Happy New Year's Eve!

My goodness, my New Year's Eve and Christmas Eve posts are going to end up right next to each other, aren't they? Oh, well. I couldn't let the day pass without sharing a few sparkly lovelies.























Any big plans for the evening, friends? If so, you might want to check out my fashion picks for NYE. I'll quite possibly be hanging out with my parents, big sis, and her hus (love them, though, so it's okay!).

And -- duh duh DUN! -- make sure to check back on Monday for my next 101 list!

Image credits, top to bottom: 1) via this is glamorous, 2-4) photos by Char Beck via Coco + Kelley, 5) photo by Shannon Nicole Smith via Southern Weddings, 6) photo by Elizabeth Messina, 7-8) photos by Jill Thomas, styling by Carter and Cook, 9) Martha Stewart

A very merry Christmas to you!

(Image via A Punch of Color)

This time tomorrow I'll be eating monkey bread and opening presents with my family around our Christmas tree. Maybe we'll even be listening to an excellent holiday playlist :) Later we'll gather with my Dad's side of the family, and then a few days after that we're headed to Maine to celebrate with my Mom's side. Things will be quiet here for a few days, but I'll see y'all back here sometime next week! In the meantime, I hope you have a very merry Christmas filled with love.

xo,
Emily

P.S. Don't forget!

Black Bean Soup with Cumin and Jalapeno

(Beautiful photo by Karen Wise)

How about a quick, easy, and DELICIOUS recipe for you on this fine Tuesday? It's no secret that J does all of the cooking in our house, but we both love this soup from Epicurious. Perfect for winter nights! P.S. Despite the name, it's really not too fiery!

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1-2 teaspoons chopped jalapeno chile with seeds, divided
2 15-16 oz cans black beans, undrained
1 15-oz can petite diced tomatoes in juice
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Chopped fresh cilantro
Chopped green onions
Crumbled feta cheese

Directions
Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, and garlic; saute until vegetables begin to soften, about 6 minutes. Mix in cumin and 1 teaspoon jalapeno. Add beans, tomatoes with juice, and broth; bring soup to boil. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook until carrots are tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer 3 cups of soup to blender and puree until smooth. Return puree to pot. Simmer soup until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and remaining 1 teaspoon jalapeno, if desired.

Ladle soup into bowls. Pass cilantro, green onions, and feta cheese separately. (The feta and black beans are such a delicious combination!)

Here's the link to the recipe on Epicurious if you're interested!

Board No. 82: Pinecones and Sage

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It's the Monday before Christmas, which means it's time for our last holiday inspiration board of the season! After the Thanksgiving jewel tones, the icy splendor of blue and gold, and the softly shining pastels, we have this quiet palette of pinecone brown and sage green. Beautiful for holiday decorations, gorgeous for a winter wedding. Happy Monday!

The Details
First row, left to right: pinecone cake, holiday door from Country Living, feathered bouquet photo by Aaron Delesie

Second row: portrait in a field by Aaron Delesie, Christmas tree from Better Homes & Gardens, pinecone placecard photo from Project Wedding

Third row: beribboned bracelet photo by Aaron Delesie, mason jar votive photo via Weddingbee, bowl of pinecones via flickr

Nutcracker tonight + 101 reminder!

Hi, friends! TGIF! I am particularly excited that it's Friday because I am going to see the Nutcracker tonight!! I think I might be the only person who danced in the Nutcracker for ten years and still LOVES everything about it, including the music. LOVE it.


(New York Times)

Also, just a reminder to any of you who are thinking about joining me in the 101 in 1001 challenge on January 1: be thinking about your list! I've got 87 challenges so far on mine. If you need some inspiration, consider checking out these lists:

Brooke from Claremont Road
John from John Takes a Hike (partial)
Ashley at Our Little Apartment
Melissa Jill
Danni from Oh, Hello Friend
Kerri from Your Wishcake

Happy weekend!

Christmas CD Swap Wrap Up!

