naughty or nice

 

Naughty seems to be the new nice.

Naughty keeps messing with my nice.

 

Suddenly a little extra holiday sparkle has a naughty but nice look.

My eyes keep wanting to add a bit of naughty eye liner and extra lashes.

 Does naughty ever mess with your nice side?

I spy a bit of mischief which seems so much more fun.

Yesterday, my son bumped his head and ended up in the ER and now has some nice stitches for his naughty self.  I told him "Better be good" now until Christmas is over then he can go back to being naughty.

I will be so glad when the holidays are over and I can go back to being naughty.

How about you?  

Is naughty tempting your nice?

blue christmas

"'ll have a blue Christmas....without you"

 Maybe you are traveling to visit family, near or far.

Memories of travels are everlasting.  I always remember visually and associate places with color.

A comment was left about Paris blues and yes, Paris at night is a city awash in dress blues.

I shall never forget the trip I took to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

I was a teenager in high school and went to visit my sister and brother-in-law.

Elvis Presley died and there was a blue sort of sadness all over the land.

 I think everyone was blue and glued to the news. 

There was a quiet hush.

 

We listened to Elvis Presley music and soaked our sorrows in yummy comfort food.

 We escaped to the shops and museums to look at art and architecture.

I bought a pair of blue suede shoes.

Do you ever get the blues at Christmas?
All I want are deep dark moody blues.
Blue velvet, blue polish, blue everything.
Navy blue, sky blue, cobalt blue, admiral blue, yankee blue, electric blue.

All I want for Christmas is blue.  Everything blue.
all images from my pinterest board, blue and white

monday motivation - find the joy

This has to be one of my all time favorite illustrations I did years ago.  It does reflect so many wonderful traditions of the joys of the holidays, stockings hung by the chimney with care, gifts wrapped, christmas potpourri out, garland on the mantle, tree lit and decorated, amaryllis blooming, snowing, holiday music playing and sitting back to enjoy a moment of calm with some hot mulled cider or egg nog.

While we may strive for "old school" holiday perfection, it really is not about that.  Are you still stressing over the holiday photo, cards to send, the list of gifts to buy, make or wrap, the meals to prepare, and all of the other life's chores?  Let this be a reminder to stop and to find the joy.

Part of my monday motivation is to give a shout out of encouragement to each of you to take time to find the holiday spirit and really embrace the joy of the season.  Years past, I seemed to stress so many details and this year I find myself enjoying things more and more.  Perhaps because in a blip it will all be over.
Take a moment today to stop, to meditate, to breathe and to know that there is a reason for this season.

Promise me that you will take time today to find the joy and share the spirit of this holiday season.  Are you taking time to find the joy and savor every moment of this magical spirited month?  Share a moment of joy with someone you love.  How are you making room in your heart for finding joy?

white and woodsy

 Loving tons of white painted floors, bricks and walls...and wooden accents.

 

 Scrumptious woodsy velveteen and cashmere cables are heavenly.  

Just look at that rustic white painted screen in the background.

This room is perfection.  

Gobs of white with lovely wooden accents.

bird bath

I have always admired birds taking a bath and that was the inspiration for my new master bath.

Last year I scored this .25 tub from Waterworks at the designer sale along with all the fixtures.

The chandelier reminds me of bubbles or drops of water.

Soon, I will be able to take a nice bath and preen my feathers.

Lord knows my feathers have been out of sorts during this long renovation but it will all be worth it.

Oh, just in case you wanted to know, the paint color is from Martha, "bakery box white"

It has an ever so pale tint of green. 

winter wonderland

"Oh the weather outside is frightful" 

"but the fire is so delightful"

                                                   "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"

Enjoy the weekend full of fun.  It seems a bit of winter wonderland may be coming our way!

Take time out for a bit of holiday fun, be it caroling, wrapping or adding some spirit to your punch -

Happy Friday to each of you!

a series of pve design snow globes illustrated for Sheridan Road Magazine December/January 2012 issue

congrats to me

Happy dance today because I won this happy silk and cashmere scarf and tote from Martha Angus's blog "Post & Grant!"

congrats to me.

One thing about blogging is the pure celebratory joy of winning fun give-aways.  It is that e-mail that comes in telling you that you have won!   Another thing about blogging is the pure joy of seeing so many incredibly talented designers.  If you have not met Martha Angus, well then hop on over here.
Her interiors have a fresh and happening vibe.  Congrats to Martha on the launch of her new site.
It is awesome.

edgy calm

This year has been an incredible journey.  Living under renovation has been more challenging than 18 years of raising twins.  My friends always tell me "How do you stay so calm?"  Part of maintaining an all is calm, all is bright attitude is finding time to embrace life and to know that there are many phases along with trends.  I have always admired a sort of what I call a minimal "edgy calm."

Teetering on the edge is inspiring to me.  I always admire the person with the Christmas tree tied to the top of the car on Christmas eve.  

Not buying into the commercial aspect, but rather finding the peace and serenity of a home filled with only what you love.

A fire and fresh flowers add a luminous quality to this edgy space.

To those of you who are waiting for Holiday artwork, I ask you to remain calm and know that I am working hard to deliver my best work while living on the edge of a twitchy calm.

Seriously, what was I thinking that life would be the same living under construction?

I have uncovered my soul that dwells within the dust.

I remind myself that all is calm, all is bright striving for an edge to my life.

Promise me that you will take a moment to find your calm within.

chill

 
Although it is December, we really have not had the sort of "chill" that one associates with Jack Frost nipping at your nose.  I wonder if the gal on the far left was wishing she had worn her cloche hat, they all look so fab "chillin" on the bleacher.

Tonight, I am hosting a holiday cocktail which I have titled "Ladies night" and I am excited to see all my lady friends as we "chill" and toast to the spirit of life, love and laughter.   I am always impressed when other ladies tell me about friendships from kindergarten.  One thing I know for sure, that is no matter how long a lady is on your side or in your friendship corner, it is something special.  Cheers to all the ladies who don a cloche, a fur stole, some pearls and party shoes.

Do you make time to gather with friends over the holidays and let them know how special they are?  Do you find time to "chill" during December and embrace the spirit of the holidays dressed in festive apparel.  Excuse me while I get this party started in order to chill out this evening!

H2O H2O H2O

 Blogger, Lauren from Aspiring Kennedy politely asked for a little help from her friends to make an impact for a worthy cause this year.  That Lauren is not only charming but smart.

Last year, Lauren Knight of the charming blog, Aspiring Kennedy, started a charity in an effort to provide clean water in Africa.  Through the magic of blogging this initial effort became a movement now known asWell Done.  As a result, a well was completed, thereby visibly and dramatically improving the quality of life in this one small region forever! Since last year's efforts were so successful in bettering the lives of so many less fortunate, Lauren has decided to up the ante a bit this year and go for an even loftier goal.  Here's how we all can help. By just giving up one cup of coffee, one cocktail, a couple of songs on iTunes... we can actually change some families lives forever. I hope today that you will join me in donating to Well Done.  Even the smallest amount, just $5.00, can make the biggest difference. Thanks so much!


Give clean water.
Charity: Water.

 Give the gift of water.

Just think how different your life and your holidays would be without the gift of clean water.

Certainly does put the ho ho ho back in my H2O H2O H2O

to support good clean water in areas that this is not a daily benefit.

Lauren as well as many of us here in the blogosphere have joined forces and I hope you will too.
E-mail Lauren, she will be happy to add your blog to Well done 2011 and provide the html code needed to post Charity : Water  Well done 2011.