Gift Finder

I always love Holiday Gift Finders on websites. It's sorta like a fun Christmas survey. However, I've never actually bought anything recommended by them since I've never had one be that accurate.

Anthropologie's gift finder may be the most fun ever.

My friend's and I have a "Secret Santa" party every year (since 10th grade) and I filled it out with my Secret Santa in mind. Keep in mind that I've already bought half of my Secret Santa's gift from before-mentioned store. And after filling out the fun little questionaire, it actually recommended my gift! Pretty exciting I thought.

So if you have a Anthropologie loving friend on your gift list (me!) or if you want to do it for yourself, which is also very fun, try it out!

Here are my own gift recommendations:

Sally Gloves-$68 Bird in Hand Rolling Pin-$24 (Ahem...I really love this!)

Rainbow Drops Necklace-$48 Wisps and Wings Barrette-$18

The Littlest Coin Purse-$16 Domino: The Book of Decorating-$32 (yes, please)

love this photo

"Elevator — Miami Beach, 1955" from The Americans. Collection by Robert Frank

Expensive (good) taste

My mom and I have a joke that we can be thrown in a room full of clothes and told to pick out anything we want and unknowingly we will pick out the most expensive item. We can't help it! We have expensive taste!

Here is a good example:

The inspiration:

Steve Madden Intyce boots in Cognac- $129

The Much Cheaper Options:

Urban Horseriding Boots $41

Kady Boots-$29 (in cognac, grey, and black!) at Target

The Target boots really seem like a great steal. I might end up getting these in the grey. The Ruche boots are cute too but I'm still really leaning towards the Steve Maddens. I'll put them on my Christmas list, my mom will understand.

it's officially time...

for Christmas decorations!

Although it will be a few more weeks til I get my real tree, I put up my mini-silver tree yesterday morning (much to the excitement of my cat). Last year she was able to crawl up in there but so far this year she only likes sitting next to it while it's lit up...so far...

Since downtown Salisbury has their decorations up now I was really in the festive spirit yesterday morning. Getting out the tree and my Martha Stewart sparkly silver wreath was about as far as I got though. Even though my little tree is in the back bedroom/office, you can still see it from the road (I drove by twice to see it) and you can see it from Ellis Street behind me! My next door neighbors put their tree up today so I don't feel that I'm too early.

Here is some other holiday inspiration:

decor8

DIY Marha Stewart Doily Wreath

Anthropologie window display (of course!)

diy modern paper ornaments

vintage ornaments on a drying rack

pocket watch ornaments

tinsel trees

oh, Martha

weekly pretty things

I've been blogging around a lot this week.

Love this couch and clock.

Living in: National Velvet

glittery flats (for $10!)

pretty outfits

And the bride wore blue. (love this Mad Men inspired NYC elopement)

project runway letdown

I was really sleepy last night but still stayed up til 11 to see who won Project Runway. Overall I was disappointed with this season. No one was over the top enough for me (I miss the Austin Scarlett, Santino, Christian types). I was always a Carol Hannah fan though. She's so cute and from Charleston which was enough to win my affection. Then...I stayed up til 11, to see lame Irina win. Ugh, she never did anything that really impressed me and she is mean. How does that happen?

Anyhow, I saw this dress yesterday on Etsy and after clicking on it was ecstatic to see that it's Carol Hannah's shop!

This one is cute too.

buy a coat and live

How lovely is this story overheard at a Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova (The Swell Season & Once)

concert?

"A few weeks ago, Glen was in Chicago for the tour. As he came down the elevator in the morning, an older woman, perhaps 70, in a bright blue coat joined him. He described her face thusly: "You know how you have the face you were born with until you're 25, then from 25 to 40 you have the face that earn, and from 40 to death you have the face you deserve? Well, this woman was beautiful at 70, just one of the most beautiful faces, she definitely had one of those faces you earn." And as he looked over at her, he felt the need to compliment her coat, and so he did. And she got so excited and touched, responding, "Thank you for noticing my coat. This coat means so much to me, thank you for noticing. I bought this coat when I decided to live again. I loved the color and wanted to live. I didn't leave my apartment for two years, and when I did, when I decided to live, I bought this blue coat." Glen was a little surprised and a little touched, and he helped her with her bag to the taxi. As they got to the taxi, she started to tear up and the words started rushing out like when you've had a moment of kindness that unlocks all the emotions that have been sitting around for ages. And she said, "My son died in that tower. He quit on September 10 and went back the next day to pick up some last things. I meant to call him and tell him not to bother going back, but I slept late. And then I didn't leave my apartment for two years. And then I finally decided to buy this coat and live, and you noticed it."

Thank you A Los Angeles Love

In need of happier days

Today was rough. 50+ third graders on a walking tour in downtown Salisbury in the rain. I won't get into the details but it wasn't pretty.

These things are making my day happier.

On the way home, the hot light was on. It was a very easy decision to make...

I sing this song in my head all day long.

Bad guilty pleasure tv instead of lesson planning. (how ridiculous is Tyra in this shot?)

And this headband makes me happy. Ahem...Christmas is right around the corner :)

21 school days til Christmas

That's right, I'm starting the countdown!

On my way home from work this afternoon a house down the street had hung their Christmas wreaths and put Santa in a sled on their front porch. Thanksgiving is next week which means it really is getting close to Christmas! Too bad my cat will probably break every ornament I own this year (she was only a kitten last year and only meddled with the tree slightly) but I still really want these:

Found on Etsy

mirror, mirror on the wall

The first thing I bought when I moved into my apartment over a year ago was this really lovely mirror. I had big plans to do a antique mirror collage on the one wall in my bedroom. One year and three months later I still only had the one mirror hung. It looked so lonely. I see mirrors from time to time in antique stores that I almost buy but then can't commit.

But all of that changed today! I was wondering around and went into the Salisbury Emporium which is full of a lot of good antiques. My favorite booth is in the basement in the back corner and everything is very feminine and pretty. I found the mirror for $14 and also some vintage peacock Christmas ornaments for $10.

The only tools I own are a hammer and a little package of picture hanging accessories that I found under the sink after I moved in. So I felt really productive hanging it up myself.

Blushing

Crepe Chiffon Dress -$68,Pleated Taffeta Bustier- $54,Ruffle Tiered Skirt-$48, T-Strap Skimmer- $48, best smelling perfume ever.