Happy New Year's Eve

Hope you have a fun night planned with lots of champagne, confetti, and pretty dresses :)

A quote for the new year:

“If you’re feeling frightened about what comes next, don’t be. Embrace the uncertainty. Allow it to lead you places. Be brave as it challenges you to exercise both your heart and your mind as you create your own path towards happiness, don’t waste time with regret. Spin wildly into your next action. Enjoy the present, each moment, as it comes; because you’ll never get another one quite like it. And if you should ever look up and find yourself lost, simply take a breath and start over. Retrace your steps and go back to the purest place in your heart… where your hope lives. You’ll find your way again.”

Photos via: Glitter Guide

Two Tunes For Your Day

Six Reasons I Love Being a Girl

You sense the self-explanatory vibe I'm throwing. 

All images via: Sterling Style

Crewcuts is so Baller.

Crewcuts is J.Crew's little-tyke line, if you're unfamiliar. If I'm being honest with ya'll ('cause that's what I do here, I unveil truths), I would shamelessly buy an XL in any of their clothing items... 

...iiiinCLUding the boys stuff. (Hint to all the ladies: the boys section is actually a GREAT place to buy blazers, military-style jackets, flannel shirts, etc. They fit great and are always WAY cheaper.)

How do these kids look so "No I actually AM this awesome, thanks though,"? Example: last photo. Homegirl is WERKIN that sequin-cardigan-dress-striped-socks-moccasin combo. Good for her. I'm not even mad that if I stepped out in said ensemble my eye sight or drug use would be severely questioned. Possibly both. 

"Life is simple in the moonlight." 

5 Things I Love Today -- The December 26th Edition

• How to be the new guy or gal at work. Everyone might wanna tab that one.

• 'Where to get it' is for anyone who has ever looked at a street style photograph and thought, "Where did they GET that?"  

• How to make the perfect Egg McMuffins.

• How to stay in an airplane should a hole open up in a fuselage, get a job bartending with no experience, and catch a cheater in baseball. "Yeah thanks for nothing." - every girl who just read this. 

• For font nerds like myself: WhatFont launched this little gem that lets you find out what font a website is using when you hover over the text. '

photo via: glitter guide

Holiday Nails

Dark green + gold = pretty. Perfect Christmas day nails. Have a great day everybody, enjoy your loved ones :)

From Cheetah is the New Black Instagram

Singleton Holiday Card

Via: Whiskey Soaked

A Yummy Last Minute Gift Idea (It's DIY!)

Popcorn and I have a long-term love affair. It surely ranks in my top three favorite snacks of all time, if people had official rankings for things like that. They usually just reside in the head, don't they?

If you know someone with the same affinity for this salty (or sweet, I don't discriminate) snack, why not gift them a flavored popcorn kit for Christmas?  It's a win-win. Their taste buds party and you look all Martha Stewarty. 

Head over to A Beautiful Mess for complete instructions. 

For Me, There's Ryan Gosling, And Then There's . . .

Joseph Gordon Levitt. He was cute but easily overlooked in 10 Things I Hate About You next to Heath Ledger, but then came 500 Days of Summer and Inception and Boom. Hi. I'm Joseph. I'm sexy. 

Am I right? You agree? Cool, good talk. 

P.S. Did you know he sings? Here he is doing a cover of "Remix to Ignition". Apparently God saw fit to bless him with every talent in the books, which is fine with me. 

Photos: Katie Armour via Esquire

Two Tunes

How to Restore Your Faith in Humanity

• "Take a stroll around a park on the weekend. You’ll see families picnicking, children playing, dogs barking, squirrels nutting and smiles smiling. Parks are such a feel-good place. Go with friends, family or go alone. Either way, be observant and open to the happiness that’s around you.

• Watch a really great movie. I mean, a really great movie. Like Saving Private Ryan or Schindler’s List or Young Frankenstein. Movies about the good in people during the worst of times. Or how even the scariest of monsters can have a heart. Also, come on, Gene Wilder? How can he not cheer you up?

