Chocolate

One of the best gifts to give (and to receive!) is chocolate.

Below are a few kinds that won't disappoint:

Bridgewater Chocolate
What began in a small town general store, has now expanded in fame (Jane Fonda and Gwyneth Paltrow are fans) and in size (now sold on both the East and West Coasts... and online).  But what I really like, is that they're still handmade, small town Connecticut chocolates.
I recommend the turtles :)

Lagrange 34
This chocolate from Torino, Italy comes in fun designs, but nothing that looks too pretentious or complicated enough that I don't want to eat it.

Chocolate Editions by Mary &Matt
Whimsical, simple, and made by two New York designers using natural ingredients.
(Via Happy Lady Eats)

Merry Christmas

(Photo via Lolita)

"Delight in the little things"

 Rudyard Kipling

Merry Christmas to you and yours!  Have a great weekend.

A Weekend Away

 

(Photos via Tatielle & Dirty Pretty Things)

I had a great weekend in upstate New York, and didn't have much trouble flying back into Boston after a weekend blizzard hit the Northeast.  I love this time of year - to bake tasty treats, wrap up everyone's gifts, and just enjoy how beautiful and fresh the city looks when it's coated in a layer of snow!

Maptotes

I love these travel-themed totes from Maptote (and starting at $15, they could make perfect stocking stuffers this holiday season!)

How cute would it be to give the hosts of your holiday party a bottle of wine in one of their wine totes?

I first saw these totes at Parkleigh, a gift store in Rochester, New York.

Unclaimed Baggage

Ever wonder what happens to the items in your lost luggage?  Think it's gone forever, never to be found?

Actually, it could end up at the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama (Northeast corner of the state).

I'd hate to lose my luggage on any trip... but it is really cool to be able to search for treasures (they've found a violin from 1770, Egyptian artifacts, diamond rings, etc) and buy lost items in what looks like a large Salvation Army kind of store.  Items include clothing, cameras, and of course, luggage.

According to Wikipedia, over 1 million people visit this store annually.

Coffee, Cafè, Kaffe, Koffie

Other than trying each item on the menu at Starbucks, this Coffee Drinks Illustrated diagram by Lokesh Dhakar is an easy way to figure out how to order (or make) your favorite coffee drinks.

You can also purchase a coffee mug with the image on it.

Sunday Brunch

This weekend was my company holiday party in the city.
We spent the night in a lovely, gold-tone room at the Hilton Financial District and wandered the neighborhood for brunch this morning.
At Good Life, Mark had the coconut french toast, and I the peanut butter pancakes topped with rum-sauteed bananas.
The pancakes were so yummy, I can't wait to try making these at home on a lazy weekend morning.

(Image by benfRank: photography & design)
Read on for the recipe...

Movement

What a beautiful window display by Tokujin Yoshioka for Maison Hermès Japan.

Have a great weekend!

(via The Daily What)

Stocking Stuffer

I think I might add these quirky Sukie Travel Journals on my list to Santa this year.  The one below makes me want to hop on a Rocky Mountaineer train and ride through the snowy, Canadian mountains...

Save the Date, Lose the Pants

(Photo by Zach Armstrong)

The idea is simple - you act as if everything is normal and go about your ride as usual, and if asked, you make up something non-chalant like, "I knew I forgot something today" :)

Improv Everywhere has announced the date of their 9th annual No Pants! Subway Ride on Sunday, January 10th.  This eye-catching (but harmless) event has grown from 7 guys in New York City riding the MTA for a few stops, to well over 2,000 participants in cities all over the world.

More information about specific times and locations in Boston has yet to be announced.  Follow the Boston Society of Spontaneity for more information.

Weekend Ice Skating

(Photo by Y♥YNTL)

It's the weekend, and I'm excited to go ice skating for the first (of many) times this year!

For the official list of Massachusetts public skating rinks and their hours, click here.

Journeys

(agency Ogilvy, Paris; directed by Bruno Aveillan; music composed by Gustavo Santaolalla)

After a successful foray into the world of the television commercial with this ad in 2008, Louis Vuitton created the Journeys Awards to highlight new talent among filmmakers (and a give them a chance to win $25,000).  People's Choice voting is open until December 14th :)

New Yorker Joseph Pernice's film I feel is similar in style to the original commercial, is one of my favorite entries, & can be seen here.

O Christmas Tree

(Photo by TattoodJay)

Tomorrow night, I'll be attending a Tree Lighting Ceremony, and I can't wait to see the Boston Commons all aglow.  This is the 38th year of the tradition - a symbol of benevolence from the people of Nova Scotia dating back to 1917 when Boston sent aid after an explosion devastated Halifax's harbor.  Cheers!