Gift Idea No. 2 - Head to Toe Warm & Cozy

Good Monday, friends!  Hope you all had a nice weekend~ 

I had a pretty busy weekend, which included working on my 12 Gifts of Christmas project.  The first gift idea was hitting up on Amazon for books and magazines. Here's my second gift idea - accessories to keep a friend/family member head to toe warm & cozy.  I love scarves and these wrap around neck warmers that just hang loosely around your neck but still trap the air going into your coat.  And I love cute knitted hats - minus the hat head :( If you want to avoid the hat head, go for those warm and fuzzy earmuffs. You also want to keep your feet warm as well.  There's nothing like keeping your head and feet covered that helps you to stay warm.  Can you tell I get cold easily?! In any event, scarves, hats and socks make great gifts.  Now, only if I can just stay away from getting myself some while shopping for others...

 a. b. c.  d.  e.  f.  g.  h.  

i.  j.  k.  l.  m.  n.  o.

TGIF - Whatcha Up To?

TGIF!!  Boy, this week was cold~ We even had snow that actually accumulated enough to cover the ground and trees a bit.  It was really cute to see my puppies walking all funny on their pawsies. I could tell they were really enjoying the snow.  

This chilly weather's got me craving sweet and comforting foods.(why?  I dunno...)  I can't wait to try these two...

Early Grey Chocolate Mix, from Whimsy And Spice 

(photo via Whimsy And Spice)

Apple Yogurt Pie as made by Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere

And I really need to get me a pair of gloves.  I'm thinking of these..Something simple and sweet like this pair from J.Crew... 

I've got another busy weekend.  I'll be decorating my tree, doing some holiday gift shopping, and of course, some work~  

Have a great weekend, friends!

Gift Idea no. 1: Hitting Up on Amazon

I have 12 Gift Ideas of Christmas a la the "12 Days of Christmas" song.  I'm going to pepper the following couple of weeks leading up to Christmas with 12 gift ideas/sources.  It's really more of my own gift shopping planning but if it's of any help to anyone, then all the better!

Gift Idea No. 1:  Leisurely Books and Magazines.  With online shopping, it's now become so easy to find gifts for friends.  One place I'm hitting up for sure, as with millions of others, is Amazon.  Here's what I'm thinking of so far...

(In the Order of Each Row)

La Tartine Gourmande: Recipes for an Inspired Life by Beatrice Peltre

Young House Love: 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update & Show Your Home Some Love by Sherry and John Petersik

Things That Matter by Nate Berkus

Architectural-Digest (1 year subscription)

Bon Appetit (1 year subscription)

Travel Leisure (1 year subscription)

Vogue Living: The Houses, Gardens, People - Introduction by Hamish Bowles and Forward by Calvin Klein

Chanel: Vocabulary of Style by Jerome Gautier

Vogue: The Editor's Eye by Conde Nast  (author), Eva MacSweeney (Editor), Hamish Bowles (Introduction) and Anna Wintour (Forward)

Gold & Pretty

I am not much of an arts & crafts person but all the pinnings on the Pinterest and amazing DIY blogs out there are definitely tempting me to make something creative myself.  

So, this year, I'm going to decorate my tree with this DIY gold polka dot ornament. 

The theme will be "Gold & Pretty" - yeah, a real creative title, right?! (Sorry~)  ANYways, I can't wait to start decorating.  I'm going to do it this weekend.  I'll keep ya'll posted... :) 

Wednesday Art - Andrew Wyeth

Yesterday, I came across Andrew Wyeth's 'Christina World' - I haven't seen his work in some time and was happy to come across it again. Here are some of my favorites.  

'Christina's World' 1948 

'Wind From the Sea' 1947 

'Master Bedroom' 1965

'First Snow', Study for Groundhog Day, 1959

[in search of title of this lovely watercolor piece]

I can't find the title for one of the paintings (immediately above).  If anyone out there knows, I'd love to hear from you.  I love that painting because if you are from Pennsylvania, you've seen that desolate, farmer's house somewhere.  It may even be your grandparents' house.  A lot of Wyeth's paintings capture the mundane, quiet, and peaceful scenes you come across once you get out of the suburbs of Philadelphia. Well, won't you know it?  Wyeth is from Chads Ford, PA (I've never been there) and had a summer home in Cushing Maine. 

Here's the artist himself.  He looks like such a cool beatnik! 

 Wyeth on top of his Wyllis Jeepster Convertible, 1977  (see here)

For more on his life and work, check my main source for this post here (Wiki page on Wyeth).

Pretty Woman Over the Knee Boots

Here's my latest obsession: over-the-knee-boots. I saw this really pretty girl in center city in this pair of over-the-knee-boots over a pair of dark black leggings paired with a slouchy soft grey sweater on top. She kept her hair simple in a sleek mid-high ponytail.  (Yup, I observed all this in that one fleeting second I saw and passed by her - a total fashion observation moment!)  It was a perfect combo of casual meets SEXY that was non-threatening to both guys and girls.  I realized that the boots worn by Julia Roberts in 'Pretty Woman' need not be hoochie mama when paired with the right outfit. So, now I really really want a pair.  Here are the four I'm eyeing with 'a' being my most favorite (and of course, most pricey!). 

 a. Stuart Weitzman 5050;  b. Vince Camuto Tall Flat Boots;  c.  Frye Over the Knee Slouch Boots Lucinda; and d. Donald J. Pliner Nova Over the Knee Boot

Monday Wake-Up Call

image via here 

image via here

Hi friends, hope you had a nice post-holiday weekend~ 

So,I felt a tinge of cold creeping into my body starting Wednesday when I was running around non-stop getting ready for the big T-giving dinner.  And by the time the guests had gone back home on Thursday night, I had that stuffy head and runny nose combo happening. Last night, I went to sleep around 6:30 p.m. and never woke up until this morning, 6:00 a.m.  Yeah, I'm a bit under the weather... hopefully, I'll get better soon.  I just got my little christmas tree and am so excited about getting the materials for some DIY ornaments!!  

Have a great Monday, folks~  Countin' down to Christmas!