A Few Random Bits...

Or maybe I should have titled this post "A J. Crew trifecta", as that's what I'm pretty much giving you guys on this fine Friday.


Oh J. Crew...you know how we ladies love to get a peek inside a handbag. I mean there's nothing better than a little good handbag voyeurism, yes?? And that particular handbag makes me want to buy a new handbag even though I really don't need one. (Yes, I realize I just used the word handbag four times...it's the end of the week, I'm losing my steam a bit.)

But I want it in black.

Ok then there's this really killer dress, posted especially for my friend Jane who is currently experiencing a bit of a funk due to the cold and grey upstate New York weather.

Janey, I'm thinking this can be our Seaside uniform...

And last but not least on the J. Crew front, my friend Lucia told me about this New Yorker profile of Mickey Drexler from last fall. It's a great read...totally fascinating!

Have a splendid weekend friends!

A Question, Some Internet Loveliness and The Joy of Clementines...

First the question...

Let's say there was a certain necklace that you'd been "stalking" for a while...now let's say that you're on the site where said necklace is sold doing some last minute Christmas shopping for your two daughters when you notice that the necklace is hugely on sale.

Hugely.

Would it be bad to throw it into your shopping cart as a gift for yourself even though you're supposed to be buying gifts for other people?

Just wondering, because I may have done that. Maybe ;-)


And speaking of gifts...I pulled together a little gift guide for iVillage a couple of weeks ago (above) and shortly after, I received a note from the (incredibly) generous Alice Q. Foodie wondering if I would like her copy of The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper (which was on my list), as she doesn't use it anymore.

I said yes (!), and she sent it my way (along with a pretty card and some sweet stickers for the girlies), and I've been buried in it ever since.

That Alice is awfully lovely + amazing, yes?

image via roland bello...and clearly it's one of my favorite images, as it's now been on my blog three different times (first here and then here)...

And finally there are the Clementines...the ones that we wait to buy until December 1st every year because it makes them feel special and rare and slightly unattainable in an age where nothing really feels rare or unattainable anymore.

I wrote about the special things we save for the holidays over at Say Yes to Hoboken for Liz's fantastic "Blognog" series today...

Is there anything special you save for December?

A Few Random Bits...

So I had to share the lovely little family "surprise party" that Audrey and Bryan orchestrated for me on Tuesday... Audrey picked out and arranged all the decorations (balloons and party hats and noise makers), and then made everyone hide when I got home from work so they could properly surprise me.

It was so perfectly sweet and mellow. One of my nicest birthdays ever...

And on the gift front, there was this necklace from hubby. Oh my, I love this necklace...


And lovely flowers...

And Handcrafted Modern from my parents (which you know I've been coveting madly). Friends, it is fantastic. Insanely stunning interiors, hugely inspiring. I would highly recommend it...

And finally (and admittedly completely random), the opening line of this week's Goop made me giggle out loud (and confirmed my massive girl crush on Gwyneth...)


"I don’t know how it is where all of you are, but I am freezing my ass off."


Just sayin.

p.s. Happy birthday lovely cousin Erin!!!

A Few Random Bits... (+ A Winner)

First up this house on the Selby...

Groovy tile, wood walls and succulents, oh my. I am dying just a little bit over this place.

But without fail, that surfer/hippie/California aesthetic makes me all nostalgic and fuzzy inside. It's my "episode of the madeleine" a la Proust. Gets me every time...

Ok, next...Pinterest. I realize I'm a little late to the game here, but I'm completely addicted. It's dangerous friends.

And then there's the latest book by Dallas Clayton (spotted here)...

I love it. So perfect for this time of year especially.

I'm in charge of the Thanksgiving party for Millie's class and am planning to read this to the kiddos while they nosh on popcorn and apple cider.


And last but not least, the winner of the Minted giveaway...

Congrats to Amelia from Republic of Dresses! Drop me a line with your contact info so I can give you the deets.

