House Warming Gifts

Next week, I'm going to Los Angeles (EEEE!!!!) to visit one of my very favorite friends, MM (whose fantastic blog can be found here). On June 1st, which unintentionally coincides with my visit, MM is moving into a new apartment. Up until now she has lived with room mates, the most recent of which an insufferable human on oh-so-many levels.
So they're parting ways, not quite amicably, and MM is moving into a one bedroom apartment. This, of course, means she gets a house warming gift.

So now, What am I to get her as a gift? What do people WANT as house warming gifts?

Well, my first thought for MM was monograms. Monograms on EVERYTHING!

These salt and pepper shakers are from Design Darling. These are number 1 on the list of what to get her right now.

Another great option:

A customizable throw blanket from West Elm

Not into Monograms? Ok fine.

A cocktail shaker is always a great choice. It's not style specific, which is important if you're not sure of what style the recipient prefers. And will inevitably come in handy.

Jonathan Adler post-it notes (OneKingsLane). 

No one packs up their home thinking 'Oh, I better leave some paper and a pen easily accessible!' but the truth is, they'll need it. Think of all the appointments that need to be made: Internet, TV, painters, installations...the list goes on. Obviously this gift is best given right upon the move-in, but it's pretty enough to be appreciated even if they've lived there for months.

Coffee table books are another great choice. They can be displayed on a table or hidden away on a bookshelf. They can be funny, like the one above, artistic, photographic, design-centric, or anything in between. Here on Amazon they have a great array of choices.

If you know someone well, go ahead and buy something taste-specific (like monogrammed salt and pepper shakers). But if not...stick to generic. They'll appreciate it, and you won't be offended if you never spot it in their home again.

1 Year

After doing some general maintenance of my blog, I realized that last week was my 1 year blog-iversary! HAPPY FIRST BLOG BIRTHDAY, ME!
How cool is that??

My posts have changed quite a bit from the time I started, which I always anticipated, but just recently began noticing. When I started the blog, I was in a transitional period of my life (which I tend to say about every period of my life...which...I guess is a good thing?) and not really sure what direction my blog would go in. Lifestyle blog? Angry waitress blog? New Yorker blog? humorous? serious? It was all very up in the air, and some of my earlier posts really reflect that. I'm sure there will continue to be a not-so-interesting post every here and there, but for now I've found a format I like: Lots of pictures, not a lot of words.

It may be reflective of how hectic my life is right now, but I find myself not wanting to invest much time in reading my favorite blogs. I just want to look at the pictures. Which begs the question, if I don't want to read the words, does anyone else?

Perhaps this will change, perhaps I'll go through many different phases of blog- style. But for now, save for this long winded post, I'll keep it short, pretty, and photo filled.

That's a picture of how you probably feel after reading all those words. 

And if you didn't read any of it...that's a picture of me in college! byyyeee!

Words

All these words are ones that I wish would always stay at the forefront of my mind.

I think that everyone has certain sayings or quotes that motivate them to accomplish, achieve, or push through, and this bunch in particular have that affect on me. Do you have words or sayings like this? That boost your mood and remind you that things will be all right? 

No? Oh. Well you probably have no soul.

I'm just kidding, I'm sure you have a lovely soul.