Holiday Gift Ideas: For the Girls.

Among my picks for mothers, sisters, daughters, and girlfriends: the sweetest-smelling hand cream (discovered during my manicure in Japan), my favorite New York cookie, a bottle opener in the shape of a crescent moon, and the best book I read this year, written by my number-one girl crush.

Clockwise, from top left: "Just Kids" by Patti Smith, $10.88; Cath Kidston Rose Hand Cream, $14; ASOS Multi Pom Pom Mitten, $14.54;  Diana Mini Camera, $70; Lulu Organics Hair Powder, $9.50; Duller pencil set, $65; Bauer cup & saucer, $27.50; The Wild Unknown "My Heart" print, $40; Crescent Bottle Opener, $52; Blanket-stripe telegram pocket pouch, $28; ban.do sequin scarf, $55; Momofuku Milk Bar blueberry & cream cookies, $12/tin.

Tomorrow, gift ideas for the boys...

Bloom Burst.

"Exploded Flowers" by artist Qi Wei - breathtaking, no? 

See more at Qi Wei's website, here. Found via Free People.

Re-tree-t.

Good morning! Did any of you happen to see this amazing story - about a Brooklyn woman who built her own (grown-up) backyard treehouse - last month in the New York Times? I don't know how I missed it, but I'm so glad I happened to find it while browsing online this weekend.

The best part? She did it for just $400. I don't have a backyard myself, but one day, I'd absolutely love to have a treehouse. It seems like it would be the most wonderful place to spend a rainy day.

Read the story, by Steven Kurutz, here. Photos by Trevor Tondro for the New York Times.

PS: Though I was originally planning on starting a holiday gift guide (my first!) today, I had an unexpectedly busy weekend and am going to have to postpone it. For now, I plan on posting the first installment Wednesday morning, continuing on through the following week. I can't wait!

I Heart L.A.

I've only just returned from one vacation, and I'm already looking forward to the next - in three weeks, I'll be heading home to L.A. for Christmas and New Years. It's been an incredibly hectic fall, and I'm looking forward to having some time to read, sleep, be silly, and just breathe. I'm also excited to sit down and really spend some time working on my blog - I have so many ideas for it, and I can't wait to devote some serious think-time to them!

What about you? Any plans for the rest of the holiday season?

Have a happy weekend!

Los Angeles heart map by Kevin Lucius, available on Etsy.

Paper Cuts.

Recently "favorited" on Etsy:  remarkable paper dolls (almost) too pretty to play with, including this "Girl with Reindeer" by dubrovskaya,

and this brilliant blue pigeon from illustrator Faye Moorhouse.

Also, this breathtaking cardboard typewriter is just too beautiful not to post. "I'm sorry to say it isn't functional," writes artist Stacie Van Arsdale, "but I think it definitely makes up for it in charm."