Under the Tree...

I took a break from studying on Monday to do a bit of gift wrapping. Part of the reason that I love Christmas is giving gifts to the people that I love. Each year I try to do something a bit different with my wrapping without going too overboard. I just can't see spending a ton of money on paper, but I definitely want the gifts reflect the effort put into them. Also, I often try to use recycled papers or natural embellishments such as pine cones, cranberries, or pieces of old jewelry. 

I have a total of four nieces and nephews, and I absolutely love watching them open their gifts! This year I chose a bright, vintage-inspired set of wrapping paper for their presents. I fashioned a bow out of crumpled strips of the same or coordinating paper, and I am quite pleased with the result. I have found that although they may appreciate the pretty packaging, children tend to enjoy ripping it open a bit more, so I like to keep their packages slightly simpler.

I love the paisley print the most! The snowflakes were picked out by my nephews, and the other pink paper by my niece.

I love the use of vintage linens  in these two images from Martha Stewart. Napkins and tea towels work wonderfully for wrapping, especially when giving kitchen or home-oriented gifts. They are also really adorable for wrapping edible homemade goodies or wine bottles.

This is probably one of my top few favorites when it comes to wrapping. I used this idea last year, and it got great reviews! Instead of just using newspaper for your wrapping, find newspapers written in a foreign language, and then tie a coordinating bow around the middle. I used a french newspaper and solid color ribbons, and I loved the outcome. Martha Stewart suggests Japanese newsprint and a corresponding floral print ribbon, which looks great.

This is the paper that I will be using for my adult gifts this year. I love the simple elegance of the black and white and the use of cameos as embellishments. (I adore cameos in any setting.) I think I may also recycle some silver, sparkly broaches and charms to use as gift toppers as well. The wonderful thing about this paper? You can print it directly from the Martha Stewart website! Talk about convenience. 

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Holiday Baking

Baking with my mom and sister is one of my favorite holiday traditions. We usually begin around Thanksgiving and continue throughout December. Since I am in Athens this year we haven't been able to completely fulfill the tradition, but starting next week, the fun will begin again! Here's a peek at a couple goodies that we made for Thanksgiving.

I used a heart-shaped cookie cutter and a knife to make leaves for the top of the pie.

After finishing the weaving and leaves, brush over the pie with an egg wash to ensure a crisp, golden finish!

We used the boxed pie crust mix to make things a bit easier (making crust from scratch can be a bit dodgy!) and found a can of cranberry-apple filling in the seasonal section at a local market. To make the weave top of the pie, simply roll out your second crust and it into strips. If you don't have a roller, you can use a tall glass like we did! Then weave the strips in one by one until the pie is covered. 

The finished product: Cranberry-Apple Pie. Yum!

Next we made pumpkin bars with homemade cream cheese icing. The icing was super easy to make and tasted delicious. These were definitely a hit at Thanksgiving dinner, especially in the bite size bars that we cut them into. The longest part of this treat is the baking time, but everything else is pretty simple.

 

We also made some whip cream for our coffee. Homemade whip cream is one of my favorite things to make, and it is so easy! Just add 8 oz of whipping cream, 1/4 cup sugar, and a capful of vanilla extract and beat. It makes a great addition to a piece of pie, a cup of coffee, or even ice cream!

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The Fashionista's Guide to the Great Outdoors: Vol. III: Skiing

It is that time of year again when snow flurries begin to fall and ski slopes begin their seasons. It's around this time of December that I long to live in places like Breckenridge, Vail or Lake Tahoe. Not only would some snow make the season more festive, the skiing in those cities is phenomenal. Although West Virginia does have its perks for those of us living in the southeast, there's just no comparison to the mountains of the west.

Like most of you, I simply cannot peruse through ski towns or carve down the slopes looking drab and dull. Among my favorite places to find ski apparel that fits my style are Urban Outfitters and Target for base layers and hoodies and Anthropologie for great scarves, hats, and non-ski gloves. You can also find some fun things at REI, especially warm socks, toboggans, ear warmers, etc.

Every layer is important when dealing with such frigid temperatures, but those layers can also be fun to wear. As I have mentioned before, your base layer is vital, so choose something along the lines of Under Armor. As long as you have something that will absorb water without letting heat out, you'll be golden. When it comes to skiing, I would definitely add long underwear beneath your ski pants and a layer of waterproof socks. If you are cold-natured like yours truly, I would suggest a layer of tights, then long underwear, then ski pants.

If you want something more fun and colorful, choose two to three colors and play with your layers. Honestly, not many people will see your base layers, but I personally like them to be as fun as possible. Also, bright colors show up well on the slopes and can help your friends identify you, so choose scarves, hats, and gloves in colors that you like. Another important accessory is goggles or sunglasses. If it is snowing, I would go with goggles, but if the weather is clear and sunny, sunglasses will do the trick.

