I'm Off

The past 10 days have been too busy for words. After being sick again, working a ton, taking a final, writing two papers, and hosting a pretty fabulous holiday party last night, I am finally ready to get out of town. I look forward to skiing, drinking California wine, spending time by the ocean, and seeing friends & family. Happy Holidays! Light posting until 2012.

Photo by Oh MG at Lava Cap (yum!)

Have a Great Weekend!

Still from Rushmore, 1998, directed by Wes Anderson; American Empirical Pictures.

Have a great one and good luck with holiday shopping. I think I'm just about done with mine :) Some recent posts I've liked ...

Another fantastic Ben Franklin letter.

I heart book clubs.

I want to go check out this new cafe.

Loving the Bo Obama decorating touches at the White House.

How to roast vegetables - so simple, so good!

Awesome coat rack.

Fun gift idea: give an experience.

Cynthia Rowley's lovely home.

Bedtime for Frances

The big hand of the clock is at 12.
The little hand is at 7.
It is seven o'clock.
It is bedtime for Frances.
Mother said, "It is time for bed."
Father said, "It is time for bed."
Frances said, "I want a glass of milk."
"All right," said Father.
"All right," said Mother.
"You may have a glass of milk."
Frances drank the milk.
-Excerpt from Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban (c) 1960, HarperCollins


I just read that Russell Hoban died the other day. I immediately thought of little Frances the badger and what a wonderful children's book character she is. Little did I know that Hoban was also a prolific science fiction writer. He once said, "If I am kept away from writing, I become physically unwell," - how's that for making a career out of what you love doing?!

I Heart Books

Via SFGirlByBay

I love books, I love bookshelves, and one day hope to have an awesome home library. The above image I spotted on SFGirlByBay yesterday has all the perfect elements of a great room - floor to ceiling built-ins, a great light fixture, modern chairs, and a well-loved wooden table to spread out a Sunday newspaper. For a more non-traditional use of books, check out GalleyCat's Book Christmas Tree Farm. Lastly, this, this, and this are on my winter break reading list and my friend Jen was kind enough to get me some copies! Ah how I love grad school and having a winter break!

via GalleyCat

That's Rather Peculiar

Hello waffle

I was walking into a building at school yesterday when I noticed this little arrangement in an exterior planter box. Seems pretty normal for holiday foliage decor. Pinecones? Check! Christmas tree branches? Check! But what about the inclusion of a little plastic waffle? Is this a decorating trend I need to know about? I'll stay on the lookout for more!

Photo by Oh MG.

All that Glitters

via The Daily Beast (AP Photo; Christie's Images Ltd. 2011)

Who isn't fascinated by Elizabeth Taylor? When I first read that 269 pieces of her jewelry plus memorabilia were going up for auction at Christie's and that the pieces were first going to be on display for the public, I was tempted to go check them out. Alas, no time lately. But there is an online catalogue.

Also being auctioned - a costume made for Cleopatra and Taylor's first edition copy of National Velvet. As a big nerd I am actually very interested in the book!

For more on jewels, learn about the Cartier and America exhibit that JM and I saw in San Francisco a few years ago. Very cool!

And yes, the title of this post is also the name of a great SATC episode.

Warm Christmas

via Bliss via Real Living

If I ever find myself celebrating Christmas somewhere in the summer I would want a fun tree just like this! It got cold here NYC this weekend which actually made it feel like the holidays. Also, we attended the annual Byrne Family Christmas party on Saturday which is the best way to kick off the season. Baked ziti, brisket, desserts galore, and a sing-a-longs to The Band - so fun! Holiday tip: if you don't have time to get a Christmas tree, grab one of these and it will feel like you have one.


