Holidays at Home

My aunt's magnificent "fun" tree - about half as big as the "fancy" tree.

Christmas day is always over far too quickly. Yet, it's so much different than when I was young. As a kid, everything is over fast because it's a whirlwind of wrapping paper and piles of presents; I would rush and weed through gifts with excitement to see my final hoard. Now, though, there's a clear point during the morning-of that signifies the holidays have peaked. For me, it's just after the first present is opened. Presents, while lovely and always fun to open, aren't the highlight of Christmas anymore. It's the wrapping of presents for family and friends; the anticipation of getting items I've yearned for -- and, just maybe, some surprises; the feeling of wandering from my bedroom on the morning of December 25, with dreary eyes from lack of sleep, and pouring my first cup of coffee...

Condessa bowls and mugs from Anthropologie via Pinterest.
My Christmas present to myself.

Nothing tastes quite like the first cup of coffee on Christmas morning. The salty smell of bacon and the delectable sweetness of scones warrant a mention as well.

Presents are opened slowly now. They're savored. My family -- sister, father, mother and, now, my boyfriend -- linger together around our lovely, fake fir tree and give each present the attention it deserves. My sister, per tradition, plays the Christmas elf (a job she once hated but now enthusiastically embraces) and delivers presents to everyone. One by one, moving clockwise around the room, every gift gets displayed upon its reveal. We 'ouu' and we 'aww', where appropriate. We're always on our best behavior on Christmas morning.

We may be just five people, but this process can last for hours. Never long enough, in my opinion. And looking out on the thoughtful treasures I've received, I'm honestly speechless at the generosity of my family and friends.

Coffee Branch Brass Cuff Bracelet by Unique Art Pendants / Bee Happy Rose Ring by Liz Hutnick

Louise Water Goblet and Rose of Sharon Grand Vase from Anthropologie

Two of my favorite blog gals are now on my bookshelf: Molly of Orangette and Grace of Design*Sponge

 Symphony of Science's auto-tuned  "Glorious Dawn" spoken by Carl Sagan on vinyl

Florence + the Machine's "Ceremonials" on vinyl

Subscription to BUST magazine // House This? ring from ModCloth

Pearl earrings by Aubepine via Etsy

I'm not going to say I don't love getting presents -- I'd be lying through my teeth. But each year, the experience of opening each item alongside the ones I love outweighs the final collection of gifts. Every time.

I'm blessed in so many, immeasurable ways.

The holidays are drawing to a close now, and soon there will be resolutions to uphold. Work will begin again in full force and this feeling of ease and relaxation will fade away. I'm actually excited about the start of the new year and things getting back to normal, however. The holidays, while wonderful, tend to be highlighted by lethargy and a shocking ability to overeat. 

More than anything, though, I must say I'm grateful for this opportunity to have Christmas with my whole family while also living in my home. For the last several years, Seattle has been Home to me, and seeing my family meant long days of travel and/or leaving my dogs behind -- then, of course, having to leave and make it back for work. This time, all were in one place and it filled me with such joy that I never wanted it to end.

And yet... I can't help but smile at the thought of where we might be rooted next year. The uncertainty is rather exciting.

But rest assured: I'll wake up cuddling with this puppy, under my smooshy, Anthropologie comforter, no matter where I'm living.

So how about you? What was your Christmas morning like? Was it quiet with just your immediate family, or was the house packed full? Did you get anything that surprised you, or did your family use Amazon Wishlists like mine did?

A Las Vegas (and Digital SLR) Virgin

Don't worry. I am aware that it's been over three weeks since returning from my Thanksgiving escapades in Las Vegas and that I am only now posting about it. Yes, I'm aware that this post will be a shell of the greatness it could have been since I put off writing it for so long. Oh, and of course, I'm aware you weren't waiting on baited breath...

I have no real excuse, but let me offer up a few.

First and foremost, I am not a good photographer. No, no, let me finish. Approximately four weeks ago I purchased myself a heavily discounted -- but perfectly brand new -- Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR camera. It was time to pull out the big guns because, my friends, my Android Vignette camera app was just not cutting it anymore. Vegas allowed me my first chance to use it, and I learned very quickly that it is going to require a lot of practice before I am able to take hundreds of photos consecutively that I am happy with. As Jon puts it, "It might take ten thousand photographs before you have this camera working for you like a pro."

Maybe my standards are too high, but I only want to the best for you.

The lack of beautiful photos (and literally no good ones of actual human beings) made my confidence dwindle to nothingness and I felt it would be impossible to show my virtual face.

Secondly, after returning home from Vegas -- a drive that, round-trip, allowed master Jonathan and me to spend a wonderful and totally stress free *sarcasm* 28 hours in the car together -- I came down with a debilitating cold and wanted nothing to do with thoughts of any kind.

