Season's Greetings!

Nothing says lovin' like getting some snail mail. Everyday we go to our box in eager anticipation and find catalogs, magazines, and bills. We desperately look forward to receiving a card or a letter. For any reason! Send a little holiday cheer and brighten up someones day!

Happy Halloween card in hand stamped inks on parchment by The Wild Hare give a bewitching holiday feel. Also available: I'm Batty about You cards, and Autumn birthday cards. We love the Batty cards. They make Halloween romantic, too. And we love romance!

Thanksgiving Eat Me card by Gizmoh and Me brings some cheeky humor to the Thanksgiving season, which we think is sorely missing over all. Send this to anyone you see getting way too frazzled over their turkey day holidays. Also available: Halloween flying witch card, and fashion-inspired gift cards for your best dressed friends.

Singing Christmas Carols by Enfin La Voila features delightful colors and classic images that make this card drool and display worthy. Also available: amazing wedding invitations in punchy colors and personalized note cards. Oh la la!

Frost by Paper Menagerie in gocco print spreads holiday cheer and comes in a packet of 6 and two color options. Nice! Also available: Jane Austen silhouette moleskine notebooks and a sundry of button or magnets for prettying up your lapel, fridge, or for giving.

And finally, Happy New Year by jblack designs. New Year is our favorite holiday of all, and this card captures the spirit just right. Also available: gorgeous Josephine Baker art card, and a variety of mixed media collage greeting cards for giving or displaying.

Check out these shops for more goodies to give and display and spread that good feeling around!

Fall Texture

Some things we love about fall and winter: the ability to wear heavier perfumes, spicy hot cocoa, and wearing more complex fabrics. It's that time of the year when brocade, wool, felt, and funky knits are an absolute pleasure and must. So indulge your eyes with some calorie free texture cruising while we show you our current objects of lust.

Baby booties by Pretty Little in cuddly grey merino felted wool.

Elegant wool tweed coat by Amanda Archer

Petit Cadeau capelet by Erina Wang in velvet with ribbon trim. It is also available in black, cream, white, brown, purple, yellow, green, and dark blue.

Velvet Weekender bag by Just Be.

Waterfall Brown Mug by Melissa Older.

The lavish scarf by The Funky Felter in green and purple nuno felt.

And Contemplation of Flight by Melissa Manley

Jewel tones and neutrals. Sigh.

Fantastic, not plastic

While we love the idea of supporting our local grocery stores in their effort to make reusable bags available to their customers, we prefer something a little off the beaten path and frankly, inventive. Grocery bags made by actual shoppers. Necessity is the mother of invention, not to mention often times the mother of genius. So here are our choices for grocery shoppers who need both convenience and stylish alternatives to plastic fantastic.

These awesome produce bags by Fabrik are perfection personified in pellucid crinoline. (We are frankly reaching with the use of pellucid for the sake of alliteration, as we know literal meanings are not as important as style.) Code tags will be readily seen and utilized, and you won't have to stash all those obnoxious plastic bags. Also available at Fabrik: arm warmers and holiday cards.

This clever grocery bag available at e-fran designs features a loop that allows the bag to roll up for minimal clutter and easy grab n go. The familiar design gets an update with fashionable fabric choices. Also available at e-fran: handbags, wallets, and an apron!

Wild women everywhere can rejoice in their love of animal print with this grocery bag by Bella Mental. Lined in black and machine washable it can carry more weight than its wimpy plastic counterpart. Also available in camouflage and polka dots!

And finally, sew your own bag with this tote sewing pattern by iSew. Make your own and tote with pride!

Help the environment, independent artisans and assert your style at the same time. A plastic bag just doesn't add to the wardrobe, darling!

You're invited!

As bridesmaids to the coolest bride around, we've been checking out different companies for wedding invites to make our bride's life a little bit easier. We wanted to share our finds with you, whether you're planning a wedding, or fixing to host a get together for the holiday season.

Bella Figura original design Somersby ; Sakura Cherry Blossom designed by Maura Gauthier for Bella Figura.

