Party Perfect

New Year's Eve is just around the corner (like tomorrow), but in case you need some last minute party dress inspiration, you should check out this gallery of celebrity picks, complete with some low-cost alternatives for the last-minute shopper.

You can do classy and monochromatic like Kim Kardashian, thanks to this jersey wrap dress from Tahari.






Or you can add a little sparkle like Berenice Bejo with this shutter-pleated sequined dress from Overstock.com.






Or perhaps you'd prefer to go luxe and lacy like everyone's favorite fashion plate, Kate Middleton, with this sleeveless lace frock from Topshop. (It's British, even!)






If you like the unconventional road, you can take a cue from another Kardashian, Kourtney, and pair a ruffled maxi skirt with a crisp oxford or tuxedo shirt and voila! Instant party glamor.





Or, if you've already cooked up a fabulous ensemble, be sure to tell us what it is and where you plan to wear it!

Fashion Day By Day

One of my New Years' Resolutions is to abide by a more responsible budget (as in, any budget at all), so I am going to be laying off the fashion blogs for a while because if I see it, I want it. And then I buy it. And that doesn't seem like a very good fit for a budget.

So, until I have gained a little more self-control, I am going to keep myself a little in the dark.

But, that's no reason why the rest of you shouldn't have a little fun, right? And so, I am going to pass along this little fashion blog I just came across. (Being the savvy fashionistas that you are, you probably know about it already, but I am going to tell you about it nonetheless.)

Introducing, The Daybook!

This cute Idaho-to-D.C. transplant mama talks about life and clothes and everything in between and I think you'll probably like it a whole lot.

If you don't already. Which you probably do.

Just in case you need some more convincing, here are a few samples of the fashion glory that await you.








Sigh. I am coveting already.
How about you? Which fashion blogs are your must-reads?

Winter Wardrobe Blues

When the cold weather first hits I get all excited to take out my boots and my sweaters and I start stocking up on scarves and adorable mittens and I dream of a cozy and stylish winter...

... for about a month or so and then I am ready for warm and light and being outside without turning into an icicle. You know, something like this.




Or this.




Or this.





Sadly, it's not always in the cards. But, starting my search for the perfect spring and summer wardrobe always helps me get through the cold and bleak winter months.

If you're in the same boat, you might think about bringing one of these sunny dresses into your winter life.

This flowery, poplin dress is one of my all-time favorites. It's easy and breezy for the summer months, but you can also make it work in the winter with a chunky sweater (maybe purple?), some gray tights and maybe a pair of wedges with a pop of color. Or a pair of flat boots for a more practical, snowy-weather ensemble.





This red maxi dress is also a good looking-forward-to-spring-while-living-through-winter dress. It's length can keep you gams toasty, especially if you throw on a pair of boots or even booties. A slouchy (and long-sleeved) boyfriend blazer can top you off until it starts warming up again.





And the best news is, both of these beauties are on sale through the end of the year, so shop early and shop often until then!

Calendar Year

One of my great Christmas triumphs this year was making a calendar out of our wedding photos using Shutterfly.

Certainly childs' play to many of you, but a big accomplishment for me, so let me enjoy it, will you?

Thanks.

If you happen to still be looking for a way to mark the coming year, and are wanting something crafty with the work done by someone else, check out this collection of 2012 calendars.

As always, here are some of our favorites.



Each page of this calendar is inspired by a quilt. Available here.




Seasonally appropriate icons from illustrator Erin Jang will help you greet each month of the new year. Available here.





And this painting-turned-wall-calendar is bohemian perfection. Available here.

Here's to the New Year!

The Love Boat

I have some cousins who go on a tropical vacation together as a family every winter.

This seems like an excellent idea to me.

I mean, who doesn't want to spend a week in the cold winter doing this?




It also seems like an excellent idea to take along a wardrobe fit for island frolicking and ship deck flirting. You know, something that makes you look like this.





Seem impossible? Never fear! As usual, we are here to the rescue with some newly marked down dresses perfect for love-boating and island-hopping.

I don't think you can beat the tucked waist and flattering full skirt of the Garden Isle dress for a romantic deck-side or sea-side meal.





And the easy fit and moveability of the North Shore dress are perfect for a wade in the waves or a scramble over the rocks.





Really the only thing that could possibly go wrong is that you might never come home!

But, before you disappear, tell us: what is your dream tropical destination and what Shabby Apple dress would you take with you?

Christmas Is Coming, It's Practically Here!

{Image found here.}

Christmas is almost here!

