Wrapped Around My Finger

Hello sisters and readers,

I currently have a secret obsession with Forever 21 rings. They are so fun and super inexpensive! My friends and I rewarded ourselves after finals by visiting the store to dig through the dazzling bowls of rings as if we were kids digging though a treasure chest.Wrap these tiny jewels around your fingers this holiday and in the New Year! Enjoy!

Until we meet again,
MJ Mini

E is for...

Hello sisters and readers,

Happy Holidays! I hope you are all staying warm! During the holidays, I love to sit near the fire with family or with a good book and listen to fabulous music. I absolutely adore both of these artists and can't stop listening to their jazzy tunes, especially around Christmas. E is for Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James! Cozy up with this lovely music and enjoy.

Some favorites: Night and Day, Summertime, Take the "A" Train, Boy from Ipanema
Some favorites: At Last, Sunday Kind of Love The Love of My Man, Again

Until we meet again,
Happy Holidays!
MJ Mini

Last-minute shopping!

As a "last minute shopper" myself, I was thrilled when a friend requested some gift ideas for his sisters!

Below are a few of my favorites for all of the different family members or friends you may need to buy for!

P.S. ALL are under $75.00!

For the Romantic: A candle is always a lovely gift and with these amazing scents and styles from Anthropologie, you cannot go wrong! ($28.00)

For the Athlete: Nike Sport Band ($59.00)

I love these calorie counters! They track steps, calories, distance, pace and more! In several fun colors, they can spruce up an outfit or motivate you to park a little farther from your destination!

For the Cook: Giada for Target

I definitely love to cook and am so happy about the new line of Giada accessories & goodies at Target! Look at this gorgeous, stainless steel multi-cooker. ($45.74)

For the kind-hearted: Explore gifts from fair trade stores

I am completely mesmerized by these handmade gifts from Ten Thousand Villages. Each unique gift is handmade by artisans from around the world (many women & small children). The store promotes fair trade and offers equitable wages for each of these beautiful creations!

I love this serving bowl ($28.00) & wooden kite ($44.00)

For the Creative Hearts: Sketchbook Watercolor Set from Anthropologie ($24.95)

Give the gift of inspiration and let your friends or family create a beautiful pieace of art with this charming set.

For the Musician: The Sound of Music DVD 45th Anniversary Edition! ($17.99 @ Target)

I love love The Sound of Music and am so excited about this release! I watched it the other day and it brought back so many childhood memories!

Image from scrapetv.com

Other ideas for those "not- so-easy-to-buy-for" loved ones!

~ A bottle of wine or other spirits

~ A subscription to a great magazine

~Stationary

~Gift Cards! (Barnes & Noble is always a great bet!)

D if for DIOR!

So I am a seriously sleep-deprived mom right now...my son just cut two little teeth and despite all our efforts to soothe his gums, he's not been sleeping well.  My only hope is to disguise my less than vibrant skin with the most wonderful. product. ever. EVER.  With the perfect blend of moisturizer and tint, this gives me the look of 8 hrs. when I've only had 4!  Magic.

Dior's Hydra Life Pro-Youth Skin Tint SPF 20
Be sure to request a sample to get the best color match

And this is just because we love all things Dior...

Pale Golden 'Rock In Dior' Cuff

Happy Weekend!

Special K

D is for...

Hello sisters and readers,

D is for Dishes!!!! This may seem a little odd, but I have been scrambling for Christmas ideas and I think this is a great one. If you are trying to give a gift that isn't too expensive, is creative, and you can knock out several gifts in one stop to the store, then dishes are your solution! Places likes Anthropology, Target, Ralph Lauren have tons of adorable plates. And really, who wouldn't want to get a cute dish with their favorite homemade cookies or other treats on it??

Dine well, friends!
Until we meet again,
MJ Mini

Music To My Ears

Hello sisters and readers,

I have missed you all! It has been a few hectic weeks getting ready for finals! I have been trying to keep calm though and as usual, it's music that helps me relax. Hope you can unwind to some of these sweet tunes when the going gets tough during the hustle and bustle of this holiday season!

Listen to:

Norah Jones' "Back to Manhattan"
Orine Lavine's "Her Morning Elegance"
Imogen Heap and Jeff Beck's "Blanket"

Hope you enjoy and wishing you all warm and happy thoughts.
Until we meet again,
MJ Mini

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...

