naturally nina

happiness is...

taking a bath at a fancy hotel with a lush bath bomb.
chocolate covered marshmallows (because they were a gift from a friend and they are dangerously good.)
trying new flavors of coffee like caramel and coconut.
having a fiance who hides notes in the funniest places, like the freezer. cracks me up every time.
reading a new, non-fiction book about libertarian paternalism (because sometimes it feels good to be nerdy.)
keeping my feet toasty warm in bright red slippers courtesy of my mama.
watching the new show "the sing-off" (because i can't help myself.)
and last but not least... welcoming new readers to my little blog. huzzah! i'm so glad you're here.

holiday hair.

i am so ridiculously in love with this braided messy updo. wouldn't it be so chic for a holiday party? i may have to try it.

(photo credits: suzy puzz)

cutest ornaments you've ever seen.

these felt hand sewn ornaments are just so sweet, don't you think?

tell me, do you make your own ornaments? simon's family has a tradition of making ornaments every year, and i love it. maybe i can convince them to make these next year. that camera is awesome.

(credit: lupin shop)

committed.

today i picked up the latest oprah magazine and read an incredible excerpt from elizabeth gilbert's new book committed. i adored her previous book eat pray love, and so you can only imagine my excitement when i learned that her new book is all about love and marriage... it's as if the timing was intended for me. (ha!)
suffice to say, i can't wait to get my hands on the whole book, which is due out in january. here's one amazing review of it:

"told with gilbert’s trademark wit, intelligence and compassion, committed attempts to "turn on all the lights" when it comes to matrimony, frankly examining questions of compatibility, infatuation, fidelity, family tradition, social expectations, divorce risks and humbling responsibilities. gilbert's memoir is ultimately a clear-eyed celebration of love with all the complexity and consequence that real love, in the real world, actually entails."

are you as excited as i am?
update: i hate to admit this, but i was highly disappointed in this book. i thought it was self-indulgent and patronizing. boo. anyone else feel that way?

(photo credit: veselina)

the blues.

do you ever get the sunday night blues?

it's the i-don't-want-the-weekend-to-be-over-because-i-don't-want-to-go-back-to-work-or-school feeling, which is often accompanied by an anxious glance at the clock in the late evening, and then full-blown grumpiness.

you say to yourself: how did it get so late? how many hours or minutes do i have left of the weekend? ugh. ugh. ugh.

i had a bad case of it last night. the only thing that made me feel better was some hot chocolate.

what do you do when you've got the sunday blues?

(photo credit: molly see)

this morning...

it has been snowing in boston! it's been so very cozy. aside: if you want to read a beautiful little description of what it's like to wake up to snow, go here.

anyway, for some reason, i was so drawn to this desk today. maybe it's because i think my snow hat, and my snow boots would be a perfect little addition to this room. and of course, a big mug of coffee. and a sleeping dog. and oh... a space heater for my little toes.

isn't it so calming?

where do you wish you were today?

(photo credit: living etc. via tea for joy)