Thanksgiving + Tree Trimming Rituals

Happy Monday all! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. The past year was not without its challenges, but on the whole, there was much to be grateful for : family, friends near and far, my husband, an exciting career path, great co-workers, good food, comfy dwellings, yoga, books, almond milk lattes, doggie snuggles, my health, art, and everything else good in this world. 


After indulging in some yummy food, football, and family time, Jason and I spent a lovely evening trimming our tree. In the three years we've lived together, it has become our tradition to decorate our tree while enjoying some appetizers and a glass of wine (or two).


This year, we sipped a bubbly rosé and enjoyed slices of smoked gouda and fresh mozzarella, followed by a Caesar salad with homemade dressing and some delicious crab cakes. We listened to some of our favorite Christmas music as we unpacked our favorite ornaments from their storage containers and unwound lines of twinkling white lights. The ritual of our yearly tree-trimming is such a simple pleasure, and one I look forward to all year. I love the subtle glow the lit-up tree adds to our living room.

Have you begun decorating for Christmas yet? Do you put your tree up right after Thanksgiving (like I do) or do you wait till later in the month?

Wedding details: colors and decor

In my opinion, one of the most fun elements of planning was brainstorming color schemes.  I originally wanted to use a very subtle palette of light peony pink, warm grey, and shimmery neutrals.  However, I kept finding myself drawn to hues of rich periwinkle, cobalt, and bright sunny yellow.  I found particular inspiration in the subtly varied shades found in blue hydrangeas.

Because we're getting married in June, I wanted to keep the look light, summery, and cheerful.  I fell in love with the idea of incorporating yellow as an accent color.  (And coincidentally, Jason and I will be dancing to an instrumental arrangement of Coldplay's "Yellow" for our first dance!)

Once I'd decided on this color scheme, the look and feel of the event began falling into place in my mind.  Here are some of the images that inspired me throughout the process...

Some of the details I'm super excited about:

-Vintage tea tins as centerpiece vases (like this)

- Favors that incorporate pretty cobalt blue glass jars, stacked together on a table for visual effect

- Colorful escort cards made by my mom

-Yellow roses as hair accessories and boutonnières

-An assortment of yellow shoes in various styles for the bridesmaids (and Chuck Taylors for the groomsmen!)

And just for fun, here's a little collage I put together on Polyvore.  We aren't using these exact elements, but I  think this illustrates the look and feel that we're aiming for...

If you've gotten married or are planning a wedding, I'd love to hear about your color scheme and decor.  Post a link to pics if you've got 'em!

xo,


Images via StyleMePretty and Polyvore.

The Selby Is In Your Place

I've always had a serious fascination with other peoples' homes (Apartment Therapy's home tours are like visual crack for me), so naturally I've had my eye on this new compilation of photographs by Todd Selby, who takes portraits of creative types in their home environments.  I first spied the gorgeous hardcover on Anthropologie's site, and then, a couple days later, tracked it down at Borders to admire it in person.  (This is typical of the little getting-to-know-you ritual I perform prior with a beautiful, but non-essential, item...). Now my finger is hovering over the "buy" button on Amazon.com...  What say ye, dearest reader?

And how was your weekend?  I'll post photos from my bridal shower tomorrow!

xo,

VivaTerra

Ever since I spotted VivaTerra over at the Department of the Interior, I have been smitten with its fresh and casual style. From kitchenware to women's clothing to home décor, the vibe is bright and sunny, and the styling evokes images of slow weekends in the country - ancient stone fireplaces, homemade chocolate chip cookies, wildflowers and long walks down overgrown, winding lanes. Flipping through the catalog always makes me want a creaky old farmhouse to decorate. (Something like this would do the trick.)

The best part? Not only are VivaTerra's goods beautiful, they are also made using eco-friendly and sustainably sourced materials, and many are handcrafted by individual artisans from around the world.

Wouldn't that little owl statuette be cute perched atop a bookshelf?

P.S. About that farmhouse...anyone wanna go halfsies?

