My Favorite Music of 2010

I thought I'd do a roundup of some my favorite music from this year.  This list contains the CDs that have been in heavy rotation and sung loudly during my commute.  Some even captured the attention of my boys.  The big boy is now officially a fan of Spoon, The Black Keys, Phoenix, and Arcade Fire.  His music has to have interesting sounds and a good beat.  No folk music for him just yet.  

Let me know if you like some of these too or if you think I missed something this year that I absolutely must check out.  I'm always up for discovering new music.

Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
MGMT - Congratulations
Basia Bulat - Heart of My Own
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Spoon - Transference
Sarah Harmer - Oh Little Fire
Kathryn Calder - Are You My Mother
Blitzen Trapper - Destroyer of the Void

Kristen Hersh - Crooked
Juliana Hatfield - Peace and Love
Frazey Ford - Obadiah
Broken Bells - Broken Bells

The Black Keys - Brothers
Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
Crooked Still - Some Strange Country
Horse Feathers - Thistled Spring

Vampire Weekend - Contra
Josh Ritter - So Runs the World Away
Jakob Dylan - Women and Country
Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

Honorable Mentions (some came out in 2009, but I loved them in 2010):
Avett Brothers - I and Love and You
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Laura Veirs - July Flame
Tift Merritt - See You On the Moon

Pins of the Week

*Ornaments - I really need to organize my ornament storage this year.  Keeping them all in their original individual boxes isn't really working for me, but I don't want to have to buy something new.  I need to get creative.  

*Corner - We have this coat rack, and yet we still haven't found a place to use it.  This little corner is inspiring to me.  Perhaps there is a way we can find a happy spot for it. 

*Chocolate Guinness Goodness - My husband is insisting we add this to our holiday menu.  Chocolate Guinness pudding.  Hmmm....I can't really argue with that.  

*Booties - I am loving my pair of booties.  A great cold-weather heel for work.  

These are just a few of the photos I've recently pinned on my pinboards at Pinterest:  Mary Loves

This is how I'd like to be described...

via prettystuff

Boston - From Me To You

From Me To You is one of my favorite photography blogs.  Last week's posts included one entitled "24 Hours in Boston", which showcases 24 pictures capturing the photographer's experience in the city.  The pictures do a fantastic job of capturing the spirit of my city, so I had to share them here.  Go check out the post to view the entire series.

Cozy Sweaters, Holiday Music, and Candy Canes

via frommetoyou

This week's Three Beautiful Things:

1.  My favorite cozy cashmere turtleneck sweater.  I got it off the clearance rack at an Ann Taylor in San Francisco about 10 or 11 years ago (wow can that be right?), and it's still one of my favorite things to wear.  Soft and warm.
2.  Holiday music.  My favorite song is "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella", but I do adore "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming".  Those are my favorites to sing, anyway.  I love finding original holiday songs to add to my collection too.  There are a couple fun new ones on the Indigo Girls new holiday CD, and I love the Coldplay song too.  What are your favorites?
3.  Candy canes.  Oh how I love them.  If it wasn't for my son wanting to eat sugar all day long, I'd have a candy cane in my mouth all day long.  Thinking I need to bring a box to work...

via designcrush

A Domestic Life

via according to kelly

This weekend consisted of a lot of little projects.  Do you remember making oranges with cloves when you were little?  I totally remember doing this with my mom, and so I decided to do it for myself this year.  My husband thinks they look creepy, but I think they look nice, and they sure do smell good.  The big boy keeps pulling the bowl over to take a big whiff of the yummy smell.  Creepy?  I think not. 

I also decided to make my sugar cookie dough.  I froze most of it to use in a couple weeks, but I kept a little out to have a trial run of decorating.  I'm glad I did, because I not only overcooked them, but the icing was only so-so.  I definitely learned some lessons for when I make the ones that will go in the gift boxes for our neighbors.  And....the big boy had such fun decorating and eating this batch!  

I haven't chosen my other cookie flavors.  Options include:  chocolate thumbprints, chocolate-peppermint sandwiches, lemon wreaths, jam thumbprints, chocolate-almond crackles, gingerbread trees...  Too many to choose from! 

We also started our paper chain for the Christmas tree, and we cut snowflakes to dress up our dining room windows.  The big boy finished up his gifts for everybody, including decorating and labeling the boxes.  He made just a little something for his grandmas and aunts and uncles.  I want him to experience the giving aspect of the holidays and not just the getting.

I talked to my best friend on Saturday, and when I told her what we were doing, she said, "Geez, you're so domestic....it's weird."  I have to admit, it is kind of weird.  She has known me for over 20 years now, long enough to remember the days when I couldn't imagine being a mom.  I never had any experience with kids, and I didn't really have any desire to.  I figured there are some people who just aren't meant to be mothers.  Of course, years later, I grew up a bit and met my husband.  Things changed.  I changed.  And now I can't imagine not being a mom.  It has all come more naturally to me than I expected, and I've been surprised by how much I love it.  Not only loving my adorable boys, but also loving the activities we do together.  Teaching them and watching them learn.  The holidays are an especially fun time to have little kids, and I'm enjoying every second of it so far. 

