Etsy Storque Article including The Fab Miss B!

I was so pleased to see my Cole Porter Poster featured in this Storque Article inspired by this lovely Swedish home. What a nice surprise! I'm looking forward to getting home to Hawaii so I can get back into my Etsy routine. I've missed it these past few weeks. Are you back into the swing of things now that the holidays are winding down?

Raise a Glass to One Thousand Posts!

This humble little blog has just passed a milestone: One THOUSAND posts. I've been scribbling messages on strips of paper, rolling them up, slipping them inside bottles, corking them up and tossing them into the ocean of the internet for almost three years now.

A lot has happened in that time- new people, places and adventures have surged, roiled and splashed all around me and I've been swept up. I'm raising my glass of bubbly to all the enchantment of this wild world, toasting the opportunity to share it with you, savoring every last drop from the foam to the dregs and stashing that empty bottle away for the messages to come. Thanks for being part of this voyage.

My New Year Soiree Inspiration!

We are hosting a New Years Eve party this year and this illustration seems like the perfect inspiration. It screams frivolity, decadence and celebration- just exactly the way I'd like to begin 2010! One of our pals suggested that we set up a Martini buffet (she used to tend bar) and I'm imagining lots of fabulous finger foods, candlelight and champagne flutes on silver trays. We'll see if the results measure up to the vision in my head-it can be a bit tough to find real glamour on the Big Island, so we'll just have to manufacture some! What are your plans to ring in the New Year?

A Belated Christmas Gift for One Lucky Reader!

Hello Dearies,

I know Christmas has come and gone, but I have one little stocking stuffer left to share. Eric and I made a Hawaiian holiday cd for friends and family and I saved one to send out to one lucky reader! If you'd like to enter to win, please leave me a comment describing a favorite Holiday memory. I'll pick a winner in a week or so! Mele Kalikimaka!

xo-

The Fab Miss B

God Bless us, Every One!

"I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys." ~Charles Dickens



Hello all! How was your Christmas? We arrived in Scottsdale yesterday morning (after a week of fun in the sun on Oahu with my Dad & bro)and spent the day pottering around, playing cards, eating turkey and drinking wine. Today we're doing some shopping (I'm on the hunt for some mainland clothes- including that dreaded denim- wish me luck!)and picking up E's brothers and their gals from the airport. There is lots of eggnog & present opening in our immediate future! Hope you got everything you wanted this year.

The Lucky Winner...

Congratulations to Sarah who is the winner of a set of Merry Recession Greeting Cards! (Better get those in the mail quick girlie!) Hope all of you are warding off the recession's sting and enjoying the intangible things that make Christmas such a special time of year. It's all about honoring Christmas in your heart as Mr. Scrooge learned in the end. What has you feeling Merry this year?

Merry and Bright

My Christmas inspiration this year has been largely theoretical since it's very warm and green here in Hawaii and a silk aloha shirt and leather flip flops are about as dressed up as anyone gets. Ever.

But of course, Miss B loves her some glam and that's exactly what these goodies are all about. Lots of texture, color, sophistication and a little bit of sparkle and shine to keep things all Merry and Bright. Here are some of my favorite picks:

Let's begin with these vintage looking oil portraits of all things decadent and girlie. (She also paints shoes, flowers and cakes. Need I say more?)

A little ruff of black tulle at the neck is an unexpected touch. (It reminds me of one of my favorite Diana Vreeland "Why Nots". As in, "Why not tie matching black tulle bows on your wrists?" Why not indeed!)
And while we're at it, Why Not Wear Festive Knickers? That red bow is a perfect touch of holiday cheer.

Trim the tree with elegant silhouettes of you and your true love.

If this isn't the perfect holiday party dress, I don't know what is. The pleating on the bodice reminds me of a bunch of mistletoe!

I bought a batch of these adorable acorn topped jingle bells and they are just as pretty in person! I'm putting a little tangle of them on the door knobs in our house so every door has a merry song to sing.
These shoes...
plus these stockings...
and this showstopper of a dress practically guarantee a dreamy and enchanted winter evening!

Ward off the winter chill with this whimsical scarf when stepping out this holiday season. (I can never resist winter pom poms, can you? I just bought a pom pom maker and am having WAY too much fun tying the finished product on all my Christmas presents.)

This arrangement would set a sophisticated tone for a holiday soiree. I love the juxtaposition of colors and textures. Modern, sleek and effortlessly chic.

And why not throw on a giant sparkly cocktail ring while you're at it? Plus, it's just the right size for the toe of a stocking!

What are you wearing to Holiday Parties this season? I've been wearing my black lace stockings and black satin peep toe pumps at every opportunity.

MeleKalikimaka is the Hawaiian way to say Merry Christmas

Apologies for the light posting this week. We've been quite busy:

Doing holiday prep, shopping and wrapping (like all of you!) We hosted a cookie exchange last week which was loads of fun and I highly recommend. (All the glory, half the work, lots more wine and giggling!)

Attending a series of craft fairs- my first ever. They were a great learning experience and it certainly was fun to meet customers in person and watch them interact with my products and hear their thoughts and feedback.

Eric is in the midst of final exams for his students and final papers for graduate school.

Our landlords returned and I was anxious about them seeing the changes we've made to their lovely home. Lots of deep cleaning and primping was in order.

I've begun a new part time job at the local intermediate school as a classroom assistant and tutor. I think it will be a nice way to integrate into the community and also be more a part of the work that Eric and the other Teach for Americans are doing here.

And the nice big cherry on top has been a frightful cold passed from Eric to me that has left me woozy and lightheaded.

But I'm here now.

