The Last Minute Gift Guide

Well here we are, it's December 19th. Christmas is just days away and I am, per usual, unprepared. I give bloggers who manage to get multiple gift guides published per season while somehow maintaining at least the veneer of got-it-together-ness so much credit – for me, something happens every December. I start off strong, but by the 15th, I've melted into a pile of nerves and self-induced stress. Anyway, all that to say I'm still finishing up my shopping this week (thank you, Amazon prime) and I thought I'd share a few personal favorites here – you know, in the event I'm not the only one still shopping (guys, I don't even have a tree).

I'm definitely utilizing Shopbop's new Amazon webshop - everything's eligible for Prime shipping which means you could grab a cute hat for mom or a set of stacking bracelets for a friend (+ check out these under $50 cuties)

These home gifts would be sweet for a favorite couple or a friend who's nesting and loving these sweet children's presents for little ones (those knit rattles! so cute!) and when all else fails – you can't go wrong with a cute pair of pajamas

This sleek home diffuser would be lovely for a mom or sister (or as a gift for yourself)

For the sweet kitty in your life, you can't go wrong with this insanely cool spaceship cat bed

This cookbook would be perfect for the cook in your life (or someone obsessed with fermentation)

An indestructible (and beautiful) copper French press (plus a really good bag of coffee and a to-go cup) would make nearly anyone happy – highly recommended for gift swaps!

For your best friend who just needs to relax, this set of sheet masks is self-care heaven

This is the candle that makes Anthropologie smell so good... need I say more?

Oprah says these slippers are her favorite thing – and I'm apt to believe her. Perfect for your mom or anyone else who could use a little cozy in their life.

And if you're still looking for a holiday outfit combo, here you go: fluffy jacket + pretty little dress

And finally, you can't go wrong with a handmade gift – these healthyish dark chocolate turtles look and sound amazing.

(click an image to be taken right to the product)

Over the Weekend: Holiday Inspiration at Terrain

In search of seasonal inspiration, this weekend I hopped in the car with Mary of Millay Vintage, bound for the magical world that is Terrain. And let me tell you, this weekend the magic was turned up to 11 for their annual Holiday market. We're talking fake snow and carolers dressed to the nines in Victorian-era costumes, and I will not lie: I loved every second of it.

Maine, Part 2

Having a birthday in late January and growing up in rural Maine pretty much guarantees one thing: every birthday party will either be a sledding party, or an ice skating party, or some glorious combination of the two (during one particularly snowy winter we even went sledding off the garage roof). So, it's only natural that while home for the holidays we commemorated my upcoming 30th just as I have for the past thirty years -- with sleds. A few of our closest were kind enough convene for our annual Yankee swap and a short afternoon of sledding the next day. Good times with the people I love the most? A pretty great way to welcome a new year and a new decade.

Over the Weekend: Maine in December

To those of you who might be reading from Pittsburgh, I think it's pretty clear these photos weren't taken this past weekend. No, just a few left over shots from our trip home to Maine back in December. On the morning of our departure, my mom and I took the dogs down to the pond, which was a perfectly frozen sheet of ice. It would have been perfect for ice skating if there had been time. We were lucky enough to have a perfectly snowy holiday- and a very snowy drive home- which makes me thankful for all-wheel drive and new tires. Each time we visit, it's a little harder to leave, especially when we know there's a 15 hour drive ahead of us.

This past weekend was the exact opposite of these snowy pictures, it was 70 degrees! I actually saw people walking around in shorts and summer dresses. Unseasonal weather freaks me out, and I was completely unproductive. How was your weekend?

On Crystal Lake

What I wore:
Jacket: ModCloth (find it here)
Dress: Rachel Antonoff (ModCloth, last year)
Tights: American Apparel Super Opaque ($25)
Boots: Jeffrey Campbell (ModCloth, last year)
Leaf Earrings c/o InfinEight
Belt: Vintage/ Thrifted ($2)
Scarf: Found at a swap

Where I wore it: To Christmas day festivities

I always love having some outfit photos queued up, but it feels especially funny to be posting about Christmas in January. I love the holidays, but I'm ready to get on with 2013. It's always my intention to take lots of outfit photos while I'm up north, but more often than not I get distracted, or wear the same thing everyday, or simply can't be troubled. So, I guess all this to say- I'm a little surprised to have anything to show you from our trip!

I bought this plaid dress soon after starting my job last year as a new-job reward for myself, and since then it's become a sort of holiday go-to for me. The red plaid is festive enough, but not overtly whimsical, though I have plans to visit a seamstress to get the cap sleeves hacked off sometime soon (I'm not a huge fan of cap sleeves, especially when paired with Peter-Pan collars). This outfit was perfect for a snowy day spent visiting with relatives and driving from house to house.

Does this view look familiar? If you've been reading for awhile, you may recognize this favorite spot of mine from this post (from Christmas 2010).

Chocorua

What I wore:

Forest Run Vest c/o Quiksilver Women
Sweater: J.Crew factory ($20-ish last year)
Top: J.Crew Factory ($10 old)
Jeans: Madewell High Riser (sale, old)
Boots: Sorel- Wicked Work Boot (c/o Sorel via Lucky Fabb 2011)

Where I wore it: Driving from Maine to New Hampshire to Massachusetts to Pennsylvania

New England always provides a healthy dose of reality when it comes to dressing for the cold. Nothing will bring you back down to earth faster than temperatures below ten degrees and a foot of snow on the ground (and it was only December), and if that doesn't do it, the long looks cast by family and strangers alike will make you question even the most mundane of fashion statements (Wedge boots? But they have tread! They're warm! Look, I can totally walk on the ice in them...). I'm finding that as I get older, that practicality sinks a little deeper, and I remind myself a little more of my mom each winter- for example: forgoing the sparkly dress on New Years Eve because it was snowing and we were driving to the suburbs and what if we went off the road and had to dig the car out? I wore Sorels and a sweater. An overreaction, for sure. None of those things happened.

As we were heading out of town after Christmas, on our long way home, we stopped to take a few photos in front of Mount Chocorua. This is one of my favorite views coming in to town, a peak I often hiked in the summer, and one that now inspires jealousy when I see locals taking advantage of the lake (a friend instagramming her stand-up paddle board, ice skaters). This kind of quiet is always difficult to leave.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from myself, Chris, Zeb, and Zephyr! I hope you're warm and cozy with your nearest and dearest, sipping something strong. My plans? They involve a roaring fireplace, a bunch of dogs (and one angry cat), and -fingers crossed- some old holiday movies. xo

Over the Weekend: A Tiny Tree

Just a few photos from this weekend, because my camera decided to delete the rest. Along with three day's worth of outfit shots...but we won't dwell on that. Between the rain-showers, we stopped and picked out our Christmas tree. Just something little, but the right size to hold the ten or so ornaments we own (each one twist-tied on to prevent certain kitties from acting out their most destructive fantasies). I had to laugh at the sight of Chris escorting it to the car as everyone around us was in a flurry of wrapping their giant trees and strapping them to the roofs of their SUVs. We just put our tree in the trunk and drove it home.

Did you have a nice weekend?

A Whole Lot of Thanks to Give

 

Happy Thanksgiving! After living in the city for a little over a year, today marks our second Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh, and- no harm meant to our dear families- I'm very happy to be spending it together, just the two of us. I hope that you're enjoying a day full of food and warmth!