(Martha Stewart)

Many thanks to all who participated in the first annual P&P Christmas CD Swap! J and I have had so much fun listening to all of your mixes as we drive around town completing errands and Christmas shopping. Of particular note? We think Brooke wins for prettiest packaging, Melissa wins for sweetest note, and Maria wins for best themed mix (Dixie Christmas, y'all!).

I was pretty proud of the CD I sent out, and wanted to share it with any readers who weren't able to participate. Click here for the link to my Grooveshark mix!

Modern Christmas from JL Designs

Have you seen the 2010 holiday collection from JL Designs? SO chic and so original. I especially love the succulent Christmas trees and the balsa wood snowmen. Check out the rest of the designs here.

Black and white Christmas

Ever since my friend Katharine showed me her holiday card, I've been thinking about a black and white Christmas.



Turns out there's plenty of lovely inspiration to be had! Take these Christmas card designs from Tiny Prints:











Altogether chic. Wrapping inspiration? Check.


Martha Stewart

Black and white striped ribbon (love this stuff) looks so sharp paired with fresh greens. I also love the fresh, simple combination of white tulips and paperwhites tied with a velvet ribbon. (They'd look equally as good in a vase as in a bouquet.)


Country Living


Jose Villa


The Inspired Room

What do you think? Is a black and white Christmas for you?

Comfy winter bedroom

Isn't this the perfect winter bedroom? The petite windowseat, the painted wood bed, the plain wood floors, the floral pillowcases, the extra quilts folded on the wooden chest, the chest itself, the natural light flooding in... I love it all. And want to move in.

From Country Living via Mary Ruffle

Christmas cards!

I LOVE Christmas cards! Love getting them, love sending them. I especially love reading family newsletters, even though everyone else seems to hate them!

Though J and I basically send out a joint card (by default, I suppose, since J wouldn't send out any cards without me!), I don't like the idea of doing a photo card until we're married. I also don't like the idea of doing a readymade card at this point, even though there are gorgeous options to be had (See here and here for my picks! I particularly love this design my good buddy is sending out.) Of course, I'm sure I will be singing a different tune when I need to churn out 100+ cards, but for now, my list is manageable -- 39 this year.

I was very happy with last year's card, but struggled a long time this year waiting for inspiration to strike. I had numerous starts and stops at the craft table. Then, I happened upon this image from Martha:



Martha to the rescue! With this color palette as my guide, and Kate Spade glitz on my mind, this is what I came up with:





They say "be merry and bright on the inside." :) What do you think?

P.S. Curious what my Christmas cards looked like last year? Here's a peek.

Board No. 81: Softly Shining Christmas

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Time for another Christmas inspiration board! After last week's neutrals, I wanted to do something colorful, and I think this one fits the bill! I love the soft take on red (pink and coral), and love that it's mixed with pale blue, jade, aqua, and gold.

The Details
First row, left to right: felt holly boutonnieres from Martha Stewart, wrapped packages from Martha, ornament wreath from Eddie Ross

Second row: Christmas bedroom from Southern Living, snowy wreath photo by Jennifer Johner, ornament boxes from Country Living

Third row: wrapped gifts from Martha Stewart, coastal Christmas tree from Martha, Christmas living room from Better Homes & Gardens

P&P Gift Guide 2010: Metallic

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Though I fancy myself a classic kind of gal, I can't resist the sparkles. My love for all things metallic shows up in these gift picks!

Metallics

1. Michael Kors watch. Erica wears one, and everyone knows she's super stylish. $195

2. Ticker tape mugs. Would brighten up any morning. $50 for two

3. Edible gold stars. The perfect stocking stuffer, as seen on Oh Happy Day! $6

4. Jack and Lulu / The Gold Collection Boxed Notes. The Mainer in me loves the glam lobsters. $18

5. Anthro Ampliacion Ore necklace. Would look perfect with jeans and a white tee or a little black dress! $38

6. Pearl jewel box earrings. One of the few pieces I loved from the fall 2010 J. Crew collection. $68

7. Porcelain ikat bowl. Would make a perfect hostess gift filled with clementines! $30

8. Jingle bell key fob. Kind of ridiculously expensive for a key chain, but chic nonetheless. $50

9. Dahlia placemat. Stunning, and actually really practical, since they wipe clean. $8 each

10. Jack Rogers Navajo. Platinum goes with everything. On my wish list this year! $96

11. and 13. Gold dishes. Light as air pieces from Up in the Air Somewhere. $34 - $42

