Before & After

I fear the worst has happened. My beloved home computer has inexplicably bit the dust. There will be one last chance for recovery but I have little hope. Low expectations. Small tears. It has been a solid week of all work, no play. No blog reading after a hot bath or Hulu viewing in bed while 2E watches his European soccer on the one home television. No recipe searching from the kitchen island or Facebook surfing of old friends. No. And the funny thing is it turns out there is a whole bunch of other shit I should actually be doing!! I will mourn my computer on my way to get a new one (if need be) but my little home is so grateful for the undivided attention I have been doting on it. Behold, project There is More To Life Than the Internet, aka my closet:

Example A, above, otherwise known as 'Hot Mess'

and, Viola, Example's B and C

With The Container Store employee's working double duty as my handlers I finished with a beautiful end result. I feel calm and relaxed and a little lazy for letting things get so out of hand. Project Throw Everything in the Pantry Out That Has Been There Since Before I Moved In here I come.

Get Up Your Seat and Jump Around!

Have been spying the recent Jumpsuit fashion trend from afar but pulled the trigger and bought this Victoria's Secret number before last week's Mexican holiday. The silk belt is slippery but paired with a wide belt (thanks May!) I was feeling it. I am not sure my friends were though.... This is definitely a look that the ladies are wearing for one another and the boys can take or leave.


This is not the best image of the jumpsuit but it is a fair portrayal of my time spent south of the border. This picture was taken at approx. 4am at a club in Polanco. I got to this point via.....


lots of booze such as this volcano of liquor. I was trying to be sexy but I actually just looked scared.


Aren't my girls angels!? I've been attaching myself to this motley crew for over 20 years and am amazed we are still standing. Salute!

Update: Picture 2E took of me during a living room fashion show while packing for our trip....

D.F. (deh-f-ay)

Some beauty captured this past weekend in Mexico City.








Swamped at work AND my home computer is broketty broke so I'll be back as soon as I can!

Besos y Amor

We are in beautiful and historic Mexico City for our friends wedding, some sight seeing and lots of much needed R&R. Hasta Semana Pequito Chicas.....

via flckr

Project: Bedroom and Home Office Makeover

I've been given the green light to redo the sitting room off of our bedroom and turn it into a creative retreat. It will become the nursery one of these days so the pieces I choose will have to transition easily. I have been wanting to tackle this project for awhile but after discussing it some more we have also decided to redo the bedroom, an unexpected bonus! The picture above really inspired me and I knew I wanted to keep the furniture light and adorn the walls with pattern. For this reason, I am going to start with the walls and work my way in. Below are the top candidates so far.


This Frutto Proibito from Cole & Sons Fornasetti Collection was originally pulled to use up at the store but the more we look at the sample in our own home the more I love it for the nursery option.



Very sweet and playful but also quite bold and the rich colors are anything but childish. Although this pattern comes in 3 colors this is the only one I am feeling for our project. I would recommend this darker option to create drama in a smaller space or for a restaurant/lounge in a heartbeat.

The sitting room flows off of the bedroom so we need to tie the two spaces together and the easiest way to do this is with color. The Conway pattern, also from Cole & Son, would be complimentary without being competitive. To help maintain this balance we have decided to paint the walls and wallpaper the ceiling instead. It will be the last thing I see before I fall asleep and the first thing I wake up to each day and Conway's beautiful design has a soft, quilted feel without being too busy or bright.


With so many options to choose from narrowing it down to just two is so hard! I will keep ya'll posted along the way and please feel free to chime in, I'd love hear your ideas and opinions!!

first image: via habituallychic

Rain Rain Go Away...

How do you North Westie's do it?! We need the rain down here in the desert but I have to say it's getting real old. I hope everyone enjoys today's bonus day off and, if you stuck around LA, get out of the rain and come visit me at the store!

photo credit: linneaslife

Happy Valentines Day

L 0 V e

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return....."

photo credits:
1&2 katespade; 3 more Jane; 4&6 via Le Love; 5&9 rugcompany; 7 via Flickr; 8 via awomanofnoimportance

2E and I, on our first date, in London
We've come a long way Baby.
Happy Valentines Day

Happy Red Hot Weekend

Have a dreamy weekend Love Birds.....

photo credit: me

The theme continues

In keeping with the love theme I couldn't resist this cute little guy. His birth was timely (before V-day in the year of the Ox) so his heart shaped marking is getting him some extra special attention. Isn't he just the sweetest thing?

