12 Christmas wishes

1. The Architect's Brother by Robert Parkeharrison

2. Five skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca's worsted in ecru (to knit this)

3. Palomarie equilibrium necklace

5. Amethyst slice necklace by mossiere

6. Pretty bangles

7. Sampler of yummy salts

8. Steel thigmotrope satellites to hold some cool air plants

9. Two twin sheets and one queen by Rough Linen

10. Video camera for recording my kooky husband

11. Knitted fox pillow

12. Bunny bookends

And then there's always the basics: like chocolate, moisturizer, lotion, and camera film. Or a trip to Paris.

Quarter century.

My 25th birthday was completely great. The two weeks after have been super busy school and work-wise, so apologies for the delayed report.

I woke up that friday morning to lots of kisses and a very excited husband who was so thrilled he couldn't keep straight whose birthday it was. Mine or his? It was a good question, but he was so giggly we never got around to deciding. Then I got my present. Boots. Boots I have wanted so badly for the last three years but never had a good enough excuse to buy them. So Jared got them for me. I put them on immediately, even though I was still in bed and my wide feet barely fit in them.

Here they are. No action shots yet.

They are perfect in every way.

Jared also gave me a pound of chocolates. They went really well with the macarons my sweet mother and sister-in-law sent.

We had the best tacos in the world for lunch. Followed by churros. We walked around downtown Boston and bought an ice cream maker attachment for our KitchenAid. And an ice cream cookbook. Then we got the best Thai food in the city for dinner. But take-out, so that we could eat it at home on our couch while watching Mad Men. It was a really really good day.

On Sunday, we had a handful of friends over for cake and snacks. This year I made a chocolate cake with salted-caramel cream cheese frosting. It was delicious. I'll post a recipe that includes the most perfect chocolate cake I've ever made. It is my go to chocolate cake. (Last year's cake was chocolate with chocolate mascarpone filling and chocolate ganache. Same cake, though.)

The past year has been so life-changing. Last Christmas, I got engaged. I started school again. We planned a wedding. We got married. And moved. And moved again. The crazy thing is that these are only a few of the highlights. I have never felt so blessed. 

Linen

I am saving and wishing for these beautiful white linen sheets by Rough Linen.

Linen makes for lovely bedding because it's cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and gets softer with time and washing. This particular company doesn't sell fitted sheets - only flat. Which I think is excellent. You can't actually fold those things neatly, no matter how many tutorials Martha Stewart has done about it. But, in case you need some tips on making up a mattress with a flat sheet, the owner of Rough Linen, a charming British lady, has made some youtube videos to help. She makes me feel like I should be more polite.

In the meantime, I'm going to buy these linen dish towels instead.

If I were a drinking man ...

I would own this.

Proenza Schouler

Every time I look at this dress, I have to talk myself down from buying it.

But it's so pretty!

But I picked a wedding dress already, I think.

But look at those sweet buttons!

But that is too much for a dress you might have to return.

But the shirring!

But you are pale and it's hard to tell online if the color will work.

But the silk! Don't you think it would feel so nice!

I'm still not sure which way this will swing.

I don't even know what to do with myself.

Ooh la la

I reeeeaaaaalllly want this pillow. It charms me.

But I think I should figure out how to make it myself or something because

I am sadly not a person with $90 to spend on a pillow.

Never taking it off ever ever ...

... except, you know, when I shower, or put on lotion, or bake, or clean things, or garden, or, like, a thousand other contingencies. 

But, oh my I love it.
He worked with a jeweler for months to design it.
It's recycled, ethical, and vegan.
And it means something. 
That was important to him - that more than just being pretty, the design be symbolic of our relationship and the promises we will make.

I'm silly crazy about that kid.

Geodes

I kind of can't stop thinking about these.

From mossière and Magpie & Rye.

Holiday wishes

1. The Architect's Brother by Robert Parkeharrison

2. Camilla Engman calendar 2011

3. Calligraphy kit

4. Morse code necklace with the name of my favorite or something

5. Pigeon Toe Ceramics bowls

6. Embroidery kit

7. MUCU Pocket Ringbook

8. Asymmetrical sweater from Need Supply Co.

9. Patagonian sheepskin

10. A puppy

11. Madewell archive leather boots

12. Madewell biker boots

13. Diana F+ medium format camera

14. How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman

iLove

Remember this one time when I didn't post anything for a ridiculously long time? Me too.

See, my computer stopped working in ways that computers usually work. It stopped playing any audio and the keyboard stopped working, in addition to loading everything slower than my family's first ever dial-up internet connection. It was/is extremely pitiful. Though, perhaps even sadder is how long I lived with it. Copy and paste individual letters into Google's search bar? No more!

Jared and I documented the momentous occasion in Photo Booth on some of the store's computers.

It's like you were there!

p.s. Computadora's name is Pepito (as in Madeline and the Bad Hat)

Ring around

1. 2. 3. 4. 

I wish. I wish. I wish.

But maybe have them all remade by someplace like Bario-Neal? Ethics. I like that.

Bicycles

{Amsterdam}

{Princess Sovereign}

{Paula}

Aren't these bikes neat?
Sooo expensive, though.

I used to have a charming butter yellow 21-speed cruiser, but it got nabbed a couple years ago. I really miss having a bike. Especially of late, on these perfect spring days we've been having. So I am officially in the market for a new one. Also, a helmet. Safety first.

Ten

Another list of small joys ...

1. Bare shoulders
2. Open mouth baby kisses
3. Hot bread
4. Night swimming
5. A bowl of cold muscat grapes
6. Lying with our cheeks pressed together
7. Brunch at Neighborhood Restaurant
8. Mornings at the library
9. Dahlias
10. Armfuls of warm laundry

{we heart it}

Inventory

A Christmas present inventory. This is mostly for Jesyka who wanted a rundown of all my Christmas presents (and obviously I want one from you too Jes). But yeah, this is a list of most everything I was gifted on Christmas. Part of me feels like this might be inappropriate? But you needn't think I forgot the real meaning of Christmas. No, I have seen far too many of those made-for-TV-movies for that kind of rookie mistake. Nope. I had a fantastic day full of gratitude for the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ spent with my family and my mom's family. Plus, I managed to get pretty decently outfitted for winter. Lovely, really. A perfect kind of Christmas.

From Santa:

SmartWool socks

Calvin Klein winter coat

Sooo much warmth. I wore these things around the house all morning, pretending we live in an igloo. Which, really, we kinda do.

From my parents:

Vintage 1970s drawstring bag

Sorel winter boots

(Yes I wore these around all morning too. Like slippers)

Need Supply Co. cardigan

(And this one I've been wearing non-stop for the past three days. At least)

From my dad exclusively:

Mac Powerbook circa 19Old

Because he knows how much I want a Mac ...

No. It does not appear to turn on.

From my brother and sisters:

From boyfriend:

Christmas Eve flowers