The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! I'm signing off from now until 2014, so wishing you a very Merry Christmas, and a happy new year, too! This year—and this month—went by in a blink. I'm so looking forward to catching up on rest, and seeing family and friends over the next couple of weeks. :) Here, to get your weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Talking about Instagram.

Flannel styling.

Prank calls.

Snowflake table runners.

Ellie Kemper, the holiday gift wrapper.

Festive pants, three ways.

Beautiful postcards.

Winter pasta. YUM.

A Love Actually-themed soiree.  

Daydreaming about spring.

Last minute wrapping tips!

(Image via Storyboard C)

Christmas at the movies

All fall, I've been feeling so behind on all the movies I want to see in the theaters. I was hoping to spend Christmas week catching up (especially now that the Golden Globe nominations are out!), but now there's a whole new crop of movies I need to watch. My top three: Saving Mr. Banks, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and Anchorman 2. If I manage to make it to see these films next week, I'll feel very accomplished. :)

How about you? Any movies you want to see next week? 

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Pillow play

Last minute gift idea: These hilarious (and somewhat sweet) pillowcases from Xenotees. An ode to turtle doves, these "love birds" are hand-screened from an original drawing by the designer. Sort of silly, but they totally make me smile. :)

Have you finished your holiday shopping yet?

More gift ideas from Xenotees here.

(Images via Xenotees)

Craft Page: Pantone paint chip magnets

During the snowstorm this weekend, I decided to get a little bit crafty and make my own Pantone paint chip magnets, a la this idea from How About Orange. I hit up the paint section at Lowe's to get the mini-Pantone chips, and then used Mod Podge to attach them to cardboard backings, then magnets. The finishing touch: Adding a few layers of glossy Mod Podge to the surface to give them a sparkly sheen. I love the way they brighten up my fridge!

More refrigerator decor here and here.

Playing tourist at Rockefeller Center

Last week, I decided to take a detour from my usual commute home to Brooklyn, and walk through Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree. Those are always the pinch-me-I-live-in-New-York moments, since I grew up watching the tree lighting on TV, and now I can simply walk a few extra blocks and see it up close in person. Despite the chaos of the area around it—and the floods of people, even at night—the tree is such a beautiful sight. 

My visit inspired me to add another item to my holiday to-do list: skating in New York!

Have you checked out the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree this year? 

The weekend is here!

Happy weekend, my darling readers! What do you have planned for the next couple of days off? I'm doing a bit of holiday party hopping—the Christmas season is in full swing for sure! I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Surprise! Beyoncé's new album!

The amazing Spiderman 2 trailer.

A watchdog doorstop.

Stop the water!

Seeking the perfect cookie cutter.

How to live without sriracha.

A Sound of Music wedding.

The 10 best Christmas trees.

Holidays in New York.

A Christmas carol ambush!

(Image via I Dream Of)

Cozy (and pretty!) ear muffs

So, I'm sort of crushing on a super fuzzy, warm-looking pair of ear muffs right now, available from J.Crew. I don't really wear winter hats (blame the hat hair), but the temps in New York are dipping—fast. I need something that's semi-stylish to protect my ears from the cold.

What do you think? Would you wear ear muffs?

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Holiday traditions

Last year—completely lost in the chaos of December—I began thinking about the importance of traditions, and what a difference they can make when it comes to embracing the holiday spirit. This month can feel so absolutely crazy, between the shopping and the gift giving and the crunch of what always feels like a much shorter month. I realized I needed a ritual to help me take everything in, and appreciate the joy of this season above everything else. On a whim, I purchased the last two available tickets to see Pink Martini (a band I've always loved) perform with the Holiday Pops at Carnegie Hall. The seats were obstructed view, but I didn't care—I was convinced that this was the ticket to my forgotten holiday bliss.

When Matt and I arrived at the concert, we pushed through the crowds to our seats. The view wasn't bad, even though we were promised worse. The people around us were cranky, and it was hard to ignore the alerts and emails with holiday to-dos that kept popping up on our phones. Five minutes to showtime, we shut everything off. 

Then, the music began. It was beautiful. By the second set, I was completely lost in it—so in awe of the energy and love radiating from the stage, it was impossible to think about anything else. I left feeling inspired; my holiday spirit renewed. It reminded me that all I really needed was a moment to pause and enjoy the season, instead of just racing through it.

So, this year, Matt and I are going back to the Pops for their holiday show, and I'm counting the days. It's our new, can't-miss holiday tradition, for all the reasons explained above. :)

What are your Christmas traditions? 

