Holiday Gift Guide - For The Ladies

When I started this blog five years ago my husband teased me that I was solely writing about things that I wanted, he called it my endless shopping wish list. While I told him that wasn't true since I often write about things I wish I was adventurous enough to wear or had the bod to pull off. However today I would be happy to admit that I would be pretty pleased if any of these gifts made their way down the chimney at my house this Christmas. 

These fun faux fur pom key chains will help make finding your keys at the bottom of your bag a lot more cute. 

I shared my favorite pajamas here, these are a bit more of a luxe version and coordinating slippers never hurt. More sleepwear options here. 

These earrings are a much more wallet friendly version of the famous les bon bons.

This little bag haunts me. I see it everywhere in every color but the red is fitting for the season. 

A cozy plaid poncho for wrapping up in. 

This adjustable length bracelet is a favorite of mine with it's ease to put on solo. 

A pretty lace top in black or white would look beautiful on your gal for new years. 

We love having Shinola here in Boston. This double wrap watch is one to want. 

These slightly distressed denim with the very on trend step hem is a must in a gal's wardrobe.  Found a great look a like with extended sizes here. 

A chic floppy hat in a neutral color goes with everything. More options here. 

Don't know what fragrance she loves, well this sampler set will definitely fit the bill. I can attest to the fact that they all smell incredible. I also love these little guys for travel. 

A classic silk dress that will never go out of style is a perfect gift to give with a promise of night out on the town. 

These shoes are some sexy shizzz...love them. Also come in flats for a more practical style.

This faux fur jacket looks like the real deal with zero guilt, it also has the yummiest sweatshirt liner that makes this coat extra comfy. 

These simple yet super stylish sunnies are everything. Duplicates for $55 here. 

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Holiday Gift Guide - For the Host & Hostess

I know it's hard to think about gift guides before Thanksgiving has graced us but the truth is the holiday season is upon us. As we start receiving invitations to festive parties you will quickly realize how nice it is to have something on hand to gift the host or hostess. The best part is that everything is under $60! So instead of gifting the usual bottle of wine {ideas below on how to even jazz that up} why not give something a little extra to the person who so thoughtfully put together an evening to create special memories. 

oven mitt set // planner // pens // cake stand // candle // plaid throw // puzzle // monogrammed mug // candy stirrers // pancake molds // pancake mix // syrup & holder // celebrate everything book // cutting boards // coasters // wine bottle labels // wine tote

Kate Spade is undoubtedly the queen of quirkiness and her holiday line of goods for the kitchen is so adorable. I love this trio of oven mitts and this apron and recipe book also are great additions. 

Sugar Paper killed it again with their line with Target. I absolutely love this planner and pen set for helping keeping a busy host/hostess organized. 

Bringing a dessert to a party this year? Why not bring it on a beautiful cake stand for pretty displaying. Love this red Le Creuset but also love these other options too. 

A candle is a trusty gift for any occasion. I love giving them in a festive scent that matches the time of year we are in. There is also a great selection of seasonal scents here. 

Wrap a pretty ribbon around this plaid throw and your gift is ready to give. 

Who doesn't love a puzzle, a fun gift for the family to do together especially one that when completed turns into something pretty. 

Have a host/hostess who loves to cook. I adore gifts that are sets. Why not give them the gift of breakfast with the most adorable pancake molds, mix, and delicious syrup and petite pitcher. 

Something monogrammed had to make the list. Adore these gilded mugs and the candy stirrers are the perfect partner to gift a pretty duo. 

Some of my favorite housewarming gifts have been books to enjoy. I think this celebrate everything would be a big hit for anyone who likes to host. I personally enjoyed this one & this one too. 

Dying over these marble cutting boards & coasters. They are so gorgeous & feminine. Who wouldn't want them?!

Finally embellish you wine gift with a fun holiday label or wine tote to make your gift little extra special. 

shop the post & more with the links below 

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Dining Dilemmas

As we are halfway into our second year in our new home I still can't believe how I haven't made my mind up on so much of the decorating. One item that has been on my to do list was finding new dining chairs. Since we spend most of our time in the open concept main room where the kitchen, the living rom and dining room are all in, it seems sensible to have those pieces be first priority. Since we want to stay here as long as possible while we search for a forever home to purchase I still want the decor to reflect our personal style. So I am turning to you all for your insight and help in selecting a new chair for our main room dining. Our dilemma lies with all the varieties of wood in one room which has me leaning towards an upholstered chair to break up the off white kitchen, the dark mahogany built in's and coordinate it to the color of the table top. Which one of the six is your favorite??? 

