This Week: Things to do before bidding adieu to 2010

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Due to the blizzards and snow storms up north our planned trip to New York, a day trip to Philadelphia and our New Years plans with great friends in Maryland have all been cancelled:( We were so looking forward to this trip. I had printed out Design Sponge's Brooklyn City Guide and we had planned to have breakfast in Brooklyn and spend the day exploring all the cool neighborhoods, etc. We had planned to end the year inspired after hours spent visiting museums, wandering the city, taking photos, and enjoying great meals and spending time with friends... but here we are at home, a forced staycation (things could be much worse, I know;). So I'm trying to make some plans, end the year on a high note despite our plans changing.

1. I'd like to take on this DIY Gold and Silver Leaf Champagne Glasses project
2. Get a haircut
3. Bake and decorate cupcakes for our friends' Mad Hatter themed New Year's Party, thinking maybe the cupcake version of this cake with cool Mad Hatter inspired decor.
4. Clean, organize and declutter the whole apartment.
5. Watch this, this, and this
6. Come up with some nice, feasible New Year's Resolutions. So far I know I'm going to make this challenge one of my resolutions, are any of you in?!
7. Start reading this and this
8. Go here and possibly here (not our top pick but we really want to get out of town!)
9.  Take my new bicycle for a spin!
10. Enjoy the time off!!!

What are your plans for the last week of the year, any exciting New Years Eve plans? What is/are your new years resolution(s)?

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Currently Loving: Brass

(You can click on the image above for more information about these products!)

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I know, it's not for everyone but I have a new(ish) found appreciation for everything brass! Particularly in decor, where I find it more and more difficult to a) convince clients that brass is the way to go and b) believe that this obsession will continue long term, but lately I have grown more and more in love. Brass is perfect for interiors inspired by the likes of Kelly Wearstler and Tony Duquette where more is more, and for lovely eclectic interiors you could once have found in issues of the late Domino Magazine as well as for more modern projects by designers like Tom Dixon. It is a fairly inexpensive approach to glamorous decor and very available as of late. Last week, I went through my mom's old brass stash (stored away in her garage) and came out with all sorts of lovelies for free! Do you like brass too? Do you think the trend will last?

10 Black Swan Inspired Gifts

I watched Black Swan on Sunday. It is a great film, Natalie Portman's performance was amazing. She does a lovely job of fighting inner demons we all fear, it is very very intense to say the least. I actually screamed in horror during one scene, a scene that in retrospect was not that creepy...what can I say, I'm a chicken! Aside from the intense plot, I loved the attention to detail throughout the film and found it to be an aesthetic delight. I left inspired to attend ballets, find my childhood jewelry box and find the perfect tutu dress for New Years Eve, perhaps a very light reaction to what I watched but I'm still trying to forget the rest of it as I fear having nightmares:)
I promise this is the last gift guide (for now:)! Since I am still scrambling to finish my Christmas shopping, I figured some people could use a little gifting inspiration too, so here it is...

1. Black feather headband $5.80 , 2. Tickets to the Ballet! George Balanchine's The Nutcracker from $20, 3. Pearl Earrings $150, 4. Tutu-inspired skirt with built in leggings and ballet slippers for baby $17.99, 5. Viktor & Rolf Limited-Edition Holiday Tutu Flower Bomb $105, 6. Dreamy Tutu dress for New Years Eve available at H&M (sadly,we don't have H&M in Miami), 7. Beauty in a Box: Glitter Eyes Palette $36, 8. Mirrored Jewelry Box $59.95 9. Red Lipstick $30 10. Ballet for Dummies $13.14

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10 Great Gifts for Him

1. Shaving set $48 2. Mustache mug $12, 3. Portable USB Turn Table $140 4. 5 Year Diary $16.47 5. Electric BBQ Grill (great for balcony use!) $169, 6. iPod Speaker $25 7. Kiehl's Facial Fuel $30 8. Moleskin Pocket Notebook $10.95 9. Sunglasses $129 10. Merino Wool Scarf $49.50

10 Lovely Gifts for Her

1. Ban.do shoe clips $25 2. Details: A stylist's secrets to creating inspired interiors by Lili Diallo $25.97 3. Color pencil and brass holder set $65 4. The best! Rosebud Salve $6 5. Pantone Mug $10.95 6. The Happiness Project $25.99 7. ikat mini bowl $8 each 8. Eraser Ring $5 9. Incase Slider Case for iPhone in Gold Chrome $23.99 10. An Object of Beauty: a novel by Steve Martin $14.95