Photo by Tony Amos and styled by Sarah Ellison

Guess How Much It Is

Like just about everyone else I know, I'm generally obsessed with all things Anthropologie. The clothes and shoes! The accessories! The flatware and the bedspreads! But I had to laugh when I spotted some of the most recent additions to their home decor collection. Seems even Anthro can go a bit astray. What I found most fun was guessing the prices of the above items. Go ahead, guess, and then check: Dalmatian, Rabbit Bust, Rustic Romp Taper Holder, Grasshopper Globe. While the rest of the store is on my Christmas list, I assure you these items are not. Don't worry though, I still dream that I one day I might be able to live in one of their retail locations :)

Looking Good Abe

I personally find it hard not to be obsessed with all things Lincoln and I love movies, so I got excited when a photo of Daniel Day-Lewis on the set of Steven Spielberg's Lincoln. Looking good! Not sure exactly what part of Lincoln's life the film will focus on, but surely it will be a must-see. Loving the rest of the cast too.  Also in the works - a miniseries on the Civil War.  via, via

Love in Morse Code

via Betsy & Iya

A few weeks ago for a special occasion, JM got me something I had been long-coveting: the Morse Code Romance Necklace from Betsy & Iya. The one I got spells out L-O-V-E (I think the one pictured says I-F). Obviously, as with any new piece of jewelry, I have been wearing it all over town lately and pretty much get a compliment each time I do. No one has been able to read that it says LOVE, but I'm hoping I'll run into an old telegraph operator who is just tickled over my necklace. We'll see.

PS. I am so jealous that when Sarah B. is in Portland for Christmas she gets to go to the B&I retail store where there's jewelry plus other fun stuff. It looks oh-so-pretty.

Lake House

via Brick House

This photo from Brick House made me think of the lake house I loved in Martha Marcy May Marlene. Actually I guess it wasn't the house so much, but how the dock and water were shot so beautifully. Just seeing such a lovely dock makes me want to lie in the sun with one of these. Until next summer.

BTW: MMMM was excellent and well-acted, but terrifying. Moral of the story: cults are bad!

Screen shot from Martha Marcy May Marlene, 2011 Fox Searchlight Pictures - via

Christmastime is Here

Though I was supposed to spend lots of quality time at the library on Saturday, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. It was too gorgeous out and JM and I had an opportunity to bring home a 5.5-foot frasier fir. And once we started I couldn't stop - also bought a wreath for the front door and put some extra boughs and holly branches from our front yard in jars around the house. I'm far from being crafty, but am proud of the effort. And wow, it's going to 60 degrees tomorrow. This is what I imagine Christmast must be like in LA - not bad! Please excuse bad phone photos.

Photos by Oh MG.

PS. I just cannot get enough of this song right now!

Unique Taxidermy

I have totally embraced the taxidermy fad - in fact we have a stuffed dear named Conan hanging above our television. However, I was a little startled by the prominent display of this lion in a NYC loft. What a pose! I'll admit it's pretty badass, but what if it scared a house guest, or you bumped into it in the middle of the night?

Via SFGirlByBay via Yatzer

PS. Did you hear that the stuffed animals at the American Museum of Natural History are getting a makeover? The photo below makes me laugh. I am glad they are getting spiffed up a bit though, many of them were looking at bit tired.

photo by J.C. Rice - via NY Post

This Photo Makes Me Happy

It is currently my desktop background and I smile every time I see it. Been thinking a lot lately about how much fun our vacation was! Taken at Utah Beach, Normandy - August 2011. Photo by Oh MG.

Indoor Tents & Teepees

Lately there have been some awesome features on cozy set ups and indoor accessories for the winter months. Even though it has been 60+ degrees in NYC lately, I have been loving blog posts on throw blankets, like this one featuring something from the Pendleton collection. Yesterday Honestly WTF did an awesome feature on the Hudson Bay Company blanket and it got me thinking about how fun indoor tents and teepees are.

via Honestly WTF

Wouldn't it be fun to have played in this teepee as a kid? Heck, if I had room I'd install one just like it in my house today. I think Arby would like it too! Though this cat cabin might be more appropriate for his size.

via Creamy Life

And of course, I have always adored Richie Tenenbaum's tent - it even has a record player!

