2009 NYC Holiday Tweet-up

Last night, after the office holiday party festivities, I met up with a few other NYC bloggers for a little "holiday tweet-up" at a bar in Soho.

And let me tell you this: Manhattan was hoppin' BIG time last night. BIG TIME. But I guarantee that there was not one other table in the city surrounded by more creativity, influence, insight, comedy, ideas, and general lady-hotness than ours.

These are the amazing women that simultaneously inspire and entertain me. And if you aren't reading their blogs or following their sweet tweets, get out there and do so immediately. This is good stuff, ya'll.

Nichole/Little Brown Pen

Courtney/June Twelve

Amy/ABCD Design

Jenna/Whimsy & Spice

Lydia/The Clueless Crafter

Catherine/My Turtleneck

Michelle/Design Evolution

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Grammatically gorgeous

This afternoon at our unofficial staff holiday party, we exchanged small gifts via "white elephant" --you know, where everyone brings a wrapped item, draws a number, then opens or steals the various gifts from the other participants. (It's one of those party games that's more fun if there's alcohol and/or a large group and/or a few tacky gifts involved.)

The gift I brought? An un-tacky version of "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White (the one illustrated by Maira Kalman, who also designed one of my favorite kids' books). It's the kind of book I jump up and down for--not only is it a great reference on writing, but it also contains delicious art that I'm tempted to rip out of its binding, slap in a frame, and hang on the wall.

I've been experiencing that same "elements of writing as art" feeling all week, actually--especially toward the House Industries type foundry. In fact, the feeling has kept their website up in my web browser in an open tab for the past four days. And I just can't close it because I just can't get my fill of these:

PLINC Buffalo A Large Print: $35

(Awesome, because I collect the letter A. And I'm thinkin' I might need to add this one to the collection.)

Small Ampersand Pillow: $45

Maple Emperor B Print: $80

Neutraface No. 2 Asterisk Print: $35

Large Ampersand Cutting Board: $110

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P.S. The hottest, most-stolen gift at our party? The voluspa seasons candle tin from Anthropologie (seriously, like five people were coveting it). And I am happy to report that I ended up as the proud owner of this adorable and appropriately writer-ly Thomas Paul Pencil Cup. (Thanks, SM!)

Things my garbage disposal has met vs. things I wish it could meet

Has met:

• An entire bag of Trader Joe's frozen peas "mistakenly" left out overnight


• Stubborn crusts from pizza slices bought at My Little Pizzeria


• A whole loaf (a whole loaf!) of burnt banana bread


• A series of unfortunate q-tips, plastic forks, and earring studs


• Suicidal chocolate chips trying to escape mousse-making sessions

Wish it could meet:

• The word "moist"


• The phrase "that's what she said"


• Ms. Sallie Mae


• My aversion to peas, frozen or otherwise


• Any movie starring Matthew Lillard


• Snuggies for dogs


• The day I that I decided I needed a Little Orphan Annie perm in 1983


• Any photo taken of me in 1983


• This commercial

Hello, our name is Amy

I don't know about you, but I always feel like I have a special "yeah, I get totally get it, girl" bond with women who share my first name. It's sort of like that bond I think I have with people who have my same birthday, went to my college, or also happen to like Lyle Lovett.

In that spirit, here are some lovely things from some lovely other Amys you may like almost as much as you like me.

Almost.

Illustrations by Amy Perrotti

Prints by Amy Rice

Interior design by Amy Lau

Fabrics by Amy Butler

Posters by Amy Jo Hendrickson

Modern ceramics by Amy Adams of Perch! design

Paintings by Amy Casey

Events by Amy Atlas

Cupcakes and snort-laughs from Amy Sedaris

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