I'm
so happy our Christmas tree is up and decorated and our usual Christmas
decor is all in place. This is such an exciting time of the year. Especially
with little ones that help you see everything with such glee and
excitement. Lindsay from the White Buffalo Styling Company
has arranged a full week of home tours from interior design bloggers
around the web showcasing their Christmas decor- and she very graciously
invited me to share my holiday home. If you are coming from Kristin's Bliss at Home, Welcome!! I already saw some some peeks of her tree and her living room.
So beautiful and what a treat to see!! I am
happy you are here and am glad to show you around. Let's start with the front entry (photo
above)-
[Gold All Weather Bangles | Rajasthani Friendship bracelets | Crystal Wrap Bracelet | Nine Crystal Bangle]
This wonderful quote by Gandhi is all I can think about since the Paris tragedy. We don't all have control over everything but we do over ourselves- how we treat others, the examples we set for our children. Be that person that people around you admire and look-up to. When you see someone doing wonderful things it makes you to want to do better as well. We feel inspired by others and we have this power to inspire others. Just some positive words to start you off this wonderful weekend before Thanksgiving.
Also, I want to share with you a little bit of what I have been up to. Like this photo above? I took it! I styled it and am just so happy with it. There is a local jewelry and accessories brand here in Dallas called BuDhaGirl that is wonderful and so I'm helping them with their marketing and growth strategies. I have shared some of their products with you before because I have been a long-time customer. I will dedicate a more detailed post on this company maybe next week because it is so interesting and I think you will all love the concept. In the meantime, I have some links below the photo so you can peruse that jewelry. And if you want to subscribe to another blog, their blog is pretty cool!!
[ 1. Kate Spade glitter bag | 2. pink balloon dog bank | 3. blue monkey balloon bank | 4. Kite | 5. pink hour glass & blue hour glass | 6. classic jokes | 7. pirates and mermaids | 8. extra tall flamingo | 9. personalized classic book collection ]
Happy, Happy, Merry Merry!! It is gift guide season and I can't even believe it!! I'm actually really inspired this year and feel like I have a good idea what I want to get for all those loved ones on my list. I'm starting the gift guides for all those kids in your life. I think the colored sand hour glasses are killer! They have a great price and think kids would be intrigued by them.
I'm so excited to have some new art in our family room. I switched a few pieces here and there to accommodate the new ones, and many some holes later I have everything where it looks best (fingers crossed I don't change my mind). You saw one of my new art pieces last week and now I want to present to you this black and white photograph titled "Checkered" by Alicja Brodowicz from UGallery. It fits so beautifully in my TV wall. I'm in love with this strong graphic visual, which adds the right amount of black and white. Let me give your a bit more perspective since this is such a close-up shot-
The One Room Challenge (ORC) reveals occurred last week and they were exciting! You all know I'm a huge fan of the ORC (If you remember I participated here and here and here as a linker). And I was thrilled to go through them and enjoy everyone's proud work this time around. I wanted to share with you some of my favorites.
The One Room Challenge was created by Linda from Calling it Home where twenty very talented professional bloggers and designers redo a room in just six weeks and they update everyone once a week. If you have never followed along you need to do so in the Spring. It is so much fun. Linda has grown this challenge to be a highly anticipated time of the year for both viewers and participants. Because everyone, and I mean everyone, who has a design blog wants to be invited to participate. The results are stellar and so varied. I love how you can beautiful ideas on living rooms, bathrooms, closets.....in all kinds of styles. And also, I think reading about how designers make their decisions is also really fun.
Ok, so let's start off with Cassie's show-stopper of a living room! The bold colors and fabrics, the artwork! Sensational, just like she is. See the entire room here.
