Happy (Las Vegas) New Year!

Once again, I’m off to Vegas! Luckily it’s only a 4 hour drive from our home! Nick and I go there about 4 times a year and we thought there would be no better way to ring in our New Year with each other and at one of our favorite places.

What are your plans for this holiday? Are you more of a stay-at-homer or a get-dressed-up-I-wanna-go-out kinda person?

Whatever your style, I wish you all the best and much success in 2011. I’ll be enjoying the Vegas lights and possibly a bit too much champagne this weekend so I’ll be back next week to check in and see how all of your NYE’s turned out. Make it a great night!

*photos via here

Wednesday Weekend Warm Up

Champagne Kiss

ingredients

1 drop Angostura Bitters
1 sugar cube
1 splash Campari
Champagne

directions

Add the bitters to the cube and place in the bottom of a Champagne flute. Add a splash of Campari, and then fill it up with Champagne.

*recipe from here, pics from here

{Tuesday Thoughts}

*all images via Pinterest

{New Year’s} Makeover Monday: Insider tips, tricks & expert advice

I trust you all enjoyed your Christmas! Now on to the next holiday to wrap up the Holiday season and ring in the new year! Here’s a few ideas to help get your NYE party lookin’ good!

*gold + silver from Martha, grape skewers from Martha, clock mantel from Martha

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thank you all for your support and readership in 2010. It was a fun and successful year in that, I met and made many new friends through blogging, my website for my interior design company “i m a g i n e” was built, I’ve been blessed with clients that are a dream to work with and I couldn’t ask for a more perfect partner to share all these exciting events with other than my sweetheart, Nick.

Happy Holidays friends and family. I’m excited to see what 2011 has in store for us!

Thursday’s This + That

Gold goodness for your good ol’ self…

Wear this Malene Birger gold dress while enhancing your wall with that 20ltd 18 Carat Gold plated ceramic tile.
*as always, "Thursday's This & That", inspired by the creative Bekka from Oh Joy!

Wednesday Weekend Warm Up

Cool Blue Yule

Enjoy this cool blue Christmas cocktail this weekend while gathering with friends and family.

Martini + blue cocktail dress = holiday perfection

ingredients

• 3 oz vodka
• 1/2 oz dry vermouth
• 1 teaspoon blue Curaçao
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, strained
• Garnish: 2 lemon twists

preparation

Shake together all ingredients except twists in a cocktail shaker with ice, then strain into 2 Martini glasses and garnish with twists.

*recipe from here, images from here, here, here,

{Tuesday Thoughts}

Even though these girls make winter look fabulous flouncing around in the snow!

I hope you all are making the most of your winter. Us here in Southern California are experiencing tremendous amounts of rain. Our backyard has become a shallow lake with brand new Malibu lights submerged at the base of our palm trees and banana plants. We have a couple more days of these torrential downpours and hopefully by Christmas Day, it will clear up. Stay warm and cozy!

*images via Anastasia Volkova

Makeover Monday: Insider tips, tricks & expert advice

As Christmas is approaching, I’ve been scrambling to find some last minute DIY Christmas decorations to make our home complete as we entertain throughout the next week. These are oh-so-simple ideas and they create that “wow” factor that everyone loves.

pom-pom belt, plated wall, branch chandelier

Fresh Find Friday!

The more I hear about how cold it has been in Minnesota lately, the more and more I’m loving December in California!

Now, my boyfriend Nick, who is a native Californian says that anyone born and raised in California would never own any of these items. I’m from Minnesota and have lived in California for almost 6 years and I think they’re all totally awesome and would proudly display any of them in my home or around my neck (but I do also say “totally awesome”…). I’m curious. Those of you who are native to the Golden State, what are your thoughts on these CA pride items? And how about you transplants, such as myself, what do you think? Would you like to see any of these in your home?

