Happy New Year!

I think it's funny when a new year comes and people say, "Thank God last year is over, I'm ready for the next year," as if the changing of the digit in the year automatically erases the past events in your life and ensures a new beginning. But I can understand the need for a fresh start and a new year sure can give you hope for that.

2010 definitely had some low points for me but I'm happy that the good stands out more in my mind and outweighs the bad. I did a great deal of travel within the country this past year, the most I've ever done.

In January, I took a long weekend in Vermont with my girlfriends. We drank lots of hot cocoa and played games by the fire.



In March, the girls got together again for another trip to Utah. This trip was filled with many new adventures such as snowshoeing, hot springs, and scary men cooking us dinner.



In April, I went to meet my mom in California. My best friend, Romy, was also working there that week and my friend, Hannah, was also there visiting a mutual friend, so I had tons of people to catch up with. Hannah came along on a roadtrip from LA to San Francisco (my first time there), and over the 6 hour drive we became best friends forever.



I spent my first full summer in NYC where I celebrated my birthday, went to a lot of rooftop BBQ's, relaxed at the beach, and explored the city on my bike.

In July, I went to visit my brother in North Carolina before his deployment. We bonded over World Cup and Ghost Hunters. (And learned how dorky we both are).



I spend a lot of time with Romy at the Jersey Shore in August.



Hannah came to visit me in October and I felt like I was also on vacation, getting to explore NYC and falling in love with it a million times over.



In November, I went to visit my former roommate, Andrew, in New Orleans. It was my first time in the city and I just fell in love with it. Jumbalaya, gumbo, raw oysters, daiquiris, ghost tour, voo doo, mansions, warm and sunny in November = yes please!



I was invited to a million places for the holidays and despite not being able to see my family, I really wanted to be in NYC in December. There's just something about it that I just can't explain.

Looking back at 2010, I have to say, I've got it pretty good. I've got big things planned for 2011 and I can't wait to see where this year takes me. Wishing you all a Happy New Year and may all your hopes for it be fulfilled!

lazy snow day

Our first snow of the year definitely wasn't going to let us ease into winter slowly. I've always hated snow (mostly the cold and the inconvenience), but if you have no where to be, snow days are just the best. I spent yesterday eating a big pancake breakfast, watching TV, watching the snow, having wine and cheese for lunch, sleeping, watching more TV and more snow, eating leftover Christmas potroast, baking chocolate chip cookies, drinking wine, and more lounging and sleeping. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

sanrio tree

I had wanted these Sanrio Christmas ornaments from Urban Outfitters but couldn't bring myself to pay $12 for each of them. So imagine my excitement when I found out they've been marked down to 99 cents!!! Gah!!! Sanrio heaven!



I grew up admiring my best friend's tree that was just covered with ornaments from each year of their lives. Each ornament was different and had a memory attached to it. I've been trying to start that tradition for myself so that maybe in a few years I could have a really nice tree. Urban Outfitters also had this Brooklyn Bridge ornament on sale. The BK Bridge is one of my favorite structures in NYC and I've had so many fun walks and bike rides there with friends and visitors.



I'm up to a whopping 6 ornaments now! (counting my Grinch and I heart NYC ornaments)

unexpected gifts

These past few years I feel like I've been hating the holidays less and less. I think I've finally learned to stop worrying about the things I don't have and to focus on all the wonderful people and things I do have in my life. All I wanted this year was to spend time with the people I care about the most but some of my awesome friends managed to surprise me with such thoughtful gifts. Unexpected gifts really are the best to give and receive.

I had mentioned to Bionics that my mom usually gets me the summer sausage from Hickory Farms every Christmas but that she obviously wasn't getting it for me this year. It started out as a joke, this bad gift that my mom got me, but now I actually crave it around Christmastime. Next thing I know, I received a box of Hickory Farms summer sausage and cheeses in the mail from Bionics. It was so sweet and thoughtful and truly made my Christmas.



Gus also really loved the gift, although I think he loved the box more.



