GETTING ORGANIZED

As you have probably figured out, I have not returned to regular blogging despite my promise last week. Oops! Turns out I needed a slightly longer stretch of downtime than I thought to decompress from exams and the holidays and to gear up for 2012. 


So let's start fresh next year, shall we? I will be back in full swing (I swear!) next week with some fabulous inspiration and eye candy to get you excited for another year of "obsessive images". Until then, enjoy the last days of 2011!


(photo of products at the Apple Store taken by me, in Boston, circa 2008)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I am heading home early tomorrow morning to spend the holidays with my family (and, later, my fiancé and his family). How will you celebrate the holiday season? We have a couple of traditions we like to abide by: eating a big family-style meal with friends on Christmas Eve, wrapping each and every little thing in our stockings, opening surprise balls at Christmas dinner, etc. I can't wait to dive into them all!


To tide you over until my return next Wednesday, here are some things to explore:


—Going on a trip would be much more adorable with this.
—This looks so dreamily beautiful, like the perfect place to start an adventure.
—I want to take this guy home. So cute!
—Get lost in the stars.
—We are having a New Year's Day gathering and I would love to make these for our apartment door and use these to make a little treat.
—Super cute vintage-inspired garland.
—Looking for a 2012 calendar? Look no further!
—Need last minute gift wrapping inspiration? Check out some fabulous (and free!) ideas here, here, here, and here.
—Great garlands! Holy wreaths! 
—The true meaning of Christmas, as explained by the expert.
—If I had little ones, I would definitely be making these.
—This one's for you Mom!
—Cards for next year? Cute, sweet, and hilarious.
—These tags would be perfect to top a winter wedding gift.
—Have non-believers in your midst? Have Santa send them a personalized (admonishing!) message here.
—Or Santa will reply to your letter! 
—Last, and perhaps teeniest, this will make you swoon with cuteness.


Have a great holiday weekend; see you all next week!


(adorable illustration by Gemma Correll)

UNDER MY TREE?

Here are a couple things that I am hoping my show up under my tree this year—a holiday wish list of sorts. Hope you like it!





A saucy dress from JCrew, $188, perfect with a black cardigan







An iPad, starting at $499, because, well, it would be so fun!







A pair of shiny red Hunter Rain Boots, $125, because they would making splashing in NYC puddles actually enjoyable!







This beautiful farmer's market porcelain basket, $14, because it would just make everything you serve look straight out of a food magazine.







This tiered dress from Anthropologie, $188, because it is supposed to be cozy and super flattering and don't we all need more clothes like that?







Anything from lu lu lemon, because their stuff is the most comfy and sexy work out gear I have ever seen.







This newest book from Sue Grafton, $14 on Amazon, because I am obsessed with Kinsey Milhone and love getting engrossed in a good book over the holidays.


What's on your wish list this year?

THE WEDDING FILES: VIEWMASTER CYCLE

If you are a child of the 80s and a ridiculous photo geek like me, you have reminisced about the good old times of Viewmasters. You know those boxy viewing things, where you insert a disk of photos and they pop up before your eyes in ersatz 3D? I remember when I was little I had a Sesame Street reel and (for whatever reason) one of the mansions in Newport, RI. They were so cool!


So imagine my overwhelming excitement when I discovered that there is a company—named Image 3D—that will make these reels for you with your own photos and text, even embossing the viewers with your name or the name of your event or whatever you like! While a bit pricier than other photo album options, I think the price tag is completely and totally worth it. Now I am just scheming excuses to start making these up myself. Perhaps leaving one on each table at the wedding? An anniversary present? The possibilities are endless!


Check out more or order your own here.

HOLIDAY TECH

In case you are in need of some last-minute holiday inspiration, here are some really cool items that are sure to please any techies on your list.



The Lytro Camera, $399-$499, is revolutionary! It lets you take a photo and focus on any part of the frame later. How cool is that?


   
Studio Neat Cosmonaut (left), $25, is a comfortable, wide grip stylus for all your touch screen needs.
Looxcie Camera (right), $119-$179, is a bluetooth video camera that you wear on your ear and always records quietly in the background. If something memorable happens you can go back and save what just recorded, up to five or ten hours worth of footage. Snazzy right?



