A funny, kind of magical thing happened to me recently. After the holidays, right around the time I usually feel the S.A.D. vibes setting in, I opened a newsletter from one of my writing heroines, Alexandra Franzen. For anyone unfamiliar, Alex is one of the most generous, warm, wonderful presences on the internet. She always seems to be giving.

Inside this email, she offered a pep talk to any of her readers who needed it. She admitted that—assuming her lists is in the tens of thousands by now—it would take some time to get to everyone, but she promised to answer each one.

Anticipating my typical winter blah-ness, I hit reply and confessed to one of my writer idols that I tend to feel crappy between February and March. I explained that by then, I’ve  usually lost the glow of the festive season and the sparkle of the new year. Noting that this discouraging part of the year was imminent, I asked her for any advice she had on staying inspired and happy.

I sent off my email, and waited.

I was definitely late to the Downton Abbey train, my friends. I watched an episode or two when everyone was going crazy about it a few years ago (I mean, people are still definitely going crazy about it, which this post clearly proves), but I didn’t get caught up in the fever until I sat down and really watched it this month.

Yup! This month! As of January 2018, I can officially declare myself a crazed Downton Abbey fan. My mother bought the special edition box set and we sat down to watch them together after I arrived in the Hudson Valley this month.

On Christmas morning my dad surprised us with tickets to the Downton Soiree & Exhibit in NYC this month, so we shopped for 1920 style dresses and accessories and sped off to the city last night for this amazing event.

The soiree was a cocktail party with in-costume wait staff (they looked right out of Downton Abbey) and endless champagne (which was partook in generously, obv).

The exhibit was a combination of museum-style displays of props and artifacts from the show—costumes, love letters, instruments used in the house—as well as in-depth history lessons surrounding the real Downton Abbey plastered on the walls.

Our favorite part, though, was that you could walk through recreations of the Downton Abbey rooms. From the dining room and servant’s hall to Lady Mary’s bedroom, it felt like stepping into the actual show. How cool is this?

The costumes on display were authentic vintage from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Below, you might recognize who wore each of these outfits if you’ve watched the show.

My crappy phone camera couldn’t even capture how dazzling and sparkly these were. As a fashion design grad and a lover of vintage, I was in my glories.

Before spring cleaning comes with epic New Year’s closet cleanout, am I right?

I’ve been eyeing things that looked like must-have’s during the holiday season—yes, things I bought as recently as November/December—and wondering, “What the hell was I thinking?”

Will I ever wear that crayon red plunge v-neck floor length gown? Did I really need that sequin jumpsuit or the multiple dresses I bought as “options” for New Year’s Eve? Probably not. Also, fun fact: I ended up wearing an older dress on New Year’s Eve anyway.

As I prepare to execute a major refresh of my wardrobe for 2018, I’ve been looking for the best places to donate clothing and textiles. I was surprised to find that, here in NYC, the initiative to reduce textile waste has really grown. I’m sure this is the case in other cities, too!

I also figured that the average consumer isn’t aware of most of these options. The ol’ bag drop off at Sally Army is better than throwing things in the garbage (depending on who you ask…) but there are now other viable options as well.

Read on for a list of places to donate clothing and textiles in NYC this year, and turn that closet cleanout into good vibes and good karma.

…it was worth reflecting on.

And upon reflecting, I realized it was pretty beautiful after all. I just wasn’t paying attention to the good stuff.

See, I usually have a big routine planned for the end of the year. I review accomplishments (my credit score skyrocketed, my freelance income doubled, I paid off my first student loan—yay!).

I imagine the beginning of the year and reflect on how far I’ve come, I look through photos, emails, notebooks… I try to get a picture of the year as a whole and honor it somehow before moving on.

I’m a person who loves holidays, ceremonious beginnings and endings, and marking occasions with bubbly. This year, though, I was feeling lackluster. I didn’t feel excited or refreshed or ready for a new beginning.

I just felt… blah. 

A few days before the new year, I still hadn’t made any grand plans to assess and celebrate 2017. The magic of the holidays had faded and I was staring at my to-do list once more. On top of my list? Assess 2017. Create a blog post celebrating the new year. My enthusiasm flatlined.

Regardless, I wasn’t about to let the year slip away without some sort of recognition. I’m all about celebrating life, dammit! 

On a whim, I had the idea to compile all of my random cellphone videos throughout the year into one clip. You know, the ones you take and don’t even post on social media? It turns out, when you put them all together, they paint an interesting picture of the year. The in-between moments. The days as they flowed together. The seasons as they passed.

I narrowed the clips down and edited everything in sequential order. When I hit export, I held my breath, suddenly very excited to see the finished product. See, as I’d gone through those clips, I had begun to get a sense of the year.

I laughed at random moments I had filmed, like trying to sip prosecco on Krystal‘s balcony on a freezing cold spring day. I remembered the really special moments, like virtually every second spent with my nephew and an amazing writing retreat I had in Woodstock.

When I watched the video, it hit me: 2017 was an amazing year.

There were no major victories. There were more monotonous days than epic moments. But I spent this year with friends, family, and people I adore. Watching the clips and then the finished video filled me with gratitude and dose of reality. Life is always, always worth appreciating and celebrating.

Here’s the video, in case you’re curious…

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?