Goodbye 2010

Well after a flight cancellation, long layovers, and rerouting I'm back just in time to ring in the new year (with a really relaxed celebration). But before I look forward, I just wanted to take a moment to look backward over my past year (almost) of blogging.

In March, I pulled together several round-ups of wedding decor (menus and table scapes) while organizing my own wedding and philosophizing on the similarities between the fashion of the Sound of Music and Louis Vuiton. PB and I also went to Chicago where we ate delicious food at the Publican.

In April, I mused on how I could translate Miu Miu's line into my own wardrobe, searched for some amazing wedding flats, and pondered the best way to hang loose photos on the wall.

In May, I finally made my first cooking post and examined gray bedrooms while experiencing my first pangs for bootcut and wideleg pants.

In June, I discovered freunde von freunden and got carried away with Berlin style and finally stopped protesting and got a veil (but only after careful consideration). PB and I also successfully painted our kitchen with chalkboard walls.

In July, I suffered my first bouts of anxiety about any and all decisions I was making about the wedding. PB and I took a trip to California for our friends' wedding and to complete some last minute planning . I also went crazy for Acapulco chairs and petticoats.

In August, I prepared for back to school dressing (even if I'm out of school), PB and I finally ate some spaghetti after months of South Beach diet, and I went to New York for my bachelorette party. I also gushed about Scandinavian style and adorable weddings.

After months of talking about the big day, in September, PB and I finally got married and took our amazing trip to Argentina and Brazil.
October was a super busy month. PB and I first met Grizzly and started puppy proofing our apartment (that is, learning to put my shoes in my closet). GB started writing a weekly post on incredibly easy but super cute DiY projects for weddings, and I...contemplated the relationship between music, fashion, and interior design. I also sighed for pink walls and delicious sushi from Kushi.

In November, I became....well obsessed with decorating our place for Christmas (and anthropologie didn't help) and cooking delicious warm Sunday meals. Not surprisingly, I continued to analyze the perfect fall look, including fur hats and hair.
By December, I finally stopped obsessing and starting actually decorating. And I was super excited when I found these Bertoia style chairs on craigslist and started thinking about how best to use them (I still haven't decided). And I couldn't help sharing my real and not-so-real Christmas lists.I have loved having this space to talk about all the cool and beautiful things I see out there and how I try to incorporate them into my life. I can't wait for 2011 and everything it will bring! Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving comments, my heart seriously skips a little when I see a new comment or a new follower. And I've loved exploring all your blogs and links you've left me. Happy New Year to all!

Happy Holidays

Wherever you are, whatever you're celebrating, I hope you are with loved ones and happy, safe, and warm!

Last Minute Gift Ideas

Okay, so you're in panic mode. It's the 24th and you are short a couple gifts. Plus, you're in (insert Midwestern city that does not offend anyone) and there's no cute little boutique to run to. Here are a few ideas:

1) Booze. I think you really can be classy about this if you know what kind of alcohol your intended recipient loves. Does your brother love a good scotch? Did your BFF study in Chile and always fondly remembers her trip to the winery? Seriously, hit up a good liquor/wine store and talk to the people who work there about your options.

2) Hit up your CVS/ Duane Reed! I am always seriously impressed with the variety of products that local drug stores carry. The one around the corner from us often has Bumble and Bumble and even Kerastese hair products. Who wouldn't love some shmancy shampoo or facial toner? 3) Gift Certificates. This one is so easy, everyone would love a free manicure, massage, facial, beard trim, pilates lesson. If you don't have time to actually go and get a certificate, I like printing out a pretty picture (like the one below), wrapping it up, and then let them know you'd love to take them for said indulgence.

4) Whole Foods. You might feel weird about this, but dude, the store has lots of great body products, delicious chocolate, and lots of scented candles. Once you wrap it up pretty, they'll never know the difference.

Picture 2 via Decor8 and 5 via Cherry Blossom Girl,

Wednesday = Halfway (well not really this week)

I'm only working one day this week, so I don't really need a countdown to get me to the weekend but I still just wanted to share a few pictures from my last weekend. On Friday night we went to the speakeasy PX, in Old Town Arlington. I had this dumpling drink that was maybe a little too authentic for my tastes but overall the place was gorgeous. Then we headed down to the Majestic where I got these ridiculous mussels with pancetta and apples.

We also have Grizzly his first bath. I was super worried he would be splashing around the whole time, but I think he was more scared than anything else. PB made me some delicious pork Carnitas a la Rick Bayless. And we experimented with some Vietnamese Coffee ice cream (oh...I highly recommend). It's basically all sugar from the condensed milk, but I made it with stumptown espresso and it is mouthwateringly good.

And next weekend....is Christmas. We'll be in California with my family and I'm so excited to introduce Grizz to the family. What are your plans?

Typewriter Guest Book

I've always felt that guestbooks are a great opportunity to do something a little bit different and out of the ordinary. Today, GB does a how-to on one of my favorite styles.

My darling cousin made our guestbook, but when I thought I would be doing something, I really liked the idea of a typewriter guest book. I found another blogging bride who shares her story of searching (and finding) a vintage typewriter for her wedding, as well as photos from a typewriter-themed wedding on Style Me Pretty.

Spell it out for your guests, like this wedding on Green Wedding Shoes

This first collection of antique looking typewriters may not be functional enough for actually having guests try to use, but they are so decoratively beautiful, can we just look at them?

Upper left from Green Wedding Shoes; lower right and lower center from Ruffled; lower left from Ruffled

These retro typewriters, however, are probably fully functional and still have tons of style:

Upper left from Ruffled; upper right from Green Wedding Shoes; lower right from Ruffled; lower left from Ruffled

I did some searching around and there are a number of vintage typewriters for sale under $300 in the Bargain Basement of the Vintage Typewriter Shoppe. There are a number of affordable vintage ones on this vintage appliance site. My Typewriter has some very cute ones that are bit more expensive, but they also have supplies (and jewelry!) that might be useful. Of course, the easiest place to find an affordable vintage or retro typewriter is on eBay or your local thrift store. If you do go that route and want it to be functional for the guest book, give yourself enough time to give it a test run and take it for a tuning if necessary.

Raindrops and Roses and Burberry Prorsum

As I briefly mentioned on Friday, I am obsessed with pre-fall 2011 Burberry Prorsum. Actually, I am just plain obsessed with all Burberry Prorsum. Christopher Bailey can do no wrong in my book. But I especially obsessed with the line of this season. I love the wide leg, and tiny waist accented with a belt, and then big fur trimmed sleeves.
And I'm normally not one for flowy empire waisted peasant dresses...but man! throw a little fur and leather and some amazingly sexy boots and it doesn't feel hippie dippie at all. And yes, I've noticed that it is completely 70's. Okay, where do I get an obie belt?

all images via style.com