Happy NYE!

This is where we will be all day and night...

What are your plans?! Have a great day...see you next year :) xoxo

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French Eclectic Decor

Last night, as I was looking online for some interior inspiration, I came across Sproost.com which allows you to take a quiz to find out what interior style fits you best. My results were 67% French Eclectic decor and 33% Classic decor. I must say, this is pretty spot on, as I love French country spaces mixed with shabby chic and classic pieces!

Some of my favorite French Eclectic spaces.

If you have time, head over to Sproost and take the quiz! I'd love to know what your interior style is!

Chic Finds from Online Boutiques

One of my favorite things to do is shop at little boutiques in different towns. Some of the best memories I have with my Mom is going to all of the small towns in the foothills of Northern California and shopping at the chic cottage boutiques. I love all of the soaps, handmade cards, journals, teas, pillows, and other random things that can be found inside the shops. Recently, I came across a few online boutiques that give me that same feeling, and I wanted to share with you some of my favorite finds:

Porcelain Mosaic Bowl:

Hello My Sweetness Note Card:

Stem Ceramic Vase:

Rose & Black Pepper Soap:
Traditional Milk Bottles: (Perfect for serving iced tea!)

All of the items above are from Manos. Two other online boutique shops that I go to often are Cox & Cox and Three Potato Four.

Do you have any favorite online shops? I am constantly "window shopping" at all of these stores, so I would love to check out some of your faves as well :)

Carolyn Quartermaine: Exquisite Elegance

Carolyn Quartermaine is one of the world's most talented textile designers and one of my favorite people to look towards for inspiration. Her designs are pure exquisite elegance and I can never get enough of them. Carolyn hand-makes all of her beautiful textiles, which eventually get crafted into furniture pieces, wall coverings, bed spreads, etc. Her work can be seen in high-end fashion/living spreads for Elle and Vogue, as well as in chic hotels around the world like Hotel Delos and Chateau de Beloeil.

All I can say is: Love.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays :) Hope everyone is having a fabulous day!

{photos via Snippets & Ink}

Christmas Eve & Getting to Know Your Friends

When did December decide to jump to the 24th?! Oy vey.

I never really do any of the questionnaires on my blog, but when I saw this "Christmas Edition of Getting to Know Your Friends" by one of my favorite bloggers, Entertaining Mom @ The Entertaining House, I thought it would be fun. So, here it goes! Oh and feel free to copy, paste, delete my answers, add yours, and post on your own blog! Link me if you do- I'd love to read your answers.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
I prefer wrapping gifts because I love ribbons, bows, tags, etc.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Either or. The artificial ones with the pre-lit lights are God-sent and I like the no mess factor!

3. When do you put up the tree?
If it's fake- right after Thanksgiving. Otherwise a couple weeks before.

4. When do you take the tree down?
All the decorations come down January 2nd. I always feel so bad for the house because it looks so bare and sad without all the pretty lights!

5. Do you like eggnog?
No.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
We always had a "Dad" gift every year that my sister, brother, and I looked forward to. Basically my Dad would buy us one special thing that he picked out completely on his own (with no help from Santa or my Mom)! It was always something we really wanted but never expected to actually get. One year he bought me a pearl and diamond ring and my sister diamond earrings and I just remember being so ecstatic and excited. I wore it all the time and still do. It is definitely one of those timeless pieces of jewelry that I will always wear and love.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My boyfriend. I honestly think guys are more picky than girls! Anyone else feel like this?!?!

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Any of my girl friends because they're always so grateful and make it fun to shop for them!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Not at our house here in LA, but I do have one and would love to put it up next year!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Snail mail, snail mail, snail mail!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Not sure if I've had one?!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Too many! I will watch a Christmas movie any time of the year, although I try to refrain in order to keep it special during the holidays! I love Home Alone (1,2), A Christmas Story, Miracle on 34th St (B&W version), A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Santa Claus, Love Actually...

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Around Thanksgiving time.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No- but I think it would be fun to get together with a bunch of my girl friends and have an exchange during the year with things we received but don't use/wear!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Any of the sweets. I love homemade cookies, candies, etc.

