Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Years!!

Welcome to the year 2011!!! (okay so maybe I should acknowledge that its still 2010 and bid it good bye first...) but frankly I'm not so sad to see it go...2010 has been good in many ways, but it has also been very difficult!

Hope you have a great New Years Weekend! I'm off to bid my sister good bye, its been fun to have her around for the holidays but now she must go back to school :(

Friday, December 24, 2010

Things that make me smile...

Merry Christmas Eve!!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend celebrating the birth of our savior and spending time with the people you love!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Bedroom Update

Do you remember this post back in October? The West Elm pin-tuck bedding? I have been admiring it for quite a while :) Well they had a sale on it earlier this month...

...and I couldn't resist any longer! The texture is great, and I wanted something more appropriate for winter. As opposed to the bright yellow with flowers and birds & butterflies I had :)

I ordered the Sea Spray (there are 6 color options) and it was much more muted than I was expecting. It is definitely a shade of blue on the website, but in reality it is much more grey. My roommate actually thought it was white...that's how light it is!

But it still works well with the blue and green. And I absolutely love how the pin-tuck looks!

I'm hoping I'll get the pillow shams from Santa ;)

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Christmas at home

I'm sitting right here in front of the tree tonight...there really is
nothing quite like a fire and a Christmas tree!

Can I keep it up all year? I love it! That little lamb is from my first Christmas :)

And some other places with a little Christmas cheer!

When you first walk in the front door...

I picked up this nativity set last year after Christmas, I think its so sweet!
I love that it includes the shepherd and angel.

I placed the tree in front of the window this year, which I love from outside
but it required some major rearranging of the living room!


Every year for Christmas my grandma has given me a music box...
so as of today I have quite the collection!

I love unpacking them every year and listening to them all

It really doesn't feel like Christmas for me until I've put them up

And my attempt to rid the living room of flowers (don't worry, just for winter!)
I replaced the artwork with stockings for the season!

And I have to admit I really like them :)

Friday, December 17, 2010

Friday, December 10, 2010

Things that make me smile...

Yay! It's not a kitchen!! hehe...oh don't worry, there will be more soon :)

This room has an industrial flare to it, but I love how it all works together. I can imagine it as a doctor's waiting room, granted I've never been in a waiting room this beautiful, but if I ever find one I'll be doing all my waiting here.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Took long enough!

Anyone else spend their weekend drooling?!

Its finally available for your viewing pleasure! Over and over and over and over...

Friday, December 3, 2010

Things that make me smile...

Can you handle another kitchen? I just can't seem to stop!

This one has tons of fun pops of red! I'm drooling over that phone on the wall, anyone know where I can find one? (I know I don't have a home phone, but I could still just sit and stare at it!)

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Snow day!

We got 7 inches of snow last night, it is truly a winter wonderland! All the school's are closed, and I'm pretty sure I got my work out for the week shoveling my driveway this morning! (good thing too, since the gym sent a notice they're closed today!)

And now all I can think about is why didn't I become a teacher! ;)

Anyone getting to play in the snow today?!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

My tiny little mantel :)

My mantel is tiny, but still needs decorating for Christmas! Plus my fireplace moves around wherever I need it, so that is a bonus :)

Wow, now that I look at this picture, the candle is really leaning...looks like its gonna try and take off! My type a personality is having issues with it! :)

The tree, plate & snowflake votive are all from Crate & Barrel...what can I say, I have an obsession! I love the colors in the plate and the votive's are bone china. The tree is just perfectly whimsy :)
The gold & silver baubles are from the dollar store...I need to go get some miniature ones to fill in the gaps, but I love the shimmer the metallics add!

The Lettered Cottage

It's beginning...

...to look a lot like Christmas!

And oh how I am loving it!! I hope I'll get some better pictures taken of my living room tonight, in all its Christmas sparkle :) But here's a little sneak peak!

Monday, November 29, 2010

I won!!

Yup, I won my very first giveaway this weekend!! I'm so excited!

I won a $30 Target gift card from Courtney at A Thoughtful Place! I can't wait to go shopping!

Check out her blog if you haven't already, its one of my favorite reads!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Things that make me smile...

In honor of yesterday...

Hope you had a very thankful Thanksgiving! We are so blessed! As for me, I won't be eating for a week!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

are the holidays confused?

Happy Thanksgiving!! I've just arrived in northern Idaho & its looking much more like Christmas than Thanksgiving!! Everything is covered in snow & it is currently 12 degrees!


I'm just hoping the turkey won't mind sharing his day with some play time in the snow!
Hope you have a wonderful time celebrating everything you are thankful for! we are so blessed!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Yes, they are delicious!

So they may not look that great...but they are SO amazing!!


Very yummy! I actually bought peanut butter cups & peppermint bark candies!! They just seemed so much more Christmasie (that a word?)...I even broke out my santa clause hot pad :)

And then there's also the fact that I've been dying for some peppermint bark!

Cookies!

I'm going to a cookie exchange tomorrow...there are 21 people coming, so we all take 42 cookies and everyone leaves with 2 of each different kind! I'm kinda concerned about bringing 42 cookies home with me! lol. I'm hoping they will be okay to fly with me on Wednesday and then I will have some help eating them :)

I am trying a new recipe this year...

