drew and i are heading back to portland tonight, so i'm trying to soak up every last minute at home before we have to go to the dreaded jfk airport. while we're waiting for hours and hours in baggage and security lines, i'll be reflecting on all the happy memories from my visit. like last thursday, when i took my requisite trip to brooklyn. i'm not sure there's anything better than spending 24 precious hours eating, shopping, and staying out late with my best friends.
before going to grand central, i had to make one important stop in manhattan: laduree. the nyc flagship store has the macarons shipped from paris three times a week! i waited in line for an hour and paid a ridiculous amount for them (i chose salted caramel, dark chocolate and rose petal), but they were so worth it.
my christmas was filled with sushi, best friends, a trip to maine with drew's family and a nasty case of strep throat. angry tonsils aside, i feel so blessed. it was a perfect low-key christmas with my favorite people in the world. and though all i wanted was a plane ticket home, my family went ahead and spoiled me.
1. our fake tree.
2. shrimp tacos for christmas eve dinner (recipe to come).
3. kate spade purse.
4. vintage treasures from my grandma.
5. design*sponge at home book + gift card to my favorite store.
6. macaron cookbook + the vegetarian bible.
a sure sign that the apocalypse is near: my sister and i are taking my dad to get an iphone today. the man who always has the free (read: most ancient) phone and doesn't know how to use a computer is getting an iphone before me.
he proudly announced he was getting "the smart phone" and after asking him about 100 times which smart phone (he thought it was just called the smart phone), we figured out that he meant the iphone. his first question was which app he should buy at the verizon store... god bless his technologically challenged heart.
you know i'm on vacation from school when i'm reading for pleasure non-stop. i'm devouring one book that makes me hungry and long for paris, some john keats and walt whitman to "continue my emotional education" (yes, i did just quote love actually), short stories by a current author that i adore, and all of the catalogs from my favorite stores that my mom has been saving for me.
while browsing pinterest lately, i realized i'm very drawn to items with scalloped edges.
images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
being at home is the best. i'm having way too much fun with family and friends and finally have time to get a little crafty. here's a semi-homemade gift idea for the holiday season!
spicy margarita kit
i filled a quart-sized ball jar with tequila and added two chopped and de-seeded jalapeno peppers. after letting the peppers infuse for two days, i strained them and tied an extra jalapeno to the outside of the jar. in a basket lined with tissue paper, i placed the infused tequila, limes, triple sec and two little glasses found at anthropologie. wrapped with baker's twine around the basket handle, i added this recipe card with simple instructions for spicy margaritas.
here's a little glimpse of the portland bazaar. all of the handmade crafts and wares were beautiful, but the only things i could afford were some tiny notebooks, a salted chocolate bar and some postcards to add to the growing collection on our wall.
