Holiday Wishes and Red Velvet Dreams...

To be fair, I know Santa is already bringing me a few of the items on my wish list...but no one has claimed the velvet dress or the satin PJ's yet!

• Amazon Kindle: I was uber-skeptical about the electronic book idea for a while, but when I realized I could download a ton of classic literature for next to nothing {and save room on my bookshelves}, I was sold.


• Betsey Johnson Satin PJ's: Winter has a tendency to make you feel a little less than seductive {due to erratic shaving habits and more layers of clothing}, but I think satin nighties might help.


• J Crew Annalise Ruffle Cami: the color and the face-framing ruffles just make me smile, and this would work well layered or worn alone in the warmer months.


• Toast Silk and Velvet Dress: A perfect party dress for fall and winter...plus, I cannot stop obsessing about velvet.


• Cuisinart Coffee Maker: This is a sign I'm officially a grown-up. No sir, no more $20 appliances for me!


• Marc Jacobs Lola eau de parfum: such a gorgeous scent...and an equally pretty bottle.

::What is on your wish list this year????

Independent Holiday Gift Guide: Etsy Version

For The Francophile :: Mon Tresor necklace and charms by Tiny Token Designs :: French-inspired soaps from Sweet Petula.

For the Quirky Collector ::Rocco Racoon Skull by Melissa Dixon ::Specimen 10. Common Hare/Narcomedusae on Geology and Birds of Indiana book from Wonder Cabinet.

For the Sweet Tooth :: Red Velvet Cookies by Indulging Sweets :: Homemade Maple Syrup Marshmallows by Whimsy and Spice.

For the Avant Gardist :: Plum Organza Sequin Collar by Mary Not Martha ::Fabric Totem Neck Piece by Squillinan.

For the Manly Man ::Custom leather beer holster by Etrelles :: Whiskey Eau de Toilette from Portland General Store.

For the Eccentric Historian ::Roman Bust silk-screened pillow by Utilitarian Franchise ::Belgian WWII Gas Mask from Vintage Army-Navy.

Calendar Giveaway!

Just a quick reminder: don't forget to enter my holiday giveaway for a chance to get your hands on a fabulous, limited edition, hand printed calendar by artist Jen Hewitt. The deadline is tonight at midnight: click here for entry rules. Best of luck!!

Holiday Giveaway: 2010 Shoes Wall Calendar by Jen Hewitt

I was going to wait until the beginning of December for this giveaway, but I'm just so excited about it {and I'm already feeling the holiday spirit}, so I'm going to announce it now. This contest features an adorable, original silkscreened calendar by printmaker Jen Hewitt, featuring what else but...shoes! It's definitely a classier alternative to that calendar you received last year with kittens in a red wagon...just sayin'!

Here are the rules:

1. In the "comments" section of this post, tell me about a holiday tradition you share with family {or friends}. It can be quirky and unique, it can be something particular to your country or home town, or it can just be simple and clever. Whatever it is, I want to know! Also, provide me with your e-mail address, so I can contact you if you win.
2. The contest ends in one week from today {Monday, Nov. 30} at midnight.
3. I will pick my favorite comment, and the contest winner will be announced on December 1st.

::If you're curious about Jen Hewitt's prints, check out her Etsy shop here.

*I look forward to reading your comments!

Cheers, Tara

xoxo

Creepy Beautiful.

Who says creepy can't be beautiful!? I'm loving these Halloween-inspired beauty products...Let's turn our bath into a witch's brew!

{From the top} :: Black Angel Wing Soap by Soapy Chica ::Halloween Shea Butter Soap by Sweet Petula ::The Blood Countess Essential Oil Perfume by Starborn Alchemy :: Witches Magick Bath Set by White Magic ::Pure Temptation Body Buff by Ophelia's Apothecary ::Halloween Spider Treats All Natural Shea Butter Moisturizing Lip Balm by Ophelia's Apothecary ::Black Cat Perfume by Wylde Ivy.

Feeling Bookish?

