Virtually yours.

With last minute Christmas gifts to buy and cookies to make, I'll be a little absent from the blogworld until after the holidays. But from our home to yours, Merry Christmas!

xoxo

Have yourself a merry little Christmas...

Thanks for sharing, Shel.

1st Dibs Friday!!

In honor of Christmas, I present to you a red and green themed 1st Dibs Friday.

Get excited!

Hello, Gorgeous.

Remember when I told you I was a chairaholic? How embarrassing.

Lovely.

Shot through the heart, but you're too late...actually no, you aren't. Buy these, someone.

Dear Santa, I have a really good place for this. Just sayin'.

And now, for a dose of reality. Just in case any of you out there are looking for a more affordable slant on decorating (not that the beautiful things on 1st Dibs aren't worth it, but taking out a second mortgage on your house to furnish it probably isn't the wisest financial move.)

How many times have I wished for one of these while sitting on the couch with my computer in my lap?

I do love these red bookshelves...what a great way to add a pop of color into a room for those who may be phobic!

This rug from Uptown Country just screams C'mas to me...it looks like a candy cane!

Don't you just love a garden stool?

Merry, merry!

Hi. My name is Hannah, and I'm a chair-aholic.

They are mine. Thank you, holiday bonus.

P.S. If you are looking for great chairs, head here. You'll be oh so glad you did!

Gaga over Aga.

I've been an over the top Anglophile for years...I fell in love with England on a trip to London that my parents took us on to celebrate New Year's Eve when I was probably 11 years old, and I've never looked back. My love for all things British permeates into...

...what I like to read (if it's chick-lit and it's set somewhere in Great Britian, chances are I've read it about 8,000 times.  If it's Jane Austen, I've got it memorized)...

...the movies I love and watch over and over and over (Love Actually, anyone?)...
 

...actresses I adore and kinda want to be best friends with...

..and, of course, my husband's Halloween costume.

Prince Harry, in case you couldn't tell. :)

But the thing I've always really, really loved is this:

Aga stoves.

Nothing conjures up a warm, cozy kitchen like an Aga. It's laid back, unprententious, and there's something about an Aga that is just so much more inviting that stainless steel.

Cosy like this kitchen from "The Holiday" (via Hooked on Houses):

Granted, there isn't an Aga in this picture. But there should be.

Via House Beautiful

I love how the stove just disappears into the cabinetry here.

 Via Traditional Home

While the black and white backsplash here is a little busy for me, it's also pretty fun.That parrot is cracking me up.

Just a few more, for your viewing pleasure:

Kinda makes you want to take a trip to the Cotswolds, huh?

The element of amazingness.

I bought the new Alicia Keys albumn on iTunes today, and I'm obsessed.

Not only have I listened to "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart" and "Empire State of Mind, Part II" about 7,000 times in a row (and am full on shaking it in my cube to "Put It In A Love Song"), I've also watched the video for "Doesn't Mean Anything", and I'm completely and totally in love with this:

That's right. A lucite grand piano. Sick, right?

Since you already know how much I love all things lucite, my feelings on this should not come as a surprise.

The combination of her ridiculous talent and this amazing instrument is almost too much for me. Download it NOW. You will not be disappointed.

Gleeking out.

Last week was the busiest week of the year for me, work-wise.  Sorry, my dear blogfriends, for being out of touch!

Nothing design-related today because I'm burrowing myself out from a million and a half emails, but I did want to talk for just a sec about last week's episode of Glee, which I just got to last night.

Is Will Schuester not the freaking cutest thing in the whole entire world, despite his cardigans?? And did you not find yourself cheering out loud and jumping up and down as he ran his down the hallway to kiss Emma?

Not that I did that, or anything.



I do, however, now find myself with a bit of a crush. This could just be the high school musical nerd in me, but I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in this.

Oh, Lonny.

I love you. 

Window shopping in Paris.

Wouldn't you just love to be doing that right now? I can't count the number of times I'd rather be here:

Yup. At the House of Truffles. Best. place. in. Paris.

Or here, with him:

Not inside, necessarily...just people watching on a bench. Preferably eating my weight in these:

 

Oh, my. The macaroons.

Quick funny story before I get back to the point of my post, which I promise wasn't just an excuse to post pictures of Allen and me on vacation. Because of course I'm sure you are dying to see pics of us in front of all of the places that everyone else takes their picture, too.

Anyway, the story:

Our last day in Paris, we decided to quit walking and do something terribly touristy---hop on the water taxi. Except that we got on the wrong boat (darn language barriers!) and ended up on the non-stop tour up the Seine. It was paaaaiiinnnffuullll. So we entertained ourselves by taking pictures of all of the people taking pictures.

This group was HILARIOUS. They were all traveling together, and were obviously very good friends. But they ALL took pictures of every. single. building in Paris. They literally never sat down. And everytime they got all excited about the building of interest at that moment, the white haired gentleman behind them tried his darndest to get the shot, too. He followed their lead on all photographs.

In the meantime, we'd already taken pictures of all of the buildings in question while walking around. So we took pictures of ourselves.

 

Ah, memories.

Back to window shopping. It's really more online shopping, but I can't get enough of this:

There are about a million things that should be mine.

Like these:

And this, although I'm not sure why I love it so much:

But I definitely know why I love this so much: 

 

Don't you think this needs to hang in our bathroom?

 

Yes, please. I'll take two. 

 

Hotel Silver from the Plaza! 

 

Obvi.

 

And while it's true that I don't have a need for a typewriter, exactly...I'm pretty sure if this was mine that I'd find a good use for it. 

 

The lights.

