My feet would be very happy (and stylish) in these eco-friendly, custom made leather shoes from Extraseed.

Found via the recently engaged Jena @ Modish – congrats!

I’m on the hunt for a good vintage kitchen scale for measuring out ingredients since they are really more accurate in baking. I found a huge assortment on etsy but while searching I got distracted by the goods at this great little vintage shop, haven. Cute, huh?

And though I have an absurd fear of squirrels, I’d be willing to overlook that in the name of home style. Don’t you think the nutcracker below would make a handsome doorstop?

Victoria over at SFGirlByBay and other bloggers have asked to hear your 2010 resolutions, I too would love to hear them. Reading over other people’s goals is very motivating and inspiring. Jordan Ferney, the mom & indie business woman behind Oh Happy Day does a good job of turning the everyday into a more elegant affair and her resolutions match that perspective, her overarching theme is “living the good life”. I love that, it is so easy to forget that and get caught up in the day to day.

I tend to make goals all year long but like to outline my hopes for the next year as well. This year, if I have to narrow it down to one goal for myself, it is to allow myself to slow down and not feel guilty about it. To savor this time in my life as it is. To embrace my shifted roles as they have presented themselves: mother, wife, friend and a much pared down but no less capable entrepreneur.

What are your resolutions?

Photo by Bliss

Here are some books I’m either reading or looking forward to:

Design It Yourself Clothes I’ve been easing my way back into sewing. I had great ambitions in middle school, perhaps I can revive them.	The French Market Cookbook Love the food in this book	Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone The tome for everyday cooking with vegetables
Applique Your Way The cover on this book draws me right in.	Craft Inc, Business Planner Meg Mateo Ilasco did an amazing job covering every aspect of owning and manufacturing a product line. This follow-up is a business planner workbook and very useful.	A Homemade Life From Orangette blogger, Molly Wizenberg, this book offers charming recountings of her food-filled life.
Half the Sky	Secrets of Simplicity	Food Journeys of a Lifetime
Playful Parenting	Shop Class as Soulcraft As soon as I started reading this book it resonated with me. I think there is a great meditative quality to working with your hands.	The Craft of Baking
Water for Elephants	Who Shot Rock & Roll
	I’ve long found photography to be moving, especially interesting is the quest to capture the perfect shot of very well known subjects.

I am smitten with this illustration on the Anthropologie website. So fresh and pretty.

Anthropologie does such a good job with their branding. Their stores and products feel simultaneously nostalgic and of the moment. While visiting a recent store opening, I fell in love with this dress, fit for a modern day Audrey Hepburn.

Here are a few things on my Christmas wish list:

Getz / Gilberto	Textile Designs
Giclee by Flora Bowley	Sha Sha by Ben Kweller
Printing by Hand by Lena Corwin	Be Mindful Print by Penelope Dullaghan
Trail of Crumbs by Kim Sunee	Flora by Nick Knight

I just posted the first in a series of Holiday Gift Guides featuring North Carolina designers at the indieNC blog. Check it out.

At our house we are on the search for the perfect dining room chairs. It has proved to be an elusive task as Ben and I are both pretty picky, don’t like to spend a lot of money on things unless they are timeless, and prefer to buy things used. We did however spot these beauties in the West Elm catalog and despite the fact that they don’t totally fit the above criteria, are the frontrunners. Now, does anyone have a couple hundred dollars to spare?

I love this bag. Hand-embroidered and made of organic cotton. From eco-friendly retailer VivaTerra.