holiday gift guide: ideas for your hilarious dad.

my dad is often referred to as the "cutest man ever." (seriously. and not just by my mother.) i'm not sure if it's his santa cheeks, the newsboy hat he wears every day, or his ridiculous dance moves. either way, i'm proud to call him my father.

he's traveled all over the world, inspires me to be a better photographer, knows more about music than anyone i've ever met, and best of all, still makes my mother laugh. pappa, this one is for you. :)

here are some ideas for our dads, (even though they probably already have everything).

from left to right, top to bottom:

decoded - this is an amazing book written by jay-z about the cultural art form of rap. it's getting rave reviews. dad, when you're done with it, can i borrow it? available from amazon. ($19)

coffee of the month club - like father, like daughter. this is the gift that keeps on giving! imagine all that fair-trade, organic coffee arriving on your doorstep. heaven, i tell you. available from grounds for change. ($62.95 for three months)

mad men dvd - it's true. he not-so-subtly hinted that he wants this dvd. "nina, you know what i'd love for christmas?" but it's okay. the man's got good taste. available from amazon. ($31)

a bottle of scotch - staying true to the mad men theme, this scotch (well, really, any scotch) would be great for sipping with his friends. this one is available here. ($60)

plain white t's cd - keeping him young, this new album is called "wonders of the younger." he's always looking for new music, and this album is fresh out of the recording studio.

a fancy bike lamp - he loves biking, and it's very dark in norway. enough said. (see, dad, i care about your safety.) available from night gear. ($45)

a gorgeous norwegian-esque print for his office - he loves art, wandering through museums, and would be thrilled that you supported an independent artist. this 8 x11.5 shed print is available from tush tush. ($15)

paul smith handkerchiefs - if you can get past the grossness factor, handkerchiefs are pretty cool. (and very good for the environment.) since he always carries one (and yes, uses it) why not treat him to a couple that aren't plain white. available here. ($45)

a circuit board key ring - for keeping track of all of his keys, and because he likes computers, a lot. available from violets new vintage. ($6)

now, since we know how hard it is to buy stuff for dad... what did you get yours? i'd love to hear. xo.

holiday gift guide: ideas for your amazing mom.

today's gift guide is dedicated to my incredible mama. not only is she the tiniest little thing and can get away with wearing extra small in everything, but she is the most positive, spirited, loving, and confident woman i've ever known.

here are a few ideas for our unstoppable mothers:

from left to right, top to bottom:

woven merino blanket - woven on a vintage industrial loom in a rich brown and white, this blanket is sure to keep her warm on cold, norwegian winter nights! available from river farm ($350)

bookmark set - so she never loses her place again, treat her to these bright, fun bookmarks from abby trys again ($9)

wrinkled brown leather shoulder bag - this perfectly textured leather bag is ideal for bringing her necessities with her when she's running around town. available from restless general store ($16 - what a steal!)

yarn bucket - a handy place to keep her knitting or crocheting, this cotton canvas bucket is both sweet and practical. available from inklore. ($36)

major pettigrew's last stand - a story about a widower's fight to keep his greedy relatives from selling a valuable family heirloom, this book has been described as "an enjoyable traipse through the english countryside." available from amazon ($16.50)

nouveau necklace - simple, stunning and wonderful for every-day wear. available from shop clementine ($29)

little bow brooches - a great stocking stuffer, these sweet little brooches add a special touch of color to her jacket, purse or hat. available from little love. ($5)

salt bowl in navy - as seen in the wall street journal, this cute little salt dish is great for keeping by the stove, so she can add a dash of salt to her minestrone soup. available from raedunn. ($38)

paris calendar - she's a planner, a calendar addict and an adventurous traveler, so let her ring in the new year with this gorgeous calendar made by little brown pen. ($22)

i must confess, i spent an inordinate amount of time creating this gift guide... hours that i probably should have spent actually holiday shopping instead of pretending to ... oh well! mama, i love you!

holiday gift guide: ideas for your best friend.