12. Twirl bow cuff. I'll be honest and say I would never buy this at this price, but I had to include it anyway! $175

14. Hand in hand bracelet. For a much more palatable price, and a lovely message. $48

I hope you enjoyed my 2010 gift guides! Over the last few days we've explored warm colors, cool colors, neutrals, and now, metallics. I've also featured pieces from $8 to $175, in the hopes of offering something for everyone.

Next week: another winter inspiration board, and my Christmas cards!

P&P Gift Guide 2010: Neutrals

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Ahhh there are some goodies in this roundup! As well as some splurges -- don't say I didn't warn you! Let's get started, shall we?

1. Print from EvaJuliet. A little fresher than the somewhat overplayed "Keep calm and carry on," don't you think? $30 for a 13x19 print

2. Bone china farmers market baskets. I wrote about these here previously. $20 - $38

3. Wooden llama. Adorable for kids, but would also make a nice shelf sculptural element. $49

4. Candy Darling Rosalie wristlet. I love bows! And I feel like in black, this classic satin clutch could last you a lifetime. $125

5. Reva classic ballerina flat. Another splurge, but they're just so classic... and classy. $195

6. Black polyresin garden urn. Really want one of these for a topiary outside my front door. $14

7. Boot umbrella stand. Would look so chic standing beside the door, even if it's not raining. I found it on the Z Gallerie site, but it's apparently not available anymore? I swear I only made these guides last week!

8. Longchamp Le Pliage handbag. I received one of these for Christmas two years ago, and it's still going strong today. LOVE. Worth every penny. $98

9. Silicone key keychain. Smart and stylish. $19

10. Driftwood hurricane. I saw this in the store the other day, and it was WAY bigger than it looks online. So pretty! $38

11. Rifle recipe boxes. So, so gorgeous. Looks like they're currently out of stock, but you can email them to get on the waitlist. $125

Tomorrow: metallics! To my music swap peeps: don't forget to mail out your mixes if you haven't already! I've already gotten two in the mail and am loving them!

P&P Gift Guide 2010: Cool

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Continuing on with my lovely if harebrained gift guide series, I present to you the cool colors! As with all the guides, the picks are a mix of ideas for friends, and ideas for yourself :) Enjoy!

The Cool Colors

1. Daytrip Hammock. Apparently this is a very popular item, because it seems to have sold out since I put together these posts last week?

2. A pair of Asics Onitsuka Tigers. While I appreciate Pumas aesthetically, I've found they're terribly uncomfortable to wear. These Asics blend good lucks and a good feel. $80

3. The Capri Blue probably wins for my favorite candle of all time. Smells SO good, and burns forever. LOVE. $18

4. Wool flower from Hummingbird Road. Perfect to adorn a clutch or cardigan! $25

5. Band-Aids by Cynthia Rowley. Yes, you would be giving someone band-aids for Christmas. But they're pretty. $10

6. Seersucker tote. Need I say more than "adorable"? $46

7. Kate Spade Jane Street Remy. A splurge for sure, but this pretty is at the top of my wallet wish list. $175

8. Any of the Penguin Classics. Too pretty to pass up. $13.60

9. Lovely blue cereal bowls. $8 each

10. A jadite cake stand. I use one of my cake stands to hold spices next to the stove -- they're not just for confections! $45

11. You can file this one under unnecessary, but I love when utilitarian items like a kitchen timer get a makeover. Plus, it's magnetic! $12

12. Fleur tealight. These would look lovely in a row down the center of a dinner table. $10

Up tomorrow: the neutrals!

P&P Gift Guide 2010: Warm

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Hi, friends! Welcome to the 2010 Peach & Pearl gift guide! As I started to collect items for this year's guide, I tossed around a variety of ways to organize them. By price? By recipient? Nah, not for me. All of the picks are pretty much in the same range, and all of them are pretty much appealing to girls, so neither of those options seemed to fit.

