Habitually Chic Gift Guide: The Art Lover

I liked Domestic Art: Curated Interiors so much that I actually paid for price for it at Archivia books in NYC because I wanted to take it home and read it right away. Not only are the interiors beautiful but the art collections are too. It's definitely worth picking up for yourself or your favorite art lover.

For the art lover who needs a new daily planner, Smythson has launched the limited edition art diary. John Baldessari, Gary Hume, Ed Ruscha, and Rachel Whiteread have created these collectible works of art that are available separately or as a complete set of 8 for $2,800. I just wonder if they lose their value if you actually write in it!

Mrs. John L. Strong's Collector Diary and Directory seems like a bargain at $295 compared to Smythson and also lists all of the world’s most important art fairs, antique shows and auctions. And as my art advisor friend says, it's a buyers market right now so this could come in very handy.

Sometimes people wonder what an artist was thinking when they look at a painting and now Calvin Tomkins has come to their aid with The Lives of the Artist. Tompkins spent time with the 10 artists he profiles so the resulting essays are more intimate and personal than most over books. This would be a lovely gift for any art lover from a beginner to the serious collector.

One gift that keeps on giving is a museum membership. For the modern art lover, the Museum of Modern Art would be perfect. In addition to the regular memberships, the MoMA also has great affiliate groups such as the Junior Associates for the younger set and The A&D Circle for those interested in architecture and design.

Always a classic is The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Few people know that admission to the museum is actually free, but it's still nice to support them with a membership. They also have a great group for the young art enthusiast called The Apollo Circle.

Cire Trudon has a candle that's perfect for the art lover. The Dada candle celebrates the creativity and artistic expression of the Dada movement "with a touch of tea and vetiver, dressed up with crumpled mint leaves and eucalyptus." Of course, not many people can explain Dadaism so you can just tell them "ceci n'est pas une pipe."

If all else fails, just buy them a box of Marie Belle chocolates since each one is like a little piece of art. Just don't try to hang them on the wall!

It took me 40 years to find out that painting is not sculpture. - Paul Cezanne

Holiday Chic Gift Guide: Marie-Antoinette

My gift guides got a little waylaid by last minute holiday shopping and traveling so I'm going to see how many more I can get in before the big day. Maybe they will help the last minute shoppers out there. As I mentioned before, I wanted each guide to be themed around a book and this time it's Marie-Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles. The photos by Francois Halard are amazing! (To see them click here.) I think it is one my favorite books of this year and instead of buying your friend or loved one just one book, why not make it a special by including a few others.

Marie-Antoinette: The Journey is the bestselling biography of the doomed Queen by Antonia Fraser that dispels the myths and legends without boring the reader to tears. I think it would a great companion gift to the beautiful photos from The Last Garden of Versailles.

Look at the photos, read the story and then see them both come to life in Marie Antoinette the movie. Sophia Coppola was inspired by Antoinia Fraser's book and the lavish costumes and stunning scenery definitely make it a perfect stocking stuffer.

Another fun book to wrap up with the rest if the Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution by Caroline Weber. It examines how fashion played a role in not only her life but also her death. And what girl doesn't want to read about fabulous frocks!

You may not be able to dress like Marie-Antoinette but you can burn a candle made by a company that used to supply Versailles. The Cire Trudon Trianon Candle is an homage to Marie Antoinette so when you burn it, you can also pretend that you living a simple country life!

If you are looking for something more dramatic, you can always buy the bust candle of Marie-Antoinette by Cire Trudon but for $85 I probably wouldn't want to burn it.

I think once you've done your homework and read all the books and watched the movie, a trip to Versailles is in order. That way you can see the Queen's actual bed chamber above and the bust that inspired the candle.

Of course, you will stay in Paris so while there, make sure you stop in for some macaroons at Laduree. They are divinely delicious and worth the calories and will make you feel like a queen.

If all that is just too expensive, you could always just wrap up some Let Them Eat Cake Bon Bon Lip Balm by Tokyo Milk and call it a day. But if you buy them a book too, they'll learn that Marie-Antoinette didn't actually say "let them eat cake!" Joyeux Noël!

Bon Voyage!

Patrick Dennis: Is the English lady sick, Auntie Mame?
Auntie Mame: She's not English, darling... she's from Pittsburgh.
Patrick Dennis: She sounded English.
Auntie Mame: Well, when you're from Pittsburgh, you have to do something.

That's one of my favorite quotes from Auntie Mame! It seemed appropriate since I'm flying into Pittsburgh Sunday to spend Christmas with my family. They don't actually live in Pittsburgh but it's close and if I'm lucky, I might also meet up with another blogger who'll be in the 'Burgh for the holidays! Can you guess who?

Another lovely blogger, Hello Gorgeous, was so sweet and sent me a copy of Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escape by Patrick Dennis! I was very excited because I was wondering what else to take along to read besides magazines in case my flight is delayed. They better just not cancel my flight like they did on my birthday or lose my luggage. HC doesn't travel light enough for carry on but you probably already guessed that! I'll also be posting while I'm away! Bon voyage and happy holidays!

