new year.

happy new year's, lovelies!   am at the family cottage in northern michigan for the weekend for the second year in a row with the whole fam and c in tow.  am very happy.  back to regular posting on tuesday, january 3!   

xo. di.

*image via

cheer.

{this year's christmas card insert}

merry christmas to you and yours!

xo. di.

p.s. i'm going to take a teeny blogging break next week.  see you soon!  

festive friday: december 23, 2011

christmas is upon us!  some holiday cheer to send you into the weekend.

so remember this post?  or this one?  i am now the proud owner of a custom piece of book art!

 {c's christmas present to me: the whomping willow, from harry potter}

annnnnd...need to make some last minute treats for the occassion?  i gotcha covered.  need a new old holiday movie to enjoy with the family?  i can help with that too!   
 
best wishes to you and yours.
 
xo. di.
 
*image by me

holiday style.

back in november, i tweeted that i really wanted to buy a gold cap-sleeve sparkle dress...for $100 or less.  i'm still on that [impossible?] hunt, but i did indulge in a few other little things for the holidays.  below, my favorite looks for this season. 

tartan

{1,2,3,4,5}

winter whites

{1,2,3}

sparkle

 {1,2,3,4}

bold reds

{1,2,3}

what trends are you loving this holiday season?

xo. di.

natural christmas.

c and i spent the second weekend of december down in colonial williamsburg with my family. my mom had always wanted to see it decorated for christmas, and we were all too happy to oblige! 

i was surprised by just how inspired i was by the natural handmade decorating throughout the historic district.  plenty of live fir wreaths, pomegranates, apples and pineapples, as you'll see below.  at once simple and stunning.  if i hadn't had to get on a plane at the end of the weekend, a lot of these elements (or even the finished product - you could buy those too!) would have found their way home with me.

and at night - just a single candle in each window.  swoon.  if only my camera hadn't totally failed at capturing that beauty.

{fam pic!}

we had such a lovely little weekend together.  hard not to, in such a charming town!

xo. di.


*images by me

paperwhite.

a last minute little gift idea for you guys today.  i put together these paperwhite bulb packages right after thanksgiving so i'd have them ready as needed.  they're perfect hostess gifts or just a little something extra.  i purchased both the bags and the bulbs through amazon marketplace, but you can find bulbs at most any florist this time of year, and similar bags at craft stores.    

{freshly planted}

{3 weeks in, about to bloom}

they are so easy to grow, so you can feel good gifting it to pretty much anyone. 

xo. di.

*images by me

christmas in the city redux.

popping in again today to bring you a few fun things to squeeze in if you happen to be in chicago this holiday season.  take a peek at last year's christmas in the city post for details on these festive spots.

lincoln park zoo lights

macy's on state street windows + walnut room

christkindlmarket

enjoy!

xo. di.

*images by me

much love monday.

i like to use monday as a way to reflect on the previous week, to start anew, and to send a little love into the world.  won't you join me?    

today i am grateful for:

all kinds of christmasey fun, as you'll see below!

pictures worth a thousand words:

 

 {cozy friday evening at home w/ c, elf + mulled wine}

 {saturday morning snowfall + my nutcracker snowflakes}

{kisses}

 {presents, wrapped}

 {holiday tea w/ girlfriends at the drake}

 

this week's blog love:

• live creating yourself shared the sources that makes up her beautiful chicago apartment.  so helpful!
• in love with everyone on the glitter guide's english style post.
• ashley nicole catherine gives us an ethereal fallen angels editorial.  beautiful.
• six twelve place's champagne round-up.  i'll have another glass!
• alaina of live creating yourself and danielle of breakfast at toast made a very exciting announcement: the everygirl, launching february 2012!

here's to another grateful and love-filled week.  

xo. di.
    
*images by me 

festive friday: december 16, 2011

can't even believe it's the third friday of december (!) already.  some holiday cheer to send you into the weekend.

 {my dresser}

enjoy your weekend!

xo. di.

*image by me

the IT list.

The IT list is signing off for 2011... But we'll be back in 2012!Enjoy these links in the meantime!

• good clean fun whips up a batch of apple banana pancakes - these have Christmas Break breakfast written all over them! Yum! (find good clean fun on twitter!)
• the posh blog whips up what looks to be the easiest and tastiest cocktail ever - perfect for Christmas brunch or New Years Eve.  (find the posh blog on twitter!)
• the capital barbie has a round up of Christmas gifts that you can give that give back.  I love this idea, check out her picks! (find the capital barbie on twitter!)
• life told by leslie is sporting an adorable leopard print cardigan. I've got to get one of these - see how she styled it! 
• free to be stacia lee is looking adorable in this casual chic outfit - check out her cute boots! (find free to be stacia lee on twitter!)
• suze wears clothes has fallen in love... with her scarf. I don't blame her!  Check it out. (find suze wears clothes on twitter!)
• gs lillian is looking rainy-day-chic, which isn't easy to do!  Check out her adorable outfit and red (!!!) shoes. (find gs lillian on twitter!)
• a spot of whimsy is our resident ballet-enthusiast (love it!)... she's headed to the Nutcracker performance but left some eye candy for us. Swoon!  (find a spot of whimsy on twitter!)
• second street east has a really easy and fun Christmas ornament diy. I love this idea and that you can personalize it to suit your decor and taste! (find second street east on twitter!)
• the daily be is going "western" in this adorable outfit... check it out and you've got to see her sweet boots! (find the daily be on twitter!)
• the tiemann girls have a really fun way to give the gift of cash this holiday season.  See how they do it!
• so much to smile about is your go-to source for holiday beauty.  Check out her tips and tricks! (find so much to smile about on twitter!)
• sweetie pie style rounds up her favorite Christmas decor inspiration and includes this really fun idea for a tasty appetizer that I totally want to try! (find sweetie pie style on twitter!)
• rachael, really is looking absolutely gorgeous in winter white and red for the holidays. Go check out her outfit and steal it for Christmas - I might! (find rachael, really on twitter!)

the IT list is produced weekly by Jill of good life, for information on how you can be involved, click here!

happy friday!

xo. di.

of sugarplums and dancing mice.

have a date night with c to the joffrey ballet's nutcracker tonight.  have been wandering around with tchaikovsky's music in my head all week.  am very excited.  i go about every other year so it stays special. 

xo. di.

*images via the coveteur

soiree.

when do i get to go to a black-tie christmas party, hm?!

"watch with glittery eyes the whole world around you because the greatest

secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places."

-roald dahl

xo. di.

*image via

sisters, sisters.

there were never such devoted sisters.  sorry, sorry, trying to shoehorn christmas into this post on the fabulous fanning sisters.  these girls.  i tell ya.  they rock.   

xo. di.

*dakota and elle fanning for the december 2011 issue of w magazine; images via tom & lorenzo