Dick and Jane Letterpress's Birch and Blossom and Park Avenue designs.

Below, Art Nouveau invitation and Garden save the date cards by Inky Livie on Etsy.

Florentine and Ampersand by Oblation Papers & Press

Copper and Rhubarb invitations and Damask wedding programs by Kiss 'n Tell Cards on Etsy.

Check out these shops for more beautiful and unusual wedding invitation design ideas!

Creature Comforts

Getting snug is mandatory now that fall has officially begun! For us that means a hot mug of tea, slippers and a robe while we're shuffling around the house, wishing we never had to leave. Here are some items you can lounge in, check your mail in, and sashay about the house in!

Fun, colorful, and sassy psychedelic kimono by id Accoutrement allows you to wear tie dye and look cute--even sexy, dare we say it. We didn't know that was possible, but the pictures prove it.

Purple Garden - Calf Length Kimono by Ms Wood’s Kimono Boutique has the lovely traditional sleeve action with a gorgeous fabric in purple neutrals. Oh la la. As you can see from the picture below, it's a mantrap's best friend!

This man friendly robe by Asian Expressions lets hubby or boyfriend cuddle up and avoid skiddering around in undies and socks whining about the cold. Oh, your man doesn't do that huh? Uh...neither does ours. We make him wear a robe! (But he still steals our slippers!)

And for your favorite little one, Fuzzy Purple Hearts Robe by Baby Pop Designs is perfect after bath time or for lounging with mom and dad. Contrast colors and hearts make a sweet statement.

Indie bride and groom wedding invitations

As bridesmaids to the coolest bride around, we've been checking out different companies for wedding invites to make our bride's life a little bit easier. We wanted to share our finds with you, whether you're planning a wedding, or fixing to host a get together for the holiday season.

Bella Figura original design Somersby ; Sakura Cherry Blossom designed by Maura Gauthier for Bella Figura.

Dick and Jane Letterpress's Birch and Blossom and Park Avenue designs.

Below, Art Nouveau invitation and Garden save the date cards by Inky Livie on Etsy.

Florentine and Ampersand by Oblation Papers & Press

Copper and Rhubarb invitations and Damask wedding programs by Kiss 'n Tell Cards on Etsy.

Check out these shops for more beautiful and unusual wedding invitation design ideas!

In Praise of the Apron

Our love affair with the apron was patchy at best; occasionally the beloved armor would be used and appreciated, but most often left forgotten and not applied. Well, no more. We've seen the error of our ways and we're not going back. Simply put, aprons are appropriate and becoming in the kitchen. They give us a feeling of authority and connection to the past. They are perfectly awesome.

Here are a few we adore. We hope they inspire you to tie one on, or to expand your collection if you're already a fan!

Fattoria Villa Gamboro Apron by Mary Jane's Handmade is a lovely deep blue with sweet polka dots and contrast trimmings. We love the nipped in waist and coverage offered by her designs, and appreciate her use of color and fun fabrics. Your clothes will stay protected and you'll look super cute!

Boojiboo aprons offer a vintage inspired look with an ample selection! We fell in love with Pink Flowers and Honey Bees half apron. Mouth watering colors and vintage inspired style make this one a simple joy to wear while making muffins. Boojiboo is an apron super store and a veritable heaven for vintage style junkies.

This bib apron Ava by Jessie Steele is a 50s inspired confection with the detailing that Jessie Steele's line is noted for--fabulous fabric, sleek details, and sweet accents. Growl! Coated aprons are available for professionals (hair dressers perhaps) as well as oven mitts. We couldn't resist posting this one below--it was worn by the fictional homemaker Bree Hodge from Desperate Housewives, who we unashamedly adore.

And finally, The Apron Book: Making, Wearing, and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort by EllynAnne Geisel. We were so happy to find this author and her book we almost passed out from the joy.

Reconsider the apron, friends! She's an unsung hero and an excellent friend indeed. In our ideal world, friends would start giving these as hostess gifts and exchange frothy handmade ones 'just because'. Handmade or vintage, they're sure to give you a sense of purpose and fun in the kitchen, so tie one on!