Next weekend:  The big boy's 4th birthday party!

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Kitchen Inspiration

Another gorgeous kitchen.  Check out that oven.  I'm hoping we can have a larger island, but it makes me feel good to know how cute a kitchen can be with a little one.  Also love the big clock, the rug, and the colorful accents.

via littleemmaenglishhome

Movies I Like to Watch During the Holidays

My husband is out of town this week, and he'll be traveling next week as well.  I've decided to use the time to wrap presents and watch movies (and blog a little).  I am also reminded that we are out of hot cocoa - mental note to pick some up this week! 

What are your favorite movies to watch during the holiday season?  The list below was from an old post I created a couple years ago.  Stephmodo inspired me to re-post it.  (It boggles my mind to realize I've kept this little blog up for this long!)  My list hasn't really changed, although I added Little Women to it.  I don't watch all of these movies every year, but I often watch most of them.  And yes, I cry during almost all of them.

Hmmmm....what to watch tonight...

1. Miracle on 34th Street - The 2000 version is just wrong. Stick with the original.
2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - Totally silly. Just a fun one for everyone.
3. It's a Wonderful Life - Makes me cry every single time. "To my big brother, George - the richest man in town." (I seriously teared up just typing that.)
4. A Christmas Carol - I prefer the George C. Scott version, although I am fond of the old b&w Alistair Sim version as well. It was my dad's favorite.
5. A Christmas Story - People typically love this movie or hate it completely. It cracks me up.
6. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! - Okay, this one isn't a movie (I've never seen the movie and have no plans to), but it's a great 30 minutes! I am pretty sure I can recite the entire thing by heart.
7. A Charlie Brown Christmas - We typically put this on while decorating the tree. I love how one scraggly branch becomes a cute (and full!) Christmas tree. And you gotta love Linus and that blanket.
8. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Ah, the land of the misfit toys. I also love Frosty the Snowman.
9. Love Actually - Somehow this has turned into an annual tradition as well - I think I've watched it every year since it came out.  The scene where the little kids make Hugh Grant's character sing a Christmas carol to them cracks me up every time.
10.  Little Women - Very sweet and beautiful movie.
Honorable mention:   I've actually enjoyed the predictable and kinda cheesy The Family Man in recent years as well.  

Jakob Dylan - Everybody's Hurtin'

This week's music pick is from Jakob Dylan.  I've liked the Wallflowers, but I'm really loving Jakob's solo music.  His latest came out this year, and it's beautiful.  Take a listen to this one, which includes backing vocals from Neko Case and Kelly Hogan.  Then go listen to the rest.  They are true folk songs - you have to really listen to the lyrics in combination with the music.

via last.fm

Pins of the Week

*Colin - Who doesn't love Colin Firth?  Seriously.  And have you seen A Single Man yet?  I watched it a few months ago, and it's amazing.  Heavy, but beautiful.  
*Bench - Where can I find this bench?  We need something like this for our front entryway.  It's a small space, so we've struggled to find something that will work.  I love this.
*Flowers - Aren't these such happy colors?  They remind me of the colors on our Christmas tree.  I'm sorry, K, but I don't think we'll be going back to white lights any time soon.  
*Chocolate-Pistachio Torte - Okay, so it's down to this or an Almond Torte with Raspberry Jam filling.  Family...which would you prefer?  There's nothing that says we can't make both, of course, but probably just one for Christmas.

These are just a few of the photos I've recently pinned on my pinboards at Pinterest:  Mary Loves

I am also thinking I should have this sign posted in our house, and at my office, and at the grocery store...

Preparations...

via beautiful-portals tumblr

These days I find myself puttering around the house, making lists and little preparations for the upcoming holiday.  We will be the hosts again this year, so I'm getting ready for our little house to be full of family.  I'm collecting menu ideas, moving unseasonal coats out of the coat closet, using up pantry items, cleaning out the medicine cabinets, and generally removing clutter.  Actually, I remove clutter pretty much all year round - clutter and I are not friends, but I'm a little more focused on it at the moment.  I continue to do a little bit each day so that I'll be ready to just relax and have fun when everyone arrives.  And for the record, I am wishing that our street looks something like the above picture on Christmas morning.  

I'm also trying to do a little every day to honor the holiday season.  My cards are set up on the dining room table, and I am addressing a few each night.  My iPod is now full of holiday tunes, some new and some old.  I love a mix.  I put a little egg nog in my coffee this morning.  I water my beautiful tree.  I am collecting cookie recipes, unable to choose between so many yummy options.  I am gathering gift boxes in my closet and am looking forward to a wine-and-gift-wrap night in the coming weeks.

I've noticed some people letting the stress get to them, and I want to tell them to go have a cup of hot cocoa.  Stir it with a candy cane even.  It's the most wonderful time of the year...

via little emma english home

via mary ruffle

via pinterest

A bit much, perhaps, but how awesome is this scarf?  8 feet of luxurious merino wool.  Wow...

via etsy