help for my not-so-favorite room

I am slowly but surely but making my room a home.

And my next room on the list is not my most favorite room... not because it's a bad room but because it's been sorely neglected. It was kind of an office, and then my brother lived there for a bit while he worked in Seattle and now it's just a mishmash of things that don't have a place elsewhere in the house.

We may have someone else staying in the house this summer and I want to finish this room up before then.

Here's the before-- the not so pretty pictures:

 yeah... see what I mean?

Now, the thing is while I could very easily decorate this room in swaths of bright orange and yellow and all my favorite colors and design choices, I want to still feature some of the husband's things. I want it to be a comfortable guest room that speaks a little to both of us.

Here are some of the things I'm thinking:

option 1: gray walls with neutral accents

one of my mom's staged rooms

option 2: bold stripes and white bedding

source unknown-- anyone know?

option 3: aqua with touches of brown

via houseofturquoise.com

option 4: mustard yellow

via aesheticoiseau.com

but honestly I'm so torn. All I know is that I don't want it too girly or too orderly. Any of your suggestions are most welcome!

xo, erika

gingham love

I love gingham.
Gingham is like plaid's kitschy cousin. Something about the smaller delicate pattern screams vintage, fun and definitely, spring.

While the husband owns at least three (two?) shirts in gingham, I don't have any gingham items-- despite my very best thrifting. I may have to settle for something new, but hopefully relatively affordable.

Here's my current gingham picks:

1: an adorable gingham bow by Much Love Illy
2: love this vintage-esque swimsuit by Modcloth
3. this top from Nordstrom-- it comes in light yellow-- I may have to snag it with my gift card
4. how cute are these spatulas from Sur La Table? love them!

happy saturday!

xo, erika

p.s. this collage was put together on photoshop elements-- I'm now an expert 'cuz I bought Photoshop for Bloggers. I highly recommend it!

hello march

 hello march.

 I am so happy to see you.

No offense February, but you aren't my fav.

You're kind of blah, broken up by some sweethearts and chocolate in the middle, but otherwise blah.

(yeah I said it.)

And I'm ready for spring and all it's goodness. Floral prints, floaty dresses and bare legs. bring. it. on.

You better not be a lion-like as the saying goes.

color crush: mint

I've always loved turquoise. And aqua. And in high school and early college I wore it all the time, to the point where I think I overdosed a bit on the color. But I'm ready for a revisit-- especially in a fresh, soft version of the color. Mint is a delicious option-- lighter, softer, and delicious-- like my favorite ice cream flavor. 

Here's some of the mint pretties I'm craving lately (besides the ice cream):

1. darling mint hearts by dariami on etsy

2. perfect colored pants 

3. alice dress by shabby apple. 

4. color blocked tank in an effortless shape

5. wouldn't these bowls look adorable with little candies in them?

6. i love love love this belt (and the entire vanilla and lace shop) 

xo, erika

p.s. i was so inspired by this collection that I painted my nails mint :)

lovely inspiration: midnight in paris

I love France and who can deny the allure of Paris in the 1920s?

This movie was beautiful and perfect and made me want to save my pennies and dimes for another trip to the city of lights.

 1. source  2.  source  3.  source  4. source  5. source

fort date night

Sometimes every day needs to be made a little more special. You get into this daily grind-- getting up, going to work, drinking that same cup of coffee, making the same sandwich for lunch, coming home and going through the same routine before going to bed. And then it starts all over again.

Sometimes you need to do something a little more fun.

I haven't made a fort in years (I actually made "study forts all the time in college) and so I decided it was high time to make one for the husband and me.

And what's a better fort than one made of vintage sheets? Especially one with a bottle of red wine inside.

of course the doggie thought the fort was for him.

how do you make ordinary days seem special?

xo, erika

7 pretty things linkup

I'm linking up for a blog hop party... sharing some pretty things I've loved recently.

Specifically I'm loving bright, cheerful colors-- bright cobalt blue, orange, lime green and sunshine yellow. With all the snow and now rain, I think I could use some cheery hues.

1. source 2. source 3. source 4. source 5. source 6. source 7. source 

go see the rest of the pretty link ups!

hello again.

 top: banana republic outlet   belt: mama's from the 80s  skirt: Gap   tights: ??  boots: Macys

Plaid and mustard yellow.

It's not out-there crazy but a little more out-there than I may have done a year ago. I really like this look actually and really like plaid in general-- especially on my husband. (he may or may not have gotten some plaid shirts for Christmas) :)

I took a bit of a break from blogging the past week or so.

It was good for me.

As much as I honestly, truly, really-really love to blog, love to write, love to search for inspiration for my next post, the holidays had me running around and blogging just didn't quite fit in. It was like me attempting to jam a puzzle piece into the wrong spot.

People were in town, there were parties, gifts to be made, gifts to be wrapped and then family to see and celebrations to be had.

But I'm back now. So hi. :)

I have decided, however, to be a little more lax in my blogging this month (the husband is silently cheering while reading this) just because I think I should. I hope you all forgive me.

But in the meantime, yes, my Christmas was wonderful because I read... a lot... and slept and ate even more. I am still full actually.

