Christmas in the Hudson Valley was pure magic this year. I already miss it. It was a calm, snowy few days where the stress of the world just melted away and there was no limit to pastries, coffee, and sparkling wine. Basically, heaven!

As always, I spent it in the Hudson Valley with the fam, chasing around my precious nephew Otto and hanging out with my brothers.

And yes, one of my favorite gifts was this adorable Pusheen mug 😍 …and a coaster that warms up your cup—I’m the queen of forgetting about my coffee!

It’s been a long time since New York had a white Christmas, so it felt extra special.

My parents’ house looks like straight up Narnia in the snow, so I couldn’t stop myself from pulling on snow boots and trudging out into the fluffy white landscape early in the morning on December 25th to capture the scene.

On Christmas evening we went to my Aunt’s house—another Christmas tradition—and marveled at her enormous tree.

After a year that felt kind of drab, this was a really special way to top it all off. I boarded my train back to NYC today feeling extra grateful (and extra full).

Can you believe Christmas is five days away? When did that happen?

I’ve been so busy preparing for the Sugar x Spice Holiday Makers Market (which was a success with over 400 shoppers!) and doing some year-end hustling that I haven’t really taken time to chill out and let this month soak in. I’m going to do my best to put the yearly review and ecstatic 2018 planning off for Christmas and just chill a little.

Before that, though, I wanted to drop in and share some December inspiration to top off 2017. Some of these links are actually older and I’ve been hoarding them for months (yes, I’m a link hoarder), but ALL of them relevant as ever.

The internet is maxed out with blog posts and articles that equate to fluff and garbage, so when I find a piece of content that really brightens my day or opens my mind, I feel like it’s my job as a citizen of the internet to share it!

And really, who doesn’t need a little inspiration or a dose of feel-good vibes? That said, here are a few of my favorite things on the internet right now…

Hey Mishka Loves… ♥

 First, for the NYC babes reading, check out this coat drive event with blogger City Style Britt on Saturday 12/23. There will be hot cocoa, coffee, tea and mocha with signature toppings by Squish Marshmallows.  Help keep the city warm this winter!

 Also for the NYC babes, if you love ice cream and you love lattes, this is going to be your favorite day ever… because ice cream cone lattes are now a thing. It’s called #CoffeeInACone and it’s on the top of my to-do list this week. Grab one at Bluestone Lane.

 The concept of failure as a stepping stone to success is seriously one of the most important things I’ve learned in this lifetime (heavy sentence, I know). That’s why I’m a HUGE fan of Girl Boss’s piece on welcoming chances to fail in 2018.

 End of year slacking? Not always a bad thing. Sometimes, a very good thing.

 Planning on hitting that eggnog hard this season? Here’s how to keep your skin looking merry and bright despite the indulgence.

 Speaking of skincare, here are some delish gifts from mother earth that are slated to be all the rage in the new year. Get a head start.

 Want to collect art you actually adore? It’s hard to know where to start! Luckily, Etsy has an excellent guide to getting started.

 Just… follow this account. #visualbliss

 Barrettes are making a comeback, and they’re crazy-cute. I recently returned to scrunchies, so why not barrettes too? I love anything that I can decorate my topknot with! *wink wink*

 Quick tip for improving air quality in the bathroom and having extra-aromatic showers? Hang eucalyptus from your showerhead. Aside from smelling good, it can help with allergy woes.

 Protein + coffee = two things most of us need in the morning. Why not combine them?

 Oldie but goodie—and perhaps especially important for some during the holidays: One of my favorite bloggers ever shares her tips for loving life when you’re solo.

 Reminder: Taking breaks on the hour is essential for your brain and body. Also, bookmark this one for the next time you’re having a terrible day. It might help.

 Here’s an interview that inspired me to the moon and back. Hitha Palepu of Hitha on the Go is true boss babe material. In fact, I’m going to re-read it right now!

 Still trying to get that hot French girl vibe going? Aren’t we all! While you’re at it, here’s the chicest place to stay in Paris.

 Can we just talk about the lack of a candy cane emoji for a second? Also, this makeup trend is AMAZING.

Mmmm, I feel better already. And now, to make my morning even sweeter, I’m gonna grab a cup of tea and put on some cheesy Christmas movies. Drop a comment below and tell me what you’re getting inspired by this week!

Oh em gee, you guys. The Sugar x Spice Holiday Makers Market was yesterday, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with how everything turned out!

I spent the past two months designing promo materials and a website, curating Brooklyn-based vendors, and promoting all over the internet. I even made a little cartoon featuring our market mascot.

Meanwhile, an incredible group of 32 vendors got to work creating exclusive product and prepping their inventory. Our vendors made everything from sustainable clothing and accessories to miniature dioramas, hand-embroidered patches, organic body products, aromatherapy jewelry, artisanal accessories and more.

This was my first-ever market, and while I’ve sold my own creations at markets for seven years, I had no idea what I was in for. It was an insane amount of work, but the venue (big ups to Brooklyn Bazaar) was really helpful and made sure we had everything we needed.

