What to do with all that Holiday Ham!

Since the family couldn't be all together this year, Mom was the sweetest and surprised us by sending the requisite holiday ham...for two! We have so much leftover that I've been scouring the web for 101 ways to eat ham. These croque monsieurs look like heaven. Detox can start later ;)

{Gina's Italian Kitchen}

The Ultimate Pre-Game Song for NYE

I've listened to this like fifteen times. The songs change so fast that I slightly feel like I have whiplash, but it is inarguably the perfect pre-game mix for tonight's NYE revelries! What are you doing? What are you wearing? We're attending an 80s themed party so I'm foregoing the obvious cocktail dress for something a little more MC Hammer-esque. The Mr. will be channeling Kevin Bacon from Footloose. He loves that movie! Wishing you many midnight kisses!

p.s. A little note from Society Social :)

December, Seee Ya!

A surprise came in the mail- Charlotte made an appearance!

Speaking of Charlotte, I designed a little something to add to the tufted collection. She finally came through production and will be debuting in January.

Remember that photo shoot on the Upper West Side? It came out in Matchbook and it was so fun to see how everything turned out!

I was also invited to be the Guest Editor for the month and couldn't help but to splash red all over my allotted round-up :)

There were holiday parties galore! Inslee, Tamra, and I lusting over the beautiful shoes at the Coye Nokes social. They had a tarot card reader too!

I almost stroked when I saw my Fifis in the December issue of Lonny styled by Eddie Ross. I swear he has style coming out of his toes.

Huffington Post Live invited me to participate in a quick segment with HGTV's Hilary Farr and also featured the Hayworth on the front page (!) of the Huffington Post Home section.

During another vintage buy, I got totally ripped off. This book sold for approx one dolla in 1954 but I paid $10 for it. The owner of the booth was nowhere to be found and sometimes a girl just wants what she wants, right?! It's Betty Crocker's Guide to Easy Entertaining and it had me at bar cart.

Did you work right up until Christmas? I did but thankfully took the last week off to spend some time with family. This little sugar bug nugget is the best playmate. She loves to give kisses on the lips. I love kissing on the lips :)

Christmas was spent in the city, just the two of us! We made a shamefully large dinner, set a festive table, and put our trusty folding table to use. It makes me laugh that we have to push our ottoman out of the way and basically rearrange the entire living room to eat a proper meal at a proper table. Oh, New York!

Hey y'all! Another month in review! In the new year, I resolve to get back on a regular blogging schedule instead of these monthly check-ins! It's a genuine delight to read your comments and notes.  I really can't thank you enough for stopping by and sharing your day with me :) I will be spending the day reflecting on all the blessings of 2012- aren't we all so lucky despite it all? Happy New Year to you!

Sunday Brunch in the City

Happy Sunday friends! I'm off to brunch before a little shopping and this interactive art installation (!) I don't think it can be argued that NYC does brunch like no other city. Bottomless mimosas, bloody mary bars, biscuits to caviar if you please. I've always loved going to The Smith and Hudson Clearwater (our fave!) recently started brunch service but in the case you're feeling adventurous here are some best brunch lists from Refinery 29  and New York Mag. No matter where I am I always go for the eggs benedict! What about you?  Hope you enjoy this last little bit of the weekend!

My Favorite Winter Accessories

On my last thrifting adventure I stumbled upon the daintiest 1950s fur hat and a retro fur coat that fit so perfectly that I couldn't leave either behind. The total bill set me back about $45 (!) There's something so glamorous and over-the-top about a little fur. Don't you think? Do you have a favorite winter accessory? The most beautiful snow is falling outside my window and I know what I'll be wearing whilst galavanting about the city. Hope y'all are having a lovely (warm) weekend!

Fur baby:

40s Black Wool Stroller Coat (!!)
Jeweled Earmuffs

Deco Dot Scarf

Fox Fur Earmuffs

Headwrap

{Four Eyes | 9 to 5 Chic |  Me after shopping with my fur hat and soon to be accent table!}

"I'm not nuts...I just want to feel it all."

