I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Aside from Sunshine getting a nasty stomach bug that lasted several days (and has now passed, fingers crossed), we had a great (fattening) holiday and lots of fun giving and playing with presents. 

There's nothing like setting the table for all the elaborate meals during the holidays to make you re-evaluate the types of table linens you have. And certainly the holidays are the time to bring out special pieces, though of course I don't think you need to limit yourself to special occasions at all. Any occasion where you get together with loved ones is special enough to use the "good stuff." I love using fancy tabletop and linens; why else register for these things, right?

My table linens situation is a little sad. My dining table is a large oval and I find it so difficult to find an interesting tablecloth that is the appropriate size and isn't rectangular. Napkins are a bit easier: I have a set of four cloth napkins with metallic thread I picked up at HomeGoods and another set that goes with a tablecloth purchased to fit our old dining table. I would like to buy a new set of at least 12 napkins that can be mixed and matched (and will coordinate with a future tablecloth) and brought out when we have gatherings. 

Aside from being more sophisticated than paper napkins, I like cloth for the environmental angle--less trash!   

I really like the new line of table linens designed by Elson & Company. The napkins are the brand's first venture into tabletop products and are currently available exclusively through Elson & Company’s new online shop. 

I've been familiar with the company for several years, since I saw their second Fashion Underfoot collection—the company is best known for their stylish carpets and collaborations with well-known designers such as Lulu DK, Kathryn Ireland, and Oscar de la Renta.

The debut collection of napkins offers a really fun mix of patterns and colors. You can easily create a traditional look, a more ethnic look, something that's a bit laid back, and there are designs that feel more formal, plus a couple that are distinctly holiday patterns, if you're thinking ahead for next year. 

I'm partial to the Petals Coral, Hatch, John, and India patterns for both everyday use and special occasions. 

The hand-dyed napkins are 100% cotton and made in India. 

My favorite part of giving gifts is that moment when the person opens the package, sees what the item is, and you can tell from their expression that you nailed it. I spend a lot of time carefully thinking about the right gifts for each person we give to, and even when I go a little over budget, it's usually worth it to achieve that perfect fit.  

I still have a lot of shopping to do for my own family, but I put together a few things that I hope can help you as you shop for yours. Let me know what you like!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend! We had a great time with immediate and extended family celebrating Thanksgiving (several times) and my birthday (also several times!), which was yesterday. I don't put a ton of stock in horoscopes, but I am a pretty true-to-form Sagittarius. 

I've always been interested in the imagery of the bow and arrow. When I was younger, I had a necklace with an arrow on it, and now I have a pierced brass cuff bracelet with the Sagittarius constellation. When I turned 30 a couple years ago, I stamped an arrow on the little favor bags full of silly things like candy and fake glasses with noses and mustaches attached. I've even used a modified arrow design for the back of my freelance business cards.

I don't seem to be the only one interested in the graphic shape of the arrow, either. Check out these sharp finds: 

Insert obligatory sentence about how I can't believe Thanksgiving is only a week away. We are still at that age and stage in our lives when our parents host the holidays, so while we host a lot of less-formal gatherings, we have yet to host a big family holiday meal. Right now, I'm okay with that, but I do look forward to hosting sometime, maybe when the girls are just a bit older and can both feed themselves fully! 

I have wonderful memories of a Thanksgiving in Hoboken (pre-children) when I had to work during the day at my retail job and some great friends came over for a late dinner. We cooked an excellent meal, I had a special woodsy centerpiece made at the florist, we used our wedding silver and china (Wedgwood Oberon, goes great with a fall palette), and we had a great time. I felt like such a grown-up. It was so much fun. 

Until we host again I shall live a bit vicariously. I've pinned a few of my favorite table ideas (and some additional inspiration) for Thanksgiving to a board on Pinterest. Check them out and if you're so inclined, feel free to follow me, too! I haven't been pinning as much as I'd like lately, but hoping to change that soon.

Do you host Thanksgiving? How do you style your table?

I have a weakness for cute juice glasses. I have some standard workhorse glasses that we use daily, but also a set we received as a bridal shower present from one of my best friends that have a little gas tank at the bottom and say F (for full) at the top. I also have a set from Anthropologie that is about six years old now, with illustrated letters (R is for ring, Q for queen, etc) but unfortunately, we don't have the cupboard space in this house, so they're safely packed away in the basement.

Whenever I'm online or shopping, I always catch myself admiring sets of glasses, though, like these super cute Family glasses by Mary and Shelly Klein, of K Studio, exclusively at UncommonGoods. Apparently these came out last year when I was in my pregnant-and-passed-out-on-the-couch phase, so they're new to me. I've always been a big fan of K Studio's products and their sweet illustrations, and the mother-daughter team is so nice in person. 

If you have a large family, this can get a bit pricey, but I find them to be a much cuter alternative to those stickers on minivans (I'm sorry, I said it.) and I think they have a fairly wide appeal, though I do realize they're not very diverse. This is what I'd order for my family:

And they look so cute filled! Of course, then I think, should I buy glasses in the older girl version as well for when my kids grow up? But at the same time, I love the idea of just having these four to show what our family looks like at this point in time. Would you buy these for yourself or for someone as a gift?

