her nap (she used to take four hour snoozers, so we picked that time to trim the tree) and she gasped out of sheer excitement for our beautiful tree. Of course, I shed a few tears.

This year it's Lou's turn to really "get it" for the first time.. and I can't wait. as you can see, last year, she was less than enthusiastic.

Make your little tikes happy with some of these picks. Check out the kids' gift ideas that made it onto Kiki's List:

1. Wooden Sushi Set- $15.07 ON SALE

2. Sparkly Ballerina Box- $24

3. Personalized Red Sprinkles Apron- $34

4. Pop Menagerie Elephant Ornament- $28

5. Wooden Xylophone- $28

6. Taj Elephant Pillow- $52

7. Personalized Bath Towel- $28

8. Personalized Stripe Bucket- $68

9. Yo Gabba Gabba Bath Time Squirters- $11.95

10. Pink Heart Acoustic Guitar- $58

11. Your Christmas Letter Ornament- $8

12. Magnetic Fishing Puzzle- $8.41 ON SALE

Lanvin for H & M.

Lanvin for H & M collection hits stores tomorrow. Get them while you can. This is a limited time collection.

I'm a Faker.

First created in 1984, the is one of the most exclusive handbags on the planet. It is said that here is a 2 year waiting list, however, in his book titled Bringing Home the Birkin, Michael Tonello shares his insider experience that there is no wait list, that Hermes will gladly sell you a Birkin if you are already in the store, buying other items. However, if you come in only seeking a Birkin... You are S-O-L. Conspiracy theories aside- Birkin price range starts at $9,000 to $150,000.

There are many theories which surround the bag's origins but in an interview with UK’s Elle magazine March 2010 entitled “Stylish Thinking — Jane Birkin”, the singer confirms that she provided the inspiration for the bag.

While traveling from London to Paris in the 1980s, Birkin found herself seated next to the CEO of Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas. Laden down with bits and pieces, Birkin’s Hermès organizer was overflowing and some items fell out of it. Looking at the debris next to him Dumas suggested she put things in the pockets, to which Birkin retorted “If Hermès put pockets in, I would.” From that moment, the idea of the oversized Hermès Birkin bag was born. One month later the Hermès CEO sent Birkin a design and asked if he could name it after her.

A few weeks ago, I stumbled into South Moon Under and spotted this luscious red bag. (This picture truly does it no justice.)

With a price tag of $58, I couldn't resist. I took this baby with me to California, and had several people comment on my "Birkin." I am one of those people who gets so excited about a bargain I immediately tell them that it was $58 and where they could get it. However, while I obviously realized that it resembled a Birkin, I freaked out at the possibility that I was one of those women who sported fake pleather handbags. Oye.

Then I thought about it some more, and realized that I didn't care. I loved this bag, it was real (organic) leather and I was certainly not in the market for Birkin. So until I win the lottery, this is it for me and I am content with my bargain purchase. Unfortunately, South Moon Under's online store is sold out, but I did find it here, for.. wait for it... $44. Get 'em while they are hot, ladies!

All Hail the (Future) Queen: Kate Middleton.

I am ecstatic about the engagement of Price William and Kate Middleton. Finally a woman worthy of a crown. I cannot wait for this wedding.

I can still remember Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding. It was an all-day event at our house. I was only four years old at the time, and that is one of the first memories that I have. Approximately 750 million viewers watched the ceremony worldwide and two million spectators lined the route of Diana's procession from Clarence House. I will never forget that day. I thought she was so beautiful.

Now my girls have a real Princess to idolize, and I believe that Kate Middleton will fit the part. I love her grace and down-to-earth style. She's highly educated and independent. Kate is currently pursuing a career in photography and has studied under the wing of Mario Testino. She has been on several best dressed lists including People, Vanity fair and Style.com.

Waity Katie no more- she's officially heir to the thrown.. All hail the (future) Queen!

Mazel tov to the happy couple. I'll be waiting for my invitation in the mail.

Kiki's List Giveaway: Hampton Paper Designs.

Hampton Paper Designs was started by my friend and fellow fashionista, Kristin Mika in 2007. After the birth of her second son, Jackson, Kristin felt that there was a void in stylish and simple stationery. After chatting with a family friend, Lucy Borge at a family party in the Hamptons, HPD was born.

With over 280 watercolor images to choose from, Hampton Paper Designs offers stationery to fit every lifestyle. The product line includes flat cards, fold-over cards, labels, framed art, invitations, notepads and even luggage tags. Kristin is even working on custom cookie designs- what a great party favor! Each order is wrapped meticulously and makes the perfect holiday gift.

Kristin lives in Oak Hill, Virginia with her husband Greg and two adorable sons, Thomas and Jackson.

Now here's the fun part.... Kristin is giving away a pack of 24 correspondence cards with a design of your choice.

Here are the rules for the giveaway:

1.) You must be a Follower of Kiki's List.

2.) To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post between today, Wednesday, November 17, 2010 and Friday, November 19. telling me which design you choose and why. A winner will be selected at random and will be announced next Monday, November 22.

3.) To receive an additional entry, you can link to this post on your own blog (include the url to your blog post in your comment). It is up to you to return to this post to enter your second entry after blogging about the giveaway.