 A brand new trailer for Girls Season 2 just came out, as if I could possibly get more excited to reunite with Hannah, Marnie, Jessa, and Shoshanna. I know most people are counting down to the New Year but I'm also crossing off the days 'til January 13!

p.s. I'd love to know, which girl do you most relate to? I'm not entirely sure but I do know that I wish I were as fearless as Jessa annnd like Hannah I could probably utter the title of this post in defense of almost everything I do ;)

{Refinery 29}

November, it's been a circus!!!

Photo shoot on the Upper West with an HGTV star and a favorite mag! So many talented women in one room, the view made me go home and work harder. One day. I'll be a guest editor too! yay!

Photo shoot in Soho at my homegirl Tam's with my brother and official photog of course! Gabrielle saved the day with her floral masterpieces. And an exciting addition joined us too, Barrel Aged Films! Bella totally got in on the action and bff surprised me with a dozen Georgetown cupcakes. I've never been rewarded so generously for taking over someone's home.

Teamed up with some favorite peers to help raise money for the victims of Hurricane Sandy!

Squeezed in some 29th (!) birthday celebrations. Sweet Al took me to the quaint little Bell, Book, and Candle in the West Village then to Sweet Revenge for even more cupcakes and champagne. It's safe to say I o'd on sugar that week.

Photo shoot with my mom- she framed my baby pj's and styled it over the Devlin Bar Cart. How embarrassing and sweet all at the same time. I am Chinese if you please, I am Chinese if you don't please ;)

Made a cameo on HGTV.com- my styling tips y'all!

Made a cameo in Sweet Lemon Mag!

Did I mention we do a lot of photo shoots? (Thank you for following along!!)

Celebrated Thanksgiving with my best sister friends in NC. They surprised me with an early birthday celebration since we couldn't be together on the day of! :)

Scouted more treasures on another vintage buy! You can see all the goodies I curated here!

Had the best Turkey day with my lova in NYC. Just the two of us! We walked the Brooklyn Bridge and all over Brooklyn before having dinner with a birds' eye view of the glittering city.

Decked the halls... isn't our almost Charlie Brown Christmas Tree just darlin? I carried that little guy on my hip all the way home. I totally had an Inslee "Little Tree" moment! People stopped to compliment my cutie patootie tree like it was a puppy. ha! p.s. Christmas trees and the NYC subway at rush hour don't get along.

Added F.I.F.I. for entertaining season aka Frolic-Inducing Folding (chairs) for Impromptu Fetes! My apartment is beginning to look like a Society Social showroom.

Shared my picks in the new (genius) publication, To and From. Find a gift for even the hardest person to shop for. Congrats Meg and Katie! And big kisses to all the ferocious ladies who gave little SS a shout-out!

Business as usual, we sent off bar carts to get sloshed at holiday socials!!

Designed a new sofa and a new stool/ottoman! Let's name her together?? Anne, Amelie, Antoinette? (under wraps for now :) Re-introduced my booziest bar cart. Pre-order if you want!!

On top of the normal, excited to be an expert at Pepperologie this weekend! I planned a class centered around booze of course. I'll be teaching how to make my favorite cocktail, a Christmas themed tablescape, and showing how to set up a DIY gin and juice bar. Holla back y'all!

Hey guys!! Can you believe it's been a month? Thanks so much to those of y'all who have checked in on me to make sure I'm alive!! Y'all are the sweetest, seriously! #bloggerintervention I'm here but entirely swamped and entirely missing writing to you. 4th Quarter is so important for my baby biz so I've got my head down hustling away hoping I can make my year! Just a few little updates above with lots in between...I promise I'll be back soon! Hope everyone is getting in gear for the holidays!! Happy December! Whaaaaaaat!