Wish List Tips

Every December my family does the old ‘What do you want for Christmas?’ routine. And after too many years of my family drawing blanks, I’ve had to do a lot of present testing. So I’ve learned some tricks along the way to getting pretty good Christmas gifts for others. Here are my Christmas tips for the perfect present.

Tip 1: Etsy is a great place to check out one-of-a-kind items that are sure to make someone feel special. When looking on Etsy think of what your person likes to do. My cousin loves to bike so when I searched ‘bicycles’ I eventually found a really cool bottle opener made out of recycled bike parts. He still loves it!
Shown : Full Moon Circle Necklace - This necklace is really beautiful and quite a statement piece which is definitely my style.

Tip 2: Think about things that make your person special (even dietary needs). My Aunt became newly Dairy & Gluten-Fee a few years ago and so I made her a simple food stuffs basket with popular Gluten-Free cooking essentials.
Shown : The French Market Cookbook - I’m a big cook and love to find new recipes

Tip 3: Does your special person collect something? Playing cards, funny t-shirts, hats, glassware? Uncommon Goods is a great place to look for that odd gift or fun item. I collect toy cameras and you can bet that any kind of toy camera item is happily accepted by moi.
Shown : Lomography Diana F+ Retrospective Camera - Swoon. I love this camera.

Tip 4: What are your person’s hobbies? Do they like to work out, go to the movies, outdoor activities, or photograph? This can help inspire some ideas. Don’t worry about if they have one of ‘those things’ already, I find that when I acknowledge what makes that person unique, it always goes over well.
Shown : Gaiam Prosperity Yoga Mat - I’m trying to get back into yoga since they opened up a new location next to my work.

Tip 5: For women it can be hard to know what to get them. Each one is so specific on what perfume she likes, or what kind of eyeshadow she wears. But I love the little beauty sample gifts that Sephora and other department stores put together. They’re usually affordable ways to pamper women.
Shown: Benefit Benetint - A classic and popular item is always a win.

Tip 6: Home goods are another good bet. Try to avoid anything with too particular of a style or theme (unless you know they collect that). Stick with classic colors and lines. West Elm Market carries great home good items.
Shown: Chemex Glass Coffeemaker – I love coffee, and who doesn’t? Coffee accessories are always the best bet.

Tip 7: Men are equally hard to shop for. But most men I know love gear, tools, and supplies. Now we’re not (always) talking power tools. Could be a camping stove, a set of Japanese chopping knives, some leather boots, or this DSLR camera bag.
Shown: ONA The Roma Camera Bag Insert - Classy people, this is a classy insert. ONA carries a wide range of camera bags and inserts.

Tip 8: And finally the best go-to for that absolutely impossible person is homemade sweets. When I’m tight on cash or have no clue what to get someone, I still try to take that special step for them. Not great at baking? World Market sells great artisanal bites at very low prices. Easy to find an editable item under $10.

I made these homemade caramels for my Uncle one year and he was super impressed (shhh caramels are actually pretty easy to make!). When they’re cool wrap them in parchment paper and thrown them into a mason jar. Add a little twine if you’re feeling fancy.
Shown: Ina Garten’s Fleur de Sel Caramels - Ina Garten knows how to cook everything tasty. 

On The Road

We all have dreams that motivate us, inspire us, and push us. They reveal who we are at our core and shape us to become the people we desire to be. This is one of those dreams.

I’m a restless person by nature. Always looking forward, daydreaming of the life I want or the places I want to go. Travel is my greatest passion, and my itchy feet have forced me to venture into the unknown and unexpected places.

From the sands of Morocco, and the busy streets of Barcelona, to the windy cobbled streets of Ireland – these are places I never thought I’d find myself. But my burning desire to see the edges of our world have always forced me to face my fears and get comfortable with being… uncomfortable.

My greatest dream? Setting off on the road in a cross-country trip around the United States on a motorcycle.

I imagine setting off into the open road, planning my trip according to the weather and seasons in each area. Plotting the destinations and exploring what’s in-between. I want to watch the sunset in the Arizona desert on the open road, all alone.

I want to witness the sunrise peak through the misty tall pines of Oregon. I want to meet all kinds of Americans and hear their stories. I imagine camping and hoteling along the way, working freelance in between and living on saved up funds.

