A Christmas Wish

Hello, hello!  I hope this last day of preparation goes well for each of you and that your holiday is full of goodness and good feelings :)  Boy, when it works out like that it's just bliss!  For those that are suffering or feeling melancholy at this time of year, I hope you are able to find peace and comfort to ease your heart.

Merry Christmas to you!

xo

all images taken this week via my instagram page or phone

DIY: Foraged Gift Toppers

I mentioned recently that my littlest sister was here in Seattle, visiting from Boston (see a little peek into her apartment here).  She and I moved to Beantown the same year--2003; but, when we moved away in 2004, she stayed.  Both on a super tight budget (students!), we made it our mission to find all sorts of inexpensive ways to enjoy our city as well as the surrounding areas--Mount Auburn Cemetary being one of our favorites.  Last week's visit reminded me how much I've missed having her near as we sort of pressed "repeat", but this time in Seattle.  It was her first time here and you know I had a great time showing her around!




When I mentioned to her that I wanted to create simple gift toppers with little bits and pieces I've spotted along the road, her face lit up.  It turns out there are few things she enjoys more these days than foraging, so this was pretty much her dream day :)  Honestly, I couldn't believe all the little treasures we found--almost all of them within one block of my home.  Seattle is just crazy that way.  Pine cones in the shape of baby basketballs?  Check.  Holly in my backyard?  Check.  Cute, fuzzy berries in shades of yellow, orange and red?  Check.  We were practically giddy about it all.

For this simple DIY you will need: 

1. solid wrapping paper (kraft brown is a classic, but colors can also be lovely as they create contrast).

2. washi tape

3. twine

4. sprigs of green

If you swap out the greens, tape colors, types of twine, etc. you can really go to town making beautiful gifts.  Who needs expensive ribbon when you have a few trees or bushes nearby? :)  I promise you that if you start looking for little greens or twigs to incorporate into your gifts, you will discover so much overlooked beauty.  It's really a wonderful feeling!

all images by me, except for no. 5, which was taken by my sister via iPhone

Light + Airy Paris Loft

 

Tracey Ayton--one of the women I was delighted to meet at the recent workshop in France--happened to stay at a beautiful loft in Paris before coming down to the Dordogne to learn more about food styling and photography from Aran.  It's small and simply decorated, but there is a lot of style packed into that cozy space.  I love the mix of woods, whites, darks and tiny pops of red.

If you've never stayed in an apartment when you traveled, you should give it a try next time!  It's a wonderful way to dig into the local culture a bit more and almost always less expensive than staying at a hotel.  This is particularly true in Paris where a nice, clean hotel room is at least $200 a night.  Plus, staying in an apartment gets you that much closer to the delicious pastisseries and boulangeries.  And what's not to love about that?

You can find great spaces on vrbo (also where we list La Maisonnette du Coteau in Beynac) and on airbnb.  This particular apartment can be found here, on the airbnb UK site.

all image by Tracey Ayton, a talented, Vancouver, B.C.-based photographer

Look for the Helpers

It is Sunday night and I've sat down to write, only to realize that I cannot think about anything else but those suffering in Sandy Hook right now.  It's no surprise to me, as you're listening to a girl who intentionally does not look at the news most week; because doing so means struggling with my own day-to-day life if I am made aware of tragedies involving children. Children.  And as someone who is painfully aware of the difficulties that arise in a family after a child passes away--some immediate and some quite delayed--I cannot help but think of the challenging years ahead for the families affected. Things will never be the same for so many and we can only pray there is enough love in that small town to support them all.

I love Mr. Rogers' advice about dealing with and discussing tragic events with our children (thank you Bethany + Brené):

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster', I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in this world."

I can't tell you how softening it was to read these words.  May we always look for the helpers and also do our part to make the world a better place by infusing positive energy as often as we can, wherever we may be.

