Readying the house for Christmas

I am a modest holiday decorator at best. Christmas means a lovely live tree and a simple spruce wreath without flourish. And a Christmas cactus that blooms from Thanksgiving through The new year each year.We call it Spartan-luxe.

Cocktails with Sonny: a sort of jewel box tour.

Aside from being the best immigration lawyer this side of the Mississippi, my good friend really knows how to stack those stackable rings.

A Shout Out in Simple Lovely

Joslyn Taylor, the genius behind Simple Lovely blog was a very early supporter of our jewelry line.  Barely a week or so after the launch, she posted an image of the Interlock in a collection of beaituful things she called "Loving..." Once again, today, she posted an image of her wearing her very own Interlock!

You can read the whole post on "deconstructing an outfit" at

http://www.simplelovelyblog.com/2011/12/outfit-deconstructedtwo-ways.html

In Our Bags

Those of you who know me well know that I have something of an obsession for bags.  All bags, any bags, but in particular simple, wearable, buttery leather bags.  The Halston Heritage bag line is a reintroduction of the iconic designer pieces from the 70s and 80s  for today's girls on the go.  You may be lucky enough to still find this Heritage bucket tote (I had to have it in two colors) somewhere out there.  Claver Vivier, one of my very favorite designers has a similar bag called the Bando tote that you can buy on sale now at www.shopprettymommy.com.  It is a tad bit smaller than the Halston bag, but has the same easy cool sling it over your shoulder and go vibe.

Warby Parker  - www.warbyparker.com is an online purveyor of edgy cool glasses with a social mission and a brilliant business model.  Each pair of glasses (prescription, readers, sunglasses) cost only $95 and the best part is that for every pair purchased, they donate a pair to someone in need!  Shown here is the Becket in Forest Green Stripe.

The Word Museum: The Most Remarkable English Words Ever Forgotten.  This compendium by Jeffrey Kacirk, is a veritable fun house of words that are no longer in daily use, but deserve to remain in our lexicon.  A small sampling from the book:  fillemot - A color like that of a faded leaf;  cark - To be fretfully anxious; barguest - a ghost, all in white, with large saucer eyes; peascod wooing - if a young woman shelling peas, meets with a pod of nine, the first man to cross the threshold afterwards is to be her husband.  I promise you this will be the most fun you will ever have with words.

Twinings Peppermint Tea - every day at 2, every night at 10.

Gorilla Glue - seriously, this can repair anything.  It is the liquid version of duct tape which is a lot less fun to tote around in your bag.

Refillable Stainless Steel Sharpie - Need I say more.

Aveda Lip Stain in Hot Pepper - super intense pigment in a moisturizing base, a perfect just dark enough color for the winter months.

Scenes from the Weekend: Christmas Tree Shopping

Passed on black Friday and Cyber Monday. Found ourselves at a small farm in Bucks. The folks were just setting up the armature for the trees.

Jewel Box Tour

Kassie Lefakinis, Marketing Director of Valef Yachts in Athens Greece is stateside for a few days and met up with me for a coffee catch up at our favorite local haunt. She is the epitome of European bohemian chic! As soon as she arrived I noticed two stunning pieces of jewelry I had to share with you.  14K Gold fill and crystal serpent amulet, a Monistiraki Square flea market find and an 18K matte gold cast band by Andonis Nikolaidis purchased at the Blue Dolphin on Hydra Island, Greece.

Apartment Visit: Mel McDaniel Interior Designer

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West Philadelphia is having a moment. Nestled among the tree lined streets between Baltimore Avenue and Spruce Street are artfully renovated period twins, row homes and victorians. Some house hidden gem book stores, organic grocers, and amazing restaurants (Marigold Kitchen! Richard Halpern's tour de force BYO).  It is also the place Mel Mc Daniel, Interior Designer, calls home.  Her particular brand of eclectic, bohemian, modernism transforms her apartment into an oasis from the bustle of the city and a veritable petri dish for design strategies she employs in residences all over the greater Philadelphia region. Deft at sourcing impossible to find fixtures and accessories and armed with cadre of skilled craftsmen, she is known for her unique one of a kind designs that transforms both the tiny corner and the whole home. On her wish list: Kantha Handstitched Quilt, a mohair velvet couch, silk long underwear, a Manduka Pro yoga mat, Patagonia cashmere sock.