Merry 24 Days

Have you heard of Merry 24 Days, a real chance at winning 24 giveaways posted by 24 awesome bloggers until Dec. 25th?  Well I just won Day 14 and I couldn't be happier!  You should know that these prizes are so unbelievably exciting and versatile.  You could win too! I won my prize through This Little street, a blog about style and inspiration that I just started following.  The prize was a beautiful fox coat for children, which I can't wait to see my daughter wear.  Spread the cheer, my friends, and don't forget to click on everyday for a change to win.

Cozy warm in the home

Now that temperatures are consistently low and a chill is beginning to sip through our windows, it's time to think of keeping warm around the house. So,  I'm looking for a new blanket or throw for the living room sofa.  When the holidays are over, and all the color of the festivities come to a calming halt, I will be choosing more muted tones for the living room such as soft greys, white, and black.  Like a Winter wonderland.  I want a throw that will compliment this palette.  I'm looking at these:

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KidsZone: Zara Home for kiddos!

It's true!  Zara Home has arrived!  And the objects of my affection are stunningly beautiful.

 I'm personally loving this rug for Emilu's space, and this tiny woven wooden chair. Visit Zara Home for kids!

These boots!

Fall is in the air.  Last night we didn't turn on the AC for the first time since Summer began.  In fact, we slept with a window cracked open, just a slit, and it got so chilly, I had to close it in the middle of the night.  Today the apt. is a comfortably 75 degrees and the AC unit is still off.  You know what that means!  It's time for boots, you all!  Actually, booties, to be more precise.  Diana is right!  Fall is too playful to be so covered up, so the perfect pair of shoes for me are booties (or ankle boots).  I'm loving this:

Chinatown,{the other} Little Italy and the West Village

One of the things I enjoyed the most was staying at the Hilton Millennium in downtown. It's right in front of the once WTC and now Freedom Tower and 9/11 Memorial. I enjoyed being within walking distance of Broadway's shopping, Chinatown, Little Italy and Battery Park. I definitely recommend staying around this area. It's much livelier, but you see NYC in full action.

Art for children

This weekend we visited the National Gallery of Art.  It was a nice afternoon and it wasn't crowded with visitors.  Emilu roamed the halls of the Dutch and Flemish, and the French 19th Century masters collections.  It was rather a short visit, but we did make it a point to stop at the famed gift shop, and I couldn't stop giggling at the beautiful and well stocked art shop.

But what can you buy children who show an interest in art?  Well, almost anything really.  And this shop is full of possibilities.  Just the books are incredibly interesting, and they have an endless choices for parents and educators to choose from.

If you are ever in DC, and there are tons of things to do from visiting all the museums and the monuments around the Mall, all for free, DO stop by the gift shop of the National Gallery of Art. Your kids will love it!

A darling wishlist

Darling Clementine is a lovely shop for little ones.  Here you can find all sorts of unique and darling gifts.  Here's what I'm shopping for in my little head.

A Darling Clementine Wishlist 

Jersey jumpsuit / Pants / BAGGU striped handbag / Hat / Organic Eiffel Tower Tee / Chalkboard Silhouette Girl / Woodland Memory Game / Stacking Sailor Toy / Hip Hooray Pretty in Pink

Shop alert: Chewing the Cud

I recently discovered this amazing shop online.  It reminded me of  when I was pregnant with Emilu and was dreaming up what I thought were wild entrepreneurship ideas. I have always like things that you can reuse a hundred different ways and times.  So one idea was to use  plastic rental bins for moving.  I actually thought people, especially urban dwellers would be uniquely attracted to these, but I never calculated, they could become a flourishing business.  Same with these beautiful printed fabrics used as gift wraps. They are so clever, green and a lasting gift. 

It proves that some wild ideas are really good, actually.  You just have to put forward your hardest effort to make them happen. 

Spotted: Kollection note cards

Kollection is a new online stationery shop with sophisticated, yet affordable stationary.  The kind you want to get for all your personal correspondence.  They also have wedding stationary, and even, a men's collection.  I really do see myself writing a note in one of these.

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Kitchen wishlist

Completely lusting over these kitchen and pantry items from Terrain.

Modern Mug, $24
Botany of Pattern Dish in Sale SHOP House+Home at Terrain, $7.95
Teak Measuring Spoons in House+Home KITCHEN+TABLE Kitchen+Cooking..., $32
Striped Washcloths in Sale SHOP House+Home at Terrain, $14
Meyer Lemon & Lavender Jam in House+Home KITCHEN+TABLE Pantry+Food at..., $10
Mason Jar Pendant, $398
Emerald Swing-Top Canister in House+Home KITCHEN+TABLE Kitchen+Cooking..., $10
Organic Lavender Flowers, $12