Wishing everyone a warm & wonderful New Year and a big thank you for all of your inspiring ideas and comments, you're just the best! Our new year's day tradition is to head out to the beach for brunch and beachcombing, what are your plans?? xoxo, amber
Call it a cleanse, a fresh start to the new year, boredom, either way, I need to drop a few post-prego pounds. Starting January 2nd (I love a new year's day brunch, so definitely not the 1st) I'm kissing gluten goodbye for a month. I'll just say no to warm crusty bread, creamy pasta, and my morning cheerios. This site is chock full of recipe ideas, I'm thinking big salads, grilled chicken and hearty quinoa dishes - does anyone have a suggestion to throw my way? image: 101 cookbooks
I had grand plans for holiday gifts this year, but I quickly learned that crafting to completion with a 3 week-old baby was kind of...a challenge. Baking? Not so much. So we came up with these s'more kits, complete with twigs for roasting. A simple canning jar, s'more ingredients, cloth, self-made labels, and oila! - sweet holiday treats at the ready. The only caveat, and one that left this sleep deprived mama stumped at the kitchen island, was how to fit square grahams into a round jar. Solution? We used kitchen scissors to cut each graham into neat little circles. Happy holiday roasting!
May you all be surrounded by family, love and holiday warmth. See you in the new year! xo, amber
Hoping you get all your holiday shopping wrapped up this weekend - and wouldn't it be grand to find a festive street like this one?? image: i.anton
Pure table love, people. Seat me at this gorgeous table and I might not get up until they dragged me out. It's all kinds of perfection, right?
Word to the wise: do not, I repeat, do not wander into Anthropologie 2 weeks after you've had a c-section just because you think you're feelin' good - it's a hoax, I tell you, your body is plain tricking you, and you will pay dearly for that divine scented candle and metallic woolen scarf. Lay low, stay home, light the fire...you're so much better off shopping online (if you're me, that is).
It had been 2 very long weeks since my last visit to my favorite shop of holiday wonder. Granted, I was busy having a baby, bringing baby home, figuring out life with a baby, but still, I was like a junkie and I needed my Anthro fix. I must have overdone it though, because for the last 2 days I've been in agony, every stitch aches and the stairs to my bedroom seem to have become steeper. Oh the things we do for a little retail therapy...
3StinkyBoysAndMe! said:
I'd wear those pretty pieces with EVERYTHING, both jeans and a cocktail dress. So pretty!
send me an email and I'll mail out your sparkle, xo
Years ago, my friends & I went to NY in January, for a fun-filled week - shopping, great food, late night dessert bars...it was goood. Leaving our apartment one morning, we see a woman so tall and so beautiful pass us by, leaving us frozen in our tracks. It was Iman, and she was stunning. She didn't smile or say hi, that really only happens in movies, but when I saw that she designed these vintage-inspired holiday earrings, it brought me right back to that brisk NY morning.
I know, it's not Wednesday, but since I'm having a baby tomorrow I thought I'd get one last wish-list post on the record before I enter baby-land. Each of these are books I would adore, use, and peruse through on rainy days. all available on amazon.
Late-night irish coffee followed by a lazy scone + pastry brunch the next morning - I want to have an all-out girls-only slumber party in this house! Can you just imagine...
Who could resist these gorgeous illustrations - all flowing haired beauties with a come hither look. Have a lovely weekend! xo, amber via design lovely
This printmaker's sideboard is quite possibly the coolest piece of furniture I've seen in years and I have to have it (I've measured and it will fit my entry hallway just right). It's one of those pieces I long to find at a flea market but know that someone who came at 4am would already have hauled it off.
oh. my. This candle smells like pure heaven, like a sun-filled home with wet beach towels hanging to dry. I need it...I really do.
Spreegirl hipster-undies just look so sweet & sexy - they come in the best patterns, and I never say no to a ruffle.
Amazing! It has all of the ingredients of a perfect film: gorgeous Audrey Tautou, visually stunning sets (like living in an Anthropologie photo shoot), and the story of a woman who makes dreams come true from hard work and passion. I saw this with my girlfriends and haven't stopped daydreaming ever since...totally recommend it!
9 days.
9 days until I have this baby girl. 9 days until I can eat more than 5 bites without feeling like I'm about to explode. 9 days until I can sleep on my stomach without 12 pillows, oh the joy! 9 days until my brain functions somewhat normally and I might remember what I was supposed to be doing once I reach the top of the staircase. thank you for always being kind, and for your words of encouragement! xo
The nursery is finally complete! It's such a cozy little spot, I have a feeling someone will be very snug in here. The fact that we turned our closet into the nursery was such a challenge, but when I look at it now, I can't even remember what it looked like before. It was hard to capture images, with the sunlight beaming in, but you get the idea. Still waiting on a rug and a few more things for the wall, but come in & take a peek! for-like-ever, yellow pom-pom trim, daisy pendant light, sun+moon mobile, dwell bedding, crib (hand-me-down free =good), knobs
My sunglasses came with a huge case that takes up serious purse real estate. I think one of these cute, super affordable, canvas numbers would be much better, no?
Silky finish & brilliant shine - yes, please! The very first item on my holiday wish*list is this new Moroccan Oil that's supposed to work pure beauty magic into hair like mine (wavy, curly, a little out-of-control). It comes in a glass bottle (even better) and the line includes shampoo, conditioner, masks and gold glimmer shine - can you say gorgeous holiday hair?
