Holiday Gift Guide: Kitchen Edition

"Shots" would look perfect in any kitchen and quite an inspiration for a good baker!

This posting should really be titled: "I will accept any of these items with open arms", but alas, it is not. It's officially the holiday season now that we've pushed past Thanksgiving (I still have tons of leftovers, YUM), it's time to think about the season of giving no matter what you celebrate! Here are some great gift ideas for the kitchen.

I received these as a gift from my sister a few years ago and i will never forget how delicious, flaky, and buttery these croissants were. I wish I had some right now. From Williams Sonoma for $39.

I'm pretty sure that I gave this to my mother last year for her birthday as one of those gifts that says "I really want to keep this for myself but I guess you can have it." I love Italian food and the recipes that my mother has made so far have been so delish. Urban Italian from Amazon.com is only $23 but I suggest buying it from your local independent bookstore...

I seem to have started a collection of aprons from Anthropologie. I keep getting them as gifts and I'm not even sorry--they're adorable! The Twittering Tea Time apron is $28.

I just straight up need this. Le Creuset Mortar and Pestle from Bloomingdales for $38.

This is the perfect little colander for one serving of pasta and is the perfect size for a tiny New York kitchen. Also from Anthropologie for $12.

These jute wine bottle bags are perfect for a gift of wine! A set of four from Wisteria for $19.

This scalloped edge silver bowl is so gorgeous. It would be perfect for a little display of ornaments, or grapefruits in the kitchen! From Eddie Ross's Etsy Shop for $55.

I'm always offending people with my current bottle opener from college and this would be the perfect upgrade... I love keys too! The Castle Key bottle opener from Anthropologie for $12.

The Brook Farm General store has so much to offer, these hand towels being one of them. They are 100 % cotton and only $18.

How adorable and vintage is this VINTAGE ice bucket!? I love the round shape of it--perfect for the Holiday Cocktail party from Brook Farm General Store for $55.

Two things I love: objects in miniature and organizational goods! These mini numbered spice jars take care of both of my needs. Digit spice jars for $5 from Anthropoligie.

I love giving gifts just as much as I love to receive them but I'm sure these will all be big hits! I'm hoping to do a guide for every area of your life but we shall see. Happy Monday!


Alicia B.

My New Apartment: Part One

As promised, I have gone through a lot of my pics of my new apartment and decided to share them with you. I still have many many messes that will be fixed over the next few months, but that's what is fun--the projects! Let me walk you through them:

I bought this little yellow pottery lamp at an estate sale in CT for only $5 and replaced the old parchment shade with this pretty silk pleated one! Similar ones can be purchased from Bed Bath and Beyond.

I just got these cute window pane pattern white drapes from Bed Bath and Beyond. I think they're feminine and pretty. I'd love to put more substantial drapery there but I can't drill into the plaster so these will have to work!

One of many of my projects is hanging up all my pictures, framed wallpaper pieces, and art. This is the rug in my bedroom; it's Dash and Albert Tangerine Dream. I bought it when I first moved to NYC.

These are my two absolute fave pillows from Wade Hampton Home sitting nicely on my newly re-upholstered loveseat in Roger Arlington fabric. Don't they look amazing there in my mini living room? I had a perfect rug for this room but it was was too wide for the room. It's small, okay?? So, I've mourned and moved on to THIS!

Adorable fresh flowers from my beau to brighten up my new apt! Aww.

My bedside table is from Target and the lamp is Martha Stewart, that I've had since my freshman year in college! Isn't the blue paint in my bedroom so pretty? It's Brittany Blue from Benjamin Moore. Sometimes it looks grey, and other times it looks blue and it always looks great with all the different colors in my room!

This wicker wall rack I'm going to paint a smokey grey to match the tile in the bathroom. I don't have any bathroom storage so I have to work with the space I have.

Here is a little scene of my new MINI stove top. I use the green Le Creuset kettle to make my fave Harney Tea, and the espresso maker I bought while I was in Florence, but you can get them HERE as well.

This set of three canisters from Sur la Table sits on my lovely Formica counter top. The large one has flower, medium has sugar, and the small has large cooking utensils!

My parents brought me this super handy wall mounted pot rack to hang all my new pots and pans on. I'm pretty sure they've been saving it for a very long time in the basement. Love it! In the 3 days that I've been here I've been cooking so much! These gorgeous pots aren't going to stay shiny for very long. Sad.

Alicia B.