happy new years

hope you all have a glamorous and exciting night, welcoming in the new year with friends, fun and a bit of bubbly. a big thank you to everyone for stopping by a lovely escape this year and for all your sweet comments.

a couple of my favorite 2010 posts

designer mood boards

orange on the runway

ashley olsen in marie claire

david hamilton's photography

first snow

large art

a lovely reminder

short and sweet

hat love

dream dining room

and now, cheers to 2011!!

pic sources: flickr vnessa, design darling, flickr vitor nuno, this is glamorous, unknown, and last two also this is glamorous

inspired by... blake lively

apparently anna wintour and i think alike because blake lively is one of my very favorite 2010 style icons as well ;)

i particularly appreciate that she can stay super chic in a cold new york winter.

pic sources: vogue diaries

luxe for less - lanvin leather ballerina flats

lanvin leather ballerina flats {$555} vs gap cap toe patent ballet flats {$49.50}

sadly santa did not bring me a pair of lanvin ballerina flats like i so kindly asked. but lucky me, gap has created an identical pair and they are under $50!

and so this will be my last purchase before my january shopping hiatus.

new years eve: light and dark dresses

this year my friends and i are avoiding the crowded bars on new years eve and heading to my cottage for a relaxing winter weekend away. but it wouldn't be new years without some glitz and glamour, so we'll still be donning some evening attire... just paired with a cozy pair of slippers.

light dresses, from left to right:

alice + olivia embellished silk dress - $221

miss selfridge pleated tier dress - $65

french connection silky dress - $288

halston heritage pleated lame - $325

acne liberte dress - $255

dark dresses, from left to right:

miss selfridge feather dress - $77

tibi lurex strapless dress - $290

elizabeth and james washed satin bustier dress - $395

adam folded sequin silk organza dress - $1,495

top shop one shoulder draped dress - $110

weekend round up 12.27

pretty ribbon for my gifts

gifts all wrapped up for xmas

gold glittery nails all weekend

garland topped with snow

the sweetest smelling candle. ever.

it was a beautiful white christmas. a relaxing and sweet holiday weekend.

and the best part: the holiday continues for me as i am off work until 1.4. here's to a wonderful week ahead!

pic sources: my photos (fllickr missaudreymarie)

something you want, need, to wear and to read: simply seductive

today linda from simply seductive is sharing her holiday picks for something she wants, needs, to wear and to read (my holiday tradition with the bf). just like her blog, the gifts are beautiful and glamorous. and exactly what i'd love under my tree as well!

something i want: it wouldn't be christmas without something from chanel, preferably and ideally a beautiful classic black lambskin 2.55 handbag, please santa!

something i need: am always writing personal notes to friends and new acquaintances, what better way than with jack and lulu stationary.

something to wear: have fallen madly in love with this dress from DVF.

something to read: this crocodile embossed leather thesaurus - i am always looking to improve my vocabulary.

see design darling's picks here.

the photodiarists here.

vanessa jackman's here.

and mine here.

inspired by... non traditional holiday decor

a black feather wreath

candy canes decorating a window sill

holiday art to replace the ones that hang year long (see more or buy here)

a garland wrapped staircase

ornaments hanging from a chandelier instead of a tree

i love a tree and stockings, but it's hard not to be inspired by non traditional holiday decor like black feathered wreaths or a chandelier dripping in ornaments. its especially perfect for smaller homes that just need a couple of touches to be holiday ready.

pic sources: apartment therapy, lace and cake, etsy, domino, unknown

weekend round up 12.20

i've mentioned my gift buying tradition a couple of times. this year my friends and i began a new tradition of having a holiday cookie swap. i've done my fair share of sampling all the different sweets, but finally jarred them up this weekend as little gifts for some special people.

do you have any holiday traditions? i'd love to hear them!

ps - i made the french chocolate bark in the last picture. 

p.s.

it's my birthday! celebrating with friends, the boy and family all weekend.

ok, that's all.

pic sources: we heart it, we heart it, lace and cake

dreaming of a white christmas

it's already a winter wonderland here and more snow is on the way! but if a white christmas isn't in your future, i hope this winter white inspiration helps fill the void. have a lovely weekend.

pic sources: lace and cake, we heart it, simply seductive, unknown, lolita this is glamorous

inspired by... backyard ice skating party

if this isn't the sweetest ice skating party you've ever seen then i don't know what is! complete with treats, hot cocoa, buckets of skates and the cutest ice skaters ever. if only i had a yard to recreate this in.

more party inspiration here.

pic sources: the sweetest occasions, discovered via where the sidewalk begins

weekend round up 12.13

my favorite part of our apartment: big snow filled windows

candy canes on our bookshelf

no christmas tree but it still smells like one in our home

french chocolate bark - recipe here

oreo tower

hot chocolate with baileys

quite a festive weekend. the last two photos are from my friend megan's cookies and cocktails party, which was super delicious. she even had an oreo tower like this one.

pic sources: my photos (flickr missaudreymarie)