new year

Happy, happy (almost) New Year!

It's hard to believe already time to kiss 2011 goodbye. Sometimes I can't believe all of the happenings of the past year could possibly squeeze into only 12 months...

Do you guys have any big plans for ringing in 2012? Any big resolutions?

S and I are getting dressed up for a fancy New Year's Eve dinner at this piano bar in Brooklyn.

Cheers to a rocking good eve, loves!

P.S. Just 'cause it's sweet...

(original images courtesy bippity boppity boo and a gentlewoman)

sweet sweater

It's hard to imagine being in any thing but a good mood while wearing this sweater. Adorable!

Get it here and spread the love.

(image courtesy net-a-porter)

reading at the plaza

After a wonderful trip home for Christmas, we had little time for the "Christmas blues." We returned a few days ago to a jam packed NYC still decked out in holiday decor.

Prime example? Why, The Plaza Hotel!

I was lucky enough to do a reading of my book Hootenanny! there yesterday afternoon in the oh-so-very-pink Eloise room.

The kids were adorable (see above) as was the venue. Little girl heaven!

Thanks to my dears who were able to be there. And, for my sweet pal R who was stuck at the office, here is a pic of the pink tree as promised.

(image courtesy ejb)

new shades

I have a confession to make. I have a massive head. Remember that quote from So I Married an Axe Murderer..."it's like a melon on top of a tooth pick?" That's what we're dealing with in my case.

When my beloved Oliver Peoples bit the dust a few months ago I knew that finding a new pair of shades wasn't going to be easy. Every pair looked lovely on the shelf, but when I tried them on it looked as if I was playing dress up with accessories from the children's department.

Leave it to my Mom to come to my poor squinting eyes' rescue with the perfect solution: Ray-Ban's Retro Cat Eye sunglasses.

Score a pair of your very own here.

(image courtesy hip hip gin gin, anthropologie via miss moss and a well traveled woman)

buffalo gals

Happy Christmas Eve!

After a boisterous day of celebrating with aunts, uncles and cousins (oh my!), we are more than ready to cozy down with full bellies and enjoy the annual viewing of It's a Wonderful Life.

The above clip is from my favorite scene in the movie. Best part? The 2:48 mark to be exact. It never fails to make me smile when Jimmy Stewart sings "what did you wish for when you threwthatrooock?"

Hope Santa brings you something awesome.

xo

taking off...

At last the time has arrived for us to fly away home to Mississippi for Christmas!

So very excited to see family and relax. Wherever you are, best wishes for holidays that are both merry and bright.

face saver

Stop the presses. Origins A Perfect World Skin Guardian means business.

Used in combination with your daily moisturizer, this concoction containing white tea protects your mug from harsh winter winds and other irritants that can leave your skin looking less than fresh.

After only a week of using this, my make-up goes on smoother and stays longer. My skin looks much more bright and dewy than before which says a lot about the above product considering the weather, holiday stress and those sneaky holiday party libations.

(original image courtesy target)

weekend snaps

For the first time this holiday season, this weekend actually felt festive. Our friends A and L were in from Chicago and with much to celebrate. They just got engaged! Congrats, dears!

Here are a few snaps from a very happy weekend filled with good friends and good times. At last, I'm in a holiday frame of mind.

trimming the tree

a row of pretty vintage hand mirrors spotted at Stanton Social

S and my Christmas gift to each other arrived early-a beautiful painting by Baxter Knowlton (remember this post?)

fancy clementines on a dainty silver tray and a happy Christmas tree at our pals L & D's joint

a rad light up Ford sign at our fave dive bar Motor City

and last, but not least, ice cold milk and warm chocolate chip cookies enjoyed while watching Love Actually (you know it's good).

the magnetic fields

L and D turned us on to The Magnetic Fields this weekend.

Can't stop listening to the song below from the album "69." The album is composed of exactly 69 love songs.

Lovely.

