Gleaming possibility...

I am off to relish laughter and adventure for the next handful of days {or weeks?}.  When my feet land firmly in two thousand eleven, I'll be back.  

two thousand eleven!

 

One of my favorite images holds all the nuances of my wishes for your new year.  History for a strong and weathered foundation.  Sunlight and Gothic arches for hope filtered through nostalgia. A coat of plaster for a fresh canvas.  A sprinkle of mold for brushes with nature.  And room for huge, gaping potential and possibility.   

 

Wishing you a new year 
gleaming with laughter and
glistening with adventure.

{Get the details on this blissful image at the original post Mortar & mold....}

Hooves and horns...

Up on the roof there arose such a clatter...

This handsome fellow {and he is handsome} is from the lens of Sharon Montrose.

Shiny bits...

Jingle bells, sugar cookies, peppermint infused vodka, pine needles, sugar plums, & mistletoe...

 

{This glimpse of shiny vintage spheres is from Cafe Cartolina.}

Snow flakes and pine needles....

No words are needed to describe this crisp glimpse of pine needles and snowflakes.

{The winter wonderland on the left was found here.  The winter wonderland on the right was found here.}

Magical...

May your weekend be likened to this gorgeous garland {don't you just love metaphors?!?}. I hope your days are filled with small moments of vivid color and sparkles all strung together for an amalgamation of wonderment. 

{Lovely garland from Confetti System. Spotted on Knack.}

Words...

"One kind word can warm three winter months."

Japanese Proverb

Breathe it in...

This is like a breath of fresh air all wrapped up in a flood of natural light and whimsical color.  Sigh.

{Invigorating image by Pia Ulin, as seen on Lotta Agaton.}

Infuse, then imbibe...

Infuse, then imbibe.  This is my {brand new shiny} mantra.  My dabble in infused vodka seems to have peaked a few curious imbibers, so I thought I would share a recipe or two {or three}.

First, from Sweet Paul {I lovingly refer to him as Mr.Martha}:

Fig & Vanilla Infused Vodka
1 liter bottle
1 liter vodka
1/2 pound dried figs
1/2 vanilla bean {cut in half lengthwise}

Combine all ingredients in the bottle {I use this beautiful little bottle available here}.  Let stand one week.  Discard figs and vanilla beans.  Serve on the rocks in a tumbler with 1/2 fresh fig as a garnish.  I also did a modified version with pomegranates and cranberries {instead of figs}.

I spotted my second vodka adventure here, Coffee Vanilla Bean Liqueur {from Molly Watson at The Dinner Files}. Time will tell if I have the patience to wait four to six weeks for this delicious and dark liqueur to brew.

The third vodka adventure was truly an adventure.  I threw six candy canes into a pint of vodka {the plan is to serve it with homemade hot chocolate}.  It's still brewing...but it's already delicious.

Merry infusing.  Merry imbibing.

Flying squirrels and vintage plaid...

It's the season of gift guides. Here's a {tempting} little tease of my personal gift guide suggestions...

{Click the links below to visit each individual gift guide.} 

  

For Him {Flying squirrels and vintage plaid}

For Her {Vegan leather and metallic pig banks}

For Spaces {The places we live in and the kitchens we cook in}

For All {Give personality and charisma this year}

Quiet whispers...

elle oh has been a little bit quiet this week - mainly because life has been a little bit loud.  I blame the holidays {'tis the season}.  This delicate and feminine glimpse from Knack is seducing me with whispers of playful colors.

{Every single time I visit Decor8, I find something I love.  Today was no different.}

Words...

"Some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and
making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next.
Delicious ambiguity..."

Gilda Radner

Vintage aeronautics...

This print of vintage aeronautics is laced with the intricacy of scientific drawings and the whimsy of imagination.  I would like to dangle this glimpse of hatch marks and hot air on my wall.

 {This image was found floating on Design for Mankind - originally from Wikipedia.}

Tree...

This brings a whole new meaning {sculptural & dimensional} to the traditional triangular tree full of prickly pine needles.  Something to contemplate...

{Eldrid has explored her imagination and found this wildly creative use for bringing nature inside - her intention was to create the ambiance of sitting magically under a tree.  It is magical.}

Naked?!?

Is your coffee table naked?  You can consider me your personal coffee table librarian.  I curated a list of fifteen must see, must experience, must read books {see link below}.  Bound wonders full of wit, illustrations, creativity, and photography...

{Fifteen books to covet!}

Snow is glistening...

Just a handful of snowflakes to put a hint of glisten in your weekend...

{This bit of wonderland is by Charming Liisa found here.}

If only...

If I had an industrial vintage metal locker, a camel colored cruiser, and this plate collection - I wouldn't need a wish list.

 

{This perfect vignette was resting here, at one of my favorite places of online real estate.}

Words...

"A perfectly kept house is the sign of a misspent life."

Mary Randolph Carter