Day 18: Keep it covered

Okay, I am going to have to warn you, this blog could get heavy into the home improvement realm after the holidays as Matt and I are considering making some renovations. So, I am starting to get a little preoccupied with home furnishings. This bubble fiesta floor cloth by Liora Manne could make an appearance in a kitchen near me soon. I still can't believe its only $50.

Day 17: Dinner and a movie

There is this sweet little bistro here in Sacramento called Fran's Cafe that does a monthly Dinner and a Movie event: a set menu meal and a DVD in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Over the summer Matt and I tried it out. We saw one of my absolute favorite films, Notorious. The menu included spaghetti, garlic bread and salad which I thought was an interesting choice for a movie set in Rio de Janeiro, but anyway it was so fun! If you don't have a restaurant near you that offers something like this, try it at home with friends. It's a hoot.

Don't you love this poster? And that key, so ominous. Make sure to see this flick if you haven't.

Day 16: wool skirt, yum

What can I say, I love this skirt. I really want it. $148 at Garnet Hill. Don't you think it would look great on lots of body types? Maybe Santa will bring me one...

Day 15: ice skating

Ice skating just says "holidays" to me. Jackson and I took ice skating lessons a few weeks ago and we had so much fun. It's a great low- or no-cost way to spend time with friends and family. I am hoping my boys can learn so that some day soon we can spend a day skating at the Rockefeller Center rink under it's grand tree. What memories that will make(: I can't wait.

Day 14: The art of fragrance

I am not big on cologne, but I adore the line of fragrances available from Jo Malone, the London-based perfumer. All of her scents are designed to be worn alone or you can layer them for a more personal statement. Her products include everything from Nectarine Blossom + Honey to French Lime Blossom. If you aren't sure what might work best for you her website has live fragrance stylists available from 10 am to 8 pm EST. Plus the site is offering free standard shipping now until Christmas.

Day 13: Nothing but nets

This campaign really impressed me. I love that for a donation of $10 you can potentially save a child's life. Here's a little about what they do:

Nothing But Nets is a grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. While the UN Foundation has been working with the UN to fight malaria for years, it was a column that Rick Reilly wrote about malaria in Sports Illustrated, challenging each of his readers to donate at least $10 for the purchase of an anti-malaria bed nets -- and the incredible response from thousands of Americans across the country -- that led to the creation the Nothing But Nets campaign.

Day 12: My mushroom lamp

Everyone I know thinks that I am crazy for loving this lamp. It actually has a brass base which is hard to see in the photo. I was lucky enough to inherit it from my good friend Laura's parents. It was in their living room while we were growing up and I was always drawn to it. Everyone else hated it. Matt hates it and my friends tease me about it, but I have been vindicated! With the recent craze over mid-century modern lamps like this one are highly sought after. Some are going for $250 and up on sites like eBay. I am not exactly sure of the authenticity of my lamp, but many were made by the Laurel Lamp Company and it is sometimes called the Laurel Lamp. And you know what else? Mary Richards had one in her cool 70s bachelorette pad, so there!