Gift wrapping and kraft Christmas tags

Candles lit, the scent of Christmas brewing on the stove, the shadows from the Christmas lights flickering along the wall, and the vinyl player humming to the She & He Christmas album. It's a beautiful winter evening, albeit one

DIY: Christmas wreaths

This time of year is by far my favorite time of year. I love the concept of bringing deep greenery into the home. Although I could have plants, they never seem to survive, but during Christmas time, I know I can count on a

DIY: Simple Christmas decor ideas

Each year I tend to purchase new Christmas decorations or ornaments, but this year I decided to opt out of it, other than the traditional purchase of one new family ornament. Instead, I've been incorporating pine branches into our

Vlog: Misty mornings and the smell of warm coffee in the windy city of Chicago

There is something quaint, mystic, and pleasant about early mornings in the autumn season of a new place. Although wrapped in layers of blankets, the morning mist and shadows beckon me to step outside and follow the direction of

Chicago in the fall - a weekend getaway

Big city, tall skyscrapers, the sound of trains across the tracks, pigeons fluttering along the sidewalks, and tree branches losing their remaining red and golden leaves. The air brisk and a bit more cold with the strong winds blowing. 

Farm days from a summer long ago and slow cooked meals

My favorite summer was spent on the grounds of my Oma and Opa's farmhouse in Rosenhof, Germany. I can still remember riding my bike down the long lane leading up to their home, while trying to avoid swallowing the little

Why traditions matter...my reflection during this holiday season

I've been thinking about traditions lately as Christmas approaches. Although traditions are carried out throughout the year, they seem to be much more prevalent during the holiday season. For me, Christmas was the bringing together

Slow weekend morning...a photo journal

I love rainy weekends, because it takes a little bit longer for the light to seep through the bedroom blinds. On cloudy days, it feels a bit colder indoors and the 7:30 alarm undergoes the snooze button at least five times. Once out of bed,

Rainy days and vulnerability

Grey, rainy days are best spent indoors, bundled up, with the blinds open, and a good book in hand. This weekend's forecast is all gloom and thunderstorms...aka what I consider to be happy weather! Currently I'm all about

Feeling Parisian...my 5 favorite Paris books

I haven't experienced the dreaminess of Paris yet, but I have experienced a glimpse of it vicariously through books, blogs, and pinterest. And the more I read about it, the more I am fascinated by its history, architecture, art, and

Declutter and simplify

During each season, I find it important to spend some time decluttering. We shouldn't have to wait for spring cleaning to come around. I naturally tend to get rid of things monthly, sometimes every other week, because I begin

2 Fall DIY Projects for Just $12

I have to admit that owning decorations for every holiday is not something I'm fond of. I mainly blame it on my problem(?) of always needing to get rid of things. I also find a lot of holiday decor to be somewhat tacky. Therefore, I only ever decorate during Christmas. I love Christmas! But even the decorations I have for Christmas only take

The burden of comparing

It was a hot and humid day, but this little girl wasn't bothered by it. She was determined. In third grade, braided pony tail, and sneakers, she was ready for the challenge. The game on the playground was cops and robbers. More so, it was

Is Pinterest your #1 go to for recipes?

Does Pinterest act like an organized wish list board of boards for you? It does for me. My style board provides structure for what clothes I buy. My travel board contains all the places I dream of visiting. Even my "Capturing Moments in Time" board is a wish list of experiences. In the same way, my recipe board is

Solvang, California

Solvang is a Danish village in the Santa Barbara County. I have been there only once and it was a quick hour or so walk around the village. Yet I still recommend it as a must see along the California coast, even if

Autumn leaves of sugar

When September hits, it forces many to take out their scarves, light sweaters, and boots as the weather begins to add a chill to the air. Yet despite the cooler temperature, fall brings a sense of warmth and intimacy.

