always take time for the little things

Amidst all the festivities of the holiday season it's important to keep sight of the little things – from peppermint manicures to planning New Year's resolutions (more weekend getaways!). Here are a few of my personal recommendations for enjoying your time home for the holidays to the fullest:

Outfit: Old Navy Women's Chambray Shirt/ Aubin & Wills Calderwood cable-knit wool sweater /
J.Crew Mosaic wool scarf / J.Crew Café leopard-jacquard Capri pants

1) The New York Times 36 Hours: 150 Weekends in the USA & Canada Can't wait to dive in and start planning!
2) Marc by Marc Jacobs - Classic Q Natasha in Moss
3) Sperry Top-Sider - Hingham in Green/Tan Quilted
4) Bodum - EILEEN 8-Cup French Press Coffee Maker in Gold
5) Kate Spade Curling Ribbon studs
6) Sally Hansen Salon Effects - Peppermint Twist
7) Jane Tran - Medium Polka Dot Clip Set
8) Marv Graff - Bonbon Ribbon Crystal Hammered Ball Bracelet
9) La Sardina Lomography Camera in Cubic
10) Metropolitan DVD
11) Martha Stewart Collection - Fair Isle Sweater Knit 18" Square Decorative Pillow

made from scratch

Scott and I never bake, but yesterday we found ourselves cracking open our beloved Gourmet Today and scouting for something to ease us into the Christmas spirit. We decided upon number sixteen sugar cookies (30 min. active time - definite plus!) and were over the moon with the results... Crisp, flavorful, and rather addicting. Scott got creative and made a little Rudolph in Motion, as he termed it (lower left). All this is to say that I highly recommend the recipe, and number sixteen sugar cookies just may have become a new little tradition of ours. Jenna Lyons remarks this holiday season, "we're talking about making our own traditions." I'm with her! While I hold dearly my old traditions of hearing the St. Thomas Boy's Choir sing beloved carols, visiting the glorious 5th Avenue holiday windows, and the Winter Doldrums Party that my mom and aunt famously hosted throughout my childhood, amongst a social calendar of holly jolly holiday parties (I wonder where my dry humor comes from), I am more excited than ever this year to create our own, new traditions. You may say that sugar cookies are an age-old Christmas fare, and would be absolutely right, but in this first Christmas as husband and wife, it has also become one of our own. It is during the holidays that we think most about who and what we love, and with that, what we choose to make our own.

Merry Christmas!
Jane

holiday weekend snapshots

My aunt's house in the wintertime is the coziest place on earth. There are certain reliabilities in life that I find hopelessly comforting – the wood burning stove at her house is inevitably on in winter, there are always plenty of good books to read whenever you need one, and the locally baked bread and handmade jam for the best pieces of toast are always to be found in her cupboard.

{photos by me}

happy holidays!