4.)Post about this giveaway on Facebook for an additional entry. You must enter the link to this post in you status update. It is up to you to return to this post to enter your second entry after FB'ing about the giveaway.

Good Luck!

Field Trip: Cali.

Last week I was in San Francisco Monday through Wednesday and that was 99.9% work with long meetings in conference rooms that are set at 20 degrees below zero to keep us all awake. Thank God for video iChat!

L.A... Now, that was a much different story. I love L.A. On Wednesday we had some free time and checked out a local Mexican restaurant called El 7 Mares in Silver Lake. Now, as most of you know, I love food. And if I was given a choice for my last supper, it would be a big Mexican feast. We wanted to check out the highly recommended ceviche and shrimp tacos. They did not disappoint. Don't be fooled by it's meager appearance. While El 7 Mares may be a bit of a dive, (did I mention how much I love dives?) it seems to be a local favorite with the freshest of ingredients and ridiculously low prices.

On Wednesday night, I wore the dress that you all picked out for me. Thank you, it was a big hit.

On Thursday night we had an amazing party at Paramount Studios on the set of a show that is premiering in January called Happy Endings. Paramount was offering golf cart guided tours of the studios, but we thought it would be much for fun to take a "self-guided tour"... and am I sure glad that we did. Upon entering the studios, we walked right past Jane Lynch AKA Sue Sylvester dressed up as the Grinch. Kind of hard to see from the picture below as she was hauling ass to her trailer, but I assure you, it's her.

Next we were somehow able to sneak into the Glee set. Below you can see a picture of Rachel's bedroom. When we heard footsteps- we ran. As we were walking- no running out, we saw everyone's favorite Cheerios, Brittany (Heather Morris) and Santana (Naya Rivera) walking out. After we followed them into the bathroom, we decided that perhaps our stalking had gone too far, so we aborted our mission. Upon exiting the ladies' room, we came upon the food trailer for Glee. A very "spirited" group of guys to making the Gleeks' meals. Finally, we decided to throw in the towel and head back to the party.... Amazing food, open bar and space heaters to keep us warm during a cool L.A. night- what more could a girl ask for? (My apologies... all of these pics were taken with my iPhone.)

Friday my marvelous sister-in-law, Christine (we affectionately call her Coosie) picked me up from the hotel and we headed over to Santa Monica to do some shopping. --God, I wish we had a Jonathan Adler in D.C... I was able to special order the S letter pillow that has been sold out online for months, and I also bought two Christmas ornaments for the girls. A blue elephant for Lou, and an orange lion for E. Simply adorable.

My mother gave us an ornament each year for Christmas and I am oh so glad that I have them now. There may be some tears shed each year as we decorate the tree, but it is so special to have those memories of my mom. This is a tradition that I'd like to share with my girls. A special thanks to Phaedra at J.A. who is shipping all of my goodies home!

Next we stopped to grab a bite with my virtual friend, Shannon Wollack. After months of e-mailing we were finally able to meet in person. We had a great time. I wish we had more time.. it seemed to go by so quickly. So quickly that I forgot to take a picture!

After lunch we stopped at my favorite Loehmann's in the world, and boy was it a bust. I don't think I have ever walked out of Loehmann's empty handed. Particularly the one in Beverly Hills. Hell must have frozen over that day. After getting over our disappointment, we headed over to Trina Turk. Remember this post on TT's pillows? Coosie and I love hitting up Trina when I visit. I am so enamored with all of the bright colors, and beautiful fabrics. I walked away with cocktail ring, a nugget bracelet and a pierced bangle.. Two out of the three were on sale!

Now it was finally time to go home and see my adorable niece, Colette. We call her CiCi. (Yes, everyone in our family has a nickname.) What a happy girl she is. We headed to the Grove and CiCi loved all of the music, waterworks and Christmas cheer. We went to dinner at the Farm and sat next to Dylan Walsh from Nip Tuck.

Saturday morning we all woke up bright and early. After a morning of hanging out and playing, we headed to H.D. Buttercup. -A M-A-Z-I-N-G. I think I finally found that entertainment console for our family room. They have it in white and black, and believe it or not, I actually let Mike pick the color- black it is. Thanks to Michele at H.D. Buttercup who is working on getting it to me safely.

After a long, hard day of shopping, Coos and I dropped CiCi off and headed over to our friend Tia Zoldan's house for some wine. As many of you know, I absolutely adore Tia. Talk about a girl crush--- she is amazing. Tia's house is not only breathtaking, but she lives right in Larchmont Village- my favorite spot in L.A. After cocktails and a tour of the newest additions to Tia's home, we headed out to grab a bite. We landed at Le Petit Greek. It was fantastic! The Avgolemono Soup was the best I've ever had. We had such a wonderful night. I was sad to see it end.

My flight home on Sunday was delayed almost 3 hours, so I missed seeing my babies before bed. They were in good hands, as we had Grammy come up from Savannah to help Mike out. They loved having that time with her. I am a bit jealous that I missed out. She left early yesterday morning and we were so sad to see her go. But what a great morning I had schnooging (that's our word for snuggling) with my family. A king size bed sure does seem small when you have a family of 4 and their furry baby in it.