Colorful Coffee Cups

About two years ago, there was an art installation in the Flatiron Building that won me over. It featured paper coffee cups covered in intricate drawings. I was happy to see that the same artist, Gwyneth Leech, has teamed up with Anthropologie for a more permanent interpretation using ceramic cups. You can drink out of them, but I'd be tempted to leave one out on my desk all the time.

Biscuits for Breakfast

In my humble, southern opinion, nothing beats a biscuit (or three) for breakfast. It's the perfect buttery, crunchy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside vehicle for all sorts of deliciousness. I baked a batch over the weekend using Alton Brown's quick and easy recipe and served them up with strawberry jam and butter and warm maple syrup and ham. So if you're looking for a way to throw your New Year's resolutions out the window, look no further.

Pretend Party: Winter Warmth

My favorite thing about winter is that it encourages cozy nights at home with comfort food, mugs full of cocoa and board games while the fireplace or TV yule log is aglow. That's a perfect night to me.

[found here: textured mugs; marshmallows; hot chocolate pot; votives; flannel blanket; winter wreath; bean and chicken sausage stew; Scrabble; bonfire log; warm chocolate puddings]

Weekend in Photos

We got about 6 inches of snow on Friday, so I spent the rest of the weekend plodding around in it. It did give me a chance to wear the new coat I got for Christmas though! The rest of the weekend was spent staying warm inside, un-decorating the tree, seeing a movie and making biscuits. Hope you had a good weekend too!

Monthly Photo Project: January

With last night's snowstorm, cold seems like a fitting photo theme for January. I'll share the results on Friday, January 31st. Email me your photo and information in advance if you like, so I can highlight images from some of you. Send it to: southernhostess[at]gmail.com

Year in Photos

It's a little late, but I thought a recap of 2013 was in order. I made homemade marshmallows, subway-inspired Easter eggs (my most viewed blog post ever) and desserts galore. Jonah and I celebrated six years of marriage, and I turned 30. We took our usual trips to Savannah and Seattle as well as a trip Denver, one to Portland and two to Austin. There were some fun date nights. We had my favorite meal all year at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. I continued shaking up frocktails and even teamed up with Ruche for a few.

There weren't any major life events (unless you count meeting Martha Stewart), but it sure feels like we're on the cusp of some. Mostly, it was a year spent enjoying family, friends, life's little joys and you lovely people. I can't thank you enough for spending your time here. I so appreciate it and count myself lucky to have such wonderful readers and internet friends. I'm excited to see what 2014 has in store for all of us.

December Photo Project: Cheer

December seemed to fly by this year, didn't it? Luckily, your photos are helping me savor a last bit of holiday cheer. I took my photo after a dinner with friends in Brooklyn. Nothing like a warm, noisy restaurant on a cold New York night. Here's what you shared:

Lesley took this photo while she and her daughter were packing up reindeer food.

Vanessa of Hey Lady, Grey snapped a pic of a holiday toast.

Rachel of elephantine took this photo during her Christmas spent in L.A.

And Natalie of Natty Michelle shared her Christmasy chalk art.

If you want to share one of your cheerful photos, just leave a link below! I'll announce January's theme on Friday. Thanks so much for sharing your pictures, and Happy New Year!