Another dear friend of mine got me these adorable (and cozy!) penguin slippers. I love wearing them and making the penguins dance. (The other night I came into my bedroom to find Gus attacking these slippers. I'm not sure where his hatred for penguins stemmed from but we're gonna keep him away from my slippers!)



She also got me this funny penguin wine key. She must know how much I love penguins and wine!



...and this handmade vegetable soap that smells like fresh laundry washed in heaven. It's wrapped so beautifully with a little jewel on the top that I can't bring myself to use it.



I met Miss Brit for dinner last night and she surprised me with one of my favorite movies. Gah! I'm gonna watch it over and over and over and then hug the box after.



And of course...can I ever have enough Hello Kitty dolls? NOPE!



I hope the holidays were wonderful for all of you!

wedge boots

I bought myself these awesome Deena & Ozzy lace up wedge boots a few weeks ago and I absolutely adore them. They are so frikkin comfortable, I sprinted to the subway in them and my feet never hurt once.



I have a tendency to get obsessive about things and it seems right now it's wedge boots and I want them in every color and style. I'm debating getting these:



and these:



What do you think? Too  much?

early christmas

I got the best Christmas gift ever from my brother today. He is seriously the most thoughtful and generous person I know.



I just love that it's engraved too. I am gonna love it forever and ever. Well, until the newer model comes out at least. : )



I was about as excited as this kid was and ran around my apartment holding the box over my head yelling, "I GOT AN IPAD!!! OH MY GOD!!!"



I still have no idea how to use it though and I'm just banging on the screen like a caveman.

black bear jumpsuit

I'm not sure where my love for onesies began but I am just obsessed with them. With the temperature in the unbearable 20's today I would love to crawl into this jumpsuit and never come out.



I'm sure only this model could pull off this look without being mistaken for a saggy butt black bear ready for bedtime. I don't care. I still want it.

getting in the spirit

I tend to get a little down when the holiday season rolls around and I miss my family more than ever. I know this is something I need to get used to...with the lives we all chose to live it seems we will constantly be separated by oceans and $800 plane tickets.

I'm determined not turn into a Grinch this year and to focus on all the great things in my life and make this grown up version of Christmas (no more sleeping under the Christmas tree and peeing on everyone's presents) something to look forward to.

With 12 days left until Christmas, I'm going to make a list of things I could do to get more into the spirit. I saw a list of 25 Christmas Challenges via Rockstar Diaries, based around bettering yourself and bringing cheer to others,  and decided to modify it and make it my own. So here it is:

12 Days of Christmas Spirit-ness:

1) Do a good deed anonymously.

2) Try to forgive someone who has wronged you, be reconciled.

3) Phone or send a card to an old friend or family member.

4) Try to be as kind as possible to others today.

5) Do volunteer work for some worthy cause.

6) Tell someone you love them.

7) Make goals for yourself, seal a copy in an envelope to be opened in a year.

8 ) Only say positive things today.

9) Tell somebody something you love about them.

10) Go out of your way- befriend someone who needs a friend.

11) Make a Christmas treat for someone else.

12) Eat lots of sugar cookies. (Hey, it's good for your soul).

nom nom nom

I was having one of those blah days today where nothing was wrong but I still couldn't crack a smile. But then out of no where I was surprised with a cheesecake spelled out in my name. How do you not smile at that? And it was delicious!

Wishlist

I wanted to make a Gift Guide this year but I'm a little pressed for time and, who am I kidding really, every time I go shopping for someone else I return with bags full of stuff for myself.

My brother asks my every year what I want for Christmas and I realized I spend all my money on clothes and books (and booze). But I'm such a shopaholic that if I've asked for it, I most likely bought it a day later.

Nevertheless, I decided to make a Wishlist...and maybe if you have a friend or bratty sister who loves fluffy animals and regresses in maturity with each year she lives...well maybe there would be something on this list that you could buy for her...

BOOKS:

I buy books often and I collect them for my future library but the one thing I rarely buy for myself are gift books. It's just not the same when you buy them for yourself.