...did not make it up. :(

Maybe they'll be done tonight when I get home? (hint, hint)

Update: I got home from work tonight and was schooled gently reminded by my loving husband that he simply couldn't get the lights up because it rained, and is continuing to rain. He asked me not to call him out on the blog. 'Nuf said. But then I realized that his noticing of the lights post means that Allen now reads this every day. It's his first blog ever!! Welcome to the blogosphere, honey.

Mora, please.

Perfection.

Deckin' the door.

This weekend we're FINALLY putting up the outdoor Christmas decorations!

And by we, I mean Allen. Who's stoked. 

Or, not.

But, it has to be done. So I did a little online inspiration searching today and now I'm thinking that we might need a few more things. :)

Southern Living has pretty easy directions on how to make your own magnolia wreath, just like this one

I'd probably change the shape a little and choose a different color for the bow, but this looks like something I could probably handle. AND, it's a great use for the magnolia leaves that fall from enormous tree in my neighbors yard into ours. Every day. All day. 

Up next is a project I actually tackled last year (and it's not for outside use, either, but I have topic ADD today) courtesy Martha.

These candles are so, so, so pretty both when they are unlit and lit. But then again, you all know how I feel about glitter, so maybe I'm not an unbiased source.

Speaking of glitter...I'm thinking of making a few of these

to attach to the wreath on our back door. It's covered (a little) and is pretty sheltered from the elements.

This is a cute idea from BH&G...fill up my planters with greenery and some inexpensive Christmas tree balls from Michaels. Granted, this all would be much prettier with snow, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

Wish me luck...I'll post pics on Monday!

Making Speidi look tame...

Riddle me this, blog-friends..

If you were the "other woman" in an affair with a married man, why in the WORLD would you feel the need to confess your involvement to the entire world without any prompting? And yes, this is a rhetorical question because obviously I know the women in question are after fame, money, whatever.

Granted, I may not be the best person to comment on this, seeing as I wore tank tops under v-neck t shirts until high school because I was very worried people would think I was skanky.  The top of the sternum was super scandalous at Steffen Middle School. :)

But does anyone else think it's hilarious that one of these chickies was on "Tool Academy?"

Just sayin'. 

Speaking of Tiger (prints), I came across an old People magazine yesterday and had completely forgotten all about this fantastic settee that Mrs. Bush had reupholstered in tiger-print velvet at the White House. Oh, how I love it. And I'm not even really an animal print person.

via People Magazine

Cyber Monday...on Tuesday.

Since I was down for the count on Cyber Monday, I've decided to roll my online shopping over to Cyber Tuesday. And since I'm actually already finished with our Christmas shopping (yes, seriously. It's an anomaly. It will never happen again, I can assure you of that.). it's really more like Cyber Tuesday window shopping.

But one visit to Etsy, and I'm beginning to rethink some of my already made purchases. There are just too many fabulous things to be found!

Like these gorgeous mother-of-pearl knives. If any of you are feeling especially generous this year, I happen to know someone who collects these and would just looooove a few more. ;)

Or how about a set of these custom silhouette mugs?

I think they are the cutest.

And if you've ever visited this little blog before, you'll know that I have a completely unhealthy obsession with Chiang Mai Dragon. It's out of control. I admit it.

But, seriously. The fact that these are still available completely blows my mind. Chinese chippendale chairs AND chiang mai dragon? Santa, if you are reading this, you know my address and I promise I've been so nice this year.

Eddie does it again...

This tall hob-nob milk glass vase is perfection.

There were a bajillion other things I love, but this could go on forever, so I'll spare you.

One last thing...have you ever noticed that there are a million different pieces of dollhouse furniture on etsy? Like stuff you'd love if it was person-sized? I can't tell you the amount of times my heart literally lept into my throat with excitement for a split second before I realized the furniture was 6 inches tall. Grrr.

What I'm NOT thankful for...

Food poisoning.

Be back soon.

Counting my blessings.

Although I might have skipped over Thanksgiving while decorating our house, I'm certainly not skipping over all of the things I'm thankful for in my life. This year, we've had lots of changes...some of them have been wonderful, some have been heartbreaking, and all have taught me invaluable lessons in patience and gratitude, in Grace and in hard-work, in hidden strengths and in the healing power of laughter and most of all, love.

Ok, clearly I should not have watched the last Jon & Kate plus 8 last night. Waaaay too emotional.

(Quick aside, did any of you watch it? If that wasn't a primer for why you shouldn't tick off a production company that has hours of footage of you, I don't know what is. Not the kindest edit of Jon.)

Deep thoughts aside, here's just a smattering of what I'm thankful for:

Is anything happier than this color? I think not. 

Never before has another kitchen appliance so changed my life...or helped lengthen the amount of time I can snooze. 

I will especially be thankful for fires in the fireplace when it's cold enough in Dallas to have another one! 

Thankful for peppermint Mint Water, and for Mikell for introducing me to it. It's like crack, but healthy. 

So, so pretty.

Obviously. 

Finally, a place in Dallas to buy the fabric I covet. 

I live in these boots from Target. So much so that I'm actually on my second pair.

Yes, I like to drink rose champagne. I'm unapologetically girly when it comes to that. I am also thankful for the very fun, if somewhat fuzzy memories that said champagne has played an important role in. 

I'm thankful for everyone in this picture...and for all of my dear friends who aren't in this picture, too. 

I'm thankful for my fabulous family...as well as for Ben, who wasn't here yet when this was taken and especially for Ruben, who we miss a whole lot. 

The Tillster. Even though she gets muddy in the yard and jumps up on our white bedding when it is still warm from the dryer. 

 And of course, I'm thankful for him...and his killer dance moves.