House Beautiful

Monthly Archive for December, 2014

Page 2 of 5

10 Good Things.

Merry Christmas Eve!  You know you’re still in your sweatpants (if you’re even up yet), nuzzled in a blanket in front of the Christmas tree, cruising the internet with HGTV on in the background.  Ahhhh, glorious.  Or if you’re Karrie, you won’t be awake for another 2 hours.  And if you’re me, then you have a bowl of pappardelle & meatballs in your lap for breakfast.  Whoops.  #wheninindiana

Anyhow.  Here’s a quick stream of consciousness for your marination station:

PEAR & THYME MIMOSAS {for cocktail hour tonight}

1 chilled bottle of Prosecco or Champagne | 12 oz. pear nectar | 4-6 sprigs of Thyme | Fill each glass with 3 ounces of peach nectar and a sprig of Thyme. Top with Prosecco or Champagne and add an additional sprig of Thyme to garnish. For entertaining, combine chilled wine and pear nectar in a pitcher with 6 sprigs of Thyme.

SALTED CARAMEL DONUTS {for Christmas breakfast tomorrow}

Hit the easy button and pick up the donuts at the grocery store, then either make or buy a jar of salted caramel.  Then dip those bad boys in your morning coffee.  #nomnomnom

SHARING IS CARING {I can’t take it.  Also, I’d like that kid to share his pom pom hat with me permanently.}

PS: the pic below is from this chick’s Pinterest board “Parenthood,” which I immediately followed and suggest you do too.  Everything on it is perfect.

LAST MINUTE DECORATING IDEA {Snag some sage from the fridge and tie it with leftover ribbon or twine.  Bang.}

HOW HILARIOUS IS THIS? {You know it’s true.}

I spent last night stirring meatballs and howling over texts from friends detailing the high-larious and ridiculous antics of their parents.  Gotta love family.  They’re all &$#^% nuts.  Regram via Chairish Co’s Instagram.

PLEASE SANTA CAN I HAVE THIS KITCHEN? {Never have I ever.}

I can’t even pick my favorite part: that pristine hood, the handmade-looking, slightly off-kilter tile backsplash, the reclaimed wood island topped with a slab of perfect carrara, the antique rug or that bad a$$ hardware.

ALSO SANTA… {…these earrings would be great.}

Pipe dream indeed – they’re listed as being from 400 bc.  Source unknown but pin via the amazing Lulu DK / decor goddess / hero of mine.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING SWEETER? {…cuz I haven’t}

The only thing cuter than: a) babies in sherpa onesies and b) goldens is c) goldens licking giggling, cooing babies in sherpa onesies.

ALSO – THIS GUY:

…who gave the guy next to me on the plane ride home a similar tongue bath, right before he passed out on said guy’s feet after his doggie tranquilizers kicked in.

WHEN I GET BACK TO CALI…

I’m totally getting a beach cruiser so I can snap one of these bad boys onto it.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST {A few wise words…}

…because the holidays are *wonderful*, but they aren’t all sunshine and rainbows for everyone, every year.  Some years they can be bittersweet, or even achingly difficult for people.  So remember to be a little kinder to everyone – there’s never any harm in that, right?  Cuz you just never know what’s going on beneath the surface.  And if you happen to be weathering a tough time this holiday, take some comfort in the poignant words below, because those words are true… whatever’s going on now – however difficult or unnecessarily cruel – is preparing you for something bigger, and there are better times ahead.  That is what I’m telling myself anyway, in the wake of the glorious déjà vu-esque curveball I just got lobbed.  PS: if you aren’t following Megan McGrane on insta yet, you should be.  She’s a wizard.

Merry Christmas Eve!!

xoxo,

What to Wear: Home for the Holidays

I fly home for the holidays in 48 hours, and do you know what I’m currently doing? …Drinking coffee in slow-mo and staring at my empty suitcase (procrastinate much?) and a huge pile of laundry (whoops), because I have NO idea what to pack to brave the tundra for 2 weeks.  I feel like my closet is now brimming with white booty shorts, tank tops and flip flops, and I have lost track of all my cold-weather-wardrobe.  Or maybe Gus ate it.

It’s times like these where I feel pressured to go shopping and buy a bunch of new crap… but if I’m being financially responsible, I know I can (and should) work with what I’ve got.  Sometimes that seems daunting, but this is where the Mothership comes in…  I know we ALL use Pinterest for a gaggle of different things, but sometimes it has a sneaky way of making you feel really terrible about yourself… like you are a Frumpy McFrumperson and HAVE to buy everything you just pinned in order to keep up with the Joneses, Smiths & Supermodels of the universe… and that sucks.  (PS, I’m certain none of the chicks in the pictures I pin have eaten since 2002.)  But Pinterest can also be great for helping you rework what you already have in your wardrobe.  For instance…  every time I look at an outfit I’ve pinned and loved, if I break down the anatomy of that get-up, I realize that it’s really just a bunch of staples I actually already own – I’d just never thought to put them together that way before.  Here are the ensembles that are helping me pack:

ALL BLACK | CAMEL COAT | AVIATORS

BLACK TURTLENECK | DARK DENIM | FLATS

BLACK BLAZER | BOYFRIEND JEANS | STILHETTOS

OVERSIZED SCARF | DAD’S OLD SWEATER | DAD’S OLD PLAID SHIRT | WAYFARERS | SKINNY JEANS | POUCH

OVERSIZED SCARF | WHITE UNDERSHIRT | BLACK BLAZER | SKINNY JEANS | KITTEN HEELS | WAYFARERS

SEQUIN MINI | BLACK TIGHTS | ANY ‘OL SWEATER

DAD’S PLAID SHIRT | BOYFRIEND JEANS | STILHETTOS

CAMEL SWEATER | DARK SKINNIES | LEATHER JACKET | WOOL SCARF

SILK BLOUSE | STATEMENT NECKLACE | BLACK PANTS

THIN, EASY V-NECK | LAYERED NECKLACES | BOYFRIEND JEANS (OR ARE THESE FROM YOUR MOM’S CLOSET?  LET’S BE HONEST.)

STRIPED SHIRT | PLAID SCARF | CAMEL COAT | SKINNY JEANS

FLOUNCY SWEATER | CREAM DENIM

Now.  If you’ll excuse me, I have to use this list to go pack so that when I get home, I can leave all these things neatly tucked in my suitcase and live in my sweatpants for 2 weeks while I eat Pizza King, merrily stare at our tree and watch the Hallmark Channel.

Nonetheless – hopefully this helps get your wheels turning and helps you shake up what’s already in your closet… it’s like the wardrobe equivalent of rearranging furniture – you didn’t buy anything new, but it helps you feel like you did and keeps things fresh.  We love to tell you what to shop for and post wish lists & gift guides & such, but the truth is that we also all have bills to pay and people to buy gifts for. And if nothing else, can I pass along these wise words that my step-dad used to always say to me when I was in high school?

It’s not the clothes you wear, it’s how you wear ’em.”

Keep that in mind… that ease and confidence are the most important things you can wear.  And that material things aren’t really all that important.  That phrase has always stuck with me.  (Thanks Big Dave!)

xoxo,