polaroids of a lovely city in a lovely season

I thoroughly enjoyed these photographs of Amsterdam at Christmas-time, so here's the link so you can see them too!

Pia Jan Bijkerk

splendid construction

1. Toolset Earings from Gargyle
2. Danish Architecture by Jeorn Utzon (flickr here)

The earings would make a great gift for anyone with a love for construction or Paul Bunyan.

Song of the Day: HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS by Coldplay

Jayson Home and Garden favs

1-vintage Scandinavian books

2-antique mercury votive holders

3-Frida taper holder

4-Burlwood bowls

Great holiday home decor gift ideas from Jayson Home and Garden. I love how everything on the site works together and gives off a homey, vintage charm. With "rare finds" and stylish furniture, this Chicago-based store has everthing you need for a perfect one-of-a-kind gift for picky people. Plus, there's free shipping through Dec 31. Love. it.

Song of the Day: PUT THE LIGHTS ON THE TREE by Sufjan Stevens

holiday glee

Anthropologie's holiday ornaments are so adorable. Find anything from knit tea cups to vintage snails. When I get my own place, these will definately be adorning my tree.

I also love Anthropologie's "Holiday Glee" photo reel. Check it out if you're bored.

my favorite time of year- the season of cheer!

It's finally Christmas time again. And with that comes all of my fondest memories by warm fires at my aunt's house, building snow forts after a fresh layer of snow at the park, the smell of peppermint and hot chocolate and, of course the welcoming down comfortor under which to dream the sweetest of dreams about what will be filling my Mickey Mouse stocking in the morning. I know this year, it seems that I am beginning my festive feelings a bit prematurely, but I guess that's due to the fact that the local Walgreens has an entire aisle dedicated to assorted candy cane flavours and a whole other aisle dedicated to other various types of Christmas goodies, and to the fact that my mom, brother, aunt and I went to see the New York Rockettes' Christmas Spectacular in Green Bay last night. The show was fantastic! Giant teddy bears dancing to the Nutcracker, live camel and donkeys, pair skating, a huge replica New York tourbus, and of course those energetic syncronized dancers adorned in all that glitters kicking their toes into the stratosphere. I'm a bit disheartned that I couldn't see them preform in the actual Radio City Music Hall. But, due to the fact that my brother and I simply cannot see eye to eye on any vacation, a 1.5 hour trip to Green Bay was about all I could handle of the little bugger anyways.
I bought my first round of candy canes on Monday night. I have been waiting all year for them to come around again- and I can confidently say that they satisfied my taste for Christmas and lived up to everything I remember them as from last year. Now, I just have to wait until Thanksgiving is over before the old tree gets assembled and takes its postition in our living room for the real thing to finally begin.

(Room from Pottery Barn Holiday 2008 Catalogue)

Song of the Day: BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE by Doris Day and Bing Crosby

in the holiday spirit!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in my neck of the woods. Yes yes, I know, it's only the beginning of November, but the powder falls early up here and this year, I couldn't be more excited. I woke up this morning with a fresh coat of snow on the ground (see picture above) and it inspired me to break out the familiar Christmas tunes that my family has been listening to since I was 5, and to make my favorite holiday cookies- cranberry cookies that my mom used to make since I can remember (of course my baking skills have now surpassed hers so they were better than ever! haha) I posted the original recipe below. Try them if you love cranberries. They're the best.

Merry Christmas!

-love, me