I’m into it. Coloring, that is! Call it cheap therapy and a great way to pass the time in the dead of winter. There is something about coloring that is very zen and relaxing. Of course you can use any coloring book, but I wanted something that didn’t involve superheros or Transformers. Instead, I found books made for adults that want to color again. And since I am a grown up, I bought myself a pack of really nice pencils. Want to come over and color?
‘Tis the season and it’s time to wrap! Last year I shared my holiday palette of gift wrap and my admission of being OCD when it comes to wrapping presents. I love choosing new papers each year and The Container Store has the best gift wrap shop! Last year my theme was Snowy Cottage Glam and included golden glitter paper. The palette was amazing but the glitter sucked. I can’t stand the side-effects of glitter. One gift and I was covered in glitter, as was my bedroom floor.
This year my theme is Festive Mountain Lodge. Steering clear of the glitter, I am choosing a more understated, woodsy theme. I fell in love with navy blue antler wrap and built the rest of the palette around it. Antlers, birch bark, gray gabardine, and winter plaid papers are exactly what I imagine under the tree at a rustic mountain lodge. Tie-ons and ribbon will finish the packages. I kind of love it!
How is Thanksgiving next week? And how is it almost December? Mind boggling. I have no hosting duties next week and I am still awaiting my assignments. Maybe I will just be bringing wine!? My boys {all 3 of them} and I are going to enjoy four whole days together. I am praying for no homework and lots of time on the couch. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with your friends or family.
A few things that inspire and interest me this week:
7. A structured jacket, a soft silk skirt and bad ass boots. Brave outfits like this one inspire me to try unexpected things with my wardrobe. {Those boots!}
I am just a little bit excited about our Christmas gift for our two year old nephew. Ok, a LOT excited! You might remember Brecken and his little darling face! I made him a book for his birthday with the faces and names of our family! I thought it would be a great way for him to stay connected with his cousins and his aunts and uncles. San Diego is far too far.
We want him to think of Seattle and the PNW as his second home. For his Christmas gift, I created a Personalized Memory Game with a little help from Pinhole Press. The game has 24 cards {12 matching pairs}. I used pictures from my Instagram account, choosing quintessential Northwest images. The Space Needle, the Seattle Great Wheel, apples, a ferry boat, Safeco Field, snowy mountains, an island beach, Husky Stadium, the Blue Angels, the Pike Street Market sign, the old Boeing barn, and the Seattle skyline.
I love the robots on the back and it only took a few minutes to create this one-of-a-kind gift. The game can grow with him. Starting out with a smaller amount of matches to find and building up to all 24 cards. My boys are looking forward to playing with him.
The game comes packaged in a darling box. Perfect for a game shelf or a tray so it is easy to grab and play.
Every year I vow to shop early and reduce the stress during the month of December. In year’s past, Thanksgiving arrives and I have done nothing. Somehow, this year, I am well on my way and already have a few gifts tucked away in hiding. I am sharing the love today. How about a few items that are probable to be total winners?!
I feel it. The anticipation that begins to build as the holidays approach. In the last couple of years I have dreaded the season {which is extremely unlike me}, but this year I feel energized by the thought of spending time with family and friends, building memories with my boys, and the festivities that come between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. In the weeks to come I hope to share that excitement with you!
Things that inspire and interest me this week, heavily influenced by Buenos Aires:
5. I fell in love with this chalkboard wall. The lettering, the design, all of it. Plus, it was the store front of a speak easy in Buenos Aires. Well, done.
6. A Caipirinha in the mid-afternoon sun is perfection!
We just arrived home from Argentina yesterday. It is spring time in South America. Warm and sunny. Quite a contrast to the November we have in the Northwest. Regardless, of the weather, it is time to embrace deep autumn and prepare for the upcoming holiday season. Here a just a few fall themed ideas to get you in spirit!
I am so, SO excited for the weekend. I love to watch my boys prep for Halloween night. The night is really not my favorite, but they are totally into it and seeing them happy is always a good thing. I had not allowed mini-sized candy into my house until this week. And for good reason! Who can resist a Snickers bar? Not me, obviously. Sunday afternoon we are Buenos Aires bound. {Whaa?} One whole week of exploring the South American city, eating steak, drinking Malbec, and maybe a little hiking and dancing the Tango thrown in for good measure. I won’t be posting here on the blog next week, but please follow my trip and adventure on Instagram. {@seattlejune}
Haircut follow up: You know when you go on a blind date and the minute you meet him you instantly know he is “the one”?! Yep, pretty much the same thing with my new stylist.
A round-up of things that inspire and interest me this week:
1. Anyone been to Buenos Aires? We would love any recommendations.
2. To know me is to know I am obsessed with cross-body bags. The fringe on this bag is everything!
3. Do you follow Garance? We would be best friends if I lived in NYC. Her new book is out this week.
We leave for Buenos Aires in just four days. {Pinch me!} One of my dear friends, who we are traveling with, has issued a challenge. Carry on luggage only. My husband has wholeheartedly accepted the challenge for me after lugging my enormous suitcase around Italy for two weeks. I will admit that I packed too much on our trip to Europe. We were gone for fifteen days and I had no idea what to take with me. Now I have a better idea of what I like to wear in a large, international city. It also helps that it is spring time in South America, so I won’t need big bulky clothing. Don’t get me wrong, this is not going to be easy to do. I am beginning to formulate a plan. I think dresses will be my saving grace. However, what do I do about shoes? Or outerwear? Or beauty products? The beauty products alone are nightmare. Damn 3 oz. rule! {I strongly believe that rule is discriminatory toward women.}
So I have to ask:
Do you carry on or check your luggage? If you carry on, what are your tricks?!
I wrote a guest blog post last week featuring a yummy dessert. I thought I would share it here as well. These little jars make great individual treats. Give them as a gift and your friends will think you are the best!
I don’t know about you, but I fall victim to anything sweet. I love desserts that look amazing, taste delicious, but are are simple and easy to make. Chocolate Chip Cookie Jars, simply a chocolate chip cookie baked in a jar and served ooey and gooey, are perfect in any season. However, they are particularly awesome this time of year. There is nothing better than a little something sweet after a delicious fall meal. Plan to serve them with a big Sunday dinner or make them mid-week for a special treat!
2. Fill 4oz jelly jars approximately 1/2 full with prepared cookie dough. You don’t need to grease the jars. Just spoon in the dough.
3. Place jars on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. You want the just the edges to be golden brown. Don’t over bake! The centers will collapse a bit as the cookies cool. Don’t worry! This creates a perfect spot for that scoop of ice cream!
If you plan to bake and eat them right way, give the jars 20-30 minutes to cool down. You don’t want to try to hold the jar when they are hot! A scoop of salted caramel gelato puts these babies over the top, but vanilla works too. These are also great to bake ahead of time. Just remember to microwave them for a 10-15 seconds before eating. It is just too sad not to eat them warm!
