christmas hiatus

We apologize we've been on Christmas hiatus for the last several days...We've missed you! Instead of blogging about our favorite and most fabulous finds, we've been enjoying much needed relaxation and time with family and friends.

However, we promise on Jan. 3 we will be back in action. In the mean time, here is one of my wedding photos I'm loving today... our next post may or may not be wedding themed and it may or may not be practice for my future SMP entry...Enjoy! xoxo

all that glitters...

I can't help but fall in love with things that shimmer and shine. My eye is immediately drawn to items that have glitter or sparkle; true story. In case you are still holiday shopping, here are some sparkle-y last minute Christmas gift ideas. Buon Natale to you and yours!

photo courtesy of high street market on etsy

photo courtesy of crate and barrel

photo courtesy of jayson home and garden

photo courtesy of saks fifth avenue

photo courtesy of ron robinson

photo courtesy of canvas

we're loving...lulu frost

We love Lisa Salzer, aka, Lulu Frost. Not only are we partial to her name, but her jewelry is down right stunning. Lisa uses one-of-a-kind vintage pieces to create her unique and timeless bracelets, earrings, necklaces, etc. Tres chic!

photo courtesy of charm & chain

photo courtesy of charm & chain

photo courtesy of charm & chain

Want to know the best part? Lulu Frost has just partnered with J.Crew! Fabulous!

photo courtesy of j.crew

photo courtesy of j.crew

photo courtesy of j.crew

rip curious sofa

Not long ago in our Christmas decor post we told you about one of our favorite stores, Curious Sofa. Today the news officially broke that the store will be closing...


This breaks our hearts. When I went into the store last week to buy an ornament for Stephanie's annual ornament exchange, I asked the sales clerk if the rumors were true. She looked at her coworker, and they both nodded. Their reactions reminded me of You've Got Mail, and the adorable "Shop Around The Corner." It's so sad to see a great store close.

However, the good news is, she will still be selling her beautiful things online.

But if you're out and about, definitely stop in and take advantage of the sale. I believe things will go very quickly.

saturdays

B surprised me this morning with a cinnamon roll from Dolce. What a sweet way to wake up.

Now off to watch the basketball game and start our Christmas shopping. I love Saturdays.

if the shoe fits...friday, part II

I'm feeling festive today -- so festive in fact, that I wish I was wearing these at this very moment. B - if you're reading this, I'd love these under the tree, wrapped, and with another bow on top. Because you can never have enough bows.

Happy Friday everyone!

photo courtesy of kate spade

if the shoe fits...friday

It's the Holiday season and time for ornament exchanges, office parties, family dinners, and of course, New Year's Eve! While I'll be ringing in the New Year at a low-key dinner with G and friends, I would most definitely be wearing these Jimmy Choos if I had a fabulous, black-tie affair to attend:

photo courtesy of nordstrom

Please note that wearing these would be contingent upon me winning the lottery and/or inheriting a large sum of money from a generous relative.

i can't live without...

I just had a moment of panic...

I thought I had lost my cashmere scarf from Nordstrom. If you've seen me anytime since I've owned this marvelous accessory, you've probably seen me wearing it. I'm obsessed. I take it everywhere. Especially on vacation. It's perfect. Perfect color, perfect weight, perfect everything. Best thing to take on an airplane, take to work, take out on the town....

You get the picture. I cannot live without it. And you shouldn't either. :)

southern comfort food

I mentioned I was cold in Atlanta, so I think it only makes sense to follow up with a post about the warm and delicious food I was just served for lunch. I wish I could package it up and send it home, but instead, here's a quick synopsis of the meal with copy-cat recipes. They are probably not exact replicas, but I wanted to give you a taste of the home-cooked, southern goodness that I just experienced. It's worth sharing.

Pot Roast in Gravy
Yukon Gold Potatoes
Roasted Carrots and Onions
Broccoli and Cauliflower Au Gratin
Green salad
French bread
Peach or Cherry Cobbler 'a la mode
Sweet tea

Mouth watering yet? I think I'll try to be domestic soon and make this menu on a cold Kansas City Sunday.

it's cold in here!

I've always been envious of Hillary's cute winter accessories; she can pull off any hat, scarf, coat, etc. and look effortless and adorable! So, her blog post this morning has inspired me to get shopping and find some cute, cold weather-friendly finds. Go ahead and grab yourself a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy!

photo courtesy of shopbop

photo courtesy of j.crew

photo courtesy of anthropologie

photo courtesy of tory burch

photo courtesy of kate spade

photo courtesy of kate spade

And how could we forget the best cold weather must-have of all time? Smittens are "mittens built for two". Perfect for you and your sweetie on a chilly night.

photo courtesy of restoration hardware

brrr...

It's freezing today -- even here in Atlanta while I'm writing this post (they're experiencing record lows!) So, we wanted to give you a few ideas on staying warm, while staying chic. Here are a few of our favorites.

