First off, Happy New Year! I know it’s the 7th (holy hell, how did that happen?), but my new mantra is “better late than never” + “ah well” so here’s to a year brimming with big laughs, lazy days in bed, hugs and kisses, and banishing Mom Guilt to the corner.

Secondly, I know that we’re all probably shopped out after the holidays but how adorable is this poster from Minted’s new kids’ collection? I can’t wish anything bigger or more beautiful for my kiddo going into the New Year.

In other Minted news, I finally managed to get all of our holiday cards in the mail! This is a vast improvement over last year where I got them printed, but never managed to address the envelopes. Here’s a peek at this year’s card:

I can’t emphasize enough what a gorgeous job Minted does – there were a ton of designs I would have been happy with and the quality is stellar, which is important because, obviously, this is going to grace fridges for years to come.

This year they added a new feature where you can upload your address book and then they print out your envelopes for free. I swear that’s the only reason these actually made it to the post office.

As if all of this wasn’t enough, I further fancified the back with a custom stamp from Save the Date that I’ve been using it on every piece of mail I can get my hands on – no doubt my electric company appreciates a well-designed return address.

Is your mind blown yet? No one would ever guess these cards are from the home of a woman who is currently wearing Winnie the Pooh socks with holes in the toes, which I believe is the point of holiday cards.

At the last minute I included last year’s card, which seemed like a quirky, fun idea at the time, but now that they’re in the mail seems a little weird. Ah well, I wouldn’t want everyone to think I’m too together. And a hint of Pooh never hurt anyone, am I right?

I pride myself on being a pretty down-to-earth gal. I buy most things on sale, reuse plastic bags until they’re falling apart, and love a good hand-me-down. And I know that having a certain brand of sofa or chair or whatever will not in any way make me happier or more fulfilled. It will only…

WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT?!?!? Strike everything I just said. I think we all know I would be so much happier if my house was stuffed to the gills with furniture from POLaRT. No, seriously, people. I have no doubt that if I sat on this sofa every day I would be skinnier, my hair would be bouncier and I would probably be fluent in Italian. And I would finally know the correct way to pronounce “Pinot Noir” and “Worcestershire” without getting all embarrassed and mumbly. It’s like the ultimate investment for the world because I’ll be so much more ciao! See? It’s already working!

This yellow and white one? Um, obviously, I’d sit on it with my bestie Kate (Middleton, duh) because this is totally the kind of couch she’s always sitting on. We’d sip our tea and laugh about our husbands – “Oh, that Wills! How many times have we told him no polo until an hour after lunch? It’s like he just asking for the King of Bulgaria to wallop him!” (I should note I don’t know what any of that means. But I will.)

But, seriously, let’s get serious for a minute. We actually need new dining room chairs because ours are falling apart (as in Alice was crawling under them the other day and stood up and pushed off the seat off of one of them and now it’s just sort of resting there, taunting our visitors with its precariousness…) and I’m wondering what the likelihood is that I can convince Chris this is the perfect set. Hmmm… Well, that’s not very much fun, is it?  Champagne for breakfast, it is!

Now, I know not everyone’s all into the bright and over-the-top like I am. Some of you need something a bit more sedated. Elegant. Timeless. Seating for your interview with Oprah that will make you look slightly regal but still totally approachable. Maybe something like this?

And, of course, they have mini-chairs and settees (another word I’m scared to pronounce) for your little gals!

Alice and I would have such lovely conversations as she sat in her mini chair. She’s already perfect so there’s nothing to improve there, but I imagine if we had this I would do things like remember to bring diapers when we left the house instead of having to skulk around outside the Target bathroom, bumming “just one” off of other moms.
Now they’re a little hard to find to purchase. Funky Sofa has more versions for you to ogle at and, lo and behold, Fab.com has them today on flash sale. See?! We’re already living the kind of life where websites put products on sale just because we talk about them and all we’ve done so far is look at photos of the furniture!! I’m scared for how good this is about to get.

You all know how I’ve been staying in the mountains with my sisters, right? Well, while we were up there I had a chance to visit one of my dear friends who lives in Steamboat. I went over to her house to pick her up for coffee and while we were walking down her front path she casually pointed out a large pile of droppings from a bear. Let me give you a second with that. A bear had been hanging out in her front yard and had apparently paused long enough to take a bathroom break. 

And she was so cool with it! That’s the thing about folks who live in the mountains. They’re laid-back about all sorts of stuff that would have me swanning about dramatically – freezing temperatures, hat head, wandering wildlife… I think I do better with bears when they’re wearing glasses and ties and getting down under fairy lights.

And a dance party in my heart? Sign me up!

I just love the idea of a series of these prints all hanging together. They’re just so sweet, aren’t they?

Okay, if it’s going to be cold and snowy, at least let’s be snuggly by the fire with hot cocoa and best friends.

How sweet would these two prints be together paired on a wall?

This one is my absolute favorite because it’s what I want for Alice – adventures with her best friend under a starry sky in a really cute tee pee. Not a bear in sight. Unless it’s a BFF, of course.

All prints by the super-talented Hillary Bird: Dance Party in My Heart // Dancing Bears // The Getaway // Target Practice // Teatime // The Old House // Heart and Home // Camp Out