YES

YES INDEED. this was their christmas kard. why are they just so ridiculously awesome? remember this?

mad gab

mad gab is the most fun ever. it's a game where you read the words printed on a card which, when sounded out, actually say something else. that was a terrible explanation - here's an example:

card says: canoe key pace he grit?

hopefully you eventually figure out that it says: can you keep a secret?

these cards are a totally uncomplicated way to play, and mitchell and i are, without fail, laughing hysterically within moments of whipping it out. it hits the funny bone the same way some of the ingenious me talk pretty one day does. it's mainly funny because you hear your playing partner trying desperately to figure out what the hell they're saying, and it's usually totally obvious to you what it is...so they sound like they're first learning english and putting the acCENT on the wrong syLLABle. take my word for it, it's hilarious.

you can even play it online if you feel like you're going to blow a gasket at your desk and need a mood lifter.

cranky mood? mad gab. bored? mad gab. trust me on this one.

remember the rituals

starbucks always has good one-liners...i love that when they serve you your coffee they say "let me know if your drink's not perfect." it's not even just posted on a sign somewhere - they say it!

so i wasn't at all surprised to see a sign on the door recently that said "take comfort in rituals." AMEN. isn't a good ritual something we can all take such comfort it? whether it's the way you make the bed in the morning, the few minutes you sit quietly and sip a hot tea, even where you place your keys, your umbrella, your wallet when you get home at the end of a long day.

often, the first things to go when we're stressed out or overtired are the rituals and routines that keep us grounded and sane. i know when i'm rushing around in the morning, running late, my inclination is to skip the 2 minutes to make the bed - that's 2 minutes i could use somewhere else. but it's the wrong choice, i've learned, in so many ways. first, the simple act of taking that 2 minutes is calming - it makes me feel more in control, and reminds me to put one foot in front of the other and take it easy on myself a little. it also makes me feel less frenzied when i'm turning off the light and leaving the room, knowing i'm leaving a neat, calm bed behind me.

and when i return home after the long day i rushed to, it's a terrible feeling to walk into a bedroom in disarray. it's far better to be welcomed by a pretty, relaxing space - a small but crucial reward for a day of doing and going. other than in some filmic sliding doors situation, that 2 minutes doesn't slow me down very much and certainly doesn't affect monumental change, but skipping it could change everything.

another ritual i have been loving recently is my ikea milk frother which you might remember me talking about as a tiny treasure last year. it makes the milk frothy but not hot, and gives a whole new level of luxury to the morning cup. in all seriousness, you need to get one. and they're $1.99.

for more on rituals and keeping our heads on straight during the holiday rush, read on.

funny girl (and she cooks!)

i'm kind of loving jessica seinfeld these days. gone are the days of being accused of stealing the fruit puree idea, and here to stay is her fab personality and great, healthy ideas. when i was home from work for a few weeks, i joined the oprah-watching world and there jessica was - comfortable, self-assured, and much-adored by jerry, her proud, watchful and totally not overshadowing husband.

in today's goop, jessica and her new book are featured. watch the video gwyneth links to - one of many short, supereasy looking ones on jessica's new website, originally shot for jessica's friend who wanted to learn to cook. and also read the short interview with jessica for some excellent tips and a glimpse into her world.

i love how in the video, jerry is just hanging in the background looking like a hungry husband wondering what's for dinner. nary a close up of his face nor a peep out of his hilarious genius of a mouth.

want the book. for me and for gifts. want her to be my friend. and jerry too.

image from seattle times

spare pair

these last few rainy days in new york have illuminated how great the "spare pair" is that i picked up at target a few weeks ago (not to be compared with this spare pair, also interesting).

they're a foldable pair of flats that come with their very own carrying case - how cute! thrown in your bag, they're a quick change agent for heels, rain boots, sneakers or flip flops and perfect for traveling, commuting, or just as a fallback for ambitious shoe-wearers. they're like the popples of shoes. hear me when i tell you they look just as nice as their more rigid flat brethren when worn. unfortunately, they're not available online so you have to make the trek. or...

similarly, the gap has city flats in several colors and textures, including my two favorites, the velvet flat in phantom purple and the leather flat in perfectly on-trend camel. also see them in the punchy, rich lasalle red.
i love the range of colors available in the city flats, and if you want even more options, you have to check out the collection at yosi samra. they even make bridal ones!
to me, this concept is pure genius. women have been carrying spare pairs since the dawn of time...(okay, maybe not the dawn of time, but you get what i mean), it's just never been this easy or cute!

