12.31.2008

Happy New Year + Two Parties...

image via paul costello

We're gearing up for our New Year's eve fondue dinner with Miss Aimee and fam. Thanks for all your excellent fondue suggestions. I'm going with Stephanie's recommendation to try the Williams-Sonoma recipe. I'll let you know how it turns out... and if it's a bust, I've stocked up on bubbly, sparklers, charades and karaoke CD's for the girl's new karaoke machine (a gift from the grandparents...) as insurance.

And tomorrow, we're having a belated b-day party for Millie + celebrating New Year's day with a big pot of white bean chicken chili, bloody marys and mimosas, and yes cupcakes (it is a two-year-old's birthday party after all...) We did this last year to great acclaim, so I'm thinking we'll make it a yearly tradition.

What are you doing to ring in the new year?

Some Chalkboard Love





I opened my e-mail last night to find these awesomely cute chalkboard decals... Perfect fodder for my chalkboard obsession (thanks Tosha.) My faves are these swirly, girly rococo numbers.

12.30.2008

2009...Here We Come

Since I left so many items un-done on my "34 before 35 list", I'm working on morphing it into a 2009 "to do/resolutions" list. (In my defense I did start the list just a couple of months before my birthday, and I have a hunch that this was something designed to take place over a full 12 months...)

A twist I'm making to the list is to add a few projects that Bryan and I plan to tackle together next year. One of them is to design (together) and build (him) a sort of bunk bed/sleeping fort for the girls and then convert (together) their individual bedrooms into a single sleeping space and a single play space. Right now, we're totally digging that structure above from a 70's decorating book found on apartment therapy.

Also...how cool is this amazing play structure (via ohdeedoh)


I'll try and post the full updated 2009 to do/"resolution" list later this week...

In the meantime, what are some of your goals for the upcoming year?

12.29.2008

This is Two...Literally



sporting her flashdance look on Christmas morning...

Sweet, impossible, feisty, loving, funny, compassionate, willful... and now two.

Happy, happy birthday sweet Amelia Claire...

12.24.2008

Happy, Happy, Merry, Merry...

image via bloesem

Hope you have a lovely + splendid holiday.


Be back soon.

12.23.2008

The Brilliant Miss Aimee

quite possibly themost elegant cookies ever via design sponge...suffice to say ours will likely not look like these...

My friend Aimee has invited Audrey and me to join her sweet daughter and a few other friends in their annual tradition of baking and decorating Christmas cookies this afternoon. Then we'll regroup tomorrow and deliver the goodies + sing a few carols at a nearby nursing home.

Isn't that lovely (and genius)... Aimee rocks.

12.22.2008

A Recipe for You And One for Me (Please)...

image via food and wine

I realize we haven’t even hit Christmas eve yet, but I’m in menu planning overdrive…I think it would be fun to do a family fondue party on New Year’s eve, but having never made it before and suspecting that it can easily turn into a sad greasy mess, I’m a smidge intimidated.

Anyone have good (relatively idiot proof) fondue recipes to share?? (one for cheese and one for chocolate, which I suspect is far easier than cheese, no?)

And now for you…the hearts of palm salad. My foodie friend Julie passed this recipe on and I make it All. The. Time. It’s really awesome.
  • 2 heads of butter lettuce
  • ¼ cup chopped parsley
  • 1 cup of walnuts tossed in butter and brown sugar, lightly toasted and sprinkled with salt
  • 1 jar of hearts of palm, sliced
  • ½ lb of blue cheese or sweet gorgonzola

Vinaigrette dressing:

  • 1 cup walnut oil
  • ½ cup chardonnay vinegar
  • 1 tsp. sugar (or more, to taste)
  • 1 shallot finely minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all of the dressing ingredients together (sometimes I mix in the blender to emulsify a bit) and toss the lettuce with it first then layer the other ingredients on top.

12.19.2008

The Paper Moon Project



I love the paper moon project -- her projects + her philosophy.

Especially her philosophy... (via Chelsea)

12.18.2008

If You Happen to Need a Perfect Little Girl Gift

I'd highly recommend Lynne's insanely sweet gocco'd print of little girls at dance class tucked into a lovely frame.

Hurry, she only made 50.

The Christmas Menu…Decided

Image via gourmet (Don't worry! We’re not eating reindeer.)

So after much meal planning drama (and all your amazing suggestions), we’ve decided to go with Thanksgiving redux for our Christmas day meal. I was pushing to do something different, but in the end I was overruled by my family (Audrey insisted on turkey, my dad, who hails from Louisiana, is making rice dressing, Bryan’s folks want ham and truth be told I really, really want cranberries.) So we’ll go with the traditional “Thanksgiving” meal + the rice dressing on Christmas day.

Another image via the amazing Roland Bello.

On Christmas Eve, we’ll do something a little different:
  • Hearts of palm salad with candied walnuts and gorgonzola (this recipe is pretty amazing, let me know if you’d like me to share.)
  • Chicken and mushroom risotto
  • Chocolate pots of crème (this recipe is my favorite...)
  • And of course lots of champagne!

p.s. -- I noticed in the latest Goop newsletter that Gwyneth makes the Thanksgiving meal on Christmas, and somehow this made me feel better… How sad is that?? Perhaps I should start a new regular post called "What Would Gwyneth Do" (WWGD.)