Third, and lastly, I'm lazy. Really and truly.

So here they are. The few, the select, the slightly short of worthy. Photos from my very first trip to Las Vegas.

Yep! Those were the only decent ones out of hundreds. But I suppose the important point is this:

I had an absolutely amazing time.

Jon's mother and step-father treated us to a VIP experience, and we could not even begin to thank them for including us in their holiday. To name just a few highlights: we were blessed with a magnificent suite at Mandalay Bay; an Italian-inspired Thanksgiving feast at Maggiano's; perfect seats and a jaw-dropping experience at The Beatles' LOVE show; numerous boozy adventures which included Red Square, Minus5º Ice Bar, The Chandelier, and The Foundation Room (my favorite); a dark, mood-lit, and delicious steak dinner at Strip House; and a soulful, gospel brunch at The House of Blues.

Mostly, though, we just explored and relaxed. The Strip is H.U.G.E. and it proved impossible to walk back and forth along it the way we had planned. (We're getting so old.) My feet, and Jon's too, just didn't hold up.

It's strange to think of just how excited I was to visit Las Vegas -- my first time ever, at 25 (and a half!) years old. Honestly, other than wishing I could have visited my dear friends, Nick and Liz, who lived in Vegas for a few years after college, when I had the chance, I've never been that interested in going. When I was young, I had friends whose families went often, but my parents never even hinted that going was something worth doing. And unlike how I would often ask my dad why we couldn't go and see the PG-13 movies like all of our friends could, we never asked why Las Vegas wasn't a go-to spring destination like it was for so many others we knew.

Jon was that other kid growing up -- the one who was always off to Vegas with his family, and then, later on in life, with his friends.

To be honest, I'm glad I had never gone before. Seeing it with virgin eyes -- after all the movies and television shows and celebrity news articles that sing its histories, sins, and praises -- was rather exciting. I was star struck by the lights and the sheer size of it all, but also by how sad some parts look, and silly it all seems.

An amusement park for adults.

I'm excited to go again and try something new. I was really drawn to the MGM Grand, with all it's old-school glamour and classic movie photos and memorabilia. Also, New York, New York was maybe my favorite of all of them -- if, say, I chose to take my future kids to Vegas. It was probably the cheapest place to eat on the strip (that we found); that massive sandwich from Greenberg's Deli above was only about $10.

Next time, hopefully I'll have that darn camera figured out. At least the photographer at the Minus5º Ice Bar knew how to take a high quality photograph.

* All images property of People Just Float.

Sparkle On the Strip

In two days, I will visit Las Vegas for the first time. At the invitation of my boyfriend's mother and step-father, we will be spending the Thanksgiving holiday eating family-style Italian food, watching The Beatles' Love show, sipping inventive cocktails, and exploring the magical and evocative Strip. We'll be staying in a [super-duper nice] suite at Mandalay Bay, soaking in the tub and enjoying expansive views of the Las Vegas lights.

I'm stoked.

And truth be told, I have absolutely nothing amazing to wear. This isn't surprising considering what I wear when I'm at home: yoga pants, a sweatshirt, and Uggs. (Yep, I'm even wearing that right now. Don't judge me, I'm comfy.)

Over the last couple months, I've been doing my best to collect bits and pieces of what could perhaps become an outfit worthy of Vegas. But with a growing waistline (thanks, Seattle food) and non-existent budget, I decided to worry less about what I'll actually be wearing and instead waste time fantasizing about what my ideal Vegas outfits might look like...

You know... but still look like me.

Daytime Jaunt

Butterfly shirt, $116 / True religion jeans, €229 / TOMS black flat shoes, $54 / Miss Selfridge doctor bag, £17 / Plastic stud earrings, $5.93 / Metal ring, $15 / Isabel Marant scarve, €195 / Retro super future sunglasses
Jon tells me that the thing we'll do most while in Vegas is walk. He says it's 2.5 miles from one end of the Strip to the other (that is, from Mandalay Bay to The Wynn) and you can easily cover 6-7 miles over the course of one day if you choose not to drive. I trust him, because this is probably his 200th trip in 25 years. It made sense to put together an outfit that was comfortable and casual. Plus, although it's November, temperatures in Vegas are supposed to be around 65º F, which means big jackets won't be necessary during the day. So I planned this outfit accordingly. 

I fell in love with that house ring via Pinterest and I thought those little, pink dice earrings were a playful touch. (In real life, I'm happy to report, I do own those sparkly, black TOMS so I'll have cute shoes and arch support simultaneously. Oh, and my hair could probably do that - if I actually tried.)

