Christmas 2010

I know it's a little late to be posting about Christmas, but since this blog is my journal at times as well, I wanted to upload some photos of our tiny holiday that we celebrated at home in LA before spending a few days with family. I didn't decorate much at all, but it was just enough to get us in the mood for holiday cheer.

Hope you had a wonderful holiday!

Wishing you a...

I am so thankful to have met so many of you and cannot begin to thank you all for your continuous daily support and encouragement. The blog world is a funny one, but it's truly inspiring. I never would have imagined meeting lifelong friends in a such an unconventional way, but as many of our daily texts, emails, phone calls, and conversations prove- God puts people in our lives for a reason.

Wishing you and your family the most beautiful holiday.
Give your loved ones extra hugs and hold their hearts gently this season.
xoxo

[photos via Snippet & Ink]

Loveliness

I like to buy fresh flowers for our house once a week from either the Farmer's Market or Trader Joes, but the selection lately has not been the best due to the winter months. The variety will certainly pick up in the spring, but in the meantime I've been contemplating purchasing a few silk flowers from a craft store as a replacement, but I'm hesitant because they're just not the same. I came across these beautiful hand-made flowers from Twigs & Honey, and even though they're made for your hair and to wear as jewelry, I wouldn't mind purchasing a few for my vases. Aren't they lovely?

[photos Twigs & Honey]

Pay It Forward

The idea of paying it forward never ceases to amaze me. Whether you spend $5 on someone else, or you simply smile to lift the spirit of others- committing a random act of kindness is truly a way to serve from the depth of your heart. I've always appreciated the smallest of actions from others and try to pass on that feeling of gratitude to someone else when possible. Last night I started a list of small, quiet things my family and I can do for others that could possibly change the direction of their day. Since it is time for resolutions to be made, mine is to act upon this list as much as possible in the upcoming year.

My 'Pay It Forward' List:

• Hand write a note to a friend or relative and put in the mail.
• Bring a meal to a neighbor or friend when they are sick.
• Spend an hour playing games with the residents of your local convalescent hospital.
• Pay for the person behind you in a fast food line.
• Mow your neighbor's lawn or pull weeds out of their planters.
  
• Bring a pile of old magazines to a doctors office or hospital for their waiting room.
• Take unwanted clothing items to a shelter or goodwill.
• Tape the exact change for a soda or snack to a vending machine.
• Leave a couple pieces of candy on a coworkers desk with a note.
• Pay for the person behind you at a toll booth.
• Call a family member or friend on the day of a test or other important event and tell them you're thinking of them. (No text messages, IM's, Facebook comments, etc! An actual call so they can hear your voice)
• Offer to babysit for friends or family so they can enjoy a night out.
• Draw colorful pictures and bring them to a local hospital for patients' windows.
• Leave behind your finished magazine or book on a plane or bus.
• Make an extra sandwich and snack bag for a homeless person.
• Start off by telling a customer service agent "I know this problem is not your fault." We so often blame them, which is unfair and must be very stressful.
• Return a shopping cart to the front of the store.
• Write a note with an encouraging thought to someone special and put it in their lunch bag or coat pocket for them to find.
• And finally, when all else fails, simply open the door for someone behind you and leave them with a smile.

I would love for you to create a list as well, so we can all share ideas and hopefully make this upcoming year a bit brighter for everyone. PS. Don't worry about repeating ideas; they'll all be greatly appreciated by someone looking for an idea to make someone's day.

A Modern Winter Tablescape

A winter tablescape is one of my most favorite things about the holidays. My Mom was an absolute master with interiors and decorating, and nothing gave her more joy than creating a beautiful table setting. I've grown to love tablescapes myself, but tend to be attracted to simple and modern settings, although I really do love them all. This particular one caught my eye because of its effortless charm and simplicity.

[photos via]

A Weekend DIY: Paper Garland

It's rainy and cold here in LA (finally!) so it's the perfect weekend for a DIY project. I really like this paper garland because it's simple and can be festive for any season depending on which paper you choose.

So cute and delicate. I love the look of book pages, although I'd have a hard time bringing myself to cut the pages of one. Maybe they sell replica pages at craft stores?

[photos by Katherine Chong]
[project how-to here]

Holiday Gift Guide Under $50: Merry & Bright

I've been enjoying all of your holiday posts and gift guides around the blogoshpere. Here is my 2nd one; a little brighter than the first.

