the thankful list

I am thankful for my Lilly bug and the joy she brings me each day and the sleep she deprives me of. I am thankful for my daddy's love for our family (he is our glue), his patience, and infinite support in me in all that I do. I am thankful for my mom's love of balboa, family pride, protective heart, and for loving Lilly almost as much as I do (she is a wonderful Nanna). I am thankful I get to see my sissy every day and her passion for the Bank girls, Lilly, and anything medically related. I am thankful for my bubba, that God gave me a brother who brings more joy, passion, and godliness to my life than anyone I know. I am thankful for the safety and health of my family. I am thankful that I have amazing friends to pray with (Kalee), double date with (Kristina), drink with (Cher), talk real with (Haley), love with (Debbee), giggle with (Nikki), gchat with (Courtney), trust my secrets with (Jen), celebrate with (Amanda), party with (Jackie), dance with (Sara), catch up with (Corey). I am thankful for getting to see Debbee and Nikki this year. I am thankful for a job that I love and learn from. I am thankful the republicans have taken over the house. I am thankful for Rose's coffee. I am thankful for Sunday bike rides. I am thankful for afternoons at the tide pools. I am thankful for walks on the beach. I am thankful for sweet Samantha Grace. I am thankful for Jordan's protection and brotherly-like love. I am thankful for Chipotle. I am thankful for my beautiful home where I can relax and be at peace with life. I am thankful for beautiful little Audrey who I sponsor and the heart wrenching letters her mom sends me. I am thankful for falling in love again. I am thankful for Pieter and the man he was for me and the Godly woman he encouraged me to be. I am thankful for the constant work God is doing in my heart – growing me, shaping me, challenging me, breaking me. I am thankful for my faith and that it never weavers. I am thankful for an incredible year of laughs, memories, change, and smiles!

tantalizing stripes

My fall wardrobe has recently begun to reflect a lot of stripes. Therefore it is only appropriate that I would be attracted to stripes in some unique and savvy spaces!

Stripes can be both masculine and feminine. I for one definitely prefer masculine stripes in a feminine space. Okay….let me back up a little. Feminine stripes are skinny, narrow, delicate, and dainty. Perfect for a shabby chic space, baby nursery, or more ornate space. Masculine stripes are thick, bold, abrasive, and often times horizontal.

Now, stripes work the same way in rooms and they do on your body. I love how the rules of fashion carry over into design! So….if you want emphasize the height of a room (or make it seem taller than it is) then be sure to use vertical stripes. If you want your room to feel more robust then horizontal is definitely the way to go – this treatment makes a smaller space seem larger than it actually is since the stripes carry your eyes infinitely. Below are some successful examples of these tantalizing stripes!

dates on a calendar

Sometimes the things that inspire me most are not tangible things at all but instead dates on a calendar. At this particular moment in my life that date for me is tomorrow – the day the original gossip girls reunite!

Tomorrow afternoon I will land in Dallas where I will be greeted by my BFF Nikki! I know this may not seem like a big deal to most people (that's fine I get it), but when you are used to working with a person, drinking margaritas with them every Wednesday, and buying the same clothes as them the 1,300 mile distance becomes unbearable. Therefore we intend to do the very things together that we used to….back in our gossip girl days (of course I am Blair and Nikki is Serena). Although I must add that when we took our gossip girl quizzes I actually ended up with Serena and Nikki with Blair – who would have thought!

So back to dates that make us happy! They seem like simple markings on a paper or perhaps a computer but they are in fact driving forces in our lives. Sometimes they are the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes they are the drive to finish decorating your home, or in my current case…..the drive to clean your home! My wonderful family is coming in town for the holiday week and I cannot wait!

And then there is my sister! Today is the date that has been on her calendar for what seems like forever. The date that drove her to pass her Pharma exam (she will be mad that I don't know the exact name) so that she could go to the Harry Potter premiere tonight!

audrey inspiration

"I believe in pink, I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles." Audrey Hepburn

kids corner

There are two types of women in this world: women who dream of one day becoming a mom and woman who eventually embrace having children as a means of creating a family. I however am the first woman (by default only). The one who has dreamed about how I would decorate my daughter's room or how I only want boys because I want them to love me forever. Aside from constantly changing my 'reserved baby name list,' I am always looking at clever way to decorate for children.

