when nature calls
As much as I love color, we all know that food just looks the best on a good ol' white plate. So why not give your thanksgiving pumpkin pie as much tah-dah presentation it deserves by serving in on West Elm's pretty
Branch dessert plates and platter. Each organically-shaped plate is delicately embossed with designs of winter branches and leaves. Complement the set with matching
glassware—elegant tumblers and wine glasses etched with branch patterns.
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mood lighting
The crackly, antique look of these
mercury glass votive holders from Z Gallerie is so festive for the holidays. Just casually cluster a few around the room or table, and voila—instant holiday glamour! And for $5 a pop, they're really a steal.
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a little birdie told me ...
THIS IS THE CUTEST THING EVER.
That is all.
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light brights
Pier 1 has come so far from their "I just got back from my safari" days! Case in point, these chic
silver links table and floor lamps, that totally capture that contemporary-retro combo that we all love so much. It's a fun take on the gourd lamp look of last season, but with a funkier approach. And they're affordable too—$75-$135.
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true blue
I love the different ornamental patterns on the White Snow Blue porcelain dinnerware collection from
driade kosmo. The contrasting circle and line designs play off each piece so nicely. And although it comes in a five-piece place-setting, it would equally be chic to sub one (or more) of the pieces with your everyday white dinnerware.
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oh, christmas tree
I'm totally into these sleek
mercury glass trees from CB2 ($5-$15). The minimal design and bold colors work so well together. I'd love to fill my chocolate bookshelves with a bunch of these guys in all different colors and sizes ... and not a pine needle in sight!
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spice girls
I flipped (natch!) for Trudeau's super clever battery-operated, self-grinding
Graviti pepper mill. Thanks to this little gadget, there will be no more awkward wrist-twisting or two-hand maneuvering to get a few dashes of fresh ground pepper. Simply turn the bottle over and the mill grinds itself. Genius! No buttons, no fuss. It can also be used with sea salt crystals. It's $25, and comes in six colors, including stainless and brushed steel.
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flower power
I first saw these
Design Ideas paper wall flowers at the New York Gift Show earlier this year, and immediately loved their bright colors and cheery designs. They'd be perfect for dressing up a nursery or children's play room, or even a family sunroom. Plus, they come in all sizes and shapes so you can mix and match the pieces to create the flower garden of your dreams.
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holiday greetings
One of the first "welcome to New York" gifts I received when I moved to the city was a set of R. Nichols city-girl notecards. I loved them so much that I hoarded the set for years before actually sending one out. But since then, I've become his number one fan and pick a set up every few months. And this month, he has unveiled his new
holiday card designs, and they're as lovable as ever!
The New York line is available exclusively at
Kate's Paperie, but the other holiday designs are sold nationwide.
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black beauties
Black is the new blue for Nigella Lawson, who is moving her
Living Kitchen line to the dark side. Up until this month, she's been sticking to the sweet, baby colors of powder blue and cream for her pieces, so this black line is quite a different path for her. The new extensions, which include measuring cups, salad plates, sugar bowls, etc., are all made of heavy ceramic with a licorice matte coating outside and a glossy finish inside. So chic!
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coming up roses
The funky rose designs on John Lewis'
Tesica cushions could bring any bland couch to life. (It totally appeals to the girlie side of me that secretly loves anything with bows or flowers.) And since it's made of felt, they're durable for placing in high-traffic sitting spots.
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head hunter
Keeping with the steed-theme I seem to be obsessing over right now, I am over the moon for
Vlaemsch's wood deer, stag and moose heads. How cute are they?! These takes on the old hunting trophies are made of plywood from sustainable forests, so your conscience can rest easy about mounting this little buddy in your home. They're perfect for hanging over the bed or even the fireplace to welcome Santa and Rudolph!
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hanging around
Flocking is so the new tinsel! I love the pretty patterns and deep jewel tone colors of these holiday ornament discs from
Paperchase. They'd look great hanging from a silver or white tree, or even an ordinary green one. (Oh, and since it's the only time when I can let my steed-fetish run wild, I'm really into the modern reindeer ornaments too.)
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center peace
These
glass gourd and pumpkin candle holders from Smith & Hawken are a chic way to dress up your Thanksgiving table, without sacrificing precious turkey platter space. Apparently, it takes up to five glass artisans to produce just one piece so each one is unique. It has a round, camo'd opening at the back to allow you to slip a candle inside, and a tiny slit at the top to release the heat. They're usually $14-$28, but they're on sale right now ($9-$19) just in time for the big dinner!
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sticks and stones
These
voodoo-it-yourself toothpick holders just make me laugh. No reason you can't combine functionality with a little self-indulgent hexing. They're $10 each.
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city sidewalks
Looking for the perfect stocking stuffer for the New Yorker on your list? MUJI's
New York in a Bag comes with several wooden NYC structures and cars to build a personal mini-skyline anywhere you'd like. It includes the Chrysler Building, Statue of Liberty, Guggenheim and MoMA's original 1939 building. And it's only $14.
Also at the MoMA store, is this adorable clear glass
snowman shaker, which gives the illusion that it's melting away as the sugar inside gets used up. It's $40.
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the scratching "post"
These
scratch-and-sniff cards from Jack and Lulu are too cute, and remind me of my elementary school sticker-obsession days. They come in four yummy scents—bubblegum, ice cream, peppermint and chocolate. Pick up a couple from
Fred Flare ($8 for two) and scratch away, my friend!
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deck the walls
I love blik's new line of
holiday wall decals, especially the great Christmas tree set—perfect for those of us who live in small spaces with no room for a real tree. (And how cute are the reindeer flying over the fireplace?!) And since the self-adhesive decals are removeable, you can just peel them off after the holidays and save them for next year.
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shower song
Missing the presence of CBGB in your life? Well, now you can turn your bathroom into the ultimate club shrine by picking up a
CBGB shower curtain at Urban Outfitters for $29. The vinyl curtain is covered in prints of old show fliers from the shows played at the club. Rock on!
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