November 2011

Winter Home Inspiration

November 30, 2011

Hello my dears! Are you feeling wintry where you live? We are not (yet) but I know it’s coming. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I never had to deal with winter weather, but now that I live in New England I figure I better learn to love this season.

Nina Holst for Stylizimo

The Scandinavian countries really know how to do winter right, so I am planning on stealing a few tips from them. : ) Maximizing light is key, especially in winter. Pair white floors and walls with strands of fairy lights and lots of candles to make the most of this look.

Nina Holst for Stylizimo

Bringing in plants and potted flowers is another wonderful thing to do this time of year. Amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs can be planted in simple mason jars and other found containers to add visual interest to sideboards and tabletops.

Photographer Kaisa Rautaheimo + Stylist Jonna Kivilahti via Tine K Home

Using a live Christmas tree in a basket is lovely, don’t you think? Small floral arrangements can get an extended life by cutting the stems short and placing flowers in tiny glass cups, tea tins, or perfume bottles and clustered on a tray.

Photographer Patrik Hagborg for Skona hem via Lovenordic Design Blog

And of course if you have a wood stove or fireplace, simply stacking wood can make a statement. Just looking at a neat woodpile makes me crave a cozy evening at home!

Living Agency (found via Brunch at Saks)

I also think that attending plenty of relaxed, easy events can help make the season feel festive – impromptu dinners with friends, and craft fairs and community holiday festivals are all fun ways to get in the spirit of things. What about you? Any ideas to share – I am all ears! xo Laura

(images: linked to individual sources above)

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Bixby’s Monthly Photo :: Seventeen Months Old

November 29, 2011

in Babyland

Doesn’t he look handsome? : ) I just gave him his very first haircut a few days ago, and I am still not used to seeing him without his sweet baby curls. I wonder if his hair will still have a bit of a curl when it grows in again?

What’s new? Learning about colors (he is especially fond of green). Going down the slide all by himself.
Loves: Going to the park. Jumping in leaves. Reading stories. Eating chicken noodle soup.
Does NOT like: Leaving the park.

(I will be taking a photo of Bixby in the white armchair with his lambie each month until his second birthday)

So far… One Month Old :: Two Months Old :: Three Months Old :: Four Months Old :: Five Months Old :: Six Months Old :: Seven Months Old :: Eight Months Old :: Nine Months Old :: Ten Months Old :: Eleven Months Old :: Twelve Months Old :: Thirteen Months Old :: Fourteen Months Old :: Fifteen Months Old :: Sixteen Months Old

(images: Laura Gaskill)

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Sponsor Giveaway :: Bellabyte Design Studio

November 28, 2011

in Advertisers, Giveaways

To welcome the new week I have a sweet giveaway from one of my lovely sponsors, Jayna of Bellabyte Design Studio. Jayna is a graphic designer based in Dallas, Texas, and I think you will love the fun prints in her shop. For this giveaway, Jayna is offering a $25 store credit to one lucky Lolalina reader who comments below. The shop prices are quite affordable, so $25 will go a long way!

Those are a few of my favorite prints above – I am especially fond of the “hang up your clothes” and “brush your teeth” prints. Hm, maybe because I live in a house full of boys? ; ) Plus, you can customize many of her prints with your own choice of color for no extra charge. Neat!

To enter, simply leave a comment below and share which Bellabyte Design Studio print you have your eye on. Please include your first name and last initial, along with a valid email address (only I will see your email address); no anonymous entries will be accepted.

And remember…

If you have won a giveaway on Lolalina in the past year, you are not eligible.
Only one entry per person.
I will announce the winner in a new post on Monday, December 5.

Good luck and happy Monday! xo Laura

(images: Bellabyte Design Studio)

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Easy Thanksgiving DIY

November 23, 2011

in Craft & DIY

Hello my friends! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving day, and I am so excited because this is one of my very favorite holidays. I love the food (of course), but also the end-of-autumn mood, and the fun of hanging out with family, free from the stress that presents bring.

I am overflowing with gratitude this year! : ) I am so thankful for my husband’s family who are so very kind to me and really treat me like one of their own daughters, for my own family who make sure I feel loved even from afar, for my little house and the warmth and love inside, my sweet husband, and most of all my little one, who I feel so lucky to have. But I am not done yet, oh no! Just in the past week I feel lucky to have had an old friend over for dinner + wine, which was so, so nice because you know how comfortable and easy it is to be around old friends? Oh yes. And I am thankful for new friends as well, like this lovely lady who I met for coffee just the other day, all of the Mamas in my mom’s group, and each and every one of you dear readers, and I could go on…but I’ll stop now, I swear!

If you are looking for something quick and easy to add a handmade touch to your gathering tomorrow, may I suggest this alphabet pasta pie topper? Yes, I said alphabet pasta: genius, right? I love the old school typewriter style look of the dry noodles.

This project was created by Chiara Alberetti Milott for Oh Happy Day, so follow that link to find the complete instructions. Aren’t the place cards darling, too? How fun they would be for a DIY wedding. : )

Well, that wraps it up for now. I’m off to enjoy my four day weekend - woohoo! What will you be up to? Any fun plans? I would love to hear about what you will be doing, or what you are grateful for today. Happy Thanksgiving, friends, I am so grateful for you! xoxo Laura

(images: Chiara Alberetti Milott for Oh Happy Day)

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Sponsor Highlight :: D.S. Brennan Photography

November 23, 2011

in Advertisers

Today I would like to introduce you to one of my lovely sponsors, Diana of D. S. Brennan Photography – I just know you will love her work. Diana has a background in environmental science, which inspires her work and choice of subjects, from birds, feathers, and botany to seaside and woodland scenes.

She recently began offering a new large format choice in addition to the smaller print sizes, which I love. The print above in the 30″ x 30″ size would be amazing, don’t you think? I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Diana in person, and I can tell you she is as sweet as can be, and very passionate about her work.

I adore all of her new feather prints – the delicate feathers on a richly textured background is stunning. Visit her shop to see more, and keep up with all of the behind the scenes goings-on on her blog, as well.

(images: D. S. Brennan Photography)