Shelf Life

We're getting our new place set up. One of the first things we wanted to complete was our big bookshelf. I like to think of books as an art installation.

We arranged the books by color and put items here and there where we thought they looked good.


The books and items can be arranged countless times when the mood strikes.

Too early for fall fashion?

Not when it's still cold and you can get some great layering ideas. I loved looking through the Dsquared Milan show on Style.com

The show was less about a new "it" item and more about looking differently at things you already have.
Picture: Toni Garrn

You can see slides of the whole show here. There are some great scarves and cargo pants.

Roadhouse BBQ

I'm moving into a new neighborhood. I'll be in Brookline right between Coolidge Corner and Washington Square. I know there are tons of great restaurants there that I can't wait to try.

Last night I went to Roadhouse BBQ for the first time. I'm already a big fan of their other place, the Publick House. The prices looked pretty high (many plates around $20) but I was happy that I ordered the $10 half rack of ribs because they filled the plate and came with two huge sides. Just like the Publick House, they had tons of great beer on tap. I had the Dog Fish Aprihop which is one of my favorites and hard to find on draft. This would be a great place to go with a group because of the casual atmosphere and sharable sides.

Know of any great places I should try in Brookline? Let me know!

I'm feeling......

Cargo pants.

Really.

image: www.gap.com

I'm going to wear these this spring/summer with heels and sandals. Since cargo pants have a masculine look, wear them with something girly like a ruffled tank or a pearl necklace and a cardigan.

Rose Bud

J. Crew has been having some adorable flower hair accessories and I thought it would be fun to make some. I used fabric and beads I already had.

I started with some airy pink silk, brown felt, and black beads. You also need a bobby pin or something that works for your hair.
Cut the silk into strips that are 1.5 inches wide and 18 to 24 inches long depending on how big you want your rose buds. Pull a needle and thread through one end of a strip. Begin to twist silk strip as you coil it around the end, securing it with the thread as you go. Keep one side neat while the other can be messy and have the thread showing. Don't worry about the frayed edge of the silk. It's pretty and gives the buds an antique quality.
Make the flower look more natural by loosening and tightening as you twist. Sew three beads into the center of the bigger flower.
Position flowers as you want them on felt and pin them in place. Cut around felt so that it mostly covers the back but can't be seen from the front.
Sew all around edge of felt to the back of the flowers. Tightly sew on bobby pin or other hair clip.
That's it! Have fun with other sizes and arrangements. You could also hot glue some to the side of a head band.

New Year, Old Scarf

January and February can be a tough time to try and pick outfits that make you happy. When I look outside and it's snowing and 20 degrees I mostly think, "what can I wear that would feel like a giant blanket?" Chic, not so much. It's times like these when I rely on the best style trick I know: Look for stylish people, and copy them.

One think I've seen on some stylish women is light, airy, colorful scarfs.

The same trend from last summer works just as well with a warm sweater as with a cotton tank. It's a great way to add some needed color and, even better, it's sort of like wearing a blanket.

Candy Cane Cocoa

Candy canes are beautiful. But once the holidays are over, I'm left with a handful that I don't know what to do with. I usually save them for a while then get fed up with the clutter and throw them out around February. The other day, while the snow was falling outside, I finally put one to use.

Candy Cane Cocoa:

You need:

1 Candy Cane
Plastic Baggie
Hammer (!)
Chocolate Syrup
Cocoa (homemade or a mix)

1. Break up the candy cane in your hands and discard the wrapper. Place in plastic baggie that zips closed. Place the closed bag of candy cane on a pot holder (so your counter doesn't get wrecked).

2. Whack with the hammer! Repeat by aiming at the remaining chunks until you are left with small bits with some powder. Pour onto plate. (Does it have to be a holiday themed plate? Yes.)


3. On a separate plate draw a ring of chocolate syrup about the size of the circumference of your mug. Dip the rim of the mug into the syrup, then into the candy cane bits.

4. Carefully pour in hot cocoa.

Perfect for a cold January day! And for a cold January night, try this technique on a shot glass then fill with Baileys Irish Cream and peppermint schnapps. Just saying.