|| headbands & sheets ||

I've never liked to sleep.  
Don't get me wrong, there is nothing like snuggling up in my favorite sheets but the actual act of sleeping I wish I didn't have to do. I sleep because I need it, not because I want to.  I've been sick and I should have slept the other night but instead, I was up until three sewing feathers & beads on a headband for THIS fun party.  give me a good project & the perfect song & I'll stay up as long as I want to. 

|| kids table 2 ||

As promised, here is the final product.  I put in a good movie, spent one night on the couch putting them together, and I was done.  Twenty feather headbands for Thanksgiving dinner.

I LOVED them on everyone.

It's always more fun at the kids table.

I didn't buy flowers until the day of so there wasn't much

to pick from but I found some lovely orange hued flowers,

added a few feathers and I had a centerpiece.

I hope you had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving! I did.

|| kids table 1 ||

I'm so excited for THANKSGIVING this year!  It's been 2 years since I've had a traditional THANKSGIVING and I'm ready to sit and eat, and eat...and enjoy the company of the 20+ friends who will be celebrating with me this year. FUN!  Instead of slaving away in the kitchen, I get to spend my time at craft hour, as I'm on decorations. My favorite.  I looked at Martha Stewart for a little inspiration and found these.  I know we're all over 21 but that doesn't mean we can't all sit at the kids table, right?  I love fun and I love classy so I'm doing a little combo deal this year.  Feather and ribbon napkin rings that double as headbands.  genius.  I can't wait for the photo shoots.
Stay tuned for the final product...

|| rain boots ||

I had a little assignment for my photography class and as usual, I decided to wait until the last minute...and there was nothing but RAIN! I made the best of it though...I love the reflection in the puddles...sometimes it pays to look down instead of up.

|| oh how lovely ||

I couldn't get enough of the leaves upstate, NY on Friday...

and wanted to try and capture at least a bit of the fall splendor at the smith family farm.

Oh how lovely was the morning!

|| tennis anyone? ||

I love tennis.  I think it's my sport. I've never really taken lessons but I can swing okay and I used to spend hours hitting tennis balls against our garage when I was little.  So much that our neighbor started calling me Chris Evert. I guess we have the blonde thing in common. 


I'm in L-O-V-E with these vintage Roland Garros tennis posters from the 80's. Now all I need is more wall space. 

by

gilles aillaud

by

eduardo arroyo

I'm having Royal Tenenbaums flashbacks right now.

|| greek holiday ||

I've never finished a tube of lipgloss, until now.

GREEK HOLIDAY coupled with BETTINA is the greatest lipgloss combination...ever!

well, at least in my world.

Gisele likes it too...she used this combo on her wedding day.

|| baked apples ||

thanks W for hosting the perfect fall party!

great friends & great food...not much makes me happier.

I wanted to make something new and had a zillion apples

leftover from our applepicking adventure upstate so

thanks to marthastewart.com I arrived at the party

with a whole plate of delicious baked apples.

I changed a few things...it's so me...I can't help it...but here's the recipe....

it's easy to make and it will make your house smell like Christmas...enjoy!

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1/3 cup packed light-brown sugar

1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 medium apples, skin peeled in a spiral

makes 4

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Stir together butter, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

Scoop out the core of each apple with a melon baller, being careful not to go through the bottom; discard cores. Fill each apple with oat mixture, dividing evenly. Transfer apples to a 9-inch square non-reactive baking dish. Add 1 cup water to the dish to cover bottoms of apples by about 1/2 inch. Cover dish with aluminum foil. Bake until apples are soft but not mushy. 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm.

|| rebecca thuss ||

if I could do anything right now, THIS is what I'd be doing.  ALL of it.

arts & crafts are my thing.

always have been...always will be.

|| confession ||

confesssion: I look at the USPS website every so often to see if any new stamps are coming out.

I just saw this today and I couldn't be happier. 

 I haven't been this excited about a stamp since the Duke came out.

NERD! I know. But I can't help it.

I love stamps & I love sending mail & I always will...

|| stamp tree ||

I've always loved stamps...it's the one nerdy thing I collect. Used ones are my preference.

I LOVED this window we walked by strolling through Rome a few weeks ago.

In another lifetime, I'll be a window display designer. I got a taste when designing the displays at the store I worked at in high school. Loved it. I like making things pretty.

|| rollip ||

I don't need to tell you again how much I love Polaroids. Sadly (tear shed) as you know, they stopped making the film and the cameras but I do have a few boxes saved in my fridge for special occasion.

Until then, there is Poladroid and this new site my friend George told me about.

thanks george!

ROLLIP

It's cool. You can even write little notes on the bottom.

enjoy!

|| top hats & tiaras ||

we're throwing a party tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited...

pray for no rain!!!

|| baggu ||

Living in NYC has definitely brought out my CO hippie roots and I'm trying to be more green. I turn off lights, shut off A/C and buy BAGGU My new favorite. I've been searching for a good bag to carry home stuff for my next dinner party...and this is it folks. Not only am I saving a few bags, I'm saving my back. I don't have a car like you suburbanites so unless I get a cute guy to carry my groceries home for me, I have to make things easier on myself. I don't need to tell you which one I bought...

(use JOY for free shipping!)

{ photo courtesy of baggu }

|| floor mirrors ||

I've been looking at floor mirrors for awhile now. I LOVE them. Not because I'm vain and want to see more of myself...mirrors really do open up a room and add so much presence. Seriously.

A few great options that won't kill my budget...

cb2

ikea

west elm

|| coat tails ||

After a long day out wouldn't it be nice to have a cute coat rack to throw your stuff on instead of just piling it on the couch?

There is not quite enough space in my life for a coat rack right now but someday, yes.

A few years ago, I fell in love with this white beauty:

Beautiful, yes, but pricey.

I just came across this:

The price is right and everyone could use a pop of color in their lives...and something to hang your coat on.

|| tower ||

5 friends had birthdays this past week,

so instead of slaving in the kitchen baking, we made a rice krispie treat tower.

so easy & the crowds loved it.

|| burst ||

...a little late but happy 4th! i LOVE fireworks. love them.

|| day seven ||

day: seven

location: chicago & nyc

|| day six ||

day: six

location: chicago!