As a creative child myself I would have loved an art room or play station like the one below. A place to draw, paint, create, and live within my own imagination. Although most families have bonus rooms I feel they are rarely capitalized on to create a full kid zone. I get it though….kids grow up so fast and what was once impressive to a 6 yr old is no longer impressive to a 9 yr old. Still, how can you not look at these creative spaces and fall in love?!?

This is by far my favorite craft corner! Can you say obsessed?!?!

I adore tents in playrooms and especially love this one!

Simply deliighted by the cubbies, chalkboards, play island, and use of storage bins!

This bright latern light cluster is simply luminous! How colorfully clever!

This space is simply sweet and relaxing. Oversized animals are always a plus!

kitchen krazed

I've always had a love for cooking....even as a young child. I believe I was 11 years old when I asked for a crepe pan for Christmas – I mean really?!?! So of course to this day I naturally gravitate towards any kitchen I can get my hands on.

I have a fabulous modern-vintage kitchen at home, so that combined with the amazing fall weather has given me an itch to cook more than ever. I constantly find myself on the Food Network website searching for the latest beef stew, chicken chili, or pumpkin bread recipe. This need to cook has thus spiraled into a continuous daydream about what my ideal kitchen would look like and function as.

This however brings me to realize something about myself. For the first time in my life I don't really know what I want. I'm in this limbo stage in just about every aspect of my life which is both exciting and eye-opening all at once. It's almost like I have no expectations for anything so I am therefore open to everything. I've always been so stubborn in my ways that I haven't left much room for interpretation or opinions, and for the first time I am realizing that I truly do find happiness in just about everything.

Of course this was all brought about on my quest for the perfect kitchen. Turns out when you are in limbo (as I'm choosing to call it) there is no perfect kitchen. This of course makes my search that much more interesting as I am drawn to so many different materials, looks, moods, and everything else that a kitchen encompasses. Therefore, I have selected a few (okay maybe a few more than a few) kitchens that make my heart smile!

love: lighting. banquet. chic bar stools. curtains. antiqued cabinets. beige subway tile.
love: robins egg cabinets. secret door to office space. butcher block island.

love: stone arch. accented back splash. dark floors. ceiling beams.

love: exposed brick, blue tile, lustrous cabinets. round table. contemorary lighting.
love: white subway tile (duh). sleek lines. stainless hardware. contrasting counters.

love: contemporary red stools. traditional chandelier. stainless appliances. rustic farmhouse table.

love: mustard/white tiling. marble countertop. teal cabinet interior.

finally breathing

Today was the day. The day where we finally launched a project that I have been working on since my 2nd day on the job. I feel like I can finally breathe, but am also completely exhausted from birthing what I consider to be my child.

I had the perfect blog post ready for today but as I began to write I found myself completely drained. Therefore I wanted to post something that makes me smile. It might be a simple photograph but c'mon….how can you not love it. If I ever have a boy and girl I want to reinvent this photo and make it my Christmas card.


Well, that's all for now. Have a wonderful weekend and stay tuned for next week! xoxo

standout staircases

While I consider my overall style to be 'updated traditional,' I have noticed that the older I get the more I am drawn to modern or more contemporary statements. As part of this I have recently had my eye on some standout staircases. These staircases aren't your run-of-the-mill traditional entryway staircase. No, no – these staircases are wow pieces….you know, like a conversation piece.

J'adore (that means I adore) the fine line between art and architecture; the line where architecture becomes a piece of art in itself. Through my recent interest in architecture I have come to the understanding that just about anything (even a bathroom sink or elevator) can become a piece of art if treated with enough care and passion.

Well my friends, this is exactly how I feel about these staircases. Perhaps it is the fact that I am living in a one story home that makes me dream of staircases…one will never know. I do however know that these grand elevations provide moments of modern conversation while assisting in its everyday functionality.

I leave you now with my one final thought (well more like obsession). The idea of mixing old with new and contemporary with traditional. Just think how fabulous these staircases would look in a traditional craftsman style shingled home!

mellow yellow

Awhile back my sister opted for a new iPhone cover. After her purchase she asked me if I liked it. As I gave her a nod of approval she seemed almost shocked that I had nothing more to say so she took it upon herself to explain her decision. This of course led to her logic of "I feel sorry for the color yellow." My dear sweet sister felt sorry that no one likes yellow starburst and skittles and therefore compensated by purchasing a yellow iPhone cover.

