It's time

Tuesday, December 27, 2011




















































Welcome back everyone, from what I hope was a well spent holiday weekend. I took a much needed break from the internet world for the holidays. The only exception is I couldn't take me eyes away from Insta.gram. Everyone was posting such beautiful & fun photos of their Christmas adventures. I got online for the first time last night, it seemed as if the cyber world was slowly waking up from the weekend break we all needed. I hope you are feeling as refreshed and inspired as I am.

Image Source {1}

A Few of My Favorites

Monday, December 26, 2011


































I hope you all had a lovely Christmas! Here are a few of my favorite gifts! I'm loving all the texture & color!

What was your favorite gift that you gave or received?

Our Little Christmas

Thursday, December 22, 2011



This holiday season has been filled with so many special moments & this week has already seen so much love & happiness. I love this time of year & the way it makes me feel. I love the time spent with family, the joy we find in giving & all the delicious food we eat! I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful life.

I want to wish you all a happy & blessed Christmas. Enjoy your time with the ones you love. And make sure to eat way too much food!

Thanks to my big Brother for putting together this video for me!

I will be taking a break from blogging for the next couple of days. I will see you back here on Tuesday!

Holly Berries: Winter Christmas Floral

Tuesday, December 20, 2011













































































After this weekend things finally began to feel like Christmas. And I can't believe it is only a couple of days! (Yay!) This year has been such a new & different experience for me. I have spent every one of my Christmas's with my parents. My Mother has a real knack for ringing in the Christmas spirit. The tree comes up right after Thanksgiving & is always lit. We spend time together shopping, watching Christmas movies & putting together neighbor gifts. We spend every Sunday night celebrating advent & eating lot of treats. It's exactly what Christmas is to me.

This year is my first year away from my parents. It has been hard to try & reign in on that Christmassy feeling. I decorated the house right after Thanksgiving, watched a lot of Christmas movies & spent time on preparing gifts for family & friends. But it still didn't feel like the same old Christmas I was used to. I'm sure as time goes by, I will figure out new traditions that will help make my season feel like Christmas.

How do you create the Christmas feeling in your home? I sure could use some tips!

Pretty Packages

Monday, December 19, 2011






































I've seen a lot of really cool gift wrapping inspirations this year! There are so many fun ideas, but I didn't have a lot of time to spend, nor money. I thrifted a dress, shirt and yard of fabric that I used to fancy up my boxes!

How are you wrapping your gifts this year? Any fun ideas?

Find some inspiration from some of my favorite bloggers here.

Keep Warm

Friday, December 16, 2011












































Well there is still no snow here in Salt Lake, which translates into Christmas really creeping up on me.  I can't believe its next weekend! I feel like I have so much more to do & so many more Christmas activities I want to enjoy before it's here. So my plan for the weekend is to really let the Christmas spirit soak in! Saturday I will be taking my cute husband on a surprise Christmas date... I haven't ever surprised him like this before. I'm really excited! The rest of the weekend will be spent finishing up making & wrapping Christmas gifts & spending time with family & friends.

What are your plans for the weekend? I hope it's enjoyable, calm & holidayicious.

A Cup of Cheer

Thursday, December 15, 2011




































I am a hot drink connoisseur. I drink hot chocolate, tea & (mostly) coffee by the gallon. Hot drinks are the best part of winter! The other day, I was making myself a cup of caramel hot cocoa & I realized, I don't have one, not one stylish mug or tea cup. All I have are the teacups I got with my china set,  a cute Mr. & Mrs. teacup set from Disneyland & a few mugs I got from the dollar store.

After shopping around, here are some of my favorites, which one do you like best?

I'd love to know whats your favorite between the three? Hot cocoa, tea or coffee?

I want to try this & this drink recipe in my new mug.

You can find these teacups & mugs here {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}

Santa Baby

Wednesday, December 14, 2011












































Doesn't she look fabulous?

Image Source {1}

Holiday Gathering Inspiration: Mad Men

Tuesday, December 13, 2011








































Try this out for your holiday party theme. Mad Men. There is a strict 1950's dress code, Polaroid cameras, a record player playing all the old fashion Christmas favorites & of course a glamorous bar.

Image Sources: {12, 3}

Austed Wedding

Monday, December 12, 2011




















































I love going to weddings & seeing the bride & grooms style & personality really shine. After meeting with Sierra & Collin, I was excited about the direction they wanted to take the floral. They both share a love for winter, the outdoors & camping. This was the central theme for their wedding & I really wanted the floral to mirror this. Because they were trying to keep floral on a strict budget, we only did a bridal bouquet, boutonnieres & corsages. I had a wonderful time working with this darling couple!

