{Life Lately}

 {pretty ornaments}

 {cocktails}

{catching up with my wonderful sister and best friend}

 {a hearty breakfast}

 {Trevor's family Christmas tree}

 {cookie decorating}

 {Granny's Christmas decorations}

 {fabulous stocking stuffers from my amazing mother}

 {my new years dress} (I think)

 {perfect lazy day}

 {browsing Restoration Hardware with my madre}

{quick stop for a beer at Onion Creek in The Heights with madre}

Thanks for sticking with me through this last week of me being a bad blogger! The break has certainly gotten the best of me. Lots of food, wine, daydreaming, friends, and family. I'm sad that it's coming to an end, but also excited to start a new quarter and keep moving forward with a great new year. I have a few aspirations scoped out for 2012 (mostly in accordance with my 25 before 25 list) which I'll update all of you on very soon. For now, I'm going to finish my glass of wine and hit the hay. All this wining and dining has worn me out ;).

 I hope you all had a beautiful holiday. Thanks so much for stopping by. lovelovelove.

-C

{ Christmastime is here }

The craze of the holidays has officially commenced. I'm heading over to my aunt and cousin's house today to help prepare for Christmas Eve festivities and fit in some last minute christmas shopping. My trip to Baltimore was wonderful, and I'm already missing Trevor and the wonderful Charm City. I did snap some photos thanks to instagram, so I'll be posting those ASAP. In the meantime, I hope you're all enjoying the holiday season. Thanks for stopping in today :)

lovelovelove.

-C

{ happy weekend }

{why doesn't my hair look like this when it's in a messy bun? no fair.}

I'm off bright and early to catch a flight to Baltimore! I'll be in Charm City until next Wednesday, so pardon me if blog updates are a little scarce until then. I forgot my camera in Cincinnati (doh!) but will be recording my travels via instagram, so be sure to check back!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. It's a busy time of year, but if you find yourself stressing about the holidays or presents or anything of that nature, remind yourself what the holiday season is truly about, take a deep breath, grab a peppermint mocha, and breathe.

Thanks for stopping by, y'all. lovelovelove.

-C

photo source

{ Inspiration for your day }

It's Thursday! Here's what is inspiring me today:

{Imagine working from your desk with a view of the Eiffel Tower}

{Pursue any goal}

{light. textures. patterns.}

{simple is best}

photo 1, 2, 3, 4

Today I'll be doing some Christmas shopping and preparing for my early flight to Baltimore on Friday morning! Lots to do. Thank you all so much for stopping by. I hope your week is going wonderful, and that Thursday brings you smiles and joy <3

lovelovelove.

-C

{ Life Lately}

1. My new copper vase from The Guild Shop ($12.00) and faux fur throw from Target ($23.00)

2. Lunch at The Black Labrador. I love all the ivy.
3. Red Velvet Cupcake from Sprinkles bakery in Houston

I'm back in the great state of Texas until Friday, when I will make a quick trip to Baltimore to see Trevor and his family, long lost friends, my sister, and the charm city I grew up in. Tonight I'm off to a holiday party at Chelsea Wine Bar with my lovely mother and wonderful cousin, Whitney. I can't wait to get a little gussied up, drink some vino, and have some girl talk.

Hope you're all having a wonderful week so far <3. Thank you so much for stopping by. lovelovelove.

-C

{ Happy Weekend! }

(I want these jammies)

Happy weekend, everyone! I'm so thrilled to see Friday :). I'm off to work shortly, and then will be grabbing dinner and drinks with a new friend, packing, and getting ready to fly home to Houston in the wee hours of the morning. That doesn't put a damper on my excitement though. I can't wait to see my family. Most especially my mama. I anticipate lots of chocolate truffle making, coffee drinking, runs in the park, furniture browsing, wine, and relaxation. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Friday. Thank you so much for stopping by. lovelovelove.

-C

All photos from Coffee Stained Cashmere

{ Dreaming of a White Christmas }

My Aunt Patsy always has the most beautiful Christmas Tree. It's a faux tree (which usually goes against everything I believe in, y'all)  but it's flocked with beautiful, soft white snow. Flocked trees are definitely on my radar this year, and when I "grow up", I will definitely plan to have one in my own home. And heres a bonus: you can get REAL trees flocked, too! Perfection.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday. lovelovelove.

-C

source 1, 2, 3, 4

{ Holiday Truths }

The holidays make me awfully reflective. Here are some of my very own Holiday Truths, from my blog to yours:

1. Last year I started thinking about leaving UC and transferring to New York School of Interior Design to study their Basic Design Program. I ended up deciding to stay put because I didn't want to be irrational. But sometimes I wish I would have just done it. 