all images from linked sites

baby it's cold outside

so today seems like a fitting day to talk about my latest cold weather accessory obsession, the faux fur leg warmer/boot cover. i wish there was one agreed upon name for the genre, but there isn't.

i love these because it means you don't have to buy a pair of faux (or real if that's your thing) winter boots, you can instead wear the same ones you've been wearing for years and use these as a wintry, warming add-on. also, if they get a little too shaggy from snow and rain and sleet, you're not dealing with a $300 pile of wet shag to feel guilty about.

i'd say the pair at the top from lulu's ($41) is my number one choice, though these wonderland warmers ($32) are pretty adorable as well (in white, black, gray or coffee):

oh, and these "chinchilla" ones (ami clubwear, $about $40):

although i don't find the furry shag boot covers i found on amazon quite as luxe looking, i think they're great in that they come in so many colors and so cheap ($18) that you can get a few and match them to the rest of your outerwear ensemble which is, in itself, kind of luxe, don't you agree?

and while we're on the topic of luxe, i just want to make sure you're aware of rachel zoe's faux fur vests on qvc...here are my two favorites, in silver and red fox (otherwise known as give it to me pleeeeease), both around $80):

okay and one more thing in the faux fur arena...check out this faux fur flagstaff jacket ($118) available for preorder at fred flare:

and since you're already there, see the buckled miwok vest ($60) as well - on trend, but a little different because of the buckles:

did somebody say head start on holiday gifts? okay i'm done.

except for this, for the dreamers. meet j.crew's mongolian lamb vest($800). nighty night.

if you're so inclined, check out the post i did at SHEfinds about this vest, or the whole fur wardrobe you can get for the same price.

stay warm.

hot under the collar

aren't heavy winter coats the bane of your existence while commuting, traveling or shopping? UGH! they're great when you're outside freezing, but it seems like the nanosecond you get inside, the heat is blasting like it's trying to bake you, and all the people create a level of body heat that makes you want to strip down and scream. my solution is usually to skip the coat if at all possible, figuring i'll be cold while outside but that i'll warm up quickly inside. then i stand there shivering waiting for the bus cursing my stupid, stupid idea.

enter the abrigo bag...love love love! have you seen it? it's a pretty tapestry-style carpetbag (comes in cognac or verde) which holds any size coat (and a pocketbook as well!) and is easily slung over your shoulder or strapped onto a piece of rolling luggage. and when you're not using it, it folds flat and stows anywhere you want. this is so perfect for someone who travels a lot, carries an abundance of stuff everywhere they go (hello, have we met??), really this is just pretty awesome.

LOVE. especially in cognac.

images from abrigo bag

go for baroque

i am just obsessed with vera bradley's new print, baroque. can you believe? you go, vera. as her site says, this is a fully modern print but with strong roots in the classical, which to me, makes it just about perfect.
i adore the black-and-whiteness of it all, especially with the elegant flourishes throughout, but the punch of a sharp, sharp citrine color...it goes over the top. OBSESSED.
this new development makes me totally question my previous intention of beginning a new, matching but mismatching vera bradley wardrobe since mine is falling apart after over a decade of checking it at airports (wouldn't do that again) and dragging it everywhere (i would lift and place this time around). although i suppose i could see throwing in a piece or two in imperial toile one day.



and then maybe just one piece of puccini. you know, down the road...

oh boy, here we go again.

all images from vera bradley

a cut above

when i gasped upon seeing these kimberly mcdonald earrings, i knew they were meant to be shared. and meant to be owned. by me. well, until then, let's just observe and weep.










using interesting geodes and rare gemstones, kimberly mcdonald's designs are unique and eyecatching - classic and edgy in the same moment. i love how she uses diamonds in conjunction with the other materials - so thoughtful and restrained to not go totally rogue where tradition is concerned. sometimes they're dainty and pave, sometimes raw and uncut.
and she's a firm believer in reusing materials, rather than continuing to deplete natural resources, which makes each piece even more lovely and one-of-a-kind, which is so special. here is what she says:

there is such an abundance of material out there, we need not continue to harvest many of the materials needed to create. i like to think of each creation as an extension of what nature has given us and we strive to preserve the integrity of the material and its unique energy. we also strive to reuse rather than reap. jewelry was initially created to carry symbolic talismans and stones of energy or import. i believe it should still have that meaning and that we can accomplish this without pillaging nature.

amen sister.






and can i just say...OMFG.



kimberly's designs are sold at only a few places which are here.

images from rockras, la mag, pierce mattie public relations, modern jeweler, polyvore, jewelsnob, browns fashion, life-content, kaboodle, the cut london, holt renfrew, beauty lab ny, jewelsfile, gem gossip, elle