Happy New Year!

Wishing you all the best for 2011!

Learn your lyrics: Auld Lang Syne

Cause the New Year is a comin'!
Here are the New Year's cards that were sent out to my peeps. That Kate Spade, she is so cute and clever.

As is Marilyn apparently.

The end to 2010. Hope it was good to you.

Its about to get artic around here

Warm up the booze for a toasty toddy

and stoke that fire

We need to heat my mansion

And then I can curl up with these jazzy editions of F. Scott Fitzgerald literature

Holy Holiday

I made A LOT of Christmas cookies. Anyone else find that Martha's recipes are hard to follow?

Enjoyed the tree.

Set a beautiful table

Bought these giant ornaments at Target from the $2 bin and used them as place cards

Drooled over the Bouche de noel - yum

Died when I saw there were 7 different flavors of McConnell's ice cream for desert on Christmas- heaven.

Hope that all of you had a very Merry Christmas too!

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

Save a buck

I saw these at William Sonoma and thought they were precious but hem and hawed about spending $12 on something that was intended to go in the trash after 5 minutes.

As I waited for my coffee at the Starbucks via Safeway this morning these caught my attention. They were only $2.09 so I bought 4 packs so that I have the gingerbread, santa, reindeer and candy cane version. They are gonna be stocking stuffers.

Christmas Rant: Dudes are hard to shop for

All right I have to admit something. The items listed in the guide to giving for guys on this here bloggy will not be making it under my tree this year. In a dream world the fellas in my life would tear open the package and beam at me saying "how did you know?" with their light filled eyes and toothy smiles, but frankly the items are too designy for my crew and would be met with blank stares. I just spent the last two hours on the road in the snow, during rush hour, going from store to store looking, and looking, and looking and looking, and looking! You know where I am going here. I walked away with nothing. The other problem is that what the guys do like is $$$$$$ or they don't even tell us what they want and when you get them something else they open it, look at it and set it aside and you can tell its gonna be circulated in a different gift circle next year.

The ladies are so much easier to shop for, I mean my mom and sister are always telling me just to buy 3 of everything so that we all have the same fun stuff because we share tastes and styles. And when you go out to the stores looking for gifts for ladies my own private monologue is something like this "Cute. Cute. KEWT. Super cute. Adorbs. Cha- ching and done." I leave the store bag in hand and mission accomplished.

So all I have so far is this tshirt and while it is sweet and the dudes will like it my shopping is not complete and I am back to square one. All right rant over.

Deck the Halls

Tiny dog in a tiny sweater- heart melting.

Fa la la la la - la- la- la -la

This nursery feels merry and festive with the red and green accents. And if you squint real hard that floral wallpaper kind of look like holly berries right:)

Hope you had a great Monday!

Guide to Giving: Friends of Hudson Baby Design

Turns out we know some people that are doing some really great things and we want to share them with you - so here it is, the final Guide to Giving, enjoy.

Cold Weather accessories are always a great gift for the holidays and these days scarves are staple in most gals closets. Jazz it up this year with a scarf from ash&dans they do the infinity scarf or snood very well.

Champagne/Camel Sparkle Infinity $150

Grey Infinity with Crystal Necklace $150

Infinity with crystal broach $110

Oversize jersey wrap scarf $88

Since we are making a "wishlist" how about a little "frosting" this season in the form of some fine jewelry by the fantastically talented Dana of the hugely successful Dana Rebecca Designs

I hope that Santa will bring me this

Lauren Joy necklace $275

These Sara Elizabeth Amethyst

$600 earrings are stunners

The Anna Beth earrings $1,210 are sparkly goodness

And giant unique cocktail ring should round things out nicely

Kristen Holly Ring $3,190

If you are headed to a holiday party and need to bring a hostess gift we suggest First Blush.

It is a varietal grape juice that comes in flavors like Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah but it's non alcoholic and quite delicious alternative to pop or even a standard bar option like Cranberry juice. Suggestion mix it with a little Pellegrino or if you want to booze add vodka, it is a great mixer.

Our friend Kate and her pals at The Cravory have been BUSY baking up cookies for your holiday needs. 1 dozen for $24, I am thinking a mixture of flavors for the holiday. They pack them up hot and fresh and send them right to your door! Yummy.

Mexican Hot Chocolate

Kahlua and Cream

Chocolate Peppermint

Eggnog

Guide to Giving: House

Polka-dot coaster set $20

Henri Bendel Ping Pong Set $48

Tin Pagoda Wall Memo Board $28

Black/White Chevron Stripe Lucite Tray $40

Glass Baby Pink Votive holder $40

Gurgling Cod Pitcher/Vase $95

Hot Lips Phone $75