If you're interested in becoming a helper, like the ones Mr. Roger's mother wisely pointed out to her son, please glance at this article outlining all the different ways you can donate financially to those affected.  For those of us far away from Newtown, this feels like the best way to help in this very moment.

image snapped at Gray's "Bateau Birthday Party"

Spiced Pumpkin Cake, a White Chocolate Glaze + Toasted Pepitas

Today I am continuing to spend as much time with my littlest sister as possible, as she leaves in a few days for the East Coast.  We see each other so infrequently that maximizing our face time together is very important to me.  It's been such a lovely week as we've explored Seattle together--both city and nature.  Foraging, cooking, treats, and chats by the fire have all been highlights.

In the meantime, I'd like to share with you a pumpkin cake spiced with peppery quatres épices, a white chocolate glaze and toasted pepitas (inspired by these yummy cookies).  I've made this cake many times in the past month or two, as I am on an endless pumpkin kick that didn't stop at Thanksgiving!  For me, pumpkin is an excellent flavor to channel throughout the winter and I love sharing it with others.

Spiced Pumpkin Cake, White Chcoolate + Pepitas  |  Pie Boxes  |  Quatres Épices recipe after the jump

A Generous MINTED GIVEAWAY

And the winner of a $300 gift card to Minted.com is this lucky lady...enjoy Brooke!

Today, I'd like top present you with one last generous giveaway for the month of December.  Since the process of sending and receiving cards is one of my favorite aspects of the holiday season, I hope to either help one of you begin this lovely tradition in your own home, or assist you in making a standing tradition happen for you this year--because some years you just need a little boost.  Like a $300 dollar boost.

For this special holiday giveaway, Minted is offering one of you a $300 credit to anything on their website.  And while 'tis the season for holiday cards (either Christmas or New Years), you could have a lot of fun with their many other great stationery products.  I am a big fan of the new shaped cards, the General Store (great basic party supplies), the new Party Kits, the Photo Calendars (most attractive ones I've seen) and their new in-house recipient addressing service (your hands will thank you).

This giveaway will be different from others in that it only lasts 3 days.  In case the winner decides to use the credit on Christmas cards, I want to make sure he or she has the chance to do so with ample time.  In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to get your family photo ready and to start perusing designs so that you'll be ready to go, should you be the big winner on Friday. Good luck to all of you!

Giveaway Guidelines

- You have 3 days to enter this giveaway (closes Thursday, December 13th at midnight).
- Make 1 comment on this post to enter.
- Anonymous comments will not be considered, so please make sure we know who you are.
- The winner will be chosen via random.org and announced on Friday at the top of this post--so make sure you peek back and see if you're the lucky one.  Thank you!

Talking "Up" in Ballard

Today, I am dropping my usual Monday routine and instead spending the day taking my littlest sister around town (hopefully the kids won't notice the empty fridge and lack of clean clothes for another day!).  She is visiting from Boston and at the top of our list is a little exploration in Ballard--one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city.  I plan on taking her on a spin through the industrial portion of the neighborhood (great signage and silhouettes reminiscent of Ralston Crawford paintings), and then on to Ballard Avenue--my favorite street in Seattle (post 1 and post 2 on what not to miss). And while it's not slated to be a sunny day, as it was when I snapped these photos recently, we will still have a wonderful time.  I love any excuse to justify multiple treats and good, spontaneous fun with someone I care about.  

There has been some recent activity at this small home, just past the Ballard Bridge on the east side (see below image). As you can see, it is surrounded by a large development, called the Ballard Blocks.  Apparently, the homeowner, the late Edith Macefield, refused to sell her home to the developer, despite being offered one million dollars for the property.  After she passed away, she left the home to the construction worker who checked in with her frequently and generally watched out for her during the massive construction project.  For some time the home lay still, but recently there has been some activity at the home and I've wondered what was going on...so I did a little research.   

