New Year Wishes...

It's hard to believe that 2012 has come to an end, and 2013 is suddenly upon us.  These years are flying by faster and faster!!  December was a wonderfully busy month for us in the store.  And, now that Christmas is over, Dave and I are enjoying a little bit of quiet.  Here are some of the photos I've snapped with my phone over the last week...


The weekend before Christmas, we took some time away from the office and did a little shopping in downtown Philadelphia (something I almost never do)...

Rittenhouse Square, all dressed up for Christmas

 

 

our lovely skyline

 

 

 

Philadelphia City Hall

 

 

Then on Christmas Eve, we packed up the presents and drove to upstate New York to spend some time with my husband's family (and old friends).  This is a picture of the sunset on Christmas Eve...

 

I took this photo from the car as we got close to my husband's hometown.  How heavenly is this?! 

 

 

Western New York has the most beautiful rolling landscape, mixed with natural lakes and streams.  It's one of the prettiest places to be, nearly every season of the year.  But, it's especially magical in the winter (think blankets of white snow and red barns everywhere).

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas mass at the most idyllic country church...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We stayed for a few days, visited with some old friends, watched movies (got my mother in law started on Downton Abby-- oh yes!), and ate lots of delicious food.  Then, it was time to get in the car and drive home-- before the huge snow storm hit!

our treacherous drive back to Pennsylvania. :)

 

 

.....

 

 

 

On New Year's Eve, I generally like to torture my husband by recounting all the blessings of the previous year together.  Month by painstaking month.  I think he secretly likes it (right?).  But honestly, we have so much to be thankful for.  I think that the last day of the year is a good time for reflection.  So much has happened in this whirlwind year, and it's nice to take a brief moment to remember all of the little milestones and achievements.  Last year on New Year's Eve, we wrote down our "Goals for 2012" and taped the list to the fridge (I realize this is pretty cheesy, but he indulges me).  There were big things on the list (like, "build a garage") and there were small things ("be more patient").  It's a nice tradition--whether you meet every goal or not-- and I hope to continue it throughout the years of our marriage.  Do you have any New Year traditions?  If so, please share!

 

 

So tonight, as we pop the bottles of champagne to ring in another wonderful year, I wish you happiness and peace.  May you reach your biggest (and smallest) goals, recognize each and every blessing, and may this new year be even more JOYFUL than the one before.

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

(a gorgeous old home near our house, as it snowed Saturday morning)

 

 

 

 

 

all photos from my Instagram-- follow me @kellyrobson if you want to link up!

 

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High Street Market Gift Guides (By Price)

We've been as busy as Christmas elves over the last couple of weeks (and it's left very little time for blogging)!  The holidays are fast approaching, and our High Street Market team has been working overtime.  We've brought in some extra helpers to get our orders shipped out the same day, and we've added lots of new pieces to the store!

 

In order to better find that perfect gift (in your budget!), we've organized the store so you can now shop by price...

 

 

 

Shop gifts under $30.00

 

Shop gifts under $50.00

Shop gifts under $100.00

Shop gifts under $200.00

We've also added a few (limited edition) Braided Wool Baskets to our inventory...  The colors are stunning and sooooo sophisticated.  We're calling them "Mint" and "Moss".  One is a very chic, light minty blue.  The other is an earthy-gray moss green.   Both styles are completely handmade in the USA exclusively for High Street Market.  Our craftsmen only use 100% New Zealand wool, and each one features chocolate leather handles with brass buttons.  They're wonderful baskets (perfect for corralling loose items in kids' rooms and family rooms!).

(available here)

(available here)

 

 

 

 

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Current Inspiration (and Happy Weekend!)

Just a few thoughts that are going through my head this week...

(Do I have time to DIY this with a roll of garland?)

 

(Kate Moss in all black.  A no-brainer, insta-slimming outfit-- necessary after a week of Thanksgiving feasts)

 

(Victoria Hagan rocks.  Remember that shade of blue for a sofa)

(pull out bedside shelf, so genius)

 

(love the blue cabinetry, glass doors, and killer hardwood flooring)

 

(really great color combo...  can this translate to a bedroom?)

 

(cute little navy check-- remember this for a future accent chair)

(ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  This fulfills all kitchen fantasies...  including, living in a world without bugs)

 

(Love the tile on that shower wall)

 

(everything about this picture is perfect-- even that little shell chandelier)

 

(Where can I buy a fitted, super tailored plaid button down? Love this look)

 

Also, it snowed this week for the first time! 