A Not-So-Weekend

Friday, December 9, 2011



































I will be so relieved after this weekend, well after Monday. It's sad that I am not looking forward to this weekend like I look forward to every other one. I have so much to do & I don't deal well with stress. I started out this weekend last night. I spent the night arranging flowers for a wedding this morning (post coming next week). Afterward I went straight to my first final. I will be spending the remainder of my weekend stretching myself thin with studying, getting caught up on housework I haven't done in about a month (it's scary!) & holiday parties. Monday will ring in my last final & the official start to my holiday! Then I will be free to spend my time however I like.

I can't wait to read a book that I actually want to read. To spend my weekends with my husband, family & friends instead of doing homework. Actually get housework done & stay caught up on it, like I usually do. Focus more attention on blogging. Work on a more crafts & projects.

Oh & did I mention I am graduating with my AAS degree this semester? I am then taking spring semester off to prepare my portfolio for admission. That's probably why I feel so relieved to be done.

I hope you have a less stressful weekend than me! Cheers.

Image Source {1}

Songs for Your Holiday

Thursday, December 8, 2011









































Star of Wonder - Sufjan Stevens
No Christmas for Me - Zee Avi
Frosty the Snowman - Fiona Apple
Christmas Waltz - She & Him
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Copeland
It's Christmas - Coconut Records
Carol of the Bells - Bird & The Bee
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - The Honey Trees
Zat You Santa Claus? - Ingrid Lucia
Sleigh Ride - Squirrel Nut Zippers
I Saw Three Ships - Sufjan Stevens
It's Only Christmas - As Tall As Lions
Blue Christmas - Dustin Kensrue
Christmas With The Jews - Elizabeth & The Catapult
Angels We Have Heard On High - Future of Forestry
Go Tell It On The Mountain - Seabird
The Winter Song - Eisley
Do You Hear What I Hear - Copeland
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Slow Club

Image Source {1}

Scarf Weather: Collar Edition

Wednesday, December 7, 2011




























































I'm loving this trend right now! Collars have the same appeal as jewelry because they make dressing up fun! You can mix &  match quick as a flash.

Personally I'd go with The Girly Girl or The Eye Catcher. Which girl are you?

You can shop all of these collars & more here.

Image Sources {1, 2}

Feast & Friends

Tuesday, December 6, 2011



































































































I've been dreaming of hosting my own dinner party at my home for quite sometime. With the spirit of Christmas in the air, I couldn't help feeling like it was the perfect time. With a very limited budget, I planned a dinner party for my husband & a couple of our closest friends. This is a staging of how our table will be decorated.

The total cost of the decor was just under $20.

Here's how I did it:

1. Try to use things you already own.   I have a lot of wood serve ware, so that was a big part of my inspiration. I have also a great collection of vintage hand painted ornaments. I knew I wanted to incorporate these as well. I also used pine from my backyard & ornaments from my tree.  Things I didn't have, I asked around & borrowed many things from my family.

2. Go thrifting often. Since I have been planning this dinner party, I have been in search of the perfect table setting. I eventually had all the pieces I needed, including dinner plates, tumblers & serve ware. But it took a while.

3. Use decor you might not think should belong on a table. I think this makes the table setting exciting & gives it your personal flare!

I know I have a lot to learn about table setting & decor, but I had a lot of fun planning this, finding the material & putting my own personal taste into it.

How are you celebrating the holiday season? However it is, I hope it is picture perfect!

Have Yourself

Friday, December 2, 2011















































I hope you all have an excellent first December weekend! What are your plans? I am not quite sure what this weekend holds in store for me besides a few things. I will be stylizing a photo shoot tomorrow. Cramming for finals next week. And Drew & I will finally decorate our tree! It's been up for a week, it's about time.

Here is a really great DIY project you might want to try this weekend.

Or if you want to get some Holiday shopping done this weekend:
Here is an awesome Etsy shop.
I really want this.
If you are looking for jewelery, this is one of my favorite online shops.

A stimulating read.

Or if you want to look at something pretty, check out this photostream.

Enjoy the weekend friends!!



Image Source: {1}

A Week.

Thursday, December 1, 2011




































The past week has been crazy. After spending the weekend in New Mexico & enjoying a break with family & friends. Reality hit on Sunday, just how much I have to get done in the next 2 weeks. Firstly, it's finals, which my Professor's have decided to stretch out over the course of 3 weeks. I am the get things done & over with kind of girl! So 3 weeks seems endless! I have projects, assignments & tests to get through. But I can see the finish line of a day dedicated to myself! Wish me luck.

