Christmas Preparations and Projects

So I don't know about all of you, but my house is pretty hectic this morning getting ready for family parties and holiday festivities. I am proud to say that I finished all of my own gift-wrapping last night, so I'm free from most of the stressful last-minute preparations. However, as soon as the holidays are over, I need to start packing for my upcoming trip to Paris!

In the meantime, you can entertain yourself with a hilarious website that enables you to "elf" yourself by putting your own head on the body of a dancing elf! http://www.elfyourself.com/

I am also very excited to get started on my next big project - a travel scrapbook that will finally find a home for the many, many pictures and other miscellaneous items I brought home from my trip to the Mediterranean last summer. I already made a trip to the crafts store near my home to pick up all of the necessary materials (solid and patterned papers, an album, various stickers and decorative backgrounds). If you happen to be a scrapbooker yourself, please feel free to share any helpful tips or creative ideas. I have only made two scrapbooks in the past, and this promises to be a much larger-scale project!

Winter Coats from j. Crew

I am officially home on winter break and getting excited to celebrate Christmas and enjoy some time off from school. That means that I am writing from the comfort of my own (very large!) bedroom at home, rather than a (cramped) college dorm room!

I recently bought a new winter coat from j. Crew, so I wanted to share with you some of the beautiful and classic coats from their selection. If you are planning on purchasing a coat from j. Crew, I highly recommend choosing one that can be customized by adding a thinsulate layer. When I visited the j. Crew store, I was disappointed to see that their coats were extremely thin and not suited to the New York cold. However, when I got home and went online, I discovered that several of the coats (including the two pictured below) come with the option of thinsulate, which provides an extra layer of warmth. I purchased the double-cloth lady day coat pictured below with thinsulate, and I can vouch for the fact that it really does add warmth without adding any bulkiness.
Double-cloth lady day coat, $298 (with thinsulate, $318)

Double-cloth sybil coat, $298 (with thinsulate, $318)

By the way, I absolutely love the dark poppy color pictured above. So perfect for the holidays, but very classic at the same time!

Work Spaces and Inspiration Boards

Sorry for my absence -- finals were keeping me busy the last couple of days. I am happy to report, however, that I am officially done with exams and will have more time for my creative projects now! With that said, my newest "obsession" is browsing the collection of photos of inspiration boards available on Flickr. I am always so impressed by the innovation and creativity evident in these work spaces, not to mention the inspiration bursting from the pictures and papers displayed on the boards themselves. Now that I have had a look at some of these gorgeous spaces, I am motivated to create my own inspiration board to brighten up my day a bit while I am studying or writing papers at my desk!




All photos from Flickr, Inspiration Board (pool)

PBteen

I just ordered myself a new office chair from PBteen (on sale from $179 to $149, by the way). I have been searching for a functional and stylish chair to replace the standard dorm room desk chair (which is neither comfortable nor good-looking). If you're looking for new seating, PBteen has a variety of desk chairs and lounge chairs on sale right now!


Speaking of PBteen, their website is always an amazing source of design inspiration for me. I love the way they combine items to create rooms full of personality, individuality, and youthful attitude. Of course, some of the rooms on display are a bit "over-the-top," but others are impressively sophisticated and full of creative ideas ready to be incorporated into your own space.

Holiday Decorating: Anthropologie Ornaments

OK, so it's no secret that I am in love with Anthropologie, and their adorable holiday ornament collection makes me love this store even more! I think that what makes them so special is their slightly quirky, "hand-made" style. (Possible craft project over winter break??) Here are a few of my personal favorites, most of which happen to be on sale right now on the Anthropologie website, so be sure to check out the selection.



By the way, I adore the collection of cozy sweater ornaments. How lovely would it be to decorate a Christmas tree around the theme of handknit sweaters and scarves?

Holiday Decorating

Here are some creative ideas for holiday parties and decorations, all courtesy of Real Simple (if you're not already a subscriber, I highly recommend this magazine). I was impressed to see that all of these suggestions are not only smart and inventive but also fairly easy to put together in a short amount of time.

Using craft stencils to write a festive holiday message on the wall.

Replacing traditional placemats with whiteboards to entertain your guests.

Making a mobile/hanging ceiling art out of wooden craft hoops.

Be sure to share your own creative holiday decorating ideas. I'm always looking for more inspiration!

The Sartorialist

I am absolutely loving the latest street style pictures on the Sartorialist! These photographs seem to not only capture the unique style of individuals but also to unite far-flung cities in their common appreciation of fashion and creativity. I love to see how each person photographed interprets "trends" and incorporates fashion into his/her own daily lifestyle. And as much as we all love the glamour of high-fashion, I find it so much easier to identify with a "real" person exhibiting a day-to-day style as it relates to the atmosphere of the city.

With that said, I found this photograph particularly memorable. Besides the stunning background of Christmas trees and holiday lights, I love how this girl has put together a practical (read: warm!) outfit that also embodies the festive holiday spirit. Makes me want to grab a thick woolen scarf and cozy peacoat!

