Recap of Fourteen

Happy New Years Eve, everyone! I’m still trying to figure out plans for this evening, I know I’m a little behind. I’ll probably end up sitting at home with my lovie, watching the ball drop in NYC, wishing I was still there, and drinking some sparkling white grape juice. Yep, that sounds good. ;)

I’ve have procrastinated writing an end-of-the-year post because frankly I’m not ready to give it up yet. This year has been one for the books. As I sit here reflecting on all that I have done, I feel so small and humbled. Every year I make a bucket list of things I hope to accomplish. This year, I was able to cross off so many of those items. Most were firsts that had never been done before. I’m honored and blessed to have such a wonderful family and support group. Without them, this year would have been pretty boring.

Spotlight: Tom Dixon Lighting

If you haven’t heard of Tom Dixon, you’re missing out. He’s a British industrial designer who is known for his modern lighting, furniture and accessories line. And he’s kind of a hunk, too!

Lighting plays a huge role in the design industry. Without a lighting plan, a space would be boring and obsolete. It’s so important, as an interior designer, to choose a perfect lighting collection for a space. Good lighting can literally transform a space into something magical and beautiful. I always say, “You either nailed it or you didn’t,” and Tom Dixon nailed it.

Maroon + Leopard

One of my favorite prints is leopard. It’s fierce, but classy and provides the perfect punch of print for an otherwise ordinary outfit, or home. I oftentimes throw in a splash of leopard print somewhere in my home, such as a pillow or throw, just to spice it up.

I love finding new inspiration on Pinterest for outfits using pieces I already own. I saw this simple outfit and knew I could totally pull it out.

A (cheap!) Herringbone Vest

One of my must-haves for Christmas was this herringbone vest. I originally coveted the one from J. Crew, but it was too much. So I searched and searched for one that was a little cheaper. Low and behold I did, and I’m so happy I saved Santa some money because I love the material. It’s not cloth, like the one from J. Crew, so it’s very cleanable. I styled it with a white cardigan with suede elbow patches, black leggings, and brown riding boots. A comfy, casual outfit for a muggy Monday.

I have been obsessed putting outfits together on Pinterest with my new vest, and I can’t wait to try some of them out. You’ll be seeing a lot of it!

Gingerbread Latte

If you’re anything like me, you love to swing by the local coffee shop for a $6 warm coffee beverage. Maybe it’s a Pumpkin Spice Latte or some other coffee concoction. One of my favorites is the Gingerbread Latte around Christmastime. It’s the perfect balance of sweet, spice and java. So of course, when I figured out how to use my Imusa espresso machine that I got from my parent’s, that was the first thing I wanted to try out. The result is an easy to make, Nora Jones free, Gingerbread Latte.

Christmas Recap

A belated Merry Christmas from my family to yours! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. It was definitely a much needed min-vaca for me! Thursday night we got to open presents with my parents, sister, b-o-l, niece, and my boyfriend. We had a lot of fun and got some incredible (and shockingly surprising) gifts! We took our classic family photos by my mom’s Hallmark tree. I cherish these precious moments together, even though I am grown.

This is me and my boyfriend’s seventh Christmas together. I’m such a lucky lady! He surprised me with my very own MK purse which is beautiful, but there are no presents worth as much as my love for this guy.

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend with your loved ones.