   

one // two // three // four // five // six // table

 all kitchen items can be found here

Naturally Beautiful

When it comes to decorative objects for the home I keep finding myself drawn to natural elements that make the most beautiful accent pieces. Whether it be a geode, crystal, piece of agate, marble and so on, there are oh so many clever and stylish ways to incorporate items found in nature into your home. I have become particularly fond of the geode and it's many layers of raw edges and natural colors. I have the above piece on our fireplace mantle thanks to a holiday present from my mom and in our guest room I have stacked piles of books on nightstands with more petite geodes in different colors that match our accent pillow. I also love this gifted piece for entertaining and these coasters on our coffee table are also a favorite aesthetically and for functionality. I pinned a bunch of other ideas for decorating with natural objects here to help get your inspiration going.

antler // candle // pink quartz available in store {white here} // matches old {similar here} // box // books //  nightstand

jewelry box & tray {old west elm, similar here} // books // amethyst // nightstand

coffee table // coasters // candle // game // shagreen tray

shop all of the above & more with the links below

Holiday Gift Guide - For The Host/Hostess

I know it feels way to early to be thinking about your holiday shopping lists but I couldn't resist sharing my first holiday gift guide with you all to help get prepped for all the festivities that are surely filling up your calendar for next month. We have been so fortunate in our new home to have hosted a few dinner parties and our guests have seriously spoiled us with the most generous gifts. So I wanted to kick off the gift guides with some inspiration for giving to the host/hostess that show know how to throw a party. Some are items I have personally received and loved and some are on my list to give to friends and family this holiday season. 

Clare V. is always a stop for me during my holiday shopping lists. Her clutches are seriously stylish so I naturally adored her market tote. 

Who doesn't love a sassy gift here or there. These naughty & nice glasses are adorable and hilarious. If you want to be a little more sophisticated there are a ton more to choose from. 

Giving gifts to men always seems to be a challenge for me. I always thinking picking up their favorite six pack with a nice bottle opener fits the bill for the male host. 

Who doesn't love to receive a good bottle of vino?! Make the gift a little extra special with a this wine tote, or these adorable wine brown bags. 

A throw may seem like an odd thing to gift for hostessing a party but I couldn't resist the adorable pom pom trim on this one. 

 A special memory can be gifted in a beautiful geometric shaped frame. 

A soft scented candle and coordinating matches are always a solid go to gift. 

We always see flasks for men that are super cute, but this one is perfect for ladies...I love how it looks like a bracelet and comes in fun colors. 

Game night in is always a welcome gift for a family. Love these colorful cards & this artistic puzzle. 

I was gifted this salt cellar & fresh sea salt last year & it's so functional and pretty on our countertops. 

A chic desk calendar to keep a stylish friend up to date. 

Monogrammed gifts always let the receiver know you thought ahead, these shield style boards are so perfect for the entertaining at the holidays. 

A chic paper weight let's your gift recipient know they are a good egg. 

A great gift for the gardener/cook who loves their own fresh herbs at an arms reach. Or flowers in this darling vase. 

This entire set of blue & gold ceramics is stunning but I am partial to the pedestal bowl filled with a holiday snack of course. 

What kitchen or bathroom doesn't need a pretty soap/lotion duo?

all of the above and a few added extras can all be shopped below!

Minted

dresser - Ethan Allen // jewelry box - Anthropologie {old, similar here} // nautical map // art c/o Minted // cloche jar - Phoebe & Belle 

Minted has long been a favorite source of mine for holiday cards, invitations, moving announcements and general stationary. I absolutely love the convenience that all my addresses can be printed on envelopes for me and they let you customize your project with colors, fonts and so much more. So when they reached out to me about their amazing art collection I was super excited to take a peak. First I was impressed with their helpful search engines allowing me to narrow down what I was looking for by the color palette. Since I was wanting to stay within colors that matched my existing home decor.  The next part was the selection of framing,  I loved that you are able to see each piece in every frame option. Lastly, they give you tips on other pieces that would work with the art you have selected and how it would look in a gallery wall for a visual interest.  I selected three prints, two for our city apartment and one to go along with a map that was gifted to my husband out at my families home on Shelter Island. I absolutely love how well the pieces work together and the two very different looks really show our personal style. One has a casual beach vibe with a weathered frame that perfectly matched my jewelry box we already had while the other prints are nicely layered on one another under our TV in our master bedroom in a sleek white wood frame. 

