Book/Mitten Project for Newtown School Children

"Chester Raccoon stood at the edge of the forest and cried. 'I don't want to go to school,' he told his mother. 'I want to stay home with you. I want to play with my friends. And play with my toys. And read my books. And swing on my swing. Please may I stay home with you?'" — "The Kissing Hand," by Audrey Penn.
Kim Piscatelli of East Hampton, Conn., hit on the idea of sending a copy of this book to each of the kids from Sandy Hook Elementary with a pair of handmade mittens adorned with a heart in one palm, signifying the reassuring kiss left there by the mother of scared, sad Chester in the story.
Read more about this heart-warming project here.

Best Bookends Ever

Don't you absolutely love these handsome bookends? I hope I'll be lucky enough to find a pair for myself one day! I love the way they are displayed in this photo. via

I bought this for myself

I saw this fabulous KitchenAid coffee maker advertised in New York Magazine the last time I got my hair cut about 6 weeks ago. I came right home and ordered it online for $20 less than the manufacturer's suggested retail and it arrived the very next day from The Home Depot. It makes 2 perfect 9oz. cups of coffee and has one of those "gold" permanent filters so there's no guilt about adding anything to the landfill except for some coffe grounds which can go into the compost pile. It is fabulous! The coffee is HOT too, just the way I like it. I heat up some unsweetened soy milk in a small pan on the stove so as not to cool it down one bit. I don't drink it from the travel mug style pot. I prefer my favorite ceramic cup that holds exactly the right amount. I tend to get distracted on the computer with my morning blogging so I like for my first few sips to be super hot. The thermal brewing cup keeps my second cup nice and hot until I'm ready for a refill. If I wait too long, I zap it in the microwave once I pour it into my own cup for about 30 seconds. I'm a real snob about a hot cup of coffee. The water reservoir has markings for 8 oz., 12 oz., 16 oz. and Max. for 18 oz. I always use Max. This is not an advertisement - I just wanted to share my latest present to myself with you. I have a single-cup Keurig I will be taking to the office for my colleagues to enjoy.

My Thoughts on Coffee

Two 8-ounce cups every morning are all I need. Without them I am nothing! Love this coffee poster.

Merry Christmas - Vintage Images

My own front door Christmas past.

Have a wonderful Christmas and thank you one and all for your good Christmas wishes for me.

Charles Dickens said it best.

GOD BLESS US, EVERY ONE!

Great Christmas Eve Bedroom

Hang your stocking from this fireplace and see if Santa came on Christmas morning without even getting out of bed. I have a rug just like this one in my kitchen in front of the sink. Love it.

Merry Christmas to all of my wonderful followers, blog readers and friends. You are the best!

Gingerbread Birdhouse

What a cute variation on a traditional gingerbread house. One for the birds!!! via

Christmas in Finland

Sweet and simple. I love the tangled bunch of lights on the floor. via