But on a happier note! This has been a fantastic couple months so far. I've been able to really push myself creatively. Although blogging can be stressful at times, the past two months of hard work have really paid off. The best reward has been the growth I've seen within myself. It makes me happy being able to see improvement in my own work! I just want to keep pushing myself to see where I can get.

Porcelain Perfection

Wednesday, November 30, 2011



















































You can find this stunning photo shoot here.

December Wishlist

Tuesday, November 29, 2011



































































It's the month of family, hot drinks, warm hearts & most important: Parties!! I personally like the "fancy" ones. My work has a black tie Holiday party every year, which I am always excited for! Probably due to the fact that I never get to dress fancy schmancy!

What are you most excited for this Holiday season?

Image Sources {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

Advent

Monday, November 28, 2011















































I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving! I love Thanksgiving for 2 reasons. First, I love spending time with the people I love, while eating food. Second, it rings in my favorite time of the year. Whether you celebrate Christmas or another holiday, this time of year is so magical.

One of my favorite traditions that I grew up with is advent with an advent wreath. This is a tradition passed down from my German heritage. Advent is celebrated the four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve. At the beginning of each week (we celebrate on Sundays) you light the candles consecutively by week. The first week, you light only the first candle, the second  week you light the first and the second, etc. The week of Christmas, all four candles are lit. Traditionally, each week after the candle(s) are lit, you pray and read scriptures. Instead, my family growing up just did a Christmas activity together. Like decorating the tree, making cookies or reading Christmas stories. I love how it really sets the tone and gets you in the spirit for the whole week.

Yesterday was my first advent with just my husband. We spent the day putting up the Christmas decorations, drinking hot chocolate and listening to Christmas music. It was lovely.

What sort of traditions do you have in your home?

I'm loving these non-traditional advent wreaths {1, 2}

Happy Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 24, 2011




































This year Drew & I decided to spend Thanksgiving with some of our favorite people in New Mexico. We spent over 14 hours yesterday in the car driving down. But it was so worth seeing them! Tuesday night I got the opportunity to spend time with my best friend Rachel, who I haven't seen in almost a year. It is so hard for me to live away from her, but when I do see her, it makes it that much more special! On Monday, Drew's brother came home. We haven't seen him since June and missed him like crazy. Also we celebrated my sweet Grandparents 60th wedding anniversary! This has been such a special week!

Which brings me to the things I am grateful for this year. I am especially grateful for the relationships in my life. First my relationship with my Husband. He truly is my world! I'm also so grateful for my family. My parents are my rock. My siblings are my best friends. I look up to my Grandparents and their simplistic and positive nature. My in-laws and extended family add so much to my life! And my friends are very special to me!

Other things I am thankful for: A great place to live. A job. My dog Tallee. Me and my families health. 5 senses. Technology. Art and fashion. Higher education. Bubble baths. Soup. Carbs. Great music. Seasons. Coffee. Soap. Colors. Thrift stores.

What are you most grateful for this year? I hope you have an excellent Thanksgiving!


Holiday Gathering Inspiration: Cabin Fever

Wednesday, November 23, 2011


What do you think of "Cabin Fever" as your holiday gathering theme? I am really loving the idea! Turn your home into a cabin with lots of fleece blankets & fuzzy pillows. It would be perfect if you had a fireplace in your home. Decorate with these bottle brush trees & some antlers. Use natural materials like wood silverwareceramic bowls & linen napkins in the place settings. Dress code is flannel shirts, cable knit sweaters & boots! For dinner, make tin foil dinners or chili. Then finish it with cobblers or scones & jam for dessert. Make sure to serve bottomless cups of hot cocoa! 

Image Sources: {1234}

A Gift Guide & a Rant

Monday, November 21, 2011































































Find these cute pooch gifts here: {123456789}

The other night, we had some good friends over and we got into a deep discussion about pets. Mostly dogs. I didn't really realize before how opionnated I am about the subject. I also hardly get the chance to spout my knowledge about dog breeds.

When I was 15 and 16 I worked at the local pet store. After working there for a few months, I got really good at selling puppies. The reason I found it so easy was because I knew the breeds I was selling & the families that would be perfect for them. The truth is, most people don't know what kind of dog would be good for them. They simply choose a breed based on what it looks like. Then give it away when they don't like it's personality.

There are hundreds of breeds. Each with their own unique set of personality traits. Some are extremely smart. Others don't shed. Some are big and need a yard to run in. Others are small and hardly need any exercise. There are breeds of dogs that like to play and others that like to be left alone. Some are good with children and others aren't. Know what you are getting yourself into before you choose a dog!

