Merry Christmas, Dear Friends!

It's been awfully quiet around here - and for that apologize.  But it's Christmas!  And I've been able to partake in lots of festive activities and really enjoy the season.  There are some years that Christmas comes and goes so quickly, it feels like there wasn't enough time to really embrace the holidays.  I'm happy to say that hasn't been the case this year - and between decorating, baking, and spending time with friends and family, my heart is full of Christmas cheer.  Here is hoping yours is too and that your holidays are wonderful!

What Darling Books!

Being a bibliophile, and complete lover of all things whimsical, I nearly lost it when I discovered Olympia Le Tan's charming line of book inspired handbags.  They are just so sweet and quirky, they're the type of bag I'd expect Zooey Deschanel to be carrying.  Although far out of my price range, I can't help but lust - just a tad - over these sweet little clutches. 

Princess Shoes

Back in college I had a pair of gold ballet flats.  They were lightweight, comfortable, and dainty in the way that makes ballet flats so appealing.

One day when I was wearing these particular shoes, the little boy I was babysitting came up to me with a very serious look on his face.  He leaned in close (probably so his older brother wouldn't hear) and asked me if I was a princess.   A bit confused and ultimately delighted, I surpressed my giggles and looked at him with equal sincerity and inquired, "Why do you ask that?"    He pointed to my shoes and said, "Those are golden princess shoes."

And he was right.  Ballet flats are pretty enough for a princess to wear, and the ones that truly resemble ballet slippers have this feminine quality that is so chic and easy.  I've recently fallen in love with Yosi Samra's ballet flats and am thinking it's time I get a new pair of golden shoes.

Shop the look here.

Hot Toddies

Last week I was sick.  The kind of sick where it's an effort to move from the bed to the couch, and several days were spent in a cocoon of blankets and pillows drifting in and out of sleep.  When my throat was sore and I couldn't stop coughing, I decided it was time for a hot toddy.  When I was little my parents would make them for me - and drinking them now leaves me feeling instantly comforted.  Of course, back then they were mostly lemon and honey (and just enough brandy to make it easy to fall asleep).   I've enjoyed several of these in the past week and have tweaked the recipe to a fine perfection.  I've substituted whiskey for the brandy, added a cinnamon stick and a few cloves and am certain this will be a drink I'll be enjoying all winter.

Here is how I make mine...

- 3/4 cup of green tea
- 1 shot brandy or whiskey
- Juice of a quarter to a half of a lemon (depending on size)
- Honey to sweeten (I use around a spoonful)
- A cinnamon stick to stir
- A few whole cloves

PS, how cute is this idea for a winter party? 

Crazy Cat Lady

I'll admit it.  I have a thing for kitties.  There's something about their cuddliness and purrs that tugs right at my hear strings.  The problem with really liking cats?  The title of Crazy Cat Lady.  It's a term that conjures up images of a trailer filled with twenty cats and a lady who only wears fuzzy pink robes and eats frozen tv dinners while watching bad soap operas.

Eww.

I've recently decided to ignore that term and really put my love for kittens out there.  I'm starting small, in tiny details.  And this fair isle sweater from J. Crew has just enough feline appeal that I can't help but love it..

Wanderlust on a Sunday

My Crush on Ernest

"I didn't want to kiss you goodbye, that was the trouble; I wanted to kiss you goodnight.  And there's a lot of difference."  

Ernest Hemingway

I just finished reading Hemingway's Girl by Erika Robuck.  It was one of those novels that got me thinking.  Daydreaming.  It's been a while since a book has had that effect on me and I really did fall in love a little bit with Hemingway's character.  He was brash and arrogant - but in the way that women can't resist.  I'm now beyond eager to read "The Old Man and the Sea" so that I can get a better idea of who Hemingway actually was - he has been said to put a lot of himself and those he knew into his characters.