12.17.2008

12.16.2008

I'm Not Usually A Hat Girl...

But she pulls it off so, so brilliantly... I love how she manages to look totally chic and super cute at the same time. Via the sartorialist (of course.)

Making a List...






I love the fun featured gift lists over on the UO site. I think Karla's list is my fave just for that crazy kilim poncho...


Speaking of UO, I'm also drooling over this bag.

12.15.2008

Roland Bello's Photography...

is seriously, seriously swoon worthy...






I love how these still shots feel "holiday" although there's nary a speck of red and green in sight.

I'm not so much a red + green gal... I usually go for just green.

All images via Roland Bello.

12.12.2008

Blogger’s Favorites – Discourse and Design / Peek Aren’t You Curious

Happy Friday! In just a few hours I’m headed back home and back to all things cold and Christmassy… But I had to post this week’s blogger’s favorites before I jump on the plane, as it’s just so good! Not only is Amy the author of the excellent, stylish and lovely blog Discourse and Design, but she’s also the lady behind the brilliant Children’s shop, Peek Aren’t You Curious.

Her philosophy is that childhood is a joyful experience still open to parents and the branding and clothes are totally and completely perfect. You must take a peek (no pun intended…)

Herewith Amy’s favorites. Enjoy and happy Friday!


To say I was excited and thrilled when Joslyn asked me to share my favorite things with her was an under statement. My husband noticed how happy I seemed to be the whole afternoon at work, and I finally voiced all of my excitement. To read and treasure someone’s blog, and approach to life, and then to be in the company of so many other amazing women....

So of course number 1 is my amazing family...Husband of one year, three incredible stepchildren and our twins which are due in early June. When Scott and I first met, and the kids were 2, 4, and 6 I could not believe how open, loving and connected we quickly all became. I feel truly blessed.

Ice Cream from Ici -- Our friend Mary opened this treasure of a shop in Berkley a little more then a year ago.The first few months, Scott helped her with setting up some of the business aspects and I was treated to ice her ice cream every day...Just yesterday she brought us a care package of treats that were devoured within the hour!! She uses the most divine ingredients all local and from purveyors around the bay area...Her ice cream, ice cream sandwiches and bon bons are to die for...When we had an opening party for one of our shops, she catered all the deserts and added little cones of caramel corn to the mix. Heaven!

Silhouettes -- There is something about the simplicity of black and white and the art of the silhouette that I adore. An elegant and simple way to capture as well a moment in time, and placed in the home somehow seems like an homage to the family that calls it their home....Last week, in LA I meet with Karl Johnson who has turned this art into his livelihood...his work which has been featured in design magazines, at Disney in Hong Kong and in a variety of movies is divine, and I cant wait to order silhouettes of the kids for my husband for Christmas from him! (PS while we met, he sat and quickly created my silhouette too!)

My Camo Bag from LL Bean -- This bag, which only gets better with time is the perfect tote. My version is monogrammed, and I must confess I have given this as a gift a few times to friends after they admired it...

Palomas Nest on Etsy -- So, a little late to the party as usual, but I finally heard about Etsy and found one of the most amazing artists...I am addicted to her little treasures. These wooden blocks, with messages that connect me to what is most important sit on my desk at work… (I also ordered some holiday presents from her...they are all fantastic!)

Photography -- I adore photography and love taking pictures...Tons of photography books in our house and my office, and I was able to find some great old photos on eBay a while back which are framed in our house. This book is a treasure, out of print, but a great find and great gift, it has inspired me to take pictures of our kids differently...

Image of Peri Wolfs Home from Elle Décor

Eating Outdoors -- Now that I live in California, I get to enjoy one of my favorite things almost year round. In the spring and summer, the day starts with coffee outside and a glance at a newspaper...The end of the day a casual dinner with the kids, just the two of us and friends with piles of candles around...There is nothing better then starting or ending the day outdoors.

Wheaten Terriers -- I never had a dog when I was younger, and am dying to get a big fluffy dog…Wheaten Terriers are my absolute favorite, and once we move, I can not wait to get one!

12.11.2008

Day Four



Not much today except to say that I miss Bryan and the girls dreadfully. This is day four of my work trip to Mexico…I go home tomorrow! Hooray!

12.10.2008

A Few (Midweek) Things to Love

The box alone (via Michelle) is awesome, but really I’m a total sucker for incense -- my hippie leanings I suppose… I splurged earlier this month on a couple of Thymes Frasier Fir candles, and the entire family is crazy about the smell, so I’m thinking the combo of balsam fir scent + incense is a win, win…no?

This Lena Corwin / Mociun collaboration…The pillows are genius, but the tote is my fave. Love the print, love the gold…

My chalkboard love is well documented, so falling for a chalkboard pic is no real stretch for me, but these ginormous green beauties hung vertically (via 2 or 3 things I know) might be my All. Time. Favorites.

12.09.2008

Blue

I love this silk wrapped bracelet by Lauren Wimmer. Love. It.

p.s. -- I’m still not thrilled about being in Mexico…but I have to say the color of the ocean is ridiculously blue…amazing. In fact it’s exactly the color of that bracelet.

Seriously.