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!