Friday Fancies

Posted on December 20, 2013 8:48 pm by haneybee under Friday Fancies

Kiel James Patrick Drift Knot earrings, featuring the most charming motifs, are handmade from woven silk and can easily be dressed up or down.

Herringbone is inconspicuous, versatile, and therefore one of my favorite patterns. This Gap skirt boasts a clean cut and is currently on sale.

J. Crew camp socks are warm and cozy without making my feet too hot. Made in the last remaining sock mill in Vermont, they’re perfect for lining boots. I own almost every color, and they’re practically the only socks I wear in the winter.

Compagnie de Provence is based in Marseille, a French city famous for its handcrafted, fragrant soaps, but is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. for its simple, yet effective products. This Mediterranean Sea-scented hand cream feels luxurious and surprisingly light, while still leaving my hands moisturized. A ton of enticing scents are available, but this particular one takes me back to the aromatic soap shops in Provence.

Last week, my Secret Santa surprised me with something that had been at the top of my wish list–the book version of Humans of New York. The photos and captions are gorgeous and thought-provoking, and I can’t recommend it enough. In the meantime, check out the Humans of New York blog, which truly captures the diversity of New York, America, and, when you get right down to it, the world. I find it especially appropriate for Christmas, a time to celebrate love and compassion for others.

Holiday Reading

Posted on December 19, 2013 8:00 pm by haneybee under Books, Christmas, Holiday

Less than a week until Christmas, I hope everyone’s feeling the joy of the most wonderful time of the year! If decorations or movies haven’t done the trick, how about a book? These short, easy reads, paired with hot chocolate and enjoyed by the light of a Christmas tree, are sure to lift your holiday spirit.

Christmas at Eagle Pond by Donald Hall

Beautifully written by a former U.S. Poet Laureate, this novella depicts Christmas in rural New England in 1940. The images are practically magical.

A Rumpole Christmas by John Mortimer

These delightful stories feature a smart and sarcastic barrister, who always ends up playing detective at Christmas time and proves he’s not the Scrooge that others believe him to be.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A timeless story with a classic character, this book is both exciting and uplifting. Most editions include “other Christmas writings” by Dickens.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

While not completely centered on Christmas, with its themes of family, growth, and moral lessons, this novel will warm the heart at any age.

Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris

This collection of hilarious, yet surprisingly thoughtful, stories is perfect for any real-life Scrooge. “SantaLand Diaries,” the essay describing Sedaris’s experience as an elf at Macy’s, is considered a classic in some circles.

Deck the Halls

Posted on December 15, 2013 8:16 pm by haneybee under Christmas, Holiday, Music, Youtube

My family and I are definitely not as gung-ho as we used to be regarding Christmas decorations. When I was little, we accumulated more ornaments than we had trees, arranged two model train tracks in the great room, and put up wonderful outdoor lighted figures (from Bronner’s, the world’s largest Christmas store!). But since we moved to a smaller house, with less people living in it, our Christmas decorations have become more focused on smaller accents.

A lot of the decorations that we use now were actually made by my mom the year Beth started college (her first as an empty-nester).

Wired ribbon can quickly make pretty decorations. It’s easy to shape the ribbon into bows, using thin pieces of wire to hold the loops in place.

I’m liking the unplanned juxtaposition between the old-fashioned toys and the high-tech “toys.”

For a simple way to lift your holiday spirits, add cinnamon sticks to a pot of water on the stove. The smell is divine!
Not a decoration, but one of my favorite Christmas traditions is mailing greeting cards! It’s just a small, but meaningful way to spread holiday cheer. I always hand-write them while watching Christmas movies or listening to carols.

This rendition of “What Child Is This?” by Andrea Bocelli and Mary J. Blige is one of my favorites right now. Their voices surprisingly go great together. (Don’t worry about the costumes, which seem out of place.)

My house is all set for Christmas. Now all that’s missing is the snow! At this point, it seems like all of the country has gotten some, except for North Carolina.

Friday Fancies

Posted on December 13, 2013 5:59 pm by haneybee under 101 in 1001, Friday Fancies

Around this time last year, the Georgian winter wasn’t doing my skin any favors. Fortunately, I was able to pick up this Almond Hand & Nail Cream at The Body Shop in Barcelona over winter break, and I’ve been using it ever since. Once applied, you can’t even tell it’s there, and it keeps cuticles looking their best. I also love the light scent of almonds. (It’s currently on sale!)