P.S. The band is making a stop on NYC this Spring at The Beacon. Yes, please!

she & him

Our office holiday party is set to commence any moment. Trying to get in the right frame of mind by listening to some Christmas songs.

"A Very She & Him Christmas" is doing the trick nicely. Particularly enjoying "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."

Happy (almost) weekend!

sparkly slipper loafers

I heart these sparkly slipper shoes (spotted on PeanutJB). Sadly, they cost a cool $215.

Lucky for me, Nordstrom's "Mansion flats" are only $59.95. That's more like it.

(image courtesy j.crew)

shimmer scarf

Well, hello there shimmery gold scarf. Aren't you merry and bright?

(images courtesy scarf shop)

holiday hullabaloo

Anyone else feeling a little overwhelmed by all the holiday hullabalo?

Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, but the hectic few weeks that precede it can be a lot to take. For this reason, I'm loving the silly card above.

Not to sound like a Scrooge, but it's hard not to share the brawny boxer's sentiment when popping out to get lunch (I work in Rock Center....right beside THE giant tree) can feel like a fight for your life.

Fanny pack wearing Granny with camera, 1, KAB 0.

P.S. Even though the card above rules, S and I actually sent out much more cheerful holiday cards and post cards from Rifle Paper Co. Ana Bonds's sweet painted style is a fave.




(images courtesy that kind of woman and rifle paper co.)

louis armstrong

S and I are desperate for a pup. Being the dog lovers we are, we refuse to subject our hypothetical fur baby to a tiny apartment existence.

As life changes loom and an updated living situation draws closer, the hubs and I have finally settled on our dream dog: an English bulldog named Louis Armstrong.

In our minds he looks a little something like this...

He's quite the little gentleman.

(original image courtesy a place to love dogs)

egg nog pancakes

S and I are heading to my parents' house for Christmas this year. We can't wait to visit with my sweet Mom and Dad. We also can't wait to pig out! Each time we venture South for the holidays, S begins to dramatically quote the movie 300. As in: "Tonight we feast like kings!"

One thing we can count on each and every time we are home is waking up to smell of pancakes. My Dad has an obsession with making them. Seriously. He could care less if anyone eats them. He just takes great joy in creating his perfect petite pancake stacks.

Well, this year, Poppy Seed is in luck. I plan to present to him this recipe for egg nog pancakes! He will be such a happy boy!

P.S. Something tells me that Cousin Eddie would be a huge fan.


(images courtesy glamour and x entertainment)

rosy cheeks

Don't you love how the chilly winter air turns cheeks rosy?

Want the look, but not the sniffles? Meet my new best friend, Benetint by Benefit.

This cheek and lip stain leaves behind a gorgeous pink hue. It also lasts forever.

Get it here.

(image courtesy polyvore)

s'meaches?

Spicy peach s'mores? I could get into these.

The perfect excuse to build/find a fire pit!



P.S. Remember these fun cooking vids?

head shot

Despite my love of a good cocktail now and again (and again), I've never kept a shot glass in our home. Even though I appreciate their function, visually they don't do much for me.

That is...until now!

Ever since I spotted these animal head shot glasses on Hip Hip Gin Gin, I've had a little crush on them. They look adorable displayed upside down (as seen above), but when they are filled with spirits, each little animal balances on its head. How fun is that?

The aforementioned blog also calls out that these can also be used as candle holders. Double time!

(original image courtesy la molla; spotted on hip hip gin gin)

melanie laurent

How friggin' cool is French actress Melanie Laurent?

Such great style and that adorable accent. Are you kidding me?

She was wonderful as Shoshanna in Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards, but after seeing her this weekend in Mike Mills's Beginners-whoa. I have a girl crush!

Beginners is based on Mike Mills real life experiences with his father. It's a touching movie that moves slowly at times, but all in all, is pretty great.

In the movie, Melanie plays Ewan McGregor's love interest Anna and her quirkiness is quite sweet. Christopher Plummer is fab as well.

