This or That: Peppermint Ice Cream

I've always thought it a shame that peppermint ice cream is largely a seasonal flavor. When I was younger, I begged my mom to stock the freezer with as many tubs as possible, only to be disappointed come February when the last of the supply was diminished. To this day, my obsession with seasonal ice cream flavors (pumpkin around Thanksgiving, etc.) continues to amuse my friends. In honor of my favorite winter flavor:

 Seasonally appropriate peppermint and chocolate treats....

... and an equally sweet plaid Lacoste shirt dress.

Image via weheartit.

Presented Like a Present

When it comes to Christmas gifts, I think packaging is just as important as the contents. That's not to say that it is more important, as obviously an intricately wrapped empty box is just that - an empty box. However, I do think that the little extra thought that goes into picking a lovely paper and coordinating ribbon and creating a personalized tag really adds a nice element to the gift.

With shopping in full swing, I've had bows and ribbons on the mind. When I came across this image, I instantly was smitten. The delicate bow and coordinating nail polish come together to form a beautiful picture.

While it would be pretty simple to whip up a version with a little ribbon and an old ring, I like the polish and durability of the following rings as well:

 

1. Charlotte Russe, $4. 2. Charlotte Russe, $7. 3. Coach, $68 (I posted about the matching bangle earlier).

Image via weheartit.

Moleskine Collaborations

What's a Moleskine? From the company's website:

Moleskine is the legendary notebook that has held the inspirations and ideas of everyone from Van Gogh, Picasso and Hemingway to famed author, Bruce Chatwin. Artists, authors, and geniuses of all variety have long appreciated the simplicity and superior functionality of these notebooks.

Moleskine books were originally produced by small French bookbinders. However, In 1986, the last manufacturer of Moleskine, a family operation in Tours, closed and Moleskine production ceased. In 1998, a small Milanese publisher revived the classic book.

I was thrilled when I saw that Moleskine had collaborated on a special set of books to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Pacman. Pacman, and of course Mrs. Pacman and the ghosts, are indispensable pop culture icons instantly recognizable by several generations.

Moleskines are a bit pricey compared to other notebooks, but the quality and design are well worth the expense. The iconic pocket in the back of the book is handy for holding everything from business cards to ticket stubs, and I love the creative feeling I get totting around a notebook for ideas and sketches. With a variety of colors, sizes, and paper, there's a Moleskine for every type.

Image via Moleskines.com

Sweater Dresses

I have to admit my first reaction to sweater dresses was to balk at their impracticality. After all, if it's cold enough to warrant wearing a sweater, shouldn't you at least wear some proper pants? I'd like to invoke the ignorance of youth as my defense. Moving on, I've grown to love sweater dresses paired with tights and flats or leggings and boots.

This BCBG black sweater dress with a cowl neck is one of my favorite pieces in my closet (and not just because it was a gift from a very special someone). I've experimented with wearing it with tights and bright pink flats, and with boots and a skinny belt. I love how comfortable and easy sweater dresses are, and yet they manage to look effortlessly chic and pulled together.

I was thrilled to find this tutorial for creating a sweater dress from an over-sized men's sweater. Basically, any old sweater can be flipped inside out, pinned to fit, sewn along the new seams, and flipped back to normal. Adjusting the arm holes would be the trickiest part, but if that proves too daunting, the sleeves could be simply shortened and hemmed as the over-sized look is quite current. Now to dust off the sewing machine...

Image via Bluefly

Honey-Ginger Tea

I've been a bit under the weather, which translates into the consumption of copious amounts of TheraFlu. The taste is awful, but if you can chug it down (literally, the label recommends finishing the glass in 10 minutes) the after effects are quite calming.

I've always sworn by warm tea with a touch of honey when sick. Though I usually stick to peppermint or Celestial Seasoning's Sleppytime tea, I've managed to acquire a fair amount of green tea during the semester. I saw this recipe for Honey-Ginger tea that incorporates green tea and had to give it a try. It's rather soothing and perfect for anyone with a cold.

Honey-Ginger Tea Recipe (from Southern Living)

Ingredients

• 1  (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled
• 1  regular-size green tea bag
• 1  tablespoon  fresh lemon juice
• 2  tablespoons  honey
• 1  cup  boiling water

 Preparation

•  Grate ginger, using the large holes of a box grater, to equal 1 Tbsp. Squeeze juice from ginger into a teacup; discard solids.
• Place tea bag, lemon juice, and honey in teacup; add boiling water.
• Cover and steep 3 minutes. Remove and discard tea bag, squeezing gently.

Image via MyRecipes

Riva

Chanel's 2011 Resort collect set the fashion and beauty worlds into a frenzy with the pale blue lacquer adorning the model's fingernails.

The color, dubbed Riva, is a limited edition released December 1st. While the polish fit seamlessly into the Resort collection, it is perfectly suited for winter's bitter temperatures as well.

 

The color reminds me of a frozen pond dotted with graceful skaters as glittering snowflakes swirl down. Overly romantic? Surely. But that's the world of Chanel.

And for those who don't want to spend over $30 on a nail polish, Nylon magazine has a DIY beauty recipe for mixing your own.

Images via here and here.

Leather Gloves

As much as I love my convertible mittens (or glittens as my friends refer to them), I felt a little silly wearing them with a business casual outfit. Of course, as it was thirty something degrees outside, not wearing gloves was far from a reasonable option. Instead, the quest begins for a pair of the glitten's slightly classier relative, the leather glove.

Of course, settling on a color may very well take me through the end of winter, rendering the process rather useless. Here are some of my favorites.

Classic neutrals for my more conservative half:

 

1. Lord & Taylor, $40. 2. Portolano, $50. 3. Preston & York, $27.

Brightly colored and detailed pairs for my youthful side:

 1. ASOS, $19. 2. ASOS, $28. 3. Preston & York, $34.

After compiling my favorites, I realized I inadvertently picked stop light colors. No matter. I'll just use it as a corny pun: perhaps these gloves will stop traffic? ;)