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

For the cookies:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 squares (2 oz.) unsweetened chocolate
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or shortening
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

For the garnish:
3/4 cup finely chopped peanuts
36 miniature Peanut Butter Cups, frozen and unwrapped
1 cup peanut butter baking chips
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine chocolate in bowl and microwave at 50% for about 2 minutes, stir and repeat until smooth and melted. Cool slightly. Combine sugar and butter or shortening in large bowl. Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until blended and crumbly. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then salt and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add chocolate slowly. Mix until well blended. Stir in flour and soda with spoon until well blended. Shape dough into 1-1/4 inch balls. Roll in chopped peanuts. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until set. Press a frozen peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie immediately upon removing them from the oven. Press cookies up against peanut butter cup if desired for appearance, but do not touch the peanut butter cup again since it is now melted, it must remain intact. Cool completely. Melt the peanut butter chips and drizzle back and forth over the cookies using a parchment pouch or plastic bag with a little snip off the corner. Repeat with the chocolate, only drizzling at another angle from the peanut drizzle.

it just sounds so yummy! I'll let you know how they turn out! Anyone doing anything fun (or holiday related) this weekend?!

Things that make me smile...

I told you I was in to kitchens :) This one is big! But I love the paneled walls & ceilings! And the pots hanging above the stove...awesome!

Like last week's, it also has the wooden traditional looking table and chairs, I like the contrast they offer to the otherwise white room.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Inspiration

I've been itching to start the Holiday craziness...and this picture is definitely inspiring me to get out all the decorations! I can't wait to have my house filled with Christmas shimmer! Now if only I had a banister like this...I love the metallics!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Things that make me smile...

For some reason I'm really into kitchens right now! This one is particularly fun, I love the larger than life lantern and all those cubbyholes, just imagine the possibilities!
The wooden, traditional style table and chairs makes this otherwise fairly modern kitchen more homey...

Friday, November 5, 2010

Things that make me smile...

I had a birthday this week. I'm not sure if that makes me smile or not ;) I am now one year away from being quarter of a century...I'm debating about a "25 before 25" list, any suggestions for what I should include? I need some help jogging my imagination! After all my brain is getting older every day!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Things that make me smile...

Happy Halloween! I'm off to spend the weekend with my 2 year old cousin...always fun!

I'm much more into fun/sweet/cute Halloween costumes than scary ones :) Don't they look like they're having a blast?!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Pixar, SF, & lots of fun!

I had such a great time in the bay...I wish I could have just stayed!

Baby Shayla...she's so cute!




Pixar was awesome! So cool, the tour was great!

Check out that view!

They even took me to find the Full House house! Too bad they painted over the red door!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Things that make me smile...

This weekly post is typically dedicated to rooms I'm loving at the moment, but today I thought I'd mix it up a little. I found this fabric yesterday and have a major crush! Isn't it awesome?

source unknown

Monday, October 18, 2010

What's your mood? Oct 2010

Here goes No. 2!

I have been in love with this West Elm bedding forever! I love the texture, its also organic, and with six colors available it can work for anyone's taste.

I also love this paisley pillow, its full of color and texture. I probably like paisley more than most people, but its just so interesting.

The bed frame is Hemnes from Ikea and super affordable, solid wood for only $199!

I think this rug from Pier 1 will look great under the bed. I love the curvy lines and mix of colors.

This table lamp from Shades of Light is so unique! I love the shape! It kind of (loosely) reminds me of the Pixar lamp...it looks like it should be hopping around! How fun would it be to see it first thing every morning!?

The night stand offers great storage with the double drawers but isn't too heavy. The lamps will look great sitting on top, and how bout bringing some of nature inside with an easy-to-care for cactus?!

And in the bedroom you always need curtains! Especially ones that can keep all the light out, at least for those of us that love to sleep in on the weekends! These beauties from Neiman Marcus can be hung about 6" above the top of the window to accentuate the rooms height.

There are definitely parts of this room I'd love to have in my own, what about you?

Friday, October 15, 2010

Things that make me smile...

This room could be decorated horribly and still be beautiful with those beams! They are such a great architectural element in this room! But no, the beams are surrounded by equally beautiful things!

Anyone want to believe those are all candles in that chandelier? Or is it just me? :) Doesn't this just make you want to light a fire, some candles and enjoy a cup of coffee?! I can almost hear the soft music playing...

Thursday, October 14, 2010

A new do...

As the seasons change, besides swapping out my wardrobe and adding some seasonal decor...one of my favorite things to do come autumn is to change the color of my hair! Anyone else add hair to their season preferences? No? Okay, just me then. Well naturally I'm not exactly sure what my hair color is...oops :) But it is around that lovely dishwater blonde. You know, not exactly a blonde, but not rich enough to be considered a brunette. Yeah, okay, so maybe that's why I try not to see it much...anyways...here's the new color for this fall/winter season!

What ya think?

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Headed to the Bay...

I'm headed down to San Francisco/Oakland tomorrow! Going to visit my cousins and their brand new baby girl! I'm so excited to meet little Shayla! And take a tour of her Daddy's workplace...

Here he is outside :) Yes, you all know what this means!! Pretty stinking cool!