the 2013 Holiday Gift Guide and other Happenings!

In the midst of my aversion to all things related to "Black Friday" and the circus that is holiday shopping, I've truly enjoyed taking a lot of time to dream up my holiday gift guide. This year has been quite a journey for me as far as discovering new products and making new friends in the small business world is concerned, so in the spirit of mixing old with new, this year's guide features 'old faithful' brands that we all love and trust like Dubarry and Woolrich, alongside some smaller, younger brands like Barnwood Leather and Houndworthy. Let it also be emphasized that I'm of the QUALITY over QUANTITY philosophy. One gift, that's a bit more expensive but unique, stylish, and functional, is infinitely more meaningful than a pile of Black Friday doorbuster specials. 

Also, click through after the Guide for a peek at what I've been up to...

I should probably title this section: "Stuff Anne Loves and/or Wants," because that's basically what it is. (No, I'm not sorry.) 1. Dubarry of Ireland "Behan" jacket, $479. Full disclosure: I own it, and it's been my favorite piece all season (see mine at the bottom of the post). It's a Gore-tex lined (waterproof and breathable), classic quilted style with a bit of a motorcycle jacket vibe. The collar is amazing and the cut is really tailored, plus it's got handwarmer pockets, a hidden inside pocket, and 3 more outside pockets. 2. Dolce Vita "Assam Tea Booties," $129 at Anthropologie. For a leather Chelsea boot, the price on these is really reasonable, and I've had good luck with Dolce Vita footwear before, so I trust the quality without seeing them in person. The pop of orange on the gusset really transforms these into a distinctive piece that I'd base an outfit around. They come in all black smooth leather as well, but ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (see what I did there?) 3. Swiss Army for Hudson Bay pocket knife, $40 at Trove General Store. What girl (or guy) couldn't use a little pocket knife? Hey, if you get the Behan jacket you can stick it in your hidden pocket! Though it's a pretty basic gadget, the iconic Hudson Bay stripes ensure quite a bit of stylistic longevity in this little conversation piece. 4. Sanctuary "Patch Me Thru" vegan leather sweater, $88 at Wildfang. This is the Joan Jett, Wednesday Addams, Lisbeth Salander answer to all of your technicolor holiday garb. Simple and understated with a dash of badass, and yes, I said vegan. I can't tell you how I lust for this sweater! Wildfang is a Portland based shop created for reckless tomboys like myself - watch out! They're starting a movement. 

City boys are catching on to the benefits of hard working country style gear... and the country boys are getting more dapper. I decided they should meet halfway. So whether your dude tromps around the concrete jungle or sneaks off to hunting cabins, these picks should have universal appeal. 1. Colorblock Antler Keyring from North at  Houndworthy, $32 (£22). Each one of these Canadian antler keyrings is unique, (as no two deer are alike), and the color sequence varies as well, so there will be no confusion about which keys belong to you! P.S. The antlers are naturally shed, so no deer are hurt. 2. Dubarry of Ireland "Kerry" boot, $399. Ladies and gentleman, the world's first and only Gore-tex lined, waterproof Chelsea boot. They have a proper hand-cut leather sole with a stacked leather heel and rubber on the bottom for grip. The ultimate winter dress boot for the guy who works in the city and needs to look sharp. 3. Woolrich x Topo Designs "Klettersack" backpack, $249. Made in Colorado by Topo using Woolrich's heavy duty wool on the outside with a coated pack cloth liner on the inside. The entire Topo x Woolrich collaboration line is worth checking out, as they're made in very limited numbers! 4. Manastash Panel Parka, $450 at Trove General Store. Aside from the fact that they use extremely high quality fabrics, Manastash excels at creating pieces with an almost retro vibe that are somewhat insane looking, but indescribably appealing. The Panel Parka is completely waterproof with cozy handwarmer pockets.

