Welcome to 2010! With love from Cornwall...

Happy New Year everyone! I took the time to sit down and write down my new years resolutions today, and I feel prepared to cross each and every one off of that list once they are accomplished :) How about you?

I'm still on my trip overseas. Cornwall, England is truly one of the most beautiful seaside towns I've ever seen. It reminds me a little bit of Howth, Ireland but slightly more populated and the people have a certain poshness to them. For England's wealthy this is the premiere vacation spot. I've been longing for snow to go with all of the cold weather in France, but suddenly the mild salty air and sunshine is just what I need. In true British style the locals sport hunter green rain boots or "wellies", and possess the kind of freckle-faced, tousle-haired perfection that only true Brits can.

Today we took a long walk along the cliffs overlooking the ocean while the sun was setting in the distance...it was unbelievable. I already love it here, and feel sad knowing this wonderful trip is nearing its end.

Photos coming soon!

xoxo- J

So...it has been 12 days of bliss here in Europe. Both Paris and Strasbourg were completely enchanting and I felt like I was living in a Winter Wonderland the whole time. I never want to leave! Sadly....our departure countdown has started. But before we go...Cornwall, England!

Merry Christmas...

via designsponge

via deargoldenvintage

I keep seeing women in Paris with these hats on...so chic.

reading recommendations:

Slate Magazine has rounded up, in their opinion, the very best books of 2009.

Included in that list are Wallace Shawn's Essays and John Maxwell Hamilton's Journalism's Roving Eye: A History of American Foreign Reporting

Finally in Paris.

Waiting for my connecting flight from Heathrow

My first croissant in Paris...naturally, it was heavenly.

After nearly 15 hours of traveling...I have arrived in the midst of a light snowfall in Paris. I had to ask several people for directions to find where I was going, and so now my previous impressions of French people have been erased from my mind completely because I had several - and I mean several - overly helpful and kind people go above and beyond to help me on my way. Thank you, all you beautiful Parisians!

Paris = Parisian clothing

I love this darling beret from Coach. It's the equivalent to warm blueberry pie in my eyes. I can't imagine the French being able to tell I'm not one of them in this gorgeous little thing.

Oh, and I just realized how convenient it is to have a blog during the holidays. Things I Want seem to come up in my posts again, and again, and again...hehe.

Someday, in the distant future, I will own this couch. It will be mine to keep, lounge all over, take naps on, watch reruns and old movies on, decorate with homemade pillows and knit blankets, etc. I can't wait. Don't you love it?

Tomorrow will be my last day of finals. I have two of them, and then a meeting at 215 magazine, and then I have to pack for France and get myself to Newark airport. Somewhere in between I will be exchanging gifts with my wonderful roommates. I just finished wrapping all of them last night, and they look so cute! *(I used textured + dyed yarn to tie them up)!

I love that moment right before someone opens a gift and they try not to show how excited they are but inside their stomach is flip-flopping in anticipation and glee. I pride myself on always receiving the most genuine thank-you speeches because I take the upmost care in purchasing just the right gift for the right person. Or so I like to think.

photo via (alilovescurtis)

Capucine: the cutest little girl in the world.

Who knew?

John Denver is great.

I'm loving "Like a Sad Song"....I know, I'm a sucker for cheesy ballads.

France in three days....

via (ladoleurexquise)

I feel like I've been holding my breath for the past week and the minute my plane lands in Paris I'll finally be able to exhale.

Wow. So I just watched Julie and Julia, the movie starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. It's about two women connected by an undeniable love for cooking and the urge to turn their dreams into butter-coated realities. Basically, I'm in love with Julia Child, I'm freshly obsessed with food, and I suddenly know that nothing, and I mean nothing, is impossible. Everyone likes to make life seem so hard, but its not. If you follow your gut, heart, beliefs - whatever - you'll accomplish something. And accomplishing something, even the smallest most insignificant thing, feels so darn good.