Based on what I've read, it appears the construction worker sold the property to another developer (not the initial one who offered Edith $1 million dollars); and the home is going to be renovated to look like the home in the popular juvenile film, UP.  The renovation may even include lifting the home off the ground.  Upon completion, the home will then be rented out as a vacation rental.  It's an interesting saga to say the least; although I am still trying to decide how I feel about the outcome.  

If you're interested in more reading on this home in Ballard, enjoy these links.  I find these types of stories so fascinating!

Article 1   |   Article 2   |   Article 3

Homemade Gifts

This week my daughter is scheming up a handmade gift for a Secret Santa activity and all the planning has me thinking about the joy that comes from a gift you make by hand.  Sure, it takes extra planning and time, but the residual happiness is worth it.  One year my father-in-law made me a leaf press, which is something I pull out every Autumn; and when I do it feels like Christmas all over again!  It's a gift I'll never forget and one I'll always cherish.  Why?  Because it was made by hand. 

If you're looking for ideas of homemade (and handmade) gifts, consider the newly-released "A Hip Handmade Holiday", which features gifts you can make for $10 or less (a few of them are pictured above).  If you're somewhat crafty (even the slightest!), this is right up your alley.  And while my homemade gifts are typically edible--Spiced Pecans, Cranberry Orange Bread, Strawberry Basil Freezer Jam, etc.--I'm also a fan of making cd's (old-school to some, I know), stationery and little kits for this and that. I think the key is finding something useful to the recipient that you genuinely enjoy making. When you infuse love into the gift by happily making it, that positive energy is passed on (so I like to believe!). 

Here are more ideas for fabulous gifts you can make at home... 

Grace's Guide  |  Ashley's Vanilla Salt  |  Sally's Wood Bead Necklace  |  Danyelle's Stationery Kit  |  For Him (the hardest!) 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Winner of the La Maisonnette Getaway GIVEAWAY

One if of my favorite parts of this giveaway was the excuse to pour over your Pinterest boards along the way and beef up my own boards with the lovely finds you shared (thank you!).  A few that I really enjoyed included this handcrafted wooden camera, a sleeping babe in her crib (wish I'd seen this when Gray was a wee bit younger), and two snippets of very different, but completely gorgeous, interiors.  I have now been sufficiently reminded that Pinterest, is in fact, a real addiction :)

I appreciate all of your enthusiasm about the giveaway and wish I could transport all of you over to Beynac somehow.  But alas, there is only one winner and honestly, I can't wait another moment to tell you who it is.  Elyse Tadich from Washington, D.C...you've been randomly chosen as the winner of the La Maisonnette France Getaway Giveaway!  We hope that you and your guest enjoy your week in the French countryside, while staying at La Maisonnette du Coteau.  Please contact us as soon as you see the good news!

xoxo, s

Gorgeous Gray Kitchen with Yellow Accents

Are you surprised I am posting a non-white-kitchen?  I am!  Perhaps the Pacific Northwest''s color of choice is starting to grow on me, or maybe it's the need to think about something else besides white and more white.  Either way, I am in love with this stunning gray + yellow kitchen and all the pops of color via the pantry door (a great place to pack a colorful punch!), rug, accessories and fresh greens.

A few details I am particularly fond of include the large windows, overhead sconces, stove backsplash and 2" thick, marble countertops.  But truthfully, just about everything here is perfection, including the choice of cookbooks and linens. I'm pretty much ready to move in!

Kitchen by Willow Decor (via Jessica via Chelsea)

Emily King and a Nativity

For a handful of years now, I've been a big fan of artist Emily King's paper collages and oil paintings.  She cuts paper in the most exquisite way and creates vignettes that are simply beautiful.  This week I learned that she has a new, sizable, limited edition gicleé print called "Hope in the Dark", which depicts the nativity.  I find myself dreaming of sliding it into a frame and propping it on my mantle for the holiday season; as I enjoy the idea of meaningful, timeless holiday decor with a touch of sophistication.

There are a few left in her shop, if you want to take a peek.

image of Emily King by Allyson Randle