scrappy.

left-over boxwood branches tucked between lavender and driftwood: makings for a wee wintry garland.

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boxwood and cedar.

trips to my parents' house almost always mean foraging.

i take walks to the beach to collect sea shells, tuck a pair of scissors into my pocket to gather cedar clippings, and yank down bittersweet brambles from neighbors' yards.

its the thing i miss most about small town living. something tells me my neighbors here wouldn't appreciate the occasional neighborly pruning of their boxwood shrubs. at home, there's so much green around i'm pretty certain no one really notices.

i brought a bag full of cedar and boxwood back to brooklyn after thanksgiving and this morning, with the window flung open, fashioned our tiny abode a fittingly tiny wreath. fa la la.

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mulling spices.

a tiny holiday gift that packs an impressive punch. plop a bag of mulling spices into a burbling pot of cider or wine and set the tone for an entire evening of cozy merriment. simple instructions, below, with plenty of room for creative additions and omissions.

happy thanksgiving, friends.

1. gather the spices.
{equal parts cinnamon, allspice berries, cloves, cardamon, and orange peel}.

2. crush the cinnamon.

{a folded bit of waxed paper and a cast iron pan does the trick}.

3. prepare the muslin sachets.

{available at most grocery stores. cheese cloth tied with cooking twine works, too}.

4. fill the bags.

{two tablespoons or so of the combined spices will do}.

5. tie up the bags.

{make sure they're tied nice and tight}.

6. add some simple instructions.

{apple cider is delightful, but a good vin chaud never hurt anyone}.

7. bestow tiny bags of holiday cheer to friends, family and neighbors, alike.

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milk chocolate.

here's a confession. i like my chocolate the way i like my coffee: milky. in fact, the creamier it is, the better i like it.

this tea-infused milk chocolate from the tea room fits the bill. its subtle flavors come out if you let the chocolate sit on your tongue--savoring each bite for just a moment longer than you normally might. and beyond the taste, the chocolate comes in a pretty sweet little package, don't you think?

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sage.

it's the perfect time of year for sage.

sage in soups. sage in stuffing. sage in corn bread.

i'm craving this soup. and a veggie-only version of this pot pie. 

you?

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the north fork.

james and i have a thing for islands. we met on one, so we chalk it up to that.

for james's 30th birthday on tuesday, i took him on a much-needed getaway to the north fork of long island. we stayed at the lovely north fork table and inn where we enjoyed a delightful dinner and a superior breakfast as well as a delicious night's sleep in a room where we didn't hit our heads upon getting out of bed in the morning {read more about our tiny abode here}. 

we hiked along dunes, cuddled with horses, sipped local wines, hitched rides on ferries, and took countless walks down long docks. and yes, we survived to tell the tale. 

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< two fifty: life in a tiny apartment.

survival tip #6.

rearrange what you love.

i've been saving these cardoon flowers and craspedia for weeks (er, months). they've been in bottles on my dresser, bottles on my windowsill, and bottles on my countertop. last week i decided they needed to be in bottles on my wall. they're way up high on the half wall of our loft and they're the best thing i could think of for a tricky space. what's old is new again.

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