A Date

Photo from here.

Today is my last day in the city before heading home for Christmas.

I'm not quite ready to leave yet. I know I've done a view odes to New York during the holidays but wow, there is really nothing like it.

I'll be finishing up holiday shopping in Chinatown and the Upper West Side. Tonight, I have a date with the man who's holding my heart these days. He asked that we deliver a turkey dinner to a family in need rather than see "A Christmas Story" on Broadway.

Yes, my dear, we can do that.

Handmade Ornaments

Photo from here. 

The New York City streets are lined with Christmas trees. No tree lots here. I'd trade the usual smell of exhaust and garbage for the smell of pine any day! I did a little write up on the BEST handmade ornaments this season has to offer for Gallant & Jones. You can see what I found here. 

Writing that post and smelling the trees makes me miss having a tree of my own. This is the first Christmas in years that I haven't had one. Somewhere in the attic in Denver is a small collection of ornaments I shared with my ex. I can't wait to iron out the wrinkles in my favorite tree skirt and hang those ornaments once again. I was worried when I packed them away last year that using them again would be too painful. Now? I can't wait. They are, after all, a part of my story. 

Well & Good NYC Event

I spent Thursday evening at the Holiday Beauty Soiree put on by ABC Home and WellandGoodNYC.com. Several local business owners, including Tracie Martyn, a celebrity facialist, offered free services and showcased their product lines. 

I was excited to finally check out ABC Home as I had heard so much about it. It lived up to all the hype. I'm still dreaming of the grey tufted sofa in the basement....

This place setting by Jan Burtz is perfection. 

This book title made me pause for a moment. Who would you be without your story? 

Something to think about.

Thank you ABC Home and WellAndGoodNYC.com for hosting! Such a beautiful evening.

How New York City Does The Holidays

Typically, I'm the girl who is playing her Pandora holiday station well before Thanksgiving. This holiday season, however, has been different. WHEN DID THE CHRISTMAS GET HERE?! I have been so busy with school that I haven't been able to pay two seconds of my time to the magic that is the holiday season. Over the past weekend, I was determined to fix this.

I dashed down to Rockefeller Plaza Friday night to meet the boy and gander at the tree, along with hundreds of tourists. Everyone was so thrilled to be there. It was beautiful.

On Saturday night, I went to my church's Christmas concert. Oh. My. Goodness. Seeing that I live in Manhattan, the concert was comprised of Broadway stars, Juilliard-trained vocalists and even Desirae Brown-Luch of The Five Browns, who played Ave Maria with her husband on the violin. I'm not sure church concerts will ever top Saturday night. Magnolia Bakery's hot chocolate preceded the concert, Cafe Lalo followed it. I love New York.

Now it's back into the madness of graduate school. Only two more weeks left in the semester! Oh my gosh. Only two more weeks left in the semester?!?! Cue panic.

One More For The Books

How was your holiday?

Full of good food, family, and maybe a movie or two or four, like mine?

I'll be back to blogging tomorrow...but if you are having a Christmas music void in your life, enjoy this:

Because Shopping For Men Is Hard To Do

I am (hopefully) wrapping up my Christmas shopping this weekend! No pun intended ;) Shopping for my Dad and brothers is nearly impossible. Do you face the same debacle every year when it comes to shopping for men? I sketched out a few tips here.

It's been nice for me to share a few ways I treat myself through heartbreak. I do it because I know I am not the first nor the last woman to feel that grief. Obviously lipstick, conditioners and Anthropologie don't heal oneself, but incorporating little things like these into my day does help lift my spirits. I hope you enjoyed.

Have a great weekend! Check back in next week!

Filling The Sleigh

Photo from Martha Stewart

Are you spending this weekend holiday shopping? I'm "Santa" in my family and it's time for me to fill the sleigh. If you are looking for some stocking stuffers, check out my "Stocking Gift Guide" for the season here.

Check back up on me next week for a conversation about loving yourself, a mortifying story about lipstick shopping and more!