Snowed In

I was lucky enough to catch my flight into Philadelphia just in the knick of time. One flight later I would have been stranded. I was welcomed home to a snowy and winter filled oasis...so I took advantage.

Fifteen inches of snow, hot chocolate, and Pride and Prejudice, probably the perfect Saturday.

Nest Holiday Hours: Open This Sunday

Nest open this Sunday 12.20

12-5 p.m.

Check out Nest store hours for the holiday:

Nest will be closed December, 25-26th and December 31-Jan 1.

click here to stay in the loop.

We wish you and your families a very happy holiday!

*Also note orders placed online after December 22, will be processed for shipping January 3.

Modern Living

[image source: Dean Kaufman]

I saw this post at the Dwell blog about 5 Dutch families living in "Creative Commons". With five independent units, it brings a new, modern, design to communal living.

[image source: Dean Kaufman]

Units labeled in these huge block numbers.

[image source: Dean Kaufman]

I love the writings on the wall and the bright green pop of color on the right.

view the slideshow here....
read full article here...

Happy Chic Holiday: Jonathan Adler Event Party Pics

View our Party section on Nestdallas.com to see full coverage of the Jonathan Adler event at Nest. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend!

Beth Dotolo, Jonathan Adler, and Lauren Chapman

Tracy Martin Taylor and Tracy Achor Hayes



Heather Wiese Alexander and Jonathan Adler



Sarah Briggs and Diana Kay



view more here

Hit the (Double) Wall

The first time I met Heather, we ended the evening together at her house. (Don't read into that more than you should.) She made me some coffee, and served it in these glasses. Three years later, I am still drooling over them.

In fact, I finally articulated my love for them and put them on my Christmas wish list. Santa, are you listening?

Made by Bodum, these darling glasses come in several styles & sizes. Their double wall structure allows for insulation for hot or cold drinks. Hot & Cool- just like the people that drink from them.

Though the shot size espresso glasses are darling- I am asking for the 9 oz & 12 0z sizes... and accepting them from anyone that is feeling generous.

Haute Holiday: Heather's Gift Picks

View Heather's favorite holiday gifts:

Sorapot
$200.00
"Suits the modern sophisticate to a T (tea) !"


Stocking Stuffer
Vanishing Creatures
$45.00
"Shopping with a conscience! I love chocolate and I love this cause."

All I Want For Christmas: Pie and Love Actually!

Two best parts of the holiday season: unlimited sweets and the movie Love Actually. I really love both so much I have no problem indulging in either of them all year long.

For over a month, Lauren and I have been plotting to make Banoffee Pie and watch Love Actually before we leave for the holiday. If your an avid viewer of this film you may remember Keira Knightly showing up at best man Mark's flat giving him a peace offering of Banoffee Pie.

Lauren and I have always been curious at to what kind of pie that is. Bless Lauren's heart, she googled it and has been making this crowd pleaser
ever since!



Ban-offee Pie (Banana, Coffee, and Toffee)
serves 8-10
(from the Hungry Monk in Sussex England)

12 ounces uncooked shortcrust pastry
1.5 tins condensed milk (13.5 ounces each)
1.5 pounds firm bananas
375ml of double cream
Half a teaspoon powdered instant coffee
1 dessertspoon caster sugar
A little freshly ground coffee

Preparation
Preheat the oven to gas mark 5 (400F, ). Lightly grease a 10in x 1.5in flan tin. Line this with the pastry thinly rolled out. Prick the base all over with a fork and bake blind until crisp. Allow to cool.

The secret of this delicious pudding lies in the condensed milk.
Immerse the cans unopened in a deep pan of boiling water. Cover and boil for 3 hours making sure that the pan does not boil dry *(see CAUTION).

Remove the tin from the water and allow to cool completely before opening. Inside you will find the soft toffee filling.

Method

Whip the cream with the instant coffee and sugar until thick and smooth. Now spread the toffee over the base of the flan. Peel and halve the bananas length ways and lay them on the toffee. Finally spoon or pipe on the cream and lightly sprinkle over the freshly ground coffee.


Bon Appetit! We skipped hot chocolate and went straight to chocolate milk.
It was 70 degrees in TX yesterday!


Sweet Gift from Lauren: wine bottle canvas tote from Maptote!
Love Love Love it!

She got me my hometown bag, Philadelphia.

Holiday song of the week:
"All I Want For Christmas Is You"!

Haute Holiday: Laura's Gift Picks

Check out my gift picks for this holiday season and other last minute ideas!


