Red Christmas

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! All the decorations here in Connecticut have put me in a red mood so here are a few rooms with red accents that I just adore:

All images via Pinterest

Christmas Decor

This is what my tree would look like if it were left up to me. Photo via Pinterest

 Holy shit you guys, it is Christmas. How did that happen?!? Where have I been?!? I've barely had time to buy gifts this year, much less decorate our apartment, which is something I always mean to do and rarely get around to. It's just so much easier to wait and enjoy my mother's uber-decorative Christmas extravaganza at home in CT. Here's an example of what I have to look forward to:

Oh just some country angels siting next to a ceramic Christmas tree.

My favorite part of holiday decor is the abundance of all things glittery and metallic. I love how it is suddenly totally acceptable to litter a table with white glitter so long as you call it 'snow'.  In fact, my all-time favorite Christmas decoration from my childhood was a garland of gold plastic stars. My mom bough them at a Christmas fair when I was about 9 and I loved it so much that one year I covertly snatched it from the storage bins headed for our basement and hung it up in my bedroom year round. I used to drape it around my shoulders and pose in front of a mirror for hours, pretending I was the subject of an Annie Liebovitz photo. I loved it so much that I saved it when we moved from MN to CT and then again when I went to college in NY and then AGAIN when I spent the year abroad in London.

That is crazy commitment to this garland y'all. You can only fit so much into a normal-size suitcase!

Anyway, sometime after London I lost track of my gold stars and now I feel that my life is lacking and the world sucks because they are not in my life.

These are a bit fancier and craftier than my gold stars but you get the picture.. photo via Pinterest

In the meantime, I guess I'll settle for the dried cranberry garlands my mother has wrapped around her Christmas tree and hope that by this time next year I'll have my act together enough to at least acquire the best Christmas decoration ever: a silver tinsel tree.

Yes! I shall have it!

Happy Holidays!! I am off to do more wrapping but at least this time it's for my family and not random strangers!

2011 Gift Guide: The Man

Hey you know that dude you really like? Don't forget you're supposed to give him some stuff too this time of year. And coupons don't count, although the sexy kind make great stocking stuffers! Here are a few PG-rated doo dads to show your guy how super special he is:

5th Avenue Glacier Park Throw, Pendleton $138

Travel Kit & Razor, The Art of Shaving $150

Damon Tool Set, Jack Spade $120

Solid Silk Knit Tie, Ralph Lauren $55

The Economics of Beer, Amazon $40

Bulleit Rye Whiskey, K&L Wine Merchants $22

2012 Calendar Love

This calendar by Cats Let Nothing Darken Their Roar might just be the coolest calendar ever made.

You're totally in love with it right?

Buy one for everyone you know here.

Busy Bee

If anyone wonders what I've been up to for the past two weeks, the answer is this: gift wrapping like a mofo.

2011 Gift Guide: The Brother

I grew up with two fabulous sisters but I was always jealous of those girls who had older brothers because it meant they had the coolest taste in music and probably slept in bad ass oversize band t-shirts. I wonder what they bought their brothers for Christmas back then? I hope it had something to do with brightly colored walkmen and flannel shirts and Nirvana. Here are a few ideas for your grown-up (but still cool) brother:

Underground Cap, Goorin Bros. $38

AEO Buffalo Check Duffel Bag, American Eagle Outfitters $59.50

TOMS 'Movember' Classic Slip-On, Nordstrom $58

Batman Money Clip, Think Geek $40

Charcoal Cow Butchery Diagram Print, drywell via Etsy $18

The Walking Dead Season 1, Amazon $16

2011 Gift Guide: The Sister

If you have a sister, you probably spent your childhood tormenting her. Now you really ought to apologize. But apologizing is for sissies! So instead, just buy her a super fun gift this holiday season and I'm sure she'll totally forget that time you 'accidentally' shut her finger in the bathroom door.

Air Quote Mittens, Kate Spade $65

Pretty Cupcake Kit, Fred Flare $21

Deux Lux Sequined Weekender, Urban Outfitters, $99

Taschen's 4 Cities Book Set, Taschen $60

Honeydew Intimates Polka Dot Bralette & Undies, Madewell $34 & $16

Wild Hearts 4G iPhone Case, Marc by Marc Jacobs $34

2011 Gift Guide: The Dad

Did anyone ever watch that show My Two Dads? Well, you should have because it was great. Not only did the main character, Nicole, have two dads but they were both AWESOME AT IT. I mean, these two dads kicked ass. If they were my dads, I would have given them some serious amazing shit for Christmas. Stuff like this:

Vintage Edition Scrabble, Restoration Hardware $199

Laguiole Stag Horn Corkscrew with Leather Pouch, Dean & Deluca $140

Living Architecture, Assouline $75

Engine-Turned Money Clip, Brooks Brothers $145

Stereoluxe AM/FM Radio and MP3 Dock, Urban Outfitters $199

Ford at Fox: The Collection DVDS, Amazon $179

I was cooler when I was in my 20s.

 
So I opened my daily email from Refinery 29 this morning and low and behold, they thoughtfully included a description of EVERYTHING I LIKE. See for yourself:

The Kate's Paperie-wrapped presents. Miu Miu glitter shoes. Diptyque Tubéreuse Rouge burning in the living room. Love Actually. There's just so much we love about this season.

I can't decide whether I feel awesome and cool or totally cliche and boring. 

2011 Gift Guide: the Mom

Remember that time your mother was comforting you when you were feeling sick and then you accidentally threw up down her back and she didn't even get mad? Oh, guess that's just me. Well, we all have reason to celebrate and pamper our moms a bit. Here are some ideas for the lovely lady in your life:

Large Enameled Locket, Catbird $89

Long Cashmere Gloves, Zara $16.90

At the Beach 1966 Perfume, A+R Store $70

Pressed Silver Jewelry Boxes (set of 2), Pottery Barn $69

Dr. Hunter's Hand Care Set, Anthropologie $35

2010 Watercolor Florals Calendar, Terrain $32

Brownstone Love

Emily Henderson recently photographed Scott Horne's beautiful Brooklyn Height's apartment and I am now madly in love with it and want to move in right this minute. The comfortable vibe and neutral colors had me at hello. Don't even get me started on the stunning spiral staircase. Obsessed!

Images: Emily Henderson

Holiday Decor Love

Adorbs

Image via: Down To The Woods

2011 Gift Guide: The Bestie

Are you that person who finds fun gift ideas all year round but doesn't buy them and then panics when Christmas is here and you suddenly can't think of anything to give anyone? Yes, that's me too. I even keep a file of gift ideas and yet when the holiday season arrives I somehow hate them all and feel like a giant failure.

But no more!

Here are some fun ideas for everyone in your life. Or at least those who count.

To start things off:      *The Bestie*

Love your best friend? Good, you should! She's the most awesome person you know! Give her something just as fun and fabulous as she is.

Charlotte Ronson Masquerade Collection Set $39

Everett Gimlet Tortose Shades, Warby Parker $95

Thin Hand-Enameled Bangle by JCrew $20

Sweater With Heart Elbow Patch, ASOS $64

Blueprints for Building Better Girls by Elissa Shappell, Amazon $14

Untitled #6 by Jessica Bruah, 20x200 $50

Best Fuckin' Friends Necklace Set, In God We Trust, prices vary