Blush and gray decor

Remodeling my small kitchen, installing herringbone floors, wainscoting panels, and getting a new headboard for our bed has been on my wishlist for quite sometime now.  I was on Pinterest looking for ideas of my dream remodel and of course the blush and gray tones always caught my eye.

Pre-Black Friday Sales

Things got a little hectic mid-year, and finally things are starting to slow down and I can find the time to write in this little blog of mine.  I was able to steal away precious moments to scour online sales while my feverish toddler napped, and found these beauties below at Saks's Fall Sale:

Parker Topanga Sheath dress for those after work holiday parties, Aquazurra St. Tropez bow suede shoes for that island getaway, and Rebecca Minkoff Alexis Velvet Slippers for sipping martinis with your girlfriends.

Luxury Gifts for Mother's Day

Honestly, who wouldn't love receiving any of these gifts on Mother's Day?  I know I wouldn't (a hint to the husband with an emailed link).  Currently I'm obsessing over the Burberry Heritage Trench; I'm torn between the Sandringham and the Kensington but I'm pretty sure I want mid-length and in honey color.  It would be great if the coats came with a hood to block the foggy San Francisco mist that turns my normally straight fine hair to frizz, but it otherwise wouldn't be considered a classic trench coat.

Other items I've been obsessing over (for the past couple years now) are the Ferragamo Varinas in dark patent red and the classic Chanel two-tone ballerina flats in beige and black.  They're completely impractical for walking through the gritty streets of downtown San Francisco and its brutal hills, but they work so effortlessly with any outfit they deliver the perfect amount of chic.

And when on mommy duty the St. Jame's Huitiere nautical shirt is perfect for chasing my little girl around the Marina Greens during Off the Grid Sundays or building sand castles at Ocean Beach.

Before becoming pregnant with my first child, I only used beauty products there were chemical-free and cologne, in particular was banned from my morning routine.  Although I still use certain products that are chemical-free, I'm slowly making an exception to cologne after falling in love with Jo Malone's light and airy Basil and Neroli, which I discovered from an issue of Vogue.

Elegant table top settings

The past few weekends of this new year has been incredibly busy for me, and I'm so thankful to have family and friends who have shared with us their children's birthday celebrations, baptisms, and so much more.  With celebrations in mind and for those who are planning big celebrations this year, I wanted to share photos of these beautiful table top settings found in my Pinterest feed.

Here's to celebrations with loved ones for the new year!

James Flood Mansion

Golden light at the Palazzo Taverna.  

Photo credits: Lucy Tanner

Photo credits: Lucy Tanner

Vanessa Traina's wedding in San Francisco

Photo from Vogue

Bow mania

Dress by Prabal Gurung

I am just loving these Instagram photos from Moda Operandi.  If you didn't already know it by know, I'm obsessed with bows, and they look even more refined and chic when tied behind the neck or on the back.  

Since I live in the City and it requires a lot of walking, over the years I've had an aversion to wearing sky high heels, and gradually began to gravitate towards kitten heels.  Aerin's red suede heels are just the thing for strolling along these concrete sidewalks.  

Gown by Carolina Herrera

Kitten heels by Aerin

Valentine's Gifts

A few V-day gifts I'd love cupid to drop on my doorstep...But I'm happy to spend this Tuesday night snuggled against my husband with a glass of champagne and watching Sneaky Pete on Netflix.

Ann Taylor Geo Jacquard Sweater - On sale for $35 (of course I find out a couple days after paying full price)

Cuyana Travel Case Set that can be personalized with initials

Chanel nail polish in a fire engine red - Rouge Puissant

Prada - Les Infusions in Amande Eau de Parfum.  I fell in love with this after trying a sample.  Perfect for those who love soft, whispery scents.  

Cartier Love bracelets - I adore this in yellow gold.  