Dear Michael Kors, we love you. Thank you for this fabulous design. Check Nordstrom for details!

Love you too, Marc Jacobs! See Bloomingdale's for details!

If these prices are beyond your budget, check out two more affordable options from fossil and target!

Now all I need is some snow flurries!

Ciao! - MM

The Cozy List

My dear readers! It has been far too long since I have posted!

If life is as busy for you as it is for me these days, use this quick guide below to give yourself a little TLC!

Drink this: Green Peach Mango Tea (yum!), found at Barnes & Noble.com.

Wash with this: This invigorating mint is sure to get you going in the morning! Found at Aveda.com.

Imagine from summertomat.com

Wear this: Keep warm and cozy with this fabulous design from Anthropologie. Click on the image at their sight to enlarge... the shimmery thread and details are just gorgeous!

Sleep on this: Check out these plush organic duvets from West Elm. Perfect to snuggle under with a good book & mango tea. Yes, please!

Stay warm! Ciao! - MM

Give Thanks for the Good Stuff

Dear Sisters and Readers,
Thanksgiving is a time for appreciating all the blessings in life...family, friends, delicious eats and more.  And let's face it...it can be a time of decadence.  In the spirit of a little indulgence, check out these luxurious items. Once you're done drooling over the overpriced sweetness, move on to the real meaning behind the season.

James List
If you're in the market for some serious bling, a Ferrari, a high end property or even a private jet, this is where to find it.  Whether you're buying, selling or chartering, this site is "The World's Smartest Luxury Marketplace."


This red Ferrari FXX can be yours for $2.45 million



This million dollar Audemars Piguet watch is sure to turn some heads

Take a seat on your private boat in Spain



This amazing Wyoming view can be yours for a mere $69.5 million



Give Back with Kiva

With so much to be thankful for, there's nothing more rewarding than giving back to others.  One of my favorite websites is Kiva.org.  I had the chance to hear the founder of this organization speak, and it is a truly inspiring idea.  Kiva's mission is to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty.

Pendo Luisi, 27 years old, borrowed $175 to open a cafe in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

By combining microfinance with the internet, Kiva is creating a global community of people connected through lending. This holiday, instead of giving more "stuff," consider a gift card to Kiva where the recipient can lend to an entrepreneur across the globe.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Special K

C is for Cavallini Papers & Co., Inc.

Happy Saturday Dear Readers,
One of the things I pride myself in is finding expensive looking items for affordable prices.  I think the real trick of the trade is mixing higher-end pieces with flea market finds.  Here's a trick that I've counted on a number of times and no one has ever known the wiser...until now!

I purchase fine papers or high-end calendars and even books and slap on a nice frame and - voila! - artwork.  One of my go-to sources for such designs is Cavallini Papers & Co., Inc.  This group hails from San Fran and sells to a number of retailers and online paperies around the world.  Check out some of my favorites below and imagine where they could hang in your home. (Bonus: for $4.50 a sheet in most cases, you can afford to purchase all your favorites! I have a vintage Paris map framed in my son's room and he loves it...even though he's only 4 months old :)

Such great colors; I love that the water is black, too. Viva l'Italia!

Quirky and cool, I could see this in a study or kid's room

Frame a trio of these with gilded frames and they will look super expensive

Perfect for a kid's room, playroom or bathroom.

Instead of the expected "I Love NY" you get "the Wonder City." Love!

Again, framed in a set, looks very fancy.
This is for my MIL (mother-in-law); she loves birds!

Cut these puppies apart and you have adorable "mini-art"

Happy Framing!

Stay Fab,

Special K

"Rickrolling" Fashion

Hi Sisters and Readers,
So it's officially hump day and I am SO ready for the weekend!  Here is a little something to get us all through the rest of the week; turns out Rick Astley's "Rickrolled" is not only a viral video at its best, it also has some relevant fashions that can carry into our last few weeks of fall.  Watch the video and take note of some of these updated looks:

Ray-Ban Caribbean Sunglasses

Banana Republic Denim Tunic

J.Crew Stripe Sequin Boatneck Tee

Burberry Leather Strap Trench Coat

Stay fabulous!

Special K