*Sigh*

What wisdom has my 25th year brought me thus far?

This so-called real world doesn't really care if it's your birthday.

Especially if you're in the design and printing business.

Near Christmas.

Anyhow, aside from chaos at work, it really was splendid.

Thanks for all the well-wishes, and happy morning :)

25.

 breakfast surprise (served in bed) from my adorable hubby

 a mysterious morning package from my beloved Anthropologie

 homemade cake from the best very best neighbors

 the most amazing measuring cups (nestled inside the Anthro package), thanks to my sis

and this little Christmas shag

=

the best 25th birthday morning EVER.

HAPPY DECEMBER 7TH.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, a note of remembrance today, to all those families and victims of Pearl Harbor and WWII

and to my father-in-law, Sam Maple, the loving, high-spirited jockey *umm..isn't this pic just awesome?! looks just like my Corey, just a wee bit shorter :) * who I never had the pleasure of meeting--he married the love of his life (and my hubby's mom) today.

XOXO.

Oh, Monday.

Eeek. I've totally been "one of those:" a blogger that infrequently posts and leaves their readers clamoring for more inspiration. I. AM. SO. SORRY.

It's just taken me a week or two to find a good balance and get in the swing of things. A new full time job + finishing up my part-time job + freelance design work + freelance magazine projects + holiday and birthday celebrations has meant I've had no time and heavy eyes at the end of each super long day. But no worries--and no complaining--I LOVE where I am right now. But I do promise one thing: back to blogging!

So, to start, a design board I put together for my friend's apartment in NYC. She and her hubby are fairly new to their big city apartment so she sought my eye in making it feel more like a home. I did some scouting and came up with these finds for the bedroom (which they were thrilled about). I wanted it to feel restful, eclectic, luxurious, and warm...which we totally achieved by mixing cozy fabrics (dark gray linen headboard and green velvet throw pillows), adding in hints of gold for warmth, and softening the room with long, puddling window panels and a gorgeous, printed rug...all for an incredibly reasonable price tag, I might add!

I'll post the living room when I'm done perusing for that scheme!

But for now...HAPPY MONDAY

P.S. thanks for all the espresso machine advice! You all are the best. Can't wait to get my coffee-craving hands on one :)

Your thoughts, if you will:

So, the hubby and I are into espresso and thinking of asking for a machine for Christmas.
We're looking at a DeLonghi (in the $200 range).
I've read fairly good reviews about the EC702.
Slim chance, I know, but do any of you have a machine of your own?
Any advice? Thoughts? Machines we should look into?
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated :)

Hope your holiday was wonderful. Happy Monday~

HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY

To the most beautiful, sweet-spirited, generous, kind, loving, fun, amazing sister I ever ever EVER could ask for. Isn't she lovely?! Hope your day is beyond amazing and blessed, pretty lady :) MISS you.

THANKFUL.

Okay.
We are SO excited.

Yes--we will miss our families terribly. We already do, and we are so sad we cannot celebrate this holiday around a big, candle-lit table with them. Plus, my parents and in-laws both make the most delicious Turkey Day fare. And I will miss it.

But--
We are SO excited.
I've never had the chance to cook a Thanksgiving meal. Someone up the Turkey Day hierarchy has always taken on the big task. So Corey and I planned the above menu around our favorite dishes (some with a twist)--and sides we really love to cook. It will certainly be a feast, and one we're going to share with our neighbor who can't make it home either. It will be amazing, and delicious, and so much fun.

So HAPPIEST THANKSGIVING.
I'm thankful for the most wonderful husband, friends and family, and all that I'm blessed with. Because really--I am beyond blessed. And I'm thankful for the love that I have for cooking, and for this holiday that lets me savor my day-long labor of love.

Enjoy your own :)
See you next week!

h.i.m. (happy, in the morning)

made entirely happy this morning by:
 (+ my coffee, of course).

{design sponge + anthropologie}

Hope this makes you just as happy.

Lived-in rooms.

A living room should be just that: lived in. A room that reflect you and the daily lifestyle you live. A room that beckons your time and your friends--where wine can be poured, coffee can be sipped, and really good books can be read.

Loving the rich hues and the cozy textures and fabrics used in the rooms above. So very fall. So makes me want to curl up in front of a fire and really never leave.

HAPPY MONDAY.

The Real Deal.

Now that's a real deal.

Alexander Wang, here.

BB Dakota, here.

HAPPY SHOPPING.

happy in the morning.

I have the travel itch.
Could you possibly tell?

HAPPY MORNING.
Mine certainly is: writing/designing in a window seat (with red and white cushions), in the most amazing coffee shop in town (where they brew by the cup), on a crisp, cloudy Charleston morning. :)