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Are You There, Santa? It’s Me, Karrie

Published on December 23, 2011 in Gift Guide, Seasonal and Stuff We Love. 4 Comments

Mrs. Claus.  This is what a Xmas day outfit consists of in Florida.

For as long as I can remember (“My memory is long, my memory is very very long” – which movie?), my dear, sweet, kooky mother, aka TINA!, has been preaching about the materialism and consumerism of Christmas time.  I mean, just straight up bah-humbugging the whole holiday because she can’t stand the commercials, the over indulgence, all the general hoopla of people spending loads of $$$ on items.

So, Mom, this year’s Dear Santa list is dedicated to you.  Yes, every last item on this list.  All of it.  Dedicated… to you.  Love ya!  Without further ado, a smattering of the goodies I’m wanting this holiday season:

1. A replacement for my shabby, fake Louis Vuitton purse finagled from some shady dude in an alley in NYC two years ago.  I’m a hussler, baby.  I’m currently jonesing for a Lauren Merkin Paige Duffel because they’re cute, they’re professional, and well, that’s what I pretend to be (the professional part).

2. Books.  More books.  And then, a few more. Specifically:

And these:

Thanks B for the Sunday Soup tip!

3. The Panasonic Lumix LX3, which takes drool-worthy, high clarity pictures AND fits into a purse.  OH – and is a fraction of the price of fancy DSLRs.

4. Tracy Anderson’s Metamorphosis DVD series.  Because at 3 AM when you wake up on the couch with the TV on and this infomercial blasting, it gets your attention. Because when Gwyneth Paltrow appeared on Oprah and showed viewers her dance/workout routine with her trainer Tracy, we all kinda sat up and took notice.

5. A new pair of Lululemon pants (mine were stolen from the gym, that’s how great they are) to wear during said Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis.  You guys, trust me, I get that these are a pretty penny.  But they’re so, so, so worth it.  They last forever, and they make your arse look like you could bounce a quarter off it.

The original Groove Pant

6. Clarisonic Classic Sonic Skin Cleansing System – For some reason three girls at work have all gotten this recently, and they all extol the virtues of this handy deep cleaning tool for your skin.

7. Jen Aniston perfume – Supposedly inspired by the scents of jasmine and the ocean.  It smells just lovely, y’all.

“That skinny b*tch Angelina doesn’t have her own perfume…”

8. The be all, end all of blushes, Nars Orgasm Blush. Because there really just isn’t anything better than giving your new in-laws your Santa list with a product containing the word “orgasm”.

9. This absolutely gorgeous bib necklace, for when I’m a Kardashian one day and can actually afford it.

10.  Ok, actually, Mom, I’m gonna cut the list short.  I had a couple other things in mind, but really, I have enough.  I know. So I’ll move on.

Mom on the right, making a face for pics, as per usual.

I hope everyone is having a really wonder holiday wherever you are, and Dear Stephanie: If I don’t get a loopy message from you after the Burris All School Reunion later tonight, your butt’s toast.

xoxo!

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Rustic & Dreamy Holiday Decor

Published on December 2, 2011 in Decor and Seasonal. 2 Comments

If you’re like me, you were probably in food coma far too drastic last weekend to decorate, but are perhaps decking the halls this weekend.  I generally adhere to the idea that when it comes to Christmas decorations, the more the merrier…  and the tackier, the better.  Just hang that $#*% up everywhere.  Kinda like this, which I think is totally rad.

However, on a more rustic and refined level, the following shots from Ballard Designs’ creative director Jill Sharp Brinson’s Atlanta cottage (as featured in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles – and with the help of rock star designer Suzanne Kasler) just fanned up my Christmas tree skirt, BIG time.  Check it:

(Look at the metallic ornaments inside the lanterns around the candles!  A little added sparkle in an unexpected spot.  Genius.  PS: that tablecloth is killing me.)

(I would be swooning over this kitchen anyway, but oh…  those sunbursts + that garland…)

(The wee potted tree!  The wee potted tree!)

(I love J-O-Y spelled out with garland so much it hurts.)

Love it?  Wanna recreate something similar?  Take a cue from Kasler and Brinson:

1.  Start with lush, earthy, textured neutrals (weathered woods, furry throws and rugs, maybe a little wicker)…

(For wicker I always defer to Marshalls/TJ Maxx… Faux Sheepskin rug available here.)

2. Layer in tons of greenery and garland…  (I just used all the branches and twigs that fell of my Christmas tree while I was rassling with it to hoist that 200 lb. bad boy up into a rinky-dink teacup of a stand…)

This is also a good use of backyard twigs…

3.  Pepper it with a few modern graphic elements…  if you liked the black and white chevron tablecloth, try a pair of chairs like zeese (!)

Or just drape some pretty fabric over a table…  or plop a few little pillows on the sofa.

(Clockwise from top left:  Angeline / Les Indiennes…  Hedgehog via Neisha Crosland…  Pillow via Etsy…  Delicata / Peter Fasano…  Ebony by Greenhouse Design.)

4.  Last but certainly not least, top it all off with some sparkle.  Tarnished golds and antique brass fixtures…  or if you’re on a budget, take a cue from Kasler & Brinson, and toss some mixed metal ornaments in a glass jar around a plain ‘ol candle, or inside a lantern.  Here it is again…  you can find lanterns like that all day long at Marshalls, HomeGoods, TJ Smacks, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc.  And a few boxes of silver, gold and glittered ornaments at Wal-Mart for a song.  Or, my favorite store in the world:  Goodwill.

OR, shoot.  Just spray paint some branches from the backyard with glitter spray paint and arrange ’em in a pretty container.  Who knew such a thing even existed??

Happy Decorating!

xoxo,

photo credits:  (1) Nostalgic tree via Pinterest (2) Scanned image of inflatable yard decorations via Real Simple Dec 2010 / photo by Kathryn Allen Hurni (3-6) Jill Sharp Brinson’s Atlanta Cottage / Decor by Suzanne Kasler via Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles (7) Front Door – Pinterest via Martha Stewart (8) Twig candles via Sadie & Stella (9) Chevron Chairs via Instagram (10) Fabrics and pillow found via Pinterest.  (11) Sparkly twigs via Pinterest.  Sparkle Spray paint available through Krylon.

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