{lets celebrate!!}

Its the last day of 2010, and what a wonderful and beautiful year it has been. There is so much to look forward to this year, but most of all, a wonderful new year filled with the promise of new beginnings. Wishing you all a very happy and lovely New Years!!
Welcome 2011, I am expecting great things from you!
*cheers*

{mucho dinero}

As most of you know, I have a near obsessive compulsive disorder with nail polish and painting my nails. Here is my new favorite color, Mucho Deniro by Essie. So pretty and feminine on and the very so perfect neutral.

{silver and gold}

I was so excited to find these beautiful pictures on Style at Home of the perfect Christmas table adorned with silver and gold accents. I love how the table looks clean and simple, yet elegant and stunning with just the right amount of glam!

{simply stunning}

"There is no formula for glamour. It combines shimmer and charisma. It's elusive but you know it when you see it."
- Mary McDonald, from Mary McDonald Interiors

photos: Michael Paul Photography

{It's beginning to look alot like Christmas}

After shoveling more than I have ever shoveled in my lifetime the past few days, I have finally accepted the fact that yes, it is now Winter. Not my favorite season, but I do admit the first few snowfalls are pretty beautiful. All of this fresh powder has made me start feeling in the Christmas mood, sort of like the Grinch, when his heart grew 2 sizes. I am not as bitter about it being the winter because I do love everything that has to do with the holiday season. Including receiving and especially giving gifts. While searching online for Christmas gifts I came across these LOVELY vintage inspired letterpress Christmas cards from Hello! Lucky. I decided I would get a set of them and send them out to some family and friends from Matt and I as our "First Christmas cards as a couple." I am not going to tell you which ones I chose, if you are lucky enough, you will get one in the mail!
Now... off to drink some Nog. yummmy

{wedding inspiration}

A bit of a sneak peak at what is inspiring me for wedding plans!

{sweet tea}

I found this picture a while back and love it every time I look at it. I wish I had these little sugar packets, what a sweet reminder to take the time to show someone kindness during the day. Its so easy to get wrapped up in your own life and forget what an impact a kind word can have on somebody else.

{lovin}

... this combination. Stark Ghost Chair and the rustic wooden table. Not to mention that perfect photo gallery.

{surprise}

I have been horrible at writing on this lately, but there have been some major updates in my life that I should fill you in on. Since, most of the people that read my blog are my family and close friends, you all know that I am engaged! yeah! Some of you may not know how this engagement took place so I will give you a quick overview of how it happened. I went down to Arizona with Matt for the month of August to help him move into his new house that he had bought and to spend some much needed quality time with him before he started Dental School. We both started school on August 30, so he told me he had a surprise in store for my birthday (the 29th). He took me to the Waldorf Astoria's Arizona Biltmore, designed by one of my favorite architects, Frank Lloyd Wright. It was such a great surprise and he even scheduled the most AMAZING facial for me at their spa. What a sweety! We ate dinner at one of the great restaurants there and when we came back to our room he popped the question, on one knee! :) Of course I said YES! We spent the rest of the night drinking champagne and swimming in a few of the 7 pools at the resort. It was such a wonderful surprise and I am so lucky to have found Matt! We are both very excited and I am loving planning the big day. So far we have decided on the venue, La Caille in Sandy, Utah; and that it will be on the evening of August 7th. He will be in Utah this month for over a week and we plan on doing our engagements as well as the food tasting up at La Caille than! Thank you to all of my great friends and family that have been so excited and supportive during this time in my life! It means so much to me, and I can't wait for you to celebrate our big day with us!

{internship}

A few pics from the Knoll Showroom and a lovely view of the wonderful LA traffic I get to drive in every day!

{vanilla bake shop}

I started my internship in Santa Monica yesterday and so far I am loving it. Today I had the intern duty to pick up 2 dozen cupcakes from this adorable bakery a few blocks away for a presentation that was being given to some clients. Luckily they didn't finish them off so I was lucky enough to sample one. They make the cutest cupcakes you have ever seen in a bunch of delicious flavors. We ordered the "mini" cupcakes which can be eaten in 2 bites, and also doesn't leave you feeling as guilty as a whole cupcake would. The Meyer Lemon Raspberry is amazing! Highly recommended and the family owned bakery is decorated fantastically, which is always a deciding factor if I like a place or not!

{rendering}

One of the greatest things about my major is that you actually get to practice coloring! What could be better? Hand rendering is one of my favorite things to do...these are a few examples of gray-scale renderings I did a little while ago.

