Wish I were Here!!

The high today in San Francisco is 50 degrees.  The to-do list at work is about a mile long.  One of my client's refuses to answer my emails.  It's 10am and I could really go for a pina colada on THIS beach.  Dear scientists of the world... please figure out this time travel thing a little faster, and transport me to this beach in Samara, Costa Rica right... now.

With this one...

New Decorating Obcession: Topiaries

My mom has a rule - for every arrangement involving fake or dried flowers, you HAVE to have at least two fresh arrangements.  While this is her rule, and not a universal rule, I think it's a good one to go by.  Have you ever been to one of those discount craft / decor stores - Michaels, or Home Goods - and thought, "wow, they have some nice stuff in here but it seems kind of tacky"?  Well... its all the fake flowers and fake plants... trust me on this one... I've spent some time thinking about it.

That said, keeping fresh flowers on hand can really add up - while you can pick up a bouquet at the store for $10 - $15, they will be dead by the end of the week, so that is a minimum of $40 - $60 per month on flowers.  To some, this might be pocket change, but for me, this adds up to drinks with a good friend, a new pair of shoes, or my annual subscription of UsWeekly.

This brings us back to seeking simple, inexpensive solutions for a fresh look in your home.  I've found that topiaries are a great option.  They are small, easy to keep up, relatively inexpensive, and look tres chic!  If that's not enough, they have 10x the lasting power of flowers, and bring a pop of freshness to any room.  Honestly, if you took care of them, they could last years, but let's say they cost $8 each, and last 4 months... that will cost you $1 a week for two.  Look how amazing they look!


Photo courtesy of Kate's Place


Photo courtesy of Home Design 2011

MY NEW KATE SPADE BAG IS HERE!!!

This is a TERRIBLE photo taken with my phone, but I am so excites about it, I don't even care!  I am in LOVE.  A personal note to Kate:

Your bags are amazing... I have an official addiction, so please stop making them.  I am slowly going broke, and will be homeless living in a box, but with a shelf full of beautiful handbags.

Love,
Becky

Gift Wrap IS an Art!

With Christmas just around the corner, I have been spending quite a bit of time wrapping presents...  I'm not the most skilled wrapping expert, so a huge high-five to the internet for providing such a wealth of information around perfectly creased paper, and an array of bow tying tactics.

In an article aggregated by one of my favorite bloggers Joanna Goddard (of Cup of Jo), Chatelaine.com explains one of the easiest and most beautiful ways to tie a bow - step by step!  Worth the extra 2 minutes it takes - trust me!

Click here to be a fellow bow tying expert...

Also, OhHappyDay has published several fun articles with styling tips and where to buy guides for each - ingenious!!

Wrapping Guide #1
Wrapping Guide #2

More real life gift wrap photos to follow with a few of my own masterpieces!

Image courtesy of Chatelaine.com

Holiday Traditions: Christmas Tree Hunting

Every year since I was a child, my family would go and cut our Christmas tree down.  We'd all bundle up, drive up to the mountains and chop down the PERFECT tree.  Rain or shine.  One year, there was a terrible storm, and the rain was coming down in buckets.  We ate our little picnic in the car, chose a tree right off the side of the road, and were in and out in 5 minutes.

I happen to love this tradition - picking up a tree from the home depot just doesn't have the same appeal.  And you can't beat the smell of a freshly cut tree - amazing.  I still go with my parents, and their traditions have become mine.  My mom sent me this note today:

"Daddy and I have been cutting down our tree from the first year we were engaged and will probably continue to until we're sitting in a convalescent home with drool bibs! Even then, we might try to sneak out with a saw or small hatchet..ha ha!"

Is that not the cutest thing in the world?  While Kris and I aren't engaged, I hope we are the same way, and have our own yearly rituals that we continue with our kids, and even after our kids are grown.

Painting courtesy of Laura Tasheiko