Chanel Jacket

When I was finally hired to work at my current job, I knew exactly what my present of accomplishment was going to be - a Chanel caviar classic flap bag.  It's one of my most beloved possessions because it represents perseverance.  I was incredibly unhappy at my previous job, so much so that my attitude towards it extended to my personal life; I was in a seven year rut.  I tried reminding myself that I should be grateful to have a job while people were being laid off left and right but you just can't stop a girl on fire.  Cut to a few years later in the present, I've been itching to get my hands on a classic, tweed, Chanel jacket that would go nicely with that handbag.    The look can be a little too elegant, but when paired with jeans, the look is so chic and modern.  And nothing says I've arrived more than Chanel.  

Happy Thursday!

It's a stretch, but hang in there, the weekend is almost here!  Whether you're planning on staying in and staying warm by the fire or going out for some champagne bubbles, here's some inspirational photos on the pending weekend...

Happy Thursday!

Photo from Vogue

Photo by Paul Bellaart

Photo by Corina V. Photography

Purple and gray

I'll admit, I love purple and gray so much that it's all over my house - literally.  Our upholstered dining chairs from Scandinavian Designs, Room and Board sofa, and our satin living room curtains are in variations of gray.  And when we decided to get rid of all the dry rot and re-paint the exterior of our home, we went with Sherwin Williams' color of the year, poised taupe, which resulted in a beautiful mauve-gray-muted purple.

Now if only I had the means to work on the master bedroom, I would be lucky if I could make it look as heavenly as these photos.

I'm so Blue

I seriously can't get over everything in this photo - the peppermint sticks, the crystals, garland, and the fireplace.  Can't miss that bottle of champagne bathing in ice.  Oh and the soft glow of the elegant, slender candle sticks...Don't mind me.  I just put away our Christmas tree and decorations today and all of a sudden the house feels ordinary.  Christmas is one of my favorite holidays and I always feel a little sad as it comes and goes. One thing's for sure, my husband is so relieved he doesn't have to come home from work to find Christmas songs on repeat from Spotify, each and every day of December!  And not have to turn his car radio on, only to discover I changed the station a to 24-hour Christmas music channel the night before when picking up our daughter.

Aside from my love of Christmas, I love these varying shades of blue; from tranquil blue in the bedroom, to iridescence in the living room/sun room, and intense blue for the dining, each shade suits the mood of each room perfectly.

Sweaters with bows

With the crazy amount of posts I write about bows, I really should change the title of my blog to Life in Bows or Bowed Over.  Currently J. Crew is having a sale and I've had my eye on this striped sweater for quite a while - it would look really great with those green satin Manolo Hangisis' that I've seen Lady Gaga wearing in the holiday Barnes and Noble commercials I see every year.  I still dream of those Hangisis'.  Shopbop also had this gorgeous Joseph cashmere sweater, but sadly it was out of my reach.  I must be the only person loving this cold, cold weather enough to have an excuse to shop for such irresistible sweaters.

Tippi tie-neck sweater from J. Crew

 Joseph Tie Back Crew Neck Cashmere Sweater - sold out but similar style, different color.

Pretty hair

Photo from Anthropologie

If you read my blogs, you probably already know bows are my thing.  There's nothing more feminine or elegant than a lovely bow and when it's grosgrain, even better.  I found a few of these photos on Vogue and Pinterest and fell in love with the look of a bow nonchalantly tied around loose hair. It's also a great way to re-purpose those Chanel ribbons that come packaged with that new, exciting purchase. 

  Photos: Laura Bailey @laurabaileylondon and Gianni Pucci | Vogue  

Not So Basic Black Blazers

I still can't get over how incredibly chic this outfit worn by Lauren Santo Domingo is.  It has all the elements of my staple pieces - a classic black and white striped shirt, an elegant feathered skirt, and of course the black structured blazer which pulls it all together.  One of the items I'll be keeping my eye on for the new year is a structured black blazer.  It's so versatile in that it can be worn with the chunkiest of sweaters or light-as-air blouses.  

Balmain - Wool-twill blazer

Smythe Duchess blazer 

Saint Laurent - Classic blazer in wool gabardine