A Few Random Bits...

image via smaller...

After spotting Bunnyears.tv over on Smaller, I immediately piled into the big bed with the girlies and let them take turns picking a groovy vintage cartoon from say, France (of course) or the Czech Republic for us to watch. It's pretty genius stuff... so much more subtle and simple than the current line-up of animated TV.

We're obsessed.

And speaking of Smaller (and Christine), Little Bean is hosting a party next Friday, November 5th for Jaime Morrison Curtis' new book, Prudent Advice, which looks like a perfect gift for all your Mama friends.

Jaime will be there signing copies + there will be plenty of sweets, bubbly and some fun giveaways.

You know the drill...if you're in town, plan on stopping by. Little Bean parties are always a blast!

image via d magazine...

Finally, check out what's going on over at D Magazine's excellent arts blog, Front Row:

"Join FrontRow As We Take Up the National Novel Writing Month Challenge"

Consider this your chance to churn out the great American novel complete with a built-in support group.

Trying to Summons Fall... (in lots of photos)

By far my favorite fall image via a.p.c. ...that trench coat, oh my. I'm digging a.p.c's new blog too...

So I know we're still a few weeks away from the official start of fall, but I am jonesin big time for a change of season. (As you know from my endless ranting) our summer has been ruthless...I'm officially over it.

Bring on fall.

Loved Lucky's September Inspiration Board...especially that gorgeous Sylvie Markovina necklace.

And it bears mentioning that I'm awfully fond of fall. I might even go as far as to say it's my favorite season, what with the fall festivals and the shopping for new school supplies (and new bags) and the apple pies and the football games and falling leaves. We even got married in the fall...I'm all about it.

I'm also all about those epic, phone book-esque September magazines. My strategy is to let them all stack up and then dive in all at once when I'll have a major block of uninterrupted time. Granted, with the girlies this strategy means I'll typically be breaking into the September Vogue in December, but this year, with the long flights to and from Germany, it worked out for me. It was "magazine fest 2010" (which made the entire trip worthwhile, sorry boss ;-)

I thought it would also be fun to share what I loved most from those weighty September tomes -- the images that were so good I had to rip them out for my inspiration file...There was a whole lot of loveliness friends.

For example, there was Reed and Delphine Krakoff's insane NYC home in Vogue...this place is huge and a little crazy, but they are such a creative and (seemingly thoughtful) couple, I couldn't help but be smitten. I also loved reading about how their home inspired Reed Krakoff's gorgeous new clothing line. His attention to detail and knowledge of design is really inspiring and admirable. (+ they have some seriously cute kiddos...)

I also loved this entire spread in Real Simple. Perfect styling + totally gorgeous art.

And last but not least, there was editor Jay Fielden's mid-century home in Elle Decor. This place is amazing -- a pristine mid-century glass house filled with personal, unique, meaningful pieces. It's perfection...my favorite look.

A Few Random Bits...

First up, just some pure, unadulterated "pretty" in the form of this crazy cool macaroon tower. I need to figure out a reason to make one of these beauties -- or given my lack of DIY skills, have one made for me. (spotted via steph)

Next up, this video of artist Caris Reid* talking about her inspirations and creative process (one of my all-time favorite topics). She's so lovely and thoughtful and articulate.

* Caris' "blogger's favorites" post from last summer in case you missed it...

I'm over at Beth's fantastic blog talking about what I'm currently reading (+ don't forget to enter the giveaway for Beth's lovely necklace by midnight tonight!)

And speaking of giveaways (and books), I'm offering up one of my favorite books over on Raising Foodies if you give me the scoop on your favorite side dish...

Ok, that's all!

A Few Random Bits (On a Rainy Friday...)

image via la in bloom

First up, this movie, which is making me want to play hooky from work this afternoon so I can go see it (sorry boss), but I won’t. It looks visually stunning and dreamy and, well, there’s just something sort of perfect about hunkering down in a movie theater on a rainy day, no?

