Feliz Navidad, Amigos!

A sincere happy holidays from me to you!  Hope you get to spend some time with those who mean the most to you.
Ways I like to get creative around Christmas:
1. Gift wrap (always #1).  Folding, origami, unusual bag stuffing.  I've been known to use strips of magazine paper, which all together looks pretty colorful, and slightly weird, which I like.
2. Cookies and other holiday treats.  I have a fantasy of making those little shortbready cookies with mint jelly in the middle.  My mom used to make those!  I'm making a dessert on Friday.. I'm thinking something involving blueberries.
3. Mulled wine.  A new discovery, but nothing quite warms you up as well as this.  Glogg, spices, etc.
Being my Sagittarius self this week, can't wait to head to sunny skies next week, and until then, busy bee.  Hope to post more soon!

Next Year We'll Fireproof the Centerpiece...

I'm feeling lazy, but also that it is justified to feel so.  So here is my Thanksgiving:

Awaiting My Food Coma

Turkey day is a here, and I can call it that now that I no longer indulge in tofurkey on the big day.  My big thing is setting the table.  I get a real kick out of it.  Previous years in California I experimented with various napkin folding styles, stemware styles, etc.  Our first Thanksgiving out east (two years ago) was a DIY miracle.  Table made from scraps of plywood, tealights on upturned PBR cans, tablecloth some old fabric from India disgarded from a nearby studio (washed of course).  We kept all our beverages tied to a rope hung out from the window because our fridge was too small!
This year, we've really stepped it up a notch.  Pics to come, but my sister whipped up the centerpiece.  Consisting of a large piece of driftwood found at the petite beach in Red Hook, she drilled holes into it and stuck seven white candles down the center.  It's beautiful! 
I just picked up some extra silverware, and I'm contemplating name cards.  To-do: rearrange living room furniture, assemble table for 17, set table, clean/tidy, and make my dish.
This year I'm reviving one that my brother and I tried last year: Coconut-Marshmallow Spiced Sweet Potatoes.  I've got the sweet potatoes on the stove right now!  I might nix the marshmallows though.  Maybe honey instead?  I'd stay my cooking style is pretty organic... so we'll see how it comes out.
This year I'm thankful for the opportunity to live in this wonderful city with all its design inspiration, for my loft, for having creative people around me, and mostly, for my family.
Here are some fun Thanksgiving ideas to get you in the mood.  Happy day!

Dwell Studio

jmoranmoya's photostream

Martha Stewart.  (Don't you want your table to make your guests to do a squirrel-related double-take?)

Fall Backwards

Wow, laggy laggy.  What a week!
Things are picking up at both works and I did a little freelancing on the side.  I had my aunt staying with me, as well as my dear friend, who was in town with her exhibition promoting health care reform.  I lent a wee hand in the beginning stages of design a few months ago, but the ball quickly started rolling, and it turned out wonderful.  You can follow her journey here.  
I built what can be considered my home office, after realizing that the hunchback (gobbo) situation of my previous workstation did not behoove productivity in any way.  I inherited a lovely old drafting desk that has its charm. Though I wish I was doing some hand drafting these days, just a little.  I regret tossing my t-square.  Anyways, a pic soon to come.  
A friend and I joined the NY chapter of Architecture for Humanity.  So far in the beginning stages of getting involved, but hopefully will jump in on a project soon.  It's a really great concept- a way to give back using project-specific talents.  I like the idea that I can give a service that also challenges me to think.  I don't want to count my chickens yet, so for now here's the link to their website.  
Now that the time changed, suddenly I feel like a night owl just walking home from work.  Since we're all busting out lamps lately, here's a neat one:

The Tribe by Ingo Maurer


...And my top favorite Halloween costumes that I saw:
1. Large man dressed as Julia Child (curly wig, rolling pin, voice suddenly booming "Hello dear!")
2. Double Dare contestant (tshirt, helmet with cup attached, determined expression)
3. Data from the Goonies (punching bag coming out of chest, dangling clippy teeth, weaving through crowd like an awkward sneak)