Stadium Cloth Elements Coat - J.Crew

Ela Coat - Kate Spade

Stadium Cloth Peacoat with gold buttons - J.Crew

French Connection "Lark" - Nordstrom

Long Meribel Puffer - J.Crew

Silk Trim Ruffle Scarf - Banana Republic

Peppermint Earmuffs - Kate Spade

Button Flap Mittens - J.Crew

if the shoe fits...friday, part II

Again, I swear this is just a coincidence. I found these Kurt Geiger shoes this morning and planned to include them in a blog about New Year's Eve...until I saw Hillary's post about the adorable Steve Madden flats. How precious are the bows on these party shoes?

photo courtesy of kurt geiger

Hills has always been a flats girl while I tend to wear heels, so this coincidence could not be more perfect. Happy Friday and happy shoe shopping!

if the shoe fits...friday

Happy Friday blog-friends. I hope you have a fun pair of shoes to wear for the weekend. I'm going to try and get my hands (or my feet) on these...

photo courtesy of Bloomingdales

cute kate

Ah, Kate Spade. Both Hillary and I have been big fans of this Kansas City native for years; way back to my 17th birthday to be exact, when I got my very own Kate Spade nylon backpack. When her weekly email reminded me to shop their new holiday campaign I quickly clicked on her website. Cue drool.

photos courtesy of kate spade

I love the simplicity and whimsy of her designs. G - if you are out there reading this post, feel free to purchase any of the above items and place under the tree. Just kidding.

diy cards - will you be my bridesmaid?

So, this post may be a bit dated, but it's still very blog-worthy. In fact, I've been wanting to blog about it since I sent the cards last March!

Below is a sample of the card I sent to my wonderful friends/sisters/cousin asking if they would so kindly honor me and be my bridesmaids. I think they turned out wonderful!

What sparked the idea was the adorable doily envelope idea, courtesy of Martha Stewart -- we used it as the inner-liner. I thought it was so chic, so feminine, and was the perfect first impression of my wedding theme.


The cards were handmade (via PowerPoint -- yes, PowerPoint) and pasted on light pink cardstock from Paper Source -- another "DomesticChic" obsession (I'm sure we'll have a blog about it one day). I also purchased the old-fashioned wax seal with an "H" monogram from there.

It's all about making the receiver feel important, and I hope this did the trick. Thank you, bridesmaids for saying "yes!"


Note for the blog-world -- The wedding was on 10.15.10. There will definitely be a wedding post when we receive more of our photos.

i can't live without, part II

So Hillary asked me this morning what I couldn't live without. Obviously there are a number of things, but with the cold, chilly, and dry weather, my immediate response was my OPI Avoplex High-Intensity Hand & Nail Cream . I was introduced to this product thanks to our Mom a couple of years ago when she gave it as a stocking stuffer. I love the light scent of the lotion and my hands feel so incredibly soft after just one use! Love!

Side note: I promise you it's a coincidence that Hillary and I both picked hand lotion as our "can't live without" for the week. We're sisters, what can I say!

i can't live without...

photo courtesy of loccitane

In this cold, nasty, dry weather - I cannot live without L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream. It's a little pricey - $26 for a 5.2 oz tube - but it does seem to last forever and it is simply magical. My hands will be soft for an entire day - and the subtle smell of baby lotion is oddly comforting. It also comes in a 1.2 oz tube, which is great for traveling and an excellent stocking stuffer. Pick some up today and your hands will thank me. You're welcome. :)

knight moves: confessions of a burglar

We thought our blog readers should read this article from the talented Kyle over at Knight Moves... Be safe this holiday season!

Knight Moves: Confessions of a Burglar: "A local magazine called The Advocate recently featured a story about burglars and their methods of attack. The information garnered came str..."

holiday decor (on a budget)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... thanks to the beautiful decorations!

We're not sure about you, but this is definitely the most wonderful time of the year. The chill in the air, the twinkling lights, the smell of a warm fire, and the hustle and bustle of everyone getting ready for the holidays - what's not to love. :) Well, with Christmas only four weeks away, it's time to trim your tree, light your Votivo Christmas Sage candle (mmm) and add a little holiday cheer to your home. Of course, as 20-somethings and new homeowners, we've got to start on a budget. So although the holiday decor may be a bit slim this year, it's still chic and fabulous.

We start with a lovely artificial tree.... No, they are not as exciting. No, the shopping is not as memorable (thank you, Wal-Mart). And no, they don't smell great (hence - the sage scented candle.) However, they are cleaner, safer and prelit!, which really helps save you time if you're a busy bee.

My favorite part of our tree is a vintage, glitter sign spelling out "noel." We purchased this last year during an after Christmas sale at Curious Sofa. (If you live in the Kansas City area and have not been here, you owe a visit, or several. It's a must.) The glitter definitely gives the tree some sparkle and the large swooping letters give the tree another element, just something a little different and unique.

To keep the look going, we've added some gold glittered candles (thank you, Target) to our array of glass pillar holders. Simple and understated holiday glam.

And here is a look at the finished product... The best part of this photo? Christmas Vacation on the TV. You can have a glitzy holiday on a budget, but you can't forget the Griswolds. :)