okay, i admit it – i went a little crazy during sugar paper’s holiday gift wrap collaboration with target.  marie kondo would not approve.

i love the whimsical designs and the elegance the collection brings back to the art of gift wrapping.  while i often put a gift in the nearest gift bag and call it a day, sometimes its nice to put in a little more effort to make the experience of receiving the gift even more special.

the pink gift box is surprisingly sturdy and has an adorable polka dot print inside.  i paired it with matching polka dot tissue paper.all tied up with a white and gold chevron grosgrain ribbon.

its looking a lot like christmas in nyc these days.  i spent last weekend writing my holiday cards.  last year, i sent everyone the same card.  after christmas, i hit up the abc carpet christmas sale to stock up on an assortment of cards for this year.

it was so fun picking and choosing the right card for the right person.  for example, only my most juvenile friends received the card below (sorry in advance for calling you juvenile if you are reading this and you got this card…).

the photo is the totality of my makeup collection.  although it is true that i am not a makeup person, i still wanted to pare down my makeup to the bare essentials that would take me through every occasion.  the laura mercier caviar sticks and the armani eye liner take the place of eyeshadow, and i apply everything except for the powder and blush with my fingers.

{pictured above:  laura mercier caviar sticks, chanel loose powder, ysl babydoll mascara, giorgio armani pencil eyeliner in gray, nars orgasm blush, ysl touche eclat highlighting pen, bobbi brown concealer, lorac liquid liner, and giorgio armani foundation}

since i now own my apartment, i don’t foresee moving any time soon.  although i absolutely loathe moving, the good thing is that it forces you to reassess what you own.  if it is important enough to put in a box and bring it with you, it must be pretty important.  (i totally stole this from this ted talk.  i am not that insightful.)

this apartment has also forced me to reconsider my shopping habits.  as much as i always love new shoes, i would kind of dig a new shower too.  i try to only buy things that i will use and love these days, but sadly there are a lot of remnants of shopping mistakes lurking around.  and overall, i just get the feeling that i still have so much stuff.

though this blog has been a lot about restaurants, shopping, and home decor, i hope to write a bit more about how i am attempting to simplify my life and the things that are in it.  for those of you who only like the restaurants, shopping, and home decor, too bad.  i don’t know most of you anyway.  and my mother, who i think reads this blog when she’s bored, says i’m awesome at whatever i choose to do.

so, let us go then, you and i.  (this is also plagiarized, from t.s. eliot.  i have a problem.)

the increasing temperature has caused me to simplify my makeup routine.  although i am normally not a big makeup person anyways, i have managed to pare down the contents of my medicine cabinet to these products.  they are all light enough so i don’t feel like i am wearing much makeup, but still look polished.

{clockwise from top: 1) laura mercier oil free tinted moisturizer; 2) chanel loose powder; 3) ysl lip gloss; 4) lorac front of the line eyeliner; 5) ysl babydoll mascara; 6) giorgio armani eyeliner (i smudge this on my eyelids and use in place of shadow)}