Vanilla!

Last summer through various blogs, I thought it would be fun to make my own vanilla extract, especially once I found out how easy it was!  

With a couple liters of Vodka (or any alcohol, really - my next batch will be from Malibu Rum... yum)

I split several Madagascar Vanilla beans down the middle (gosh they smelled delicious!)

I popped them right in the vodka bottle and threw them in my wine cupboard to sit for a couple months - Be sure to screw the cap on tight otherwise things could get messy. 

The most fun part of this process was shaking the vanilla every week (its the simple pleasures, really!)

The vanilla Vodka eventually morphed to vanilla extract and was done just in time for the holidays! I slapped some custom labels on the bottles I purchased from Specialty Bottle Co. and they were ready to give away as hostess gifts, stocking stuffers, etc :)  

Intended for baking, however if things get a little too stressful in the kitchen, also good for a shot (or two).

Cherry Blossoms in the Loo!

I've been pretty lucky lately with my dog sitters. 

While I'm out of town, they're getting to work on the master bath. 

First it was Kelsey who stripped all the wallpaper off the walls while I was in hanging out with Mickey and Goofy

Then it was Kathryn who I not only hired to feed and play with my 

precious pup and crazy cat, but also to pretty up the walls a bit...

a close up of her pretty petals

Above the bathtub

 She even 'branched' out to another corner!

Gorjus!

For those in the Portland area (or even here in the SF Bay Area), she is heading up a creative design studio:  MAKE Design Studios... Check them out!!

Now I'm thinking I should go out of town more often... Maybe the next time I hire a dog sitter, my crown molding (moulding?) will get magically installed!? 

all images via Kathryn @ Make Design Studios!

Polka dots, Wine & Scottsdale

I'm back at work tomorrow and could easily take another 6 months (to forever) off.

(Can you tell I'm not ready for vacation to end)

Immediately following the hustle and bustle of all things Christmas,

I was off to Scottsdale to visit these lovely folks

 

They're just as cute from the front too.

But before I get too far into my Scottsdale excursion, let me take you back to an evening this past fall drinking wine with good friends.  Atop the coffee table was San Francsico Magazine (the July issue)

Thumbing through it, I fell in love with this ad:

ok, the dress, to be exact - I have a thing for polka dots

I tore the ad out, and tacked it to my wall thinking I would one day recreate it. 

That one day happened this week in Scottsdale

Sitting on the clearance rack at my drug dealer's Anthropologie was this pretty little number

No need to 'one day recreate'.  

I transferred it over state lines and can't wait for Spring to come early

Merry Christmas!

Hope you find someone

to smooch under the mistletoe this year!

I think I've 'Nailed' It!

Last weekend was my uncle's wedding and

It

Was

Awesome

Beautiful

Perfect

A whirlwind!

Because December is always such a busy time professionally (end of quarter, end of year) and socially (can we say Parties anyone?!), I didn't have time to get my nails done before the wedding. 

When I was a teenager and working nights at a fabric store, my supervisor at the time, a spunky woman who wore turtlenecks and puffy paint sweatshirts, had a smoker's cough and always complained about her nails - because they never stayed on.  They were the press-on variety and they'd always be flying off & I'd always find a neon colored one near the register or cutting table and know exactly where she had been. 

credit

So when I think of press-on fake nails, that's always what I think of. 

And yet, I still decided to go this route for the wedding (keeping it classy, of course).  I just had to keep them on through the ceremony and pictures, Right?  So off to Walgreens my sis and I went at 11pm one night last week and picked up a $5 set of fake frenchies. 



Yes this is an also an excuse to show off what cute bridesmaids we were

And here I am, seven days later, clicking away on my keyboard still sporting my fake nails.  They haven't chipped, fallen off or broken!  And the compliments I've received on them?!  Who compliments someone's fingernails?!  I've certainly never received a compliment (or multiple compliments); even after I spend Big Buck$ in $ome fancy $chmancy $alon!

They're awesome!

This may be the way of the future!

Dum Dum Da Dum...

Today my uncle is getting Mawwwwied! 

Today I make my 9th repeat performance as a bridesmaid.

His bride mentioned during the rehearsal that she wants her maids to embrace our indiviuality; we were allowed some free reign on shoes, dress and hair

What do you think she'll say if I wore my hair like this?

I've been dying to try this updo since like wedding number 2!

and yes, I'm (partially) kidding  but it seriously cracks me up

EVERY SINGLE TIME!

Congratulations to the Groom and his wife-to-be!

Snow Bunny

Ever since our snowy Thanksgiving, my pup has been EXTRA good

Mellow

Quiet

He listens, and responds

(Weird)

We're not dumb enough to think the combined high energies of his two breeds: Labrador Retriever + Viszla would go away in one weekend. 

We're not dumb enough to think he's maturing

and exiting his puppy stage. 

He'll be two in April 

(one would assume its coming soon, right?)  

However!

We do think two full days in the snow did him a little bit of good

In fact, we firmly believe if he had his choice, he'd choose snow over us. 

& if it means a mellower pup, I wholeheartedly agree

Handsome boy, isn't he?  :)

Tardy Thanksgiving

This is tardy as it should have been posted a week ago.  But I had image upload issues that are still unresolved -  I'll make it up to you - Promise!
 Every year after we give thanks and stuff our bellies of hearty food with loved ones, my immediate family heads up to our cabin - built in the sixties by my very own bloodline - it certainly is a treasure. 

We go up frequently, but Thanksgiving weekend is a weekend I always look forward to.

all year

every year.

The rare weekends when it snows,

 are beautiful and magical

makes me wish it snowed year round

even after I shovelled the driveway

even after I had to (watch my dad) put chains on my car just to make it into the driveway

makes me wish I didn't forget my ski and snow gear at home

makes me grateful period (.)

Hope your feast was full of grace and warmth

Happy (tardy) Thanksgiving

Now... on to Christmas!

What's on your Christmas list this year?

I'm wanting myself one of these:

image via http://www.fabulousfit.com/

which is ironic considering my mom had one when I was growing up.  It sat there headless in the corner of her bedroom wearing a thick green velvet victorian dress.  To make matters worse, my mom named her Hilda and occasionally put a wig on her.

Hilda terrified me.