glooooo...ooooo....ooooooo...ooooria!

Happy Happy Happiest of Christmases to you and yours!!!

I am home for the holidays and it feels so nice to be here in my cozy house. Being here just brings me back to my childhood. Cheerful days of hot chocolate and the Nutcracker Suite, decorating the tree with ornaments from years past. Meg and I drove in from Maynard Thursday night (she spent the day in my classsroom!) and I have been soaking up this time at home. What a wonderful feeling it is to be on vacation.

I send a wish to you on this glorious day... that your Christmas be filled with happiness, warm thoughts, and that you will be surrounded with the love of your family and friends.

Here is a special grace that I recently found that for me reflects the meaning of the season perfectly. Happy Christmas. ♥

credit: Curly Girl Design

peace and love to you...

photo credit: anthropologie

Merry Christmas Eve!! Joy to the world!

xoxo,

♥aeb.

Holiday Gift Guide 2010: CUTE labels!!

photo by Melanie @ the sweet life

Check out this awesome "chef's medallion" labels from artist Felix Doolittle!

I discovered these adorable gift ideas today while reading one of my favorite blogs. What an awesome idea for the foodie in your life!!!

They have lots of different gift options for just about anyone on your list.

magnets.

bookplates.

return address labels.

personalized calling cards.

Absolutely incredible illustrations.

Good stuff, my friends.

DECEMBER!

Now that it's December (how fast this year has gone!) it's time to bust out that glorious advent calendar and start munching on the chocolate.

Usually I just pick up the $2 choco calendar at Trader Joe's.

1) Because it's cheap.

2) Because who doesn't want to pop some cocoa in their mouth each morning?

But, I do think this advent calendar from Pottery Barn is particularly adorable. You could totally get creative with this one and toss in some fun mini-gifts in each pocket. And some chocolate too, of course.

'Tis the season!!

looks i love....

So glamorous!

Perfect for party time, I love these looks.

Zara's 2010 Evening Collection

Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!

We're celebrating right here at my apartment this year, which is really nice and relaxing and I'm thankful for that! I watched the parade this morning in my PJ's and with a hot cup of coffee. Then I set to work making the celery root and apple puree. I taste tested it about an hour ago and it is DELICIOUS! I've been taking spoonfuls here and there when no one is looking. Hopefully there will still be some left for the feast.

I am thankful for oh so many things this year. For my family and friends, my wonderful new job, being able to keep in touch and have great times with the people closest to me, and finally finishing up my masters in just a few short weeks!

I hope you have a super Thanksgiving!

xoxo,

♥aeb.

celery root and apple puree (courtesy of Ina).

Check out this episode of barefoot contessa for delicious ideas for Thanksgiving dinner. I myself am planning on making the celery root and apple puree (minute 7:16 in the video). YUMMY. It sounds and LOOKs delectable.

2 days!!

Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Keurig

I think this would be a totally awesomerific present.

I am still currently using my 12-cup brewer, which is fine, but this Keurig single-cup coffee brewer is just so 2011.

This model (B-40) is only $99 from amazon.com. Not too shabby!!

A sensational gift in my humble opinion.

Holiday Gift Guide 2010: GLEE Christmas

This album is SO GOOD!!!!

It will make you smile and will make your heart happy. It will also make you want to sing along! I think this would be a great stocking stuffer or secret santa gift.

The songs of the season you love sung by the Glee Club.

Good times, great singing.

Enjoy!

Holiday Gift Guide 2010: FRESH!

A gift from FRESH would put a smile on any girl's face. Their perfume is DEVINE and I have used the hair products a handful of times too. All scents are perfect for everyday use, very light and oh so pleasant. And the prices aren't too bad either!

Fresh soy shampoo and pomegranate conditioner. A whiff of heaven every time you're in the shower.

I think these wrapped soaps are just perfect stocking stuffers. They smell so delicious and even just put on display in a bathroom they add a special touch!

I adore their perfume. I have Sugar Lemon, but it wasn't an easy choice- they all smell amazing!

This would be a great gift for a mother, sister, or a friend.

Visit the Fresh website or just click here to find out where to buy Fresh products near you!

Holiday Gift Giving Guide 2010

It's getting to be that time of year again. The glorious holiday season. And you may be starting to wonder what to get those special people in your life. Welcome to my first annual holiday gift giving guide! I will be spreading the word on gifts that I think are fantabulous. Ones that juuuust might rock that special someone's world. From perfume to jewelry, music to trinkets, come here for your one-stop shopping guide. I will try my best to post an array of products (for women and men), in hopes that something might catch your eye. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

(Russian Babushka Doll wrapping paper found at Enna's Etsy Shop. Adorable!)

Taking on Thanksgiving...

photo from: Closet Cooking

This year Meg and I are hosting Thanksgiving at our apartment!