CA cutting board CA print CA necklace Trina Turk eyeglass case CA pillow CA coffee table CA diamond necklace

Thursday’s This + That

Toss back some bubbly from this Anthropologie Boule Flute while adorning yourself [helping Izzy save $ for college] in that Glass Bead Necklace + Earring Set.

I have the one in Navy. I love it.

*As always, Thursday This + That inspired by Oh Joy!

Wednesday Weekend Warm Up

After adding these ingredients to your weekend shopping list, head over to What’s Up Whimsy to see what’s on my Holiday wish list!

For Infusion:

• 2 cups fresh mint leaves, de-stemmed
• 1 bottle quality vodka

Directions

Thoroughly wash mint leaves and place in a decanter or jar. Empty vodka into container and muddle slightly to release the essential oils. Store in a cool, dark place for at least 3 days - longer if you want a stronger taste.

For cocktail:

• 1 tbs. crushed candy cane or peppermint candy
• 1 1/2 oz. mint-infused vodka
• 1/2 oz. B&B (Benedictine and brandy)
• 1/2 oz. half-and-half
• Ice
• Peppermint stick
• Mint sprig for garnish

Directions

Place crushed candy cane bits into pint glass. Muddle the candy cane slightly, breaking up the bigger pieces. Do not over-muddle into a powder. Add vodka, brandy and half-and-half and stir. Pour into a shaker with ice. Shake lightly to chill and strain into old-fashioned glass full of ice. Add a peppermint stick and stir. Garnish with a mint sprig.

*images from Pinterest, recipe from the Food Network

{Tuesday Thoughts}

“Let your mind start a journey through a strange new world. 

Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be.

Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before."

Erich Fromm

Hello everyone. This image really caught my eye and I knew I had to use it today! I love how odd and strange it feels. I hope you're all off to a great week. Happy Tuesday!

*photo from Art Dept

Silver, gold, glitter, glam, sparkle, shine…

Make your Holiday sparkle

My friend Laura, owner and creator of Shop Design Spark, an online shop, provides you with the latest and the greatest in fashionable jewelry. Laura, a fellow “Los Angelan” carries a lot of very nice jewelry items that I’ve seen in stores like Nordstrom and Jcrew for almost half the price. Some as even low as $4.99! If you’re still searching for those stocking stuffers or wanting to put something special under your girlfriend’s trees, check out some of my favorite’s that are on my own Christmas list like the White Armadillo Bangle or the Black and White Stripe Bangle or the Oval Pebble Ring. All very chic and current. Just let me know if you need my shipping address – hee-hee.

Since Laura is such a sweetheart, she’s agreed to give all my Imagine readers a special Holiday 20% discount off your ENTIRE ORDER (wow!) when you leave her a comment on Shop Design Spark’s

FACEBOOK

or mention her on

TWITTER

+ sign up for her

NEWSLETTER

on her website.

So hurry on over to see the rest of Laura’s shop. She also carries home décor items for that design lover in your life and her very own line of jewelry designed by herself! One thing I love about Laura’s site is that it is so user-friendly and has a ton of pictures of all her products. Laura has always provided me with an easy and enjoyable online shopping experience and speedy delivery on all my orders.

As an added BONUS, she’s throwing in

FREE SHIPPING & FREE GIFT BAG

with your jewelry purchase!

You can enjoy this special starting today through December 20th!

Happy shopping!

SHOP DESIGN SPARK

Fresh Find Friday

Just a few Christmas”y” items I’ve seen out and about…

Hutton Wilkinson "Angel Wing" Pavé Crystal Set of 2 Brooches

Peace on Earth Dove Pillow

Christmas Tree Cooler

Dog Ornaments

Snowflake Decals for the Holiday Season

Cyan Snowflake Glass Plate - Holiday Gift for the Gourmet or Entertainer

One Shoulder Sequin Dress ( I WANT )

 

Christmas Crown Glass Markers

These are just a few Holiday items that I thought would be a cute addition to any home this season.

