The candle I won in the giveaway-a-day contests over at DesignMom just arrived today! It’s a Fresh Currant (cassis, citrus peel and fir) candle from KOBO. The best part is that it comes with it’s own matches. And these are definitely not of the “safety match” variety.

Rob and I went to see Blood Diamond last night after work. A friend of a friend works at the Dolby Sound Lab offices down the street and we had free tickets to see it in their private screening theater. We have another invite to watch The Holiday tonight, but our laundry situation at home…

One of the most ubiquitous sights in San Francisco during December is brightly lit Christmas trees in apartment windows. It seems like our famous Victorian houses and bay windows were designed expressly for the task. Today’s advent calendar photo comes to you from a Victorian house in Duboce Triangle. It is even prettier at night…

Jean has one. Sara has one. Now I have one: And Rob does too: You can make your own WeeMe online here.

So much for the resolution I made on Friday to never touch another gift basket. Or the resolution I made last weekend to give up Champagne forever. As soon as a box of Joseph Schmidt truffles landed in the conference room, I went straight for the champagne truffle. Delicious! And made in San Francisco right…

This was the official party weekend for Rob and I! Now it is really starting to feel like the holidays! On Friday night, we had Stacey, Ben and Matt over for a small dinner party. The food all came out well (aside from the pork being a bit dry), the conversation was lively and I…

Shoot! I forgot my camera today. It was loaded with tons of photos of the city decorated for the holidays and of our three parties this weekend. I promise I’ll get them posted tomorrow. In the meantime, today’s advent calendar image represents one of my favorite holiday traditions: Christmas cards! I think I’ve finally finished…

Whew! It was starting to feel like last spring again in San Francisco the last few days. The rain and mist just would not stop. Luckily, we got a break today in time for Rob to make his sailing trip in the bay. Unluckily, it is supposed to start again tonight. Oh, well. I guess…

I guess it started with the Timeless Tiaras book about Chaumet jewelry design. Over the last year, I have been increasingly fixated on vintage pointy star designs. The brooch pictured here is a good example, as is this brooch and this tiara. Why don’t these types of lovely designs show up more often in other…

I brought a bag home from Trader Joe’s last night full of all that is good and holy in the world: smoked salmon, Neiman Ranch bacon, brie, blue cheese, pork loin, champagne and blackberries. It’s time for a dinner party! Three friends are joining us tonight to celebrate the holidays, here’s the recipe: Start with…