White Out

All of this snow (we must have close to 2 feet by now) is making me want to surround myself with white...

Anthropologie "Abundant Callas" Necklace, $228

J. Crew "Cotton Papillon" Blouse, $79.50

CB2 "Shaggy White" Pillow, $39.95

Red Valentino "Tiered Ruffle" Dress, $895

Staub "La Cocotte" Cookware Set, $298

Kimchi Blue "O Ring Crossbody" Purse, $38

Letterpress Love

A round-up of some of my favorite letterpress valentines...enjoy!

"Let's Canoodle" by Egg Press

"Sage Heart" by Sweet Harvey

"Pig Love" by Linda & Harriet

"I Would Trade" by Sycamore Street Press

"Love Fest" by Nouveau Designs

"Octo Love" by Pearl Marmalade

"Clams in Love" by Egg Press

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is, without a doubt, one of the best movies ever. I can't even count how many times I have seen it. Though it would be difficult to pick a favorite scene (they're all great!), this just might be it. Happy Groundhog Day!

(P.S. Looks like we're in for a long winter.)

Winter Reading List

I typically gravitate towards classic fiction in the winter months, and this year is no exception...



The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. The description of Wilde's only novel makes it sound like a cross between the myth of Narcissus and Faust. A young man has his portrait painted by a friend, falls in love with the image of his own beauty, and bargains his soul for eternal youth. Sounds dark and moody...in short, a perfect winter read!








A Room With a View by E.M. Forster. I just finished this one, and I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected. I don't know why I'm surprised, though...I wasn't particularly enamored of Howard's End, either. Forster's prose too often reads as though it was translated from another language. I do, however, like the message that something does not have to be delicate to be beautiful.







Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. Though it is long and by many accounts depressing, I am determined to give this book a go. I read Return of the Native in high school, which I hated (but then again I also hated Pride and Prejudice when I was forced to read it in high school). I freely admit that I primarily bought this book because it was recently re-published as part of a lovely series of clothbound Penguin classics...I feel no shame for judging books by their covers.




...and I still haven't read The Custom of the Country, which was on my fall reading list. So many books, so little time!

10 Things That Make Me Happy

It feels like it's time for another 10 Things That Make Me Happy...holiday edition!

1. 3.1 Phillip Lim Sequined Dress - Nobody remixes the classics like Phillip Lim, and I absolutely love this Grecian number updated with a generous sprinkling of gold sequins. Sadly, at $675, I don't think I will be wearing this gorgeous dress to any New Year's Eve parties anytime soon.

2. 12 Days of Cookies - Baking (and eating) massive amounts of cookies is one of the highlights of Christmas for me, which is why I have subscribed to Food Network's 12 Days of Cookies newsletter for the past four years. What better way is there to start the day than with a delicious cookie recipe in your e-mail inbox?

3. Japanese Masking Tape - Savvier bloggers, Etsy fanatics, and crafters have known about Japanese masking tape for some time, but I just discovered it a few weeks ago. It comes in countless colors and patterns, and is an incredibly easy way to decorate your Christmas gift packaging

4. Vintage Leather Gloves - Buying vintage is practically like recycling, and vintage leather gloves have the advantage of already being broken in. I just found another pair for $7 at my favorite antiques mall, and they are incredibly soft and buttery. Now if I could just find a cute winter hat, I'd be set!

5. Red 2010 Moleskine Planner - I have been on the lookout for the perfect day planner pretty much forever, and I think I have finally found it. It's small enough to toss in my purse, it has extra pages for keeping track of my many lists, and the red cover is so much more fun than Moleskine's usual black. I can't wait to use it!

6. Snow(!) - We got a couple of inches last weekend, and it was pretty exciting. I stayed inside all day, just reading and feeling cozy. There is no more snow in the immediate forecast, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a white Christmas.

7. The Scent of Pine - There are many delightful scents associated with the holidays (cinnamon, citrus, sage, peppermint), but nothing compares to the scent of pine. It's crisp, it's clean, it evokes nature in its wintry simplicity. (Pictured: Illume Aurora Candle in Snow on Cedar, $18 from Anthropologie)

8. Gourmet Hot Chocolate - A cup of extra-rich hot chocolate (topped with fresh whipped cream) is my favorite winter indulgence. I make my own by melting a combination of milk and dark chocolate in a sauce pan and slowly stirring in hot milk. This + popcorn + Little Women = perfect winter evening at home. (Pictured: Starbucks Signature Hot Chocolate)

9. Bacon - I may be a little late hopping on the bacon-flavored-dessert bandwagon (it's this year's salted caramel), but I can't stop daydreaming about Vosges' Dark Chocolate Bacon Bar, Kumquat Bakery's maple bacon cupcakes, and the Elvis panini (with peanut butter, bacon, banana puree, and honey) at The Patterson House in Nashville. I think I might have to make some chocolate chip and bacon pancakes for a holiday brunch.

