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