I started this blog in the summer of 2009, and to be honest it hasn't lead me anywhere spectacular. I've spent time sharing my thoughts and inspirations with whoever is out there, and I haven't really gotten anything back (besides those amazing comments from my loyal readers - I adore you) but I can't tell you how interesting it is to be able to share a slice of my life with whoever is reading. There is something so self-absorbed and introverted about a blog, but I think all of us deserve a little selfishness every now and then. So I'm probably going to just keep writing and sharing and hoping that this is significant to someone, somewhere, besides me.

So, from my computer to yours, in the words of Julia Child, I'd like to say Bon Appetit (to all areas of your life).

P.S. I really want to share my Christmas purchases with all of you, but obviously I can't do that because then all of those lucky recipients would find out what they're getting! Perhaps after New Years...

This weekend was a whole bunch of wonderful.

Ice-skating at Penns Landing, a full night on the couch watching The Office, unbelievable sushi, lots of green tea and oatmeal, as well as some awesome bike riding through NYC at night. Oh, and finding the most adorable ornaments for my baby brother and sister from Anthropologie.

via (vainandvapid)

A Chrismas Story

Playing on TCM...now it feels like Christmas.

awesome.

via (mouthfullofgommy)

Taylor 'swift'ly entering my like list...

Olivia, Happy Birthday!

25 years ago my oldest sister Olivia was born, so I thought it necessary to send her a birthday wish via my blog to let her know I am thinking of her today!

Words can't describe how much I love, appreciate, respect, and admire you, Livy.

xoxo, always.

Hey Santa!

via (krisatomic)

Pretty-in-pink please?

Barbara Streisand in Funny Girl. One of the best movies - and best transformations from gawky teenager to stunning starlet - ever. I'd like her entire wardrobe from this movie in my closet, pronto.

The Return of Vinyl. Duh.

Vinyl Records and Turntables Are Gaining Sales

New York Times

By PATRICK McGEEHAN

Published: December 6, 2009

This article is long overdue, but so true!

yum.

(via closetcooking)

What I Wore Today:

There is an entire blog dedicated to the drawings people do of what they wore today. I find it completely sweet and clever! I might have to venture into uncharted territories and begin contributing my own daily dress-up sketches. Enjoy these!

via (annepanda)

(krisatomic via whatiworetoday)

I'm on a knitting kick. I'd really love to own this book, because after spotting these adorables on A Friend To Knit With's blog I am dying to make myself a pair!

Oh, and everything below makes me smile.

via (unruly things)

love.

via deisgnismine

I saw Obama on GQ today, and for some reason it made me very irritated. Priorities....?

I also drove through the first blizzard of winter to King of Prussia mall to exchange some clothes at J.Crew and Macy's. What a bad idea. It took me 20 minutes to park, the mall was extremely crowded, and my fellow shoppers had zero awareness of those around them;I nearly got knocked down a few times. I survived the madness, and on my way out I stopped to watch Santa grant a few Christmas wishes.

It brought back memories of my sisters and I putting on our green and red holiday sweaters and corduroy jumpers to have our picture taken with Santa Claus. Mom and Dad had us believing in good ole Saint Nick longer than most kids, which I am really happy about, because I got to spend a great many years laying in bed on Christmas Eve with my stomach doing flip-flops in anticipation of the next morning. I remember waking up in the middle of the night one year to the sound of something similar to reindeer hooves landing on our roof. My little sister and I both heard it, and immediately pulled our covers over our heads and frantically forced ourselves back to sleep, because Santa wouldn't leave us anything if we were awake!

Just another reason why being a kid is awesome.

Also, Jackie's scarf is finished, and she looks adorable. She wore it all day and kept telling me how cozy and comfy it is. I've already had new requests from two other friends - I can't wait to make some more of these!

My first customer is happy!

xoxo

It's an official Bridget Jones Friday night. Munching on steamed broccoli and strawberries and curling up on the couch with a good (possibly great) book. Ok...that may be the boring version - no bottles of wine or Celine Dion renditions - but whatever....I'm feeling a bit under the weather so instead of getting dolled up and going out I went to the gym, took a shower, and put on some sweats. Heck, maybe I'll even watch some Christmas movies. It feels absolutely amazing to relax and do absolutely nothing.