Screenshot from The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001, Touchstone Pictures

Screenshot from The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001, Touchstone Pictures

Stendig 2012

I spent a good part of the weekend admiring these Stendig calendars at the shop.  A little history: designed in 1966 by Massimo Vignelli, the Stendig calendar is the only calendar in MOMA's permanent collection. It's a minimalist modern design classic. Am considering picking one up for my house, but wall space is currently quite limited. Get one here!

And how apt that I should come upon this post on Brick House last night. Lovely!

Via Brick House Tumblr via The Selby

What to Bring to Dinner (via Chow)

Thanksgiving dinner may have come and gone this year, but this chart can surely be used for years to come! Hope you had a good one and are not too terribly full. Via The Daily Dish, created by CHOW.

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! If you are traveling may you not end up with a Del Griffith as your seat mate. For now I'm holing up inside on this rainy day hoping to beat a sinus infection so I can fully enjoy tomorrow. Here are some fun Thanksgiving-themed links:

In case you were worried, the President did pardon a turkey.

What to do with leftover pumpkin pie - this looks fantastic, but is there ever really any leftover pumpkin pie?

In case you want to "go pilgrim" for the holiday.

Last-minute NYC pie buying guide.

Images via Martha Stewart's Thanksgiving Pie & Tart Recipes (hold on to your horses, there are 70 delicious-looking reciplies!)

Amazing Stories

Louis Zamperini hugging his mother upon his return from being held as a POW in Japan,
via Wall Street Journal.

It's no secret I'm a bit of a history nerd and lately I've been especially captivated by World War II stories (evidenced by my Band of Brothers obsession, our trip to Normandy, and my recent re-read of The Zookeeper's Wife). I simply love learning about people and stories that we otherwise wouldn't know about - and people have amazing stories! So you can imagine how excited I was that our current book club pick is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. All I can say is: just finished it, loved it, and I would highly recommend to anyone. The book is essentially a biography of US Olympian turned bomber Louis Zamperini who along with his pilot drifted at sea after their plane went down in 1943 only to be captured and held as POWs for the duration of the war. From breaking track records in the 1920s to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin to prepping for war in Oahu, this book has fantastic historical anecdotes. See here for an excerpt. Enjoy!

Week in Review

Still from The Godfather, 1972 Paramount Pictures (been craving a viewing)

 Happy Friday! This weekend I'll be holed up with a paper on the drivers of global population growth (jealous, aren't you) and working a whole bunch. Luckily, just two days of school next week before a nice little break for Thanksgiving - my favorite holiday!!! JM's mom has requested I make spinach balls - fine with me as long as I get seconds of her famous oyster stuffing. Also, I'm still worked up from a run-in I had with fashion blogger royalty earlier today, will post about it next week. XO

Great design idea - here's how to enlarge and frame your own photo.

I heart Diane Keaton and her new book looks intriguing.

A lovely look at a new West Elm location.

This post: 1) got me coveting more Betsy & Iya jewelry; 2) made me want to visit Portland again soon; 3) reminded me how much I need an iPhone so I can use Instagram.

What a concept: cozy glam!

Tips for what to do if you forget someone's name.

A gorgeous light-filled home remodel - amazing!

JM made this for dinner earlier in the week - yum, yum, yum and super easy.

The Great Gatsby

via PopSugar

This just in: shots from the set of The Great Gatsby adaptation currently filming in Australia. I am excited to see how Baz Luhrmann handles this adaptation. Despite adoring the book, I've never seen a film version, so I'm extremely curious. The casting seems superb - Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby, Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan, Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway.  Plus the costumes are sure to be fabulous!

PS. I've never read any other Fitzgerald, Tender is the Night has been on my to-read list for years.
PPS. I loved Midnight in Paris when I saw it recently and it made me want to learn more about Scott and Zelda's turbulent relationship.
PPPS. Kind of interested in this boat tour, but what will it be like now that this house has been demolished?

Cap Toe Contrast

I wear my Matt Berson Waverley Cap Toe flats all the time, even this week when it's been raining. And I would quite like another pair, but until that can happen, I just loved this DIY on Say Yes to Hoboken. So fun! If only I were more crafty and would actually do this.

