Little Moment

I snapped this picture of little Stella with my phone last night. She wedged herself between A and I while we were snacking and watching Bones on the couch. A said to me, "This is the good stuff. Sometimes I think it doesn't even matter what happens in the future, as long as I have my family, and moments like these". Best part of my day, right here.

Cranberry Coins and Lattes

Today is our office holiday party, so last night I decided to test out a recipe from the lovely Martha Stewart Holiday Cookies issue. The magazine is really lovely, with so many great recipes. I will definitely be adding it to my cookbook shelf for later cookie inspiration.

These cranberry coins are SO good. They are buttery shortbread cookies flecked dried cranberries. The tartness of the cranberry makes these a bit more interesting than the traditional shortbread, and festive to boot!

Cranberry coins paired with a homemade latte first thing this morning - Perfect.

P.S. This set is perfect if you are looking to make excellent coffee drinks at home, without investing hundreds in an espresso maker. The milk frother is much less scary than the traditional, pressure-powered version. I know from experience.

Fun Holiday Stockings

These stockings from Circa Trade are so cheerful! Wouldn't they look amazing hanging from a mantle? Really, they would look good anywhere; no mantle needed. Well worth the investment, I think.

{found via AT}

Changes Are Coming

I know I'm not alone when I say, "things are getting busy around here"! The final few Christmas cards are in the mail (the ones my boy was charged with writing, ahem!), the last gifts have been purchased, and preparations are being made for the homemade goodies I plan to make for friends and family. Craziness is sure to ensue in the next week or two..

Even so, this weekend was relatively quiet. A, being the sweet boy he is, offered to make a few of these with me to add some additional holiday cheer to our place, patiently enduring the Christmas soundtrack that naturally accompanies all holiday crafting :)

On a whim Saturday night, while watching television, I grabbed my sketchbook. I didn't really have a plan, just a sudden desire to make something. The result is the little piece, above. Usually my creative process isn't really driven by impulse. Most of the time I have a pretty clear idea of what I want the final product to look like. This creation was born from a completely different approach, which was fun for me. I just sort of went with a feeling, and the result makes me smile.

I know it's mid-December, but I am really looking forward to the start of 2011. The new year is going to bring with it some big changes for both A and I, likely the biggest year of change yet. It's so exciting to think about, and I can't wait to share as our plans begin to unfold in the next few months. Changes are certainly on the horizon, slowly taking shape as January nears.

Are you excited for the new year?

Holiday Happiness at Work

Happy Friday everyone! It's amazing to me how quickly December is passing; there is still so much to be done before the holiday arrives!

I thought I would share this fun little project a co-worker of mine found. He passed on the tutorial to me, and I whipped a snowflake up in a few minutes at the end of the day. It made me laugh how amazed people were by how quickly I pulled one of these together. What can I say? I love crafty projects!

These snowflakes are SO SIMPLE. What a great way to spruce up your office (if you are allowed) or home. I'm planning on making a few for my apartment this weekend, just for a bit of fun. I hung this one from the ceiling tiles in my office at work. It was quite a hit; I had people stopping in all day to comment on it!

Between my new snowflake, poinsettia plants and Pandora streaming Christmas music, I am feeling quite festive during the work day, indeed.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dainty Jewelry

I'm always surprised by how varied my taste in certain things can be. Take jewelry, for instance; some days I want to wear the biggest, brightest, most "costumey" pieces I can find, and other days I crave the simplicity of dainty, feminine pieces. I definitely have multiple personalities when it comes to accessorizing!

These beautiful pieces by Upper Metal Class really appeal to me because they are so simple, feminine and classic. Pieces like these look beautiful against bare skin, and work amazingly well as accessories against bolder fabrics; a great choice when you want your jewelry to complement, but not complicate your overall look.

The warm tones of the metal really make these pieces so soft. LOVE!

{designer found here}

Loving: Verabel Lockets

Can I just say that I am SO excited for my Verabel locket to arrive! Seriously, I am in love with these vintage lockets, featuring the artwork of the fantastic Alyson Fox. I chose the "Origami" locket, above, but I just might have to go back for the "Color Study I" design! I can't wait to pair it with my new holiday dress and opaque tights for the winter wedding season...