greetings of the season

Matt-Pearson

So. Small group of friends coming over for dinner tonight. Should be stress-free, as I indicated on my e-vite.

And I'm not stressing.... exactly. I'm somewhat paralyzed, as I can't clean without moving some packages that need to be mailed out of the way. But I can't move those packages out of the way without stacking them, but I don't have any packing tape (which would also enable me to go ahead and mail them, through that handy-dandy USPS auto-machine! love it. Except gosh, you really do kind of save lots by purchasing online + printing out your own label! a-hem).

And I've got to run to the grocery, where I could pick up said packing tape. Except I've also got to pick up a holiday shirt for the hubs, and possibly some stocking holders for the mantle, and I believe (if I'm lucky) those stores open up at 11. So, I should just wait til those stores open, right?

sigh. maybe I am just this much of a procrastinator.

lacanica, joojoo, SewnNatural 

but, lucky me, white elephant gift is in the bag! (well, literally, a j crew box :) And, for tangent number 80 bajillion: have any of you stopped into Anthropologie lately + said your purchase is a gift? They give you the most delightful felt "blossom" (okay, just a circle, but still!) on a shoestring for packaging, and it is *darling*! I think it could be a sash! But a shoestring, perhaps not...)

Happy Sunday thoughts to all :)

iGoogle lovin

We all know I'm an uber-geek, so I thought I'd share my excitement :D:

I have no idea how I got so lucky, but a little pop-up window appeared one day, asking me if I want to change my iGoogle* theme.  I usually have it set to this beautiful scenery photography by ... I can't remember.  But one suggested theme was 12 Days of Cookies by the Food Network -- and holy cow, I get wo excited everytime I open my homepage and see a new lovely + yummy treat!! I know, I'm so easy -- but seriously!  Instant holiday cheer (and I *love* gorgeous baked goods!) -- and okay, that last one is really Paula Deen's Holiday Treats theme, but I couldn't find a pic of all 4 of the cookies -- but you the idea :)

*iGoogle page: in case y'all aren't users, you can personalize your google homepage!  I keep my fave blogs on that page so that I can see my email + new updates on my fave blogs and check it all at my leisure. I mean, I'm a fan of googleReader and all, but man, I've been busy with work yesterday and the day before, and by like 3p, I'm behind by about 130 or so posts -- tooo overwhelming!  Anyway, I know there's gadgets you can add, but I'm not that high-tech :D

Friday Love!

(c) Cliff Mautner

Friday Faves!

I am *loving* all of these wintery white lovelies floating around! Personally, I love seeing large pic files, but unfortch, gearing up for all the fun I have happening at the end of this month = less time.  So let's just enjoy a collection of a handful of the pretties out there, yes?

Row 1: The Bride's Cafe, feat. Tinywater Photography; This is Glamorous, feat. Martha Stewart; Oscar de la Renta on Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 2: Cédric Bihr feat. on This is Glamorous; Sarah Hogan Photography on Gathering Spriggs; Polka Dot Bride feat. Witchery shoes

And eeee, did you stop by Lovely Clusters already?  Rachel posted some *beautiful* Christmas clusters!

Have a beautiful weekend!

Dress Details {Sarah Maren Photography}

(c) Sarah Maren Photography, feat. on 100layercake; dress by Lisa Welge

A couple months back, 100layercake featured this *fabulous* dress, made by the bride (!!)  gor.geous.

Photo AND dress by Lisa Welge

And I couldn't stop checking out Sarah's site for more dress goodies -- they just leapt off the page!
{all images below by Sarah Maren Photography}

 

 

And okay, not a dress, but cuuute!

Now I just have to peruse Lisa's pages, too..

It's the holidays!!!!

Man oh man oh man, I love my office.

 Secret Santa gift exchange.

bakerella

• My gifting of a pair of ladies' Christmas socks with glittery teddy bears on them to one of the favorite guys in the office: rockfest.
• 
  
  That he thought that was all he was getting, and was excited about it: rockfest squared.
  
• 
  
  That, only after much cajoling to put on the socks *immediately*, did he find the actual gift of an iTunes giftcard: rockfest cubed!
  
  
  

Holiday-Feast-Induced Coma.  I don't really need to say more, right?

figtreequilts feat. Le Trip

Random Christmas Pretties:

hello naomi, via meaghan-antoinette:jedijazzhands

via justbesplendid

I love this season! The giving, the cheer, the happiness from simple things like a break in the middle of the day from work, at work :D + good food + gifts = awesome :)

Housewarming + Bridal Shower gifts {Anthropologie}

I know these have been making their way around the blogosphere.  And I had grand plans of posting all the *adorable* aprons at Anthropologie, since I was shopping for two housewarming gifts for dear friends, and have a bridal shower to attend the day after Christmas, hosted by my mother-in-law and sister-in-law for the sister of our good friend who was also my husband's best man, and whose entire family are dear friends of my in-laws.  (Hee, I just wanted to write all that out!) 

But I love these so much I just had to share! And, now that your brain is just as taxed as mine, let's just settle on the winners after all my online + in-store perusing, yes?

A bit Parisian, in my head, for Jessica: vibrant + fun + a bit modernized-vintage :

And since Catherine's shower is one of those letter-themed ones, and I got the letter "R," I figured it wouldn't exactly be cheating to go for this "ruffled" apron :)!

For Catherine, I'd also love to throw in a couple kitchen utensils, if she's registered for any! But gosh darn, they also have a lot of lovely wine gadgets that would make a *fabulous* wine basket!! And it's all Metrokane RABBIT!

But I had my heart set on an apron -- I feel like perhaps they're catching on more now (especially as they're all on all these gift lists!).  But really, how many of you would actually splurge on an apron for yourself?  My kitchen love was *transformed* after my friend Bee gave me my first apron: a vintage-esque, gold + white + green half apron, it was *phenomenal.* And then my mother-in-law gave me my second: a red + black/white checkered, proper-vintage half-apron (it was hers after being gifted from her mother or aunt several (15-20?) years ago!).

But. I have to admit that my heart belongs to the full apron gifted to me by the hubs's cousin: full length, a smidge ruffly, and this cheery cherry pattern that perfectly matches a set of fancy rubber gloves I splurged on once :D Hey, making housework as glamorous as possible goes a long way!

Gloveables via Womans Day

I know. I am totally the girl who kind of ruins it for all women, because things like aprons + fancy rubber gloves excite me.  As did the elliptical trainer I got once, too.  My apologies, ladies!