i love bright red lipstick on other people but i have always assumed it wasn't for me. well i took the plunge this weekend, marched up to the mac make-up counter and got a tube. i wore it for my engagement photos last night and am now sold. above are photos from the rockstar diaries and wiksten made that inspired this risky behavior :)

merry making

so i realize that it was just thanksgiving but i can't wait any longer to start getting ready for christmas. kate spade items are always on my gift list and i couldn't resist posting their 20 ways to merry-make

i think i will make my own list this weekend.

the most wonderful time of the year

the holidays are officially here! and we have officially started our Christmas shopping. we are not big fans of crazy crowds, so needless to say, we avoided the brick and mortar stores this weekend. but that's one of the best parts of shopping online..no crowds!! this year we are all about giving original, handmade gifts. if you've read our blog in the past, you've probably noticed how much we post about artisan entrepreneurs and their creations. so in support of them, and as fellow entrepreneurs, their amazing talents will be the gifts we give this year. this plate, by clay artist rae dunn, is one that we just ordered for our sister. we are so in love with it, we may just be tempted to keep it for ourselves...but we won't :)

much to be thankful for

happy thanksgiving everyone! today we are most thankful for all our friends and amazing families. life has been good to us this past year, and we feel so blessed for all our successes and for the special people who have come into our lives. and thank you to all of our readers. we hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving day, and if you're elsewhere in the world, just a wonderful day! :)

bake-off wednesday

one more day til thanksgiving! today we will be baking away to prepare desserts for a friend's dinner. up our sleeve is a creamy pumpkin cheesecake that we make every year, and some delicious oatmeal-cranberry cookies that are always a hit. is anyone else cooking/baking today?? we'd love to hear what your fave dishes are for the holidays..please share! :)

pillow talk

while snooping around on etsy today, i discovered olive's shop. she offers adorable handmade made pillows, greeting cards, and other home decor items. i fell in love with this telephone throw pillow named "it's for you". --too cute!! right now she also has a number of holiday items that are so sweet and whimsical, and would make great gifts for a friend, or yourself!!

happy friday!

via ffffound

what are your plans for the weekend?

technical difficulties

i hope everyone is having a great week so far! blogger has been giving me some issues and not letting me post any pictures for the last few days, hopefully it will clear up soon and i can get back to regular posting!

my heart belongs to rome..

as i am once again packing for a work trip, my mind is wandering to all the places i'd rather be going. rome will forever and always be number one on my list. ever since i went there 5 years ago, i've been yearning to get back. i will argue tooth and nail that rome maintains the most delicious food, most beautiful architecture, and the best museums on the planet. if you're thinking of traveling to europe and have not yet been to rome, i highly recommend you spend a little time there. i found a great website that helps you plan your travel to italy if you're interested. click here.

secret messages

here are some lovely little messages we saw while on ffffound the other day.

braids and buns

i'm a bit tired of my hair, so i've been trying to think of some new ways to wear it. the braided style above is so pretty but seems a little complicated, i think i'll start with the messy bun. i'll give them both a try and let you know how it goes.

braided style from martha stewart weddings

messy bun via a cup of jo

s'mores!

growing up my parents would sometimes let us roast marshmallows in the fireplace and make s'mores, so it's no wonder i'm in love with this favor. now all i need is to think of an excuse to make these.

only a few weeks late...

we know we are very late with this, but we couldn't help but share it. we can all save it for next year.

via ilovelolliblog

love love love

wouldn't you love to be there to watch that happen? preferably from safely inside.

Directed by: Nicolai Fuglsig
Music by: Jose Gonzalez "heartbeats"

sniffing around...

our latest obsession: aromatherapy. we love lighting candles, especially during the winter. so, we are on a search for the best smelling, most relaxing candle. our friend recently suggested this candle by burn. we like the idea of it, although it is a tad pricey at $60. we'd love to hear your suggestions for the best candle on a budget!

layers and layers

i want to looks like these girls this fall.
via the sartorialist

candlelit dinner anyone?

as the holidays near, we can't help but think about the decor for our thanksgiving and christmas dinners. our latest wish is to have these boot candlestick holders from patch nyc at the center of our table. for us, they add just the right amount of whimsy while still being elegant. patch nyc creates amazing, beautiful, and original decorative items for the home. we are excited at the thought of being able to afford it one day. :)