But by color? Yep, that's more up my alley! I apologize to my left-brained readers in advance in case you find the method behind my madness spectacularly useless, but I hope you all -- methodical or whimsical -- can find something that might inspire a gift this season! And if not, I at least hope you'll enjoy the pretty collages :)

There will be four installments to the P&P Gift Guide, and today we're starting with the warm colors.

The Warm Colors

1. L.L. Bean Boat & Tote open-top bags. I love the medium size, which is $21. We use them for flea market and grocery store trips. As a bonus, right now L.L. Bean will give you a $10 gift card for every $50 you spend with them AND free shipping with no minimum order -- amazing! Love LL Bean.

2. Cinnabar Band Bistro Bowl. Perfect for holding fruit or serving sides. $23 at Fishs Eddy

3. Toms in glittery pink. You already know how I feel about them! $54

4. Ruffled Echo Touch Gloves. Selling out like hotcakes after they were featured in Real Simple and the NY Times, but if you can find them, they're genius, allowing the wearer to operate a touchscreen without removing her gloves. $35

5 and 11. Calypso St. Barth candles. Completely luxurious, completely pretty. $45

6. The Madeleine necklace by Tamar. Perfect for the friend who wears neutrals every day -- those blooms could brighten any outfit! $54

7. Pink houndstooth iPad case. So pretty you might never take out your iPad. $60

8. Pocket Posh. The prettiest collections of sudoku, crosswords, and word finds you've ever seen. $8

9. Areaware Fox Pico. Slightly random, but wouldn't this adorable little fox look so cute perched on your couch? $24

10. Lollia Breathe Fine Bathing Salts. The packaging might be too pretty to open. $24

12. Love pillow from Honey Pie Design. Comes in the prettiest colors! $38

13. Banagrams! My family LOVES this game. Pretty much everyone I know loves this game. $15.50

Coming tomorrow: the cool colors! :)

Board No. 80: All that Glitters is Gold

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It snowed this weekend! In North Carolina! In December! Granted, nothing stuck, but it was still exciting for this New England girl. On top of that, I had a weekend filled with Christmas shopping, Christmas carols, gift wrapping, Christmas movies, and hot chocolate (and a trip to the flea market!): there was no other option but to break out the winter inspiration boards today! I hope you love this one -- I love that it incorporates rustic materials, like pinecones, but that it's still elegant and formal. The icy blue and gold palette helps with that.

The Details
First row: champagne photo by Aaron Delesie, cheese board by Martha Stewart Weddings, portrait by Aaron Delesie (that's a GORGEOUS wedding, by the way)

Second row: balsa wood flowers by JL Designs, photo by Stephanie Williams, pinecone boutonniere

Third row: pinecone wreath in frame from Country Living, pinecone boutonniere available for sale from Erica Cavanagh on Etsy, pinecone cake from Martha Stewart Weddings

Modcloth for New Year's Eve

Even though we're only in the first week of December, if you have exciting New Year's Eve plans now is probably a good time to start thinking about an outfit. With all the bustle of Christmas, it's easy to forget to pull something together until December 26... which could easily end up being too late to find something cute :) I was browsing Modcloth the other day and loved all their neutral picks. I've ordered from them before, and, as fair warning, their dresses tend to be on the short side, but the good thing is that in winter, you can totally patch up any shortcomings (har har) with tights or leggings. My favorites:

















Which is your favorite?

20x200 on One Kings Lane

If you're still looking for the perfect piece of art for your home, hop on over to One Kings Lane ASAP! They're currently running a sale with 20x200 -- $100 of art for only $59. I've already bought two gift cards and I'm excited to decide what to purchase! Here are a few of my favorites:










(Had to include this one... you all know how I feel about bunting :)



Whatever else we might choose, I know this one's going to make it into my shopping cart; I've coveted it for too long to leave it behind now!



The sale ends TODAY at 11AM, so shop now if you're interested! 20x200 is a great resource because they have tons of original art and photography options for just $20 or $50. If you're not already an OKL member, email me and I'll be happy to send you an invite!