♥

this holiday season, i made a lot of yummy peppermint bark

for friends and co-workers as a delicious gift :)

not only was it easy to prepare, but also a sweet treat to give out.

here's the recipe:

ingredients:

8 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 tsp. canola oil

1/2 tsp peppermint extract

8 oz white chocolate chips

25 crushed peppermint candies/ or a box of candy canes 

(crushed inside a double zip lock bag)

directions: 

1) lightly grease 9x9 inch pan and line with waxed paper, set aside.

2) place the semi-sweet chocolate and 1 tsp canola oil in the top of a double boiler over 

just barely simmering water, stirring frequently, scraping down

 sides with a rubber spatula.

3) when the chocolate is melted, add 1/4 peppermint tsp extract. 

4) pour the melted chocolate into the prepared pan and spread evenly. 

5) sprinkle half of the crushed peppermints/candy canes over the chocolate layer.

6) refrigerate for one hour, until completely hardened.

7) place the white chocolate chips and 1 tsp canola oil in the top of a double boiler

 and repeat process again, sprinkling again with crushed peppermints.

8) enjoy!!! 

♥ what are you doing new year's eve?

this get's me every time. 

joseph gordon-levitt is a little piece of heaven :)

ps. did you see his lip sync battle on jimmy fallon?

♥ kick up your heels this weekend!

xoxo,

talula 

♥ "maybe christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store, maybe christmas perhaps means a little bit more." ~ dr. seuss

i feel badly that i left my blog on such a sour note on monday- especially after 

today was such a sweet and lovely day, spent entirely in pajamas,

 with my favorite people on earth. 

while i may complain that this season has left no time for thoughtfulness

 and creativity, days like today (when the mall is closed, of course!)

allow for quiet reflection on all there is to be grateful for:

warm houses, little ones, growing bellies

 and a bit of christmas magic.

happy holidays! ♥ 

♥ bah humbug.

i know i sound like a total scrooge when i tell you this-

but as a retail slave, i have to confess that

 what i want most for christmas

is for the holiday season to be OVER!!!!

anyone else with me?

here are some adorable headbands from ban.do 

to help keep in mind that 2014 is just around the corner ;)

♥ baby, baby.

ummm, can my nieces get any cuter?

i'm obsessed. 

♥

loving this print from the everygirl,

with a perfect quote from taylor sterling of

 the glitter guide. 

what a lovely reminder to always 

look for the beauty in everything.

♥ by the book.

how perfect would one of these olympia le-tan book clutches be for a holiday party?

if i were ever to invest in one of her pieces, it would probably be a bit less

 season-specific, but this time of year calls for daydreaming about things 

you can't afford, but nonetheless adore.

♥ modern christmas.

there's nothing better than the sound of
a whiney boy voice belting out
 a holiday tune.

here are two of my favorite songs
to get you in the christmas spirit :)

♥ today, i'm...

image via google

"i am younger each year at the first snow. when i see it, suddenly, in the air, all little

and white and moving; then i am in love again and very young and

 i believe everything."

~anne sexton

♥ dressing the bump.

i would describe pregnancy as a constant state of fullness.

it's like i ate a very good meal there's no sucking it in. 

the bump is growing and i have embraced it with

body hugging dresses, that i would never 

wear if i were not carrying this adorable

bundle of joy :)

my sister lovingly passed down some of her maternity-wear,

but it's all cowl necks and billowy tops that would look

better with leggings. so for now, i am just sticking

with fun  mid-length bodycon dresses 

(like these from forever 21!) 

for as long as my bump and i 

can get away with it ;)

♥

the chalk-work of dana tanamachi is a sight to behold-

so you can imagine my excitement when i discovered her latest collaboration

with puffin modern classics, penguin's children's division.

 known adorably as,"puffin chalk," this collection comprises an adorable

catalogue of children's classics, with titles hand-illustrated in chalk

by the artist and afterwards, photographed and re-worked for 

book-covering purposes. i think my baby may need 

ALL of them for his future bookshelf :) 

discovered on to be shelved.

♥ meeting miss olivia kate!

this weekend, my sister and her husband welcomed another darling daughter 

into their little family. olivia kate is teenier than i could ever remember gia being,

(although she was only a few ounces bigger!) and has the most delicate

and perfect little features :) we all think she looks a lot different than 

her big sis-- her eyes are a slate grey/almost blue and her skin is

a bit fairer-- and have had much fun trying to figure out

who exactly she looks like?

 i can't wait for them to get home tomorrow

so i can come over and stare at her some more!!!

♥ playing around in the dark.

how quirky and adorable is solange's personal style?

i don't really understand this musical video- all of that old school style dancing

in a bunch of closed down dollar stores- all by her long-limbed lonesome, 

with nary a backup dancer in sight.

but whatever she is doing--you can be sure it's the exact opposite 

of something her big sister bey would be doing,

which is sort of refreshing, isn't it?

i always say she is my favorite knowles sister. who is your's?

♥ seeing the world through rose-colored glasses.

i like the 1960's, librarians, nerdy girls. i like the glasses you wore as a kid

- or that your dad wore as a kid- and wearing them now.

...i like pearls, brass, opera glasses. everything being all violet.

i like seeing the world with a pretty pink tint to it.

~ leith clark

i am loving the latest collaboration with warby parker & stylist/ editor leith clark.

five vintage-inspired frames. offered as readers or sun-glasses.

i think i need ALL of them.

but these, especially:

♥ black magic.

working in retail on black friday weekend was a doozy. 

long hours, crazy customers, and an endless amount of work to be done.

normally, i don't mind being on my feet all day- 

but at almost six months pregnant, i am beginning to appreciate 

the comfort of a pair of sensible shoes. (do i sound almost 30??)

::cue angels singing and bells ringing::

...and then this gorgeous pair of hush puppies arrived at my door step,

like a christmas miracle, just in time for my crazy weekend.

can i tell you how much more manageable life was without having to

 worry about aching feet? and did i mention how cute these black flats are?

the hint of gold sparkle definitely adds a festive something to any holiday outfit.

and the springy foam interior will guarantee your tootsies feel just as good 

as they look :) i highly recommend!

♥ the painted veil.

since watching the inimitable jean woods sport a veiled beanie in the documentary

 fabulous fashionistas, i have been obsessed with the idea of wearing one.

here are a few that i have gathered from the internets:

prettiness from bernstock speirs.

cool camo from harlett via karmaloop.

cream on cream puff from bcbg maxazria.

pearl & rhinestone details from caged couture.

dreamy grey beanie from abanch.of fashion.

pink perfection from kate spade.

...and here is a great DIY veiled beanie project,

 if you'd like to make your own! :)

♥ oh baby!

please excuse the cheesiness of this photo- 

but i just wanted to share some happy news that is long overdue-

nick and i are expecting a baby boy next march!!

we are thrilled and have no idea what to expect.

you may not be able to tell from the picture, but my bump is 

growing larger by the day and getting dressed has been more of a 

challenge than i would have guessed. i am definitely open to

suggestions and will be sharing more on this blog as i make

the transition from cat mother to a real life mom :)

happy thanksgiving!

♥ i love cats because i enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.~ jean cocteau

just a few photos of my fur baby, talula, 

to brighten up your wednesday :)

isn't her fluffy white belly too much?