holy crafty mama.

the other day i received the most-awesome package in the mail from my mom.  priority mail- straight to our doorstep.  the box was a belated valentines, happy everything kinda present stuffed with shaving cream and lotion and girl scout cookies and love notes.  it also contained the most thoughtful messenger bag.

at first glance, i thought it was purchased- and then upon closer inspection of the fabric, i noticed it held a similar resemblance to the yard of random fabric i found in my mom's sewing kit over the holidays and planned to take home (only i completely forgot).  i guess it's a good thing i did- otherwise i wouldn't be have in my possession such a rad bag.

growing up my mom made a lot of our holiday clothes- you know, those 1980's poofy floral onsies?  no?  well, i knew them all too well.  she also made us some killer halloween costumes and much to my dismay today, when the time came for me to learn sewing, i wanted nothing to do with it.  had i know what a kick ass seamstress my mom was, i wouldn't be learning techniques via youtube.  but i digress...

anyway, she wanted to make each of us a camera/messenger bag and has a good friend who makes bags as a hobby (check out her etsy shop!).  my mom worked with her to get some killer fabric and went to town, pattern in hand.  she made a bag for each of us (well, she's still making the fourth) careful to take into account our various personalities, color preferences, etc.

isn't it amazing?  it was honestly one of the best gift i've received in a really long time.  not only because of it's functionality, but also because of the thought, energy & love that went into each stitch.  i took it with us to lake george and it made a great purse during our travels.  she knows us all too well.  sometimes, even though we're hundreds of miles apart, better than we know ourselves.

ps: my bag is the burlap with the chevron inside and my sister's bag is the one with the birds.  there are two more bags out there that i was unable to get pictures of- but they're just as awesome.

pps: to send me that cool montage photo, my sister used and introduced me to picframe.  i'm obsessed.

red + white stripe crush.

i've been swooning over stripes these days and for personal reasons, red and white stripes in particular.  i'll share the reason for my infatuation eventually, but in the meantime, i'm totally digging the bold contract and classic vibe.  

1. tote 2. paper bags 3. table cloth 4. cupcake 5. pillow 6. straws 7. shoes

i hope you have a festive and enjoyable weekend! 

inspired home.

lately, i've been finding inspiration in these books.  they've been on my amazon wish list for a while now and i finally buckled down and purchased them.  both are amazing, and to be honest, printing by hand is definitely my favorite.  the projects are simplistic, clean and modern.  not to mention, she provides some of the designs used throughout the book for personal use.  yay!

handmade living has some beautiful pictures and a lot of great decorating ideas.  there's not a lot of how-to and more recipes than projects, but the amount of inspiration wrapped within the pages makes it a great purchase.  i'm excited to bring a few of these elements to our home and promise to share the results when i do.

here's wishing you a happy and inspired weekend!

gifting for all.

it's that time of year.  between finding the perfect decorations, planning for your trip or for company to arrive, the search for the perfect present and the ultimate cookie, it's so easy to get lost in the chaos of the holidays.  it's really unfortunate how crazy things tend to get around the holidays...instead of relishing in the new traditions & memories from last year and spending quality time with family and friends, we rush through everything in an attempt to "do it all."

in an effort to keep this year's holiday stress to a minimum, i've consciously tried to keep things as low-key as possible.  i'm making cookies when i have time and the mood strikes and because i want to.  not have to.  our home decorations are simple- yet cheery & we're planning our trips and visits with friends back home this week, so everything is as relaxing as possible.

despite my deepest efforts, christmas shopping never gets easier.  there are the people in your life who have everything and want nothing, the ones who love anything expensive, those that like unique, and those that prefer trendy.  then there are the ones who love it all, no matter the size or expense- and to you, i say, halleujah.

so, in honor of the many, many giftees in your life, i put together some of my favorite holiday gifts, that can hopefully relieve your stress and settle even the pickiest.

1. aheirloom cutting boards for the culinary loves in your life 2. jennifer zeuner's wish bone necklaces for those with all the luck 3. marais usa wedges is the perfect gift for a fashionista (be sure to get a pair for you!) 4. moleskin 12 month color planners are perfect for anyone on the go, who loves to write and craves color 5. know someone with a new home?  west elm tea towels are a stellar addition to any kitchen or bath 6. who wouldn't love this athena procopiou scarf? 7. nars trio eyeshadow is excellent for a day in the office or night on the town

happy gifting!

a new do.

the other night, while looking through pinterest, i found this new do.  desperate for something other than my daily ponytail, i decided to give it a go.  not only was it easy, but so cute.  perfect for a quiet day in the office or after work reception.

how to:
part hair as you normally would then loosely part hair near the nape of your neck as if you were making pigtails.  braid each section of hair away from your face.  Take each braid and tie together in a knot, then tie again.  if your hair is long enough, tie in a knot one more time.  tuck in loose ends and secure with bobby pins.

