Let the sun shine in

My very sweet blog friend Une Femme Curieuse told me I was sun-shiny this week!  I didn't think I could like my fabulous virtual friend any more, but, alas, I do.  Thank you, Megan! So much.

Baby food

Last week, the wonderful couple who live above us had a baby girl!  This is their second within two years, so I figured that they had all the onesies and bibs they could need.

Instead, I made them this carrot-ginger soup.  I remember reading somewhere that new moms and dads can get sick of casseroles and lasagnas and just want something light and easy to eat. This seemed to fit the bill.

This tupperware had a very annoying sticker on the top.  It was soaked and scrubbed, but I couldn't get that last sticky residue off.  So I poured some glitter stars on top, and they stuck perfectly!

Snowed in

I know a lot of people are sick of being snowed in (I'm looking at you, D.C.), but New York City has been mostly spared.  

But it's been coming down heavily all day, and Peter and I both have snow days.

I'm making Katie Elliott's baked beans.  They smell so good!

The house feels very cozy.

All the different possible ways that you can enjoy life

I haven't  gotten my next Book Club book yet, so I started up with The Anthologist again a few days ago.

Paul Chowder, the fictional narrator, is a sometimes productive (often not) poet trying to write the introduction to an anthology he's put together, Only Rhyme.

The writing is so fantastic, I often find myself reaching for a pencil to underline huge sections. It will totally get you in touch with your twenty-year-old intro-to-creative-writing self.  Here's an early passage I fell in love with:

It's hard to hold it all in your head. All the different possible ways that you can enjoy life. All the things that are going on. The different rug patterns. The different car designs. The different radio shows that are coming and going. The new ads. The new crop of famous people.

And then there is, of course, always, and inevitably, this spume of poetry that's just blowing out of the sulphurous flue-holes of the earth. Just masses of poetry. It's unstoppable, it's uncorkable. There's no way to make it end.

So lovely, right?

Headed to Hawaii

We've been kind of obsessed with this e-book the last few days.

And also this website.

Because we found out this weekend that we got a resort in Kauai for our honeymoon!  Whee, I love honeymoons.*

Now we're thinking: Hawaii for the whole month?  Two weeks in Hawaii, and then hop on a plane to Australia?  The Samoa Islands?  A long drive along the California coast?  

*I said this at Book Club last night and my friend Beth was like, "You haven't even been on a honeymoon yet!"  I know.  But I still love them!

Tough

This time of year is tough, isn't it?  

We're headed to Connecticut this weekend to visit our families.  Trying to pack up my things last night, I realized I absolutely hate all my sweaters.  I hate my long winter coat.  I hate wearing my authentic Paris girl beret.  

I want to be on a fun picnic in Prospect Park under those leafy trees and that bright blue sky.  And it's still so many months away!

Valentine's Day gift guide for her

These are slightly more expensive than the male gift guide items.  Funny how that happens!

(Clockwise from top left.)

1. Longchamp nylon handbag
2. Pinecone Hill chunky knit pink throw
3. The Vintage Pearl dainty initials heart necklace
4. Anthropologie convertable bra
5. Sublime Stitching Bon Voyage embroidery pattern
6. Little Red Riding Hood mug

Sweet and pretty

My mom put together a box of my Grandmother's China for me last week.  I've always loved these dishes.  

So sweet and pretty.  And perfect for the Valentine's Day dinner I'm planning -- lobster and home made chocolate truffles!

Proof that my sister loves exclamation points as much as I do

Ed note: My little sister just moved into her first real college apartment.  The photos of her little room were so cute that I asked her to write up some tips for decorating a small space with a small budget. Enjoy!

1. Plan!  I did lots of planning before moving in.  Map out your room before moving things in; not everything will work out as perfectly as you envisioned, but having a P.O.A. [plan of action] definitely makes it easier.  A good tip, if possible: the bed almost always looks best opposite from the door. Less awkward that way.

2. Re-use!  I switched from a twin bed to a double bed.  I bought a new white down comforter, but I folded my old twin sized quilt at the bottom of the bed.  It's a new and fresh way to use something I already had. Also, lots of my furniture was bought second hand and painted to give it an update. 

3. Utilize your space!  I had a very small amount of space to work with. I have a dresser that stores all my clothes, a larger side table to hold odds and ends, and a white storage unit that doubles as a TV stand. The final pieces of storage are under-bed plastic bins on wheels. Everything is functional and cute (or at least tucked out of sight!)

4. Personal touches!  I love, love, love decorating!  I just spent a semester in Italy and bought some really cute decorations and pictures throughout my travels. But obviously it's not a requirement to travel to get unique, fun touches for your home. I've had a lot of luck shopping in Target, Home Goods, T.J. Maxx and Anthropologie (sale section, of course!).  Most of these stores have items in every budget.  Target is my go-to store for just about everything!

Quilting!

The quilting process has begun!  And it is easy.

I sewed those crazy big stitches to keep it all in place with the batting and backing.  Now I'm outlining each lime green triangle in white thread to make it puff up just slightly. 

I have loved learning how to do this, but I really can't imagine doing a whole quilt.  At least not by hand.  I need a sewing machine.

Peter, I think sewing machines are very romantic gifts...and you might need one in, oh, 14 days or so...