Wall Trees

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Living in San Francisco, these old apartments don’t leave much space for Christmas decor, much less a beautiful, big Christmas tree.
Luckily, Kris and I have a large living room, and there is a perfect spot for the tree in the window, but a lot of my friends simply don’t have a tree – which I find SO sad!  I couldn’t imagine December without that lovely piney smell, and the soft glow of the fairy lights.  Especially since these are the shortest days of the year, I feel like I’m never even home when it’s light outside anymore!
That said, I have seen so many ideas for wall trees that would be perfect for apartment living!  All of these temporary solutions to having a tree without ACTUALLY having a tree!
I love the rustic feel of this tree that uses old branches stacked vertically in a tree shape.  Small ornaments and fairy lights are pretty, and you’ll hardly miss the real thing!
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Or grab a can of paint, and free hand a Christmas tree right on the wall!  As long as you have the original room’s paint color, it will take literally 10 minutes to paint back over it once the holidays are over – less time than packing up all those ornaments, right??

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Gallery walls are a huge trend right now, so why not twist that idea, and make a gallery tree.  Use ornaments, magnets, small frames, and whatever else you have.  Keep it lightweight and you’ll likely be able to use double sided tape for most of it, and small tacks for the rest!

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Washi Tape – hard to find in normal stores, but easy to order online in plenty of patterns and colors.  It doesn’t get more temporary (or easy) than this!  And how cute!

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A few thin twigs, a few tacks, and some small Christmas ornaments are all you need to make this next wall tree! I love how this one leans over as though the ornaments are weighing it’s wispy frame down.  How clever!

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Hello there Chalkboard paint!  If you already have a chalkboard wall in your home, then you’re pretty much set, but if not, it’s kind of the perfect opportunity to jump on this bandwagon!  How sweet is this chalkboard tree?? (now if only I had that kind of artistic talent!)

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Heart Gloves

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This is such a random thought, but aren’t these just the sweetest gloves??

Yastikizi’s Etsy Shop is full of handmade warm, cozy, nostalgic knit goods, and these gloves would make such a perfect gift!

I could imagine little girls running around with these, as easily as I could imagine myself rocking them on cold days (and nights)!

They also have versions with the finger tips cut off (convenient for texting – of course), and they come wrapped up with yarn, in these adorable bundles!
I heart them!

Grapefruit and Rosemary Holiday Cocktail

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I love me a good cocktail, and as work gets hectic towards the end of the year, sometimes I love me a good STRONG cocktail.
Please meet my new favorite after work friend – the Grapefruit and Rosemary Holiday Cocktail.  You will love me forever once you try!
From Taste of the South, Christmas Cooking Southern Style 2010
Ingredients
1/4 cup crushed ice
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
1 (1/4-inch-thick) slice grapefruit
1 1/2 ounces vodka
4 ounces seltzer water
Garnish: grapefruit slices and rosemary sprigs
Directions
In a cocktail shaker, muddle together ice and rosemary
Add grapefruit slice, and muddle again
Pour vodka and seltzer water over muddled grapefruit mixture
Strain into a glass. Serve with ice, (if desired), or serve it up in a martini glass
Garnish with a grapefruit slice and a rosemary sprig (to be fancy, of course)
**For whiskey lovers, vodka can be substituted with Bourbon – a totally different drink, but equally delicious.  A lesson I learned when we ran out of Vodka.

Glitz and Glam

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Soo, after putting together a little inspiration for NYE, things got a little carried away over here… I fell in love.  Hard.  And now I am totally obsessed with this full skirted, sparkly confection from Rare London.  It’s AMAZING – right??

I WISH I had enough time to order it, and have it ship before NYE, but I’m afraid there’s not enough time!!  Anyway, I’ve translated my wishful thinking into a fully styled ensemble for new years.  I’d wear it with nude peep toe pumps to elongate the legs (I have a pair by Stuart Weitzman that are TO DIE FOR), simple accessories to avoid detracting from the dress, and a deep red lip.  Finally, a messy low bun (a la Bridgette Bardot) is the perfect compliment to such a proper party dress.

NYE Sparkles Galore

Rare Opulence , $285 / PeepToe high heels, $120 / River Island , $44 / Chanel white pearl earrings / Black eye makeup

I mean… how fun would it be to party the night away in this number?