2. I used to be a lot more fearless. I don't know when that changed. I had no problem taking a year off before college, even when people thought it was strange. But suddenly I don't trust myself to make any decisions or hold up against people's judgements. Maybe that's something that happens when you grow up. Maybe that's something I need to work on. Life was a lot easier when I didn't care so much.

3. I think flower shops are magical.

4. I get tired by 9:30. I'm an old lady.

5. I still believe in Santa Claus.

6. I think I would eat just about anything if it was covered in dark chocolate (within reason, y'all)

7. The beautiful smell of Christmas trees is one of my ultimate simple pleasures.

8. The hot chocolate from Starbucks tickles my throat.

9. I am never ever ever caught up with my laundry. ever.

10. I believe that a hot shower, a good candle, and a glass of wine can make any situation a heck of a lot better.

Thanks for stopping by today, guys. As soon as I finish this 10 page paper due tomorrow, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming. lovelovelove. 

-C

Photo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

{ Life Lately}

I started getting my apartment gussied up for Christmas, and it feels wonderful. There's nothing like a home for the holidays.

(next time I'll take a picture with my real camera so it's better quality. Iphones are just too dang convenient)

I'm terribly sorry for my silence here on the blogster lately. Life is officially crazy as I prepare for finals, write papers, work, and get ready for a benefit that I've been organizing this quarter (more on that in another post) that will finally be going up this Friday. In the midst of the craziness, I'm finding it calming to come home, light a candle, and listen to some Christmas tunes.

I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season so far. lovelovelove.

-C

{ Thanks }

I've always dreamed of hosting Thanksgiving. 

One day, I will. Until then, I will just drool over pictures and dream. The gold flatware and color palette in the first photo makes me all giddy, and I love the sweet mismatched chairs and pumpkins and gourds of the latter. It would be nice to host dinner outside if you're lucky to be somewhere warm enough. Though I'm pretty sure all of the warm places won't have lovely color changed leaves like they do in that photo.

I'm not going home for Thanksgiving this year, and while I'm really going to miss my family, I'm also a bit relieved to not have to deal with crazy airports and the stress of making sure I get to see everyone in such a limited period of time. I am excited to wake up with friends, watch the Thanksgiving Parade in my PJs with some coffee, and attempt to bake and cook without burning the house down. It won't be traditional, but it will be a much needed break and the perfect time to reflect on all that I'm blessed with, nonetheless.

What are your Thanksgiving plans?

Thanks for stopping by, all. lovelovelove.

-C

via

{ Things that inspire. }

When I was getting out of the service, this old marine major said to me, "What do you want to do with your life?" And I said, "Well, I think I want to go into television, but I don't know if I have the talent." He took his two shoes that he was shining and he smashed them together and he said, "Don't you know you can have anything you want in this life? You've just got to want it bad enough! Now, do you really want it?" I said, "Yes, sir, I do." 

-Regis Philbin

Watching Regis' last day on Live this morning tugged at my heart strings. What a beautiful career. In between the commercials they had Regis reflecting on his life in televion and on the show, and he talked about when he went back to visit his old high school in the Bronx. He told the students there to make the most of their time at school and to go into the world with confidence because "you are as good as anybody else." And you could tell that he really meant that. I know it's not entirely groundbreaking, but for some reason, it really resonated with me this morning. The possibilities of what your life can hold are so endless. There are things in my life now that I never could have predicted, and though not all of them are good, there are so many GREAT things that can happen unexpectedly, just as easily. I hope I always remember that. 

Homework and a full day of classes are calling my name. I hope you all have a wonderful day and a marvelous weekend. I say we soak up Fall before we head straight into Winter :).

Thank you very much for stopping by. lovelovelove.

-C

all photos via Patterson Maker

{words for your week}

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." -Steve Jobs

image via

{ stuck. }

I've hit a point of frustration. I've grown so tired of each day feeling like nothing more than an exercise of discipline. I'm tired of my to-do list being full of things that only take away time from the things I actually want to be doing. I know patience is a virtue, but good heavens, I need inspiration or I may croak.  

{ a reverie to escape reality...}

I know a vacation wouldn't actually save me from my very long to-do list or other stresses, but I can't help but to daydream just a little. I would love to get away from reality and bask in the glory of the sun and sand. My extensive list of projects and papers has even taken my time away from this little blog, and that's always frustrating. The load doesn't seem to be lightening up anytime soon, though, so I guess I better put on my big girl panties and get over it.

How do you guys deal with stress?

Thanks for stopping by, y'all. lovelovelove.

-C