Where do you draw the line??

In the past I would shop the Black Friday sales with my mom but this year there is nothing important enough to wait in this line. We did most of our Christmas shopping in Japan and this year we drew my niece and nephew to shop for. Pay an extra few bucks to sleep in and shop later?? I think so.

How was your Thanksgiving? Are you running around trying to snag this and grab that today?? Where do you draw the line to day after Thanksgiving mayhem?

For those of you who want to stay in and still get your shopping done with Black Friday sales, check out this site. Save $100's and free shipping on so many items!

{images via Champagne Living}

I'm Baaaaack!

Wow its been a long time since I've blogged! I wish I could say that my absence was due to a dream vacation that I won by being the 31st caller but sadly thats far from the truth. My baby and I have been under the weather so we cuddled and watched lots of movies together. Even feeling yucky has its good times. But I couldn't miss wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving!! We are spending it at my in-laws and my food assignment is munchies, a jello salad, and the dressing. And because I'm an over achiever and have to get my homemade sugar fix, I'm also making an Amish peanut butter pie and a 2 foot braided bavarian cream and almond danish pastry. Yummm!

{Country Living}

Where are you spending Thanksgiving?? What's on your menu??

The Blooming Button

I first came across Nicole Drysdale's little cuties at the Bijou Market {Mmmm so much inspiration all in one place!}. The Blooming Button carries everything from crocheted caps and flowers to button clips and jewelry! They have something in every size too so your Christmas shopping can begin and end here.

{Photo via The Blooming Button on Etsy}

{Photo via The Blooming Button on Etsy}

These are little clips and I'm sure they are what inspired the name The Blooming Button.

So head on over to The Blooming Button here and check out all of their darlingness for you and your girl friends!

Christmas Inspired Living Room

Hello all! I know its Tuesday, but here is an {eclectic} Christmas inspired living room to help you get in the Christmas spirit.


I hope you all had a fabulous weekend..and Monday!

Handmade Christmas

Christmas is right around the corner people!! And I am so excited!!! I know we haven't even hit Thanksgiving yet but I'm the type to get a little carried away with Christmas...say...early November. I can't help it! Carols just pop out of my mouth!

So in case you are getting a jump start on Christmas this year or just looking towards the future, here are some of my favorite handmade Christmas decoration ideas:

I love the monograms! {chicmommybags $40}

Mmm... I can smell it already! {NHWoodscreation $10}

This little gingerbread man soap would make great Christmas party favors or stocking stuffers! {fairybubbles $3.75}

{Bloomingcouture $70}

Feeling not so traditional? {TraceyAnns $3.25 for 3}

This is so cute and would be so easy to make! {Ochristmastree $38}


Candy wreath- festive AND yummy! {Sweetgreetings09 $8}

I think these paper mache primitive snowmen are kinda cute {Krafty Chic Designs $4}

How cute are these handmade decorations?? {Snowfish $29.90}

When will you start decorating??

Japanese Gardens

I spent 4 months over the summer in Japan. One of the things that astounded me the most was that they do not have yards, they have gardens. At least in the area I was in, everyone had giant gardens surrounding their good size homes and they ate what they grew. We had fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, Japanese onions, pumpkin, lettuce, and squash everyday. But, for the most part, they didn't grow their gardens in nice little labeled rows...they grew something here and something there and in between the vegetables they grew huge beautiful flowers that towered over the garden. I was surround by thousands-yes thousands- of the most beautiful orchids in all different colors. Many of the people around us also grew rice patties that were cultivated in large square patches and these too were surrounded with orchids or sunflowers or whatever was in season.

That is something I miss the most about Japan. I wish that American's took a little more time to create beautiful flowery gardens at the scale Japanese do. Although, I must say, grassy yards are a wonderful thing. But there is something magical about always being surrounded by healthy plants and beautiful flowers. And more often than not, Japanese have about as many plants inside their homes as they do outside. With the would floors and the straw tatami mats and potted plants, their interiors were really an extension of the exteriors.