10 Austin Weekend Favorites

Labor Day weekend called for a mini getaway. Up at 5:30am and 3 hours later, we hit the coffee scene in Austin. We enjoyed our share of caffeine, food, ice cream, and humidity. Here is my list of things to do while in Austin for the weekend.

Castle views as a distraction from the world - Photos from Óbidos, Portugal

I've been thinking about Europe a lot...well, the truth is that I think about Europe all the time. Ever since I was a kid and my parents took my siblings and I to England and Germany, I haven't been able to get the beauty of old architecture, the cobblestone streets,

A neutral pallet and the addition of linen

Linen has quickly become my new favorite fabric. It has a romantic touch, like I should be running through a field of flowers along the countryside of France or walking through an orchard picking apples to make

3 recipes from my favorite food blogger of the week.

Last week I began a new series of posts on simple recipes from food bloggers I follow. Since I'm not a professional in the kitchen, I depend on good recipes that are not complicated and that don't take too much time. This week I want to feature recipes from

Measuring hard work

"I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil - this is God's gift to man." (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13)

In reflecting on these verses, there were four things that stood out to me.

Scents of vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg whisper for fall to arrive.

Living in San Diego, I used to wish for rainy days. Call me moody, but I find so much inspiration from listening to the rain hit the ground. It has a way of both soothing and breathing life into the soul. Since moving to Houston, I’ve experienced quite a few thunderstorms. The clouds here have a way of 

Drive up the 101 and 1 Highway Part 2 - Coastal Scenes

There were so many cute old school Volkswagen vans along the coast. 

My 2 favorite recipes of the week and 2 blogs you should follow.

Some of my most vivid memories as a child took place in the kitchen alongside my mom as I would help her make cinnamon rolls, apple strudel, or Christmas cookies. I remember being excited to become an adult,

Drive up the 101 and 1 Highway - Morro Bay

Breathtaking, incredible, and gorgeous are the words I use to describe my scenic 15 hour drive up the 101 and 1 highway from San Diego to Pleasanton, CA. I've been told that this scenic route is a must and was so excited

Brown paper packages...and first impressions.

First impressions are important. I've heard various statistics made on how many seconds it takes for an interviewer to make a decision on a candidate. Therefore, being an introvert makes meeting someone for the first time

Closing one book to open up a new adventure

I’ve always been a romantic and daydreamer with records of thoughts that have all conjured up a whimsical adventure. As a child, it may have been used as an immediate escape from the struggles in the current life or

Cafe Madeleine - South Park, San Diego

Cafe Madeleine happens to be my favorite cafe in San Diego. It makes you feel like you could possibly be in another country...like maybe Paris. ;) I've never been to Paris, but I love going here and pretending I am. Every time I visit,

Obsession with Stripes

It's true. I have an obsession with stripes! I don't know if it's because they're simple, trendy, chic, or cause they have some magical way of making me feel Parisian. :) I found this dress when I was initially searching for my very first "Little Black Dress" to wear to a bridal shower with a pearls and black dress theme. Let's be honest. I failed at finding a black dress, especially when my eyes fell on this dress. To be fair, I did search around to find a black dress I would enjoy more than this one, but it didn't quite work out...and I wanted my money to be spent well, so I decided that since this dress was mostly black, it might work. Naturally, a week later I did find one and wore it to the wedding. :)

Outfit Picks:
Hat - Urban Outfitters
Dress - Forever 21

Bird Rock in La Jolla, CA

             

If you're looking for some good coffee, I recommend heading over to Bird Rock Coffee in La Jolla, CA and enjoying a Gold Digger (cinnamon honey latte).

French Toast Donuts

With summer's arrival, I have found myself in the kitchen a lot more often during the weekends. I've been challenging myself to bake or cook something new each week and lately it has all been things that are sweet. :) I'm no pro at

Morning spent at La Jolla

I haven't spent much time in La Jolla, but a couple weeks ago, my husband and I decided to spend our morning there. We woke up early to beat the line at The Cottage. I recommend their Stuffed French Toast. You won't be disappointed!