{via FFFound}

Regrettably, being an English major has hardened me to the joys of reading -- it often seems more like a job and less like a pleasurable escape. One good thing about the weather turning cold is that I actually feel the urge to pick up a good book and lounge around on the sofa {versus the summer, when I just want to be frolicking around out-of-doors}. I plan on indulging this bookish feeling while it lasts...

I love picking up a familiar text -- it helps remind me why I fell in love with books to begin with. I'm completely in lust with Faber's new 80th Anniversary editions of classic poetry. The gorgeous, graphic black-and-white editions include personal favorites, like Sylvia Plath and T.S. Eliot.

The Penguin Classics editions designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith come out in October... Somehow these manage to make Oliver Twist and The Odyssey seem fresh and exciting again.

White's Books is a new boutique publishing venture that is also releasing classics with stunning cover art work {by David Pearson}. The worn-out saying really seems to ring true: classics never go out of style!

If you're a book worm {or just looking for some eye-candy for your bookshelf}, take a gander at these fantastic book/cover design blogs: No Such Book, Faceout Books, and The Casual Optimist.

Happy Reading!

Back to School Wish List: Back to [Not-So] Basics

Two more weeks and many of us go back to school. Hey, the upside to the end of summer fun is shopping for new school supplies, right?? And even if you're not in school, the end of a season brings subtle, exciting changes. What are you daydreaming about now that the season is winding down? Here are a few items on my back-to-school wish list:

::Reading Glasses Necklace by the MIX
::Grey Boyfriend Blazer at Fred flare

::Cath Kidson mini agenda at Fred Flare
::TokyoMilk scented bubble bath at Fred Flare

::The Little Dictionary of Fashion by Christian Dior at Anthropologie
::Preening Peacock Pen at Anthropologie

::Crosley table alarm clock and speaker at Urban Outfitters
::BDG leather saddle shoe at Urban Outfitters



::Plan B Flask at Urban Outfitters
::Plaid Reading Glasses at Urban Outfitters



::Vintage-inspired compact mirror at Urban Outfitters
::Deena and Ozzy Quilted laptop bag at Urban Outfitters

Things You Never Knew You Needed until Now...

Poppy Tea Pot and Mugs by Dalhaus

Pale Ale Handmade Cold-process Beer and Cedarwood Soap from Krug's Eco-logic
Origami Floral Mobile made from recycled magazines by FashionFinds

Euphrasie Multi-chain necklace by White Owl

Bow Print Black and White Tee by Pretty Racoon


Let the Beauty You Love Be What You Do plaque by Rae Dunn


Six Poets Library Prints by Aurora Lee Hales

Red Seal Pendant by Ritzy Misfit

Cole & Son wallpaper from Rose & Radish

Conversation Cushion by Barnaby Barford

Holiday Gift Guide: Books for the Aesthete and the Decadent

I would be as pleased as punch to have any of these stunning books on my coffee table. Gorgeously bound and illustrated books are perfect gifts for the design junkie, fashion fanatic, and art enthusiast on your shopping list.

Sometimes, the concept itself is just as beautiful as the final product. 100 Years of Fashion Illustration.

This colorful textile book would add some serious pop to a bookshelf or table. Indian Textiles.

A little kitsch and a lot of fun. Japanese Beauties [Icon series].

For a hardcore fashion historian. Fashion: A History from the 18th to the 20th Century, 2 vols.



A great gift for a vintage vixen or a professional window shopper. Shop America: Midcentury Storefront Design.



Perfect for someone with a flair for the dramatic or a love of theater. The Complete Costume History.

Lempicka was the essence of Art Deco fabulous. Lempicka.

Contemporary portrait painting, with a gorgeous cover. Painting People: Figure Painting Today.

Fashion from the Swingin' 60's -- complete eye candy! 60's Fashion: Vintage Fashion and Beauty Ads.

Great for an antique collector, a renovator, or a lover of turn-of-the-century design. Decorative Art 1900-1910.