Wine appreciation

I hosted a wine tasting party on Saturday and was pleasantly surprised and totally happy with how it turned out. More people than expected came, but guests were enthusiastic about the blind tasting and generous with their bottles (33+ bottles by the end of the night. Yowza).

We had 19 bottles entered in the tasting and people voted on their two favorites. The winners went home with a bottle of Ficklin Chocolate Port.

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I wrapped each bottle in the tasting in a brown paper bag (scallop cut at the top, thank you fancy scissors) numbered with a round white label, and tied with my favorite raffia.

A few more of my favorite accessories of the night...

Branches cut from my parents' plum tree

 

Finally a use for all our corks! Williams Sonoma apothecary jar, Crate & Barrel tray, IKEA candles (that smell delightful)

 

Home grown calla lilies, and more space for corks.

Hide & Seek

Feather earrings reminded me of this new thing of feather hair extensions. I'm in between loving it and thinking WTF. Probably depends how in your face it is (-) or if it's more an element of surprise (+).

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Birds of a feather

A few weeks ago I went to the Artist & Craftsman Supply in Oakland to stock up on some art therapy supplies, and snagged a small packet of feathers that looked very earring-ready. They were bunches of feathers colored dark and light brown, and dark brown with camel colored spots, each banded together at the top with a loop that looked ready to hang on a pair of hooks.

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On a visit to Urban Outfitters over the week I noticed how many fun pairs of earrings were feather related, and immediately came home to finally make my own. Although I do love many that UO has, I love that I made my own for less than $10. Woohoo! Here are some from the super fun Etsy shop MountainManCreations

{i love how dainty and mystical these look}

{these remind me of a calfskin rug}

{instant lovelovelove!! just ordered these for moi}

Love to love

I love Valentine's Day, and I don't think it's ever going to get old to wear pink or red on this holiday. Obviously I consider myself a lover of many things, and here are some things in the Valentine's Day spirit to love...

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{peonies...happiness in a flower}

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{Essie polish in Geranium}

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{I LOVE the love frame}

  

{wearing this ring makes me think of punching love into someone. in a nice way, of course}

 

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{this sits on my desk}

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{I love this little guy in red, and currently have two hidden in our house -teal and white}

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{ok, how sweet is this!}

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{my favorites, and they come in all colors to match your mood, outfit, or favorite holiday}

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{every girl's gotta have one, and I love that mine is red}

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{spring, anyone?}

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{I can totally picture sitting on this couch with my sister or girlfriends and giggling over champagne}

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{what's Valentine's Day without treats?}

How cute is this quote -  "Almost all words do have color and nothing is more pleasant than to utter a pink word and see someone's eyes light up and know it is a pink word for him or her too" - Gladys Taber

Hope everyone have a love-filled lovers day!

5 things

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{if you ever get to Monterey, make sure you check out Scheid's tasting room and stock up!! you can only get their wine in Monterey and trust me, it's worth it}

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{scored these for $15 from Forever21}

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{i have a new weakness for brownies, especially after butchering a batch - and yes it's possible...note to self- substituting an extra egg for oil makes it like a cake. when done right, so delightful freshly baked yum yum yum}

{duh!} 

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{can't wait to get this light mint color on my nails!}

Fake it



I've accepted the fact that I often need instant gratification when I have an idea or inspiration. Such as these nails. Don't have the patience to get them filled every 2-3 weeks (nor the funds). Alas, $6 glue-on temporary fake nails from Target....they only last as long as I can stand them, they are thinner than acrylics and much kinder to my natural nails. Hooray!

Teaser

The weather this weekend was so amazing, it felt like it was Spring turning into Summer already. It felt like we should have been on the boat, and it was so nice to be able to wear shorts and go for a walk in the heat.

I'm trying to be realistic and tell myself to still be prepared for rain and icky weather, especially since we head to Tahoe in a few weeks. Before I start dreaming about sun dresses, these are some Winter/Spring things I'm loving...

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{Sometimes I wish I had the cojones to wear these...maybe some day}

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{If only I didn't turn into a giant with heels, I would totally need these!}

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{I love this beanie more every time I look at it}

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{my Valentine's dress! can't wait for it to arrive today}

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{I'm starting to love Rachel Bilson's style more and more...and have loved Nicole Richie's for a while now too}

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{if anyone is ever lost about what to get me, I would love love love one of these, especially gardenia. So delightful}

5 things

After feeling quite a bit under the weather yesterday despite all the sunshine, I'm feeling tons more productive today...

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{clearly the first thing I loved recently was the warm weather this weekend. hellooooo shorts and freckles!}

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{yum. finally found lychee in syrup at a local health food store. score!}

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 {my best friend found these shirts for $7, and obviously had to get one in the spirit of all things to love}

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{one of my favorite things about the Superbowl...commercials and FOOD. these chocolate covered peanut butter pretzels from Trader Joe's are ah-mazing}

 {we have a tree that I just realized is exploding with tons of pink flowers - way pinker than it looks here. I love how they go perfectly in my little clear blue vase from IKEA}

I Love Lamp

I fell in love with these lamps as soon as I saw them, but went back to the store 3 times only to talk myself out of buying them. Finally, I realized I would kick myself in the bootie if I went back yet again and they were gone. So now they sit on either side of our massive bed, bring more light to the room, and make me smile every time I look at them.

I have no idea who made them, how much they originally cost, or why no one else swooped in to get them, but I do know they were $39.99 each at my favorite TJ Maxx. SCORE! 

Dream Land

I'm slowly collecting more things for the house and feel that rooms are slowly coming together, but I keep bouncing between wanting to buy things and telling myself to wait until the roommates are no more. But in the meantime, I drool over old Domino magazines + Johnathan Adler designs, and tear out pages from Elle Decor to fill my "Dream House" shoebox.

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{what girl doesn't dream of having a room-sized closet?} 

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{I dig the table and the blue + pink}

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 {I have the desk and "For Like Ever"...two of my favorite things}

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 {sort of liking the deep eggplant with chartreuse green}

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 {I don't think I like so much pink in a room, but I do like the wall art}

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{this just has sass written all over it} 

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 {dream dog}

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{I love this...I think because I envision a really natural table - think wood slab - with modern chairs in my dining room some day}

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 {love. love love love everything}

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 {this is nuts. what a unique + amazing tub! though I expect it may feel like bathing in a canoe}

Have a happy weekend!