As far as gift giving goes, fine leather goods are a no-brainer. If it's handmade, then that's even better. 1. Ball and Buck x Danner Light, $376. Ball and Buck has made a name for themselves by epitomizing the dignity inherent in American hunting and sporting culture. Their collaboration with the bootmaking icons at Danner features tough Vibram Gumlite soles supporting Gore-tex lined leather and camouflage uppers. Handsome enough for the street, hardcore enough for the field. 2. River City Leather "Smallet," $70. I've been following RCL for quite a while on Instagram and always admired this piece, and since they've just opened their online shop I figured it was a good time to pay the Smallet its due. Quite a simple little wallet, but I'm a sucker for the asymmetrical snap design. 3. Teranishi Brand iPhone 5 case, $85. I had my Trove x Teranishi iPhone 4 case for a long time and it served me well. This updated model does what most leather cases cannot, in that it maintains the streamlined silhouette of the phone while still giving it ample coverage and protection. Also, just wait and see what an amazing patina the natural leather will pick up after some use! 4. Barnwood Leather "Original Outdoor Office," $135 before Dec 13, $190 after. With room for notebook, tablet, cards, pens, etc., this sweet little carryall hearkens back to days of yore when people toted around day planners, yet it manages to capture a modern minimalist aesthetic. The dudes behind Barnwood are producing these high quality goods and sharing the profits with two nonprofit organizations that provide kids with horse-related therapy, and give food to children who are going hungry! A "feel good" purchase if there ever was one. 

Now for the "Happenings" part of the post...

Field Trip: Brooklyn Botanic Garden!

In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel that nothing can befall me in life, -- no disgrace, no calamity (leaving me my eyes), which nature cannot repair. Standing on the bare ground, -- my head bathed by the blithe air and uplifted into infinite space, -- all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part and parcel of God. The name of the nearest friend sounds then foreign and accidental: to be brothers, to be acquaintences, master or servant, is then a trifle and a disturbance. I am the lover of uncontained and immortal beauty. In the wilderness, I find something more dear and connate than in streets or villages. In the tranquil landscape, and especially in the distant line of the horizon, man beholds somewhat as beautiful as his own nature.
-- Emerson,  Nature 

PREFACE: Life and style are interchangeable; your personal style is influenced by and is a reflection of the life you lead. My preference for rugged goods and timeless design is very much connected to the fact that I'm an active person who's happiest doing things outdoors. Being mindful about what you buy and how you dress goes hand in hand with being conscious and aware of the world around you.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of my favorite places in New York the world. This year I was fortunate enough to go when the cherry blossoms were just about in full effect. It felt great to get out and walk around and take in all the beauty.

HIS Vans Classics, HERS Minnetonka from TROVE GENERAL.

AG Jeans, Free People tank, JCrew cardigan

What are some of your favorite Spring spots to explore?

Field Trip: the Great Pennsylvania Adventure!

The Great Pennsylvania Adventure, (or GPA, if you wish), was pretty phenomenal and exciting. As a result, this post is pretty long. There are lots of pictures though, so look at those and scan through my rambling as you please!

After living in Pennsylvania for two and a half years during the time I attended Villanova for my Masters, I haven't once returned back to visit. When I moved home to Long Island in October of 2011, I was very frustrated with Pennsylvania. I hadn't been able to find a job there that I could support myself on, I was far away from my family, and it was perplexing to me to live somewhere that's so hot over the summer without any beaches to go to. It sort of seemed like a lonely, landlocked hell. A year and a half later, I find myself waxing poetic about my time in PA. I miss living down the block from Milkboy Coffee and being able to walk up the street, get a cup of coffee and some food, and sit, people watching in an artsy Laptopistan. I was lucky enough at the time that my other half was willing to move his life down to Pennsylvania and have that adventure with me. He too, had become disenchanted with Pennsylvania and the struggles of starting over somewhere new, without the comfort of family and old friends. We made new friends, though, and we've only realized how important they are to us after so much time being away from them. Last week, we decided it was time to take a mini-vacation and revisit our old haunts along the Main Line and spend some quality time with good friends further south, in Oxford.

yours truly, in heaven.

Our first stop was Villanova, where I fulfilled my Alumni duty of spending money I didn't have in the bookstore. The campus looks wonderful with the many changes they've made to further "beautify" it since I graduated. Check that off the list. Next up we headed to our former home of Ardmore and had lunch at Milkboy Coffee. I was disappointed to not see any of the baristas I remember from when I was a regular there... but alas, times do change. 

PHASE TWO after the jump....

Update on our Leather Yourself post!

