Coldy cold.

This summer has been recordbreakingly hot, but somehow I managed to come down with a terrible cold. I've been sick for a week, coughing, sneezing and waking up at night with a sore throat. I also lost my voice! The bright side? My friend sent me her recipe for a Hot Toddy, and Alex mixed one up last night. It was delicious. Have you ever had one?

Hot Toddy
½ shot Bourbon
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 cup hot water

What makes you feel better when you have a cold?

(Update: For readers who asked, my dress is Steven Alan, and my watch is a cheap Timex:)

Fun wine labels

Alex and I had a few people over for wine and cheese last night, and, just as a twist, we made personal wine labels from Pinhole Press. I used a photo of Paris and the words, "Have a magical evening."

P.S. I'd also love to make this next time, haha :)

Lighthouse carafe

Last night, I snuck out for a pedicure and read the newest Real Simple in my massage chair. In the issue, I stumbled upon this adorable lighthouse carafe! How cute would it be for summer entertaining?

Wine bottle labels

Pinhole Press just launched a new wedding section, and I'm crazy about these photo wine labels. Just think of all the funny possibilities for parties and gifts! As Alex would say, "The mind boggles."

Nice rack.

We bike over to friends' houses quite a lot, but if we take a bottle of wine, it rattles around in the bike basket. This is a perfect solution!

(Via Swissmiss)

Personalized wine bottles

How rad are these wine bottles? They would be great to bring to a dinner party or celebration.

(Via Simplesong)

Daydreaming

At the start of this beautiful weekend, I hurt my foot, and the doctor ordered me to sit inside with my leg up for both days. It was such a bummer! On the bright side, I finally had time to read the entire Domino book, and a couple friends came over on Saturday night to play games. (I had to wear a giant orthopedic sandal. Nothing cooler than a limping pregnant woman, let me tell you.) Anyway, hope you all had great weekends, and, to kick off a new week, here are a few images I thought you might like...
Lovely San Francisco.
Lavender lemonade.
Julia Rothman's amazing New York subway poster.
This gorgeous bedroom is actually in an English hotel. I adore the black-and-white photograph in a white frame. It makes me want to shop for a fine-art photo (or frame pages of a book).

P.S. Past inspiration photos.

Magic juice

Mmm, this drink sounds so refreshing. (Also, cute hand-drawn font.)

Gift Guide Part #6: Your British Dad Who Makes Peppery Soups and Isn't Scared of Anything (Even Really Scary Things).

Cycling's Golden Agewith nostalgia-inspiring biking photos from the forties, fifties and sixties, $32.97.

Danish spice mill for family dinners, $79.

A French map cheese board, which cleverly pinpoints where each stinky cheese comes from, $60.

Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection, since he taught you to love these films (and to watch out for Hitchcock's secret cameos!), $54.99.

A rad Icelandic tie, made from wool from the country's finest sheep, $54.

A propeller bottle stopper, $28, wrapped up with his favorite red wine.

Camping gloves, with a handy slit in the thumb so he can type on his blackberry, $78.

A biplane ride in upstate New York, where he'll get to wear those awesome aviator goggles, $65.

Wine totes

These cotton wine totes would be great for bringing wine to dinner parties (or sneaking it on picnics).

(Via Lena Corwin)

Lipstick on your wine glass

Did you know this little Gourmet-esque tip? If you're drinking wine at dinner, and don't want to get lipstick on your glass (which both looks icky and removes your color), here's a trick: Simply lick the edge of the glass quickly right before you take a sip. Voila!

(Photo by Garance Dore, via Milk)

Red lipstick

Red lipstick is like magic: I love how it instantly transforms the most basic ensemble. At the Prada Spring 2010 show, red lipstick even made pigtails--pigtails!--look impossibly chic. Are you brave enough to try this look? (I'm going on a plane tomorrow and might just do it!)
(Photos by Style.com, via Ruby Press)

Bicycle flask

This beautiful bike is not only handmade from rare and vintage parts, it also has a hidden flask. Genius.

(Via Hollister)

Ship coasters...

...would be a nice place to put down a gin and tonic.

Cup-of-Jo Gift Guide Part #6: Your Fashionista Friend Who Wears Heels for Walks Through Central Park. (Ouch!)

Sexy lace tights,$18.

Townhouse chocolates, $9.95.

One of the best books you read this year, from $2.81.

Two teeny brass swans, $20.

250 calling cards for her various pursuits, $90.

A glamorous paperweight, $18.

Yellow gloves, $68.

A New York City compass, since even though she grew up in New York, she somehow still gets lost on the winding streets. $5.99.

An original drawing of Fifi Lapin, the world's most fashionable bunny. (Here, she wears Max Azaria!) $45.

(One more gift guide to come--for fiances. Stay tuned...xoxo)

We had a party

My boyfriend Alex writes for the New York Times, but the only parts I usually witness are his late nights and requests for tummy rubs. But then he came home a few weeks ago and said he was writing a story about throwing a holiday party on a tight budget--with the help of uber-famous event planner David Monn! And the party was to be at our apartment! It was totally exciting.

I loved tagging along for this article. We had a dinner party with (cheap but delicious) twice-baked potatoes amid glittery snowflakes. The coolest part? Monn put down a white tablecloth, put a bunch of white Christmas lights in the middle and then covered it with white quilt batting. The table glowed!

See Alex's story here and his fun slideshow here. Thank you, Alex! xoxo

Recession Wine

Have you seen this hilarious new wine? Recession Wine Company in California makes a Recession White and Recession Red, each for $6.99. The labels are so cute and cartoony! The company seems impossible to google, but you can get the wines at most local wine shops. What a brilliant idea.

What's your hangover cure?

Um, help. Last night, Alex and I had some friends over to watch the election. We celebrated Obama's win with sparkling wine and now my head still hurts. What are your hangover remedies? Does anything actually work? When we went to brunch recently, Jennifer Ward and her husband ordered giant Bloody Marys with V8. Hmmm, maybe a good idea right about now...

Sailor Stripes

On etsy today, I'm loving this striped top -- with a sailor collar!

And this fab striped thermos for fall picnics.

Gin and Titonic

I can't decide if this ice tray is in bad taste or not, but either way, it's pretty awesome.