And I am so thankful for wonderful family and friends, a warm home, beautiful memories that I made, and so much more. 

How was your holiday?

xo, erika

my 5 last-minute gift ideas

I don't mean to stress you out but Christmas is this upcoming weekend.

And if you're like me, you're juggling work, life and a million other things and perhaps shopping is something that got a little bit waysided.

Rather than braving the crowds at the mall (one of my least favorite things) try a few of these unique ideas for a heartfelt gift.

1. an activity

Rather than give more stuff, make your gift an activity! Go to a movie, a new restaurant or the museum. Sometimes time spent together is better anyway.

via

 2. food

When I was in college, my brother filled a bag with some of my favorite foods and treats-- things I would never buy for myself: chocolate, wine, satsumas, fancy tea and coffee. Honestly sometimes this is just a thoughtful as something you don't eat. And if you make it -- double points!

via

3. framed art and photos

if it's too late to get something from Etsy -- make your own art by editing photos you've taken. Don't worry about needing photoshop -- Picasa is a great tool for free. 

 

via

4. service

My love language is service, meaning that I feel most loved when people do something for me. If someone gave me the gift of cleaning my house, cooking dinner for me for a week or anything else like that -- I would be over the moon. This is not a cop-out gift -- honestly.

via

5. use your talents

Are you a great writer? Could you write them a story or a poem? Or are you just amazing at working out and could offer yourself as a personal trainer for the new year? Are you a great cook? What about teaching them cooking classes? Get creative with your gift using the talents you already have.

via

Do you have any good last-minute gift ideas? I just baked a TON of cookies...

xo, erika

holiday cheer & color

my Christmas decor inspiration this year...

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how are you decorating this year? Going traditional or trying something new?

xo, erika

p.s.  get 30% off in my shop with the code CYBERMONDAY

don't read this while you're hungry

A beautiful tablescape.

Delicious food.

Laughing family and friends.

I could go for Thanksgiving once a month.

so much to be thankful

source

Yesterday it poured.

And water seeped into our crawl space so the husband and I spent a good part of our evening hooking up the sump pump to pump the water out into the yard. It was dark and wet.

I headed upstairs to start making pumpkin pie and the dishwasher disposal had stopped working. As I attempted to do dishes, water filled the sink. And I was filled with despair.

As the husband unclogged the sink we both begin to complain about the pains of owning a home. Until the husband stopped.

"This is ridiculous," he said. "We have so much to be thankful for, so many blessings and we're complaining about a clogged disposal in a house we own."

It was a startling moment when we both realized how petty our concerns were in the grand scheme of things. We are both beyond blessed to have a roof over our head, food in our fridge and a loving family to share Thanksgiving with. Every day when I go downtown to work at the job that pays my bills, I am reminded of how many do not have even the basics.

This is not to say that dealing with a flooded crawlspace is not a pain, it's just a change of perspective of the many good things in my life that I am so grateful for.

And my prayer is that I am not just thankful today on the official holiday, but am reminded to be thankful all year round.

happy thanksgiving.

xo, erika

sleeping beauty shoot

I love my new sleeping beauty eye masks. Comfy, cozy and oh-so-cute, I wear one every night when I sleep. One side is a patterned cotton and the other side is soft brushed flannel.

My dear friend and favorite photographer Chantal came over and we did a little photo shoot with my eye masks. Of course Nesby being the ham that he is, had to get in the photos too.

Want to snag your own sleeping beauty eye mask? They'll be on sale in my shop on Black Friday!

all photos by Chantal Andrea photography

baby it's cold outside

 

scarf: portland market  coat: target  tights: fred meyer  boots: nordstrom

And yes,  I'm wearing clothes under my jacket but you can't see 'em, so no need to say where they're from

It's coat weather here. It honestly doesn't get that cold here in Seattle (I know, I know, anyone in California, Arizona or Florida is gonna disagree with me) but we're not Chicago, New York or Maine in terms of weather. 

You'd think being so close to Canada and the closest state to Alaska, we would be chillier... but snow is like a once or twice a year thing. And people get really excited or really angry. 

I'm actually relishing coat weather and the opportunity to pull out this trench coat.

I love the look of trench coats because they make any outfit grown-up.

That, and I have an excuse to narrate things like I'm in a spy movie.

"It was a dark and stormy night and I knew he was up to no good..."

I've always wanted to be a spy. 

xo, Erika

p.s. Confession time: when a friend of mine and I were little we continually pretended to be spies and practiced moves that would get us into the CIA. But you guys did that too... right?

wedding pretties

Tuesdays are blah for me. Maybe they're blah for you too... which is why I'm sharing some pretty photos.

because who doesn't love wedding photos?

my friend catherine married chris over labor day weekend. I made her a one-of-a-kind bridal hair piece featuring tulle, russian veiling and a vintage brooch.

getting hitched soon? I'd love to make something for you too.

all photos via one of my favorite photographers: chantal andrea. check her blog & facebook.

xo, erika

p.s. I'm a part of a great giveaway on No. 17. go take a peek :)