dreaming of thanksgiving

i'm dreaming of centerpieces and yummy recipes.  place settings and fancy desserts.  i'm dreaming of minimal decorations and classic food.  romantic and rustic.  traditional and modern.  thanksgiving only comes but once a year, who says you can't have it all?

images via: turkey roulade, stuffed mushrooms, burlap table runner, rosemary, mason jars, pumpkin pie

lovin' lately.

every now and again, i like to share things i've come across that i love, can't live without, and are just too pretty not to pass along.  these are those things:

a simple, sweet & spooky halloween treat.

a sweet little video showcasing what english sounds like to foreigners.

there's nothing more beautiful than a colorado wedding.

with fall here and winter right around the corner, 25 ways to wear a scarf is mandatory.

do you gojee?  i'm not sure what's better, the photos or recipes!

this book is going to help me with my november craft challenge.

still obsessed with pintrest.  yep, totally.  i think my to do list and wish list doubles every day.

signing up and getting motivated.  i'll know by the end of this month if i'm committing to 13.1 or 26.2.

dear photograph.

you know those fall-in-love-with-this websites?  the ones that have the power to make you laugh or cry (at the same time), want to reach through the screen and hug, slap or pinch the cheeks of someone on the other end?  well, today i found one of those. 

dear photograph is an absolutely awesome concept and i have to give three cheers (with jazz hands and a cartwheel) to this web master (even though you're anonymous- here's my shout out to you).  they mastered this genius idea around an old photograph and a memory.  basically, take an old photo, bring it to the same place in the present and capture the there & then along with the here & now.

there are so many pictures i'd love to "replicate" & my mind is reeling with possibilities.  i would love to take a few pictures back to our first home in san diego, family vacations, sunday night dinners, the lake in wisconsin and my grandparents house in michigan.  on another note, what a great anniversary or christmas gift this could be for family or friends.  snapshots of you and an old friend playing barbies or your parents cooking the thanksgiving turkey?  brilliant.

enjoy looking through it- and who knows, you could become part of the gallery.  i truly hope you enjoy this site as much as i do.

product.

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i've never been a huge fan of hair products.  i guess you could call it laziness (i love me a ponytail) or maybe i haven't found anything i've been crazy about.  until now.  my hair is naturally wavy.  not super gorgeous wavy, but enough that it's not straight.  and just this weekend i decided to put some new products to the test.

our good friends are packing up and moving to boston (sad news for us but happy times for them), so to say goodbye, we decided to go on a wine tour last weekend.  with a lot of memories to be made, many photos were necessary.

a couple weeks before this vineyard extravaganza, i got a haircut (thrilling, i know).  anyway, i walked away with a fab new 'do and bumble & bumble's thickening spray and a sample of their texture creme.  while i've used the thickening spray before, i was a bit hesitant to try the texture creme (it claims to have grit in the formula...like exfoliate for hair??).  well, long story short, i love it.  

it gave my waves the perfect undone, beachy look without the wild and untamed mane that usually accompanies my style of choice.  so without further ado, i say run out and pick this product up asap.  i'm telling you, if you love an easy style that can hold up to the ultimate test (i.e. looking good in pictures throughout an entire of day of wine tasting)...these products are for you!  enjoy.

twelve things.

1. lovin' boden's outfit maker.  and pretending i own everything.
2. really looking to get into the world of juicing.  but i think i need this first.
3. it's time to get back into the swim routine.  think a new cap would help.
4. tea towels. so cute.
5. mumford & sons. love them.
6. toms.  i would love a pair- this pair to be exact.
7. diggin' this song:

8. looking forward to a loaf of honey white bread by the barefoot contessa.  her recipes are spectacular and they always turn out delish.  that being said, i'm going to start my bread baking streak with her help.
9. a great book on costa rica.  given to me by my friends as part of my birthday week extravaganza.
10. i would love to lay in a field of ranunculus and soak up the sun.  they are one of my favorite flowers. i just wish i knew how to pronounce "ranunculus."

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11. only a little over 2 months until a. and i get to meet up in costa rica (the countdown has officially begun).
12. leaving for california in the morning.  still need to pack!  i guess if there's one thing i'm good at it's procrastinating!

celebrating the big 4-0.

not me- thank god.  i'm not ready for the big 3-0, let alone 4-0.  so no worries.  i'm talking about starbucks.  they're celebrating their 40th anniversary.  i'm not much of a starbucks fan- though i love some of the music they promote and you will often find me drinking a bucket load of their signature hot cocoa and buying their christmas albums in the winter.  oh, and the unsweeted passion iced tea is pretty awesome too.

okay, i guess i'm more of a fan than i like to admit.

last night i was catching up on castle (a huge shout out to hulu for making this possible in a no-cable household) when this starbucks commercial* came on...

i kinda love it.  i love the fonts and simplicity and colors and the message:
we've been thinking about you.  and you are a lot more important than you know.  without you, there's no i love you or wish you were here.  without you, there is no us.  

isn't that sweet?  and wouldn't that make a great typography print?  must get on that.  must keep learning powerpoint...

i guess the promotion is over now...but heck, a great commercial is always worth sharing.

