olive and cocoa.

i love mail. there's nothing better than finding a handwritten note in my mailbox, but a new catalog is a fun diversion.

a couple weeks ago i found an olive and cocoa in my box and i was immediately smitten with the lovely floral arrangements. (they also have some dainty wine glasses that are worth checking out.)

all available here.

oh, hi.

so it's been a while. between work, wedding planning, and life i have been a very busy girl... that's no excuse, but i'm back!

if you haven't perused the first issue of matchbook magazine, you need to. right. now.

my very favorite find from the initial issue: mr. boddington. seriously, take a look at this stuff:

(photos courtesy of stylemepretty)

luckily, i haven't purchased thank you notes yet, so i can indulge in some boddington beauties!

happy happy.

(photo cred)

it's the most wonderful time of the year.

christmas is so close i can hardly stand it. i'm looking forward to eating cinnamon sticks, drinking mimosa, snuggling with my sweet niece in pajamas, and watching my family open the gifts i've been contemplating for the last month.

what are you looking forward to christmas morning?

here are a few things that are making me smile today:

matt and i were in nyc last weekend and we picked up a couple polka dot bowls with matching dishtowels at fishs eddy... i used the bowl today and just looking at the cheery dots made me happy.

i picked up my wedding invitations today... they look great and the kind people at on paper are so sweet and complimentary, they make the whole experience so enjoyable. along with the great customer service, they have a nice selection of gifts... i found a couple unique christmas presents when i ordered the invitations last month.

i found another perfect color from essie: au natural. it's a sheer sandy beige that looks perfectly polished with 2 coats.

christmas spirit.

typically i think holiday-inspired dishes are a little tacky, but when i spotted these dishes for half-price at gilt earlier this week, i had to order them:

ps if you're not a gilt member, join already!

let them eat cake.

i don't know if it's my sweet tooth or my affinity for cake plates, but i think these prints are so... sweet.

i'm baaaaaaaaaaaack.

i had a busy november but i'm back in time for lots of holiday-inspired posts!

a few highlights from november:

• a wonderful trip to chicago including a delicious brunch at hot chocolate and the best celebrity-sighting of my life

• a fun day spent sipping tea, christmas shopping, and ordering my wedding invitations with my dear mother
• a tasty thanksgiving dinner with my family (including my favorite classic side dish)
• celebrating the 2nd birthday of the cutest little girl in the whole world

the pleased peony is officially off hiatus!