Wipe T-Shirt, unknown price, has stripes that are made of a special material that will clean your glasses!



Northface Touchscreen Gloves, $39.95, have special touch-screen sensitive fingertips that allow you to access your phone or tablet without getting your fingers frosty!

IMPROV EVERYWHERE DOCUMENTARY

If you have been reading the O.I. for a while now, you know that I love everything related to Improv Everywhere. Love! Well hold onto your socks people because Improv Everywhere is hitting the big screen! The founders of the group, Matt and Andrew, have been working on a documentary for years now and need some help raising the funds to get the project finished.


Head over to their Kickstarter page to help them out and learn more about Improv Everywhere here.


p.s. I have a total girl crush on Aubrey Plaza; adding her to the trailer was genius!

START YOUR ENGINES

How cool is this? To acknowledge Chevrolet's 100th anniversary this year, designer Christian Annyas has written about the various speedometer designs used by the carmaker over the last century. My favorite is number 1 and 2, how about you?


Check out more here.


(via 2 or 3 Things)

THESE ARE THINGS

I am totally digging these new city maps designed by These Are Things (which I have written about here). Wouldn't it be lovely to have a line up of this, this and this on your wall? You would look like such a world traveler!


These new city maps feature Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis . . . the options go on and on! Get yours for $59 here.

JOYFUL, PEACEFUL, CARTOGRAPHIC

The lovely and talented Angela Hardison is aiming to make your spirits a little brighter and your home a bit more beautiful this holiday season. She is offering a free download of these two printable posters—perfect for decorating your mantle (as she has done above) or for hanging on your wall all year around.

Given my undying love of all things cartographic, you know I will be posting one of these in my apartment immediately. I think I will follow Angela's lead and go for a white frame and white mat . . .

Download your own copies here.

THE MUPPETS: COMING TO A WALL NEAR YOU!

Have you seen the new Muppets movie? What, you think muppets=puppets=just for kids? Sacrilege! 


The movie is actually hilarious--the funniest I have seen since Bridesmaids this summer--and comes very well reviewed, in case you don't believe me. I would highly recommend it! I dare you not to smile the entire time!


With that said, I am posting also to tell you about the amazing wall stickers created by Blik to celebrate the release of the movie. How cool would it to have these guys popping up all over your home? They would be perfect for a kids room, but I could also imagine more cheeky placements to jazz up otherwise dull areas: on a wall normally covered up by an open closet door, in the laundry room, even (gasp!) in the shower (hehe) . . .  the list goes on and on!


Check out all the Muppet wall sticker options here.


(thanks to swissmiss for the tip!)


p.s. Still need more reason to see the movie? I just found out that Bret McKenzie (of the amazing musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords) served as musical director for the movie! No wonder I can't get 'Life's A Happy Song' out of my head . . . 

VIDEO CHRISTMAS

In case you needed even more holiday spirit (it's 60 degrees in New York City today, I may be over compensating with the holiday cheer; but that's harmless, right?), here are two of the most adorable christmas 'video cards' you will ever see. Completely, totally adorable.


Check out more of this family's video cuteness, as created by videographer Dad Jared Foster, here.

COOKING WITH SKY, EMERALD, CERULEAN

I have been quite enamored with the kitchen offerings over at Anthropologie right now. They have lots of products that are both practical and beautiful—my favorite combination!


Here are some of my top picks, any of which would make a great holiday gift!


—1—Kitchen Magic Twisty Whisk, $8
—2—Verdant Canister, $78
—3—Pure & Good Hand Soap in Rosemary and Mint, $22
—4—Paint Can Ice Bucket, Large, $68
—5—Balloon Red Wine Glass, $16
—6—Staub La Cocotte, Oval, $298
—7—Farmer's Market Basket, Large Square, $20 (love this!)

HOT POCKETS!

Hope you have a fabulous (laugh-filled) weekend.


p.s. Jim Gaffigan is so funny, he makes my face hurt.