Funky Hair

I kinda really want to do this.  Especially before I'm too old to even consider it.

(picture via Pinterest)

Great Sweaters for the Winter Season

According to one particular site, the above sweater is a stylish choice for the winter season.  Although I love adorable & furry animals, I would not wear this sweater unless it was to an Ugly Sweater Party.  Yes, it's whimsical.  Yes, it will give you a major moment.  But those two traits do not necessarily qualify this sweater as chic.

As a result, I set out to find a few sweaters that do make you want to dress up for the holiday season.  What do you think?  Do you prefer these or do you love the knit sweater above?

 

J. Crew "Heart Me" Sweater

 Marc Jacobs "Gladiola" Sweater, my personal favorite :)

Ruche's "Cafe Verona" Sweater

 Top Shop

Creative Outlets

After a crazy day at school, this made me smile.

(photo via Laughing Squid)

Ryan Gosling

He is so cute.

(pic found here, via here)

Gifts for the Pretentious Dog

These are absolutely hilarious!  Chew toys for the dog in First Class who knows his art history.

Available here.

A Gift for Bakers

What a great idea for the baker in your life!

{Picture & links for the goodies found here.}

Recipe: Apricot & Pear Tart

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup raw almonds
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 pears (such as Bosc or Bartlett)—peeled, quartered, and cored
• 1/2 cup dried apricots, halved
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup apricot preserves

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Butter a 9-inch removable-bottom fluted tart pan.
2. In a food processor, process the almonds and ½ cup of the sugar until finely ground. Add the butter, egg, and almond extract and process until smooth. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt and pulse a few times just to combine (the dough will be soft).
3. Spread the dough in the bottom of the prepared pan.
4. In a small bowl, toss the pears and apricots with the lemon juice and the remaining tablespoon of sugar. Arrange the pears in the dough. Scatter the apricots over the dough, pressing them in gently.
5. Bake until the pears are tender and the center is firm, 50 to 55 minutes (cover the edges with foil if they brown too quickly).
6. In a small bowl, combine the preserves and 1 tablespoon water. Brush over the warm tart. Let cool in the pan before unmolding.

Serves 8



{photo & recipe courtesy of Real Simple}

Cozy Winter Clothes from Anthropolgie

These clothes from Anthropologie's December catalog look so cozy and chic.  I want to put them on and indulge in a big cup of hot cocoa next to the fire.  Isn't it amazing how such a simple outfit can transform you to another place and make you think such warm & fuzzy thoughts?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you have an amazing Thanksgiving holiday

{photo via here}

Cake

How adorable is this cake?! It's perfect for a wedding or birthday party.

{Photo found here}

Woody Allen Documentary

I have always been a fan of Woody Allen's work despite his lifestyle choices.  As a creative writing grad, I simply commend him for being such a prolific screenwriter and director.  During his career, he has written, starred in and directed a numerous amount of movies, with such big hits as Annie Hall, Manhattan, and his most recent movie, Midnight in Paris. 

Until recently, I hadn't really thought about Allen and his body of work.  I owned Annie Hall and could recall a handful of others, but there was no collective memory of what his work embodied.  An avid moviegoer, I usually see each new movie that comes out at my local theater.  However, the quality of movies coming out of Hollywood a few years ago really went downhill and so I decided to take that time to go back and watch movies I'd missed along the way, especially those that are highly regarded.  Included in those were a few Woody Allen flicks which then set off this domino effect for my boyfriend and I - we set out to watch every movie Woody Allen had either directed or written.  Some were not so great, but others were hilarious.  As always, the same neurotic, self-loathing, anxiety-driven character was there struggling with their existence in the world.

Woody Allen is a true comedian and writer whose prolific work has truly earned his place in pop culture and movie history.  And lucky for us fans, PBS is airing a documentary on their "American Masters" segment titled Woody Allen: A Documentary.  Part two airs tonight.  Will you be watching?

Here are 5 of Allen's movies you should watch besides the obvious:

1. Manhattan Murder Mystery
2. Play It Again Sam
3. Take the Money and Run
4. Melinda and Melinda
5. Whatever Works

And here's an article in Vogue regarding PBS's documentary on Woody Allen.

