Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone, which means the holiday season is officially upon us. As a kid, I used to get so excited about Christmastime. While Thanksgiving is still my favorite holiday, I have to admit, the holiday season doesn't have the same allure it once had. It might be from working in retail for many years and seeing how the commercial aspect of Christmas takes over. I used to see so many people frantically shopping on Christmas Eve, grabbing anything they could get their hands on just for the sake of buying a gift. Or it may be because my parents got divorced a few years ago, and the holidays haven't been the same since. Whatever the reason, sometimes I feel like the Grinch trying to get into the holiday spirit. So incase you're feeling a little bah-humbug yourself, I've compiled a few of my favorite traditions to help brighten your spirits.

All Of The Lights:
It sounds lame, but seeing Christmas lights always makes me happy (I actually wish we could keep white lights up all year round TBH). Whether you go see the lights and window displays at the Macy's in NYC, or take a drive through your neighborhood in the suburbs, I guarantee this will start getting you in the holiday spirit.   

PHC>PSL:
Peppermint Hot Chocolate is my version of a Pumpkin Spice Late. Enough said.

Donate a Toy:
Every year, I find a toy drive to donate a gift to a child in need. My mom started this tradition for my siblings and I when we were little. Every year we would select a child from our church's "giving tree" to buy a toy for, and this is still something I enjoy doing as an adult. You can donate to big organizations like Toys for Tots or the Salvation Army, or through smaller donation drives held by your school, work, church or even local small businesses.

New PJs (and matching socks!):
Another tradition my parents started for us when we were babies was giving us a new pair of pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve. My siblings and I are all grown now, but this is one tradition we still continue to do today. I love having a cozy new pair of PJs not only on Christmas Eve, but for the rest of those cold winter nights as well. So while you're out doing your holiday shopping this year, consider treating yourself to a new pair of festive pjs, guarantee it will make you feel like a kid again. And don't forget the matching socks! Hot Sox has some adorable holiday inspired pairs (link below to shop).

I hope these ideas have you feeling inspired, and that everyone has a happy and healthy holiday season spent with family and friends!
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Socks: C/O Hot Sox (www.hotsox.com)
Sweater: Madewell; Glasses: Warby Parker

"I'm an old soul. I'm pretty much convinced I'm reincarnated from the 1960's."

This is something I say quite a lot when describing myself to someone I am meeting for the first time (which is usually a guy I am on a date with, and probably explains why I'm still single...)

By now, it's probably no secret to you that I have a soft spot for anything 1960's related. I love everything about the decade, from the fashion, music, movies, history and everything else in between. I'm not sure how it's possible to feel so nostalgic for a time you've never actually known, but sometimes I find myself feeling downright sad that I'll never be able to experience the culture of the sixties first hand.

When I discover something new that is 1960's related, I instantly feel inspired, and that's exactly the way I felt when I discovered Grunten Mode. Grunten Mode is designed by Sara Boyd, a fellow sixties lover like myself. All of the pieces are handmade by Sara herself, and she is an absolute sweetheart. She sews everything in her atelier in the alps of Germany. Her craftsmanship is beautiful, everything from the fabric to the construction of the garments. Since I am a fashion designer myself, I love supporting independent designers, so I am so happy we got the opportunity to collaborate.

I often wonder where my love of the sixties originated from. My parents were babies in the 1960's, so they didn't fully experience the decade themselves, which means their tastes definitely didn't influence my interest for this time period. I didn't grow up listening to The Beatles or playing dress up in vintage shift dresses, but even from a young age I remember being passionate about the 1960's.  

I know there are a lot of other girls out there that share this same feeling of nostalgia. So, I'm curious to know, where do you think your love for this decade (or any past decade) came from? Is it something you learned to love because of what you were surrounded by, or is it something that has always just been embedded inside you? I'd love to hear your comments and feedback!

Dress & Bag: C/O Grunten Mode 
(http://www.gruenten-mode.de)
Tights: H&M; Shoes: Steve Madden; Bracelet: By Malene Birger
Photos: Max Spitzenberger (www.maxspitz.com)
Location: Paula Cooper Gallery (Chelsea, New York City)