16. Lights on the tree?
Absolutely. The more the merrier! But they have to be white lights for me.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Love them all!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Both are fun!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
No :(

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
White angel with silver wings.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
One on Christmas Eve after Church and the rest in the morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Post Office lines and parking lots!

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color?
I like an organized theme with all white lights, ribbon, and big ornaments. I'll probably end up with a few trees over time so we can have a nice themed tree and then one with a hodgepodge of collected ornaments.

24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner?
I like ham, salad, and mashed potatoes. Boring, right?!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
For my family to be healthy and happy :)

26. Favorite Christmas tradition growing up?
So many. Church, putting up lights, decorating the house/tree, cooking/baking, driving to look at Christmas lights.

27. Favorite tradition now?
Since Christmas 04 Kris and I have gone to Griffith Park to drive through the lights display and then to Candy Cane Lane in Woodland Hills. Even though they never change the displays, it never gets old!

28. Favorite Christmas Memory?
Just cooking and spending time with my Mom, Dad, and Kris at our house. It makes me so sad that this our 3rd Christmas without her. What I wouldn't give to spend even one more Christmas day with my Mom!

Hope you all have a perfect holiday :) Be safe xoxo

PS. The little reindeer figurines in the pics above are by Medusa. SO cute!

Cupcakes: Such Vicious Little Things

Is anyone else indulging in holiday treats? I've really tried to walk away from it all, but lately it seems like everywhere we go there are holiday sweets galore! (Not the best idea for a diabetic- thank God for my MiniMed insulin pump!) You'd think I'd be sick of all the sweets- but instead I find myself craving them more. When I saw these delicious photos by Elodie Rambaud I instantly began craving cupcakes and haven't stopped since last night. I am seriously contemplating a drive out to Sprinkles. Aye yi yi- such vicious little things!

Yum :) What is your favorite thing to indulge in?!

{photos Elodie Rambaud via Interior Divine}

Elgenant China and Pearls

I love this soft and elegant table setting from Royal Copenhagen. Their white-lace fine china was designed from the artistic visions of Arnold Kog, who was the creative director of the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufacturing Co. from 1885 to 1916.

So gorgeous!

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Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas

Ahh- it's been forever and I've missed you all! How is your holiday season going thus far? I can't believe this year is almost over. It really flew by for us! I was wrapping a ton of gifts today and they all just looked boring, so I kept adding bows, ribbons, and tags to make them more festive! They may look like a mess but at least they have some pizazz! Ha! Here are some really cute gift wrapping examples in case you are out of wrapping paper and need some alternative ideas!

Music sheets, a ribbon, and some extra small bells make for the perfect gift wrapped present!

A little newspaper and a few ribbons will give you this chic, flower topped gift:

Get out your watercolors, crayons, markers, etc. and let your imagination go:

To read the "how-to" for each of these gifts and additional ideas, go here :)

PS. I'm going to apologize in advance for some excessive posting. I've saved some things I wanted to blog about for a while, so I think I will put them up during the holiday this week.

Stylings of Emily Chalmers

I love these images of stylist Emily Chalmers' home in London. Her style blends vintage and chic decor beautifully.


Emily also has a really cute online boutique, Caravan, and a few books available too. I think I am going to add one to my holiday wish list! Have a great day :)

Black, White, and Silver Holiday Decor

Hope everyone had a nice few days off! I am in full Christmas-mode now and it is so much fun. I took out our decorations from the storage bins and all of my little snowmen and other knick-knacks are everywhere. I definitely take after my Mom when it comes to the holidays, as I love decorating just like she did and I follow in her motto that too much holiday decor is still not enough!

But, with that said, I must admit that when I found these pics of a more simple and subtle holiday theme, I instantly fell in love! While reds, greens, and golds are more 'traditional' in our house, I would not be opposed to decorating with this color scheme one year either!

What do you think- can black, white, and silver work for the holidays? I'm thinking yes!

PS. Random side-note: Gucci online is having an amazing sale right now on their shoes and handbags. Enjoy :)

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