{basket purchased earlier in the summer} similar here - west elm // blanket - pottery barn // shagreen console - rum runner home  // jewelry box - Kathy Kuo Home  // jewelry plate - Hermes // art  c/o of Minted here & here 

p.s. please don't mind the ugly carpeting we are on the hunt for it's replacement ;)

shop the above items & more with the links below

I also used their gallery tool to create a little black & white wall, so fun to test out how pieces work together in a series. 

Still need some help with art in your home? Check out my girl Amelia! 

Decorate Your Shelves

When we moved this past June we pretty much sold everything we had from the old apartment as our current home has more of a traditional New England style and our old place was all mid-century modern. Since we also expanded our square footage that meant we had a lot of decorating to do. Something that is new territory to me. The process has been a lot of fun but also a bit overwhelming. Apparently I am indecisive and I pretty much can't make my mind up about anything which has meant that filling the empty spaces in our home has been taking much longer then I thought it would. I always hear advice from designers to "fill things in over time", "buy what you love, not just something to fill a space". I however have to tell you, staring at empty shelves is getting old real fast. So with my bare built in's looking pretty sad I put together a little round up of some objects to decorate your shelves with. What do you have as decor in your living room? 

you can shop all the above with the links below

Style & Real Estate - Giuliana & Bill

Yesterday when we were heading home from Denver I picked up some magazines for reading on the flight home. While I usually opt for a glossy like Vogue or a gossip like US but this time I went for Traditional Home where I saw the gorgeous Chicago home of Bill & Giuliana Rancic. I have long loved taking a peak into celebrity homes {I mean who didn't love Cribs or Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous} but this one was extra appealing to see how a city home can be made to really function for a family while not giving up a urban lifestyle. Something that is so interesting to us as we continue to search for our forever home in Boston. I lam totally smitten with their home and the pops of blue for a little color like they had in their LA Home. 

I would line those lattice walls with some flowers or ivy for more of an outdoorsy look but a urban yard like this is pretty amazing and very hard to come by. 

How amazing is this closet that overlooks the master bath. While this would make me silly nervous with a toddler I love the look of the modern glass railing allowing lots of natural light to shine through multiple rooms. 

I would live in this bathroom. It's perfection. The custom tile, the designated his and her vanities and oversized tub is everything. This bathroom meets all my symmetry obsessions. 

all images via Traditional Home 

Some items in their home you can get for yourself!

Color Crush - Hot Pink & Navy Blue

My niece recently asked me for some help putting together a look for her new bedroom. She sent me a few inspiration photos of things she liked and from there I put together a little round up of a girly room that this pre-teen can grow with and not feel like a little kid anymore. I love the bright pairing of navy blue and hot pink together. It makes for such a cheery ambience and fits this preppy kids overall look. I hope you like it Reeve, love you!



Bed - flamingo wall art // "be you" wall art // headboard // bedding // nightstand // monogram trinket dish // flowers // tassel pillow // throw pillows // pouf {not shown}

Desk - chair // desk // desk lamp // agenda // bulletin // trash bin // tissue box

The Vodka Cleanse

Morning friends! I am back & hope you will forgive me for my very long absence from the blogosphere. I plan on doing a full "life lately" post later this week but I wanted to pop in today and share a fun little product I came across this past weekend on Shelter Island when I was home celebrating father's day with my family. 

I have tried lots of cleanses and usually quit within the first twenty four hours. Life without actual solid food is nothing this gal wants to be a part of. Hangry is a severe understatement of how I am when I am starving myself. So when I popped in one of my favorite Shelter Island markets this weekend and they were giving out samples for a new juice cleanse, I was all like "ugh, another juice cleanse Ill want to try, spend a fortune on and fail miserably at" then I saw the words vodka, tequila and party...my curiosity was peaked and I was suddenly sitting front row like a star pupil to learn all about this "cleanse". The company Clean Drinking is only in NY for right now but I am hoping with time they will be expanding, otherwise I will be silly bothering my family & friends back home to be overnighting me coolers of this magic elixir. Each juice is cold pressed, under 40 calories and is all natural. Some of the drinks are meant for mixing with your favorite alcohol to create a cocktail that is tasty treat without the caloric guilt that so many mixed drinks have. While the others are to help you feel revitalized on their own as a refreshing and hydrating drink, there is even one for the kiddos! I went to pick up some yesterday to bring back to Boston and they were sold out {insert sad face}, I fully plan on stocking up next time I am home. Oh and just for fun I put together a little round up of some cheery summer entertaining accoutrement to help make your next get together a little extra festive. 

