Here’s my entire 2018 in 2 minutes or so. I struggle to put entire years into words when I write about them, but this pretty much sums it up!

Of course, what you don’t see here are the tough moments and struggles. Those happened! It wasn’t 100% festive and celebratory. I had plenty of breakdowns, failures, moments of confusion… It was the year of biting off more than I could chew.

Still, it was a year worth celebrating, like every other, and I’m glad to have this little montage to take me back.

Hope you enjoy, too. ♡ What was the highlight of YOUR year? (If you made one of these, I want to see it! Link me below.)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🥂

2018 was a whirlwind, so as the year came to a close, nothing sounded better to me than a laid-back New Year’s Eve with minimal fuss. Yup! For the first time in over a decade, I wanted to stay home.

In stark contrast to the full-blown bonanzas I’ve planned every year since my early 20s, I invited the girls over for a laid-back hang. It was planned in one day and I spent nothing, save for the cost of drinks and some snacks, to make it happen.

The ultimate secret, though? I held it the Saturday before NYE, so I checked the “fun party” requisite off my list and took the pressure off the 31st*.

Here’s how to throw a well-decorated, super-festive, totally low key New Year’s Eve party with the girls.

It might be a stretch to call The Palm Court at The Plaza Hotel a “café”, but my visit for Christmas tea this week more than earned it a place on my list of aesthetically pleasing hideaways.

I felt halfway between Gossip Girl and Downton Abbey as mom and I sipped bubbly and snacked on decadent bites in the midst of towering palms and a stunning interior. The prefix is pricey, but you know what? The experience was worth it.

The one word I’d use to describe Christmas Tea at The Plaza Hotel? Exquisite. Read on for stunning photos and a few insider tips that may be helpful if you’re planning your own visit.

Introducing… the project I’ve been going nuts over for the past couple of weeks! The Hey Mishka Vintage shop is officially open for holiday 2018.

I’ve been hunting high and low, online, offline, upstate, and all over NYC for magical vintage pieces that you can rock during the holidays. I’ll be adding additional styles to the shop all week and into the new year.

We did an exciting shoot in my apartment at the end of November to kick off the launch. It was a day of pastries, xmas lights, and standing on a step ladder to capture big smiles and candy cane-garnished toasts. So fun!

I hope it gets you in the holiday spirit and gives you a few outfit ideas, too.

Some of you may remember the vintage shops I’ve had connected to this blog in the past—and the fact that shooting DIY lookbooks in my various apartments has been a long-standing passion of mine.

Treasure hunting for special pieces and sharing them on my blog has also been a passion for the past decade! This time, the shop is bigger, better, and more festive than ever.

See the full lookbook below—and shop Hey Mishka Vintage holiday 2018! You can also get on the mailing list to receive updates on new arrivals and sales.

Is it just me, or is it kind of perfect when Halloween falls on a random weekday? That gives you actual Halloween and a weekend before—or after—for extended costume & candy festivities!

Am I actually just an overgrown child? Yes, when it comes to holidays, I am.  And nothing brings out my inner dork like Halloween.

This year I decided to host a chill pregame get-together for Halloweekend, gathering some friends up for drinks and costumed foolishness before we headed to the Queens Brewery for additional foolishness.

With just a few touches, I created a spooky spread for snacks, drinks, and creeping it real (sorry not sorry). Here’s a closer look! 

Halloween might be Wednesday, but we’re officially landing in Halloween weekend this evening! 🎃 Eeek!

Don’t know what you’re wearing? No problem. I tore through my closet and put together five fun costumes using things I already had laying around.

Now, some of these definitely did involve costume pieces from years past, but I’m willing to bet if you read my blog you’ve got a few random wigs, masks, and other fun things in your room, too.

We’re just those kinds of gals, amirite?!

I’ve noted below where I purchased things to add to the costume, along with the price, so you can see just how cheaply I put these together.

And while you might not be able to copy my costumes verbatim, I hope these will serve as inspiration for you to create your own!

Ready to dive in and trick-or-treat yourself to some no-fuss costumes?

Let’s go!

Well, babes, it’s officially 2017, and I’m fully submerged in the shimmering newness of it all. I have high hopes for the next twelve months… But here’s one thing I’ve learned the hard way: without an action plan, hopes don’t evolve into results.

What about you? Aren’t you tired of hoarding dreams and ideas because you can’t figure out how to make them real? Aren’t you tired of procrastinating on passion projects and doing what you love?

Well, enough is enough.

I want you to have an amazing year, so I dug into my mental inventory of life lessons and 2016 epiphanies. The result was this post. It’s full of actionable, realistic tips for making 2017 a seriously stellar year.

Before you jump in, you should know something about me: I COMPLETELY embrace resolution making.

I think it’s ludicrous to discourage people from embracing a fresh start, even if failure to follow through is typical. Change can take a few times around the block to stick, and there are so many factors to achieving your goals.

But to not even try…?

You should never give up on reaching higher. Having hopes, dreams and goals not only gives life a lot more spice, it can even help you live longer. Not surprising, but kind of amazing.

So, seriously. Get on the bandwagon—and I’ll get off my soapbox, promise!

Here are 5 ways to make 2017 your best year yet… for real.

Confession time! Sometimes I shop for wine based on the label. I have my favorites, of course, but when I’m picking out something new, I definitely let my aesthetic inclinations get the better of me.

That’s how I’ve discovered some of my favorite rosés!

Anyway, because of this little wine-shopping quirk that would cause my wine-connoisseur friends to experience mild seizures of frustration, I usually have some pretty cute empty bottles perched on my windowsill.

I’ll drop in a single flower or just let the light catch them until I cycle them out for the next round (hellooo, Minibar).

Earlier this month when I was cleaning out my apartment, I decided to put some of my prettiest bottles to use. I’d been wanting to make a luminous holiday centerpiece using LED lights forever… and this seemed like the perfect chance.

I’m kind of in love with the results. Want one for your apartment? A step by step video is below, clocking in at a whopping 36 seconds! Click through and check it out.

New York is pretty amazing all year round, but there’s one time in particular that you have to experience at least once: the winter holiday season.

Whatever you celebrate, if you’re into spectacular lights, cinnamon cocktails and DIY decor, you’ll find something to do in this veritable smorgasbord of metropolitan festivity.

There’s a lot going on though, from champagne toasting at Brooklyn boutiques to getting lost in holiday windows and watching acrobats in Santa hats. It’s hard to decide which events to pencil into your soiree schedule. That’s why I’m here!

Click through below for an evolving list of my favorite holiday 2016 to-do’s.

You better not shout, you better not cry…

We all know the lyrics to this uber-famous Christmas song… but the reality of the holidays for SO many of us is indeed of the cry-and-shout variety.

Between family drama, the pressure of #giftinggoals and stuffed schedules peppered with awkward office parties, it’s enough to drive anyone (except Martha Stewart) insane. With December 24th just a few weeks away, you might be wondering if this’ll be another year of not-so-magical chaos.

But wait—what if this year could be different?

What if you could get ahead of the madness, avoid the ho-ho-hangovers and swear off the vapid cocktail party convos for long enough to enjoy a holiday that’s actually jolly?

Don’t you want to be jolly, woman?!

Of course you do. So keep reading for 5 solid tips you can put to work this season to avoid having a Hallmark movie-sized meltdown. Also, there’s a present for you…