Where do I even begin? The family of blow up cartoon characters? The ginormous gold crown on top? The eight billion lights?
This house is like 2 blocks from us and is famous in the area for it's garish X-mas light display every year. "The Castle" is quite a retina-burning display of bad taste that causes traffic jams on the Jamaicaway and neighbors to have 24/7 migraines. Apparently this guy's electricity bill is over $2,000 a month- not very "green" of him, is it?
One word: classy.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

My artist/web design guru older brother Sean alerted me to this site, Supermarket, which not only features some of his fantastic work (above and below), but also tons of unique, one of a kind jewelry, artwork, home goods and the like.

Besides Sean's work, I was especially taken by the lino-cut prints of Katie Muth.
Charming, no?

Here are just SOME of the great books available this season that would make great gifts!

My "bible" for someone who likes my blog:

For the movie buff:

For the hypochondriac with a sense of humor (I assume I'll be getting this):
For the smart little girl on your list (also available in a boy version!):

A plain ol' FASCINATING book for anyone:

For the design maven (ahem! On my list!) CLICK on photos for links:


For the cook:

For the stylish eco-goddess (it comes with a cute tote!):


For the sports nut (the cover is actual astroturf!):

For the introspective "thinker" who also like pretty things:

For the glam new Mom:

For the fashionista (what a gorgeous cover to display on a coffee table!):

For the Jackie worshipper:


For the preppy :

Most of you reading this, and those you'll buy for this year, already have everything you or they could possibly need. So why not give the gift of a greener, better, healthier world?
I love the selections you can make at Oxfam America Unwrapped. You can tailor your donation to the interests of the recipient of the gesture: building tools for a poor village for your father in law, school supplies or uniforms for a teacher, plant a garden for your mom or buy a sheep or cow for a family.

Last year I gave my parents the gift of paying for one needy child to have cleft palette surgery through Smile Train. For just $250 we changed one child's life FOREVER. Pretty amazing. What I like about Smile Train is that you don't have to have $250 to help, you can contribute for half of one surgery ($125) or the medications for one surgery ($50) too.

A great gift for a glam someone who likes to cook and entertain- a pretty and stylish apron from Anthropologie, Sugar Chic or Pretty Ditty , good cookbook or entertaining guide (like Amy Sedaris' "I Like You:Hospitality Under the Influence" $19) and for laughs, this ice cube tray that makes ice cubes that look like diamonds to bling up your cocktails!

These rubber wine tags come in polka dots or solids and you can write on them with ballpoint pen- and then wipe them right off! They also double as napkin rings! The coasters are adorable too (also writable!) $26 through Red Envelope or Lekker Home.

For salty/sweet lovers, I have heard wonderful things about these grey sea salt sprinkled chocolate covered caramels from Fran's through Red Envelope! Yum! $26.

This set of 100 monogrammed coasters is simple lucite holder is a lovely gift for someone with a new home or newly married. $48 from The Stationery Studio.

These gorgeous coral lacquered salad servers would wow any hostess! Comes in white and black too. From Koo de Kir $85.


The Table Topics ($24) games are a GREAT gift- they post fantastic questions for everyone to answer, stimulating interesting conversations and come in versions for everyone- teen, family, couples, etc. Even more genius are these PartyTopics place cards ($7)- each dinner party guest reveals a question for all to answer! From UnCommon Goods and Wrapables.

A takeout menu organizer to make things easy when you don't feel like cooking but rather ordering out and the transferring everything to your good china so it looks like you did. From Uncommon Goods- $20.

(#1- my old stomping grounds!)

When Andrew and I decided to sell our beloved first condo in Cambridge, I had a hard time imagining someone else living inside those walls. So when my good friend Kate told us SHE wanted to buy the place, we were thrilled! Not only could I come back and visit my first home, but no broker's fees! :) As if that wasn't serendipitous enough, Kate then hired me to help her make the place her own. People said "Isn't decorating your old place weird?" No way! I had so many things I wanted to do in there that I never did, not to mention I knew exactly how the place flowed and what would work where.