Thank you everyone for your genuine care and concern over the loss of my cat, Magic this week. It’s been a difficult time, but receiving your notes and messages throughout the week has provided me with some comfort. Please, if you have little pets, keep them safe indoors and watch them closely as they go outside for bathroom breaks at night. Also, if you have a bell on your pet’s collar, PLEASE take it off because it alerts predators and puts your pet in danger.

I wish you all a fun-filled weekend, whether you’re wrapping up your Christmas shopping, traveling to see loved ones or just simply relaxing. TGIF!

Thursday’s This + That

Get the ball rollin’…

…on the festivities this holiday season while wearing this Marc Jacobs New Year Ball Ring while hanging that Geneva Gold Ball Pendant above your tabletop.

*as always, "Thursday's This & That", inspired by the creative Bekka from Oh Joy! 

Wednesday Weekend Warm Up

After popping over to Miss Kelley Moore's site to listen to me RAMBLE...cozy up with a cup of tea...

I need a cup of cozy with the week I’ve been having. Here’s a spicy tea drink with cloves, rum and cognac. The brewed clove flavour and dark rum make this a bit of an exotic-tasting cocktail that is a big change from your same old drinks.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz cognac
• 1 oz dark rum
• 1 cup brewed tea
• Several cloves
• 1/2 tsp honey
• Pinch of nutmeg

Preparation:

Heat tea and other ingredients together in a saucepan. Serve hot with a cinnamon stick.
*recipe from here, images from my new fav – Pinterest 

Tuesday {Magic} Thoughts

“A house without a cat, and a well-fed, well-petted and properly revered cat, may be a perfect house, perhaps, but how can it prove its title?”

-Mark Twain

My dear sweet Miss Magic passed away yesterday. It’s difficult to put into words what this little cat meant to me. She’s been a part of my life for the past 9 years, moving all the way from Fargo with me to sunny Southern California. A favorite memory I have of her is her greeting me at the door every time I came home. I also loved her morning routine of jumping off the pool table, where she liked to sleep to head out to the back yard and take a little cat nap in the sunshine on one of our loungers. She was a friendly black cat who enjoyed the attention of all who gave it to her and repaid the favor by purring and handing out kitty kisses. She will be missed and thought of often.

Makeover Monday: Insider tips, tricks & expert advice

I trust you all had a great weekend! Mine was busy! Besides meeting with a new client in La Verne, CA yesterday for a color and material consultation, Nick and I have been busy putting up Christmas lights and finishing up the holiday decorating around our home. Since we don’t have a mantel above our fireplace, I’ve never felt like I had the proper place to hang our stockings. I thought it was time to do some research and I thought I’d share it with you all in case some of you are struggling with the same stocking issue!

QUESTION: “Where do I hang my stockings if I don’t have a mantel?

ANSWER: on the banister

 

QUESTION: “What if I don’t have a banister either?”

ANSWER: in your window

   

 

QUESTION: “What if I don’t like them in my window?”

ANSWER: try them at the foot of your bed

OR… on your piano

OR… make your own mantel by purchasing a shelf and hang it any where you like on the wall

OR… hang them on the knobs of your dresser

Are any of these acceptable alternatives for you? I like the window idea and also buying a shelf to make my own. I don’t have staircase and I’d like to keep our stockings in the public area of our home rather than tucked away back in our bedroom.

If you need a little more Holiday inspiration, stop by my “Holiday Glitz and Glam” board on Pinterest! It’s filled with bright and shining holiday images! Happy Monday!

*click on images for source

Thursday’s This + That

Come on. Can someone please give me a reason to wear this little number during the holidays?

Sparkle at your next Holiday bash in this Rachel Gilbert Kasa sequin cocktail dress while sitting your pretty little fanny in that Silver Boudoir Lilac Silk Armchair.

*as always, "Thursday's This & That", inspired by the creative Bekka from Oh Joy!