Holiday Decorating: 3D Paper Snowflake

I found a website with really simple instructions to make amazing 3D snowflakes. They're surprisingly easy to make, but the end result is stunning! I made one in about 15 minutes to hang in my dorm room window for the holidays. I'm already thinking of all the possibilities to decorate and embellish these snowflakes (different colored paper, glitter, small silver bells, the list is endless).

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-3D-Paper-Snowflake

Marc by Marc Jacobs Resort

It might be cold and rainy outside, but that hasn't stopped me from browsing the resort collections on Shopbop in my spare time (i.e. during "study breaks"). After a thorough perusal of all the options, I have to say that Marc by Marc Jacobs stood out to me the most for its bright colors and fresh attitude. The shapes and color combinations may not be ground-breaking, but that doesn't stop this collection from being quirky and adorable. Staying true to form, M by MJ offers pieces with youthful energy and thoughtful, feminine details. Not to mention that the hair tie is completely charming and manages to turn a little-girl necessity into a fashion statement.

Solid Silk CDC Top, $228; Raquel Faille Short, $198

Sailboat Print Top, $228; Slubby Chambray Short, $168

Wave Print Halter Dress, $198

Neon Marc Bobble Hair Tie, $28

Tory Burch

So, I'm considering purchasing a pair of Tory Burch ballet flats. Even though these shoes were ubiquitous in New York this fall (seriously, it seemed as if everyone and their mother was wearing a pair of black Tory Burches!), I can't help thinking that they really complement my style. I normally shy away from large logos in favor of more discreet designer items, but I have to admit that I find myself really liking these! Of course, I am a huge fan of the ballet flat and love adding to my collection. Other than that, the elasticized back is perfect for making sure that the shoes don't fall off of my narrow heels. Plus, there is a pretty wide range of colors and styles available, so you can wear a trendy item and still set yourself apart with a daring color choice.



OK, so I've made my argument in favor of Tory Burch flats. Now, I'm interested to hear your opinions! Are you for or against?









Reva Ballet Flats, Tory Burch, $195

Things to Make You Smile

I can't believe it, but the semester is nearly over and now it's just a matter of wrapping up loose ends and taking finals (!) before winter break is finally upon us. I am proud to say that I just finished my final paper for the semester, so I decided to reward myself with a little blog-reading and an entry for the day. The low temperatures have been getting to me lately (the walk back to my dorm at night is not fun), so this blog post is devoted to things that make me smile and remind me of bright, cheerful summer days.

• I absolutely love van Gogh's paintings. Despite his troubled life, paintings like these do not contain any signs of it. These beautiful and serene landscapes always have a calming effect on me with their gentle swirls of shades of blue and green.

Wheat Field with Cypresses

The Olive Trees

• I was lucky enough to spend two weeks in Greece this summer, and it was definitely an unforgettable experience. The narrow cobble-stoned streets lined with blue and white houses and tiny churches invite you to explore the small towns and see what lies around the next corner. Not to mention wonderful shopping opportunities -- silver jewelry, bracelets with the Greek eye motif, and breezy linen clothing.

• And for your daily fashion fix, I love these adorable and summery sundresses dresses by Milly. I love the bright and cheerful colors, the retro shapes, and the carefree and feminine attitude.

Gemma Silk Mini Dress, $360
Button Yoke Mini Dress, $370

Quick Picture

It's that time of year again (and no, I'm not talking about the holidays). It's the end of the semester, which means that papers, projects, and final exams will fill my schedule for the next several weeks. Nevertheless, I'll leave you with a recent picture from the Sartorialist. This lovely girl's outfit is chic and polished, not to mention that it is also well-suited to the rainy weather - because form and function can exist together!

So Much to Do, So Little Time

Unfortunately, I have been super-busy over the last couple of days and am currently buried under a mound of work! To make it worse, the next two to three weeks look like they are going to be just as hectic and work-filled. But don't worry -- I will try to make time for updates, even if they are very brief! So for now I will leave you with a few disjointed thoughts/suggestions/pieces of advice.

1. If you're in New York, definitely check out Loehmann's. I went in yesterday and found some amazing pieces that must have arrived only recently. Especially exciting were several racks filled with gorgeous blouses, blazers, and cropped pants by Rebecca Taylor (one of my new favorite designers!).
2. Make time to see New York City Ballet's production of The Nutcracker. It is such a fantastic holiday tradition, plus it is absolutely adorable to see families bringing their young children to see the show for the very first time. And even if you can't make it to see NYCB, take advantage of local companies and touring companies in your area.
3. Decorate for the holidays! Sadly to say, housing does not permit students to have live Christmas trees in their rooms (!), but I would still like to make my dorm festive for the holidays. I am thinking twinkle lights and maybe even a wreath hung in my window would be nice touches.
4. Check out style.com's feature on packing for holiday travel. Even though I will not be spending my break lounging poolside in the Caribbean (I am going to Paris this year), I can still admire the collages of colorful bikinis and chic cover-ups and daydream about tropical weather!
5. Put together your own non-school-related reading list for over the holidays and make a trip to Barnes & Noble to pick up your selections. Then plan to spend a few days over winter break lounging on the couch under a warm blanket with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book.

That's all for now -- I will try to update again soon!