PS—A clip from the concert last year.
PPS—More singing!

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Snowy, snowy New York

I stumbled across Clare Caulfield's work last year, thanks to Hip Hip Gin Gin, and have admired her gorgeous mixed media artwork ever since. Now, I'm thrilled to report that she just launched her own Etsy shop, stocked with tons of gorgeous New York City prints. I love the way she captures ice skating in Central Park, and the hubbub of shopping near Macy's in the snow. Her work reminds me what a special place this city is to live in—and how bright and alive it feels during this time of year. 

Take a peek at her Etsy shop to discover more of her work. Beyond New York, she covers Venice, London, Prague—and my personal favorite—Paris!

(Images via Etsy) 

Candy cane kiss cookies

Over the weekend, I went to the Brooklyn Cookie Takedown at the Bell House, and ate way too many cookies. But, after tasting more than 20 different kinds, I left hungry for more. (How this is possible, I have no idea.) Enter this recipe for Candy Cane Kiss cookies. How yummy do these look? I actually had never tried Candy Cane Kisses until my friend Marnie introduced me to them this year. Um, they're incredible. Melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Add them to a sugar cookie made with a dash of peppermint extract? Unreal. Finally, I have a way to use all the bags of candy cane kisses I've been stockpiling. :)

Are you baking Christmas cookies this year?

PS—Remember the last time I made cookies? Yikes!

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The weekend is here!

Happy weekend, my darling readers! What do you have planned for the next couple of days off? I need to buckle down and holiday shop. December seems so short this year—there are really only three weekends until Christmas. Too quick! Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

This website is my new go-to for gift ideas.

Prince William can sing.

Meet Josie, the selfie pro.

The cutest phone case!

Inspiration for a cookie swap.

Tea towels for two.

Pretty paper.

A user-friendly pie dish. (Plus, the ultimate holiday table.)

Non-creepy party etiquette.

Scenes from a NYC flower market. Gorgeous!

(Image via Pinterest)

Hello, Ladies

 

Until I find a great big chunk of time to dig into the third season of Homeland, I've been binge watching Hello, Ladies, a new comedy on HBO about a Brit (played by Stephen Merchant, co-creator of the British version of The Office) and his ill-fated attempts to date in LA. The show is pretty hilarious, and even though Merchant's lack of romantic game is cringe-worthy most of the time, I keep going back for more. Probably because, somehow, Merchant manages to make awkward feel sweet (note, there's more evidence of this here).

Let me know if you decide to give the show a try. Would love to hear your thoughts! The season one finale just aired, so you only have to make a short-term investment...for now. :)

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City maps by Archie's Press

A couple of weekends ago, Matt and I stopped by the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn on a whim. Three hours later, we emerged, carrying the three letterpress maps above, beautifully designed and handmade by Archie's Press, out of Portland, Oregon. I've always loved the idea of hanging up maps that represent the cities I've lived in—and love. Boston, San Francisco, and Brooklyn are a blend of the locations Matt and I have lived and still consider home. 

Now, we were immediately sold on the look of these maps, but the deal was sealed when Archie himself explained: "My maps are made to fit Ikea frames." Done and done. :)

Do you have any maps hanging in your home?

Visit Archie's Etsy shop here.

PS—How cool is his Solar System print?

(Images via Archie's Press)

The gift of comedy

I've been a Steve Martin fan from the beginning. The guy always makes me laugh. That's why I was delighted to see him on the cover of "Comic Genius: Portraits of Funny People," a new coffee table book by photographer Matt Hoyle that captures not only Steve, but so many of the kings and queens of comedy that make the year funny and bright. Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Nick Offerman—these are just a few of the names included in the book. Each portrait is accompanied by a first-person reflection on life and why there's always a reason to laugh. 

Not a bad gift for anyone with a sense of humor in your life, right? :)

PS—A video clip from Steve Martin's portrait shoot.

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December Page: A toast!

Happy December, my darling readers! What do you love most about this month? For me, it's the festive mood that hangs in the air. It's so nice to spend a month focused entirely on family and friends. 

So, what are your favorite December things to do? I always have to find time to watch Home Alone with my sister (I laughed when I saw this Honest Trailer). And I can't wait to pick a Christmas tree for my apartment this year with Matt. (Check out these cool garlands I bought!) Last—but not least—I'm super excited to go Christmas caroling around New York.

Tell me: What are you looking forward to most this month?

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