Christmasssssssss

I really hate the "Christmas Blues"

Ya know, the day after christmas and all that magic just seems kinda gone?

You get no more "magic" sent to you in the mail either, which means no more cards to add to your "Smash-Folio" from awesome bloggie friends (*ahem* I'm talk bout this lovely lady & this awesome gal)

It makes me feel all blob-esque.

I don't know how blobs feel per say, but I can imagine they don't feel awesome.

But you know what is awesome? Getting to look back at all your ballin' swag and reliving those memories again.

 

Brace yourself for one of the best frekkin gifts I have even gotten from the Bubs.

Oh hey, whats that?

That would be a hand painted locket made by this lil lady over here.

I found Khara's shop about a year ago and have swooned over her lockets about once a week since then. When it comes to jewelry I NEVER tell bubs what to get me. I want him to pick something out on his own that he thinks I would love, so that when I wear it I think of *him* and not me going to some bling bling shop and being all like "Yeah, that one--get that"

 

Mama doesn't need no sugar daddy.

But this year I did ask him to hit up Khara and work with her to put something sentimental inside of a locket for me. That way I knew I was getting a locket, but I had NO CLUE what would be on the inside.

And yes, the swings are so "Dawson's Creek" circa 1996 b/c Bubs and I had our first kiss on a swing set.

Consider myself impressed by Bub's decision on what to put inside.

What is even more mind blowing is that this locket is only, like, .5" wide (if that) and the fact that she can get THAT MUCH detail in such a tiny area is, well, unfathomable.

and if you're not impressed by my art, check out some of her other lockets that made me fall in love with her shop:

some other suh-weet swag I got was a curling stick so I can be an honoaray Kardashian and have long curly hair (hey, my ass alone can make me a Kardashian)

oh hey, you noticed my photos are looking quite vintage these days? Could it be that Leonora has hopped on the insta-bandwagon?

Why yes, yes I have.

And no, I didn't get an iPhone (and we don't talk about the fact that I *used* to have an iPhone but was then forced to switch to a droid to be a part of bub's family plan) (even when I went to make "the switch" the dude at verizon was all like "wow, you are the first person to ever come to me with an iphone and want a droid) (and I was all like "Bro, I dont *want* a droid") (sorry, I'm doing that thing again where I ramble using parenthesis to break up my thoughts) (ok im done)

BUT I did get this lil fella instead:

and no, by "lil fella" I am not talking bout the 1/2 naked dude on the right.

I'm talkin' bout Bartholomew! (Yes I named my iPad Bartholomew) (ok thats a lie) (or is it)

Me touching iPad, bub touching my nose, it was a magical moment that I caught on insta-film.

What did you loves get for xmas?

Christmas Traditions!

This weekend was busy busy BUSY

but also a ton of frekkin fun.

Last year bubs and I went into NYC to do the typical tourist-y stuff that one does when it comes to this time of year.

Last year we got a smooch by the tree:

and tried to recreate this magical moment this year as well, but it was an epic failure

yeah. can you appreciate that awesome bright blur of a tree in the background?

oh, you can't?

Thats cause when this picture was taken we were being shoved around by so many people, and we felt super awkward doin' the 'ol "hey let's take a photo of ourselves a la myspace circa 2001"

Not only did we see the tree, but we also hit up Bryant Park for THEE BEST frekkin hot chocolate that your tastebuds will ever experience.

Imagine taking a chocolate bar, melting it down, then drinking it.

Oh, and you know that feeling you get when you play with a pile of super cute adorable puppies? Thats how you will feel when you drink this amazing liquid wonder, times 10.

Last Years Shot:

and this year

and no trip to the city isn't complete with out an awkward picture next to some random tree.

some things you should know about this photo, because I feel really bad misleading all you fine folks.

1. that jacket? it rocks, right? Oh, you noticed its a ski jacket? Yeah. I don't ski. The one time I did try to ski it ended terribly. Bub and I almost broke up and I ended up going down a hill "Matrix Style" at a 90* angle while my back dragged on the floor and my legs were bent with my skis on the snow "skiing" me down.

Never. Again.

2. why do I own a ski jacket? Well, it's on oakley jacket, and it retails for way over 200 bucks. I nabbed it in Marshals for 50 buck-a-roos.

Who wins? Me.

who also doesn't ski? Me.

3. See those cute leather light brown "toggle clasps" near my collar bone/chest area? Well, they're fake snaps. They dont do anything at all. How do we know this? While waiting for the train to take us into the city bub got antsy and startle to fiddle with my jacket. He wanted to see what the little toggle unsnapped to. It unsnaps to nothing. Now there is a .25" hole under my toggle.

Thanks bub.

4. Yes, said ripping of my jacket led to a fight.

Romantic.

5. Yes, I did try to rip his jacket back

caused a scene.

6. No I did not succeed.

darn.

7. he'll just have to sleep with one eye open--while wearing his jacket.

evil grin.

who knew there were 7 points I needed to make about this photo?

moving on.

There are also vendors in Bryant Park, a TON of vendors that sell way awesome swag.

I nabbed a suh-weet leather wallet that has handmade artwork transferred onto it.

(art by studiomanhattan.com)

and got this super fun retro-tin prints for our new digs.

as you can see there was some serious compromising going on with these prints. I really love the retro look and bub, well, really dug the sayings.

Sigh.

Please dont show up to our apartment topless, you will not get free drinks.

We of course ended the night with some window displays at Macys

what christmas traditions do you guys have?

Oh and my apologies for the photos-I was NOT schlepping my giant DSLR camera into the city during christmas time. It's heavy, its uncomfortable and not to mention really hard to operate while wearing mittens. Also New Yorkers hate it when they see people sporting these cameras, nothing screams OBNOXIOUS TOURIST ALERT then one of those puppies.

Until next time folks.

xoxo

Leonora

Works in Progress Wednesday! The "let it snow" edition

I love love love designing things for friends.

I love designing them more so when it involves thee most wonderful time of the year (and no, I'm not talking about the Victoria's Secret semi annual sale, although this is a glorious time of the year--one that my boobies thank me for)

I am talkin' bout the Holidays! Ya know, Chestnuts roasting on an open fire--the stockings hung from the fireplace with care--he knows when you are sleeping he knows when you're awake mumbo jumobo (ok, Santa knowing when I'm sleeping VS awake is kinda creepy--just stalk my facebook Santa, like all my High School friends & relatives do...)

 When Jessica and Kim wanted handmade gift guides for their blogs I was all like "uhh heck yeah let's make it happen!"

Here is what I whipped up for Jessica:

to check out her gift guide go here! It's full of am-may-zing handmade shops to scope out for the holidays!

This is what I came up with for Kim

Her guide isn't up yet but check back on her blog the week of  November 7th-12th for some ballin' shops, you won't be disappointed

and since snow is almost in full force here in NY it was perfect that Kirtley contacted me around this time to come up with some new branding for her etsy shop! Her shop name is Snowdrift Designs, so I kept it modern enough to be used all year round with just the right mix of a "snow" theme!

check out her new etsy banner!

What are you doing to get into the holiday spirit? Come on people christmas is only, like, 7-1/2 weeks away! (WHA THE WHAT?!)

OH! PS-if you want some Yellow Heart Art in your stocking this year be sure to order by December 5th to guarantee Christmas Delivery!

Also? Are you a part of Swag Swap Week? It's open to handmade shops AND bloggers!

(go check it out, pinky promise its worth the click)