Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Well, thank goodness I figured out how to schedule blog posts last week because if I hadn't you wouldn't have heard a peep from me.  Our internet conked out after a power outage and things were a mess after that.  Then pile on a sick toddler and hubby as well as a quick trip back to the "for sale" house 3 hours away and I had a completely weird and frazzled last week.  I have bought exactly one Christmas present and just sent out the Christmas cards today.  I am headed out with the little one to the "for sale" house tomorrow where we will spend Christmas (hubby will be there later this week and my Mom will be there Wednesday night).  Have we decorated?  No.  Will we?  I dunno.  Are all the people on my Christmas list going to be getting their gifts sometime in January?  Count on it!  It's just been a weird month at the end of a craptastic year.  I mean really, 2009, what did I ever do to you to have you be so mean?   So bottom line is I'm taking a few weeks off from the ol' blog.  I need to recharge, relax and just figure some things out.  Thank you all so much for reading and commenting and just making me so happy to have started this blog.  I promise I'll be back and posting away in early 2010.

In the meantime please enjoy The Roots performing "Lovely Love my Family" on "Yo Gabba Gabba" (this song has been on continuous loop in my brain, you see we have the Nick compliation DVD and this episode is on it.  Well my girl loves this DVD and so it gets played A LOT.  It is a good song though and quite happy and we all need some happy!) 

I want this! - Kors Michael Kors Famous Sandal

This shoe makes me wish it were spring.  These would be a workhorse in anyone's wardrobe, you can dress them up or down, wear them with pants or skirts.  I love 'em!

Kors Michael Kors Famous Sandal - $285

Image via Neiman Marcus

I want this! - Kelly Wearstler for SFERRA throw

I really love this abstract wood grain patterned 100% Merino Wool throw.  Beautiful!

Marquetry throw Kelly Wearstler for SFERRA throw - $284

Images via Kelly Wearstler for SFERRA

Amazing Hotel Alert! - The Gray Hotel Milan

The Gray Hotel is an exclusive boutique hotel located in the heart of Milan.  Each of the hotel's 21 rooms is unique, with interiors designed by architect Guido Ciompi.  I love the simplicity mixed with luxury and the mostly neutral rooms with punches of color here and there.  Now for your enjoyment here are some pictures of the lovely Gray Hotel.  Let's go!

Lobby

Dining

Images via The Gray Hotel

Vera Wang Pre-Fall 2010

Again, dark palette with a touches of color here and there.  Here are the looks I liked the best from Vera Wang pre-Fall 2010:

Images via Style.com

Calvin Klein Pre-Fall 2010

A very clean, concise collection, not much color.  Here are my picks from Calvin Klein pre-Fall:

Images via Style.com

Oscar de la Renta Pre-Fall 2010

Wow!  Lots to love here, tons of color and print.  Yellows, reds, touches of pink, orange, turquoise.  Gorgeous gowns, everything you love about Oscar de la Renta..  Here are the highlights for me from the collection:

Images via Style.com

Burberry Prorsum Pre-Fall 2010

Military inspired for sure, dark palette with some dusky purple/blues. wine, white, dark blues and greens mixed in.  Here are some looks I liked from the collection:

Images via Style.com

Versace Pre-Fall 2010

Uhhh, I'm thinking I'm an old fart after looking at this compact Versace pre-Fall collection.  Good grief, very bright, lots of prints, skirts very short and pants/leggings are tight, too many shiny fabrics.  Some revolting color combinations, so much so that the clothes either get lost or look cheesy.  I expect more from Versace, I do.  However, I have a few picks to show.  I would look at them for the Japanese inspired prints (which I like, just not in the manner used) and color.

Images via Style.com

Devi Kroell Pre-Fall 2010

Very rich fabrics used and rich colors too, makes you want to touch the pieces of clothing or at least get a better look - always a good thing.  The collection was well done, here are some things I liked:

Images via Style.com

(Felt) Rock On!

I am really into felt rocks these days for some odd reason.  They are just wads of wool felted down to make these rock-looking knick knacks, but I think they are very cool.  What is felting you may ask?  Well, if you've ever washed and/or dried a 100% wool sweater, then you have experienced felting.  Felting can be done a number of ways, none of which I will bore you with here.  A few companies are doing them, here are a couple. 

First up Ronel Jordaan Textiles, they make very large and very small ones (the latter can be pieced together and used as rugs, which are very cool). Their "rocks" are quite realistic looking, which is probably very hard to do and labor intensive.

Then there's Molo Design, their rocks aren't as realistic and seem to serve only as decoration and novelty.  Still, they are cool (and pricey).

I found a few examples on Etsy which are more in my price range:

Felted Pebble Gift Set in Heather Brown - $36

Felt Pebbles by kneek - $33 per dozen

Of course I could always turn to my fiber artist BFF and see if she could make me a few (see her felting work here).  Ah, the choices.

Images via Ronel Jordaan Textiles (top 3), Molo Design (middle 2) and Etsy (bottom 2)