HAPPY Two Thousand FourTWEED

Not sure what colors, fabrics or styles will be trending in 2014 - all I know is 

I'm loving the classic look of tweed. 

My mom has had her eye out for tweed skirts over the past couple months- 

here are some of her thrift store finds:

1. NAVY FLOUNCY TWEED SKIRT

Paired with Goodwill $6.00 Forever 21 top

2. SHORT GREEN TWEED SKIRT

Paired with a Forever 21 top received at a Swap Party

3. CREAM TWEED PENCIL SKIRT

Paired with a Goodwill $4.00 Old Navy top

5. CLASSY PLAID TWEED SKIRT

Paired with a black top from a Swap Party

6. TAN HOUNDS TOOTH TWEED SKIRT 

Paired with a Goodwill $10.00 Woolrich sweater (very Anthropologie-esque)

Stay warm & have a Happy New Year!

-SJW

The mailbox

It's that time of year where you always want to check your mailbox. 

Hooray for festive cards & fancy penmanship.

-SJW

HOW TO: Host a "Christmas of Catan" Party

Step 1: Purchase the game

Step 2: Make & distribute hexagonal invites

Step 3: Locate appropriately matched foods

Ore - oreos

Brick - chocolate candies

Wheat - homemade beer bread

Wood - chocolate dipped pretzels

Sheep - milk chocolate butter toffee macadamia nuts (from Target)

Other ideas - pizza, cupcakes, waffle spread , cookies & longest road

Step 4: Make paper plates to match game pieces

Step 5: Use these retro 12 Days of Christmas drinking glasses

Step 6: Post this sign somewhere

Step 7: Host 12 friends - give the ladies the living room & cram the men in the bedroom 

Step 8: Avoid the following

Step 9: Buy those development cards & use a port to win the game : ) 

What a ridiculous night.

Ridiculously fun.   

-SJW

So whoop-de-do & hickory dock

It's the holiday season

& our little duplex is decked out in full Christmas attire.

DIY Christmas tree made out of fabric & buttons

$1.00 garage sale reindeer

Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

Little nutcracker : )

Prints my mother-in-law drew in art school

Chess Advent calendar!

DIY "HO HO HO" window using paper bags & chalk

Mistletoe & Christmas cards

Christmas tree from Chubby & Tubby's

Looking forward to the following traditions:

-Christmas Eve service & looking at Christmas lights

- Reading Christmas stories

- Baking cookies & making puppy chow

Singing Christmas songs,

-SJW

East Coast Stint-a-gram

Here are highlights from our East Coast stint:

BOSTON, MA:
- Time with KET
- L.A. Brunick (order the hot chocolate!)
- Strolling around town in the pouring rain
- Boston Commons
- Lunch at the Prudential Tower
- The Anthropologie on Newbury St. (it's massive)

DARIEN, CT:

- Time with Mr. Fleece's grandmother & family
- Cove Park & Holly Pond

PORTSMOUTH, NH:

- Friendly Toast (breakfast with the quirkiest retro decor)
- Touring local artisan shops
- Using the North Church as a landmark on our walks through town
- The Book & Bar (perfect spot to play games)
- Lexi's (delicious burgers!)

OTHER EXCURSIONS:
- Outlets in Kittery, Maine - I fell in love with this apple peelers/corer/slicer
-  Fort Foster (lovely views)

HOLIDAY CLIMAX:
- Cutting down a Christmas tree with SW and PC in the white mountains

#Holidayhiatus

SJW

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Boring-a?

You can watch Carrie Underwood play Maria von Trapp, plan a trip to Austria, sing Do Re Mi all day long, or check out Carkeek Park in Seattle, Washington. It's trending as my new "favorite thing."

With picnic areas, trails to "Climb every mountain," access to the beach, phenomenal views & regular shows from the Bubble Man, this park is a new gem. 

So long, farewell,

: )

SJW

Cheers from the East Coast

Happy Thanksgiving from Portsmouth, New Hampshire!

With family,

SJW

Healthy Baby

I know very little about what it takes to birth, nurture & raise a healthy baby...I'm sure I'll find out when the time comes. Sara Anderson's books, "Vegetables" & "Fruit" might be a fun place to start : )

These are bright, colorful, informative, & best of all - rhyming books to teach little ones 

about fruits & veggies. 

I love the illustrations. 

The perfect gift for a hungry little reader : ) 

I will always love the kids book section. 

always.

-SJW

In the meantime, I will celebrate with new moms & learn from other parents.

"What do you do?"

The ever popular question. 

Well, I do a lot of things. 

I play with my dog, I spend time with Mr. Fleece, I sit on my couch, I go to the grocery store, I read a variety of books, I plan adventures, I blog, I take walks. 

If you mean where do you work or what do you do at work...perhaps the following will be helpful:

Our website.

My two main projects:

Mercer 

Boardman

My coworkers.

Our company launched our new brand, logo & website this week - complete with new business cards for me : ) 

I've been at EnviroIssues exactly 1 year, 1 week & 1 day. 

-SJW

Fashion cycles

Check out this cute little aqua knitted dress from the 1960's

Now take a look at this fitted turquoise lace dress from the 2010's 

50 years of fashion & not a whole lot has changed : ) 

I'd totally wear any of the following:

Retro girl at heart. 

-SJW