...to my lovely twin sister Lucy!!! Thank you for being so much fun to grow up with and such a smart and wise best friend. I love you and miss you. P.S. Your birthday present is late but not forgotten. P.P.S. This is the last year of our twenties! We should do something crazy!
How gorgeous are these ceramics? I love how the figures are preparing to dive and wearing cute little caps. Some are stretching; some are shivering. They're the handiwork of England-based 29-year-old Helen Beard. (Yeah, 29!) (Via Bloesem)
I'm still on my anti-shopping-spree, but how gorgeous is this retro swimsuit from Victoria's Secret of all places? Pair with oversized sunglasses, a thick headband and a scowl, and you're Bridget Bardot in Contempt.
This post will be celebrity-themed, just for fun. As revealed in this awesome article, celebrities minus makeup = normal people! Well, except Halle Berry, who still looks ridiculously beautiful:
Eames chairs make everything look better. Also, thin black and white frames. Ahhhhh. This was my expression when I first saw this room: 
(Room via Desire to Inspire; second photo, I can't remember!)
These hooks are handcrafted from maple, beech and birch grown in Vermont. Nice. Also, they make spoons:
One night, when Alex and I were in Berlin, we stumbled upon an old-school dance hall. The place was packed with young Berliners, guys in news caps and girls in silk dresses. We got gin & tonics and twirled around. It was amazing.
(Via Bored & Beautiful and Steak and Potatoes.)
Alex and I were lucky enough to be invited to a family friend's B&B in Connecticut. I'm excited to curl up by the fire and read and maybe sneak into the tub. What are you up to this weekend, dear readers?
My family is British, so I've had the honor of eating lots of British food in my lifetime: shepherd's pie, pasties, bangers & mash, fish & chips, marmite, mince pies, Christmas pudding, bread and butter pudding, spotted dick....But I must admit, underneath the desperate proclamations that British food is great, there is always that subtle command of "Eat it."
My mom and I watched this movie last night, and we loved it.
Zac Posen said the theme of his Pre-Fall 2008 presentation was "poodle ballet." I'm not sure quite what that means, but if these dresses define it, I'm all for it. God, I heart that middle neckline.
In 1936, there were fewer than 200 surfers in California, can you believe? Back then, 16-year-old Don James borrowed his dad's camera to photograph his friends riding the waves, thereby recording the beginnings of surf culture. Today, this gallery poster highlighting his work now sells for up to $500, but there's a lovely reprint for just $29.95. It would look beautiful above a desk, I think.
I'm on my spending hiatus, but if I were to buy something, it might be this fresh and bright dress from Creatures of Comfort. Doesn't it just feel like springtime?
Last fall, we felt like we were spending too much money on random things. I'd take a walk and come home with a dress. Alex would surf the web and end up buying a book. Our apartments felt cluttered, and it seemed a little ridiculous.
(Photos by Barbara Kruger and Andreas Gursky.)
Photographer Scott Schuman -- of the iconic street-style blog The Sartorialist -- will be exhibiting photographs at Danziger Projects over the next few weeks. If you live in New York, put on your best duds and go to the opening (Tuesday, January 22nd, 6-8pm) to discuss art and drink wine among other impeccably dressed fashionistas.
Update: Here's one more Marie Claire post about Paris -- and this one's personal. It's about a week spent there with my old boyfriend Josh. Read it here...Thank you, dear readers! xo
Readers! I am excited to announce that I wrote some posts about Parisian romance for Marie Claire's website... 
Damn. Frankly, Darling, even I would make out with a lady (especially this lady) if she were wearing these silky thangs. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
I grew up in Michigan, and it's super super cool. Big lakes, small towns, cider mills, sand dunes, hilariously bad skiing. My birthday is coming up and at the top of my wish list are these Michigan postcards. They're from a 1970's ad campaign, and you get 100 for $5. Say yes!
How genius is this plastic flask from Finland? It looks so cheery, no one would know you were drinking straight vodka instead of, say, apple juice. The Finns know what's up!
When I stumbled upon Morgane Le Fay's website this weekend, I couldn't believe I've lived in a world in which she exists without knowing about her. I am (as my British relatives would say) gobsmacked.
Next week: British food, underwear and one wayward chair.
Holy Scheisse. A British couple discovered after they had married that they were twins who had been separated at birth and adopted by different families. Read the heartbreaking story here. (Photo by Martina Mullaney.)
Back in the gift-guide days, I refrained from posting the actual presents I was giving to my loved ones. Perhaps the hardest thing not to post about was this rad calendar by Helsinki artist Noa Bembibre. The simple type packs a punch, and I love the mix of pastel and primary colors. I ordered one directly from Noa, who is awesome, and gave it directly to Alex, also awesome.
(Update: Noa said there may be a few more copies left here.)
I love New York City Ballet's new identity and promotional campaign. Their clean, modern, gorgeous posters make me want to buy tickets right away. Ads work!
All his life, my dad dreamed about going to Iceland. When he finally traveled there last fall, it was even more stunning and dramatic than he had expected. When he returned home to Michigan, he still had vivid dreams about Iceland for weeks. My sister said it was like a woman he had always loved.