{Photos via here & here}

Quote of the Day

_____

this quote makes me smile.


{quote via pinterest}

Winter Clothing Essentials - Ruche

Excellent examples of why you should stock up this Fall/Winter with outfits from Ruche.

Movie Rewind: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Hi, my name is Crystal and I've never seen Breakfast at Tiffany's.  Until yesterday.  Sure, I know who Audrey Hepburn is and can vividly recall the famous shot of her exiting the cab in that black dress, pearls and those wide-rimmed sunglasses and walking over to the Tiffany's display window eating a croissant and drinking her coffee.  But I had never seen the movie.  To be honest, I wasn't even completely sure what the movie was about.  So, I finally watched it yesterday.

Breakfast at Tiffany's is a wonderful snapshot of Manhattan in the 60's - the scenery is amazing, the fashion is iconic, but the story is completely implausible.  Holly, as a character, in incredibly flawed - she's extremely naive, a social climber using men of a certain wealth to maintain her lifestyle, and is arguably very selfish having abandoned her family and married life for a Hollywood/Upper East Side lifestyle.  She steals from the Five and Dime, regularly, just to see if she can get away with it and is such a commitment-phobe that she even refuses to name her cat.  All of that aside, you just can't help but love her.  Audrey Hepburn's portrayal of Holly Golightly is so charming that you find yourself looking past the character's flaws and wishing nothing but the best for her, even wishing you were her.


{photo via Pinterest}

Cake

What a wonderfully easy way to decorate a cake!  So cute.



{Photo courtesy of Lisa Hubbard}

Great Fall Skirts

Skirts are a huge wardrobe staple this Fall season, and why not when temperatures range between freezing and 90 degrees across the US.  If it's a little cold outside, just slip on a great pair of tights with your skirt in either a similar color for a classic look, or a contrasting color for a more fun & eclectic look.  Here are a few skirts I found at Piperlime that are sure to be great additions to anyone's wardrobe.  Happy Shopping!

 
Left to Right: Houndstooth Mini Circle Skirt, Silk Pleated Maxi Skirt, Pleated Tulle Mini Skirt, Chiffon Maxi Skirt in Merlot

 

Left to Right: Silk Chiffon Asymmetrical Skirt, Silk Zipper-Front Skirt, High Waisted-Panneled Maxi Skirt, Silk Pleated Skirt

Fashion Find: Sequined Jacket

This jacket would be perfect for the holiday season, and I'm not even a sparkly/bling-kinda girl.  A pair of jeans, plain T-shirt, and great pair of heels would be a fabulous outfit for Fall.  Unfortunately, it's out of stock.  However, there are a few others similar to it and available here.

So, would you wear a sequined jacket?

Quote of the Day

(photo via here}

Home Decor Ideas: Plates on Walls

What a great way to showcase your favorite plates!  Or, if you find a couple of great plates on Etsy or a thrift store, this would be a great way to show them off.  Love it.



{Photo via Pinterest}

Recipe: Caramelized Onion & Herb Stuffing

Caramelized Onion and Herb Stuffing

 ****

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish and foil
• 1 large loaf Italian bread (about 1 pound), cut into 3⁄4-inch pieces (about 16 cups)
• 6 medium onions, halved and thinly sliced
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375° F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Divide the bread between 2 rimmed baking sheets and bake until dry and crisp, 10 to 12 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown, about 1 hour. Add the wine and cook until evaporated, 2 to 4 minutes; transfer to a large bowl and let cool for 10 minutes.
3. Add the bread, broth, eggs, chives, thyme, and ½ teaspoon salt to the onions and toss to combine. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Cover with buttered foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until browned, 20 to 30 minutes more. 

Serves 8





{Recipe courtesy of Real Simple}

Etsy Tuesday: Owl Mania

Owls are still very popular, even though mushrooms, raccoons and birds are fighting for their spot in current trends.  As a result, I thought I'd share a few links for this week's Etsy post so you can continue to add to your collection of owls.  Isn't the skirt adorable?!  How about those tags?  They would be perfect for a birthday note on a present.  Happy Shopping!