 

our backyard on Tuesday morning

 

 

 

Happy Weekend, everyone!

 

 

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To & From Magazine

To & From Magazine-- I love it!  The premier issue launched on Monday, and I have to say, I think it's great.  Have you seen it yet?  The brain child of Katie Anderson and Meg Biram, To & From is the ultimate gift guide magazine.  140 pages!  Full of amazing finds!  It's fantastic.  Need a gift for Mom?  Dad?  How about your best friend, the perfect hostess?  Or, your college-aged niece?  I swear, you'll find the perfect, thoughtful gift within this issue.  These gals have rounded up a select group of remarkable bloggers, and they've done the legwork for us.  It's a great idea.

 

 

 

 

I'm also very VERY proud to see that many of our products were featured in this premier issue!  Below, I've included some of my favorite To & From gift guides (with High Street Market products, of course!)...  check 'em out.  And, visit the To & From website HERE for hundreds of additional thoughtful gift ideas. 

gifts for dad

featuring our Bicycle Matchbook and "Don't Give Up The Ship" navy pillow

gifts for the guys, via A Piece of Toast

featuring our Whitetail Deer Wooden Box

gifts under $100, via Gal Meets Glam

featuring our Gold Leaf Agate Bookends

budget friendly gifts

featuring our Black Ceramic Faceted Vases

gifts for the hostess, via Court & Hudson

featuring our Brass Fox Letter Opener

chinoiserie treasures, via Design Manifest

featuring our Petite Brass Bamboo Tray

gifts for the home

featuring our Gold Leaf Agate Bookends and our Springbok Gazelle Horns

 

 

 

Click HERE to shop the entire To & From premier issue!

 

 

The next To & From will be released in the spring, and it will include gift ideas for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation, Weddings, etc, etc, etc! 

 

 

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Cyber Monday!

Today, this is happening in the store:

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Cyber Monday!  Today, we're offering an exciting giveaway to kick off the holiday season-- spend $25.00 and get a free gift (of your choice!).  It's that simple.  We've got brass letter openers, jewelry boxes, picture frames, coasters...  all FREE, with a $25.00 purchase.  Today only. 

 

Click HERE to start shopping.

 

 

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Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends!

 

I hope you have a wonderful time with your family friends on this special holiday.  Like I said earlier this week, I'm bringing the Thanksgiving centerpiece to my mother in law's home today.  This was my inspiration image...

 

 

 

SO, last night, I went out to buy supplies.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute!  First stop: Whole Foods (where I found the last decent heirloom pumpkin).  Cross that off the list.  Next up, flowers.  I really wanted something bright and white, and somewhat ethereal.  My dear friend Kate (who is gardening/floral/vegetable growing genius) suggested that I incorporate green amaranthus.  Such a great idea.  And oh, how I wish I could!  That would be beautiful.  But, waiting til the last minute means that I will be limited to whatever I can find at Trader Joe's.  :)

 

So, that's what I did.  I went to Trader Joe's and bought three white hydrangea stems, white alstroemeria, and red hypericum.  Done.

 

 

I carved and gutted the heirloom pumpkin.  Soaked the floral foam in water until it was good and saturated.  Then, I cut the floral foam into a cylinder shape to fit into my clear plastic insert (I bought this one at the craft store, but you could use any glass bowl you have in the kitchen that will fit the pumpkin).

 

 

Then, clip flowers and stick 'em into the floral foam.  Easy.

 

 

 

It turned out to be nothing like my inspiration image, but that's okay.  :)

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

 

 

 

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Fine Dining

It's Thanksgiving week!  And many of us are thinking about cooking turkeys, and when to start prepping the side dishes.  We'll be ironing linen napkins and tablecloths, polishing silver, and adding a leaf to the dining table.  It's a special holiday!  Let's bring out the best china. 

 

 

 

 

 

We'll be heading to upstate New York this week to have Thanksgiving dinner at my mother-in-law's home.  I'll be bringing dessert (carrot cake, pumpkin pie, and apple tarts), and breakfast for the next morning.  I'll also bring a floral centerpiece for the Thanksgiving table.  This year, I'm thinking of making something that feels fresh and classic, without the expected orange and red mums.  Something like this inspiration picture...

 

 

(I'll replace white tulips with either white hydrangea or white roses, but I think the feel of the piece will stay the same.)

 

 

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