Happy Friday & happy Valentines to you!  I will be enjoying a nice long weekend catching up with family as Monday my office is closed for Presidents day.  But I wanted to pop in here and wish you all a  lovely weekend, one that is filled with sweetness.   xoxo

{image via ames2880}

There is something so pleasant and peaceful about the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve.  It is an ideal time to reflect on the entire past year and to begin thinking about those resolutions for the year that is just around the corner.  Oh and it is also a great time find a few deals if you are so inclined...

  - For little luxuries the prettiest champagne cups are on sale at Anthropologie (perfect for a romantic evening at home with the significant other). Or maybe your cupboards need a set of warm colored latte bowls that are marked down (I purchased a set of the purple ones).

  - Have you had your eye on a Candy Wrapper handbag from Nahui Ollin? They are 30% off with free shipping between 12/28 and 1/1.

  - There are very winsome ruffle tees and such on sale at Jcrew and there is an extra 20% off sales items through 1/3!  This may be an excellent way to get pretty bridesmaid dresses or simply a dress for the will be here before we know it wedding season.

  - Amazon has some great year end deals on everything from clothing and shoes to grocery and sports (maybe particularly interesting if you need work out gear for a certain type of new years resolutions...).  (affiliate link!)

 Or maybe instead of shopping you just want to snuggle up with your laptop for blog reading time.  Here are a few of the things that have caught my eye recently...

  - Purl Bee has posted a super cute & vibrant banner for celebrating the new year that could also be lovely for a so many types of celebrations. 

  - OneWed is giving away free passes to see the upcoming moving Leap Year at a screening in Chicago.

  - Tartelette has shared very delectable sounding hot chocolate and marshmallow recipes.  May be nice for a quiet evening at home treat, no?

  - Kelly+Olive has a post on design knock-offs that anyone wrestling with the "how do I justify the cost" for a designer home furnishing might enjoy.

  - If you still have a little candy making energy left over, Lovely Morning has shared a toffee recipe that I am adding to my list of recipes to try.

  - Pink of Perfection has a great set of suggestions for a Dinner Party on a Budget.  Maybe helpful if you are planning to host a little NYE soiree or a simple winter get together in the upcoming weeks.

  - And Claremont Road has a post in DIY bows that you just might have to bookmark for your next gift giving occasion.

Enjoy!

(image via ffffound.com)

The past week, well month really, has been a complete blur!  Between starting a new job (and thus changing my schedule from getting up at 9am to 6.30am- yikes), to joining a new gym, to a nephew's first birthday and making our holiday cards, to trying to fit in candy making and holiday decor, trying to get presents finished and shipped to my family (we are spending this holiday with Dan's parents), and fitting in a few holiday gatherings I have just not even been able to sit down at my computer in days.  I guess that is life sometimes, right? 

I hope you are having a completely lovely holiday season this year.  Regardless of what or whether you celebrate,  I hope that these final days of 2009 are allowing you to spend time with those you love and to be filled with merriment.  From our home to yours, happy holidays and lots of love! 

**All photos taken by me; cards and vanilla sugar gift made by me.  A recent comment asked what type of camera I use and I will answer that question in an upcoming post!

There is something so dreamy about a simple holiday.  While I love an excuse to get everything all gussied up as the next, it is the simple little touches that are catching my eye.  Maybe this is a reaction to the economic turmoil that was a result of so much excess. 

This will be Dan and I's second holiday season as a married couple and we are striving to set "good holiday habits" in terms of the traditions we set, focusing on quality time rather than checklists, and appreciating the smaller moments.  I am accepting that I simply don't have time to make all of the cookies and candies that I would if time was more available; a smaller selection will be okay.  We are planning a low key holiday celebration for just the two of us.  That even though the ebay commercial disagrees, it really is the thought that counts for gift giving.  And we are working handmade in there as much as possible; for decorations, gifts, and holiday treats.

So I am curious; has anyone else found themselves thinking about their holiday habits? 

{image via ffffound}

Side note: I had forgotten how hard it is to blog when there are only a couple of hours at home each day after being at the office and the gym... it will definitely take me a while to get into a groove again...

For the past couple of days I have been scouring the internet for super sweet gifts for a couple of ladies on my holiday shopping list.  There are so many great things out there this year!  And I personally am liking the idea of a small set of items so have been searching across the range of $10 to $40 to create little packages.  Here are a few that have caught my eye (I may or may not have purchase a few of these already!)...

A pretty little bag is always a great gift in my book... madebyhank certainly provides an option that is pretty and something a little unique- these babies always sell out but the shelves are stocked as I write this!

And along those lines, a cozy little wallet would be a nice option as well... myfavouritedress

And for the foodie, gardener, vintage type maybe herbmarkers such as these by monkeysalwayslook...

Or maybe for the one who has a love of postcards, photography, peonies these absolutely lovely postcards from Lucky Designs would be a great addition to a gift...

For the one who loves simple details and to entertain limited edition cocktail napkins from Proud Mary...

For the type lover- coasters from Green Chair Press...

 Happy shopping and gifting!

I hope that you are all having a very lovely Thanksgiving holiday!

I am grateful for so many things.  For my sweet husband, who is truly my partner.  For my family and friends and community.  For my darling pups who make me laugh on a daily basis.  For the opportunity to be able to strive for a career I love and that allows me to feel happy and fulfilled with what I chose to spend my time on each day (thank you pioneer women and early feminists and supportive husband).  I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to experience so many life moments.  And I am grateful for my blog readers as those comments that you pepper into this site bring me joy :) 

There are many other things that I am grateful for but I will end this little list with just this last one, I am grateful for all the memories that I have from this year and the past 31 years and for the people that helped make those memories.

{picture by me}

However grand or simple your plans are to celebrate Valentine's Day, I hope you have completely lovely day.  One filled with laughing with your loved ones...

photo via Sarah Kay Represents: Viv Harris

And maybe with a little sweetness too...

photo via Sarah Kay Represents: Kasha Harmer

Happy Valentine's Day!

For Valentine's Day this year we are planning to do simple.  Making dinner together has become one of our favorite things to do together and a few touches like a "fancy" recipe, taper candles, and the soundtrack from our wedding can transform an evening at home.  Really, it could be the making of a new family tradition for us we have yet to really find a Valentine's Day tradition.  So we are on the hunt for a few "fancy" recipes for the menu.  I am undecided for the dessert if I want to do a molten chocolate cake, a pretty panne cotta, chocolate fondue...

via Better Homes & Gardens

Or maybe one of these pretty little 'sweets for two' ideas from Better Homes and Gardens.  That cake is just so cute.  This weekend I am going to have to spend a little time finalizing our sweet little valentine's dinner...