For some reason, the holiday season always makes me think about party scenes from Woody Allen movies. I expect that there will be a lot of smart people all talking at once in a cozy apartment with a dash of New York sophistication! And while this isn’t something that Diane Keaton would wear, it is…

These Jeffrey Campbell rain boots come in a fun union jack pattern too, but the black is immensely more practical. I imagine you could get away with wearing them with slacks for work . With the rain we’ve been having lately, it could be a pretty smart move. Hooray for warm toes!

My order of beeswax sheets just arrived from Knorr this afternoon. Let me just say for the record that 20 sheets of beeswax adds up to a box that is a lot larger than I expected. And with one sheet making about nine candles…yikes! Between this and making honey cookies (preferably with this cutter) I…

I saw this bowl in the Gump’s silver wing over the weekend. Made by Oscar De La Renta, it looks like a plain silver Paul Revere-style bowl at first but has a surprising lining of blue enamel inside. So clever and modern! I could see it working as a stylish place to put mail in…

There’s a scene toward the end of Casino Royale (which was great by the way) where Eva Green appears in a gorgeous green silk dress. This photo doesn’t do it justice. As soon as the movie was over I said “I need to get that dress!” I haven’t been able to find it yet, if…

It was so nice to have two extra days for this weekend. I really needed the rest! Rob and I drove out to Sanger on Thursday morning to celebrate the holiday with his parents. As soon as we arrived, Rob and his dad headed outside to practice their survival fire-making skills. I set out to…

L’Occitane is having a good sale on their holiday gift items today. Not only do you get 10% off their gift sets, but you also receive a free set of three shea butter tins when you spend $100, free gift wrapping materials, free samples and free shipping. Make sure that you add all these freebies…

This year’s advent calendar arrived in the mail from my mom earlier in the week. For me, nothing starts the holiday season more officially than receiving a bright, glittery advent calendar. It’s a lovely family tradition that my deutschphile aunt and uncle started many years ago. If you are interested in buying an advent calendar…

Zara has a great collection of silk skirts in stores right now. I bought one in a brick, charcoal, navy and white plaid (not at all as ugly as it sounds) from their store for $39 last weekend. It’s got a great fullness, a perfect below the knee hem and, best of all, trouser style…

Did you ever make candles out of beeswax sheets in elementary school? It was so fun and easy! All those memories came back to me when I saw a photo of French beeswax candles in the December issue of Gourmet Magazine. I ordered some beeswax sheets and wicks from Knorr Beeswax to make this a…