I know my mom and Grammy will probably be helping a LOT, but I've been doing a little research on what I can contribute to the meal. Ina Garten and Martha Stewart have been supplying me with plenty of ideas, now it's just about deciding what to do!

I'll keep you updated!

What are your plans for Turkey Day?

it's the holiday season.... almost!

I know it's a little early but click here for a fun video from anthropologie... it'll just put you in the spirit of the holidays!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Halloween from 1st grade!!

Hippity Hoppity

Happy Easter!!
Hope you are enjoying this glorious day wherever you are!
xoxo.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I just ate a huge handful of green m&m's. Ok, fine. I lied. I ate the whole bag. YUM! Hope you had a green filled day! And may the luck O the irish be with you. xoxo.

A Valentine's Day Brunch

Check out this FRENCH TOAST.

Oo la la...

Yeah, I'm pretty happy about it.

For Valentine's Day we went to Brunch at Brookline Lunch. A fabulous choice on both our parts.

I gave Zan this card on Valentine's Day.

I found it while shopping around Beacon Hill on Saturday and I bought it instantly. These collectors postcards made by Kittywake Card Company feature pictures and art from around Boston. Anything about lobsters just remind me so much of Zan and so I thought this card was perfect. Especially the inscription on the back:

"The Candy Cane or Polka Dot Lobster is exceedingly rare, found once every several billion lobsters. Like others mutant lobsters, the landing of a Candy Cane by the lobstermen of New England is considered a harbinger of good fortune and happiness."

We were planning on having lobsters for dinner, but didn't get to James Hook Lobster Co. in time before they closed. Double Dang! No matter though, we may not have had good fortune with eating lobsters but we sure did have a lot of happiness. ♥♥♥

I love....

After doing my daily check-up on my favorite blogs, Pioneer Woman (man, I love her) wrote out a list of things she loves in honor of Valentine's Day. Well, I had so much fun reading her list, I've decided to make my own. Here goes...

I love, I love, I loooove...

My mom and dad.

Chocolate chip cookies.

Lululemon pants.

Handwritten letters.

Finishing a good book.

My apartment.

Zan (and the way he just fell asleep on the couch).

Summer.

Ice cold milk.

A Little Princess.

Hallelujah.

Good music.

Chapstick.

Taking hot showers (and my bathrobe).

Outdoor showers.

Skiing.

Hobes and Willy Smith.

My So Called Life.

Taylor Swift.

Flip flops.

Fridays.

Saturdays.

Holidays.

My little sister.

Clothes right out of the dryer.

Teaching.

My Grammy.

Getting a mani/pedi.

Chatham, Cape Cod.

My Girl.

My blankie.

Peanut butter and jelly and potato chip sandwiches.

Hot chocolate with mini marshmellows.

My MacBook.

Skaneateles Lake.

Dancing.

Good people.

Being cozy.

My aunts and uncles and ALL my cousins.

Vintage things.

Musicals.

Taking pictures.

Fancy jewelry.

Eating out.

Eating in.

American Idol.

Christmas Eve.

Happy people.

Annie's mac and cheese.

Ginger ale.

Blogging.

Kleenex.

Zyrtec.

Gertrude Hawk Smidgens.

Interior decorating.

Harry Potter.

Quilts.

J.crew and Anthropologie.

RUDY.

Raspberries.

Memories of London and Venice.

Dressing up.

My birthday.

My friends.

The month of looooove...

Happy February!! I can't believe how fast January went by! It seems like only yesterday I was ringing in the new year in Brooklyn, wearing my fancy crown and sipping on champagne. Well, we are now finished with the month of celebration and new beginnings and on to the month of loooove. Since Valentine's day is closer than you think I thought I would lead you to some fun artists on Etsy with printable valentines for you to purchase. Cause not everyone has time (or enough creativity) to make their own (and the valentines they have in the drugstores are LAME). Here's some super cute ideas for you to consider....

English Muffin Shop's Valentines Day cards... so cute!!

Love vouchers from MissusDPaperie

"You're a Hoot!" and other Valentines from Green Apple Paperie

A fun Valentine's Day Mouse Stationary set from Happy Papers

All of these handmade Valentine's (and more!) can be found on Etsy. Have a look and choose your favorite! ♥♥♥

A Brooklyn NYE...

Speaking of New Years resolutions reminds me that I haven't posted about NYE 2010 yet!! We stuck around Brooklyn to spend New Years with Bails, Kevin and Beck and I'm sure glad we did. 4th Ave Pub was the perfect place to ring in the new year. No line, no cover, seats at the bar, party hats and noise makers, and best of all-- a free glass of champagne at the stroke of midnight! It was a great night with many things to be thankful for in the past year. But on this particular night I was just so thankful to be out of the rain, thankful to NOT be in Times Square, and thankful to be spending New Years with people that I love!

The night began with Kevin in the kitchen.

Making a delicious dinner...

of pork, potatoes, and brussel sprouts.

We toast to 2009...

As we ring in 2010!