Recommended Listening: The Magnetic Fields

I literally can't stop listening to this band right now. It's getting ridiculous. (Hat tip to Joe for introducing me to them.)

Blue Mood

This blue and white stuff from Target makes me want to clean out our whole apartment and start fresh.

Toss Pillow

Striped Vase

Lamp Shade

Lamp Base

Floral Vase

Candle (Okay, it's not all from Target. I had to get a little Anthropologie in there somewhere.)

the warm glow

Well, the last glass of the eggnog has finally been drunk, and thank goodness for that.
Joe and I are staying in and taking it easy this New Year's Eve, glad to be home after many wonderful days spent with family and many hours in the car (some of which were not so wonderful, because we decided to drive through a blizzard). It was a beautiful Christmas, though. The delights for the senses and the soul were almost more than I could handle. Here are a few snapshots of Christmas at my mom's house. The way these pictures turned out--soft, warm, twinkly, and a little out of focus--made me think of Christmases in my memory. As time passes things lose their distinctness, sometimes gain intensity, and often acquire a rosy glow. Like the memory of driving through that blizzard; it already seems like a fun adventure . . .

That Sweater Again

So I was dreaming about that sweater last night, when a vision came to me--a dressed-down, lodge meets prep school vision . . .   

American Eagle Striped Long Sleeve T
ModCloth Oh, Deer Sweater
Target Suede Wrap Carpe Diem Bracelet
Free People Hunting for Fairisle Tall Sock (in Ivory Reindeer)
Urban Outfitters BDG Marbled Sweater Skimmer Shoe
Gap Corduroy Mini (in Flint Gray)

Pastel Christmas

Whenever I go to a holiday party, I feel like I have to wear red if I want to look festive. Anybody else have that hang-up? Just me? Okay. Well anyway, today I saw this holiday-ish sweater on Modcloth.com that has nothing to do with red. Inspirational! (I love this sweater also because it's kind of humorous but still 100% pretty.) So now I want it . . . plus a few other things to go with it. (If only Joe Santa read my blog. His job would be so easy.)

ModCloth Oh, Deer Sweater
Gap Forever Skinny Jeans
Fossil Ceramic White Multifunction Dial Watch
Charles David Nitrate Pump
Target Pink Enamel Stone Ring

Creamy vanilla tangerine pudding

A little dessert dreamed up from what I had on hand tonight . . .

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 Tbsp corn starch
dash salt
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 Tbsp butter
zest and juice from one tangerine (because that's what I had lying around. I'm sure you could use the zest and juice from one half of an orange instead.)

Instructions:
Combine dry ingredients (sugar, corn starch, and salt) in a small sauce pan. Add milk gradually, stirring to prevent lumps. Cook mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens enough to coat a spoon. Do not boil. When the mixture has thickened, remove from heat, and stir in vanilla, butter, tangerine zest and juice. Cool thoroughly and enjoy! 

sweet dream

If I ever live in a bedroom with a fireplace, I will consider myself to have arrived.

Photos from here, here, here, here, and here.