{happy spring]

Well, today isn't actually the best day to be saying "Happy Spring", since it snowed last night. But last weekend was absolutely beautiful! I spent time working in the yard, planting flowers, and went golfing for the first time this year! I am so glad that it is starting to get warmer and can't wait to move to LA for part of the summer. I love these jewel toned glasses. They would be perfect filled with some summer time sun tea! I have missed the sun!!!

{glass and gold}

If you follow my blog, you have probably noticed that I LOVE metallic accents, especially gold!
Lately I have been loving the combination of gold and glass.

{coveting}

Chanel's famous 2.55 chain bag...the epitome of style! Someday!

{pretty little things}

{pastel bliss}

Pastels seem to be the trend for Spring/Summer 2010. If you know me, you know that I have a slight addiction to painting my nails and am fawning over these great spring colors from Chanel.

{gallery}

I am a fan of wall galleries as long as they are done right. This room nailed it by using different sized artwork and a variety of frames.

{double dutch}

Two of my favorite modern lighting fixtures by Dutch designers. First is the Kaipo Lamp by Moooi and the second is the Skygarden by Marcel Wanders.

{spotlight}

Interior and Furniture designer, Jan Showers, is amazing. I am loving the understated glamorous style she uses! I think you should always have an element of glamour in a room whether it be metallic accents, glass, silk, or a fantastic collection of design books!

{pretty little things}

Pretty china designed by interior designer Kelly Wearstler.

{hello weekend}

hoping to relax, sleep in, and finish my book.
have a beautiful weekend.
xoxo

{be happy}

Sometimes everyone needs a little pick me up. Remember the simple things that can make for a happier and more fulfilling life!

• follow your heart
• stay inspired
• take pictures
  
• do things you are good at
• find people you love
• set goals
• help others
• pamper yourself
• go to a museum
• listen to music
• exercise
• lighten up
• get a good nights sleep
• buy yourself flowers
• don't compare yourself to others
• every night reflect on the "good" things about your day
• believe in yourself
• value who you are right now
• keep the romance in your life
• make a gratitude list
• read a good book
• want what you have
• make time to have fun
  

{table settings}

I always love a beautifully set table. My mom happens to be very good at making great table settings for any kind of occasions and I have always admired her for how creative she is, it helps that she is obsessed with dishes and linens. This is a table setting I found to be excellent! I love the thick black and white striped linen with the gold accents and bold pops of color in the floral arrangement. It looks like the perfect place to eat a delicious spring meal.

{spring cleaning}

This last week I decided to do some spring cleaning and realized I need to be more organized. I love my house to be clean and put together, but as everyone knows life gets crazy and your house can get messy. Doesn't everyone wish they had a closet like this one, aside from being gigantic and beautiful, wouldn't it be nice to have things this organized. Here are some tips I thought I would share from and article on UnClutterer about how to easily de-clutter everyday!
• Don't go to bed with a sink full of dishes.

• Set a Timer. for 5 to 15 minutes and choose one area to de-clutter, a drawer, a closet, the fridge. Just go for it.

• Sort the Mail Immediately. Instead of piling up the mail to deal with later, sort it as soon as you take it out of the mailbox.

• File Immediately Instead of keeping a bunch of 'to file later' papers that will drive you crazy. Put hanging files within reach so it's just as easy to slip each paper into its file as to pile it up.

• Make the Bed. When you make the bed every day you resist the urge to pile the nightstands with glasses of water, throw your clothes on the bed and then on the floor before sleeping, etc. Plus making the bed energizes you in the morning. Things feel clean and organized and ready to go!

{coveting}

This wine decanter and a red zinfandel to go along with it. Isn't this just beautiful!?

{a pretty piece}

This summer I am required to complete an internship for six weeks. I have decided to intern with Knoll in Santa Monica, CA. However, this was no easy decision. I was lucky enough to be offered two AMAZING internships at very reputable companies Knoll and Ralph Pucci. I ended up choosing Knoll to work for full time and hopefully can work on setting up events and exhibits for Ralph Pucci while I am out there as well. I am in love with everything Ralph Pucci carries, including this amazing Bronze Chaise Lounge by the talented Paul Mathieu. Sadly, the price tag is a little more than I will be able to afford for quite some time...$62,000!!! Wow.

{Vladimir Kagan for Pucci}

I love the Erica Chaise designed by Vladimir Kagan for Ralph Pucci. Elegant yet simple, perfect for anyone who loves unique furniture design. I love how the plexi-glass base it sits on gives it the illusion that it is floating. So pretty!

{weathered wood+crisp white}

inspiration: white walls, subtle shades, mirrors, chandeliers, and romance.