Thankful

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. 

The cold weather and the bundling.

The crowds and the sales.

The "to do" lists and the preparations.

The stress and the madness. 

The decorations and the celebrations.

The meals and the travel. 

The cost and the details. 

Right smack in the middle of all that is such humbling thankfulness. 

Life can feel heavy, tied up with unmet expectations, unrealistic timelines,
and a seeming microscope on all our have nots.

But in the madness of it all, is such beautiful blessing. 

For God.

For Francis.

For my parents.

For my friends.

For food.

For a neighborhood we love. 

For our tiny apartment.

For health.

For insurance.

For celebrations.

For adventure.

For the little things.

For warmth.

For blankets.

For our church.

For jobs.

For paychecks.

For candles.
For lip balm.

For bows.

For babies.

For love.

For smiles.

For laughter.

For Netflix.

For changing seasons.

For travel.

For safety.
For our car.

For dreams.

For lessons.

For all I have. 

For all I don't have. 

Thanks be.

image: Etsy

J.Crew London

Friends, have you ever, in your life seen anything quite so stunning as J.Crew's new London shoppe on Regent Street?

As if my absolute adoration for London wasn't enough -- London + J.Crew + confetti galore.
Herringbone wood floors, that taxi cab, the phone booth, I can't even handle it.

The new international flagship store is filled with the whimsical sparkly creations of New York design team, Confetti System. I think their one-of-a-kind work adds such a flair and fun to the chic retailer's new spot.

Now, to figure out a way to hop the pond and visit for myself.

Tell me, do you like it?

xo, H

images and article: NYT

Scratch & Sniff Sommelier

I remember being in middle school.

I had curly hair, elaborate orthodontia, and a big, talkative personality. 

I remember trying too hard to be like everyone else. 

Taking drastic measures to straighten my hair (contortioning myself over an ironing board as my friend literally ironed my hair to the tune of 3+ hours). The end result was anything but the smooth, beautiful straight locks that I so badly wanted. The downfall was an inch of curl from the root of  my head (a place too dangerous to breach with the hot iron) and then a straight, limpless end. Friends, it was bad. 

I remember spending so much, too much time wanting to look like, act like, think like everyone else. To say I have completely outgrown this would be a lie. The temptation remains to compare disposable incomes, job titles, wardrobes, and overall likability. But somewhere along the road, the self I was crashed with the self I wanted to be and the epiphany hit me, why not be rare, unique, and different?

Since then, I find myself drawn to things and people that are unconventional, new, ironic, and unique. The people who talk and you just sit and marvel at their quick wit and one-of-a-kind personalities. The words you read over, and over, and over letting their genius and depth sink in; be it headline copy, a Christmas letter, or a novel. The places that remind you of nowhere else you've ever been. The way your mom's cooking smells like no other cooking in the world. The differences and oddities are what keep things interesting. 

So when I stumbled upon a new book from one of the world's master Sommeliers, I was curious. When I found out it was scratch and sniff (!!), I was taken. (A measly transition at best between the tale of my childhood plights, but have you ever heard anything so cool, so different?)

I ordered The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert intended to be a stocking stuffer for F. My excitement outweighed by ability to wait until December, so I gave it to Francis as a "just because it's Friday and you're awesome." present. 

Sorry my snapshots are a tad blurry, but the book walks through the 3 basic smells of wine - fruit, wood, and earth. The author, Richard Betts, is one of only a couple hundred master sommeliers (fancy shmancy wine geniuses) in the world. He coined the saying, "Wine is grocery, not a luxury." and doesn't like the snobbery that often accompanies the deliciousness of wine. 

This book just makes me happy. The animations are adorable, the smells are helpful, and the explanations are insightful.

Such a fun Christmas gift for any wine lovers on your list. 

When I find myself wanting to sound fancy ridiculous, I just quote Annie from The Parent Trap,

"If you ask me, the bouquet is a bit robust for a Merlot, but I am partial to the California grape."

Love.that.movie.

images: hilaryclair

to buy the book: Amazon

Cozy

I find myself enamored lately with the idea of being cozy. 

Fall can do that to a person. 

I'm drawn to all things warm, fuzzy, and soft. Antlers, plaid, and dark stained wood. 

The above items in particular caught my fancy since they seem just so Fall. 

What are your favorite seasonal staples?

xo, H

images: west elm, One Kings Lane, etsy, houzz