After my post a couple weeks ago about choice handmade leather goods, Teppei of Teranishi Handcrafted kindly offered to monogram my iPhone case for me if I mailed it back to him. I happily sent my little case in it's original handmade rolltop dust bag on its 3000 mile cross-country journey back to Vashon, WA., knowing that Teppei would certainly do a better monogramming job than I ever could. He posted a photo of the case on Instagram when he received it, and I was relieved to see it made it there safely.

It's less than a week later, and I just got my case back. He was kind enough to clean the leather up for me and freshen my edges (I drop my phone a lot...), as well as doing a stand-up job putting my initials on the belt loop.

Hand numbered from the first run!

Folks, this is why one must shop small. If you buy a phone case from the Apple store, are you going to be able to directly contact the person who made the case and talk to them about it? I'm thinking not. When you shop small, you have the opportunity to establish a meaningful relationship centered on pride, and quality, and accountable craftsmanship. One day, maybe I'll give this case to my grandkid and he or she will see my initials on the back and think that it's really special, the same way I do with anything that's ever been passed down to me.

Once again, you can purchase these cases directly from Teranishi Handcrafted or Trove General Store.

Also, the blog is now on Facebook! LIKE IT.

Better Bags

In truth, I have a really hard time getting excited about handbags. I don't carry that much stuff around with me either, so the only time a roomy bag ever comes in handy is when I'm with a few people and we need to smuggle snacks and drinks into the movie theater. It is due to my apathy and lack of enthusiasm about bags in general, however, that you should pay extra mind to this collection of bags that I am actually rather excited about.

To set the scene, let me introduce you to the bag I've used for the majority of the past 5 years: the Strand tote.

This bag has been through the wash. It's been re-sewn in a couple of spots. As you can see, it's had a couple of highlighters go capless inside of it (wild stuff). But the medium size, durable (recycled) material, and absence of excessive pockets and compartments have made this an ideal companion for my neurotically minimalistic mode of being. Also awesome: the bag is made in the USA, comes in a variety of colors and patterns, and is only $15 from Strand Books. Sadly I do realize that I can't drag around my war-torn Strand tote forever, and that is why for this post I've compiled an assortment of bags that would suit me just fine. 

I first saw the Pointer Brand Woodland Tote on Trove General Store's blog. Charlotte and Foster of Trove are good friends of mine and they always pick the best stuff to carry in the shop. Pointer is a classic American brand, and everything has been made right in Tennessee for almost a hundred years now.

At $60 it's significantly more expensive than the Strand bag, but it's roomier and probably quite a bit more well-made too. If I had the extra cash I'd probably order this bag right now, honestly. 

Fjallraven is another brand that I was initially introduced to by my friends at Trove General, but in the past few years I've seen them in different places and popping up in random urban "Street Style" blogs. They started off small 50 years ago in Sweden and have since expanded as a global brand, while still keeping true to their mission to make products that mindfully facilitate an outdoor lifestyle. 

In backpack form, the $55 Kånken Mini's dimensions and price are comparable to the Pointer tote. I think the black/red that I've shown might be my favorite color option, but the olive/red is a close second. This probably wouldn't be my choice for my everyday bag, but I can see it coming in handy for day trips and urban excursions.

If I wanted to placate my complete aversion towards carrying things around, I would absolutely go with the "So Clutch" collaboration between Topo Designs of Colorado and Mrs. P. Hicks. It's a cheeky nod to the envelope clutch trend that refuses to abandon some functional utilitarianism, (detachable strap included).

This bag fits the essentials, for me: phone, wallet, Field Notes, keys, chapstick. The $69 price tag is totally worth it for this bag, since they're only producing 50 of them (!!) and it's a collaboration of two very cool small brands, worth supporting. 

Something I've only just discovered are the bags of Wm. J. Mills & Co., of Greenport, NY. Greenport is a lovely little harbor town on the North Shore of Long Island, about a 30 minute drive from my house. The bags are made in the same sail loft in Greenport that they've been making marine products in since 1880. The materials are weather-resistant as well, and the stitching is all reinforced. 

At $150 the retro-inspired Flight Bag (top) is sadly out of my financial reach right now, but I plan on making a pilgrimage to their brick and mortar the next time I'm out in Greenport. I'm thrilled that something this cool is so close to home for me. 

Pointer Brand

Topo Designs

Mrs. P. Hicks

Fjallraven

Wm. J. Mills & Co.

In my eternal quest for tolerable baggage, I welcome any bag suggestions or feedback!