Here are some lovely pictures for you to enjoy :)

Spread the Love

Britnee Fullmer is an ingenious cook and makes jams and jellies in every flavor...yes, even ones you would never dream of. Some of these include mango jalapeno, cranberry habinero, and balsamic strawberry and pepper. My personal favorite was the strawberry basil jam. It was increadible! And who would've ever thought that strawberry and basil go together?? Well they do, quite nicely in fact. Of course all these jams and jellies don't just go on toast, you can put them on meat, fish, crackers, and chips!

For more information on Spread the Love and to get a your own taste of these delicious concoctions in lovely little jars, head over to Britnee's website here. Enjoy!

Where I'd like to...

...cook a simple, organic meal. Zen style is made up of clean, crisp lines and infused with energizing colors found in nature, such as sky blue, leafy greens, and wooden gold hues. Often it feels like someone brought in pieces of nature and set them in contrast with a clean, white canvas. I think a zen kitchen like this could inspire many savory meals.



~~~~~~~~
For information on virtual decorating services, see here.

Kihei Coconut Syrup

Earlier this year, my family and I spent 2 weeks in Hawaii. One of the places we stayed was in Kihei on Maui. Down the street from our beach house was a little cafe named Kihei Cafe and it was divine!!! We probably went 8 times out of the 10 days we were there. One of their top sellers is coconut macadamia nut banana pancakes. The coconut syrup was just to die for and luckily I have the recipe. It is so easy to make and even my husband who never strays from maple syrup {even when there's strawberries and whip cream!} asks for this syrup every time! Yesterday we had it on german pancakes...Mmmmm!

{Sorry about the poor quality picture...I am NOT a photographer!}

Kihei Coconut Syrup

3 TBL butter {I use 1 to make it more figure friendly...still tastes delish!}
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp coconut flavoring {can get at most food stores}

1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp almond flavoring

Combine butter, sugar and buttermilk in a sauce pan and stir over med. high heat until sugar dissolves- but don't boil! Remove from heat and add baking soda and flavorings. Enjoy!

Bijou Beauties

I was so impressed with all the talent that came together at the Bijou Market! For those of you who couldn't make it, you really missed out!! But no worries, I got your back :) Over the next week or two I'm going to spot light some of the venders that I liked in particular. All these ladies have websites so you can get their fun stuff where ever you are! And lucky you, its just in time for Christmas! There are fun things for everyone on your Christmas list {except maybe that 15 yr old boy that just wants some serious shoot em up blow em up video games...this is all happy stuff} so maybe this can ease up some of that holiday stress!

Posie headbands and clips galore! Made out of every different material possible. The cute ones on the right are made out of zippers...original huh?

I L-O-V-E this vintage bicycle necklace! If you're into vintage the Bijou Market had you covered.

Vintage jewelry and vintage button clips...

This was the cutest card holder! It was made out of a vintage silver fork that had two prongs bent down and two prongs bent up and it worked perfectly!

I'm actually going to try to make one of these...I just love unique and original and it doesn't get more original than making it yourself!

Food was not forgotten! There were yummy samples of cupcakes, sugar cookies, chocolates, gourmet jams...all homemade! These particular cupcakes are from Cupcake Chic: www.cupcakechicutah.com
I will be stopping by there to curb some cupcake cravings!

So stay tuned for more products, websites, and venders to help complete your Christmas shopping list as well as your Christmas wish list!


{All photos via Nattie B}

Virtual Decorating Now Available!

The time has finally arrived and I'm so excited to announce that I am ready to take virtual decorating consultations!

Here's how it works:

~ After you purchase a consultation, send me an email and tell me a little bit {or a lot} about you, your preferences, style, and quirks {especially those relating to how you like your home}. Do you have pieces you love and want to incorporate? I can decorate your room around those pieces so they become the masterpiece.

~ Tell me what colors and style you love, what furniture you already have {and it's color and if you want to keep that color}.

