Boyfriend Christmas!

Steven and I are both heading to see our respective families on Wednesday (Steven's going to California, and I'm headed to North Carolina), so we decided to turn this weekend into an early Christmas. I cannot emphasize enough that Steven's an awesome gift-giver and I feel amazingly spoiled. (Don't worry...I think he managed to do pretty well on presents from me, too.)

Then, on Sunday, we had brunch at Rue and bought these little champagne cans I've been wanting to try from Bull Street Gourmet and drank them in the park. All in all, it was a perfect pre-Christmas celebration.

Mad for plaid.

This weekend, the sweetest guy in the world, Gino, had a plaid-themed birthday party. We all decked ourselves out in the plaidest of prints and headed to HoM for plaid and ping-pong. And beer. 

I realized that seek vintage has more than its share of plaid, too, so if you're in the market for adding some print to your wardrobe...

(Don't forget that everything at seek vintage is 20% off with the code HOLLYDAYS11!)

Fully coated.

It's party time!

With the holidays comes an influx of parties--office Christmas parties, family gatherings, New Years Eve events--and seek vintage is newly stocked with some excellent party attire from days past.

Plus, from now until December 20, use the code "HOLLYDAYS11" for 20% your seek vintage order!

(Click the images to be taken straight to the item on Etsy.)

More items for winter and holidays will be added throughout the week!

(One of) the cheapest corner(s) of my house.

So...while taking pictures of my Christmas decorations, I stopped at this little tableau. I love this little nook of my living room, because it was dirt cheap. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you'll know that the green lamp and shade were a curb find (still with the $204 price tag on the bottom...holler!). But the new glass-top side table and globe are recent additions to the living room.

Anyone who says they can't afford to redecorate their house is a liar. The side table was $6 at a local Goodwill, and the store has a deal where all furniture is an additional 20% off if you're able to take it with you at the time of purchase. So, since I could maneuver this little baby into the back seat of my car right then, I paid a whopping $4.80 before tax. The globe was from another local Goodwill store, and was $5. I think it makes quite the handsome set-up. It would be perfect if I didn't notice how crooked those pictures are!

The candle was a gift. I have loved this brand and scent since I got it as a Christmas present a few years ago, and will keep burning these candles every Christmas season as long as I make them. The candle is Frasier Fir by Thymes, and I can't recommend it enough. It smells like winter and Christmas.Thymes, if you want to send me free candles, feel free!

Anyone else have any cheap finds they're particularly fond of?

December 1.

With the exception of setting up the Christmas tree in its stand, I've been holding off from decorating until December. 

The dining room is a little bit decorated too.

And the best part of Christmas is the Christmas Maya. 

 Tomorrow, I'm going to the farmers market and the Christkindlmarkt to buy an evergreen wreath for the front door, and cute stockings for the fireplace, and probably some more ornaments, because the tree is looking a bit sparse compared to the ornament-packed trees I'm used to, and whatever else strikes me.

I love Christmas.