Note to self:

Sometimes I over do it; sometimes less is more. If you stick with simplicity, you end up being truly authentic and ultimately make yourself and others happy because the gift is just right. My new mantra: Next year, just make chocolate chip cookies. 

I remembered this when I thought about my neighbor's delightfully fresh sour dough and butter delivered the other day. It is a true treat from her - she will send one over at random and we love it. During the holidays, I spy her girls running up and down the block with fresh loaves of bread to drop off at houses and I love watching them do that.

When I was 6 hours in on baking today, I thought to myself, "where did the day go?" and, "I like baking, but I don't LOVE baking this much." I tried to make too many different types of holiday cookies. I had the best intentions: I was excited about some yummy recipes I found. But really when it gets down to it, I'm a chocolate chip cookie gal at heart and that was all I needed to do. I did that last year and it felt and looked great.

This year, I was compiling bags at 9 pm when I realized how silly I was for spending so much time doing this. By the time I was done, I had a decent treat, a classic great, and little bags of something I'm pretty sure will defrost and get thrown in the trash before people event taste them. I can't blame them.

Still, I do like to bring treats around to the neighbors. One of the best surprises I had when we moved in were the holiday treats others dropped off to us without even really knowing us. Every year, I relish the goodness that comes my way and that feeling of community with the people on our street. 

I Like You A Latte

We met at yoga - 8 am on a Saturday morning. We were talking before class when we got gently reprimanded and asked to take the conversation outside the studio. I shrunk into myself like I was in trouble (like I was a child). I think she did too. Silly glances passed between us. It was awkward to face the adult asserting herself and her wants for the students in her class; it was more awkward because of her approach. We went for coffee after class and discussed it among the 101 other things we wanted to talk about. Alas, there are not enough hours in the day and this proved to be that favorite part of my day.

The Sweet Life


This was the third year for Gingerbread fun. I feel short in getting my house to stand (and taking photos of all of it) but strangely enough I embraced the sheer flop of it all and just committed to having fun with friends (in a candy induced chaotic sort of way). I've said it before and I'll say it again: hosting a gingerbread party is kind of like throwing a kegger for kids. People get unruly, things fall over and break, the floor is a sheer state of disgust at the end of it but really for as flagrant as the whole thing seems, I wouldn't want it any other way.

I always love a shot of this girl holding my girls

Everyday Color and Texture

a Julie Howard original
We met up with Julie for lunch today at Cafe Rio. It's always such a treat to catch up with her. She brings this great element of creativity and perspective to conversation. She is a person who tastes things and then lets the concept marinate and then shares it with you so you too can stop to realize what wonderful elements are right in your everyday. Most of the time, it's not grandiose stuff; it's more focused on the simple pleasures that can almost be ignored or are not readily investigated by the mainstream public. Her enthusiasm always inspires me (it's not some strange cheerleader, "everything is perfect" high-pitched enthusiasm - it's more like, "look at how cool these chairs are painted" and then we examine them for a few minutes). She then takes a photo or paints a piece of artwork and all of a sudden I am in awe of the beauty in the moment. Of course, she continues on to the next thing, cool as a cat.