Congratulations!

Over 1500 people entered the Williams-Sonoma Home Cashmere Throw Blanket Giveaway but there could only be five winners! They are Heather Morris, Jessica Miller, Merry Hope Hulsey, Chelsea Watlington, and Caroline Brown! I'll be sending your addresses to Williams-Sonoma Home so that soon you can wrap yourself up up comfy cashmere! Congratulations!!!

Another Habitually Chic Giveaway!

To celebrate the opening of their on-line shopping cart, my fabulous new friends at Maison 24 have generously offered to give away 5 of their divine smelling candles to Habitually Chic readers. I have one of the Le Jardin candles and it smells heavenly so I know you will love them! They are also offering 15% off all all web purchases until December 25th!

This time the giveaway rules are a little different. These giveaways are meant to thank my loyal readers so I will be choosing a winner from among those who have signed up as a subscriber. That means if you want to be entered, you have to sign up! This change is due to a sneaky sweepstakes website that posted my giveaway to it's readers. I will be choosing a winner on Tuesday, December 23rd so you have until 11:59pm on Monday, December 22nd to sign up. I will then contact the winners for their mailing address and Maison 24 will ship out the candles to the lucky subscribers! Bonne Chance!

Fraiches is a fresh, clean, invigorating scent created to smell like you (or your man) just stepped out of the barbershop. Not just a candle, it’s a mandle. Fraiches is an enticing blend of Mediterranean geranium, basil and sparkling lemon mixed with lavandin, sensual patchouli and rich vanilla beans. (Yummy!)

La Plage smells like the sun, surf, salty air, & suntan lotion – the sensational scent of a day at the beach. All that and no scratchy sand in your swimsuit – love. La Plage is a warm, seductive fragrance of coconut and almond blended with hints of peony and heliotrope and the richness of tonka beans, praline, and vanilla. (Anything that smells like suntan lotion is a winner in my book!)

Le Jardin is a sexy, sensual blend of fruit, florals and spices that’s decidedly more exotic garden than enchanted garden. Perfect when you’re feeling passionate. Le Jardin is an arousing mix of lily, ylang ylang and wild rose entwined with peach, coconut, patchouli, clove and warm musk. (Love this one too!)

Oh the weather outside is frightful!

The weather outside is frightful

But the fire is so delightful

And since we’ve no place to go

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Well, it doesn’t show signs of stopping

But we’ve got some corn for popping

And the lights are turned way down low

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

I went out to brave the snow today but didn't last very long. It was really windy and cold! Usually when it snows in New York, it's shoveled away so fast that by the next day you can't even tell it snowed but I don't know if that will be the case this time. I just hope it's all clear by Sunday when I have to fly home for Christmas. Keep your fingers crossed!

Holiday Toffee

One of my holiday traditions is making toffee. Sometimes you want to give a friend or co-worker a little something but not necessarily buy them an expensive present so the toffee is perfect. People appreciate that you took the time to make it yourself and it really is delicious! For a larger group like my friends at Flair, I pack it up in little boxes but most of the time I put a few pieces in a clear cellophane bag tied with a red satin ribbon. It's not exactly low calorie so sometimes less is more!

Holiday Toffee

Base Layer:

2 1/4 cup chopped pecans

2 sticks unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

6 tablespoons light corn syrup

2 tablespoons water

Topping:

12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate

1 cup finely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast pecans on a baking sheet for approximately 5-10 minutes. Let nuts cool and measure them out so they are ready to go when you need them. It's important to plan and measure everything in advance because once you start boiling the sugar mixture, you won't have time later. You can also use almonds but everyone thinks the pecans taste better.

Lightly oil a 15 1/2 in. by 10 1/2 in. metal baking pan. I use Pam and then wipe off the excess with a paper towel. You should also spray a spatula for later and set it aside.

Cut butter into small pieces and in a 2-3 quart heavy sauce pan combine with the sugar, light corn syrup and water. Bring mixture to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil sirring occasionally until candy thermometer registers 290 degrees. It takes approximately 10 minutes and the mixture will start to turn a caramel color. It's very important that you let it reach the "hard crack" stage. If you don't, the toffee will be chewy instead of crunchy.

Once the mixture is the desired temperature, quickly stir in the 2 1/4 chopped pecans and immediately pour out onto the prepared baking sheet. Using a spatula, quickly spread the toffee into as even a layer and as close to the edges of pan as possible.

Let mixture stand 1 minute. The original recipe says you can just melt 12 oz. of chocolate chips over the hot mixture and spread them with a spatula but I prefer to melt baking chocolate in a double boiler and spread that over the sugar mixture. I also wipe off the top of the sugar mixture with a paper towel so the chocolate will adhere and not separate after it's cooled. Then sprinkle 1 cup of finely chopped pecans on top and gently press them into the chocolate.

Chill the toffee until the chocolate is firm, at least 2 hours. I usually chill it overnight. Once cooled, break toffee into bite size pieces and pack them into bags and boxes. Keep toffee chilled to prevent the chocolate from melting. Then enjoy!