And I thought y'all would get a kick out of these photos of the Christmas trees in the town center. I couldn't resist the decorations- starfish, ukeleles and woven grass baskets. We've enjoyed wacky Christmases in Uganda and Thailand, but this one will have a special place in my heart. Hawaii has been a surprisingly difficult transition for me, but it's special charm is beginning to enchant me at last.

What about you? How is December treating you?

A Garden of Peacocks

E & I were lured off the road to Havi by a hand painted wooden sign that read "Botanical Garden". The garden part was a bust- it's quite dry there so the plants aren't the lush greens and intense colors one usually associates with the tropics. Lots of bougainvillea and a few succulents- nothing too thrilling.

However, there was a big payoff- an aviary full of gorgeous peacocks! We were quarterless, and therfore unable to feed the birds, but they came quite close.

It's no wonder peacocks are the royal bird of India- they are so regal looking and those feathers! They positively radiate iridescent light. And they just happen to be drenched in my favorite colors- blue and green.



We also spent some time admiring these baby turtles. So sweet! They look like old men even when they are tiny little things.

More adventuring updates to follow soon. I have a feeling this island will take a long time to explore throughly! What is your favorite bird? I'm always amazed by the variety of beautiful creatures on this earth.

Imagining A Wintery Wedding

Editor's Note: Please visit the Treasury while it's still live on Etsy, or click on the links to go right to the listings.

Someone I love very much has been doing some daydreaming about her big day lately and I got swept up into the romance of it all. The colors she has in mind- silvers and blues- are perfect for a wintry wedding full of sparkle and shine. Immediately, I thought of Zoey Deschanel with her porcelain skin, ebony hair and shocking blue eyes. Her vintage sixties inspired look would be a great fit for Katie too. It's simple, not frilly and has a youthful, edgy feel. Here are a few of my picks for her big day.

This dress would definitely need some taking in, (our bride is a teeny little thing) and I'd love to see the hemline rise for a carefree, young look. The sparkling embellishments call up glittering icicles and crackling ice. For a really fashion forward look, she could rock black stockings and towering black heels. (Why not show off those perfect legs?)

With such an ornate bodice, a simple wisp of a veil would be just right.

Festoon the reception hall ceiling with hundreds of these tissue paper pom poms in every imaginable shade of blue, white and grey. It would look like clouds, snowflakes or a shadowy submerged world full of beautiful jellyfish and floating plants.

For rings, something eternally chic and loaded with symbolism. I like this pair of rings for her, which would symbolize the commitment both are making to K's little one as well as a present and future together. They could give the second ring to Lou on her wedding day many years from now.

Some sleek jewelery for the groom's finger too.

The groom would look elegant yet masculine sporting this dapper bout.

The bride to be has great affection for matching bridesmaid dresses, but I can't help but think a range of blues would look awfully pretty up there at the altar. This would make a smashing bridesmaid dress.

This dress is a stunner too. I think simple bouquets of white chrysanthemums would be perfection.

These dupioni silk brooches would make sophisticated stand ins for the usual corsages.

A little guide to help the best man through his big moment at the reception. (Best Wedding Toast tip in Miss B's Opinion? Keep it cheerful, keep it brief.)

What about these adorable Russian Tea Cakes and raspberry champagne punch for something truly unexpected?

Dear Santa Baby, Here's my Etsy Christmas Wishlist!

Here are my Etsy Wishes, just in case Santa Claus (or his spritely helper elves) read this blog...

This super decadent Jam of the Month Club would be a dream. Eric & I have developed a ritual of an after school snack and I don't think I'd ever tire of tea and oat crackers slathered in cream and strawberry jam with black pepper and mint.

Mittens for Hawaii may seem bizarre, but I'm rationalizing it by reminding Santa that the summit of Mauna Kea is quite nippy. And I can't entirely escape visits to loved ones in the wintry north.

Apparently I've done a 180 on my anti coaster stance. I blame all the rented furniture in my life and these adorable tiles which would look just as nice on the wall. I'd pick The Cohen Brothers, Martin, Stanley and either Quentin or Woody...

This glorious piece of wearable art would liven up all my sun dresses. I wouldn't be afraid to wear them with slippahs. (Ahem, that's Hawaiian for flip flops.)

Obviously, these hula gals & uke gents would be an excellent addition to my cupcake topper collection.

I actually saw a real live Parrot in a tree on my morning walk the other day. I guess I really do live in the tropics.

A Hawaiian gal can never have too many beach bags.

A little vintage volcano action to keep a fire under my rear & keep me hard at work so I make the nice list next year too.

What are you wishing for this Christmas? (And how do you let Santa know? Are you as subtle as moi?)

The World is Just Awesome. (Part Deux)

Wowie. The first Discovery Channel "The World is Just Awesome" song literally brought tears to my eyes- that contagious spirit of curiousity is so incredibly joyful and I think they really captured it in their little commercial. The second one suffers from a cameo by a Transformer, but it will still make you smile. Enjoy.

Aloha Thanksgiving

How was your Thanksgiving? Ours was a wonderful jumble of new friends, good conversation and a feast to end all feasts (even if the Turkey was on Hawaiian time and wasn't ready until after the pies...)
This Champagne Punch inspired lots of gratitude from yours truly.

Erin's bread cornucopia is a tradition in her family and made a breathtaking centerpiece. Can you believe that much of that fruit came right from their backyard?

These plaid shirted folks are all roomies & fellow champagne enthusiasts.

Some action shots from the very busy kitchen!

This year I felt so thankful to be on yet another incredible adventure, surrounded by cool new folks, all set against a spectacular backdrop. It's so important to take note of the blessings, isn't it? What are you thankful for this year?