So here are some pictures of the project. Awaiting art for the bedroom and throw pillows for the couch, but it looks so fabulous! Certain things I did while living there were left- like the amazing Audrey pendant in the dining area from Stonegate Designs. (I LOVE their light fixtures so much, it's ridiculous.) The Cape Cod woven wood shades from JC Penney also remained, as well as the bookshelf build-in I designed for the bedroom in a useless alcove and the crystal chandelier above the bed. We did some AMAZING custom bedding in chartreuse and chocolate- bringing in just a TOUCH of my favorite zebra with the custom boudoir pillow. The chocolate roman shades from Smith & Noble are stunning with the cream border, I think they really make the bedroom special. The red walls in the bathroom (C2 Molten) were a risk, but BOY did they pay off- especially with the amazing fabric we picked for the custom shower curtain! The ceiling of the bathroom is painted a slight metallic beige, which almost made our painter walk into oncoming traffic (same color I used in our bathroom-oy vey).
The couch was done in a beautiful beige linen-like weave from Boston Interiors and a plasma installed above the gas fireplace (which I had always wanted to do there)! It saves SO much space in a small condo! And Kate had me make her a moss wreath for her door- a nice finishing touch!
Anyways, enough of that- the pics do not do it justice, but you get the idea.
Thank you Kate, hope you make lots of happy memories in there just like we did!

Ok, "Oprah's Favorite Things"...watch out. The Elements of Style Gift Guides are here! This is the biggest catagory for me so this is my "part 1" of gifts for the home. Stay tuned for more, as well as gifts for guys, gals and kids!


Viva Terra's slate cheeseboard allows you to craftily label each type of cheese. Plus, it's earth friendly, as all Viva Terra products are! Perfect for the hostess on your list $69.00

This Thomas Paul pillow from 2Modern comes in grey, green, brown and black and would add a little flair to anyone's couch or bed! And at only $40, let's you give high design at a small price.


For the under $25 set, this monogrammed candle cage from West Elm looks pricey and let's you buy cheap candles that will look expensive concealed in this chic cover! $16

Silhouettes have returned in a big way- I've seen them in almost every shelter magazine. Simply Sihouttes makes classic silhouettes from photos you sent them. Framed in simple black gallery frames, they would look stunning and tell a story. Perfect for a new mom- or an old mom! They also have pillows, stationery and all sorts of goodies to adorn with a personal silhouette! $40 for a single silhouette.

These monogrammable jewelry boxes from West Elm look so glam on a dresser and would be great for the girly-girl who likes modern decor. Available in cream, silver and red lacquer. $89.00

Who doesn't like receiving a luxe candle for the holidays!? Make it a cute little package gift by including personalized matches from For Your Party. I especially like the pillow box and Euro box styles. $45 for 50 custom boxes. What hostess wouldn't like to have a bowl of monogrammed matchbooks out? How LUXE!


Diptyque makes the best candles, and these are three smaller versions of my favorite scents in a lovely box ready for gifting! From Vivre $80.00 Or buy a single candles for about $45.

Jonathan Adler's candles smell heavenly, and I love the brown geometric exterior. $36.00 through Barney's

For someone who has been extra good, give them a to-die-for D.L. & Co. candle, the creme de la creme of fancy candles. The sculptural glass bowl and painstaking packaging almost makes the $85 pricetag worth it. Hey, no need to wrap!

Another classic gift is a picture frame. Of course, please put IN a favorite picture of you and the recipient before wrapping! Here are two good choices from the GREAT gift site Uncommon Goods. The reclaimed tin frames ($40) are so beautiful and come in a variety of colors. The wood frames ($48) are made from pieces of wood recycled from boats and houses in Thailand.

I am obsessed with all things Iomoi. Their custom lucite trays ($100/$200) are to DIE for. You pick the pattern and the monogram. Or you could get a set of coasters ($100 for 4) and do the same. Tight on cash? Try the paper weight, guaranteed to looktres chic on any desk!

OK, I have so much more to share with you, but I need to sign off for now! Let me know if these ideas are helpful to you!