Having it cinched at the natural waist is extremely flattering (especially after dinner – am I right ladies??), the short, full skirt would let me twirl the night away, and a v-neck shows of the girls… just a little 🙂

It’s official… I NEED this dress!

New Years Eve – Fashion Inspiration

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We’ve all been totally consumed with Christmas this month, but with New Years just around the corner, I’ve been on the hunt for a fabulous dress to ring in 2013!!

Figuring out what to wear is always a challenge when you are still focused on wrapping up your Christmas shopping for everyone else, and I always feel a little guilty to be shopping for myself this time of year.  Throwing off those guilty feelings, I’ve put together a few inspirations for my dress hunt this year…

Glitter All Night Long

All that Glitters

Elie Saab glitter dress / Hervé Léger / Rare Opulence full skirt dress, $285 / Short sequin dress / V back dress / Gold cocktail dress, $49 / Quiz gold sequin cocktail dress, $41

New Years Eve is one of the few times of year that you are allowed to be as glitzy and glittery as you want!  Head to toe sparkle??  You go girl!  I’m all about the glitz, and who doesn’t want to stand out in the crowd??

Show a Little Skin

Cut Out

This is not a look for the faint of heart, or the conservative / shy / body conscious.  All eyes will be on you in a cut out dress, and these scream sexy! If you want to test the waters, go for a small cut-out on the lower back – like this silver brocade dress (bottom right).  If you are confident and ready to embrace this trend, side cut outs will show off toned abs, and if you are raring to go, a sheer body con number (upper right) will be perfect for you.

Be Unexpected

Bold Brights

Donna Karan twist dress / Lanvin embroidered dress, $3,780 / Hervé Léger rayon dress / Hervé Léger form fitting dress / Z Spoke by Zac Posen stretch dress, $235 / Beaded dress / River Island body conscious dress, $24

There’s a lot of black this time of year.  Dare to be different in bright colors that are normally reserved for warmer weather.  Go day-glo with neon yellow, green, or orange, or embrace the jewel tone family with amethyst and cobalt blue.  Feeling flirty? Hot pink all the way!

Wish me luck as I brave the holiday shoppers downtown, as I hunt for my NYE dress!!

My Peackock got Framed!

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Yep – Mr. Peacock got matted and framed over the weekend, and he’s now hanging proudly in our entry way.  This frame started out with a cream colored crackle finish – it was all very shabby chic, and it did absolutely NOTHING for my pretty peacock.
Rustoleum spray paint to the rescue!  I picked up a can of Rustoleum in deep navy gloss, and it looks absolutely LUSCIOUS in person.  The frame now picks up the colors in the print, and brings some much needed color to this space.

As a side note, has anyone else tried to take a picture of something that is navy???

It is IMPOSSIBLE!

I tried it pretty much every which way possible – with all the shades open, all the lights on, lights off, flash on, flash off… it pretty much doesn’t matter – it will not photograph.  So sad, because our little hallway now has a little flair with my new peacock print!

You can KIND OF see the navy here… trust me – in person it’s awesome!
I’m also loving the linen inner frame with the touch of gold… a little rustic with the glam.
You’ll also notice that the doors and trim are now bright white – they are no longer the same color as the walls!  Holla!
I spent a few evenings over the last several weeks painting out the trim and doors.  Remember our entryway back in November?  Stripes galore??  Well, as you can see, the stripes are gone now, since it was all way too much, but one day I will have my striped hallway!

The peacock has some other complimentary prints being framed right now – we are going for a variation of blues that will coordinate with the living room… stay tuned for updates!

A New Bed means a New Headboard!!

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After months of talk, we FINALLY got a new bed!  It took two separate trips and close to 5 hours, but after laying on every mattress about a hundred times each, we made a decision!!  Hurrah!! I bet you didn’t think this day would come!

Now that we’ve picked the mattress, and it’s en route for delivery, the fun can begin!  I have grand plans to make – YES MAKE – an upholstered headboard over the holiday.  My biggest fear is that this sucker will come out looking “homemade” – there could be nothing worse – but with all the tutorials online, I’m feeling confident.

I am totally inspired by this headboard by Kate of Centsational Girl – she has more craftiness in her pinky finger than I do in my whole being, but she took on this fabulous, complex curved headboard, and look how amazing it all turned out!!

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This bed wasn’t a DIY – it’s actually from Overstock, but I love it all the same!

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This headboard was from a bedroom that Emily (of A Well Dressed Home) worked on – so pretty.