When it comes to actual ski clothes such as insulated pants and jackets, I would definitely check places like Moosejaw, REI, and a local ski and sport store (Peter Glenn for you Georgians). Brands to look for include Roxy, Volcom,and Burton for some of the more fun colors and patterns. As for skis and snowboards, you really need to go have the bindings fit to your shoe size and board/skis fit to your expertise level.

Happy winter to you all and happy skiing to those of you who share my love of snow!

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Holiday Decorations

As I mentioned before, Christmas is my favorite holiday, so I spent some time this past weekend making my apartment festive. Since I share an apartment and since the apartment came furnished in a style that is a bit woodsy (and not in the cute, kitschy sort of way), I didn't put out all of my vintage ornaments and antique decor. I'm saving it for next year when K and I will have our first Christmas as a married couple. I tried to go with the woodsy, country sort of theme, but with a bit of a vintage twist. (The name of my apartment complex is The Lodge... think leaves and wood everywhere!) I think the final result is quite cute considering the circumstances. As always, the apartment is a work in progress, but here are some of my make-shift Christmas decorations. 

 

 

 

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Baby It's Cold Outside...

The time of year has finally arrived when we can celebrate scarves, hats, sweaters, and gloves. Here's a tribute to all things warm and fuzzy about winter from some of my favorite places... 

Items available online from J. Crew [3, 4, 8], Anthropologie [1, 5, 9], and Ruche [2, 6, 7].

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Happy Thanksgiving!

image credit

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by people that you love.

I must have been hiding under a rock...

I stumbled upon indie artist Priscilla Ahn this past week at the Amos Lee show (which was beyond incredible) and immediately bought her album which is on repeat in my car. Based out of Los Angeles, Ahn has a distinctively angelic voice and a folk/modern sound that is uniquely her own. Not to mention that she is adorable. She reminds me of my friends the AsianCajuns in that she is petite, stylish, and has a really great personality. She was telling stories and jokes during her set, and I felt like she really enjoyed being there. Her set also included playing a harmonica, ukulele, and kazoo in addition to her guitar. That's right, a kazoo. And it was awesome! She is talented, funny, and charming, and you should definitely check out her new album. Click here for more info.

image courtesy of Priscilla Ahn

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Taqueria Del Sol

One of my favorite Atlanta eateries has finally made its way northeast to Athens.... Taqueria del Sol! I fell in love with TDS during my college days in Decatur, so when I moved away, I was quite sad to leave it behind. Now, however, I have a location right down the street! The food is what I like to call fancy, authentic mexican, and the salsa is fresh and delicous. It's a great place to relax with a basket of warm chips, three types of fresh salsa, and a margarita in hand.

I usually order a couple veggie tacos (veggie jalapeño refried beans, queso blanco and roasted tomatillo salsa) and mexican rice (complete with onions and peppers), but the fried chicken (strips of fried chicken breast, lime jalapeño mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato) and carnita (twice cooked tender pork with salsa frita, cilantro & onions) tacos are tastyas well. The salsa comes as a trio of yumminess (two tomato varities and one salsa verde), and you can create your own margarita if you find their recipe not quite to your taste. Perfect for a midweek afternoon or a Saturday evening! Check out their website for locations and hours.

image courtesy of TDS

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Fall Photography

There's nothing like a relaxing drive through the mountains on a crisp fall day... enjoying the beautiful colors and the cool morning air... which is exactly what K and I did last weekend.

Soap and Glory

image courtesy of soapandglorycosmetics.com

I have mentioned more than once that yummy smelling soaps and lotions are my favorite beauty products, and one of my favorite companies for said products is Soap and Glory Cosmetics. Soap and Glory is a UK based company, but their products are available at Barney's Co-op Stores (full line) and  Target (only certain products) in the US. Soon you will also be able to purchase SG online from their website. 

Among my favorite SG items are the "Clean on Me" body wash and the "Righteous Butter Body Lotion." They both smell like the soaps and lotions from Anthropologie, but without the price tag. The company states on its website that "at Soap and Glory, we believe that you shouldn't have to spend an arm and a leg just to moisturize one (or the other, or both)." Also, the packaging is absolutely adorable. Black and white with lots of pinks and blues with brown complement the vintage photographs and Union Jacks on the labels. Slogans like "Everyone uses soap. (At least everyone we want to spend time with)" and "At Soap & Glory we believe its always in one's best interest to come clean" add even more fun to the wonderfully girly packaging.

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A Little British Whimsy

Mario Testino is among my many favorites when it comes to fashion photographers. Most of his work is done for Vogue UK, Italia, and their American counterpart and has a slightly whimsical touch. These shots below also appeal to the ballerina in me (I did dance from age 6 until college) with their romantic, theatrical imagery and distinct European feel.

images courtesy of Style.com

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