Doesn't the first week of December always feel like it arrives with the start of a rapidly ticking timer? It does for me. I feel like I'm nearing a finish line that is frighteningly close, but entirely uphill. I am hoping to capture as much joy and sweetness from the goodness around me, and to make sure that the sprint to the holidays is peppered with lots of time with people I love, doing the things I love to do the most. One thing I love is the giving of a really good gift, whether significant or just a small, kind, and beautiful gesture. We have plenty of options that fit both of these requirements; from our custom blended beeswax candle selection to this piece which would make anyone's holiday dreams come true. There are also lots of points in between. Contact us for personalized suggestions and the creation of a wishlist. The season is officially and unequivocally underway, and we are particularly skilled at dropping hints! Also, I will be away December 19th-21st doing a trunk show at the Four Seasons Hualalai in Hawaii, so keep that in mind when planning your holiday shopping visit.

I mentioned in the last journal entry that I had a new favorite piece, and it's true. I am completely besotted with our new Garden Party Floral Cluster Ring, and it seems that I'm not alone. We have received numerous requests for this ring to appear at the top of Holiday wishlists. This ring is the perfect antidote to the blues, winter or otherwise. The photos don't really do it justice. If you're local, I encourage you to swing by and try it on. The architecture of this ring makes it incredibly comfortable on the hand. You have to feel it to really understand the beauty of this piece in both form and function. I also love the sleek signet rings in this photo.  You can take a look at those here, here, and here. 

The one-of-a-kind pieces in our inventory always feel inherently quite special. We have several necklaces at the moment that would make an excellent holiday gift. I especially love the banded agate beads, knotted on a vibrant, coral colored silk cording. The contrast with the neutral, natural, and vintage beads is so strong with the colored knots and the luminous Tahitian pearls. The gold beads are a textural counterpoint to the smoothness of the beads, taking it to the highest elevation of chic. You can have a closer look here.

For a more festive expression of holiday cheer, I find these Keshi Pearl + Diamond Bead Tassel Earrings to be a perfect choice. Again, these are in the one-of-a-kind category, making them even more special. It is getting more and more difficult to find this quality and hue of keshi pearl. I am always drawn to the irregular, organic shapes, and the very lustrous and luminous texture of these natural pearls. Because they are composed entirely of nacre, keshi pearls have a particularly unique texture and shape. They are my favorite type of pearl, and the composition of these earrings uses some of the best examples of this unique gift from nature. 

Exciting news on the shirt front! Lovely Sasha from A Shirt Story has sent us a fresh batch of her fabulous shirts, which tend to go really quickly, so come visit soon for the pick of the bunch. I think these are excellent gifts, again of the one-of-a-kind type. There is one in particular that I think I might need to keep for myself, and then another two that are going to be wrapped and sent off as holiday gifts. It's fun to see everyone try them on and find their favorite, so we look forward to seeing you soon for a little shirt shopping.

There are a couple of robes that I wanted to point out, which would be incredibly well-received gifts, and which also double as super chic outerwear pieces. This one is a covet-worthy piece, in a cozy fabric composed of cashmere, wool, and tiny bit of mink for warmth. My husband Peter is lucky enough to have one, and I have to say that I borrow it far more than I should probably admit. The other is one that I do wear almost every day during the cooler months. I reach for it first thing in the morning, and often wear it out into the world as a coat. I wore it out in London and received lots of compliments, which was almost as nice as feeling so completely cozy. I also throw it on in a sleepy haze, when I have to rush our new puppy Frances outside into the garden for her morning business. Frances doesn't seem to notice, but it's nice to keep the chill at bay in something so lovely while I keep her company.

Is she not completely adorable? We are all completely in love with her, having just adopted her from the East Valley Animal Shelter in Van Nuys the day before Thanksgiving. Tess is the one responsible for introducing us, and for being just the best advocate for shelter animals that you can imagine. It made our holiday especially memorable, and continues to bring an enormous amount of love and light to our lives. We are lucky, lucky, lucky...which is what I keep repeating to myself when this charming creature wakes me up when it's still dark out, or she relentlessly chases our sweet geriatric Flora (15!) around trying to wrestle. We went from empty nesting with a gracious ease to our lives, to having a giant and wild toddler/tornado to contend with. Thankfully, the trainer is coming tomorrow.  

In keeping with the realities at hand, I decided to look up a recipe for dog biscuits. I have no idea if these are truly delicious, as Frances has yet to meet something edible that she hasn't loved. They are extremely easy to make, and I think she appreciates the effort. It's the least I can do in exchange for the ridiculous amount of love that she's showing us. I tend to cook for everyone I love, and that extends to the four-legged amongst us. 

Homemade Dog Biscuits

1.25 cups whole wheat, rice, or oat flour

1/3 cup chicken or beef stock

3 tbs. grapeseed or other neutral oil

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Mix all ingredients in a bowl. You may have to add a bit more stock to get the dough to hold together enough to roll out.
• Turn out on lightly floured surface and roll to about 1/8-inch thickness.
• Cut into desired shapes and place on prepared sheet.
• Bake 15-20 minutes. Check after 10, if you're using smaller shapes as they'll be finished a bit sooner.
• Recipe yields approximately one dozen cookies, depending on the size and shape of your cookies.

 Enjoy,