HAPPY NEW YEAR!

wishing you and yours a fabulous new year! thank you all for reading and posting your kind & encouraging comments. starting this blog has been an exciting adventure for me and i'm looking forward to more excitement in 2010...including an etsy shop! see you in the new year! xoxo

sincerely,
cecelia

via flickr

rodarte for target

today during my blog reading rounds i discovered a common topic - rodarte for target. i heard that this pasadena based fashion duo would be bringing a line to target stores, but i had no idea it was debuting this month or that it would sell out in approximately two seconds online. i was just browsing the website and i'll definitely be making a stop there this evening (with my christmas gift card) on a mission to purchase the perfect new years eve dress for tomorrow night. wish me luck...i heard the stores are selling out quickly too, but lucky for me napa has two targets!

via rodarte for target

new years eve attire

now that we've passed by christmas/my birthday, we're heading full force into 2010. as i work on making plans for this new years eve, i'm also considering outfit options. here is an incredible etsy shop called coco boudoir thats loaded with amazing accessories and shoes that i'd love to wear to any new years eve party. check out these intricately detailed necklaces and embellished vintage heels...

via cocoboudoir

wallpaper = gift wrap

so i was totally stoked on the idea of using eddie ross's lace wrapping paper this christmas, but i ended up running out of time so i had to come up with something else quickly. sooooo...this year i ended up wrapping my gifts in osborne & little wallpaper samples! we had a lot of extras at work that weren't being used so i just took a few fun prints and all of my little packages turned out amazing!

via osborne & little

happy birthday to me

thanks to everyone for the birthday love yesterday! don't my birthday cupcakes look delicious???

image via my dad

happy holidays

merry christmas eve, i can't believe its already here! personally...i'd like to rewind back to november 27th and continue listening to christmas music, admiring my sparkly little tree and watching holiday movies. not only is tomorrow christmas...its my birthday, the big 23!! i still have quite a bit of wrapping to do tonight and i'll be taking pictures of my handmade gifts to post here in the next few days. i hope everyone has a very merry christmas filled with love, laughs, relaxation and some killer food! xoxo.

via flickr

sunday recipe: extra yummy cinnamon rolls

last night after watching paula deen & cat cora vs. tyler flourence & robert irvine during iron chef "competition: holiday dessert" my mouth was watering to say the least. i was then so lucky to come home to the boy making some extra delicious cinnamon rolls which definitely helped satisfy the sweet tooth i had developed. oooh, i've forgotten how much i love cinnamon rolls...

here is an incredible recipe i found on food network, just in time for holiday breakfast...and because its a paula deen recipe you know its going to be doughy, sweet and incredibly delicious.
ingredients
dough:
1/4-ounce package yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup scalded milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter or shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
filling:
1/2 cup melted butter, plus more for pan
3/4 cup sugar, plus more for pan
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
3/4 cup raisins, walnuts, or pecans, optional

glaze:
4 tablespoons butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 6 tablespoons hot water

directions:
heat oven to 350 degrees f.
in a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside. in a large bowl mix milk, sugar, melted butter, salt and egg. add 2 cups of flour and mix until smooth. add yeast mixture. mix in remaining flour until dough is easy to handle. knead dough on lightly floured surface for 5 to 10 minutes. place in well-greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled in size, usually 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

when doubled in size, punch down dough. roll out on a floured surface into a 15 by 9-inch rectangle. spread melted butter all over dough. mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over buttered dough. sprinkle with walnuts, pecans, or raisins if desired. beginning at the 15-inch side, role up dough and pinch edge together to seal. cut into 12 to 15 slices.

coat the bottom of baking pan with butter and sprinkle with sugar. place cinnamon roll slices close together in the pan and let rise until dough is doubled, about 45 minutes. bake for about 30 minutes or until nicely browned. meanwhile, mix butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. add hot water 1 tablespoon at a time until the glaze reaches desired consistency. spread over slightly cooled rolls.

happy baking!!

