TGIF, 12/31/10 Edition

(via Google)

Can you believe today is the final day of 2010?

The customary New Year's Eve activities typically aren't my thing, but I've always liked spending the last day of a year with those you care about most and reflecting on all that has transpired. 2010 brought so much into my life, including my engagement and even this blog!

I've had so many full and rich experiences this past year and I am confident that 2011 will afford many more. My blog, and the life experiences I share here, will continue to grow over the coming year.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful weekend and, more importantly, a safe and healthy New Year.

To 2011!

Those Old Familiar Ornaments

Before we move on from Christmas, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite sentimental ornaments from my childhood. Adam and I arrived to my parents' home in Connecticut late Christmas morning from Philadelphia, and I was very pleased to be greeted by familiar ornaments that bring me back to my younger years, many of which I'll share with you today.

My all-time favorite?

It's the wooden manger and tiny wooden lamb pictured below. The lamb has faired well over the years. I received it in kindergarten, as part of an advent calendar my teacher, Mrs. Carey, had in her classroom. Only about 1" big, the little lamb has survived more than twenty Christmases!

An ornament featuring preschool me. Most of the pinecones that were part of the ornament are gone, but the awkward smile remains...

From 1987: My penmanship has come a long way...

Tongue depressor snowman, circa 1995:

Not sure where this ceramic girl and hobby horse ornament came from, but I always liked her seasonal outfit:

When I was about 10, I became really interested in cross-stitching. I made this teddy bear ornament for my mom:

I always loved this little girl with her yarn hair, riding in a wooden car:

A reindeer in great shape, from about 1994:

What are some of your favorite sentimental ornaments?

Hope everyone had a glorious Christmas and, if you're in the Northeast, survived the much-hyped blizzard!

TGIF, 12/24/10 Edition

Happy Christmas Eve, friends!

The past few weeks leading up to Christmas has been eventful for me, as I am certain it has been for you, too. Adam and I had an opportunity to celebrate with friends already, and will be enjoying some quality time with our families over the next few days.

That said, Merry Christmas, dear readers.

Wishing you a joyous Christmas filled with love, laughter, and blessings.

The Wild Indoors

Now that winter is officially here, those of us living in the northern half of the U.S. retreat to the indoors for a few months to hibernate, much our wild animal friends.

I've rounded up just a few of my favorite items that make any home or apartment feel like a cozy cabin in the woods.

1. "Deer 2" fabric by G.P. & J. Baker, $125/yard
2. Woolrich Civil War cavalry blanket, $109
3. Banquet Atelier's Red Bear poster, $60
4. Roy Toy log cabin building set, $22
5. Stormy Kromer hat, $30
6. Log cabin incense burner, $16
7. Silver juniper tree, $22
   

Snuggle up and get warm because, baby, it's cold outside!

Seeing Spots

Remember waaaaay back in the fall when I posed an important design question to you, my dear readers?

This decor-related quandry concerned 2 matching parsons ottomans I picked up from a lovely Craigslist seller for $25. I was unsure if I could live with a bold print on them, specifically, Premier Prints' "Togo" fabric in Titan/Birch (as shown above).

But, with the support of you readers, I went with the dotted print and couldn't be happier.

Here are the ottomans in their original state:

I turned to my go-to upholstery guy, Joe from Narberth Upholstery. Joe had recently completed the charcoal linen upholstery on the loveseat these ottomans would be paired with.

Ready to see what great work he did?

Ta-da!

Aren't they divine?

Up close you can see that the cording was done in the same solid charcoal linen as the couch.

I'm in love.

Next step? Find a coordinating pillow for the loveseat and use the remaining fabric for matching dotted curtains to replace the black curtains that hide our stackable washer & dryer (see pictures above).

What do you think?

Festivities with Friends

On Saturday, we celebrated the holidays with our friends.
It was so much fun to prepare our home and menu for the event!
Here's photographic evidence of the good time we had:

A collection of Christmas trees: CB2 glass and bottlebrush trees from AC Moore:

Our spread:

Inspired by Katie did's idea, I strung lines of some of my favorite Christmas songs from the ceiling. They added a spirited effect:

Rockin around the Christmas tree...