Next, this book (via joy), which, based on its cover (yes, I realize, this is dangerous...judging a book by its cover and all) looks fantastic. That marbleized paper banner alone has me convinced there’ll be loads of goodness inside. Can’t wait to get my hands on it to find out for sure…

And finally, (and speaking of paper) these paper dolls, which were an incredibly lovely and kind gift from the talented Hannah of Lily and Thistle.

She offered to send personalized sets to the girlies, and friends, they are quite possibly the sweetest paper dolls I’ve encountered (+ the girls had a blast playing with them.) I’m planning to get these for all the little girls on our Christmas list this year. (Yes I’m already thinking about Christmas shopping {I know, I know} maybe I’ll just blame it on the rainy weather…)

Happy Friday… Have a splendid weekend friends!

p.s. don’t forget about the handmade doll giveaway…

A Little Summer Reading (And Writing)…

First up what we're reading...

Audrey has been buried in the Spring issue of Anorak (a gift from Christine), which is pretty fantastic really...fun stories and activities -- she's totally digging it.

We're also working down the list of Summer reading books from her school librarian. Her reading has really taken off lately, and it's thrilling to observe. She furrows up her brow when she reads, silently mouthing the words as she traces her fingers along the page... You can see the wheels furiously turning in that little brain of hers.

I was such a bookworm as a kid, with most afternoons buried in a book, totally immersed in another little world. It changed me. I love watching her enter this phase.

I'm in reading mode too and have just finished No Impact Man which I loved (more on that later) and Garlic and Sapphires...also completely fantastic. I would highly recommend both.

Now I'm in the midst of reading Columbine for our couples book club, which is, needless to say, incredibly heavy. I need something light (but great) to counter it. I was thinking Prodigal Summer. Has anyone read this? Thoughts?

Ok, now onto the writing. I've recently started writing a fun new monthly column in Dallas Child Magazine (my first one is above), and I wrote an article for the Summer issue of Dallas/Ft.Worth Edible Magazine about a new restaurant at the Dallas Farmers Market...

As a side note -- I'm so excited and honored to have these little opportunities to occasionally write pieces for print publications, as if you would have asked me when I was in college what I wanted to do for a living, I would have said "write for a magazine or teach..."

Suffice to say, I did neither of those things, and despite the fact that I love my actual job, I've always wondered what life would be like had I actually pursued the career I envisioned having in my younger years.

These little writing assignments sort of give me that chance -- a bit of a pseudo "second act" if you will... It's good stuff.

A Few Random Bits...

First up, An Awesome Book (literally.)

I am pretty much in love with this book...So much so, that I've deemed it our go-to birthday present from this point forward. It's a good reminder that somewhere along the way we lost our ability to dream big, magical, life-changing, world-altering dreams and instead have settled for this idea that it's more acceptable to dream of cell phones and silverware.

In the words of author, Dallas Clayton via the Huffington Post:

"The book is about dreaming big. I wrote it for my son. He always has these amazing dreams about really fantastical things, like made up animals, and wizard hunts and far away lands just like most of us used to conjure when we were six. Trouble is, at some point a lot of us stopped dreaming those fantastical things and replaced them with dreams like oak dinette sets, and duty-free cologne. I can't say why exactly, but I think it has something to do with the prizes they give out on game shows.

Anyhow, I created An Awesome Book to try to speak to that -- the idea of moving our amazing wild imaginary dreams just a little bit closer to those more tangible, simple daytime aspirations."

Awesome, no?

Next up, our first little harvest. (These are the things I dream of lately in case you're wondering...growing copious amounts of strawberries.) It wasn't much (five strawberries to be exact), but it thrilled the girlies beyond belief. They were over the moon. It's the simple things friends.

And finally (I tell you these lists get more random every week...) the blue agate necklace that Marisa kindly made for me after the one I was seriously coveting sold out.

I. Love. This. Necklace.

Thank you for making another one for me Marisa. You rock.