Happy Monday!  This Christmas season, make every card and letter uniquely special with your own customized postage stamps from Zazzle.  Don’t have time to create your own? Simply purchase postage from Zazzle’s outstanding collection of Christmas stamps.

I’d like to take a moment to welcome new readers!  Thank you all for your kind comments and sweet emails.  Wishing everyone a beautiful week!

Lastly, I’d like to share with you a few festive links that caught my eye….

• Christmas dining room looks
• Creative home-made Advent Calendars
• Stocking Stuffer gifts for all
• All natural Pomegranate Candy Canes
• And, who can resist creamy milk chocolate bars infused with Crème Brûlée? Perfectly delectable as stocking stuffer gifts.

source:  Zazzle.com

It’s coming on Christmas, they’re cutting down trees…such lovely lyrics written by Joni Mitchell.   Magnificently performed by Grammy Award winning jazz musician Herbie Hancock and featuring the beautiful vocals of Corinne Bailey Rae.  River is one of my favorite Christmas songs.  I hope you enjoy it too!

December 1st marks the beginning of preparations for a joyous and festive Christmas season.   On the To Do list for today: review our budget and determine financial gifts to non-profit organizations and charities, address Christmas cards to loved ones, hang our Christmas stockings, purchase a pine wreath for the front door,  and make an appointment to have the downstairs carpets cleaned.

Wishing you a blissfully joyous day!

source: You Tube

The iconic Macy’s Herald Square Department Store on Broadway between 34th and 35th Street in NYC.  I took this picture around 1:30 in-the-morning with temperatures in the mid thirties.  Built in 1902, this location was the largest store in the world from 1924 to 2009.

I would like to take a moment to thank all of you for visiting by blog, and for your wonderful emails and comments.  This is my last post for 2010.  Before I sign off, I’d like to wish all of you a heartfelt Merry Christmas.  I’ll return in January, just in time to wish you a Happy New Year.

Source: © Ty Keennon

While browsing in BG, I discovered a limited edition book, Windows at Bergdorf Goodman, which showcases their jaw-dropping window displays.  This collectors edition retails for $550.00, and is available here.

Source: © Ty Keennon

A Foodie Holiday is this year’s theme for  Barneys New York Holiday Windows.  The windows feature caricatures of celebrated chefs; and  photo 2 depicts the celebrity chefs quarreling and engaged in a food fight.

On a side note, I used to work as a pastry cook for Wolfgang Puck’s now defunct Malibu restaurant, Granita.  I hope my busy schedule will allow me to share mouthwatering (and yes, caloric…heavy sigh) pastry recipes with you in 2011.

Source: © Ty Keennon

These snapshots were taken during last week’s trip to New York City.   Highlights from my marvelous and merry yuletide getaway include:   Champagne Afternoon Tea Service at the Four Seasons Hotel, Cheese and Wine pairing flights at Artisanal Bistro, seeing the Broadway Musical “Spider Man: Turn Off The Dark” directed by Julie Taymor, visiting Rockefeller Plaza (where these shots were taken), and browsing in many stores along Madison and 5th Avenues.

Have a beautiful and joyous week!

Photography Credit: © Ty Keennon

Preening in a glamorous Christmas red evening gown!  Mara Desypris photographed Madisyn Ritland for Vogue Hellas December 2010.

Source:  Noir Facade