The weekend is here!

Happy Christmas Eve my dear readers! I'm off to Massachusetts for a cozy and relaxing week visiting family and friends for the holidays. I won't be posting while I'm away, but I'll be back to kick off the new year on January 3rd with lots of pics from my adventures at home. Until then, I'm wishing each of you a very Merry Christmas and a fabulous (champagne-filled!) New Year's Eve. To get your week of holiday fun started right, here are a few happy posts from around the web:

All you need to help you wake up early on Christmas morning!

A simply gorgeous holiday tabletop. 

The many faces of Stephen Dorff (and his new film that I am would really like to see).

A shimmery dress for New Year's Eve.

Wanted: Bonnie and Clyde.

Save the date with this calendar app from Ollibird!

A Christmas tree branch.

I'm obsessed with this room.

Seeing red.

A seasonal menu for a sweet birthday celebration.

A vintage engagement — in New York!

What a beautiful garden rose.

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas. 

(Photos via Bleubird) 

Scenes from a Louisville wedding

Ping pong? Sparklers? Glasses for the bride? This Louisville wedding has to be one of the sweetest I've ever seen. What an authentic and beautiful couple! The photos were taken by Todd Pellowe and — needless to say — I adore his work. Each shot is romantic and personal, all at the same time. What do you think? Would you have joined in post-ceremony to play ping pong against the bride and groom?

(Photos via Todd Pellowe)

A Venezuelan Snowball

Are your guests from out of town asking you to mix up a holiday cocktail that they can sip? Tell them, it doesn't get any better than this, the Venezuelan Snowball. Described as a frothy, boozy, mint-infused drink, it is the perfect compliment to a seat beside your roaring night-before-Christmas-Eve fire. Take a peek at the ingredients and let me know your thoughts — is the Venezuelan Snowball something that you would drink? 

(Via Sloshed!)

Beach day

Today marks the first day of winter in New York, but don't you kinda sorta wish you could still play at the beach? Check out these adorable shots of Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco. Such style and beauty, even with the salty ocean breeze in her hair!

(Via dansmonboudoir)

Just desserts

A pre-holiday night out in New York! Since Matt is traveling to Australia to see his family for New Year's, we celebrated the season a bit early with dinner at Apizz on the Lower East Side with friends. How delicious do the desserts above look? I was too busy eating, otherwise I would have taken shots of my main course — ravioli with brown butter and sage. Yum! I love the photo of Matt with his iPhone. Dinner was preceded by festive cocktails at Freemans. Such a fun (and flavorful) way to toast the holiday season and wish Matt bon voyage!

The weekend is here!

The countdown to Christmas is officially on — which is why I love the photo above, taken in Paris. Tres jolie, non? So, my dear readers, what's on tap for your weekend? I am wrapping up my holiday shopping and simultaneously on the hunt for a fun New Year's Eve dress to wear. Any ideas? I'm thinking something like this or this. What do you think? Here, to get your last weekend before Christmas started right, a few fun posts from around the web:

Thanks to the Wheaton Quarterly for mentioning this blog!

What to wear to a winter wedding.

Strategies for last minute holiday shopping sprees at Saks, Target or CVS — with just an hour on the clock!

Ice skating at the W Downtown (and this hotel is adding a rink too!).

12 great gifts for Modern Family fans.

Christmas couture!

The perfect gift for someone who likes to share.

A very clever holiday greeting.

The holiday movie I'm most excited to see!

And the holiday movie I made Matt watch over the weekend.

(Image courtesy of The Paris Apartment)

DIY Gingerbread houses

Growing up in my family, baking and making a holiday-themed gingerbread house was a Christmas tradition that everyone loved. Based on this, you can only imagine my delight upon seeing the adorable (and sugary) gingerbread creation above. How delicious! And sweet! Can't you just picture yourself breaking off a piece and dipping it into your hot cup of tea? What a perfect way to feel cozy on a winter afternoon. 

(Via Not Martha)

Paris versus New York

I remember the first time I was introduced to the French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard. I was just a freshman in college when I signed up to take a French Cinema class. Breathless was one of the first films we watched and oh! Je l'ai amié! Woody Allen on the other hand? I started with Annie Hall. Mighty Aphrodite was next. I immediately fell for his style and humorous take on love and relationships. The print above is the perfect reflection of my cinematic taste — what a clever and artful idea!

(Via Paris versus New York)

A different kind of bubbly

No, I'm not talking about champagne — I love these bubbly creations from Brooklyn-based designer Jean Pelle. Made up of delicate clusters of glass globes and clear glass bulbs, each chandelier is held together by cables wrapped in cord. What a fun way to brighten up a room!

(Via Jean Pelle)

Happily ever after

Awww, romance. To say that I am in love with Max Wanger's photography would be a huge, huge understatement. His photos are dreamy, poetic, captivating — each one is a beautiful work of art. Max recently launched a brand new website that captures the range of his talent. Featuring love, life and everafter, it is a breathtaking tribute to happiness. Check it out!

