new year's limbo

We're in New Year's Eve limbo as we're trying to figure out whether we will be spending a quiet evening at home with a couple of friends, or a fairly quiet evening out on the town with friends. All depends on finalizing our babysitter...whom we haven't heard back from. Regardless- I'm envisioning a peaceful night one way or another. I love this image from Skona Hem..would love to have a set-up like this.

almost moving on...

Our christmas tree is down as are our decorations. But for some reason I'm having a hard time moving on from the season! This is the last holiday post, I promise. 

But I couldn't resist this (via unpretentious style). I'm a sucker for any story that pulls on the heart strings. Apparently this one wreath company has donated thousands of wreaths to Arlington memorial each year. Makes me want to get my wreath from them this coming christmas. Click here to read the full story.

hable construction stockings

I'm still buzzing after running into power couple Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman while picking up lunch this afternoon. And yes- she is as pretty in person- damn her! 

I'm also having to calm myself from all of the sales going on...including my fave Hable Construction holiday stockings. Lucky for me, we already have a mantel full of them, but I am very tempted by the dog bones motif for my two labs. Their shipping prices are ABSURD however, so for the time being, that's keeping me in check. 

They have a great new feature on their site called 'design your mantel.' Just click and drag stockings from their selection to see how they will look together. It's fun to play around with, even if you don't buy. 

thayer allyson gowdy

Love, love, love the work of Thayer Allyson Gowdy. Her pictures of the peanut butter and pencils show just how a great photographer (and stylist) can elevate the ordinary to something spectacular. When I looked through her portfolio, I realized she photographed one of my all-time favorite weddings- Lena Corwin's!

Her website has a supercute I 'heart' theme...reminds me of the great bag Joanna posted about when she got engaged. Check it out here.

gratitude

I've always considered myself a grateful person. Grateful for the family and friends in my life. Grateful for the opportunities I've had. But for the past 3 years on December 28th, I've considered myself particularly grateful. My husband, his family and I were all in a bus crash in Costa Rica while on Christmas vacation in 2005. If it weren't for the physical scars that remind me that it really did happen (and the photos taken by the press), I would almost think it was just a vivid, bad dream. 

That's me on the top photo, after being extracted from the wreck, the rescue workers attempting to remove me in the middle (I was underneath that bus!) and my husband on the bottom photo in the blue arm splint. If I ever get really frustrated with him, all I have to do is take a look at that one to give myself some perspective. After getting out from under that thing, I kept repeating over and over and over to my rescuers, 'gracias.' 

I hope in these trying times we can mentally strip away all of the things that really don't matter and focus on the ones that do. I'm thankful this year to have a healthy son that I adore, a roof over my head (albeit with a tree-punctured hole), a loving group of family and friends, and a job that I love. 

Gracias to you for joining me this year at Party Perfect. I'm looking forward to another great one with you in 2009.