And we hope you have a very, very merry one.

We also hope you'll stop by here the day after Christmas to spend some of your holiday cash. I'll let you in on a little secret that we are going to have a bunch of gorgeous dresses newly marked down on December 26th, and you'll only have until the 31st to snap them up.

So you better plan ahead is all I'm saying.

More soon, but until then enjoy this happiest of holidays!

Hugs.

Baked. Good.

Are you interested in taking a break from last-minute holiday shopping to do some last-minute holiday baking?

I thought so.

As it appears that the gingerbread chocolate chip cookies were a big hit, I thought we might as well stick with the winning genre. Plus I am really intrigued about this recipe for gingerbread cupcakes, so I want one of you to make them and let me know how it goes.

OK?

I got the recipe from The Rockstar Diaries, and she got the recipe from Emma Chapman, who owns Red Velvet Sweet Shoppe with her sister, Elsie.

Got that?

Good.

Just in case you were too lazy-slash-busy to follow all those links (don't blame you one bit, whatever your reason might be) here is the recipe. And a yummy-looking photo to kick it off!

You'll need:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 TB ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

A pinch of cloves

3/4 cup softened butter (one and a half sticks)

3/4 sugar

1 and 1/2 TB molasses

2 large eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla

In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar.

Add eggs and vanilla and stir until just combined.

Add all the remaining ingredients and stir until nearly no lumps are left in the batter.

Spoon batter into lined baking cups, 2/3 full.

Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

Emma (and the recipe) recommends making mini cupcakes, but I say you do whatever you want.

Either way, I think you'll probably want some buttermilk frosting on top, so because Christmas is a time of selfless giving, here's the recipe for that.

You'll need:

1 cup softened butter (2 sticks)

1 to 2 TB buttermilk

1 and 1/2 to 2 cups powdered sugar

A pinch of cinnamon

With an electric mixer, cream the butter and buttermilk together.

Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time (creaming in between) until you reach your desired frosting consistency.

Then stir in your pinch of cinnamon and frost away!

P.S. If you do happen to have some last-minute holiday shopping, you might consider this Martha Stewart cupcake cookbook. For one thing, that's where Emma found this recipe. And for another thing, I have used this very cookbook approximately 1,000 times and never gone wrong. I baked more than 100 cupcakes for my engagement party (that is not actually an exaggeration) and I used all recipes from this book and every single one was delicious. (Also not an exaggeration.)

The Giving Tree

How is that Christmas shopping coming? Do you happen to have a tween boy on your list? If so, you should check out this tween boy gift guide from Bleubird Vintage. I pretty much never would have thought of any of these things, so maybe you're in the same boat?

You can hop on over to Bleubird to see where to find these Christmas goodies. And you could also tell us, what are your go-to gifts, for tween boys or anyone else?

Christmas Kitchen

My Christmas baking has been sort of a mixed bag this year (Nutella cupcakes were a win, pecan pie was a big fail), so tonight I decided to fall back on a classic favorite, these chewy chocolate gingerbread cookies from Martha Stewart.

In short, I adore these cookies. I have made them approximately 1,000 times and they always come out just right. Everyone I have ever fed them to has loved them, and they are just unique enough that people think you're really fancy. But secretly they are the easiest cookie ever.

I never plan far enough ahead to chill the dough, but that's never caused me any problems. I think it's really just so it's easier to roll, though I would really know because (all together now) I never plan far enough ahead to try.

It is also often the case that I don't have any fresh ginger on hand, so I just add some extra ground ginger and they still taste delicious, a holiday and every day favorite.

Give them a try and let me know what you think.

And tell me, what are your go-to holiday recipes?

All The Whos Lay A Snooze

I understand that in some families there is a tradition involving Christmas pajamas.

This is not a tradition in my particular family, but I can definitely appreciate a good set of PJs, so I say more power to the pajama people.

If you happen to come from such a family, and if you happen to still be looking for that special holiday sleepwear, might I direct you to Victoria's Secret? (Don't worry, this is still a family show.)

They have the cutest pajama sets right now, with just the right amount of Christmas-y that you can wear them now and wear them later. Winning!

I really like these flannel pajamas, and a snowflake pattern seems like a logical way to go, though you can also get polka dots and plaid if that's more up your alley.

And these thermal long john (jane) pajamas are the adult answer to the footie onesie. (Though it's totally cool if you have one of those.) The stripes are my favorite, but there are some more wintery patterns in this style, too.

If you're looking to celebrate in high style (and who isn't?) you can always go the satin pajama route.

