stars hollow, irl.

i mentioned a mystery girls' trip to galena, il a few weeks ago, and then almost let the rest of november slip by without telling you more about this charming little town in the northwest corner of illinois.  silly me.  let me say first that this weekend getaway was the start of an annual "mystery trip" tradition with a few law school friends, where we will take turns secretly planning a trip for us all (not my idea, don't you love it?!).  as a non-planner, you're only given a budget and a "what to pack" list.

so when we were told "gloves not mittens" by our planner, i was thoroughly confused.  until we pulled up here:

after a lovely sunset horseback ride on saturday, we drove into town and to our fabulous accommodations, the victorian mansion b&b. 

fun galena fact: 85% of the structures are on the national register of historic places.  ulysses s. grant also called galena home. 

between the abundance of b&b's, the quaint main street (3rd longest main street in the u.s.!), and the appearance of the town troubadour (see above), i am fully convinced that galena = stars hollow (hi to my gilmore girls fans!).

galena is just under 3 hours from chicago, perfect for a weekend trip.  i highly recommend!  can't you just picture how adorable this town will be all decorated for christmas?

xo. di.

*all images by me
*all opinions are my own and i received nothing in exchange for this post, just sharing the love!

chanel fairy.

we all know gaga is a spectacle, but i have been loving her more sophisticated looks of late (see: here, here, here and here).  and now here is she as a chanel christmas fairy (love it!) at the launch of gaga's workshop in nyc.  what is gaga's workshop you ask?  not entirely sure.  it's at barney's, and it looks fairly insane. 

she'd look pretty fabulous on the top of a tree, no? 

on an unrelated fashion note...you might be aware that the annual victoria's secret "fashion" show airs tonight.  on the car ride back to chicago from thanksgiving with 2 best friends from high school, we started discussing this less-than-sacred holiday tradition.  i've watched for the last handful of years, and i'll admit, it's entertaining.  but this year, after seeing some pics the day after it filmed and the absurdity of it all, i started really thinking about it.  i've decided to pass this year.  and it kinda feels good.  funny how no matter how good you feel about yourself, those vs models and their damn fairy wings (which i totally secretly envy) can bring every last insecurity to the surface.  plus ya know what?  there's too much "pink" these days.  they all look like pedo-bait.  bring back a show full of angel wings and maybe i'll come back too.  how do you guys feel about it?!  

xo. di.

*images via tom & lorenzo

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:

having lots to be thankful for this thanksgiving.

pictures worth a thousand words:

 

 {thanksgiving dessert - southern living's pumpkin pecan cheesecake (made by mama, not me!)}

 {the lights they are a twinklin}

  {christmas projects in full swing}

 

{saturday football at the neighbors' cozy house in northern michigan}

this week's blog love:  

• the daily spark's cozy gift guide makes me all warm inside.  anything that includes holiday inn is for me!
• johanna of 101 things i love is rocking the bar cart trend.
• poppytalk introduced me to it needs more glitter, which documents new york's holiday window displays.  am a huge fan.
• so wish i was taking a trip to london town soon so i could check out a shop called selvedge, via poppytalk.

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

xo. di.

*images by me 

girl of the moment: november.

will these girls one day become legends? maybe. and i hope so. but for now, they find themselves in the role of ingénue.

november's girl of the moment: kristen stewart.

i'm actually not a huge fan of kstew; she just seems so stinking miserable all the time.  however, i jumped on the twilight bandwagon right around the time the first movie came out, and although my obsession has waned a bit since then, it's hard to deny that kristen and twilight-mania are everywhere again.  so credit where it's due: i love this september 2011 w magazine shoot - i've never seen her look so stunning.

xo. di. 

*images via tom & lorenzo

fall for fridays: november 25, 2011

a simple concept: a picture of autumn to send you in to the weekend.

have a wonderful weekend! 

xo. di.

*image via

thanks.

happy thanksgiving, lovely readers!  if you weren't around here last year, take a peek at my annual thanksgiving tradition :)

xo. di.

*image 1,2,3

a + t

i'm traveling home to michigan for thanksgiving this afternoon, so i'm getting a little giddy for some family time.  sounds like the perfect opportunity to share with you my sister t and her fiance a's crazy adorable engagement shots, taken on old mission peninsula, michigan in october.  the whole shoot is so them, i can't help smiling every time i look through these fabulously fall photographs. 

aren't they the cutest?!

xo. di.

*images via andrew williamson photography

the forties.

i'm usually a 1950-60s girl, but this editorial (and my weekend rewatch of casablanca) brought me back another decade. 

a slightly subtler version of these hair styles might be dynamite for upcoming holiday get-togethers.  must experiment! 

here's looking at you, kid.

xo. di.

*images via dustjacket attic

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:

a pretty darn perfect weekend and an upcoming shortened week!

pictures worth a thousand words:

 {oops!  my amaryllis bloomed early.  hoping it will hang on into december}

 {kicked off the holiday season with a joffrey auxiliary board nutcracker event}

 {not as obsessed with twilight as potter, but we still went friday night!}

 {a little weekend project: labeled my budding vintage key collection}

 {sunday morning at the randolph street holiday market}

 {and sunday afternoon with casablanca and a new knitting project at a bff's}

 

this week's blog love: 

• so what did you all think of lauren bush & david lauren's wedding photos?  pretty stunning, if you ask me! - via dustjacket attic.
• alaina of live creating yourself is a girl after my own heart.  a new leaf is one of my favorite stores in all chicago.
• beth of do.think.wear.see.love.dream has got me pegged: 6 projects, half done, all in my head at once.  balance would be nice.
• this gq photoshoot of justin timberlake + jimmy fallon is precious - via tom & lorenzo.
• love these beautiful rainbow-inspired weddings on walks with bella.
• i fell in love with atlantic-pacific's tahoe post and it was awesome to see six twelve place tackle recreating her gorgeous look.

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

xo. di.

*images by me