*i'm sure you've seen this already so forgive me.  in a world without cable i always seem to be a bit behind the 8 ball....

i love*.

i love tea.  iced or hot and definitely unsweetened.
i love that i can "light" a fire with the flip of a switch.
i love lunchtime yoga.
i love birthday parties and chocolate cake.
i love that i'm still finding hidden post-it notes a. left me.
i love my camera.
i love water.  and lots of it.
i love that it's officially triathlon training season.
i love talking to a. about our future.
i love that spring is right around the corner.

there's a lot to love in my life!

*inspired by elise's valentine's day post.

my winter song.

winter is in full swing and here in central new york, it won't let up for another couple months.  & while this may be considered a christmas carol to some of you, i'm currently embracing & loving this song at the moment.

doesn't make you want to curl up with someone you love, maybe a cup of cocoa and watch the snowflakes fall outside your window...


love is alive.  no matter how many miles apart you may be.

a wednesday love story.

there is something truly epic about love stories.  as a hopeless romantic, i'm always on a quest to find stories of love & happiness. i stumbled upon this video here. 

isn't it amazing?  never underestimate the power of a true love story.  & hopefully this will brighten your day. 

the perfect pillow.

i'm looking to add a bit of color to our home.  


in true military fashion, we opted to paint our home in neutral shades should the army move us within the first couple years we were here (we actually had our house on the market for about three months- luckily the army thought better of letting us go).  now in our fourth year in this home and no end in sight, i'm dreaming of color.  and lots of it.


and pillows are an easy way to bring in some color and change the look of a space without blowing the bank (well, in most cases).

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it would be fun to make these:

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this one is my favorite, but waaaaay out of our price range.  maybe one day.  ah, a girl can dream can't she?

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i've been loving anything and everything yellow.  mustard, not lemon.

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enjoy.

twelve things.

1. grapefruit and blood oranges.  they are my favorite afternoon pick-up.
2. my office chair, aka yoga ball.  who'd-a-thought bouncing all day would be so much fun.
3. robbie, the newest addition to our home.
4. kashi u.  it's one of my favorite breakfast cereals these days.
5. this adorable engagement video- love it!

6. urban outfitters boyfriend flannel shirt. i could wear it every day.
7. tandem bikes.  all this snow makes me wish i could ride one.
8. these posters.  if only they made one for san diego or syracuse. sigh.
9. mini books.  & i just ordered a ton of pics from snapfish...can't till they arrive.
10. a cute, new hairstyle.  i'll be trying this, this weekend.
11. still can't get enough of this song.  but it makes me miss a. terribly.

12. a good cause.  a really good cause.

wall art.

at the moment, i'm currently obsessed.  as part of my 2011 list, i'm revamping a few rooms and finally taking the plunge to not only buy prints, but frame them.  i know, i know....i've gone off the deep end!  (i have two prints sitting in my basement that i've had since 2003- unframed & unhung.  litterally, just sitting there.  so, no more excuses.  only more framing!)

over the past 5 years we've been in our home, with the exception of photos, our walls are bare.  and i can't take it anymore!  so dear friends, i'm on a mission.  to add a bit of character to our cozy bungalow.  i would love to incorporate homemade pieces from family & friends and things that i've both collected over time and purchased recently.

i'm a huge fan of whimsical prints (specifically those reminiscent of the beach).  here are the two pieces i'm currently dreaming about.

{image found here}

as a huge fan of typography & a self-proclaimed foodie, i thought this was so fun for the kitchen.  not to mention, this print lists all the ingredients in a ham & cheese hot pocket!  ha!

{image via}

i also adore maps (as does a.- or should i say, he thinks they're cool).  i would love to place this behind our couch.  as of now, it's a big, bare wall.  my sister is going to laugh, but i would love to rearrange this so it actually hangs upside down.  how neat would that be?  also, i have to think of a cute way to denote where we've traveled.

so i guess the house is undergoing some new year's changes of it's own.  i'm excited to revamp & refresh the space.  hopefully a. will be okay with the changes i'm making.  well, you know what they say, while the cat's away...

i'll be sure to keep you posted on the progress!

today i love.

more green ideas.  here is a classy way to send paperless cards to everyone in your life.
calendars.  2011 is going to be another exciting year so why not capture everything in style?  
diy christmas ideas.  here's a great list if your looking for some things to do while family's in town.
garland.  i'm loving it all at the moment.  some ideas are here, here, here & here.
gifts that contribute to a great cause...and of course are pretty too.
easy ways to add a little holiday sparkle to your everyday wardrobe.
that perfect cup of hot chocolate.
books that inspire.
this lovely holiday gift tag.  pssst...they're printable & would look so cute on this year's presents.
hanging planters that are not only functional but so charming as well.
chocolate inspiration...even though they're not real.


there's still time to find that special someone something they will love!