...sparkles

I have a secret to tell you.


I hate New Year's Eve. 


There's too much pressure to have the best night ever, and the perfect kiss, the best drinks, and so on.


But, I don't hate getting to get all dressed up in some absurd amount of sequins, and dancing with my best friends. So that's all I'm focusing on this year. Cheers!

we heart it

...some favorite moments from 2011

I think 2011 might just have been a landmark year for me. Looking back at NYE last year, I can't believe how much I've changed in 365 days. I've grown up a lot this year and am stupidly excited to see what fun and exciting things 2012 will bring!


Here's a few highlights from 2011...

...a pink desk

I could get so much done if I had this desk and a bright blue wall.

sketch 42

...mini brie pop tarts

I might just be making these for our New Year's Eve cocktail party...


I was thinking of putting an apple slice, some toasted almonds, and a drizzle of honey in there instead of jam. 


And there needs to be some sort of prosecco/vodka drink to go along with it. Festive and tasty!

Joy the Baker

...being lucky

Do you ever stop and think, how did I get so lucky? How do I have such amazing people in my life? Did I earn it somehow with good deeds and good energy put out into the universe, or am I simply just this lucky?

Rockett St George

...the holidays!

I hope everyone has a wonderful, relaxing, and family-filled weekend!

Patterson Maker

...simple art

1 // 2

...cobalt + gray

I am obsessed with this color combo. Easy and chic. Done.

OscarPRGirl

...romantic hair

Loving this soft, romantic updo.

Doux Rousse

...neutral Wednesday work wear

Of course you'd have to do up some of the buttons. But how easy would this be to throw on in the morning?

And throw these shoes on...

J.Crew Spring lookbook via Fashionising // J.Crew.com

...type crush Tuesday - a simply letterpress holiday

For all you procrastinators out there who haven't gotten holiday cards yet. Or for those who just want to look at pretty pictures of letterpress cards.

top // bottom

...a serious case of the Mondays

Maybe I don't love it. Maybe I secretly do because it gives me an excuse to sit on the couch before a busy work week and Christmas weekend. (seriously? how is THIS weekend Christmas...?) It does make me miss the college days of getting three solid weeks off from doing anything other than decorating gingerbread houses with this girl and throwing my annual cookie decorating party.

This is not a far cry from how my hair actually looks right now. The Freedom Experiment

...good black and white photos

Gorgeous right?

Note to Self

...a good tux (placed on Ryan Gosling's bod)

Head Full of Doubt

...this gap scarf

Scarf from Gap. Must go get immediately. No time for full sentences.

Gap // wit + delight

...being apathetic in a pile of tulle

Sometimes this is how I feel.

J.Crewing

...type crush Tuesday - Social Proper Holiday cards

How adorable are all these cards! Festive but not in your face HOLIDAY, you know?

Social Proper Holiday cards

...good book suggestions

I'm in a book lull. Everything I pick up to read I quickly lose interest in.


Anyone read anything they loved recently?

wit + delight

No, I do not read in my bath tub often.

Also, no I do not want to read a book titled, "Help Your Husband Get Ahead." Please.

...some gorgeous tory's

Santa, I would love either of these under the tree this year.

1 // 2

...some NYC noms

So, while I love going to museums and all that cultured stuff, I also love the foods.

Most significant food object I was introduced to over the weekend- Speculoos. So. Yummy. A food truck, Waffles and Dinges (Dinges means toppings) makes fresh waffles topped with Speculoos, a gingerbread cookie (excuse me you say, gingerbread cookie?) based spread. Trader Joe's just started carrying something similar called Cookie Butter. Yep. Go buy it now.


I also spent my life savings on treats at Momofuku. B'day truffles (similar to cake balls) and their signature compost cookie were my fave purchases. The compost cookie has oatmeal, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, pretzels and potato chips. Might have eaten some for breakfast more than one morning this week.


And oh my goodness the best dinner ever was Ippudo. It is a ramen place (I think one of the most popular in the city judging by the hour and a half wait on a Monday) and it was so effing good. We ate pork buns, Korean ribs (pictured below) and ramen. My photo of the ramen was a little unappetizing but oh my goodness I stuffed myself to the brink. Everything was so tasty.