Float On

With Memorial Day quickly approaching I have nothing but summer on my mind. I can't wait for days by the beach, cookouts with friends and family, boat rides and long days of sunshine all make for the perfect warm weather days. Since we spend a lot of time out on Shelter Island where the beaches are quite rocky we often find ourselves lounging poolside. To amp up the fun in the water I put together a few of my favorite floats that will be most definitely be fun for any member of the family. I just can't decide which one to pack in my suitcase for the long weekend!

pool party pong // donut // flip flop // warheads // rubber ducky // beach ball // citrus slices // ice cream sandwich // tootsie roll & smarties // flamingo // pizza slice 

shop the above & more summer goodness below 

Puppy Love

If you have seen my instagram it's pretty evident that I am puppy obsessed. Always have been, yet haven't had the opportunity to add one into our family. I am hoping that is all going to change with our new apartment this fall. I grew up with three dogs, my parents have two, my sister has two, and my brother has one. I mention this as we will be bringing the sixth dog into our family and need a breed that is easy to travel with since we are often on the go, needs to play well with others because  we have a big mix of breeds in our family and most importantly good with kids because we have four beautiful nieces who will be around the pup. The King Charles Cavalier is a front runner for its size and temperament but I would love any advice/insight you all have with other breeds! I have only had English Springer Spaniels my entire life and while I love them SO much, I think we need a smaller size for our city living and travel lifestyle. Next up...the fun task of a name!



bowls // grooming brush // travel bed // water canteen // dog bed // shark toy // toy rope // bone chew toy // leather leash {also love this one} // collar // dog gift bag // biscuit jar // dog tag // bag holder // toy bin 

Entry

I so don't want to wish away summer, especially since it's still so cold here in Boston but to say I am excited to move into our new home would be a severe understatement. I am working on each little area of the apartment to find the perfect pieces to make it really feel like ours even if it's just a rental while we continue to search for our forever home. Since I already shared the kitchen, I thought I would share the little area that will be our entry. A place to store our shoes, keys, mail and so on. I know, I know...more white...I just want to keep the space clutter free and airy. I am totally obsessed with the faceted mirror for last minute make up checks while heading out the door. The decorative box will be perfect for storing keys and miscellaneous objects while the tray will hold the mail and fresh blooms are always a must in my home. Have a great day everyone!

mirror // console // flowers  {likely will do a trio of vases like this} // umbrella stand // decorative box {love this duo for a pop of color} // mail tray // key chain 

The Great Indoors

image via vosgeparis

I feel it's safe to say that everyone in Boston is fed up with the massive amounts of snow and the constant headaches that comes with it. You know, the mad dash to the already chaotic grocery store to stock up on food like the world is ending, fighting your way to through the wine shop to grab a bottle of liquid bliss to numb the bitter cold...oh and the icing on the cake of digging your car out under five feet of snow only to lose your spot when you come back, it's no picnic people. While the first snow storm brings a great luxury of being forced indoors to sleep in, watch movies and be unapologetically lazy by blizzard number four winter looses it's luster, especially when you have things to do, people to see and places to go. To help with the brutal winter New England has been having I thought I would create a little post featuring items to create a fun night in for you and your friends, partner in crime or kiddos that would include game night, snacks and an indoor tent inspiration. Because let's face it, we are never too old to think an indoor tent is cool. Stay warm everyone! 

Pretty Pottery

I have a major love for pottery, especially pieces that are topped off with a gilded rim. They look so beautiful displaying your meals and/or sitting pretty on your shelves. The china we picked from our wedding day is all white and pretty lackluster. I would love to amp up our table settings with more interesting pieces like these few that I rounded up from some stylish potters. The above set is from Suite One Studio which offers a slew of small batch beauties made right here in the good old USA. I first spotted this artist's work on the amazing website Food52 and was totally smitten as soon as I saw them. The lace pieces make such a beautiful wedding gift, don't you think? I also love that they above set coordinates so well with these small dishes that I featured in this etsy love post. 

The bowls below is from Studiomake under their "flawed" line which celebrates the beauty of imperfections. I personally love the soft colors and raw edges. They are almost too pretty to use...almost.

The trio below is a beautifully shaped set of dishes that can be used for catching keys to holding jewelry or for food.

Etsy is always a great resource for finding personalized pieces at great prices so when I saw these gold rimmed ring dishes in the prettiest calligraphy I knew I had to share. 

Shop some more gold rimmed treats for your home below!