From top left: Ceramic Imari Bowls, Misprint Hooks, Peroba Wood Chair, Owl Family, Fresh Olive Bay Wreath, Crinkle Scarf, Andes Handbag, Linen Papillon Pillows, Succulent Cube Set

(All images via VivaTerra)

5 Things

• I am so inspired by all of you participating in The Joy Diet series with Jamie Ridler. It sounds like such an amazing process and I am loving your posts on each chapter. You all have prompted me to order my own copy of the book, which I cannot wait to devour.
• And speaking of books, I pre-ordered a signed copy of Kimberly Wilson's new book, Tranquilista. With chapters like "Bake in Beauty" and "Decorate with Sprinkles"(love it!), this promises to be another fabulous resource from the incomparable Ms. Wilson. Who else is excited?
• My sister sent me a fascinating NYTimes article on the connection between yoga and mental clarity in the face of danger that had me glued to my computer screen. A definite must-read for yogis and non-yogis alike.
• Some très exciting news...I think we've decided where we're going on our honeymoon! We haven't finalized our plans yet so I don't want to say anything, but I will as soon as it's definite. It's a country that has long been on my list of places to visit. So. Very. Excited.
• And finally, for you design lovers out there, check out Department of the Interior, a wonderful blog I came across written by a college classmate of mine who muses about inspiration, stylish living, interior design, art, and more. Isn't it delightful?

That's about it for me right now. I hope all everyone's week is off to a good start!

Image via Martha Stewart.

Wedding Inspiration

As I start planning my wedding, I am finding all kinds of great tools on the Web! I recently stumbled upon Style Circle, a social network for brides-to-be (and grooms-to-be!) that allows you to create your own inspiration board from hundreds of archived images. Style Circle is run by the same folks as the beautiful Style Me Pretty, one of the best wedding blogs I've discovered thus far. Even if you're not getting married, check out Style Me Pretty and Style Circle for gorgeous decor, fashion, and food eye candy.

This is the inspiration board I created on Style Circle. The look I'm going for is laid-back, yet elegant, with natural, feminine touches. What do you think?

Etsy Pick of the Week

I recently discovered the work of Kainkain on Etsy. Kainkain makes beautiful, colorful textiles inspired by botanical and geometric motifs. I've been needing some pillows to set along the back of our daybed (so that it can actually function as a couch when not in use), so I snapped up a few pillow covers! I just love the vibrant colors.

Images via Kainkain's Etsy shop.

Small on space, big on style

Wow! Check out this elegant 350-square-foot studio (pictured above), featured in the Home & Garden Section of the New York Times. Having lived in some rather small apartments, I am always interested in seeing how people manage to make tiny spaces feel spacious and open (granted, the vaulted ceilings and huge windows really account for a lot of it, though I also love her simple & sweet decorating style). The lucite(?) chairs and clean-lined dining table are especially wise picks for a small space, since they don't take up visual space and allow for an unfettered view out the window. The whole effect is calming, sophisticated, and surprisingly airy given the apartment's lilliputian dimensions.

I must admit that I am enjoying the additional space I now have since moving into the new condo (almost 1200 square feet versus my previous space of 500 square feet), though I think having a small space forced me to be more creative with the decor.

What about you? What kind of space do you live in, and if it's a small one, how do you make it feel larger?

Images via NY Times.

Details, details

I've been pouring over my copy of the Domino Book of Decorating, and getting really excited about decorating the new place. I suppose I should be most concerned about the big items at this point - bed, dressers, bookshelves, etc. However, I find that I love picking out the little things even more. The finishing touches. The details. The rugs and pillows and lamps and even the salt and pepper shakers ( I love these, by Jonathan Adler!)

I've spent this evening scouring Etsy for cute, handmade stuff. Don't you love this print by rosiemusic? Jason and I often hang out side-by-side, just working on our computers or reading (yes, we're both introverts...), so of course, I had to order it.


I also snapped up this print by Sooooound. Isn't it pretty? I think I'll hang it above my desk.



Images via Etsy.

Rugs Rugs Rugs

I'm thinking one of these would look lovely in my new living room.

Images via All Modern Furniture.