I was thinking about this funny incident this morning and therefore decided to dedicate a blog post to the ever endearing mellow yellow. I however happen to love yellow and I crave just about anything lemon. I think there is an old wives tale that lemons will either make you produce all boys or all girls (I can never remember which one). Anyways, point being….I heart yellow!

Yellow, in my taste, is what I would use as a statement piece. Not to go off on a tangent but I will be blogging about statement pieces coming soon so stayed tuned for that one. After all, we have statement jewelry so why not statement furniture. Okay back to yellow – I'm not much of one for soft yellows but instead a bold punch of 'YELLOW, here I am." Below are some pieces that I personally adore for a punch of mellow (or not so mellow) yellow!

bold and bright

This week I am working early hours….7am-4pm! While I'm a total morning girl the combination of it being Monday and waking up at 5am is leaving me feeling a little dull in these early afternoon hours. Therefore, I have looked to some sassy designs for a little inspiration and afternoon pick-me-up.

Not only are these bold and bright spaces exactly what I need right now, but they are also officially going in my 'must have' catalogue of inspiring rooms. This of course brings me to my favorite part about this blog – the fact that it acts as a mood book for styles, designs, and décor that I love. I used to tear out pictures from magazines and keep them in a binder but of course that got lost somewhere between the dorms, theta house, and move back to Cali. But alas, I will never have to manage my clippings again for this blog will be my forever record keeper.

Now…..mark my word that these images will be the inspiration for my next home. I suppose this would be best suited for a small studio or open loft type of space as the bright colors would be a lot to carry throughout an entire home. Right now I am loving the timeless, fun, and classy combination of orange and teal!

green with envy

As much as I adore a crisp white home, I simply cannot deny my love for green. Aside from being my favorite color it is without a doubt an incredible statement maker. There are some colors (such as red in my opinion) that just look better in their solid state. But green really lucked out as it's enjoyed as both a solid and a print.

A good green – like Kelly green – is as timeless as black. Throw in a few gold accessories and you've got yourself a killer bedroom, or perhaps a coat. Quick fashion break...I am so sweet on this Blair Waldorf look I could just scream. When it comes to fashion there is nothing I love more than a pair of tights, savvy statement coat, and chic handbag! Oh Blair!

I'm obsessed with the drum ceramic table in this room and feel as though it's glossy texture makes this room all it's built up to be. While this room makes my heart flutter I can't imagine coming home to such a bold distraction every day after a long day at work. Perhaps this room would be better suited for a weekend getaway or modern guest house.

An upholstered headboard is something that I have always desired for my room. The plush lines and bold fabrics make it a chic accessory in any room. I love it when something practical - like a piece of furniture - becomes an accessory itself due to the divine nature of its design. This particular headboard has me practically drooling with envy.

no change here

I realize that the blog post you are about to read has nothing to do with style, décor, or spaces. But this is however my place to post opinions which at this point just so happens to be political. Simple disclaimer: the point of this blog post is not meant to upset anyone but simply point out how much the state of California sucks (sorry mom for saying sucks).

As if the state of California is not already in complete turmoil we go and elect Boxer and Brown. Clearly most of the other states in this country realize that we are in dire need of change, but not stubborn California…..we opt to make the same mistakes over and over and over again!

However, I should point out that there are 2 pieces of good news here: the right has taken over the house and election commercials are officially over. I look forward to going home today and not finding mounds of political garbage in my mail which at this point has probably killed every last tree in California.

House Results

Governor Results

Senator Results

finishing touches

I've officially lived in my island home for about 2 months now, and while I'm very settled there a few spaces that still require a little more attention. I think I've found just about everything I need to complete my home so now it's just time to take the plunge and make the purchases.

Areas in need of a little TLC include: living room – between the entertainment center and window as well as the empty wall in the den which has been begging for a desk.

For the living room I have selected a rustic blue bench that will be topped off with 4 nautical Etsy prints!

For the den I have been eyeing this mod desk that I will warm up with a few baskets and hang a chalkboard above!

I'm sure it will take some time for my articles to arrive but I can assure you that as soon as they do I will be posting pics to share with y'all!