Lulu and the Brontosaurus



The Word Made Flesh: Literary Tattoos



I Hate Everything



PAJAMAS:

Who doesn't love comfy PJ's? Who actually spends money on it though? No one- unless it's a gift. I'm not sure why but I have an obsession with Christmas Story style onesie longjohn pajamas. If you love being warm and being the walking epitome of unsexy- these are the pj's for you!



These are a bit more functional while still getting the 5 year old boy look...



L.L. Bean also has a pair for "all day comfort!" It says. (I know, what was I doing shopping the L.L. Bean catalog right? I knew they'd have a thermal onesie).

OTHER CRAP I DON'T NEED:

I am a sucker for all things colorful and unnecessary and Pylones is an awesome store to spend money you don't have on things you don't need.

I have been looking for a USB hub and was holding out on buying one until I found a cute and overpriced one. Um, FOUND IT!



I also really love globes and maps. I imagine having a bunch in different sizes and styles in my library. How awesome is this globe of NYC?



And speaking of maps, I think this scratch off map is such a great idea. You can scratch off the countries you've visited, like a lotto ticket, and keep track of where you've been.



Ok maybe it's a good thing I don't have a bigger apartment because I may just spend all my money covering it in maps. But if I did have a place of my own, I would love this silk screened map above my couch.



Happy shopping!

kinda cute slash creepy

I saw this funny article about researchers in China dressing up as pandas to take care of panda cubs and prepare them for their natural habitat via Hans today. (We both have a fondness for fluffy animals...I  can just see us growing old together, sharing a bed overflowed with stuffed animals). The concept and the pictures crack me up. Could a panda cub be that gullible?

I feel like this picture should be hanging in some panda family's den somewhere.



Cubnapped!



Why is this cub being put in a Container Store box?



Um, is this as traumatic for panda cubs as it is for children seeing characters out of costume in Disneyland? I would think so.



Still, put this researcher's job at the top of my coolest jobs list. Get to dress up in animal costumes and play with panda babies? Where do I sign up?

beards and glasses

What do I love more than Etsy and prints?

Beards and glasses of course...



You can buy this funny card from here.

in case you forgot...

print additions

As you all know, whenever I sit down to write I always end up doing everything but. Today I decided to spend countless hours online shopping. I went through my onslaught of emails from various stores and inevitably end up scrolling through hundreds of shops on Etsy.

I gave in and bought these two awesome prints from Nan Lawson's shop and can't wait to add them to my inspiration wall.

so grateful

‎"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy: They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." -Marcel Proust

This year will be the first year without any of my family members around for Thanksgiving. Without them, I intended to spend Thanksgiving on the couch, in my sweats, eating a rotisserie chicken. (This depressed my friends more than it did me). None of my friends would stand for this (with their crumpled up faces as if they saw a truck run over a litter of kittens) and I am so very touched (as I am every year) by their many invites for dinner. With my family so far away, all of my friends have opened up their homes and been my second family.

So on this day of giving thanks I would like to thank my friends for always being so wonderful. And, of course, most of all I am thankful for my family whom I simply can't live without.

Hope you are all having a wonderful Thanksgiving!

broom burn

This made me laugh today...

I Am Harry Potter from Daniel Radcliffe

winos

I've been tight on funds lately and still pretty tired from my travels. Last night I decided to stay in and make dinner for 2 and catch up on Harry Potter so that I can see the latest one this weekend. My date offered to bring the wine and I could not stop laughing when I saw the bottles. We have this thing where we choose wine solely by the label since we're both a little clueless about wines and it adds a little sense of adventure to the choices (totally winging it!). He chose the Little Penguin wine since I have a thing for penguins (it was actually quite wonderful) and then chose the polar bear label to go with the arctic theme. Doesn't the image of a polar bear drinking wine just seem so absurd that it makes you laugh?

the busy

"There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired." -F. Scott Fitzgerald

I was hoping this image of a cute kitty would distract you from my absence...

I'm back!

I just got back from New Orleans this afternoon and I'm way too tired to begin to describe just how amazing that city is. I got off the plane, dragging my feet, and was greeted by these lovely flowers...



They just brightened up this gray, drizzly day (and make my bedroom smell amazing).

I'll be back (hopefully tomorrow) with my photo diary of NOLA!