1. Platter & Tea Towel

2.  Gift Tags

3. Sleepy Owl Planter

4. Swizzle Sticks

5. Chiffon Skirt

6. Silver Bracelets

7. Vintage Ashtray

8. Adorable Earrings

9. Sweet Owl Planter

10. 70s Embroidered Artwork

11. Retro Owl Watch/Pendant

12. Cork Hot Pad

Stylish Bedrooms with Twin Beds

I love the idea of using multiple twin-sized beds in a guest or kid's room, probably since I was the only girl and never had to share a room.  It is a great way to maximize space however, especially if you're short on square footage or receive many guests during the holidays.  If you're a grandparent with lots of grandchildren, you could even add trundle beds or bunks beds.  Here are a few rooms that inspire me to make my future children share a bedroom.

understated feminine guest room

Hollywood Regency

sweet & whimsical

modern girl's room

Mid-Century Style

eclectic bedroom

rustic style

Southern Living

charming kids' bedroom

Audrey Style

A striped shirt and black pants never looked so chic.

{photo courtesy of Secrets of a Belle}

Flasks Galore

A couple of weekends ago my wonderful boyfriend and I went to a party that was BYOB. Although they were planning on having a case of Coronas to get the party started, they didn't want to furnish everyone with an endless supply of drinks which is completely understandable.  We are not big drinkers by any stretch of the imagination, and we really dislike beer.  No matter how many different kinds we've tried, it's just not something we can get accustomed to.  So, we thought we'd take some rum or Crown.  Only problem was, we don't own a flask!  Thus began the endless search for a great flask.  Which would you pick?

Chevron Print Flask

Cozy Flask

Retro Vines Flask

Traditional Leather Flask

Menswear Flask

 

Wavy Flask

DIY Reindeer Tag or Postcard

PAPER REINDEER POSTCARD 

courtesy of Amy Moss

What you will need:

• A4 Kraft card
• A4 White, textured card
• 4 craft brads
• Double-sided tape
• Scissors
• 3mm (or smaller) circle craft punch
• Color Printer
• Postcard Back design (download PDF by clicking on link)
• Paper Reindeer Postcard design (download PDF by clicking on link)
• Hobby knife
• Ruler
• Cutting board

Instructions:
Download the 'Paper Reindeer Postcard' PDF from the link below and print out onto white card stock using a color printer. Using a pair of scissors, cut around the separate parts of the reindeer leaving some white around the edges. (Tip: You don't need to cut perfectly straight. In fact, a slightly irregular edge just creates a more whimsical, handmade feel.) Position the legs, antler and tail on the correct areas of the reindeer body and attach by punching holes and inserting and fastening craft brads. Cut out the 'happy holidays' banner, also leaving a white border around the edges.
Download the 'Postcard Back' PDF and print onto kraft card. Use a hobby knife, ruler and cutting board to cut to correct size.
Using double-sided tape, stick the banner to the bottom of the front of the postcard. Place a bit of double sided tape to the middle of the reindeer body to attach him to the center of your postcard.

For the downloadable images used here to create the Reindeer Tags & Postcards, click here.

{all images and downloads are copyright of Amy Moss}

Happy Weekend!

It's finally Friday!  This week went by really slow for me, but all is well for Friday is here.  And it's been a really good day so far - the weather is amazing outside (cold but sunny), my boyfriend is headed to town for five whole days, and 1001TTL is celebrating it's 100th post and first ever giveaway.  So, there are tons of things to celebrate and what better way to then heading to Wurstfest, a festival filled with sausage & beer.  What are your plans for the weekend?  Either way, I hope it's wonderful!

For your weekend viewing pleasure, here are a few posts from around the web:

super cute date-night outift

7 New Wonders of Nature...Jeju Island is absolutely magical.

The perfect cookie for your friend with the green thumb

A French-inspired birthday party for adults & kids

Kitties in Love

for Lego lovers