Now I'm back to smoothies and lentil soup. So much less exciting.

...some NYC sights

Something you should probably know about me. I am a huge art nerd. Walking into the MoMA gives me butterflies. The Guggenheim makes my entire day complete. And I also secretly love doing touristy things. Like going to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza. Until we got stuck in a ridiculous amount of foot traffic. Then I disliked being all touristy.

The MoMA has a great retrospective of Willem de Kooning, and after seeing it I decided retrospectives are my favorite. It is really neat to see the beginning, middle and end of an artist's career and be able to visually draw parallels between their work.

The library also has a great exhibit up for their 100 year anniversary (and it's free!), highly recommend!


The highlight though, was the 9/11 memorial. It isn't finished yet, so you have to get timed tickets (free) and I had NO IDEA what to expect. I walked in and it completely took my breath away. Do you guys know anything about the memorial? I might have been out of the loop, but seriously it was amazing. Emotional, gorgeous (I went at night) and just really well done. Where the towers fell there are 2 square waterfalls and all along the perimeter are the names engraved of people lost in that tower. The waterfalls are what my photo below is of. It was so powerful to stand there and take it all in, and I kind of liked having no idea what to expect going into it. So I just ruined it for some of you. Oops!

Here's a nice documentary PBS did about the construction if you're interested!

The other wonderfully touristy thing I did was walk across the Brooklyn Bridge! Also at night, and it was also so beautiful! Crossed that one off my list.

I saw an apartment on fire too, watched the firemen put it out and everything. Cool to experience, not so cool for the people who's apartment it was.

...more noms

Apparently today is Thursday treat day. Chocolate peanut butter pretzel bars. Someone put these in my belly please!

The Craving Chronicles

...peppermint cupcakes! omg!

These look so good!

Glorious Treats

...being blogged about!

The adorable Caroline Knight of Sweet Caroline did a little feature about some cards in my etsy shop!

Check her "What I'm Loving Wednesdays" here my bebees!

Don't forget the coupon code ISL15 is happening in the etsy shop the whole month of December!

Aaaand I have a fun little post on the sights I saw and the food I ate in NYC coming later this week!

...cozy sweater time

Is it actually getting cold outside?

1 and 2 // both on pinterest

...type crush Tuesday - holiday cards round 2

I love these letterpress cards from the moontree press shop on etsy! Such adorable concepts and drawings.

moontree press

...the etsy store coupon code!

I might be impartial, but I think personalized stationary is a darn good holiday gift. That's why I'm offering 15% off through the ENTIRE month of December on anything in the I simply love etsy shop!


Starting now! Use the code ISL15 on any item in the shop!

Pinterest

...another trip to NYC

So excited for a weekend in the big city!

Things on the agenda: 
Tons of eating. Probably 3 trips to Momofuku Milk Bar. Fun drinks. Watching ice skaters in Bryant Park while sippin' hot chocolate. The Gugg (otherwise known as the Guggenheim). The MoMA. My first Soul Cycle class - stupidly excited for this. The 5th Avenue Kate Spade Store.

Quite possibly the perfect weekend!


And yes, I will most likely post pictures of everything I eat. Sorry...

I  hope you all have FABULOUS weekends my little readers!!!

 

The Kate Spade cab - SO CUTE.

...the notecard WINNERS!!

YOU GUYS. Thank you SO much for all your excited comments for the giveaway. I am really happy to announce the winners!

My lovely little readers Valerie Keating and Bethany Mix!!

And for everyone else who needs some notecards for the holiday season (or just for fun) I am excited to tell you that starting MONDAY everything in the shop will be 15% off through the entire month of December! Here's the link - i simply love etsy shop

Happy Friday! 

 

The Wedding Present

...hearts

This crazy popular adorable sweater is already sold out on JCrew.com. Of course that makes me want it more.

J.Crew

...a new month!

Happy December! I hope for some wintery days and lots of celebrating. And I want to make this adorable mini terrarium.

joo joo