Giftguide: Part Deux

I love this time of year. As much as I love shopping for myself, I like shopping for others even more.  This year, I'm a little late in the game - but not for lack of perusing! Below are more of my 2010 finds.

1. Bobbi Brown Lipgloss ($20) in the best color I've ever seen: {Buff}  The consistency resembles MAC lipglass, but in a perfect nude shade.  I hope I find this at the bottom of my stocking!

2. Merriam-Webster Collegiate Edition Dictionary ($138.99) in genuine goatskin leather. I love the metallic white gold.  I think the perfect home for this is right on my bookcase!

3. Club Monaco started selling the "Library" line of Paddywax candles, & I must say, they're worth.every.penny. I particularly loved the Edgar Allen Poe scent ($25), but the Jane Austen scent was just as wonderful.

4. Ben's Garden Antique Estate Key Glass Necessity Tray ($64). I fell in love with Ben's Garden glass trays after seeing them in a little antique shop in my hometown.  The perfect catch-all tray for a mother, colleague, or boss.

5. Also from Ben's Garden - this slightly larger glass tray depics a map of one of my favorite summer spots, Cape Cod, MA. Vintage Cape Cod Glass Tray ($74)

6. For the entertainer in your life, a relatively inexpensive plum&gold rectangle lacquer tray from Caspari.  The tray is 14" x 19" perfect atop a ottoman, or to serve drinks off of & is a steal at only $30!

7. I love tartan patterned anything, & I love a man wearing a nice scarf.  This is the best of both worlds :) Barbour® Merino/Cashmere Tartan Scarf ($79) Tartan plaid will always be a classic, perfect for any man in your life any age!

8. The best product since sliced bread. Seriously.  Aigle Jumping Boots ($189). These boots are handcrafted in France with the look of leather with the functionality of rubber, including a 100% waterproof, oblique cut topline. How amazing are these?!  Looking like a chic riding boot, but acting like an all-weather rain boot. These blow those clunky Hunter boots right out of the water if you ask me.

9. One of many Graphic Image products that I love.  Apparently I'm into white gold metallic products, if I had an ipad - I would want this Monogrammed Case for Ipads ($135)

Anthropologie

I love shopping at Anthropologie - not only does the store transform any poor mood of mine into a fabulous one, but I could get lost in their home decor & knick-nacs section for hours.  On one particular display of books, I picked up the Fortune Telling Birthday Book - & flipped through to find mine. (Please excuse crappy blackberry pic)  I was shocked at how dead on it was. 

Barnes & Noble $8.95

Could it be that who we become is predetermined by our birthdays? Make note I'll be purchasing this book for my bookcase (that is currently in design stages).

I obviously had to have this for my bookcase too. A chic new twist on the old Alice in Wonderland cover!



Clothbound Peguin Classics - Alice In Wonderland $20

Many others to choose from as well - popping up in stores everywhere.  I noticed these in Club Monaco as well. The linen cases stamped with great colorful patterns make these books impossible not to buy.



Penguin Clothbound Classics



Pleasantly Surprised!

A few weeks back, a girlfriend of mine blogged about her experiences cooking with spaghetti squash.  I am a huge pasta lover - so I became instantly fascinated with the idea of eating a vegetable that mimics my favorite carbohydrate! I decided to follow Meghan's instructions for cooking the squash, and just substitute it for the pasta in an easy favorite (& inexpensive) recipe of mine.  The results were unbelievable.  I honestly will sub pasta for this squash quite frequently in the future. 

Chicken Pesto "Pasta"

1 spaghetti squash
1/2 C pesto
1 pkg stir fry chicken
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 small can evaporated milk
Parmesan cheese

I cut the squash in half & placed it cut-side down on a greased baking sheet - baking it at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Defrosted half a cup of pesto my mom had made a few weeks back on the side.  Sauteed one small package of chicken strips (seasoned lightly). Shredded the chicken strips & placed them along with the pesto into a sauce pot over low heat.  Added one can of diced tomatoes (I prefer the ones with basil), one small can of evaporated milk & let the sauce simmer.  Removed the squash from the oven & ran a fork through it creating spaghetti strands.  Added strands to the sauce, tossed with grated Parmesan cheese & serve!

Life In A Playlist

One of life's smallest pleasures is turning on the radio & hearing a song that brings you right back to a moment in time.  You instantly remember who you were with, the feeling you had, & the memories associated with it.  I love that! Opening the floodgates & going right back.  When you're out with girlfriends & the dj plays a song that reminds all of you of when you shared an apartment, played the song on repeat, shared each others clothes, & giggled all the time.  That right there my friends, is life&love at its finest.  I've done my best to create a playlist of those songs in my life.  The ones that send me back in time to relive goodtimes & badtimes in an instant.

While I'd love to post photos of my friends & I back-in-the-day-buffet when we acutally listened to each of the songs, they'd probably have my head on a platter if I ever shared them with the public.

“How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” - Dr Seuss

I can wholeheartedly say I have no idea where 2010 went.  Last time I checked, it was April. I must have been hiding under a rock because December has crept up on this year like never before.  Thankfully I am confident in saying I never stopped to think what time of year it was because I was having so much fun.  Not too many complaints about this year! I mean I didn't win the lottery, Jason Statham & Jake Gyllenhaal still haven't called me but oh well..

Here are some of my favorite things from 2010!

Ombré.  Total sucker for it. Ombré shirts, ombré hair, ombré dresses.

Chain strap bags. The return of the classic Chanel style!

Faux fur PETA-friendly VESTS!

The long-awaited return of leopard

Ankleee length trousers!  Hellooo fashionable highwaters.

Jeggings.  They're comfortable, fit in boots better, & maintain their shape. 

Blazers, blazers, blazers...

Victoria Beckham's dress collection:

 Flannel. Comfort chic

Fedoras.  This spring I bought a straw fedora from BananaRepublic - & lived in it all summer.  Tshirt, yoga pants, hair in a braid & my fedora.  They're just so darn fedorable ;)

Any trends from 2010 leave you with a warm&fuzzy feeling?

ZARA

...Is KiLLiNG it this season.  For starters, everytime I visit their Newbury St. store, it's packed. I now only visit the store between 10 a.m. & 11 a.m. or from 1p.m. to 3p.m. on weekdays.  Unfortunately for those of you who don't live close to a Zara you're out of luck as you cannot shop on their website. It bothers me that Zara & Club Monaco products aren't offered online.  Boo to that. 

Anywho! Moving on to a number of things that caught my eye the other day while I perused the luxe 2-story Zara in Boston :)

I'm not sure if I am allowed to buy another black ankle boot this year - but if I were I would be purchasing this one.


Ankle Boot with Elastic





Now on the other hand..I do not own a pair of leopard ankle boots YET. I'm obsessed with these.

Leopard Ankle Boot 

 The Flat Sole Musketeer Boot. The name alone makes me laugh & the color makes me drool!

Flat Sole Musketeer Boot

Sooo fancy!

Silk Printed Tunic

...& for my winter obsession: Ankle.Length.Trousers. I had to have them & I plan on wearing them...everywhere.

Tweed Trousers

Here are more looks from Zara I am in complete admiration over. (& I LOVE the model's red lipstick):

Designer Crush: Pamela Love

I stumbled upon jewelry designer Pamela Love's collection & instantly felt that tingly 'love at first sight' feeling with two of her pieces.  A little on the pricier side..but nontheless unique & definitely statement pieces.  Behold, the Talon Cuff & Wrap Rope Ring

Talon Cuff $1,000 - $1,250

Wrap Rope Ring $520

 
The rest of her unique collection can be found here