Warming Up Winter

January has a special place in my heart... probably because I was born in January and (in my mind... not real life) winter is half way over! I mean it's going to warm up... right? Probably not as soon as I want it to, but a girl can dream. So even though the snow is falling and our apartment is literally freezing (I'm sitting at my kitchen table in gloves and two sweaters), I thought I would share what is keeping me warm this month!

1) My grandpa bought me a Berkshire Blanket for Christmas this year... and it is literally keeping me warm. I'm not sure what has been done to this blanket but you wrap it around yourself and almost immediately you are surrounded by happy fluffy warmness. It is absolutely wonderful and it matches my living room so double bonus. When I'm wrapped in it I can almost tune out the noise of our neighbors' nightly dance party above my head. They (the blankets, not our neighbors) are sold at www.berkshireblanket.com

2) Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries- http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/miss-fishers-murder-mysteries/

I seem to be going through a 1920s thing right now and Phryne Fisher seems to have made it worse. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is a TV program filmed in Australia about Phryne Fisher, a female detective in the 1920s who solves murders and helps the local police in Melbourne, Australia . It sounds like a pretty regular concept and it is. The part that makes it amazing is Phryne. She is a regular flapper, a free spirit if you will. She is incredibly smart and gives everyone a run for their money. On top of that, the music is superb and the costuming is absolutely brilliant. The show has me searching for the perfect bob haircut for my hair. It's also different to look at the silly things we take for granted that were just coming out in 1926. I loved watching Phryne's companion, Dot, jump in fright every time the brand new phone rang. The series has 2 seasons out and both are on Netflix. Apparently a Christmas Special aired a few days before Christmas. It's the only one I haven't seen but if it's anything like the rest of the series then I'm sure it's amazing.

3) Billie Holiday- Now I've loved Billie for a long time. She was my introduction to jazz. Her phrasing is unlike anything I've ever heard and she has the ability to give me the chills or warm me up from the inside out. It seems that I always come back to her in the extreme times, the freezing cold or the hot summer nights. Which explains why I'm feeling her now, considering how cold it's been. 

As a music lover I try really hard to give all music a change and as much as I love the direction new music is going, there is nothing like going back to the roots. I find that it always feels familiar, even if I've never heard it before, and "cleanses" my musical pallet.

4) Last summer I read a marvelous book called The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro and ever since I've been on the hunt for a "signature scent". Apparently I'm quite picky. I don't want something immediately identifiable like Chanel NO 5 and I don't want anything that smells like food. I don't want someone to catch a whiff and think of dessert or their morning smoothie. I've been thinking of roses, something floral and feminine. In an Etsy wandering I found a perfume named Dauphine by Goest Perfumes. It is absolutely scrumptious. I literally want to bathe in it. Follow the link to look at the shop & buy a sample! https://www.etsy.com/listing/94342179/sample-dauphine?ref=shop_home_active_5

5) Now I don't cook... not really anyway. I'm a champion at heating up refried beans for a burrito or making a perfectly toasted grilled cheese but that is the extent of my skill. Recently on a Costco trip I stumbled upon Seeds of Change- Quinoa and Brown Rice. It is seriously the most delicious stuff ever and all you do is pop it in the microwave for 90 seconds. It's organic and healthy... which is great because Parker and I tend to gravitate towards Arby's or Gold Fish Crackers!

6) Last month Parker and I went to Las Vegas for a few days on our "honeymoon". We didn't really get the chance to have one after we got married, because of Parker's job with Vivint. It was great to "get away" with my sweet husband for a few days! We stayed at the Rio, saw a Cirque du Soliel show, walk the Strip, and ate DELICIOUS seafood from Joe's Seafood, Steak and Stone Crab at Caesar's Palace. The weather was perfect and I got my view of the fake Eiffel Tower to tide me over until Parker takes me to Paris ;) Just thinking about the warm weather and the fun we had warms up my insides.

Anyway, I hope that January is treating you well and all those headed back to school have had a great first week! Cheers!

Much love from my home to yours!

Sydney

Beating December Blues

I don't know about you but December leaves me feeling cold, harried and I start to feel the onset of cabin fever. It seems to have escalated this year with the absolutely FREEZING weather. There are definitely the happy things like Christmas and all that comes with it but I thought I would share with you 6 things that are getting me through the holiday craziness and keeping a smile on my face.

1) James Tissot. I go through these time period phases. I find myself convinced that if I lived "back then" that's where I would fit. I would feel most comfortable there. I would find my true self. I know none of this is true but I seem to sometimes rationalize it. James Tissot is a French painter from the Victorian Era. His paintings are mostly of everyday life and they are beautiful. Just look at them and try not to wish yourself to another time. I dare you.

2) A Fine Frenzy's album Pines. I've always loved Alison Sudol. I think she is adorable and her music has always seemed really organic and sweet to me. Pines came out in 2012 and at first I felt it was kind of whatever BUT in recent weeks I've fallen in love. It's calming and simply lovely. Please check it out! Riversong is my favorite. I have it on in the background as I finish my final projects for school, decorate our house and quilt.

3) Keeping with the Sudol trend, I've been watching this video on repeat. It's called Lost Things and it's beautiful. I don't have much else to say about it except WATCH!

4) When I'm feeling particularly worse for wear, I watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer. For some reason watching Sara Michelle Geller fighting demons always makes my problems and frustrations about my lack of gift ideas seem particularly small. Unfortunately I've become a Buffy fangirl. My husband... has not. I'm hoping the more I watch it the more it will grow on him. Although I don't think it will.

5) Now I've just started this book called the Diviners by Libba Bray. I've always loved Libba. Her Gemma Doyle Trilogy changed my life. I'm only about 1/4 of the way through this new book and so far I love it. It takes place in 1926. My only warning is you might want to brush up on your knowledge of 1920s slang before you jump in... Sometimes I find myself having to look up meanings for things BUT I'm getting the hang of it.

6) Last but not least... ALL of our pictures are finally hung! Our apartment is starting to look... well like it's actually lived in. It makes me so happy to look around and see everything put together. I'm an absolute nutcase when things aren't put away.

Hopefully some of things things will help you chase the December blues away. If they don't, no stress. Put on some Bing Crosby and Nat "King" Cole and call it a day. Tomorrow just might be warmer!