For Valentine’s Day this year, I’m thinking:

• Roasted potatoes in the shape of hearts, instead of frilly desserts and candy.
• Detailed lace and perhaps a pop of red.
• A sweet note hidden in a bottle, via Terrain.

PS – thanks for all the sweet comments re: my kitchen shelves!!

[Images 1 / 2 / 3]

I’ve been in a bit of a hair lull lately and I’m desperate to get a fresh, new cut.  The only problem is I have no idea what to do.  Keep growing it out or chop, chop, CHOP it?  The age old question, eh?  I decided to pull some inspo from Pinterest and am now leaning towards the Olivia Palermo ‘do (2nd photo) – just below the shoulders.  That would be a solid 4 inches chopped off for moi.

What do you guys think?  Which one should I choose?

[Images via 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 - several unknown originals thanks to tumblr]

I totally forgot to mention in my last post that this week will be a very light posting week for moi.  Emphasis on the very light.  It’s the busiest work week of the year for me, including one crazyyy weekend.  It’s all very fun and exciting, but I can’t wait to see you all again on Tuesday.  Shall we call it a date?

In the meantime, here are a few things that I would like more of in 2012:

• More black on black outfits:  So chic and classy.  Yes, please.
• More chickpeas: Hey, I really like chickpeas.  This year, I want to find more inventive recipes for them, like this cilantro lime chickpea salad.
• More rugs: My apartment is all wood floors and could really use a colorful rug here and there.  We only have one rug right now but I’d like one in each room.

Happy weekending and see you soon!

[Images via: 1 / 2 / 3]

This year, I’m going to start investing in classic pieces for my wardrobe that will take me through any season or any year.  As an almost 25 year old, I find that my style has finally grown more mature so I have my eye out for simple, easy things that I can wear at anytime.  For examps, I just bought those sweet lil black loafers and they are pretty much my new favorite things everrrr.  I could literally wear them with anything on this planet, from a dressy dress to jeans and a tee.  Talk about a good investment (plus they were cheap-o).

Investing in classics – I’m telling you, it’s the thing to do in 2012.

trench / clutch / dress / hat / scarf / loafers / bra

You guys!  I’ve missed you so much.  I only wanted to take a short break between Christmas and New Year’s, but then my blog almost died and that forced me to take an even longer break than expected.  I switched to a new server and in that time, we had some issues uploading all of my content to it’s new home.  There was a minute where Kyle said to me “Ok I hope everything is still there.”  But luckily that kid is pretty smart and figured it out.  So 2012 started with a slight heart attack for me.  But now it’s all good!

I hope you had a restful holiday season.  Mine was spent back home with my family and friends.  I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!!!  Lots of shopping, lots of relaxing, lots of melting in 85 degree weather.  I appreciate a good 85 degree day in July but not in December – it just gets awkward.  Besides the perpetual sweating, my time off was kind of amazing.  Here are just a few of the things I did over the the holidays:

Lots of activities including but not limited to: knitting, playing with my new tablet (!!!), and partaking in lots of burrito times…

Hanging out with these crazies as much as possible (gosh, I love them)…

Getting to see these cute people…

And wearing lots of bold colors (unusual for me, let me tell you)…

*As for 2012 resolutions?  I’ll start with a few of these things happy people do.  Then, I want to work harder, never take anything for granted, spend even MORE time with all of my favorite people, and maybe actually possibly start writing a book (which was one of my goals for 2011…didn’t happen).  We shall see what 2012 will bring us, but here’s hoping it’s nothing but beautiful and amazing things.

•  I want to wrap all my presents in Anthropologie gift wrap – it’s so gorgeous!
• Debating whether or not to have/make a wreath this year, but this sweet DIY holiday wreath is definitely persuading me to create one.
• These refined rustic touches from Creature Comforts are right up my alley.
• This holiday inspiration from Odessa May Society is exactly what I needed to dive into the holiday season.
• Not gonna lie, this first birthday party makes me want to get on the baby train.  Sooo ridiculously cute.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend – oh and Happy December!  WHAT?  I can’t believe it’s almost 2012.  This year has flown byyyyyyy.

Sometimes I get this inkling to go on a road trip.  No particular destination in mind, but maybe some place cold and snowy – very different from my SoCal home base.  All I know is that I’d bring the coziest sweater and a whole box of peppermint bark.  I will navigate from the passenger seat {aka my iPhone will navigate from the passenger seat} and Kyle can be the driver.  Sighhh, wouldn’t that be loads of fun?

cape // cashmere scarf // weekend bag
jewelry roll // blanket
travel french press // peppermint bark // ballet flats
image via; unknown original source

This week has been a sparse blogging week for me.  If I have a really crazy Monday (and boy did I have a real cray cray Monday!), then I’m totally screwed for the rest of the week.  But that’s okay because you were probs tired of all that regular posting.  And that regular pinning/tweeting.  And all that Janelle time.  I feel ya, you needed a break!  But hey, I’m back now and here are a few things I found this week that I’d like to do/make/replicate/own:

• 100% making this chicken pot pie with root vegetables.
• Oh and also these cornflake, marshmallow, chocolate chip cookies.  …can you tell I’m hungry right now?
• The new Maje collection is so major, I can’t even take it.
• Obsessed with bright rugs right now like this one.
• I want to wrap holiday presents like this.  Now I just need to find the actual presents.

PS – guess what next week is??  My FAVORITE holiday!!

I have a soft spot in my heart for anything and everything with polka dots.  There’s something so sweet and feminine about those little dotties, I just love them in any shape or form.  Right now, I kindaaa wish I had more of it in my closet and these are a few things I’d like to make my own.

Sweater // Socks // Bralette
Pencil Skirt // Scarf // Dress
Gloves // Tank

Also, DailyBuzz Style included my Every Day Wave in their Top 9 Hair Tips & Tutorials!  SO AWESOME!  Hope everyone has a lovely day, filled with lots o’ joy and polka dots.

Rainy weekends are kind of my favorite.  I love being inside, watching movies, drinking Winter Dream Lattes (homemade by my aunt!!), reading, giggling with my favorite people, listening to good music on Spotify…I could go on and on.  It’s all the little details that make me happy.  Here are a few other small details I’m loving:

[chunky sweaters pretty much everyday now]

 [rare glimpses of fall outside the city]

[getting use out of my rainboots]

 [taping my fave AMLP print on my desk until it finds a permanent home]

 [the wrapped leather on my House of Harlow sunnies]

 [3 new sweaters - from H&M and Gap]

[oldie but I always seem to come back to it - Essie Wicked]

 [clearly I have a thing for string lights - these ones are at Ford's Filling Station]

 [rifle paper co. thank yous]