The other thing this discussion brought to my attention is how little people know about dogs! One of our friends talked about his perfect dog. I just laughed at him! Asking for the perfect dog is like asking for the perfect child. It doesn't exist!
































Here is some basic truths about dogs:

1. If you want a "chill" dog, don't get a puppy. Adopt an adult dog. All puppies are hyperactive (some more than others) and don't  "chill out" until around 2 - 4 years old. Some breeds are playful for most of their lives and others are lazy. Chose a breed that fits your activity level.

2. There is no such thing as an easy to train dog. All dogs take time and energy to train. Some are stubborn and others just don't understand. Every breed is different when it comes to training. Research how others have been successful with your particular breed and try those techniques. It's important to remember, you create the dog. Just like raising children, you set the guidelines and the rules. They chose whether or not to follow them and whether the consequences are worth it.

3. All dogs shed! The phrase you are thinking of is not a shed-less dog but hypoallergenic. Hypoallergenic dogs have hair instead of fur, but they still shed. Some dogs shed like crazy and others hardly at all. The trick is in grooming. If you keep any dog clean & brushed, the shedding will lessen.

4. If you get a dog, it will make noise (I won't say bark, because some dogs don't "bark"). Don't expect a silent dog! Ever!

5. Breeding IS important. I don't mean the dog needs "papers", because truthfully that doesn't always mean much. If at all possible, meet the parents of the puppies you are looking at. Take notice to their temperament, size and physical features. Ask the breeders a lot of questions. This is a lot like what your puppy will turn out like. It's important you like the adult version of your puppy because that's what it will be like for most of it's life.

6. Dogs cost money. Dogs need check ups. They need shots. They need to be spayed/ neutered. They will get sick. They might have allergies. They need to eat. You'll buy them gadgets you didn't even know existed for pets before. They will chew your things up. They will ruin toys.They'll need to be looked after when you go on vacation. And you will have to vacuum your car, a lot!

Dogs are big commitments. They take lots of time, love & money. Do your research. Find the breed that is right for you and your family! It's so worth it!



Lemon-Lime Sugar Cookie Truffles




































I really wanted to make a dessert for Thanksgiving. Since Thanksgiving is such a big meal and usually includes pumpkin pie, I thought something small and bite size would be perfect. I found the recipe for these delicious Lemon-Lime Sugar Truffles on Pinterest and thought I would give it a try.

Ingredients:

1 Batch Sugar Cookie Dough (store bought or home made)
1 Large Lemon
1 Large Lime
1 1/2 Packages of Cream Cheese
1 Package of White Chocolate Candy Coating
Colored sprinkles



































Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Zest & Juice the lemon and the lime. And mix into the cookie dough.






























Press the dough into a 9x9 pan. Bake for 30 - 40 minutes or until completely cooked.


































Once it's cooled. Crumble the cookie into your mixer bowl. Add the cream cheese and mix thoroughly. Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls. Refrigerate for no less than an hour.


































When mixture is chilled, melt the candy coating as packaging directs. Dip the balls into the candy coating and cover completely. Put the covered balls on wax paper to harden and cover with sprinkles.

Store in refrigerator.

Find the original recipe here.

The Storm Before the Calm

Friday, November 18, 2011




























This weekend will be a crazy one! I have a lot of preparation to make before scurrying off to New Mexico for Thanksgiving. I have a lot of homework & projects for school to get done. Including my fashion classes "unconventional challenge" & final art project (which I'm using as a double whammy as my brother & sister's Christmas gifts). I also have lots to do around the house, like cleaning & laundry. Not to mention, prepping the posts for Morlee next week. I just hope I'll have the energy & drive to get everything done that I need to.

Here are a few places to check out this weekend.

One of these would look pretty on you.

If you fancy facial hair.

I don't know whether to be freaked out or amazed.

I would love to live here.

I want one of these, stat!

What do you have planned for the weekend? Well, whatever it is, I hope it's wonderful!


Image Sources: {1, 2}

Scarf Weather: Outdoor Edition

Wednesday, November 16, 2011


















































































I have a box in my closet full of dozens of scarfs. Long scarfs, square scarfs, silk scarfs, knit scarfs & ties. I have more scarfs than I have shoes or underwear. I like the way they look & feel & keep me warm. Scarfs are the one accessory I don't have a hard time buying.