Type: A Visual History Of Type Faces
You get a supplement code with access to a database of fonts

Hootie Ornament
Hootie Hoo!

Don Carney Zodiac: Libra
My favorite Don Carney illustration, and perk, it's my sign!

F. Is For Frank: Feather Earrings
Drooling over these...I want them. I need them.



Keel's Simple Diary
A smart and fun gift for under $20. Plus it includes daily exercises to help you think through ideas creatively.

PRADA Book: A Nest Exclusive and Holiday Must Have!

With more than 4,000 photographs, PRADA, is the first book that documents three decades of ground-breaking fashion, architecture, film, and art by the Prada company.

Not only does this book highlight their amazing designs, they also venture into the work of the design studio+workshop, large-scale architectural commissions, and the development of a new museum. There is even a catalog of every Prada campaign since 1987!

So here is the best part, the exclusive! A limited number of these books have been released worldwide before the February 2010 launch and Nest has some of them! This is a pretty great gift, so hurry and pick up this sleek resource of fashion and design knowledge for the one you know who will love it.

More about PRADA:

Consider PRADA more an examination of their work internally and with special projects like the Prada Transformer (a rotating tetrahedron/art space designed by Rem Koolhaas)

[Image Source]

(Watch a video about this project here)

PRADA in Texas
Remember this?

The Prada sculpture in Marfa, TX.

[Image Source]

PRADA was conceived and edited by Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli in collaboration with designers Michael Rock and Sung Joong Kim of New York City design firm 2×4.

A Hatching At Nest...

Yesterday was a VERY exciting day for all of us at Nest as one of our brightest & best made the world a bit more beautiful yesterday. Beth (& hubby Kevin) welcomed baby Max into the world.

He sure is a cutie, and we couldn't be happier for our friends!

So while Beth is away tending to her new little chickie, I am stepping back in to the blogging scene. I can't wait to fill you in on what I have been seeing at trade shows, what gifts I'm most excited about for the holidays, and especially about all the delicious food I have been eating. It's great to be back on the coolest blog around!

Jerry Szor Trunk Show at Nest-3 Day Exclusive!

Today through Saturday, December 12, Jerry Szor will bring every piece in his collection to Nest. For these 3 days, enjoying shopping exclusive pieces and thoughtful prices before the holiday!

Other Perks:
Free Gift Wrap
Free Local Delivery (Dallas)
Free Shipping

See you there!
10 a.m-5:30 p.m
12.10-12.12

Dish Dallas: Jonathan Adler-"A New Obsession"

Thanks to Molly Nolan at Dish Dallas for her post on the Jonathan Adler event held at Nest last week. His line has become her new obsession. Read her full post here.

Haute Holiday: Beth's Gift Picks

Check out Nest Interior Designer Beth Dotolo's favorite gifts for the holiday season.




Three Chamber Carafe
This three chambered decanter is available in clear or orange. The set also comes with 4 glasses.
" I love a night with a glass of wine by the fire."



Chocolate Truffles
"What goes better with wine than chocolate?"

Sweet Music To My Ears

Love these new speakers! The Music Balloon is a small speaker for your desktop or smaller space. It is a portable USB speaker that can plug into your audio source with a 3.5mm audio plug! You can re-charge your speakers on your computer.




Also new to our Nest are these GEM headphones. Under $30, they are a great gift for a friend on the go. They are super light and the spherical shapes fit cozily into your ears.






My holiday song of the week: The Waitresses "Christmas Wrapping"

Nest In FD LUXE "Celestial Seasonings"

Make sure to check out FD Luxe this month for their holiday gift guide finding the seasons most "stellar gifts" using signs from the zodiac to guide the way.

Sagittarius: Horn Magnifying Glass

Taurus: Variegated Horn Bowl
Call 214.741.4004 to inquire about availability.

Libra: Bell'Invito Zodiac Libra

Pisces: Greg Piazza Digital Print on Plexi
Call to inquire about commissioned pieces.

Gemini: Sorapot

Gemini: Type: A Visual History of Typefaces and Graphic Styles

Scorpio: Onyx Lighter

For other great gifts in FD Luxe, read more here.

Desperately Seeking Stockings and Other Holiday Finds

I have finally come across a Christmas stocking that I actually don't think looks cheesy. I am currently on the hunt for the perfect stocking to grace my mantle. Alas! I came across this "modern classic" kit from Knit Picks that I honestly really like. It reminds me of winter gloves and classic socks I would wear in my snow boots.

Other holiday favorites:Door wreath: Peace Wreath

Stocking Stuffer: Dove Ornament