Check out the trailer below.

P.S. Are you guys over Ewan since his Moulin Rouge days? Yeah, me either. Swoon.

(images courtesy f*ck yeah melanie)

needlepoint pillows

Everyone agrees. Jonathan Adler is the best. Remember these coasters and these fruity pillows?

I've been scouting out his kooky collection of needlepoint pillows for the past few months, and I'm really hoping that Santa brings us one for Christmas.

Top choice? "The Tramp," of course.



(image courtesy jonathan adler)

starry string lights

Happy Cyber Monday! I suppose it's nearly Christmas time, but the bizarro 60 degree weather here in NYC has me wondering what month it is really...

Maybe these dainty, delicate twinkle lights will get me in the holiday spirit. Pretty, no?

(images courtesy restoration hardware)

lbd

Wow. That's one heck of a little black dress.

It's bound to get a lot of wear during this month's holiday festivities.

Need. Want. Love.

(images courtesy anthropologie)

balthazar tart

Perhaps it's my recent diet or the fact that Thanksgiving looms a mere 48 hours away, but I woke up this morning with a desperate craving for Balthazar's warm goat cheese and caramelized onion tart.

Balthazar, Keith McNally's Soho staple, has been a long favorite of ours for special occasions. From second anniversaries to a place to take visiting family, there's little on the menu that doesn't leave your mouth watering.

Of the tasty options, nothing sticks with me quite as much as this very delicious and very decadent tart. Health food? I think not. Rich? Whoa, momma.

Isn't this the time of year for indulging? This tart would make a perfect holiday dish...

Head over to the darling food blog The Red Spoon for the recipe and some charming food porn. See below for a sneak peek.

(images courtesy the tasting menu, the observer and the red spoon)

woody mix

*wit & delight is one of my most favorite blogs. From beautiful jewelry finds to hairstyles, home goods and super nifty animated recipe gifs, Kate has it going on.

Prime example? This rad Woody Allen mix composed of songs from his movie soundtracks.

I wonder if Kate was inspired by the latest episode of "American Masters" on PBS? They debuted a really good documentary on the director Sunday/Monday.*

*NERD...

sweater weather

Despite this fall's wonky weather (remember that random snowstorm promptly followed by 60 degree nights?), it appears that things are at last as they should be...and just in time for Thanksgiving.

It's sweater weather at last and this soft and sweet Chainlink cableknit option is seeing me through.

Cozy-nass.

(image courtesy j. crew)

how to peel a head of garlic...

in less than 10 seconds!

This little shortcut could certainly come in handy during Turkey Day preparations.

Bravo, Saveur!

green mile tunnel

Aren't Oleg Gordienko's photographs of this beautiful train tunnel breathtaking? The shape, the distance...it's like a dream!

This tunnel exists in "an enchanting forest" in the Ukraine. I bet they have unicorns there too.

(images courtesy my modern met; spotted on honestly wtf)

odette pin

Oh, hello lovely hair pin. Aren't you fun, fancy and festive?

P.S. Love this gal's coloring. It really makes the pin pop. L, I'm looking at you!

(image courtesy ban.do)

"live the language" videos

My biggest college regret was never taking advantage of the opportunity to travel abroad. If, like me, you never got around to it, or if, like some of my more clever friends, you did, these "live the language" videos for ef.com (spotted on The Senses Five) bring all the excitement, anticipation and romance you'd expect from such an adventure to life.

Also, how about that typography?

Journey to Paris,



Barcelona



or Sydney.



I'm sure traveling overseas at the age of 19 is as glamorous as these lovely vids make it look, right?

it is the weekend.

Yahoo!

(image courtesy miss moss)

painted armchair

If I had the money and a dash more space, this Painted Bias Armchair would be mine.

Wouldn't this make a bold statement in an understated living room or bedroom? Yum.

(images courtesy anthropologie)