Martini Date

Stripe shirt, $80 / Blazer, £65 / TEXTILE Elizabeth and James cuffed skinny jeans, $195 / Carvela pointed toe pumps, £110 / RADLEY LONDON metal tote, $143 / Kendra Scott black jewelry, $58 / Cuff jewelry, £104 / Dita sunglasses, $375 / Sarah Jessica Parker 'Covet' Perfume
On Thursday night, we'll be going to Red Square to drink martinis. I wanted something a little dark and a little sparkly. Those adorable gold pumps have a tiny heel, but not too significant that I couldn't walk around. (That SJP perfume is a go-to nighttime favorite of mine, and I actually remembered to pack it for my trip!) Purple is my comfort color. This combo is yummy, warm, and subtle. Let's just leave it at that.
Night on the Tao-n

Structured dress, £46 / Fendi cotton coat, £899 / Fogal black hosiery, $69 / Wet Seal high heel pumps, $30 / Giuseppe Zanotti mini leather handbag, $1,740 / Cluster jewelry, $5
Heh... see what I did there?

Even though we have no plans to spend the night clubbing, in my Las Vegas fantasy I am drinking $1000 bottles of champagne and throwing money at hot waitresses behind a VIP curtain at Tao. But Jon's mom insists that we go to The Foundation Room, which is in (or near?) where we're staying at Mandalay. (Apparently, this is where Britney Spears likes to hang out.)

In-keeping with my natural taste in clothes, I wanted to keep this in the realm of possibility. Sure, dresses like this are sensational, but when it comes down to it, I like to keep things simple, classy, and with just a bit of sparkle.

So are there any other Vegas virgins out there? Does anyone know Vegas like it's their 2nd home - the way Jon does? What are your favorite kinds of outfits to wear when you're there? Comfy and good for walking, or extravagant and perfect for a night out? Any favorite spots to go?

* Images created using Polyvore

Food Friday: Skillet Street Food | Burger and Fries

This week, the Skillet Street Food truck parked right next to my building. I'd already ordered a Reuben sandwich from my regular deli spot, but then immediately upon seeing the truck, I went off to buy their signature burger and fries. Oh, excuse me: $14 burger and fries.

Beef, arugula, creamy bleu cheese, and bacon jam. Yes, that's right: jam made from bacon.

It must have been kismet, because I was thinking earlier this week that a Skillet burger was one of the few food items I still needed to get before leaving Seattle. I had no idea when I'd have time to make it up to their normally jam-packed diner, and the truck is always somewhere different.

Turns out, their new "Wednesday lunchtime" spot is right next to my company's headquarters in Belltown. Something to look forward to next time I'm in town.

A Shell of It's Former Glory

I realize I have never posted pictures of my apartment. Normally I'd be quick to admit that I'm rather lazy and a chronic procrastinator... but truthfully, it's because I am a perfectionist and I've had trouble getting into the habit of showing my home as a "work in progress." The problem is, it's always a work in progress.

Last week, Jon and his dad packed up all of our belongings and moved them down to California. I knew I'd be living in virtually an empty shell for a week and a half, so before everything disappeared forever, it felt right to document it.

Well, the living room, at least. (Bedroom and kitchen were far too cramped to ever decorate. They were functional rooms only. Sad, I know.)

Do you remember those bee prints, from this art-filled post earlier in the summer? Yep, they finally found a home.

Not bad, right? They're definitely a little on the whimsical/kid's room side for a living room focal point, but we had no other place for them this time around. But they're super versatile and could easily move from a family room to bedroom to bathroom to nursery, if need bee. (Yep.)

Fry disapproves of puns.

"More wine!"

So that was our living room, full of our very non-minimalist belongings. We've certainly accumulated a lot of stuff, but almost everything was saved for and picked together. Small and cramped, with an endless supply of animal fur, but it was home. It made us happy.

Color and comfort, rules to live by.

Speaking of living, it's been exactly the opposite of colorful and comfortable this week.

Yeah. I know. Ew.

This view is a bit better, though.

Heh, it's better 'cause there are boobers right there. Let's get closer.

So for the last week and a half, I have lived alone with two dogs in an apartment with no furniture. We've been sleeping on pillows and blankets.

Admittedly, I'm going a bit crazy.

Two days from now, Jon and I will be arriving in sunny California. I will get to sleep in an actual bed and cook food on an actual stovetop. I'll get to see my best friends and family on a regular basis. I'll be around people who know how to drive and restaurants that serve real Mexican food. I'll get to see my dogs enjoy space that doesn't max out at 650 sq. ft.

I'll finally be Home.

My Inked Lady

I got my second tattoo this week. After months and months of consideration, going back and forth between designs, watching way too much "LA Ink" and feeling certain that, yes, now is a good a time as any, I took the plunge.

I am coming up on my last week in Seattle, after all.

What better way to celebrate three exciting/arduous/life-changing/educational years than with something, well, beautiful?