J. Crew Factory has been holding great deals lately. Last week, I ordered these lovely earrings, which are a subtler alternative to the bright gems I typically wear. They’ve already sold out online, but these pretty crystal studs are still available.

This is the first nail polish I’ve bought since the third grade (when my favorite cosmetics store was Limited Too). I’ve always had unreasonably short fingernails, and #53 on my 101 in 1001 list is to grow them out to a normal length. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to last long enough without picking at my nails… Until I saw Essie After School Boy Blazer. I’ve never been more intrigued by such a gorgeous color, and my nails are already the longest they’ve ever been in my entire life, as I patiently wait to finally wear this.

Certain readers are going to smile when they see this… I bought this bottle of Annick Goutal Petite Chérie, while studying abroad in France. It’s become my “special perfume,” which is why I still have a little left. Fruity, floral, sophisticated, and bold without overpowering, Petite Chérie is my favorite scent. Since many people give and receive perfume over the holidays, I wanted to mention Annick Goutal because it doesn’t get nearly enough attention in the U.S. Even after three years, the color hasn’t changed, and the scent is as fresh as the day I got it, which truly speaks to its quality.

Since you already look at tons of cat pictures each day, why not get an education out of it? Cat Spanish is an app that uses cute and funny pictures of cats to teach conversational Spanish. You probably know that associating words with pictures helps with memorization. I’ve used it for a few days now and have already learned tons of useful phrases. This fun app is only 99 cents, so use it to learn Spanish for the first time or to brush up on the vocabulary you forgot after high school.

Christmas Classics

Posted on December 11, 2013 9:30 pm by haneybee under Christmas, Holiday, Movies

I think we can all agree that winter weather calls for making tea, snuggling under a blanket, and, most importantly, watching Christmas movies. The older, the better! As much as I love The Santa Clause, Elf, and Home Alone (1 and 2), only the classics have the particular charm and innocence that epitomize the Christmas spirit. The following are my favorites:

Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

A magazine writer must pretend to be the perfect housewife she claims to be in her articles, when her publisher and a war survivor visit her on Christmas. Highlight: Barbara Stanwyck’s character convincing her guests that a baby boy is her own, when the day before, her baby had been a girl.

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Two shop employees don’t get along, not realizing that they’ve been writing anonymous love letters to each other. Highlight: James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan’s characters meeting their matches in each other.

The Bishop’s Wife (1947)

An angel helps a Bishop fund the building of his new church and resolve his familial problems. Highlight: Cary Grant as the angel.

Scrooge (1951)

The best film adaptation of Charles Dickens’s classic story. Highlight: Alastair Sim as THE Ebenezer Scrooge that all subsequent Scrooges have aspired to be.

It Happened on 5^th Avenue (1947)

A homeless crowd moves into a mansion while its owners are away. The owners find out, but pretend to be fellow hobos in order to continue a romance between one of each group. Highlight: The cutest dog!

Miracle on 34^th Street (1947)

After boosting sales at Macy’s flagship store and spreading his joy, Santa Claus must prove to skeptics in court that he is, in fact, real. Highlight: Natalie Wood as an adorable child cynic.

Holiday Inn (1942)

A performer opens an inn that puts on shows exclusively on holidays, but must compete with his old partner for the same female star. Highlight: Fred Astaire’s tap dance with fireworks.

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

A large family experiences good and bad moments, while living in St. Louis. Highlights: Judy Garland singing “The Trolley Song” and a tear-inducing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

A depressed man is shown by an angel what would’ve become of his family and friends had he never existed. Highlight: James Stewart’s character promising the moon to his sweetheart.

White Christmas (1954)

This film has absolutely everything: singing, dancing, comedy, romance, generosity, irony, amazing outfits… It’s perfect for the holidays! Highlights: Too many to name, but every beautiful song, every phenomenal dance, and Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye actually losing it, as they pretend to perform as ladies.

Many of these films will be aired this month on TCM and AMC, while others can be viewed on Netflix or Amazon Instant Video. Should I add any other Christmas classics to this list?

Haney Bee

According to the laws of aerodynamics, the bumblebee cannot fly. Ignoring these laws, the bee flies anyway.

Author Archives: haneybee

Friday Fancies

Holiday Reading

Deck the Halls

Friday Fancies

Christmas Classics