Home Again

Hello all!  We are home today from our very wonderful Thanksgiving holiday...and I am beat.  I just wish I had one more day.  Isn't it funny how that works?  I am excited to now get prepared for Christmas fun and festivities but right now I am going to unpack and unwind. 

Stay tuned this week for some very fabulous and practical holiday gift guides.

*image via the days of glamour

I'm Thankful...

Thanksgiving came and went here in South Texas and it was great.  We settled in nicely for a a cozy gathering.  After cooking and baking our traditional and new recipes we sat down to enjoy good food and great company.   

I'm thankful for my wonderful Bryan, my loving family {mom, dad, sister and bro}, my sweet pug, my huge extended family who are always there for a laugh, my friends, my work and all of you readers.  I'm still kind of new to this but I love blogging and the blogs I follow.

I hope all of you are having a warm and relaxing holiday with the ones you love!

See you very soon!

*image via Dwell Studio

Its Beginning to Look a lot like....

...Christmas!  I did it.  I put the Christmas stuff out early this week.  I know what you're thinking, its not even Thanksgiving yet!  Well, I figured since we will be spending both holidays out of town with our families, I better enjoy them now.  That, and I just love all the holiday decorations out right now.  The last couple of years I had really colorful decorations, pink, green, turquoise and orange.  This year I decided to go for a more natural, winter white color scheme of silver, white, bronze and gold with a few touches of red.

I only put out our 4' white tree and decided not to put out the numerous others, including our large green one.  I wanted this year to be a bit more cozy and intimate.  I love the new ornaments and decorations I have this year.  Now its time to figure out holiday cards - my second favorite thing.

Bryan lost his Grandmother this year.  She was such a lovely woman and quite the spitfire.  She gave us this Santa below.  She hand painted it in '95 and it was extra meaningful this year as I unwrapped it.  It is such a treasure.

I also put out a Nativity Scene that was my Grandmother's.  Ever since I can remember she had this Nativity and put it out on her entry table - so that is where it will sit in my home every year.  My favorite piece as a little girl was that little lamb.  I am so thankful to have it.  It is beautiful and I cherish it so very much.  I think of her every time I walk in and out the door.

And it wouldn't be a Sunday {or any day for that matter} without a lazy shot of Sir Wesley.

I'm off to meet up with a very dear friend visiting from Denver.  Have a wonderful Sunday afternoon!

*images by K.E.

Weathered and Wonderful

Hello all!  I hope you are all having a happy day.  The sun is shining here and it is glorious.  This weather puts me in such a great mood.  I have been making selections all morning for a project that I am working on.  One thing we did today was talk about the wood floors. I have to say I was really impressed with Hardwood Designs here in Austin, well Lakeway.  They truly have a gift for literally hand-scraped and finished custom wood floors.  I am excited to specify them.  

While I was there I fell in love with one of their sample boards.  It was a gorgeous white washed pecan wood, lightly stained.  Of course all I had was my phone and the lighting wasn't great but it is forever forged in my brain.  

I am in love with this look.  You would think it is just a trend but it is fast becoming a classic.  The light greige tone is so beautiful and its so fresh and natural looking.  Here are a few of my favorite photos using this look.  Enjoy!

*images courtesy of Mabley Handler Interior Design, decorpad, Restoration Hardware

Its like Buttah

Who says leather furniture pieces have to be manly?  Good quality leather pieces are always classy and sophisticated and the best part is the smell.  Yeah, I said it.  Its that feeling of comfort and cozy, like your wrapped in a soft leather hug.  Now you can find great leather pieces in so many frame styles and colors.  Robin Bruce is one of my favorite upholstery lines and I love the new styles they have available in leather.  They are feminine and elegant and the colors available are so rich and vibrant.  I'm dying over this teal sofa with nickel nailheads.  L.O.V.E.

Here are a few of my favorite new styles...