she's fiercely loyal, gracious, laid back, and an amazing listener. not to mention that she sends you hilarious photos from her phone. here are some ideas for your beautiful best friend:

from left to right, top to bottom:

the frankies spuntino cookbook - recipes originating from the famous brick-walled restaurant in brooklyn's carroll gardens, this cook book is filled with ideas for italian american comfort food. yummers! available from amazon. ($16)

wrist worms - perfect for keeping her hands warm (and stylish) while she texts you. made by sandra juto ($49)

twin sailboat prints - she loves all things nautical, so why not give her these gorgeous pieces of art to hang in her dining room? you can gaze at them together as you munch on cheesecake on saturday evenings. made by dolangleman ($60)

painted vintage birds - i love these little guys. wouldn't they be darling hanging from her christmas tree or around her house during the rest of the year? available from cox & cox. ($55)

id bracelet - a nod to the past, these cool id bracelets are making a comeback. give one as a token of your friendship. available from madewell. ($28)

heirloom recipe box - no more bookmarked recipes on her computer! send her a special recipe box made by local craftsmen from locally salvaged hardwood. for an extra special touch, include a few of your favorite recipes. made by rifle. ($125)

blue bag - this purse is described as the perfect companion for jumping in the car with your friend and heading off on an adventure. oh those crocheted embellishments... be still my heart. available at modcloth. ($85)

sweet little zipper pouch - she's the most organized person you know, so treat her to this pretty little pouch. she can use it as a pencil or make-up case, and so much more. available from sammade. ($14)

marfuga olive oil - for the foodie side of her, this olive oil will rock her taste buds. perfect for dipping into crusty breads. available at williams sonoma. ($39)

i'm not going to lie... i want a lot of these things myself! happy shopping!

holiday gift guide: ideas for your hunky husband.

good morning friends!

i'm so excited for today! it's time to kick off this year's holiday gift guide with selections for your guy who brings you coffee in the morning, changes poopy diapers, rubs your feet at night, and makes you laugh until your stomach hurts.

from left to right, top to bottom:

the colbert christmas special - i bought this dvd for simon several christmases ago, and we've made it a tradition to watch it every year while we decorate the christmas tree. it's funny and features musical guests such as feist, john legend, willie nelson, elvis costello and toby keith. (even jon stewart makes a cameo!) available on amazon. ($10)

gorgeous navy blue duffel bag - perfect for those weekend getaways, or for hauling his sports gear around. available at madewell. ($148)

new cedar brown wallet - simple and slim, perfect for his credit cards, a metro card and some cash. available from scabby robot. ($30)

"you the man" mug - because it's true. and because after all these years, you still feel bad that he sips coffee out of a floral mug that you've had since the fifth grade. available from lenny mud. ($16)

vintage coffee decanter - keeping up with the coffee theme, this is a decadent way to make coffee on those lazy sunday mornings while you're flipping through the new york times and munching on fresh scones. available from inmyigloo, ($14) or search for vintage coffee decanter on etsy or ebay.

classic stanley thermos - durable and keeps things hot. enough said. available at urban outfitters. ($48)

john varvatos cologne, vintage edition - rugged, smoky, leathery, woodsy, classic... like a fall day in a rustic cabin. humina humina! available here or in your local department store. ($78)

first edition or vintage book - he's loves reading, so why not treat him to one of this favorite books old-school style? search your local used books store, or scour through etsy or ebay. don't forget to write a romantic inscription on the inside cover. kurt vonnegut's slaughter house five is available here. ($10)

stylish camera strap - so he looks good when he's snapping photos of you on vacation, and stands out among the crowd of dads at the school play. originally available at the classic strap company. ($30) if sold out, alternatives are here, here and here.

so, now tell me... what are you planning on giving the man in your life? please feel free to add suggestions in the comments section! can't wait to hear. xo.

i love this time of year.

hello friends! how was your thanksgiving? ours was lovely... we drove up to maine, spent time with our family, practiced a little yoga, ate a lot, watched movies, snuggled with our nieces and decorated our house for christmas! (we don't waste any time.)

here are a few snapshots from the weekend:

we took a little walk around kennebunkport and stopped into this adorable coffee shop for peppermint mochas.

have you ever seen such a cute to-go cup?

christmas decorations are popping up everywhere and i couldn't be happier. is it just me, or does this fake snow look really good? :) we put our (tiny) tree up yesterday and it makes me ridiculously happy.

the smallest, sweetest little vintage christmas book in the world. i want.

anyway, starting tomorrow, i'll be kicking off a month of holiday-related posts: crafts, gift guides, my favorite holiday traditions and much more. i hope you are all enjoying your weekends! see you soon. xo.