I know it’s crazy. It’s insane. It’s impossible. It’s glorious. To me, it is the epitome of adventure. And I live for adventure. So blame my silly nomadic heart for this romantic idea. This farfetched daydream.

Motorcycles have always be synonymous with freedom and independence. And I’ve always had a fascination with them. Their loud noises, wild nature, and the extreme amount of coolness they possess. I’ve riden passenger a few times and have even driven a couple motorbikes along the way, but this is different. And honestly many years away in the future.

It know it will be hard. My bike will break down, I’ll get lost, I’ll be afraid sometimes, and miss my loved ones. While I’m a dreamer, I’m also a realist. I know all the bad things that could happen and trust me I will prepare for them the best I can.

But this doesn’t deter me. It only solidifies my need to achieve this dream. An adventurer’s heart loves fear. We hold fear close and know it intimately. We like it’s company. It pushes us, forces us to ask questions, and makes us feel alive. And in my recent years, I’ve become painfully aware of exactly how much I need this. I need adventure, flight, and exploration to be truly happy.

I wanted to share my crazy dream with you, and maybe hear yours too. What holds you back from doing it? What are you losing by not doing it?

photos: motorcycle, stars, open road

Second Thought November

Is it already December?! Wow November flew by. Obviously I know I’m not alone with having a hard time holding on to the day to day. And I know I should do a better job at remembering how special and awesome every day is. So in an effort to look back on more, here are some second thoughts on my November…

. scored a couple tickets to a last minute Dave Chapelle stand up show
. mom and I played hooky for a day and had a great lunch at The Kitchen
. finally decorated the new apartment and highlighted a little tour on the blog
. did some early Christmas shopping at the Hammond’s Candy factory
. ate waaay too much stuffing and mashed potatoes, and it was totally worth it
. played Ellen DeGeneres’s new game, Heads Up (the app), with the in-laws and had a lot of good belly laughs
. double dated with my friend Paulina and Marthon at my favorite Mexican restaurant (so fun)

phew! Now for some of my instafaves from November:

(left to right: a floral arrangement from my apartment tour, my delicious cocktail from lunch with mom, hammond’s candy factory, the bare bones before the apartment tour)

Making a Floral Arrangement

I hope you liked taking a peak into my home – I sure had fun styling and decorating it! I got so many compliments on my little flower arrangement on the table that I’d thought I’d show you how to make one yourself. It’s very fun and a great way to get creative.

Adding fresh flowers to a room (or bedroom) can really add a special touch and welcoming feeling. I also love to change the types of blooms according to season, making it a great way to decorate in a subtle way.

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A Tour of Apartment 203

Seems like a lot of blogging ladies have been making moves lately. And even though I can’t be there to help them unpack a box or cook a homemade meal for them, its really nice to see their homes and take a glimpse into their daily lives. And it’s because of them I’ve found enough courage to share my new walls with you too! Thanks Jaymee ;)

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Classic Holiday Cocktail Party

After moving into my new place I’ve been in nesting mode 24/7. I daydream about throw pillows and new furniture, and speculate possible styling scenarios around the apartment. And don’t worry, I’m planning to post some apartment preview pictures soon. I just want to wait until I’m really settled in before I give you the full tour.

With all this daydreaming, I’m really looking forward to having more and more friends over as the place comes together. So I’m planning on throwing a small holiday cocktail party with some close friends and co-workers. There will be pomegranate-champagne punch, salty olive tapenade spreads, sparkling cranberry brie bites, and some fun easy crafts as well. Basically just an excuse to get together and enjoy each other’s company.

With a small place like mine, I have to be strategic and careful how many people I invite and how to arrange the space. You don’t really need to go overboard on decor or trendy items, just simple and classic is my motto (with some fun things thrown in). In my case I’ll be depending a lot on natural decor like these small rosemary wreathes and maybe some pinecone garlands. Then throw in some metallic accents and call it a day.

What are your go-to holiday decor and bites?

mae cocktail glasses via CB2 | beaker glass pitcher via CB2 | diy rosemary wreathes | sparkling cranberry brie bites
 roasted pumpkin and arugula bruschetta | black walnut cutting board #17 via Linwood Handcrafted
holiday spice cake with eggnog buttercream | elysees cocktail shaker via anthropologie
chalkboard table runner via anthropologie | wire ornaments via CB2