Last giveaway of the year...

One reader will win one of these *Winter Frolic*  hair adornments (choose from the black, purple or ivory cream).  Here's how you make a go of the gettin' the prize... (Deadline- December 30th)

1. Leave a message in the comment section below this post.  Tell me your hope for the new year, but in just THREE WORDS..

2. I will announce the winner of the most creative answer on December 31st here on my blog.

3. Ready, Set, Go!

A little help...

To get me out of my funk ('cause, damn, this feeling sucks)...

and this...

(charm by Waxing Poetic.  bunny by Make It Awesome)

Ahhhhhh.  Better.

What's making me happy today...

I'm a little obsessive lately with wanting a new kitchen.  Ours is in the limbo stage of new sassy stainless appliances but with older 1980's cabinetry... not particularly aesthetically pleasing, but still functional.  So I let myself have my dreams with ideas for the someday new remodeled space.  This photo is a good indicator of exactly what would bring a smile to my face each time I stepped into the room, but the husband is a lover of all things stainless steel and wants the entire kitchen made up of just that- stainless appliances with stainless rack shelving and stainless countertops.  I think we'll find a happy medium in there somewhere.
But today on this unusually rainy and dreary and chilly wintery California day, I wish for this kitchen.

Plushie Art Show

 Steph and I hit an adorable exhibit on Saturday night...  "Go Ask Alice" a doll and plush art show at Paul Cumes Gallery.  I needed to take home every one of these- most especially the ones with the black and white striped legs and black shoes.  This is a tiny selection of my long list of favorites.

Pretty cute coupling.  I'm a fan of those eye patches and their shirt.

 

This rabbit by Lana Crooks wooed us.  And that's the (beyond) talented and sweet as heck Steph somewhat color coordinated with the rabbit- a fact that I didn't notice until just now.

Stephanie is Stephanie Bodine, proprietress of great and wonderful embellishments for designers/artists/stylists/costumers at Bocage. Hop to here to read a feature I did on her and Bocage and here to check out her site.  Totally worth perusing through and grabbing some incredible treasures.

 

 

My favorite... Alice's legs mounted on the wall.  Really awesome.  And me, not two minutes after spilling a delicious hot chai tea on the floor just a few feet away.  I am NOT a multi-tasker.  This includes my inability to walk- nay- stroll slowly- while drinking (or talking on the phone, or waving) without tripping over nothing.

The Reading Nook

I flip over nooks.  Reading nooks. Breakfast nooks.  Bed nooks.  Garden nooks.  I'm a freak for them.  Which is really bizarre because I am claustrophobic... I mean total all out panic attacks from my fear of closed in spaces.  It makes no sense and I'm done with analyzing myself so all you and I both need to know is that nooks still- without any rational explanation- rest me inside a perfect sense of calm. 
I investigated and found some that I'd like to find spaces for in my home.  
I'm starting with a larger space of a reading nook so we can ease me into this very carefully...

Love the velvet cushery...

I could easily put this one in my house right now, except this one is cleaner than mine would be...

 

 Loving how this one is right off the kitchen... sort of like a kitchen/reading nook.  a two in one!  Also- easy access to tea...

 When I was a little girl, we had a big old willow tree in our backyard.  This reminds me of the many many times I would sit under it and read and play house and force my dog to stay with me while I dressed him up in my Dad's flannel ...

 And sometimes simplicity will do the trick perfectly...

Now all I need is my dog laying by my feet, some mint tea and a stack of books.

Thankful.

 I am thankful... there are no two ways around this fact.  Even on days when I am stuck and pissed off and going to the negative more than I should and recounting things I really shouldn't, I do my very best to replace those times with this sort of goodness:

* Bowls and mason jars filled with vintage buttons*

* True unapologetic supportive passionate love*

* The pink camellias blooming outside my window*

* David Bowie, Regina Spektor, Nick Drake, Benny Goodman, and The Cure*

* Ribbon... French Blue and Plum*

* An amazing and fulfilling career*

* Striped above the knee socks*

* A snoring puppy dog's head at my feet*

* Little teeny canvases on which to paint*

* A father who has been an unwavering, constant support*

* Inspiring friends*

* Road trips with perfect music to stare out the window to*

* A home filled with art *

* A family that- unwittingly- offers me insight into myself *

* Paper Lanterns*

* Fresh lavender from the farmers' market*

*Port*

* Lessons learned (once and for all... for now)*

* Oh and vanilla lattes*

*And chocolate*

*And big solid warm hugs*

*Did I mention tea with honey?*

 

The loveliness of these photos above are by Champignons and Irene Suchocki

Things that make me happy right now.

Darn awesome...

From Sadie Olive ... can't get over how much these put me in another time and place.  So beautiful.

And these extra sweet and sexy french knickers from Lady Jane Lingerie

And this from Stiletto Heights because Louise Brooks is a stunning and bizarre creature...

That should do.