Holiday 2008 « Elements of Style Blog

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Gift Guide 2008: For Kids

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008

This is a good one, if I do say so myself! Enjoy, and I hope you get some ideas for buying for the little ones (and their parents) in your life!

Encourage good ol’ outdoor time (bye bye Xbox) and give the gift of fun in the snow! An LL Bean sled and snowball maker kit would do the job, and to aid in the post sledding/snowball war glow- mugs with each kid’s initial on it and some gourmet hot chocolate and marshmallows. A great gift for a group of kids in one family!

Ahh, the gift of good design- even on the small scale! Kartell’s Lou Lou Ghost chair is a mini version of the Louis Ghost chair coveted by design addicts the world over. A set of four around a simple IKEA play table allows you to maintain good design, even with little ones running around!

Have new parents to buy for who probably cringe at the sounds of anything Barney-esque? Help them out with Rockabye Baby CD’s- each has songs by great modern rockers turned into lullabyes. Introduce your little ones to great music early on!

I’m kind of obsessed with these teepees. I would have LOVED to have one when I was little to play house in. The cool retro inspired fabrics won’t create an issue decor wise either (hey, it matters sometimes, right?)

While the teepees above are amazing, they ARE pricey. For a gift that has a similar function but is under $60 (and inspires more creativity) there is this cardboard playhouse. Your kids can decorate it to their hearts content using paints and markers and gloodies and glue!

Hate having big, ugly plastic toys in your house (a decorator’s nightmare), but want your kids to be able to have their kitchen play set? Fear not- in comes PB Kids with their Gourmet Kitchen for kids! So not an eyesore like most play kitchens, this one may leave you wishing your kitchen looked the same! Please note the bridge faucet and ice dispenser on the door-hello!

Now this is my kind of dollhouse- the Westport Townhouse- complete with optional barn (looks like guest quarters to me), schoolhouse oh, and tiny replica PB furniture!!! Talk about setting expectations high while they are young! ;)

Some great books for kids a bit older- fantastic pop up books on Beasts and Sharks and for the mini fashionista, a children’s book about Coco Chanel.

I love these Wry Baby onesies- each one holds a prediction about the baby’s future! You don’t get to pick, it’s a surprise- and a funny one at that!

A gorgeous growth chart to check the kiddies progress (and not mess up your trim)

A giggle worthy gift for the baby with an uber-glam Mom- Heelarious, baby’s first high heels.

Is this not the most gorgeous baby sling you’ve ever seen? I want one to carry Baxter around in, it’s so damn pretty! :)

Speaking of Baxter, if your kids just happen to be of the very furry persuasion, some gifts for them (because I know you buy them gifts. Baxter has his own stocking).

one of these gorgeous beds from Modern Tails.

Sweet little sweaters from CrewMutts.

Holiday dog treats from Boston’s own Polka Dog Bakery (love, love this place!)

Posted in Holiday 2008, gift guide | 5 Comments »

Holiday 2008: My So-Called List

Monday, December 8th, 2008

This is obviously not a big gift year, but here are some dream list items just for fun (and to torture myself.)

Letterpress business cards. How sweet are these ones below with their detailed edge?

Ridiculously awesome custom bedding and table linens by Leontine Linens (never. ever. ever. gonna. happen.)

The Hermes H blanket- ideally in camel and white (it may not even come in those colors). Classic. Ridiculously overpriced. Lovely.

but in reality I think a lot of us would actually like to have a blanket that said this:

The Colette Bed. On my list every year.

Some yumminess from Jonathan Adler- still the best faux bamboo chair out there, and a tripod lamp for the living room.

This delicious DVF wrap dress. Because I can never have enough and there is no other article of clothing on the planet that makes me feel as unconditionally foxy. ;)

Another Havanese- preferably a cream and apricot sister (like these) for Baxter. Pretty please!

Quite possibly a stand in for the perfect brown boots? Maybe even better (with a better price!) With skinny jeans tucked in, these would be amazing.

Pack of 10 yoga classes with David Magone at Exhale Spa so I can be zen, look fierce in a bikini and someday do this without falling over and getting a bloody nose.

And for after class, some new stemware to fill with red wine- this shape is really interesting.

Posted in Holiday 2008 | 16 Comments »

X-mas Decor Sans Santa

Monday, December 8th, 2008

I got nothing against Santa (especially when he brings me goodies) but holiday decor free of kitsch is much more my thing. Despite that I’m feeling a bit Scrooge-y this year, I still plan on decorating a bit. I love these holiday decorating images from Domino above and plan to put both into play this year in my own home- I especially love the ornaments tied to the chandelier with pretty ribbon!
I was at a friend/client’s condo for a holiday dinner last night and took some snaps of her very stylish decor (mind you wine + a slightly complicated camera=not great pics). Her place is almost done and I’ll she shooting it in the next few weeks so there will be much better images then!

Above is the moss wreath I made for her last year- I still love it! To the right we picked up a tall cylindrical glass vase and filled it withh tiny ornaments.

I love the aluminum bucket filled with greens and tall twigs and the hint of X-mas even in the bedroom!

Mercury glass vases feel very holiday time to me- and I like this entryway piece for it’s simplicity and sleekness.
More holiday decor I love from Jayson Home and Garden:

and some witty cocktail napkins from Anne Taintor to add just the right amount of sarcasm to the holiday.