• Watch Military Homecomings. You can find them online or with Billy Ray Cyrus on TLC. I decided to look some up to make it easy and I’m just bawling like a baby now. 1, 2, 3 (seriously, you guys better love me, I’m dripping tears all over my computer), 4, 5. And now you all need to pitch in to help me buy a new computer and more tissues.

• Listen to sad music. Yes, sad music. Research shows that when we listen to sad music, chemicals in the brain are released that are similar to the chemicals released when we cry. These chemicals act as a tranquilizer and calm us down. Enjoy The Smiths and The Perishers. You’ll mope and wallow in the melancholy of it all and then you’ll slowly start to feel better. Once you do, put on something upbeat and joyful like Duran Duran or Noah and the Whale or Kate Nash. And then just dance your ass off.

• Go volunteer. A little more effort than the last few ideas? Perhaps. But if you’re not a typical volunteer type (which is okay, not everyone is!), start small. Clean out your closet and donate clothes to your local shelter or Goodwill. Empty your pantry of some canned goods and take them to a food bank. Or get down and dirty and join an organization to plant trees, clean up trash, read to underprivileged children, anything! There’s tons of ways you can help out, even if you just want to donate some money online.

• Save virtual clippings. Create a bookmark folder called “Faith In Us” or “People Dun Good” or “I LOVE WORLD!” and fill it with news articles, blog entries and other items you find around the internet that restore your faith in humanity. Share stories of  good deeds in the comments and then bookmark this page so that when you’re feeling down, you can come back and remember that people do good things all the time.

• Never forget that those who cheat, steal, lie, hurt, destroy and kill are the minority. There are more people interesting in helping than there are interested in hurting. More people came out to clean up than came out to destroy. "

-- from Made of Air

DIY: Disco Vase

Any DIY involving sequins I'm all, "Chyeup!" 

I like the pink rose, it looks romantical and all, but I think I'd substitute it for a peony. Or two. 'Tis my favorite flower. *Cough* hint *Cough*

Find the pretty-dang-simple instructions over at Sania Pell's blog. Check out the rest of her site too. Woman knows what's up in the craft world. 

Brownie Popsicles

Oh. You heard me right. 

Read me right. Whatever. 

I'm rebellious in that popsicles don't have a season cut-off for me. 

Look at this. It's like an, "Oh my God. No. You didn't. You didn't. But I'm so glad you did," kind of thing. 

Recipe here. 

Say Something Nice

I love being reminded that there are some really great people out there. Plus this whole idea is fantastic. 

Mapping Stereotypes

From Alpha Designer's "Mapping Stereotypes Project". Hilarious. 

Europe according to Americans:

Europe according to gay men: 

The world according to America: 

Europe according to Greeks:

This Apartment is 300 Square Feet & It is Amazing.

The Evenings Are Black

Photo via: Magnificent Ruin

Everything About This Lookbook is Perfect

Free People's winter lookbook has allllll sorts of boho glam perfection goin' on. Want all. Everything. Right down to that perfectly tousled hair. 

Little Things

Sunday Soundtrack

The Mac-Daddy Holiday Gift Guide

There's no rhyme or reason to this list. There are random ideas for friends, brothers, girlfriends, boyfriends, parents, etc. etc. etc (hey, maybe even yourself!) Stocking stuffers, splurges (though MOST everything is under $100!), and everything in between. Click on pictures for links.

PS If I find other things worth adding in the next few days I'll put them up sooo check back!

Experience tour. Sick. 

Business card holder

Oh I went there.

Ahh, tangle-free headphones. 

Because monogrammed boxers are just so spyeeeciallll. 

Engraved lighter.

Steve Jobs quote print.

Glow in the dark bocce ball. 

Cards for every occasion.

I mean....

Enzo Ferrari print. 

Beer of the month club.

(other signs available)

Reuben Sandwich Kit

DVF book bag under $100? Score. 

Nicole Richie's line

Other cities too!

Birchbox allows you to test out high end beauty samples for $10 a month. One year subscriptions available!

*wink*

A little spring-y but, J.Crew sales are not something we skimp out on people.

Bottle stopper

Squirrel paper clips? Cutest stocking stuffer ever.

laptop case

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (in case you missed the exhibit at the MoMA)


*Let me know if any of the links aren't working, cuz that would just be sad.