I couldn’t have predicted the warm and fuzzy feeling that would hit me as my vendors arrived one by one. What a talented, vibrant group! Then, when we officially opened the doors, there was a line of people waiting outside to get in. Oh man… My heart grew several times in size, Grinch-style.

I’ve said this many times across the Sugar x Spice social media platforms, but here’s another huge THANK YOU to everyone who was involved. You guys a made my holiday season a thousand times brighter.

If you couldn’t make it ( I don’t blame you, the G train was down), you can still experience a little bit of the magic in the photos below!

File this under first world problems, but… it took me forever to choose a new pom-pom beanie this year. Knowing I wanted to jump on this oversized pom-pom trend, I browsed a ridiculous number of options from Amazon to Urban. I even bought a few duds!

I’ve been blessed with a slightly larger than average head size, so most hats slip right off or just don’t look as cute as they do online. It’s hard to find something that’s cable knit, thick and warm, but doesn’t fit too tight or totally ruin your hair. I know my fellow bangs-wearers will understand this dilemma!

Anyway, after shopping around for a while, it dawned on me: one of my copy clients literally specializes in the very product I was searching for! I ordered a faux-fur pom-pom beanie from Canadian winterwear experts Kyi Kyi, and eagerly awaited its arrival…

Oh. My. Gah…

Eek! I started a dinner club! After reading about fancy, underground dinners happening around the city this spring (for super cool people with extremely advanced appetites) I decided to start one of my own.

I named it the Rose Gold Dinner Club and invited a handful of inspiring women who I’ve been meaning to introduce to one another. Each member will have a chance to set a dinner theme, from the decor and dress code to the menu itself.

I’m thrilled to report that our first dinner was a huge success!

This is something I’ve always dreamed of doing. The idea of inspiring women sitting around a table, sharing ideas and bonding over delicious food is pretty much the most amazing thing I can possibly think of.

In New York, you end up having a few different social circles, and sometimes getting them to cross over and mesh can be a challenge with everyone’s different schedules. Even before I sent out the invitations, I was giddy just imagining these friends sitting across from one another exchanging stories and getting to know one another.

Since my current living situation has a spacious living and dining room, I decided the timing was right!

The first theme was the “Linear Dinner”, and the entire experience was conceived by brilliant Macedonian artist (and dear friend) Klimentina Jauleska. She created an art installation in my apartment, extending the piece onto the table with hundred-year-old Macedonian yarn, clear plates, and transparent cubes filled with different linear patterns.

It was wildly creative! And of course, we had a blast. Here are some photos of the setup and the dinner itself.

Finding fresh, delicious scents, sprays and beauty products is one of my favorite things to do—especially in the summer. What’s more fun than shopping for summer beauty products? I could spend an entire day wandering around the city looking for the perfect aromas, mists and soaps to box up and bring home.

A couple weeks ago, I did just that. Here’s a peek into my summer beauty essentials and scent lineup, from the perfect primer to the sweetest smelling suds… and of course, a healthy dose of rose. Seriously, does a more flawless scent exist?

Even though it’s only May, the consensus in NYC right now is that we’re in full-on summer mode… and it feels amazing! We’ve got a few 90-degree days under our belts and girls are already running around in strapless dresses and super short-shorts.

Aaand, with intense heat comes an intense need to stay hydrated. I plow through lemon water and seltzer like nobody’s business, but when Detox Water offered to ship me three bottles of goodness, I became a rabid fan within the first few sips.

The hunt for cute places to sip coffee is on this spring, and today I want to show you one of my favorite little hangs in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Central Cafe is bursting with rustic charm. I spent many mornings recovering from hangovers in their backyard, sipping their deeeelicious ice coffee.

Pretty much everything inside is Instagram-worthy, but the back yard’s pink brick wall and flourishing greenery is what had me hooked.

Oh, and good food.

Spring is finally here! My brain is a veritable explosion of boozy brunches and cherry blossoms! Also? I’ve officially put away my winter wardrobe.

It was a relatively mild winter in terms of snow storms and such, but it felt so, so long, and there’s just nothing as amazing as seeing the flowers and leaves pop into view after months of grey.

It’s been a long time since I did an outfit post, too, so I thought the onset of this delightful season would be the perfect time to share a few of my favorite recent finds.

Here’s what I wore over the weekend when I was traipsing around my nabe and stopped for an iced chai at Brooklyn Kolache.

Just a few postcards from New York Cit-ay!

This week I did some sketching, got glittery nails, toasted the end of winter with some bubbly rosé, wore my new cat-eye sunnies everywhere, and soaked in the sights and sounds of this crazy place I call home.

I also got a new necklace, which I fell in love with and then promptly broke. Story of my life.

What are YOU up to this week?

After every 3,000 words we write, Krystal and I have a cocktail. It’s called motivation!

“There is no time for cut-and-dried monotony. There is time for work. And time for love. That leaves no other time.” — Coco Chanel