renegade in sf

i'm so upset...i just found out there is a great craft fair going on in san francisco right now called the renegade craft fair. this event has over 150 indie-craft and contemporary design talents selling handmade items just in time for last minute holiday shopping. its going on today and tomorrow from 11am to 7pm at the fort masion center and i'd totally be there, but i'm manning the store this weekend...

via renegade craft

holiday cards

usually i do up a little christmas card every year to give out to my friends & family (which most often doesn't make it to the post office in time), but this year it kind of slipped my mind so i'm just now considering options. one year i did an image of my little pup cole dressed in a santa hat and last year i picked out a pretty card with a glittery tree embellishment. this year i'm trying to come up with something creative to make and here is what i come up with so far...

via darlingdexter

lace wrapping paper

my christmas mission of handmade gift giving has turned out great so far, but i've been stumped when it comes to wrapping options. the boy had an excellent idea to use pretty fabric which i am totally into (and god knows i have millions of lovely fabric samples thanks to design school), but then i came across this incredible idea taking it one step further...spray painting kraft paper with a lace overlay!! thank you eddie ross for your brilliance!!! this is my next project...

via eddie ross

happy friday

i've been slacking on the posts lately, but after getting over a cold & working like an elf to craft my homemade christmas gifts...i'm back. i can't believe christmas is already a week away - it feels like december just started and now we're fast approaching the new year! this weekend i plan to tackle the rest of my holiday gift making, spend time with friends who have come home, celebrate the boy's 24th birthday on sunday and hopefully have some time to make a trip around town to see some sparkly christmas lights! i hope everyone has a fun, festive & hopefully relaxing weekend.

via raggedyanne6982 on flickr

gift guide: i love goooold

i've been looking for a simple, delicate chain necklace for everyday wear and i've finally found it! any of these charming necklaces from elephantine would make a fabulous gift this holiday season. each piece is handmade and the prices are so perfect you can buy one for all the lovely ladies in your life! feast your eyes on these beauties...

p.s. how cute is the little gift box your jewelry comes packaged in???

via elephantine on etsy

gift guide: the busy bee

i'm a list kind of girl and i find it very helpful to carry a planner. here is an adorable daily agenda (so much more space to write!!) for the friend who likes to have a little organization in their life. this beauty has endless design possibilities from faux leather to fun fabrics and papers so you can completely customize it for that special person - it even has a pretty ribbon attached to mark your place! i especially love this woodgrain print with the bright red binding...

via srobison on etsy

let it snow

wishing for snow in napa...

via flickr

gift guide: the iphone fanatic

during an etsy browsing session i came across this amazing handmade iphone/ipod charging station made from a cedar log. this is an incredibly stylish holiday gift for the iphone user in your life...and if you're not cool enough to have an iphone yet (like myself) it works with all ipods too!

via woodtec on etsy

holiday round up: felt

this year i'm loving whimsical holiday decorations in natural colors and materials. here are some fabulous finds all made of felt.

1.) adorable felt wreath
via hersheyismybaby on etsy



2.) polka dot garland stands
via paisleymagic on etsy

3.) doctor seuss-esque mini trees
via cb2




4.) extra sweet embellished stockings
via rikrak on etsy

5.) eco-friendly recycled bird ornaments
via recycledparts on etsy

holiday gift guide 2009

for the first time ever i'm announcing the start of my very own little holiday gift guide! for the next two weeks i will be presenting lots of fun items for everyone special on your gift giving list including your dog. stay tuned for exciting and unique ideas...

xoxo

via flickr

wish list

dear santa,
this year for my 23rd birthday/christmas i'd like:

1. a pair of fun colored tights
2. this book
3. a french press for morning coffee
4. an eco-friendly leather collar for nelli
5. this adorable knot ring in silver
6. a hand knit tube scarf
7. this comfy flannel nightie i'd rock as a tunic
8. this lovely rosette headband
9. these jazzy studded flats
10. this comfy looking tee by lauren conrad

via besimo on flickr