How is it Friday again? Where is time going? It seems like we are in the final sprint of 2015! Yikes! I'm starting to think of Christmas presents, Holiday cards, and breaking out all the Holiday decor. But one thing is for sure, I will checking out the One Room Challenge reveals this weekend which I'm so, so excited about. I really enjoy going through them and the Linkers too! I hope to go through them and post my faves next week. Some Links for this weekend-
[ Gold Splatter Paint Place Setting | Sparkly Earrings | Table lamp | Disco Mirror Gnome | Gold and Silver Salad Plates 4 for $40! | Round Salt and Pepper Shakers | Pyramid Salt and Pepper Shakers | Candle Holders ]
We
always, always cook for Thanksgiving. I really enjoy the full day in
the kitchen surrounded by family. But, this year, we are celebrating my
mom's big birthday with a trip and so we will all be eating out, which I'm
actually looking forward to as a change. This is the reason I'm so
focused on my Christmas meal (menu and tablescape) because I feel like
it has to be doubly as special to make up for missing Thanksgiving. I
just spotted the cake I will be making for dessert (a ginger baked
Alaska!!). As I dream up my ideal table setting I spotted these fabulous decor pieces in whites, gold and silver. I am envisioning a beautiful and simple Holiday table (Gnome Included!). How fun would it be to get a couple of those gnomes for the center of the table? They would certainly add some humor.
Some years ago when I started blogging I came across artist Ryan Pickart's portfolio on Pinterest and fell in love with this work. His portraits are powerfully real yet very whimsical. They remind me of Gustav Klimt's work. I kept his work on file and about 6 months ago I contacted him about a commision. My daughter, Little Miss A, is growing up fast and I wanted a portrait of her at this age and not a minute later.
The price was reasonable and Ryan was wonderful to work with. He asked many questions including color choices, portrait position, type..... and then sent me different ideas for clothing and background. I could tell Ryan is very inspired by fashion and fabrics with the moodboard he sent. I then snapped a few shots of my baby for him and that was it! It is kind of unbelieavble that all this was done through the internet. I never saw any of his paintings in person but those colors he had used in previous portraits, patterns and his striking faces had me totally obsessed. Let me show you a few others of his portraits-
A pretty table sets the tone for the meal to follow and since thanksgiving is one of the most important meals here you have some amazing tablescape inspiration from around the web. The talented Lindsay from The White Buffalo Styling Company organized 30 bloggers to share their Thanksgiving tables. You can see the full report here. They are really creative and and visually interesting. Many used branches from their back yards, and fruits and vegetables, butcher paper....the sky was the limit with this crew. Prepare to be inspired. I have gathered a few of my favorites-
Blogland, artists and designers have been totally crushing on pineapples for the last couple of years because they are so fun and whimsical. I love this trend and have a few pineapple home accents around the house, but none as good as this bronze pineapple I just got from Fig House Vintage. I love it so much I added it to the dresser in our bedroom. Aside from being a fun accent pineapples are popular in home decor because they symbolize warmth, friendship and hospitality.
This is what I will be doing ALL weekend! So excited to relax and rest. It has been one crazy and wonderful week. I had a special birthday yesterday shared with wonderful and sweet friends that I adore. And then I celebrated with my family in the evening and felt so loved and pampered. And if you can believe it I think my daughter and I will have chocolate cake for breakfast. I feel like indulging. That is if my disciplined self permits. It sure sounds like delicious fun right? Some weekend links for you-
[ hat | emoji cocktail napkins | black dress | white top | single earring | rings | metallic and fringe clutch | pig USB drive]
It's my birthday today! It's exciting but a little sad at the same time. Time seems to be going by faster and faster. Little Miss A is so excited and I think she has like 8 presents for me, including a morning cuddling session before school starts. Nothing beats that! Here are a few things I have spotted around the web and would not be mad if I were gifted any of these items for my birthday. I really wouldn't. I love emoji's and I love linens....put them together and you have a fabulous collection of modern, apropos cocktail napkins by the super fabulous Kimberly Whitman. I have one of her Halo Home guest towels which I'm just in love with.
I'm so excited to be a part of the BSHT Thanksgiving Tablescape 2015 tour time hosted by Lindsay from The White Buffalo Styling Co! If you are here from Inspired by Charm, I'm so happy you are here! Welcome! I really loved Michael's table.
In this tour that runs the entire week, 31 bloggers and I are sharing our Thanksgiving tablescapes to offer you all some early inspiration. I'm so happy it's November and that Thanksgiving is around the corner. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year because it is about family and friends spending time together and bonding over food and wine without the added pressure of presents. I adore bringing loved ones together, cooking and setting a pretty table. I hope you like my swan themed table.