get thee to an anthropologie

Run (don't walk) to your nearest Anthropologie. Don't have one close by? Check it out online.

There's one 5 minutes from my house, and I'm forever window shopping and getting ideas....but hardly ever able to afford anything. Even when it's on sale. But right now you can get an extra 50% off of everything already on sale - in stores and online.

Which is how I afforded this (for $25!!):

And this set (for $5!!):

And several other things that I can't reveal before Christmas :)

I just love a good great sale.

B

God bless us, everyone!

Christmas eve and it is snowing, snowing, snowing.  I have to hide in our office because Tom is being all sorts of procrastinating sneaky and wrapping up my presents.  Which is giving me this spare 5 minutes to blog, because I am type A a good planner-aheader.  We just came back from a wonderful family party with lots of children, festive adults, decadent food and smooth homemade honey mead.

We wish all of you and yours the same content hearts--not content in the passing warmth and coziness of this earth.  Content in knowing that all we experience is but a glimpse through this dark glass of terrestrial life.  The sweetness we taste now, the warmth and love and comfort, will not be able to stand compared to the eternal Reality we were created to experience.  Maranatha!  Come Lord Jesus.

(Christmas card photo...I love our family of 2)

Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!

B

O Tannenbaum

Tonight our tiny Christmas tree is going up.  The apartment is most warm and cozy, compared to the bitter wind-chill that's left everything covered in ice.

Our tree is so tiny because we don't have the space...and because our four cats like to climb up the tree and knock it over (although annoying, it's not the disaster that would be if we had a 6' tall tree).  We put our Christmas tree on a table and tie it down so that it stays standing when this happens:

Oh Beaker...

While I'm waiting for the husband to arrive home from work, I think I'll make some white chocolate chip chocolate cookies.  And play Handel's Messiah.  And light my new favorite candle...at least it will smell right when we decorate our plastic tree.

And yes, my shrewd reader--I did say four cats.  We're keeping the little black kitten we've been bottle feeding.  We've named her Rousseau.  It's going to be a crowded, fuzzy, bright and warm Christmas.

B

vintage Christmas

I've been obsessed with this website for quite some time.  They're now available for U.S. orders and will send you beautiful catalogs if requested.  Check out their fabrics and wallpapers.

Anyways, their latest Christmas line was just released and it's making me wish I had the money to buy everything OR have the time to vintage shop for similar items.  Favorites include:

(Christmas sweater done right)

(the sweetest tea towel)

(actually a pin cushion, but would make the most adorable tree ornament)

While it's been almost 70 degrees and sunny this week, I almost (almost) wish that it were more chilly.  Without the cold weather, it is more difficult to 'feel' (such a silly word) the building anticipation of the Christmas season.  

My prayer is that we actively meditate throughout the entire Advent, wondering in the birth of God incarnate with wide-eyed childlike belief.

B