Sweater Weather

Guys, I love cardigans. You know that, right? They're versatile, stylish, warm... I don't think I could get through Michigan winters without my reliable stock of cozy cardigans.

But as you can see, my collection is decidedly lacking in red/orange and blue. This needs to be fixed. I currently have my eyes on this open-weave rusted beauty and this dashing teal number... just the pop of color I need to get me through February.

I know I can't be the only one out there with this many cardigans. This is normal, right?

Animals of Low Moral Standing

 

I love these witty watercolor prints from R.S. Posnak, especially the Animals of Low Moral Standing. It's true, you know. Snakes, sharks, and skunks are always up to no good.

via Rachel.

Happy Birthday, Christopher!

Happy 26th Birthday to the man who...

snuggles with me and kitty.

washes the dishes more than he should.

remains a child at heart like me.

has mastered the art of smoothie making.

answers to the many ridiculous nicknames I have given him.

pushes me to be a better person.

is the love of my life.

will always by my Mister Christopher.

Catbird Rings

I'll admit, as much as I love giant cocktail rings and vintage spoon rings, I'm not much of a ring wearer myself (other than my engagement ring and wedding band, that is.) They always feel so foreign on my fingers. But I think I could change my ways for one (or all) of these gorgeous rings from New York boutique Catbird...

Nora Ring

There's something so pretty about the delicate and subtle details of these rings, like the wheat pattern in the above Nora Ring (which has a corresponding "Nick" pattern for men. Love it.) The hand-hewn texture and soft brushed metal are just dreamy.

Clockwise from top left: Silver Ampersand Ring | Tiny City Band | Rosegold Heart Ring

Gold Alphabet Ring | Thin Band | White Diamond Seed Ring

I've been seeing a lot of gorgeous stacking rings lately and I'm totally on board with the feminine, whisper-thin bands. I love the idea of stacking a baby's initial and birthstone as a gift for a new mama, or stacking your lover's initial with a gemstone and a heart.

Did I really just say lover? Yes, yes I did.

Hexagon Ring with Champagne Diamond

Twig Ring

I seriously can't get over how old-world beautiful that Hexagon Ring is... such a great twist on the diamond solitaire. Pretty sure it needs to be on my finger now.

Catbird works with local New York jewelry designers to offer a ton of beautiful, unique jewelry and handmade gifts, but I think their ring selection is my favorite. Pretty, pretty.

The Newlywed Cookbook

I'm not exactly sure when a married couple is no longer considered "newlywed" ... a month, a year? I guess Christopher and I are probably past that point by now, but we're still newlyweds in my mind. And regardless, I would love to own a copy of Food Network chef and food blogger Sarah Copeland's The Newlywed Cookbook. Please and thank you.

The layout and typography, the food styling and photography... this book looks beautiful. Not to mention the recipes sound super tasty and healthy. Gardner's pizza? Oatmeal-yogurt pancakes with blackberry crush? Bittersweet chocolate tart? I could go for that.

 

 

Some of my favorite memories with Chris involve cooking... all my first-month-of-marriage cooking disasters, birthday breakfasts, making pad thai together (one of our many favorites.) If there's one thing Chris and I love to do, it's eat.

The Newlywed Cookbook has over 130 recipes, tips on stocking your pantry (something I haven't quite mastered yet), eating seasonally and even a chapter on home gardening. It would make such a sweet wedding gift, perhaps paired with a bottle of wine or a jar of preserves. And who says you need to be married to enjoy the recipes in this book? Who wouldn't want to make thousand-layer chocolate chip cookies?

Find the Newlywed Cookbook on Amazon or in Barnes and Noble. While your at it, check out Sarah's blog, Edible Living, which is chock-full of many tasty looking recipes.

All photos by Sara Remington via Edible Living. Spotted on Oh Joy!

Ikea 1973

Someone please time travel with me to an IKEA store, circa 1973....

 

 

Is that the BOKSEL coffee table I see??

My grandmother had a very similar sunflower pattern in her kitchen...
and how great are those lightbulb pendant lamps?

I love it all... the early EXPEDIT-style modular shelving, the chocolate brown bedding, the model's awesome yellow plaid shirt in the second photo. This is the stuffs of dreams, friends. Mustard and orange are obvious color choices for the decade, but I had no idea kelly green was so popular in the 70s. It's also interesting to see how early IKEA designs influenced modern-day pieces like the above bed compared to the MALM bedframe and add on nightstands. Who knew?

Thank you, Sweden. Thank you. 

Images from Retro! via Scrap Hacker

2011: A Year in Review

Oh 2011, you have been good to me. We may be a full week into the new year, but I'm still struggling to catch up after such a great Christmas vacation. It's just so hard to believe it's already 2012 when I'm still reminiscing about 2011...

2011 was probably my favorite year in my adult life to date. Seriously.

There was black light putt-putt for Christopher's January birthday and an incredible Iron & Wine concert to celebrate our half-year wedding anniversary in February. In March, I finally worked up enough courage to cut my hair. I chopped off 9 inches.

April brought along my first niece. May brought baby swans to the lake in our backyard. June brought the start of many summertime adventures.

Then July came along and I found a full-time design job that I absolutely love -- such an answer to prayer. The adventures continued in August and included a trip to Wrigley Field to see the Cubbies. We sat five rows from the dugout and I had my first Chicago style hot dog. It was the epitome of a perfect summer day. Summer faded to fall in September and Mr. Ross and I went apple picking for my birthday. We ate apples for weeks afterward.

In October Chris and I went to see The Blanks and met Sam Lloyd. You know, Ted the lawyer from Scrubs? So awesome (which is why I have crazy eyes in the photo.) The book I designed while I worked part time at Ave Maria was officially published and distributed in November. You can find it on Amazon. And at Barnes and Noble. It's probably the highlight of my design career thus far. Which brings me to December: Christmas. It was wonderful, filled with family and friends and the celebration of Jesus' birth. Chris and I attempted to take a "family portrait" with Ulia on Christmas morning. If you think it looks like I'm strangling her in the photo... you're probably right.

Remembering each month, I honestly don't think I could pick a top highlight. In 2011, I started this blog, survived Snomageddon, and planted a garden from seed. I fell in love with my husband even more. I somehow became a decent cook and I came to grips with the fact that I'm a grown up. Such a great year.

Here's to 2012 and all the new adventures it will bring. Happy new year!

The Ghost of Christmas Past

Christopher, kitty and I are still trying to recover from all the holiday cheer.
Regular posting will resume shortly. Promise.