Royal Amethyst

The always regal-looking Amethyst, a violet quartz, is associated with spirituality and wisdom.  I love this color, but I have yet to use it to decorate my home and only have one sweater in this lovely hue.    After discovering these photos, I definitely want to (and have to!) add a dash of purple to my life.  After all, my home (or any home) could use the feel-good qualities that amethyst represents.

{Craig Van Den Brulle Amethyst Lamps}

These lamps would be an amazing accent for my bedroom and are absolutely gorgeous!

Monique Pean necklace 

 An amethyst extravagance 

Images via:  http://sheridanfrench.blogspot.com/; http://vivirlavidanana.tumblr.com/; garance dore; http://paloma81.blogspot.com/ 

All that Glitters....Gold

Totally and absolutely obsessed with everything gold starting with the glitz and glamour of the 2012 Oscars.

A shimmering gold sequined bag with the Red Carpet Motorola Razr Maxx
one of the Red carpet giveaways

Glitz

Gleaming

Glitter(y)

Glamorous Gold!

Images via:  mydesignchic.files.com; stylemepretty.com; vanessaandvalentine.com; remodelista.com; sierrachantal.com; 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sending love, hugs and warmest wishes for a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Fashionable heart

Cartier love

Images from an awesome blog http://fabulouslyfrench.blogspot.com/;  google.com

February 1st!

Welcome February~Bienvenido, Febrero!  

It was a gorgeous (and surprising) 60 degrees in the Northeast - what a great start to a fabulous month!  A month to celebrate friendships, love, the Super Bowl, Mercedes Benz fashion week in New York and dream of beach getaways and so much more...

Before you know it, we'll all be able to wear clothes like this again. Isn't 60-degree weather grand?
Let's keep our fingers crossed that the ground hog will not see his shadow tomorrow!

Image via the best blog ever - http://agiftwrappedlife.blogspot.com/

Crate & Barrel ~ Rebuilding Joplin

Crate & Barrel is one of my all-time favorite stores. They never fail to impress with their sense of style which is always right on target - from classically traditional to the brightest, newest colors. I look forward to their catalogs and dream of moving into one of their cottages/houses.


It is one of my go-to stores when the holidays roll around. I always go and buy pretty accents for my home like serving dishes, place mats and napkins that are holiday-specific. Even small changes have a way of updating a table and making it crisp, new and special.


When I heard about the amazing work between Crate & Barrel, The Land of Nod and Extreme Home Makeover I had to post some pictures.


In their biggest build ever, the Extreme Makeover team and an army of volunteers built seven homes for seven victims in the tornado-ravaged community of Joplin, Missouri. Crate & Barrel and The Land of Nod furniture and accessories were used to outfit two of the seven homes.

A beach style cottage for the Walter's family

An eco-friendly cottage for the Nevin's family

In addition to donating merchandise, Crate & Barrel and The Land of Nod are sponsoring an online donation campaign through Tuesday, 01/31, in support of the American Red Cross to aid in their disaster relief efforts.


How can we all join Crate & Barrel, The Land of Nod and Extreme Home Makeover to help? Crate & Barrel have provided us with a link (http://www.crateandbarrel.com/Extreme-Makeover-Home-Edition/) that contains more information and a way to make a donation.


I applaud the wonderful and thoughtful work of these three companies!  You guys rock!  Also - don't you LOVE this bed?  WOW!

Here are some of my favorite products used in the renovation:

DRIFTWOOD SIDE TABLE – isn’t this fabulous?

PALOMA SMALL SIDEBOARD – did you know that paloma means dove in Spanish?

DRIFTWOOD MIRROR – can you tell I’m on a driftwood kick? It’s so beautiful, natural and each one is unique!

Feliz dia de Los Reyes Magos!

Designed by Todd Weber for Nambé

January 6th is a day when a group of Kings arrived to worship and give their gifts to the baby Jesus after following a star in the heavens. It is a day celebrated by cultures around the world in various ways according to the countries traditions.  In Spanish tradition three of the Kings:  Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar (representing Europe, Arabia and Africa) arrived on horse, camel and elephant, bringing respectively gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus.  Most towns in Spain hold huge, colorful and spectacular parades on January 5th heralding the arrival of the Three Kings  (Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos) so that children can see them in all their glitzy glory on camels or carriages before they go to bed.  Sweet wine, fruit and treats are left for the Kings and their camels.  Shoes will be shined and left at the doorway to be filled with presents (or if you have not been good - with coal).

The Roscón de Reyes along with hot chocolate is the traditional breakfast for Dia de los Reyes Magos.  A small figure one of the kings or baby Jesus is hidden in the bread along with a dry faba bean; whomever finds the figurine will be the "king/queen" for the day and whomever finds the faba bean pays for next years Rosca.

 So....here is wishing you a very Feliz Dia de los Reyes Magos and may you get tons of presents (since you have been good, right?)

{Images via:  Nambe.com; haus design}

2012!!!

Happy New Year!

Let the celebration begin!

Here's wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
Salud, 2012!

Images via: agiftwrappedlife.blogspot.com and artsonearth.tumblr