On Saturday I found 2 thick catalogs in my mailbox - Anthropologie Holiday & Victoria's Secret Holiday and I have to tell you, I had to giggle at the comparison. The Anthro catalog was chock full of bright and shiny and left me with chills of excitement, not to mention many dog-eared pages. I wanted to be alone by the fire and live in my snow-filled dream world. I didn't bother opening the other one, being 9.5 months prego, that's the last thing I need to see, but I did hand it over to my husband, I mean he deserves to be left with chills and dog-eared pages, too, right? Well, he had the perfect reaction, he said the girls look too young & too skinny now, LOVE him.
Have a great weekend everyone ~ I'll be busy gathering the last of the baby gear and putting the finishing touches on the nursery (pics next week!). xo, amber image: ozlem haluk
Brace yourself. I saw this tableware in a small kitchen shop and had to stop, touch, gaze... Pure artistry inspired by French antiques - I love the mix & match possibilities!
Maybe it's because I haven't had a waist for the last 9 months...but I am ridiculously excited for holiday clothes this year. I'm pretty sure this ruffle top will be living at my house once this baby is out and this velvet blazer is an all-out holiday staple. all from anthro
ps....sorry for the lack of posts, these last couple weeks before baby have been tough!
I don't think burlap gets the respect it deserves - it's all rugged + rustic, but can also look refined without looking stodgy. When lit, it casts a dreamy autumn glow that warms a home right up. There's a custom-made rectangular chandelier in Coastal Living this month that I can't stop dreaming about, and I'd love to find something similar for our dining room for under $300...any suggestions?
Have a fab weekend and a super spook filled Halloween! I'll be working at the cotton candy booth at Ruby's school fest - wish me luck, xo amber image: vintage
For the first time in 3 years we didn't have our annual harvest party due to my gigantic prego-ness. Luckily, our friends had one complete with hayrides and pumpkin carving at their home all nestled in the vineyards.
About this time every year I begin thinking about holiday packaging - both for baked goods for friends & for family gifts. I saw some tins like these at Michael's yesterday, and decorated just right they'd make the perfect little tin for gifting. image by rick lew
Great packaging alert! This chunky little glass bottle makes me want to buy a dozen and line 'em up all neatly in my fridge. Does that sound kind of OCD? Yeah, I guess it does, but this little bottle of forest milk from Japan is designed so simply, and so well.
I promised Ruby that we'd decorate the house for Halloween today after school...now I need to come up with some quick ideas. It going to be a compromise, I'm sure, of her brightly colored pumpkin/spider/witch cardboard cut-outs and my idea of a harvest wonderland...any tips? image via country living
Have a great weekend everyone! I am on the hunt for lovely + bright textiles to bring my bedroom to life, these would do just fine...xoxo, amber image via marie claire maison
There's something to be said for dining amongst friends & foliage. How pretty is this greenhouse - imagine the autumn colors in Fall! image via gourmet (rip)
What a crazy week - a huge storm and then pure sunshine, love that I had the chance to wear my new rubber boots! Looking forward to a Harvest Party & a Halloween party this weekend, and more work in the nursery. Pregnancy update: 33 weeks & I am HUGE, crampy and crabby (be glad you're not my hubby). xo, amber photo via pretty much
Mmmm flaky crust and veggies all in one dish. Why do I always seem to forget about quiche? Such a yummy meal on a drizzly night. Anyone have a favorite recipe? I'm headed to the grocery store...
Oh! The jewelry collection over at Plumo is insane! Each one would be perfect for Fall or Holiday...or for walking to the mailbox or for anything, really. And that ring?? It's giving me goosebumps.
Waiting impatiently for a pumpkin spice latte, this CD caught my eye yesterday. It looks slightly 60's moody and groovy and may need to be part of today's rainy-day repertoire. Have you heard it - like/love/hate it?
What better way to spend a cold, grey weekend afternoon than at the movies, mid-day no less! I met up with a girlfriend to see The September Issue, a documentary that follows the entire creative process of making the biggest Fall issue in Vogue history. Endless racks of clothes, models and photo-shoots, kind of fascinating, really, also revealing the mystique behind those dark glasses. We also polished off 2 boxes of sour patch kids & whoppers, making it an all around decadent girls-day-out!
Dreamy, right?? Grab an iced tea, cut some fresh lemons slices and meet me on the chairs in front, we'll take a dip around noon, but who needs an agenda, really? happy weekend, xo amber image: elle decor
Can we just discuss something completely non-design or baby related for just a moment? I't's Bravo's Flipping Out - I seriously love this show. It's real estate + design + pure reality goodness. Jeff Lewis (who I completely crush on) cracks me up, like rolling laughing (not pretty at 8.5 months prego...), and that Jenny is some sort of super human to work for him and all his compulsive craziness. Do you watch?
We've officially begun Project Nursery - transforming our closet (yes, the closet) into a dreamy haven for our little gal-to-be. We accomplished so much this weekend. Still to come: lighting, crib, changing table, wall art, rug & (maybe) a mobile. Stay tuned!
My friends threw me the most beautiful shower - all love, lanterns, and pretty girls in dresses ~ all under one roof! I'm still coming down from my shower-high, I was completely giddy for days!
I'd like nothing more than to nestle into this cocoon bed for the weekend, but I have tons to do. Baby-girl arrives in 6 weeks so we have plenty of DIY nursery-projects keeping us busy - paint, pom-pom curtains, art frame wall, and if there's time...a branch mobile. Will have lots of pics for you along the way! xoxo, amber image: smashmydreamlove
I'm loving this crisp October air - leaves are scattered, the nursery is coming along, and I'm craving pumpkin! There's something so warm and delicious about pumpkin recipes, here's a few that caught my eye, xo 1 mini-pies 2 soup 3 lasagna 4. parfaits
Ribbons, bows, butterflies & lace...oh how I'd love to open one of these gifts - it doesn't matter what's inside really, the package is just that pretty. A great way to use up little wrapping scraps, too. image via oh hello friend
