various things

this is a series of random various things that i'm unloading from my brain.

first, my sewing machine was indeed broken.

you never realize all the sewing projects you had in the wings until you can't do anything about it. looks like my tree garland will be made right in time for christmas day. wah wah. and not only does this sewing machine repair place take like 2+ weeks, they cost half of what my machine actually cost!

i'm no sewer. i use the manual settings. i get my machine out, use it how it came, and put it back, occasionally changing the thread color... somewhere in there it broke.

but on a happier note,

i don't know what about this time of year brings out the tartan in all of us

but it does and i'm hooked all over again.

so is j.crew.

and speaking of j.crew, have you seen their sparkly etta pumps?

those would some happy holiday parties make, my friends.

i love the fat heel on them, and they come in a million colors.

unfortunately they are more than i spend on shoes.

maybe i'll ask santa.

har har.

santa husband prob wouldn't go for that.

we still get each other things we need/want for our house.

unless we kept these on the mantel...................

next week i have a few budget holiday gift guides to share with you!

i've been out shopping for my list and realized there

are some really great little gifts to give this year.

happy friday.

JILL

christmas!!!!!!

bring on the wreaths, and trees, and sparkly stuff.

it's officially christmas season!

i was feeling the spirit all weekend long.

(from house and garden)

put up my tree!

with a million glass balls i've been collecting for years. both vintage and new.

then i brought out my sewing machine to make a garland

fashioned sort of similar to this in colors.

i was just going to cut out squares and sew them together in a string. 

but my sewing machine is rejecting my efforts.

i think its broken.

i know the bare minimum on my sewing machine, just enough to not know how to fix it.

i use all the standard settings and try not touch it....

just use it.

didn't work this time.

so long story short, i don't have a picture to share.

wah wah.

i know.

i have to get my dumb machine fixed before i can get on it.

but i have a cute wintery plaid, cranberry, gold, magenta and black and white fabric.

should be cute, right?

hope you had a great thanksgiving.

i did.

JILL

easy as pie.

har har.

famous last words.

but i just found 8 different ways to top your pie and make

it taste just that much better.

and make you look that much more like martha stew.

chevron and herringbone are kinda fun.

but i think my fave is the plaid.

i'm so excited for this upcoming holiday.

all my favorite food, and plenty of it.

JILL

it's official.

it's officially official, actually.

i love fall.

everything about it.

all the other bloggers have listed all the good reasons why i love it, so i'll just leave it at that. it's awesome.

(i pulled my car over, put it in park, crawled into the passenger side and stuck my head out the window to get that picture of the yellow leaves. i was awe struck. it was pure gold. i didn't even do any editing. that is 100% pure God's goldness goodness.)

it's also official that my love for polka dots doesn't end at shoes.

read more here.

doing it.

and i am also obsessed with jenny komenda's skills.

she throws color to the wind and it all lands so delicately balanced and charming and lovely in her interiors. this is her mudroom she posted yesterday.

i officially have put her in my list of fearless color-ers, along with miles redd and nick olsen.

those three make me want more. more more more color in my house.

why not?

 i feel like a stalker but i want soo so badly to see her whole house. lonny, jump on it!!

read more here.

so i know it's random, but hey.

happy tuesday.

JILL

plaid and pinecones perfection.

do you remember this from vogue last year?

so ski lodge gorgeous and cozy, thought i'd share just in case you missed it.

they aren't calling for as much snow this year here in kc, and i have to say... the past 2 years of too much snow is now starting to look appealing.

xo.

JILL

{amanda brooks' winter home, via vogue}

so much more...

pendleton has so much more than the blankets we all know and love.

i didn't know this until the other day reading the new lonny.

american indian flair was/is really popular this fall.

what better way to bring some of that into your home than with pendleton?

especially as we're gearing up for thanksgiving.

thanksgiving and american indians go together like pumpkin and pie.

for example:

thanksgiving turkey would taste better off of this platter :)

salt and pepper shakers.

i am from kansas after all.

these were found in lonny.

mixed in with my plain everday dishes... delicious.

mix one set of these with some more modern and plain glasses or goblets and again, delicious.

and i want this if only for pancake breakfast purposes only.

how stinkin cute pouring syrup?!

yep. so right. so cute. {thanks photoshop}

kinda reminds me of girl scout camp when i was 8.

these tartan plates would make a merry christmas dinner table.

who knew?

go here for the usual blankets, but for more home goods, too!

JILL

oh oh oh!

why why why couldn't i have seen this before my post this morning?

i love this blog and if you like going to or hosting the part-ay's, you should check it out. loads and loads of ideas.

melanie, from you are my fave events, posted these printable (read: free for you and me) invites for a fall party. mixing that gingham plaid with green envelopes and craft paper = fall party perfection.

says melanie: "The combination of craft paper and plaid will have your guests hurling their axe and brushing up on their taxidermy skills in no time."

i concur.

click here and here to print these off for yourself! there's still time for a fall fiesta.

sidenote: have you seen the marshmallow flavored vodkas out there? do you or do you not think this would be nothing short of delicious mixed with a little hot cocoa? my thoughts exactly.

have a party and send an invite my way :)

JILL

go green.

or go plaid.

better yet, go green plaid.

i am as of late!

my friend needed help picking out/buying a couch on saturday.

he's a boy with really good taste actually, so it was kinda alotta fun.

he showed up at my house and we were in the same outfit.

plaid shirt, down vest.

mine happened to be my new fall favorite kelly green and navy plaid.

so i didn't change and we rocked our matching outfits.

did you all have good weekends?

JILL

{images via lucky magazine, green earrings from tallulahtu, pinterst, and tumblr}

get festive...add plaid

via nibs blog

nothing says december like a classic tartan plaid. i love the feel of it...and even if you don't have the time, space or energy to go over the top with holiday decorations adding a plaid pillow, ribbon or throw is a great way to bring a hint of festive cheer into your home.

via tartan ribbon

via crate and barrel

pendleton and mills via fabulous and splendid

via lonny

via country living

via horchow

via fric and frac

country living

country living

barrie benson

pendleton wool mills

i think we are off to get our tree this evening. my husband and i love the tradition of getting the tree in nyc from a vendor on the sidewalk and throwing it over our shoulder to bring it home...however, about ten minutes into putting the lights on the frustration begins :) ohh the holidays. we have different ideas of how many lights need to be on the tree and the best process to get them up. i also lose him about half way through the ornaments. but at least the finished product looks just how i want!!!

go be festive this weekend.

xoxo

elle.