Family Glassware, $12 each, uncommongoods.com


images via uncommongoods

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This weekend You & Yours Fine Vintage store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn celebrates its grand opening. Owner Allegra Muzzillo grew up around antiques, learning to scout and training her eye at the side of her dealer/collector mother. She's most drawn to mid-century pieces, which you'll notice by her inventory featuring furniture, decorative accessories, and tabletop predominantly from the 1950s-1970s. Allegra started out selling at the Brooklyn Flea in 2011, which she continues to maintain (booth B30), but will now expand with her brick-and-mortar shop.

Her favorite personal scores have been vintage Nambê bowls and platters and a pair of decrepit (now happily rehabbed) Saarinen Armless Executive chairs she found on the street in front of an old grammar school. 

"I see mid-century pieces as truly timeless and I think they can mix with absolutely anything. The furniture is so simple and clean looking, but built to last, and for tabletop, it's the pieces' cheekiness, sense of fun, and use of color that I love." Allegra says. 

So it's no surprise that at her shop you'll find a Pucci-esque tray, a sculptural geometric candelabra, or 1920s/30s mini planter shaped like an elephant, mixed in among mirrors, lighting, and mid-century furniture.

As a freelance journalist who built her career writing and editing at shelter magazines (we worked together at Real Simple), Allegra has made You & Yours editor-friendly. The shop also caters to designers and stylists who will enjoy a 15% industry discount. But her completely affordable pieces will make everyone—especially small-space dwellers—happy.  

Art and furniture are available for in-store pickup only at this time and the website features a small selection, so be sure to stop in and see what other treasures Allegra has uncovered:

You & Yours Fine Vintage 
240 Kent Avenue, unit #9
Brooklyn, NY 11249
917-482-4071
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 1p-7p and by appointment 

I've never had a cup of coffee. I know that probably sounds incomprehensible to some of you, but as much as I love the smell of coffee beans, I can't bring myself to get past a sip. And I'll admit I'm reluctant to pick up the habit. I do drink tea (usually peppermint), though mostly in the fall and winter. My other cold weather favorites are hot mulled cider and hot cocoa with a ridiculous amount of marshmallows. 

My husband loves coffee though, and we're big fans of our Keurig Vue, but our collection of coffee mugs is pretty rag tag. We do have a set of tea cups that came with our everyday plates, but they are very shallow. And I'm not even sure that we have a creamer and sugar bowl. 

I am dying to upgrade to Sagaform's stoneware POP collection. The bright colors are exactly the wake up our kitchen needs and I love the architectural shapes of the pieces. The pink/red and plum pieces are my favorite and I'm definitely putting these on my holiday wish list this year. Click products to see the other colors available. 

Wow, I want to take a minute to thank everyone who has visited my blog (especially return visitors)! Yesterday's post garnered the most views and likes/shares that I've had so far, and I'm so humbled that anyone even reads this. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this first month-and-a-half of blogging worthwhile. 

Usually Friday is reserved for under $50 finds, but today I decided to share something really fancy, in honor of our big day. Our tenth anniversary is today and our vow renewal is just a few hours away so of course I'm running around like a chicken with her head cut off to decorate and do everything else. Someone remind me to shower. 

So as a nod to our anniversary and the intimate party we're hosting tonight, I wanted to share this pretty amazing serving piece from Anthropologie. Feeling vaguely nautical and like a courtyard fountain spilling over into itself, the design is inspired by 18th-century British Puzzle Jugs which had holes in the neck of the jug challenging users to pour liquids without spilling them.  Thankfully, this stackable server is more user-friendly. The price is a little hefty, but it certainly is a conversation starter!

images via anthropologie

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This seemed like a very long week to me (though I'm thrilled to report the baby slept through the night again, so I'm not as tired as yesterday). 

On Sunday we'll be attending the local Parade of Homes, which is like a showhouse tour to promote area builders. Local interior designers, stagers, and sometimes the builders themselves decorate the houses, so I'll be looking for new ideas and inspiration. I'm looking forward to it, as I do every year, but more so this year because there is finally (finally!) going to be a contemporary style model, as in one that is not Colonial or Craftsman. I'm hoping to see enough good design to be able to write about it for Monday. 

But first, some under $50 fun! Nothing spooky for Friday the 13th. I'll wait for Halloween, my favorite holiday of all.

How pretty are these delicate wood bottle stoppers ($22 each) from Leif? 

80s kids and mix tape lovers, this cookie cutter ($16) from Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store has you covered. Now you just have to decide what angsty name to frost on each cookie.

A bright set of letterpress coasters by Thimblepress ($8 for set of 5; green pattern not pictured) from Brika. The set is usually $10, but is currently discounted because it just launched on the site.

Adorable paperclip holder ($14.75) from Maxiga. I love how it looks like he's in tall grass! They also have a deer, polar bear, and swan. (paperclips not included)

Balloons and so-cute clowns and circus folk adorn this kids' pillow ($42.80 with cushion filler) from Zara Home. 

Italian designer Paola Navone's highly-anticipated collection for Crate and Barrel debuted in select stores and online today; the line will roll out to all stores by the end of the week. It is the first of three planned collections and includes nearly 150 pieces of tabletop, furniture, textiles, lighting, and decorative accents. Paola Navone is a renowned talent with her hand in architecture, interior design, product design, and set design. 

Organic shapes and a mix of materials all evoke the Mediterranean inspiration that threads itself through much of the well-traveled designer's work.