1. Chevron Pillow 2. Shopping List Organizer 3. Rosette Hair Pins 4. Beeswax Candles 5. Fabric Shoe Clips
6. Handbag (this is a wee bit over $50- but it was too cute to leave out) 7. Tiny Envelopes
8. Polka Dot Fabric Flags 9. Crocheted Coffee Cozy

I'm in love with those tiny envelopes.

H&M Holiday Decor

H&M's home line is absolutely stunning. My only wish is that it would be available here in the US. (If anyone from their company ever comes across this post- your home decor would be so adored and appreciated here!) These are some of my favorite accessories of theirs to create a perfect holiday theme in every room.

It's finally a little bit cooler here in LA, so I am off to find the boots in the back of my closet to wear today :)

[photos H&M Home]

CSN Review: Silicone Baking Mat (My new dream tool in the kitchen)

I received a few Paderno's World Cuisine non-stick silicone baking sheets and some baker's quarter sheets from CSN stores, and I must say they're both a Godsend, especially for baking during the holidays. I had heard about silicone baking sheets before, but I never really thought much of them because I didn't understand how to use them. Well now I get it! No need for parchment paper, wax paper, or cooking spray. Oh, and kiss greasing your pans with butter goodbye. Line a half sheet or baking pan with the silicone mat, plop down whatever you're baking (i.e cookies, roasted veggies, bacon wrapped aspargus, puff pastry appetizers, etc) and bake away. The clean up is super simple as well because the food slips right off the sheet, leaving no evidence of it's presence. Happy tummies, a clean kitchen, and no dishes! Can life get any better than that?! *This was a compensated review

Coconut Macaroons recipe here. They're gluten/dairy free and really yummy :)

A Neutral Holiday

I love the neutral decor used in this house. Everything is subtle yet still warm and festive for the season.

I cannot believe Christmas is 10 days away and that 2011 is upon us. Time flies!

[photos Canadian House & Home]

Kate Middleton's Wedding Dress

I've been obsessing over this royal wedding. Like so much so that I'm contemplating buying a plane ticket and heading over the pond in April. I'm kidding. Maybe. Anyway. The thing I can't stop thinking about most is what Kate Middleton's dress will look like. While Diana's dress was over-the-top with poofy sleeves and a train the size of the UK itself (gorgeous none-the-less), I imagine Kate's reflecting her classic yet modern style that she so elegantly dons in her everyday wear. Diana had just turned 20 when she wed Charles; a surefire sign that she had yet to come into her own when it came to personal style. Kate is marrying much older with rock solid sense of style and who she is, so if I had to bet (which I don't, but for this post's sake I do) I'd say she is going to wear a modern gown with a tinge of traditional and a lot of edge. Here are some of my choices for Kate:

Is anyone else excited for this wedding?!

[Dresses via Cymeline]

Gallery Walls

I love the idea of having a gallery wall some where in a house. I used to think pictures needed to be hung in a neat, orderly fashion, but clearly this is not the case when it comes to such wall decor.

While the pictures that make a seemingly perfect grid are nice, I quite prefer the look of "organized chaos" composed of pictures and objects in different sizes, colors, and shapes.

Have a nice weekend xoxo

[photos: Country Home, Living Etc, Domino, and James Merrill]

Vintage Love

I've recently become fascinated with vintage shops, so I'm really obsessing over the gorgeous pieces from allen company inc. Here are some of Kristina's (the owner) stunning finds in the past:


Do you shop at any vintage places? I'd love to know where! My favorite places in Los Angeles are The Way We Wore and Owl Talk.

[photos here]

Holiday Gift Guide

One of my favorite things to do is shop for friends and family throughout the year, so when the holidays come around I usually go a little crazy in the gift giving department. Since this past year we've really cut back on spending (much like everyone else) I wanted to put together a few gift guides with things around $50 and under that would fit nicely into our budget. I've been having fun hand-making gifts as well, so at the very least maybe the pieces shown will spark some creativity!

1. Christmas Hymn Ornaments 2. Oatmeal Lined LOVE Pillow 3. Organic Hangers 4. Buttercup Brooch 5. Vegan Ballet Flats 6. Words of Love Pins 7. Animal Silhouette Ornament 8. Be Merry Ribbon 9. Linen Flower Scarflette

The 'Be Merry' ribbon is gorgeous!