Matt Bernson's Waverly Cap Toe

Say Yes to Hoboken's DIY Cap Toe

Le Sigh ... Montreal

Today Claire told me she was going to be in Montreal for New Year's (jealous!) and I happened to log on to The Goodie Life (a blog by a Montrealer!) and saw this awesome video.  Montreal in the summer ... even better. Some of my personal highlights are in the video like Schwartz's, St. Laurent, the view from Mont Royal, and bagels. Some things I would add: L'Academie, The Word bookstore (um, how hysterical is this website?), Tam-Tams, and getting a drink on the terrace of this hotel. Also, love the music in the video!

HUNGER GAMES TRAILER!

Wow, this sure does seem true to the book and makes me very excited to see the movie. I just watched it with Sarah who said, "gee, maybe I should read the books."  Yes she should. Go Katniss!

Buddha Butter Dishes and Other Things I Do Not Need

Now that they've started, the gift guides are going to just keep on coming. In browsing the queen of all gift guides, Real Simple's Ultimate Guide to Finding Creative Gifts for Everyone on Your List, I spotted two things that I want. They're very cool but can definitely be filed under "things I absolutely do not need."

Aphrodite USB Port via Real Simple Gift Guide

Buddha Butter Dish via Real Simple Gift Guide

Week in Review

via Life Magazine

How is it almost mid-November?! Time is just speeding right by and before we know it will be Christmas. Seems like blogs have started their holiday gift guides - in the last few days this and this have cropped up. Whether you're holiday shopping yet or not, have a great weekend. We're hosting a Lonesome Dove viewing party - that's right all 6.5 hours in one sitting along with beer, whisky, and King Ranch Casserole. Woohoo for cowboys. Some fun links from the last two weeks ...

Ohhh, another site featuring real people's homes. (Yes, the actual site is in Russian, but the photos are awesome!)

Love this roundup of pretty fall things.

I just bought some cheap curtains from Ikea, but window films might have looked better. Will file under home improvement projects to do one day.

Seven recipes using my favorite veggie.

I love the idea of Christmas in the summer.

What do you think of this flooring? Too much?

I generally like to cook and not bake, but this bread sounds amazing!

Great wardrobe inspired by a great movie.

Crazy Cookbook Sale

via Cooking Light

As a lover of cookbooks (and cooking I guess) I was extremely excited to see that the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe is having a COOKBOOK SALE for the next ten days.  Until Saturday, November 19th all cookbooks are 30% off.  Woot.  Might be a good time to stock up on some of these.  And no, New York Times, I don't think cookbooks are dead.

How Much is Too Much ...

... to spend on a candle?  They are certainly novelty items, but a really nice one can make your living space so lovely.  I had the pleasure of unpacking these fabulous-smelling things when they arrived the other day, and oh my, I've had candles on the brain ever since. It's also a fine line however since everything from Yankee Candle Co. generally makes me want to throw up.

When I was in Paris this summer the Diptyque boutique in Le Marais really made me covet a Feuille de Lavande candle, but I drew the line and said $60 was waaaay too much.

I am absolutely picking up one of these for the holiday season, they are to die for.  In fact, the one I got last year was so delicious smelling I burned it all year long.

Until I can fill up my whole house with Diptyques, I'll stick with the much more affordable Mrs. Meyers.  Ohhh, and I see they have some holiday scents!

Local Real Estate Crush

Surely every blogger, design magazine reader, and lover of all things pretty fell in love with Jenna Lyons' house as soon as it was featured in Domino in 2008. Ever since the Domino spread I've loved seeing various shots and stylings of the Park Slope home.  Additionally, since moving to the neighborhood I've peeked in various windows to see if I could figure out what house it is. Now, thanks to some not-so-good press I've learned that the house is literally right around the corner from me. Also turns out I could now own the place for $3.75 million.

Via Black Eiffel via Domino (RIP)

via Habitually Chic via Levenson McDavid Architects

via Habitually Chic via Livingetc