Robin Bruce is available through retailers and to the trade so if you see something you like shoot me an e-mail.

Happy Blogging!

*images courtesy of robinbruce.com

Sweater Swoon

Hello, all!!  I hope the weather is sunny and cool where you are.  Fall has certainly hit us here and while its still a bit on the warm side during the day, it is wonderfully chilly when night falls.  I'm still adjusting to Falling back but love the breeze it brought.  And speaking of keeping cozy in the cool, I picked up a sweater that is sure to be my favorite go to piece for Fall and Winter.  Right before we headed to Tampa this past weekend, I stopped in at Anthropologie to grab something special and left with this Filamentous Cardigan {among other things}...can you blame me?  

I just love the chevron pattern and contrasting tie.  It is perfect over dresses or with jeans for a more casual look.  It really looks great with everything.  If you're looking for something that will take you through the seasons, this is it!!

Enjoy your day!

*images courtesy of anthropologie.com

Home Sweet Home

Well, we are home from our quick visit to Tampa.  We picked up the pug from my brother's place and are settling back in nicely.  It was nice to see Bryan's family and catch up with them.  Our traveling is done for now and I am looking forward to being home for a while.  I'm looking forward to sharing a few current projects this week.  See you soon!  

*image courtesy of simple tess via flickr

Purple Passion

Hello and Happy Weekend!  I am taking some time out from our Tampa visit to share one of my new favorite color trends.  I am loving these pops of vibrant plum purple.  This color is everywhere in fashion, interiors and accessories.  It is an absolutely fabulous punch when used as an accent chair or pillows or even a chic lamp shade.  It is sure to stay a classic.

Back to Austin tomorrow and back to the grind on Monday.  Until then have a good one!!

*images courtesy of decorpad.com

Four Years Ago.....

Four years ago, today, I officially became an Ellis.  Bryan and I got married on a beautiful and slightly chilly day in November.....it was a perfect day.  All of our families came to Austin for the celebration.  The New Yorkers met the Texans and the entire family bonded over BBQ the day before the wedding....that's how we roll in Texas.  It was great.  Here are a few of our favorite photos from the wedding....

The past four years have been so amazing.  Here's to a many more years of happiness!!!

*images courtesy of KE and Robert Studio Photography

Baby, its cold outside....

Its cold in Austin!!!  We have finally gotten a note worthy cold front.  It blew in last night and it has been just what the doctor ordered.  Today was a chilly mid 60's day and a slightly rainy evening.  Not loving the rain but adoring the chill.  We also had our backyard re-sodded {my new word} today and it looks great.  We put out our firepit and can't wait to use it.  The weather gets me looking forward to curling up next to a roaring fire, outside or in.  Here are a few of my favorite fireplace pics...

*images courtesy of elle decor, amy lau design, domino, decorpad

Happy Halloween!

Hello!  I hope everyone had a fun and festive Halloween weekend.  We had a blast at our family get together.  Every chance we get, our family gathers at my cousin Rosalie's house.  She lives on a great spread of land that is perfect for our big family get togethers.  Aside from enjoying each other's company, there is always lots to do.  This time it was pumpkin carving and painting contests, hayrides, feeding the catfish in the pond, bike rides and of course eating. . . lots of eating.  

My sister Andy, Rosalie and me

Getting the trailer ready for hay rides.

Bryan was happy to pull the hay trailer. . . or maybe he was just excited to play with the new toy.

Our parties wouldn't be complete without some great food and delish desserts.  I was a baking machine and aside from making my famous pumpkin butterscotch cookies and pumpkin mini-muffins, I also made these adorable Mummy cupcakes. . . they were a big hit, if I do say so myself.

My cousin Sylvia impressed us all with her sopa.  This is a recipe that my Grandmother used to make.  It takes a lot of time and care to make this and it was always a special thing she did for us.  Thanks Syl for taking us back.  You did a fabulous job.

Have a wonderful week!