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Since I am making my headboard instead of buying it, I did a little research online, and found this super helpful headboard design template online – I LOVE the Cavendish, and Grosvenor, but while they are both so pretty, I have a feeling that all those curved lines will be a lot easier to screw up!

Repeating the mantra straight lines are my friends, I think I’m most realistically looking at the Alexander or the Belgrave.  The Alexander would definitely be the easiest, but I’m just not in love with it – it’s all too linear.  Blah.  I was already leaning towards the Belgrave, but after looking up some inspirations online, I am totally sold…

I love, lovvveee, LOVE this version with the tufting, and nailhead – it’s just perfection!

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That deep diamond tufting is calling my name… no nailhead here, but the rich silk is so luxe.

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This was a DIY done oh so right – I’m going for a solid fabric, but I am really liking the nailhead close to the edge!

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And finally – navy and white – this close up showcases the detail of the INDIVIDUAL nailheads!  Amazing DIY!

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Ok… so I mocked up four options for the Belgrave headboard since I need some sort of game plan!

I LOVE the look of tufting… it just brings everything to another level, but I am a bit concerned that this is going to over-complicate the process.  It all sounds simple enough on paper, but when it comes time for the project, I don’t want to chicken out!

The bottom two options are tuft-less, and will definitely be more simple to execute, but I’m worried that they could look lumpy over time from leaning against the foam and batting.

Also, how tall should this be?  Should I add legs to the bottom or mount it on the wall?  How heavy will it end up being?  Questions, questions, questions!!!  Dah!

Luckily I have a few weeks to figure it all out, and while a little overwhelming, I am SO excited to start pulling this bedroom together!

Peacock Print

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Art can get really pricey really quickly, and while Etsy is a FABULOUS source for online art, so are old books.  The library in my neighborhood had a book sale a few months back, and walking by one afternoon, I ended up taking home a very random book of prints.  Perhaps a coffee table book at one time??

To be honest, most of the prints in it are tattered, and not so impressive, but there was one of a peacock that I flipped to, and I knew I had to have this book!

The page was incredibly tattered, but I was able to scan it to a digital copy, upload it to Shutterfly, and have them print out a high resolution image to frame.  It just came this week, and I am dying to frame it and put it up in our entry!

There was another print of a red and white flower, but I’m not completely sold on it… it would be great around the holidays, but I don’t know if it would translate well in other seasons.

It would be pretty in a series with other botanical prints, but unfortunately the other floral prints in the book are completely non-salvageable.

I have a special plan for the frame that the peacock is going into, and he is going to find a home in our entryway in the not so distant future!

The book was only $3, so I think it was a huge win!  What do you think?

Kate Spade Lollipop Pump

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It seems like we have a holiday party every other night around the holidays, and if you are looking to treat yourself to something special for Christmas, I am LOVING the Kate Spade Lollipop Pumps with gold cap toe, and heel.

Perfect for all these holiday parties… perfect for New Years Eve… and perfect for pretty much any night out on the town.
Do I dare???  I HAVE been quite good this year….
Happy Weekend!

Gussy up Your Gift Wrap!

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I’ve never been great at wrapping gifts… I don’t have the patience to get the folds perfect, and I use quite a bit of tape to make up for my impatience.  As a firm believer in the idea that enough ribben can solve any imperfection, I’ve been looking for a little holiday wrapping inspiration that looks simple enough, and still pretty.

What did I come up with??

Use Lace

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Yup – wrap a sheath of lace around a simply wrapped brown paper parcel, and you are good to go (and no one will know the mass amounts of tape holding things together under the paper!!)

Go Metallic

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All that reflective wrapping paper is bound to camoflauge some imperfectly folded edges right??  And under the tree with the twinkling lights – it will be pretty enough to distract from the part where I didn’t quite cut enough paper to cover everything… right??

Accessorize A LOT

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Go overboard!  It’s the holidays afterall!!  Grab some pom poms, burlap, ribben, doilies, fabric flowers… the works!  Just keep layering!

Go Natural

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Go ahead – snap some pine branches off the tree – no one’s going to miss them!  Glue a few pinecones to the top, and it’s a charming “woodsy” package.

Did I miss any super handy tricks for fancifying an otherwise poorly wrapped present??

I think I’m going to test a few of these out tonight since the fruits of my online shopping have payed off big time.  Almost everything has arrived, with plenty of time to spare!!