 (Photos courtesy of Max Wanger)

The weekend is here!

My dear readers, happy two weeks until Christmas! I don't know about you, but I'm so happy its the weekend. I need to catch up on holiday shopping — I am so far behind! I'm also treating myself to an extra dose of holiday spirit Saturday night. Matt and I are dressing up for festive cocktails and dinner out with friends. 'Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry! What about you? What do you have planned for the weekend? Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from the web:

A gift for friends visiting New York.

The most amazing collection of accessories from Club Monaco — I am obsessed with the pillbox hat!

The perfect 2011 calendar.

Lauren Hutton loves Georgia O'Keefe.

Getting leggy.

Dainty black shoes for New Year's!

A red iPhone case - this one's from Kate. (Jack's is cool too!)

The bank of the future.

Oh, to live in a bubble...

Pretty paper!

L'apero: Paris v. New York.

Yellow balloons and yellow shoes. 

The Nutcracker.

My next vacation! 

(Image by of lindsaypunk via Flickr)

A holiday bag that sparkles

Spotted: the perfect party clutch to carry with you all season long! Called the Glitterati, this bag from J.Crew comes in gold, silver and brown and features a chain strap to wear over the shoulder or easily tuck away. I don't know about you, but I love the look of crushed glitter. This bag is a New Year's Eve must!

I want to be her!

This just in from Andrea Linett, the former creative director of Lucky mag: a fun new site that captures the look of the every day gal on-the-go! I Want To Be Her uses both real people and illustrations (skillfully drawn by Anne Johnston Albert) to recreate the looks Andrea sees while out and about. Shopping info is also included so you can run around town and put the look together to wear yourself. The Subway Girl is my fave so far. So chic!

(Via Iwanttobeher)

Oh Christmas Tree!

This year marks my first experience buying a Christmas tree in New York — and oh, the marked up prices! I had no idea. But it was worth every penny and, above, the result: our adorable Charlie Brown Christmas tree! The photos show the process behind it, from buying it on the street corner (I l-o-v-e the smell of pine trees wafting through the air) to hand cutting the star to put on top of the tree. I found the red globe lanterns over the weekend at the Union Square holiday market. Strung up with holly, they made for the perfect finishing touch on our cozy design. Finally, I'm ready for another Christmas in New York!

The Sing-Off returns to NBC

The Whiffenpoofs or Pitch Slapped — I'm not sure which a cappella group I'm more excited to see perform on the second season of NBC's The Sing-Off, premiering tonight! The Whiffenpoofs, I know, from my own college a cappella days. And Pitch Slapped? What a name! To be honest, I'm just thrilled to see more a cappella on network TV. With 10 groups scheduled to appear this season, there's bound to be at least a few downloadable tunes to add to my iPod — and I can't wait!

(Photos courtesy of the Whiffenpoofs and Pitch Slapped)

The weekend is here!

Happy weekend dear readers! I just discovered these photos online from the wedding Matt and I went to in September in California. A photo booth at the reception? Always a good idea! Anyways, what's on tap for your weekend? I'm hoping to finally start my holiday shopping and check out this market in Union Square. I also want to see The King's Speech with Colin Firth. Here are a few fun posts from around the web to get your weekend started right:

A royal auction!

The story behind Spiderman: The Musical — and a great feature about the show's first preview this week! 

Cool Spaces! with Boston-based architect Stephen Chung. Wouldn't you love watching a show like this?

Give thanks this holiday season: post a note on New York Women in Communications' Gratitude Wall.

An Upper East Side love letter — and a post office proposal!

Cupcakes with edible gold stars? Delish.

Holiday coziness — and the perfect mirror for any room.

Such a cute little monkey! 

Raise your Glass, courtesy of Pink.

I don't own an iPhone, but if I did, I'd buy this case.

The most gorgeous (and RED!) holiday dress.

I want, need, have to have this scarf.

A holiday treat: Elf Yourself is back!

Artful rooms

J'adore the art of a well-curated wall collage! What a great way to display the range of treasures in your personal collection of art. These rooms are interesting and ornate — definitely a design detail I aspire to have in my own home one day. What about you? Do you like this look? 

(Via Relish Small Pleasures)

Jim Campbell's 'Scattered Light'

Have you taken an evening stroll through Madison Square Park lately? If not, you're missing out! From now through February 28th, 2011, New York's latest public art installation — called Scattered Light — is on display. Dreamed up by San Fransisco artist Jim Campbell, the exhibit features three separate pieces, all a-glitter against the night sky. It's definitely a sight to see, and on a chilly winter night, quite romantic, n'est-ce pas?

(Via Design Therapy and New York magazine) 

A Thanksgiving stroll

One of my favorite parts about going home for the holidays is the Massachusetts town I grew up in. Home to just a single stoplight, it's quiet, cozy and quaint all at once. Over Thanksgiving, my mom, Matt and I decided to take a post-meal walk and do a bit of exploring along some hiking trails that have opened up since I moved. Just imagine — in a world without the iPhone, we wouldn't have these great pics!