~ Give me an explanation of the room...basic dimensions, flooring, wall color, and number of windows so I can envision it as I find the perfect accessories to make your home fabulous.

~ I also need to know the budget you are working with {I have completely re-decorated rooms for under $150} but understand that the more furniture you are looking at as well as the quality of furniture {Target versus West Elm} will greatly affect how much I can include with the budget you are working with.

~ Just communicate with me! Don't be afraid to tell me exactly what you want and from where! I'm here to find exactly what you want.

Based on your preferences, budget, and room description, I will create a moodboard containing everything from window treatments to wallpaper, furniture to rugs, art to stylish storage solutions, as well as individual examples and/or tutorials {want to create a gallery wall? Here's how...}. The moodboard presentation will be 2-5 pages depending on the size of your budget and room.

Once I've completed your moodboard I will email the entire project to you and then you pick and choose and purchase exactly what you want! Have a question about putting it all together? Feel free to email me!

The price for a room up to 15'x15' is $65
The price for a room larger than 15'x15' is $85
All payments can be made by paypal.

*Note: These prices are guaranteed for this year only. Starting 2010 I will be offering more services, including actual in-home consultations and decorating for Utah residents and prices may be affected.

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?

Do you feel like your sanctuary is getting a little...dull? Here's the solution! Take your pick!

{Tanner}

{Lea Furniture}

{Butler}

{Spiegel}

{Spiegel}

{West Elm}

The mirror against the black is so dramatically glam...I love it!! {Melrose Height}

{West Elm}

...Its a side table... {West Elm}

I think these are simply glorious! {Butler}

Deal of the day! Only $49.99 at Target.com

{Pottery Barn}

And don't miss Neiman Marcus' exquisite mirrored furniture collection! It is to die for!

Three Cups of Tea

I just started a reading group {Books and Breakfast Group to be exact...we have a little breakfast while we discuss books. Fun huh?!} and I wanted to invite all of you to join! We meet on the 4th Saturday of every month and discuss the book we just read and then choose another one for the following month.
This month we are reading Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. This book has been very popular and is a #1 New York Times Bestseller. I heard about it via {several} word of mouth and had to read it!

For more info on the book see here.

At the end of this month I will post the same questions we talk about at our group for you to think about and comment on and then I'll announce the book for next month! If you have any good book suggestions let me know and I'm sure we'll get around to all of them! I'm very excited about this...and I hope you are too!

I'm so there!

For those of you in the Provo, Utah area this weekend, there is going to be a lovely event that you will not want to miss! Bijou Market is bringing together many talented individuals from Utah, Arizona, and Idaho that sell their unique handmade crafts, furniture, decor, accessories, and clothing {similar to what you would find for sale on etsy}.
Even if you don't plan on buying anything, I guarantee all this creativity is bound to inspire a project or two of your own!

This Saturday, November 7th
10AM-4PM
501 N. 900 E.
{Across from Gold's Gym}

There is going to be a giveaway for this lovely Fresh Picked "Bunting Pillow" courtesy of Rockstar Diaries. Enter here.




Their next Market day isn't until June 2010 so don't miss this chance!
If you are interested in selling your own crafty goods in the at Bijou Market next year, see here.

Special thanks for the tip off from Natalie B.

Dress Up the Couch!

Lately I've been thinking about adding a throw to my living room scene. Comfy + style statement + functional=necessity!

{Jeffers Design Group}

This frilly throw takes "girly" to a whole new level! {The Vintage Laundress}

{Bilhuber and Associates}

{Bilhurber & Associates}

Sometimes a throw is just the thing to tie it all in {Country Living}

{Canadian House & Home}

{Canadian House and Home}

I love how this throw instantly livens up the whole room {Country Living}

Or it can be a background comfort...{Domino}

{Domino}

Or it can really make a statement! {Pottery Barn}

{Traditional Home}

{Pottery Barn}

So grab a book {or a remote} and get cozy!