For outdoor occasions, I'm really liking these two scarf styles. Faux fur collars & over sized knit scarfs. Pair the faux fur collar over a colored pea coat to wear out on the town or to that black tie holiday event. The over size knit looks great with a striped sweater, jeans and loafer. Perfect for all the shopping you'll be doing! The best part is you can find either at almost any store & for any price range!

Find these scarfs here & here

Image Sources {12}

We Go together like

Tuesday, November 15, 2011






























We go together like Salt & Pepper. You can find these amazing shakers here.

Style 1

Monday, November 14, 2011






























































































Oh, this time of the year is my favorite! Besides the hot coffee & foggy windows, the best part of November is the celebration of family & friends. I love the emphasis that is put on spending time with each other. And remembering how important these people are in  you lives.  And the best part is it lasts two months long!

Two months of get-togethers! I love all the dinner parties, holiday gatherings, date nights & brunches that are included. I can't wait for Thanksgiving with both sides of my family (celebrated before & after Thanksgiving!) & our actual Thanksgiving will be spent with our closest friends in New Mexico!

Lately, I've been testing out different shades of red for the holiday parties I will be attending. It seems I finally have found the confidence to wear it! What do you think of red lips?

Image Sources { 1, 2, 3}

The Show





I fell in love with my husband for a lot of reasons, but one was his love for music. This part of his life, the bands, the people, the touring; was such a new thing to me. I loved & still love listening to all his stories of his music. He is a very talented musician! I am incredibly lucky to have such a talented & passionate husband. My husband hasn't had very many opportunities to play music in the past year. So watching him play this weekend was such a delight!

How was your weekend? I hope it was as wonderful as mine.

11.11.11

Friday, November 11, 2011

































Happy Friday friends! This strange work week is finally coming to a close & all I want to do is be at home, in sweats & warm socks, drinking caramel hot cocoa & watching A Christmas Story.  I will be leaving straight from work today, to drive 4 hours to spend the night at my husbands show. After the show tonight we will drive back here to watch him play again Saturday night.  He's been preparing for this for a few months & I am excited to see him play again! Plus, what could be better than a weekend of music & friends we never see?

I found this great photo here.

One of these is opening in Salt Lake today. Oh & this too! Can you believe we lived without them?

How cute is this?

What do you have planned for the weekend? I hope it's wonderful.

Meet Doola

Wednesday, November 9, 2011














































For some reason, and I have no idea why, I like to name my material possessions. I have a bamboo plant named Burt & my phone's named Chester. The newest member of my possession family is this cute owl, Doola. I found Doola at the local thrift store. She used to be an old, dirty wind chime. It's great what $1.50 & some spray paint can do.

Do you have any strange quirks like this? Do you at least name your car? (I just got a new one, I'm not sure what her name is yet!)

Home Inspiration: Garden Rooms

Tuesday, November 8, 2011


















































The last place I lived was 25 minutes west of the freeway. Most of the drive was through newly built neighborhoods. They were full of beautiful homes. However, there was one house in particular that I would make sure to catch a glimpse of twice everyday. Once on my way to work & again on my way home. The reason was it had a garden room!

The first reason I love garden rooms is because I love natural light. It drives my husband crazy that I insist the blinds stay open and the curtains up until it's dark outside. I refuse to turn on any artificial lights until I absolutely can't see. A garden room would be perfect because it would let a lot more light in than the small windows I have now. The other reason I am in love with garden rooms is how close they bring you to nature. How great would it be to bird watch in the spring or sip tea while it softly snows outside?  Doesn't that sound lovely?


Image Source{ here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here }

Start with a Murmuration

Monday, November 7, 2011



Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I had time to get a few projects done, spend time with friends from out of town and eat some delicious food. It's cooling off rapidly here in Salt Lake. And in the spirit of the cold weather I'm starting to prepare for Christmas by drinking hot cocoa and making ornaments for my tree! When do you start getting in the spirit of Christmas? Do you begin your festivities before Thanksgiving or do you wait until December 1st to break out you're favorite Holiday movies? I don't let myself watch any Christmas movies or listen to Christmas music until the day after Halloween. And my decorations don't go up until after Thanksgiving. October through December is my favorite time of the year!

I hope you enjoy this magnificent video. Wouldn't it be amazing to see something like this first hand?

Have a good weekend friends

Friday, November 4, 2011




What do you have planned  for the weekend? My weekend looks really easy going! Just going to enjoy time with family and friends. And hopefully get a few projects done around the house!!  

I want to leave you with this amazing photo & please check out her amazing photo stream here. I promise you won't be disappointed. 

Also, if you're looking for some unique gift ideas for the upcoming holiday season, check some out here.

Have a good one!