2 Black, White, + Yellow Holiday

Happy New Year!!


It's been a while...so this will be a lengthy post filled with images of where I've been, what I've seen and purchased...what has inspired me, great gifts, and what I'm still lusting after...


I spent the last few weeks in Los Angeles with my family, which was a fantastic break from work and the usual...it was great to spend so much time with my family. We also took a mini trip to San Diego, which was fantastic. And of course, I did a lot of shopping...


The first event was to see my sister in Debbie Allen's Alex in Wonderland, a modern take on fairy tales. My favorite characters were the Jean-Claude the Wolf, the Mad Hatter, and the drag queen Fairy Godmother. Lauren had several parts, but my favorite was the bunny role {she's the blonde with bunny ears}...







Merry Christmas! The first pic shows Lauren and I in front of our modern tree on Christmas morning {Santa still visits our house, that is why we look so excited}...the second is our dog Matilda is her new adorable sweater {purchased at Two Dogs Dancing in Ocean Springs}. Lauren got a Playstation with games including Guitar Hero {read: we played for days...I'm now obsessed}. I got the Ipod Touch {again, obsessed...it's awesome!}. We also went to the beach...on Christmas Day...and ate Mexican food for dinner in Marina Del Ray.




My mom, sister and I spent the weekend in the Gas Lamp District in San Diego. I loved it...there are restaurants, bars, and shops jammed one after another for blocks. We went to the zoo to see the new baby panda {she was asleep in the tree}, ate great food, and shopped.




Our last day we ate breakfast at Cafe 222 an adorable cafe with great food. They had great chandeliers, fun plates, yellow walls, and an eggs painted on the sealed concrete. The orange pecan pancakes, pumpkin waffles, and hot chocolate were great...



I took these pictures one night...they didn't come out quite as expected but I love them...


And then the shopping began...

We made my usual pilgrimage to Reform School...never disappointed. I picked up a post card size print of For Like Ever and an adorable print by Francesca Iannaccone titled I Want To Go Home.




We also stopped by Kelly Green Design + Home two doors down. This was an awesome store that I had never been in before. I picked up some cards that I'm going to frame. These are so appropriate as they feature coin phrases of two of my favorite people.


Our shopping in Silver Lake continued at Y-Que Trading Post, no new fun T-shirts this time {although the Pluto Never Forget shirts now glow in the dark}, but Lauren got a funny hat and I picked up another postcard to frame.


We also made a whirlwind impromptu trip to Ikea. My favorite purchase were the Syntes Konst Bowls {black and white with spots the grow with the decreasing size of the bowls}. They remind me of the Marimekko Fokus Latte Mugs shown in Andy Beers Sneak Peak at DesignSponge . I also purchased the HEDDA Curtains {bright colors with a Orla Keily-esq print...read the Cure Continues some more}. I also got my FARM vase two new friends and some great yellow NYTJJA frames. I have also decided that I really like the MANDAL headboard...I think I might have to have this in the near future.







I also purchased some of my favorite kitchen staples: Ikea Dralla Cutting Boards and Trader Joe's Sponges. I hope these will aid with my New Year's Resolution to eat better and cook more.


Just before I left, I fell in love with this kitchen featured in Martha Stewart's Real Simple. The color palette is fantastic...but I love the collection of latte bowls Lo and behold I get of the escalator at Macy's and there are the Martha Stewart graphic bowls featured in the shot...since I was flying back I only purchase two, one light blue and one dark blue. Then at Anthropologie {which I love, love, love} I discovered two sizes of the bowls in an array of colors...so my collection begins. I'm not sure where to display it yet, but I dream of one day have a kitchen with open shelving so all of my beautiful dishes can be seen.


One of the small blue bowls and another great little yellow bowl with scroll handles found a home at my vanity to hold rings and lip gloss. I also found some great yellow and white towels on clearance at Anthropologie.

Now let's talk about Anthropologie...I wish we had one in New Orleans so badly {although it is probably better for my bank account that we don't}. I tried to restrain myself as much as possible, but I just wanted to show some of the amazing items they have right now {that I did not buy}...

Color Wheel Mugs + Patisserie Cup and Saucer


Monogrammed Mugs + Curio Cup and Saucer

Recycled Glass Vases + Confetti Vases

Moon Stitch + Spoon Study by Maxine Sutton


Flatware Wallpaper + Orla Kiely's Blossom Wallpaper

Anjou Pear Sign + Charlie Harper: an Illustrated Life

I did purchase one more thing at Anthropologie that was too big to fit in the suitcase...more to come when it arrives this week...