Hollywood Happy Couples

I've got love on the brain....


and these couples make it look so yummy!


What is everyone doing this weekend in the name of L-O-V-E?


And my single ladies, a word to the wise; this Saturday you get to get your groove on because every guy, man, and boy who is in even the most casual of relationships will be home with his girl which means all of the ones out on the town are yours for the taking. Me-owwww. I want details!

all pix google images

Annie in Wonderland

Last Friday I had dinner at the modern day Moulin Rouge, Ivan Kane's Café Wa s.....

"Enter a reflective dream world, sensitive and severe, always seductive and never overt...."



Mysterious, whimsical, bohemian and chic. There is no denying that this is by far one of the most fun environments ever to lay eyes on.. let alone dine in. A revolving grand piano is the center of attention in the room but little details such as paintings hung on the ceiling, a crystal chandelier placed on the floor, and a staircase leading to nowhere all compete to steal the scene. I am sure there is more to uncover here so I will absolutely be back!


Anyone care to join me??

Empiric's Valentines Gift Guide

Yes, it is a ridiculous and over rated Hallmark holiday created by Corporate American to trick us into over consumption; both by cupcake and shopping. The only problem is, what girl doesn't want a special trinket in the name of love?! I am of the school to celebrate love all the days so fellas, feel free to use this guide a few times a year. Without further ado, I give you Empiric's 2009 Valentine' s Gift Guide....

I know, I have featured them before but that is because they are just that good! Douglas Little & Co. Signature Collection candles in a variety of scents to lust over. The candles themselves are to die for but the packaging.... I swoon. Each candle comes in a silk hat box, wrapped in pleated tissue, and tied with a bow. A gift that's already wrapped. Can we say bonus!

These hand pressed glass cake plates are adorable; alone or covered in sweets. A perfect pop of color in the cabinets or displayed on a shelf, you really can't go wrong. Available in a variety of sizes and colors you can mix and match to create your own unique, stackable, combination. (I personally love the Jadeite).


Give them your heart! Or A heart at least. This vintage plaster heart opens to reveal a perfect hiding place for a sparkly stunner or sweet love note. By itself, atop the before mentioned cake plate, or encased in a glass display dome, it would be a sincere gesture for the man or woman in your world.


We can offer you this vintage leather jewelry case but you have to supply the jewels....

Did anyone else go in search of the love letter book from Sex In The City only to discover it doesn't really exist?! Tragic. Well, I think I found the next best thing.. a 1890 book of love poems from three centuries. Get inspired and slip in a poem of your own. The absolutely priceless gifts are the ones from the heart that don't cost a thing.

Sure a globe isn't the most romantic gift but how about a globe and a note with the plans for next weekends surprise ski trip? Or better yet, a week in Europe next spring! Not in the position to travel anytime soon... What could be more romantic than a list of all the places you wouldn't want to visit with anybody else. There is no better feeling than being excited about the possibilities and looking forward to a future with the one you love. Your Valentine...

Singing In The Rain...

Is it just me or do the days just seem to be flying by? The billboard above is right around the corner from our house and even though I see it every day it has the same impact. This rainy weekend we're sticking close to home, enjoying some chill time with friends, and I can't imagine a year from now I will regret any of it...

On Sunday I am going to make a big dinner and watch Grammy's. I was actually lucky enough to attend last years (red carpet and all!) so this year I am excited to see it through new eyes. In the meantime, some goodies from around the web.

We would all love a vintage leather Adnet Captains mirror. Finally an affordable reproduction!

I haven't been giving this little blog nearly enough of my time.

A perfect peacock blue jewelry case.

Get an Empiric sofa for as little as $1250 during our Winter Upholstery Sale (only one week left!)

A valentines gift straight from the heart.

If life were like a box of chocolates, I want this one!

Have a wonderful weekend, Ciao Bella's!

Lazy Rainy Day

(*)

It is the rare rainy LA day. Heaven. I get to wrap myself up in lots of layers and dive into a few projects that somehow always seem to come second to playing outside. Word on the street is it will be coming down for days!! I wonder if I'll be as excited come Saturday? Stay cozy Los Angeles....