is almost dunzo.

hope you had a good one.

do know that if you find yourself wanting of someone to celebrate with, tila tequila is hosting the mtv new years show. that's pretty much the best case scenario if you want to end 2oo7 and start 2oo8 ... with tila.

happy new year!!!

we're going to have a small group of friends over to cook dinner tomorrow night for new years eve. i think this cocktail looks so great, but no promises if i'll get around to actually making it.

my cabinet of tiny things and serving pieces makes me happy. please notice on the right, 3rd shelf from bottom = blue TINY casserole dishes from martha that i got for christmas. they're awesome -- cast iron so they're really substantial. we have lots of tiny bowls for cat feedings and ice cream eatings. cake stands are a fave, and i've used my mixer several times over the holidays, so its started to become a kitchen presence (for the last year its been hidden behind the microwave).

in search of the wrapper from her christmas toy that had remants of catnip on it. she did not emerge until several hours later.

yes i've been light on the blogging - but we talked about this. you knew.

i also must blame this that i haven't stopped reading since i read about it here.

you must, really. then we'll be equal smartness. that's all it takes.

over there in the corner.

today i made a magnet spot for our fridge.

its stainless steel fridge, so not magnetized at all, so i bought two metal sheets at lowe's, slapped some two sided tape on the back and stuck them up.

we had this same arrangement previously, but one day in a fit of hating clutter, i took it down and our fridge has been stark since.

so today, back up.

my friend meghan's very cute save the date magnet.

today is sunday and its rained most of the day here. i have 98% finished my christmas shopping. brian went to old navy this morning, by himself, and came home in a new puffer vest. odd. then he wanted to go out for brunch because he was wearing his "new outfit". so we did.

this afternoon i helped prowler watch a huge black cat stalk around our backyard, along with some squirrels.

now, i'm wondering if what i got @ the mall for brian's teenage girl cousins is appropriate. they're 16ish. jamie lynn spears is 16 too. she's having a baby. so that's where i am with things.

b/c what COULD have happened without one? i shudder to think.

if you can even stand it.

for sell on etsy

our christmas card this year.

yes, i borrowed the idea from someone else who did it better. but we have three cats, so, there's that.

a few of my favorite fabrics from alexander henry. available at jcaroline creative, and decor8 readers get 20% off on all fabrics!

wouldn't this combo make an awesome nursery! i don't even like babies - i think my biological clock is telling me to decorate a nursery - but it doesn't really register any maternal-like go have a baby feelings.

this summer i blogged about the ny times article on 101 simple meals - and now they've done 101 simple holiday appetizers, which is equally as awesome. check it out!

please review.

that's cute.
found here.

today let us rejoice and give thanks that i finally got my christmas cards mailed. it took approx. 3489 text messages to get all the addresses, but they're out. i think they turned out pretty cute - i'll post later this week once everyone has had a chance to revel in the cuteness.

now i just have to wrap presents (and possibly purchase more first). i've seen on lots of people's blogs that they have "wrapping strategies" and planned color schemes and such.and.so.on.

i don't think i even have any tape, much less a master plan. must get on it.

it was soooo lovely that i had to inquire about it - and i found patricia does these amazing sketches of homes!! so, she did one for me. and i'm kind of freaking out over how wonderful it is!!

its like a piece of artwork and landscaping advice all in one!

here's the image she used to create the sketch.

i really think this would such an amazing thing to treat yourself to -- so many of us are in our first homes right now, and since we probably won't stay in them forever, i think this is a fabulous way to have something to remember your "starter house!" and all the memories you created in it.

for maybe the last 7 years or so i've been on the hunt for a really nice towel. most sought after attribute: stays fluffy/puffy.

my mother-in-law always has lovely monogrammed ones that i think are from neiman marcus, and they had a lot of puff, but once i got some at my house - alas, no puff after a few washings.

then, hark, i stayed at katie's house this summer, and when i saw her towels, i wallered (yes wallered) around in them a bit for testing purposes and declared them to be perfect. i sleuthfully noted the label, went to bloomingdales the next day, bought them and have been happy ever since. THEY ARE STILL PUFFY. so, without further ado, here they are and they are on sale! boo ya!

today i'm very much liking lorena barrezueta gourmet collection of cookware.

get them here

hola. i'm trying to give my blog a facelift, and its sort of backfiring on me. i made a snazzy new banner in illustrator, but i can't get it to work, so now you're looking at the yucky pixelated one. i spent about 3 hours this weekend banging my head on the desk trying to figure this out. eventually i'll get it, but in the meantime, if things look all wonky and aren't showing up (regular things, like posts, pictures, etc) please comment and tell me.

good tidings,
me.

for your consideration.

i'm making tiny cupcakes tonight in preparation for tomorrow night's tiny party. here's my inspiration so far.

also, i think its entirely unnecessary to call things mini, when you could just call them tiny.

i'm spent. no more.

posters. cheap. $9.99 each. i got mine from here.

so we decided to pull it together and host a tiny christmas party. i don't seem to function well if i don't have an event a month to orchestrate.

we're going to have tiny foods.

in portland and seatte.

please hurry back.

then i can wear this.

thanks,
jamie

are you keeping up with martha's personal blog?

here she gives us a sneak peak of her kitchen. she has 239 whisks and 45 ramekins of spices/dust.

domino has a fantastic gallery of fireplaces up right now, although most seem to be for decoration purposes only.

we finally got the wooden beam for our mantel last weekend, so brian is working on getting it up this week - in time for santa!

our tiny new stove still needs an 29384million$ pipe, but we're working on that. as long as its 80 degrees, i think we'll manage.

my fave.

buy here.

i need gifts to wrap first...

are what i made last week.

1 15 oz. can of pumpkin stuff
3 eggs beaten up
teaspoon or so of baking soda
1 box of spice cake mix
whatever amount of canola oil the mix wants you to use.
1 bag of cinnamon chips (made by herseys, only in stores right now!)

mix. put in tiny muffin tins. bake at 350 for 15 minutes (i went about 17 minutes b/c they weren't done at 15). it makes about 6 dozen muffins.

then, you put them in these lovely gift boxes from martha, write pumpkin cinnamon muffins on top, and give them away QUICKLY!

this kitchen is making me think i need to repaint, get rid of about 293849 pieces of crap, and get some bar stools.

its tough being so susceptible.

i do know, however, that i want mexican for dinner tonight.