10. 24 hours of A Christmas Story on TBS - I admit to watching this movie at least 2.5 times each Christmas. The innocence, the nostalgia, the many quotable lines...I never get tired of it, and it just wouldn't feel like Christmas without it.

*****

What makes you happy these days, dear readers?

Etsy Wednesday

Just 16 more days until Christmas! Even though I'm not doing much shopping this year (because of the whole no job thing), it's still fun to browse Etsy for unique gift ideas. Here are a few things I have found that would make great stocking stuffers...

This teeny tiny calendar is too cute.

Handmade soap that smells like peppermint bark candy...yum!

Simple and sweet stacking rings.

This pen pouch would make a handy gift for the crafter or designer in your life.

Write a love note on this letterpress notecard and
tuck it into the stocking of someone special.

*****

I'm starting to run out of steam on these Etsy Wednesday posts...I think I might need to shake things up pretty soon!

Christmas in Paris

How pretty is this picture of the Champs Elysees all lit up for the holidays? Even though September was the perfect time (in terms of weather) to visit Paris, I would love to take a winter trip there some day. I can just imagine strolling through the streets, looking at the lovely holiday displays in the shop windows, going ice skating at the Hôtel de Ville, and then warming up with with a super thick hot chocolate at a café....ahhhhh.

(Photo by my friend and travel buddy, Ivan Hernandez)

Etsy Wednesday

Need help trimming that tree? No need to fear...Etsy is here!

This teeny felt stocking is perfect for hiding treats among the pine branches.

How sweet is this little blue bird?

Why not decorate your tree with smaller trees?

I am in love with this Ralphie Parker ornament.

I'm not sure what Gingerbuns are, but they are pretty cute!

*****

More Etsy holiday fun to come next week!

Letterpress Greetings

It's the first day of December, and the countdown to Christmas has officially begun. With just a few weeks to go before the big day, now is the time to send out those holiday cards. Here is a quick round-up of some of my favorites of the season...

Linda & Harriet

Night Owl Paper Goods

Odd Ball Press

Pancake & Franks

Sycamore Street Press

Pearl Marmalade

MoonTree Press

The Paper Peony

*****

I'm ordering my cards today, but they're a surprise!

Christmas Playlist

Those who know me well know that I have a thing for Christmas music. Yes, it's cheesy, but I just love it. I have been known to listen to a few holiday tunes in April or July if I'm having a particularly bad day, but in general I try to reserve them for the actual holiday season so they don't lose their special luster. My general rule of thumb is no Christmas music before Thanksgiving, and now that turkey day is over, it's open season for Frosty, Rudolph, and all the rest. Here's what I'll be listening to for the next few weeks...



What a Wonderful Christmas by Louis Armstrong & Friends. Satchmo mixes it up with the likes of Mel Tormé, Eartha Kitt, and Lena Horne on classics like "White Christmas" and "Silent Night" and more unusual selections like "'Zat You, Santa Claus?" (Reissued in 2003 as The Best of Louis Armstrong and Friends: The Christmas Collection.)







Stevie Wonder's Someday at Christmas is probably my favorite Christmas album of all time. A perfect blend of religious songs ("Ave Maria", "Little Drummer Boy"), classics ("Silver Bells", "The Christmas Song"), and Stevie Wonder's signature motown sound ("What Christmas Means to Me"). The title track's message of peace and love is what Christmas is all about.








Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas by Ella Fitzgerald. Ella Swings it on a must-have set of secular favorites like "Winter Wonderland" and "Sleigh Ride". This is my ultimate go-to holiday album. (Reissued in 2002 with additional tracks.)









Come December, I can be sure that my dad will have John Fahey's Christmas Guitar on regular rotation in his car CD player. A low-key instrumental album, it is perfect for quiet mornings or evenings by the fire.











Christmas '64 by Jimmy Smith. A different kind of Christmas album, with a groovy big band sound. Perfect for a retro holiday cocktail party...I'm thinking sidecars and pomegranate gimlets.





If that's not enough to get you in the holiday mood, here is another classic by the incomparable Otis Redding...