Adam and I enjoyed hosting our first holiday party this past weekend and, from what I observed, our friends enjoyed the holiday party as well.

Countdown to Christmas: 5 days!

TGIF, 12/17/10 Edition

(Tape tree via Bloesem Kids via VT-Wonen)

We are just a week away from Christmas Eve, can you believe it? There's so many things to look forward to this weekend, including:

• Our holiday celebration. It's happening Saturday and I can't wait to catch up with friends from near and far.
  

• Our long-awaited ottomans. They are ready! Can't wait to show them off next week.
  

Before I can enjoy the weekend, I have an afternoon date with a radiologist:

• It turns out my test on Wednesday was inconclusive, so I'm scheduled for a CAT scan today. I'm nervous, friends, I really am. I'm deluding myself that a CAT scan doesn't involve radiation or an IV, but careful examination by a group of competent feline doctors...

(via Cracked)

Something tells me, though, that HUP isn't about to hire Dr. Kitty Meowington anytime soon, no matter how good her credentials.

But enough of that! I am excited to share with you details of our party (including my decorations) and the ottoman before-and-after next week.

Stay warm, dear readers.

I'm Bringing Camelback

(via Style Court)

Lately I've been stopped in my tracks every time I spot a good use of the timeless, classic camelback sofa. When the stuffy ruffled skirts are removed and some leg is shown, these sofas lend themselves to a variety of settings and styles.

(Domino via Material Girls)

(Spruce Austin's revitalized camelback sofa)

(A Tom Sheerer room via Bromeliad)

(Ruthie Sommers uses a camelback sofa, featured in House Beautiful)

(via I Suwanee)

(Domino via Style Court)

(Katy Elliott adds a camelback sofa to her period home)

(via Elle Decor--love the pop of cobalt!)

While the last thing I need right now is another sofa, I can clearly imagine coming back to this sofa shape for my future home.

My favorite uses of this style involve the traditional lines of the camelback offset by a jazzy print, a graphic rug, or a modern side table.
There's a reason classics never go out of style, right?

A Kid at Heart

(Rainbow blocks, $35)

When the holidays roll around, I find myself reverting back to the childlike wonder that my adult cynicism clouds most of the year.

I'm always excited to see gift guides aimed at the perfect present for your progeny. If I had a little one of my own, these would be my first picks:

A collection of wooden animals by German company Holztiger:

(Holztiger llama, $13)

A wooden canoe for bathtub- or pond-sailing:

(European canoe boat, $10)

A teepee for hiding out:

(6' canvas teepee, $100)

A tree fort for entertaining elven friends:
(Tree fort kit, $255)

A Bambi of your child's very own:

(Hansa bambi deer, $200)

And last but not least, a chewable stocking stuffer:

(Sophie the Giraffe, $23)

No, I don't have a baby on the way...
I just love looking at children's toys and imagining the fun I'll have in the future.
To babies, kiddos, and the holiday season!

Not Feeling So Hot

(via Real Simple)

I've been feeling pretty crummy for awhile now, readers, and today I hope to have some relief for whatever it is that ails me. I know, you're thinking, "Wait, you don't feel well? But you've done so many projects and written so many posts recently!" I have, I have.

For the past two months I've been suffering from a very uncooperative stomach, leaving me nauseous nearly every single night and greatly limiting what I'm able to eat. I'm having some tests today that I'm hopeful will reveal the culprit.

Wish me luck, and I'll see you all tomorrow!

Christmas Terrariums

(via Remodelista)

How many poinsettias do you have in your home right now?

They are the quintessential Christmas flora, and over the weekend I spotted Terrain's holiday terrariums over at Remodelista. Rather than leaving poinsettias relegated to the supermarket-supplied metallic wrapping that they come in, the tiny varieties of the flower look right at home in a terrarium.

Here are some more unique winter terrarium ideas that will inspire long after Christmas has ended:

(via Daily Danny)

(via Smile and Wave)

(via The Gardener's Eden)

As if I didn't have enough going on this week (with wrapping still to do and a holiday party to finalize), I think I may make a Christmas terrarium of my very own...
I'll be sure to report back!