This is my new, inked Lady. She is now a permanent fixture on the inside of my left forearm. The original drawing is by the divine Garance Doré -- a French fashion illustrator, photographer, and blogger -- whose work I have loved and followed for about a year now; her drawings have always stood out to me as the definition of simple-yet-glamorous feminine beauty. (I even featured one of her drawings on this ol' blog post of yore!)

The original artwork for this piece can be found here on Garance's blog.

Unlike all of the other tattoo ideas that came to mind over the last several months, getting one of Garance's drawings as a tattoo was not a decision I labored over; on the contrary, the moment this particular one struck me as a possibility, I knew it was the one. I didn't second guess myself -- a rare thing, and something I took as a sign.

She's lovely, isn't she?

So why this design? Why not the totally rad ampersand I was seriously, this close to getting?

Simply put: I love having a reminder of why I think women are so beautiful (the softness, the delicacy, the hair), and to remind myself that, yep, I am too! Even on my worst day, which is admittedly hard to believe much of the time. Plus, of all Garance's stunning illustrations of lovely women, this one was the most demure, candid, and "it could be any girl!" of all the drawings.

I'm thrilled with the results.

I got the tattoo at a spot down the street on Broadway in Capitol Hill called Laughing Buddha Tattoo, from an artist named Nina Collier. Girl is one of the best tattoo artists at the shop, and she seems to always be booked up. I was lucky to get an appointment with her before I move, and I'm so glad I chose her; her lines are amazing, and she put up with me cringing and hyperventilating whenever the needle touched the tender spots (i.e. the entire inner arm).

It was worth the pain.

(Psst... Just for shits and giggles, here's a look back at my first tattoo!)

My Classic Movie Reel

With Jon deep in film school application mode, the process of talking through essay topics, master thesis options, and personal statement talking points has gotten my heart going pitter-pat for old movies.

Also known as "my favorite movies from childhood."

Just a few weekends ago, my dad celebrated his 4,500th movie (that is, individual movies seen). He is a movie fan through and through, and instilled the same appreciation and devotion to great (and not-so-great) films in us. Whether by choice or by default, we were raised on Turner Classic Movies and American Movie Classics, with box sets of Humphrey Bogart videotapes sitting front and center under the television.

Watching black & white movies never phased us and silent films were just as easy to watch and ones with sound.

Did you know that my sister's and my favorite movie at age nine was To Have and Have Not, starring Bogart and Lauren Bacall?

It's true. We would turn it on before school, and when our best friend would come by our house to walk with us, we'd casually invite her in and hope that this time she would stop and say, "Oouu, what is this cool movie?" and then agree that it was, indeed, the best movie around. Sadly, she never did.

But we loved it. There was something inspiring about watching a thin, deep-voiced, 19-year-old Bacall take a wicked slap across the face by a waterfront ruffian without so much as a flinch and then manage to hold her own in a room with someone as intimidating as Bogie. This girl was tough-as-nails... an incredible role model for a girly little tyke like me.

Other than Disney's live action and animated features, I don't remember watching anything other than old movies when I was a kid. And until I was in the 5th or 6th grade -- when my friends were all going to see Mission Impossible in theaters and I had to stay behind -- I never even considered it wasn't a widely accepted form of entertainment.

I mean, didn't every little kid spend Saturdays watching Shirley Temple and Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movies?

Naturally all of my friends thought that Clark Gable was the dandiest leading man around... right?

And everyone knew that the comedy duo to beat was clearly Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.

Ahhh, floating head posters. Can ya beat 'em?? (That's a rhetorical question.)

Eventually I stopped daydreaming in black & white and technicolor and joined my friends at PG-13 rated movie screenings. I stopped letting my dad change the channel to TCM on a whim and refused to watch just any old thing that Robert Osborne happened to introduce that night.

My teenage years were difficult.

Now, of course, there is almost nothing I value more than my parents' choice of entertainment for us. Had it not been for those early years of Hitchcock and Bing Crosby, I don't think I would have been as open to these kinds of movies as an adult -- certainly not as a teenager!

When the holidays come around, I crave the comfort and warmth of old, classic movies... ones that make me nostalgic for holidays at home in front of the fire, listening to my father laugh at films that -- I know now -- have a special, nostalgic place in his heart as well.

Did any of you watch old movies as kids? Anything that's stuck with you 'til now? What was your favorite movie when you were nine?


Image Sources: 
(1) The Cameraman (2) How Green Was My Valley (3) Strangers on a Train (4) On the Waterfront (5) Dear Ruth (6) To Have and Have Not (7) The Big Sleep (8) Key Largo (9) Wee Willie Winkie (10) Top Hat (11) It Happened One Night (12) Road to Morocco (13) Road to Rio (14) The Best Years of Our Lives (15) The Kid (16) It's a Wonderful Life (17) Holiday Inn