Or you can dress things down with a t-shirt and matching pants.

And the best part? Through Wednesday you can get free shipping! Just check out the web site for details.

And then come back and tell me, are you a holiday pajama person, and why?

Secret Santa Strikes Again

'Tis the season, the season of the office holiday party that is, which usually involves an office gift exchange, which is usually sort of a nightmare. I mean, not as bad as that one episode from the first seasons of "The Office" where Michael turns a really lovely personalized gift exchange into a crazy swap situation because he wants everyone to want his iPod (anyone remember that?), but still sort of a nightmare nonetheless.

But, thankfully, these folks have put together a handy gift list for just such an occasion as the awkward office gift exchange. Here are some of my favorites.

How about an environmentally-friendly I Am Not A Paper Cup ($20). If your co-workers take as many trips to Starbucks as I do (peppermint hot chocolate, be mine forever), they'll love you for this.

Maybe you have co-worker who needs something a little more snazzy than the tired old mug he's using to hold all his pens? Try this pencil holder ($10) instead.

As a person who just purchased a space heater for under my desk, I would be thrilled to receive this fleece blanket ($7) to store at my desk for those days when I lose the office thermostat battle.

And I completely adore this grass planter phone charger ($25). Because who doesn't want something green to liven up their cubicle? And who doesn't have to charge their phone? I believe this is what you call a win-win.

Anything strike your fancy?

What is your go-to office present exchange present?

(Gym) Packing In Style

Are you looking for ways to stay motivated to get to the gym during the holidays? (Those holiday pounds don't take themselves off, I've learned.)

Well, I always say an adorable gym bag is half the battle (and the elipitical machine is the other half), so here are some stylish options to get you in the right frame of mind (via The Washingtonian).

If you're looking for something lightweight to take with you on a run or a bike ride, think about the Nike Cheyenne Vapor Running Backpack (available in five bright colors!) or the Camelbak Octane LR, which holds all your gear without breaking your back.

If your goal is to make a stylish impression on your gym crush (and let's not pretend we don't all have one, shall we?), consider the Stella McCartney for Addidas Florifer bag, made of nylon with a zip-close main compartment, or the Lacoste Fair Play duffel bag, with three internal pockets to keep everything where it belongs.

If you're looking for a gym bag that can go overnight with you when it needs to, look into the Lug Cartwheel Bag, which can fit just about everything with pockets for a yoga mat, jewelry and a shoe compartment, or the Blue Seventy Transition TZ bag, which can take you from swimming to running to biking gear without breaking a sweat.

And last, and certainly not least by any definition of the word, if you are looking for something to splurge on, for yourself or a special Christmas someone, think about the Reed Krakoff Gym Bag I with a sporty racing stripe for good measure, or the Jack Spade Winged Nylon Duffle, which has the advantage of being both waterproof and cool.

That's it! No more excuses for skipping the treadmill. But before you head out, tell us: what is your favorite gym bag and why?

Making A List, Checking It Twice

Happy December! Have you finished your holiday shopping yet?

I kid.

Need some help getting started?

I help.

I am loving little kitchen gadgets as stocking stuffers this year, and Sur La Table is my favorite place to go. (Next to my favorite kitchen store on Capitol Hill, Hill's Kitchen. But sometimes shopping on the Internet just wins out.)

I digress.

I am definitely getting one of these Bodum milk frothers for my mom (don't worry, she doesn't read this blog) because a) what a genius idea for classing up a mug of hot cocoa and b) I am in love with these bright colors.

I have one of these retro magnetic kitchen timers and I adore it. I have it stuck to my fridge right next to my stove and it adds a little panache plus keeps my cookies from burning (too much). I have a yellow one, but that robin egg blue is pretty rad, too.

Moving on to slightly larger gifts, but keeping it in the kitchen family, I totally want one of these slider mini-burger tool sets. First, you get little slider patty molds. Genius. Then you get a little grilling basket to cook them in so you don't lose a single one to the charcoal. So great. The only downside is it's always sort of depressing to get Christmas gifts that you can't use right away, but some of you out there must live in a warm climate, right? Or like grilling outside in the freezing cold and snow?

This year's really hot kitchen gift item appears to be the air popper popcorn popper. I am seeing them everywhere. And why not? I think they're a pretty great gift idea, actually. You could put together a little movie night package with an air popper and some favorite DVDs, or add some popcorn bowls to round it out.

What are your favorite kitchen gifts to give, and which ones are on your list this year?