December 16, 2016

I love lists

It’s Friday! I love lists. Let’s surf the internet together!

These cookies look amaze. These magic bars too!
Been listening to this Xmas mix for the past few days on repeat. It’s good.
If only all cement mixers looked like this.
This made me lol.
I can’t believe these are paintings! WHOA.
If you want to take pictures of the sky at night, here are tips.
Summer vs. Winter– some pretty captures in here.
HAHAHA. Oops.
This photo series makes me want to go on an adventure.
Camera Hacks!
The good thing about aging is that you can spot insecurity a mile away.
These paintings are incredible.
There are 4 different kinds of introverts.
Geeez. Stop it with the food, hipsters.
Most powerful photos of 2016
Mom hacks that are borderline genius.
If you’re gonna cowork in a restaurant space….
I love looking at old Christmas photos.
If you are struggling.
If you wanna say no to people….here are effective ways.
What are dreams?

My Friends Make Awesome Things:

My friend Mandy makes some beautiful weavings.
My friend Rachel is a weaving master.
My friend Brittany illustrated this cactus coloring book.
My friend Jen makes the coolest ceramic pieces.
My friend Kari makes the most beautiful floral photo prints.
My friend Kris has an amazing children’s clothing line + store.
My friend Lisa is a prolific illustrator.
My friend Brittany makes incredible food gradient prints!
My friend Adrianna created a very rad coloring cookbook.
My friends Kasey + Matt keep rocking it with Turntable Kitchen subscription box.

Quick Question!

Do any of you have an Instant Pot? I am researching them! Tell me everything I need to know! What do you make with it??!

around the home, Inspiration

December 12, 2016

Holiday Decor 2016

Living in the house I grew up in means that at times, completely out of nowhere, I’ll randomly have memories (good and bad) trickle through into my everyday life.

The holidays trigger so many memories while I’m decorating our house.

I’ve been thinking a lot about my grandparents. I wish I could ask them a whole bunch of things. Questions that I only know to ask because I have more perspective in my life. Like…grown up conversations! I’d ask my grandpa what he liked to take pictures of on his Rolleiflex he gifted me. I wish more than anything that I could see my other grandpa watch Cooper play baseball. But they are gone and here we are.

This year I teamed up with Pier 1 again for my holiday decor. I used some of the items from last year, a few new pieces and a couple of meaningful little trinkets to honor my family who is no longer with us.

Btw….

My grandpa used to dress up as Santa and sit on this fireplace (I was always terrified of Santa) with us kids hanging off of him.

I’ll have to dig up a picture. 80s fashions are unbelievable.

Both of my grandpa’s first names start with A.

Andrew and Armand.

I cut fresh clippings from our trees outside for the mantle.

It’s such a cozy spot at night.

All the items I used from Pier 1 for this mantle:

And we move onto the other fireplace we have in our house.

This one is in the family room where we spend most of our time (it’s attached to the kitchen).

I went with a gold star/candlestick/antler vibe this year.

This is what my mantle looked like last year!

I put a couple of lions on the mantle for my grandma. She was also a Leo 😉

Another one!

I love the combo of the gold with the black. All of the stars are so glittery. They’re so beautiful in candlelight.

While I was Pier 1, I picked up a few balsam fir diffusers so my house can smell like Christmas tree.

It’s already working!

That lamp (my mom’s) was on this mantle when I was a kid. It’s back in business.

Thanks Mom!

What I used for the mantle:

photography by Ashley Batz

This post was produced in partnership with Pier 1 Imports. As always, all opinions are my own.

my everyday life, Photography

December 11, 2016

My Everyday Life: Week 49

Here’s what this past week looked like- My Everyday Life: Week 49

Sun through FOG.

Date night/holiday party with my boo.

I haven’t worn this dress in ages.

We went to Molina and had a wonderful dinner.

Highly recommend the steak. It was bonkers.

Greenery.

Book for a new baby named FOX 🙂

Cute little squishy baby fingers.

recipes

December 10, 2016

Holiday Rum Punch

Dust off your punch bowl, we’re making Holiday Rum Punch for a crowd!

This punch is inspired by one of the drinks I had on my trip to Jamaica for the Click Retreat last month. It’s totally tropical but deceptively holiday-ish with the orange and the cranberry garnishes. If you make this at a holiday party people will be like…oooooh and then ahhhhhhhh.

Think:

Mixed with this:

A hint of:

and a side of this:

Keep reading and I can show you how you can win a 4 day/3 night stay at one of the Playa Hotel Resorts!

After this holiday season, we all could use one!

This punch is a real crowd pleaser with rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, ginger beer and sparkling water. If you want to serve this during warmer times, just garnish with maraschino cherries instead of cranberries.

December 9, 2016

I love lists

Welcome to I love Lists. Let’s surf the internet together!

Something I searched for this week- 50 Ways to Do Good
A whole new level of passive aggressive notes.
Finding America’s Mother Teresa.
For all the Bob’s Burgers fans out there!
My friend Sarah has the most beautiful kitchen.
If you experience depression, you’re not alone.
25 Authors on the best books they’ve ever received. Loved this!
I know my mom will laugh at #6
Hilarious Christmas Tree Toppers
Whoa. Actual dinosaur feathers?
A bowl of goodness.
Funny socks.
I’ve been loving reading through this cookbook.
Annnnnnnd Pantone’s color of 2017 is….
100% nope. Also…WHAT?
Just ordered this book. Has anyone read it?
The customer is not always…..smart.
This made me want to watch every Steven Soderbergh movie.
These cookies are too pretty to eat.
Attention people who love organizing!
Panetonne french toast should be in your weekend plans.
National Geographic’s top 50 images of 2016

recipes

December 7, 2016

Jasmine Tea Infused Vodka

Gift giving changes a lot as we get older. We’re not children huddled around the tree waiting (impatiently) for their turn to open presents. We’re adults managing more than we’ve ever had to while figuring out how to muster up a satisfactory amount of holiday magic and sparkle during the home stretch of another exhaustingly full year.

No?

Just me?

What does it mean to give a gift?

(I actually googled that and found this really good article).

It means that you were thinking of someone else. You were putting energy into make someone feel happy and special. You were taking a moment to be thoughtful and spread cheer. You gave the gift of your time.

What it really comes down to, and what my parents said to us kids when we got gifts like Miss Piggy bow biters from my Auntie Toni:

It’s the thought that counts.

Sometimes we don’t give gifts because we don’t have enough time.

Time can be carved out if you’re thoughtful enough.

This Jasmine Tea Infused Vodka is one of the simplest ways to show you’re thinking of your friend or family member who appreciates spirits as gifts. If you’ve gotta see someone in the afternoon or evening, all you have to do is let jasmine tea steep in vodka for about 2-3 hours in the morning, strain it and package it up and you’re good to go! Just put effort into the wrapping + packaging. That’s a gift in itself!

Inspiration

December 5, 2016

Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas 2016

What have I done for the holidays so far? Hmmmm. Let’s see. I’ve decorated half of our tree because the cats are getting into EVERYTHING. I found out that my cat can open up a tupperware container with her paws. COOOOOOOL. I’m just starting to organize my brain re: homemade gifts. Are you making anything fun for gifts this holiday season? If you’re stumped/looking for ideas let’s dip into the Shutterbean archives and HOOK YOU UP!

Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas in