Casual Winter Threads + Giveaway Winners >>>

It froze last night.  The saddest part is I might have lost my plant my Nanna gave me b/c I didnt cover it up.  My fingers are crossed that it is going to be resilient.  Nanna, if your reading, my phone died while we were talking, its on the charger now :)  I love you!  

When it gets cold outside, sometimes I just want to be all cozy, yesterday was no exception.  It was a no shower/ no makeup kind of day.  Days like these, Ill almost always throw my hair up in a messy bun.  James was cleaning out his drawers the other night and had some jeans that dont fit him anymore.  I tried them on, and they fit me!  I dont know if thats a good thing or not, ha ha.  But I made myself a cute pair of cutoffs with one pair.  The best part of the outfit is what is hiding behind these cute plaid Blowfish booties, my hello kitty socks!  And I cant wait to style this sweater for real, its so so amazing!

<<< outfit details >>>

glasses - glassesUSA.com

sweater - forever21

v-neck - memory loss

shorts - hubby's jeans :)

acid wash leggings - forever21

plaid booties - Blowfish

can you believe, no jewelry???  that is a rarity!

Im so excited its the time of year to break out my boots more often.  These poor little Blowfish boots have been so neglected.  I just got a new pair in the mail and I cant wait to wear them.  I think Ill wear them tonite.  Our friend from Cali is in town and she's having a big get together, cant wait to see her!

It is now that time of morning where I have to stop making up excuses to get to work.  The hardest part about working from home is staying focused.  Im brainstorming some new routine methods for my work days in this coming new year.  I think it would do me some good to be a bit more strick with myself during the work hours, so then I can play harder, and have more time to play.  If you have any methods that really work for you, Id love to know!

P. S. The long awaited giveaway winners are:

DOLCE MIA GIVEAWAY - Beckie

GROUP SPONSOR GIVEAWAY - Hailey Marie

PEACEFUL PEACOCK GIVEAWAY - Sadie Rose

*please email me at violet_bella (at) hotmail (dot) com with your addresses*

PEACE,

Laura

Holiday re-decorating >>>

What happens when Im left alone for a few hours???  I rearrange the house!  It really was not a drastic rearrange, more like swapping things out.  I moved our tree to the other window, which eliminated room for our dining room table, so I took down my shipping desk in our living room and am now using the dining room table.  Its not like we actually eat there or anything...  I moved my writing desk back where it belongs by the cresent window.  Its amazing how big it made the house feel just by moving some things around.  I did a little more decorating too.  I hung up white twinkle lights on the window and got our stockings hung.  I was too impatient to find a solution for our rock mantle, so I screwed in hooks underneath the ledge of our kitchen counter (the part that shows in the dining room area).  You can view my felt stocking DIY from last year here.

Here is our dining room table now serving as my shipping desk!  Its a nice big area.  If we ever have people over to eat Ill just take the stuff off and move it (that rarely happens anyway)

I hung up a fringe crochet shawl in our doorway.  I love the way the light shines through it at night.  And I love James little guitar nook.  One of the acoustic guitars he bought from me at a garage sale I had when I was like 19.  He has used it ever since and written all of his songs on it.

I hung up a little vintage patchwork quilt top behind our tv.  I had it pinned to the wall in my sewing room, which Im rarely in these days.  I think it will be much more enjoyed out here in the living room.

I love this old wooden desk.  It was my moms.  One of my favorite pieces of furniture in my house.  I love doing my outfit posts next to it...

Miss Violet has actually been whining to come in lately, which is sooooo rare for her.  Its been cold outside lately and very rainy.  After I get all my orders packaged up today I have some major floor cleaning to do.  We have adorable little muddy paw prints all over the house!!!

 Time to turn on some good music and get to work!!!

PEACE,

Laura

Pinterest Inspiration >>>

Its been a very long time since Ive posted a simple inspiration post!  Oh how I miss it!  Here are a few things Ive been drooling over lately.  If you want more, just follow me on pinterest.

 <<< starry string lights - these need to get in my house >>>

<<< beautiful photograph and equally beautiful hair >>>

 <<< lovely vinyl photo - simply one of my favorite things >>>

<<< one of the prettiest tattoos ive seen - im currently designing my next >>>

 <<< darling photo by Rockie Nolan >>>

<<< this porch makes me crave and daydream our one day porch - found via >>>

<<< amazing outfit by PeekoApparel - one of my favorite etsy shops >>>

 <<< stunning stunning dress by Zara >>>

 <<< autumn loving outfit by Ashlei on lookbook >>>

<<< stunning photos of Kristina from lookbook >>>

<<< my love, Neil Young and his banjo >>>




PEACE,
Laura

Oh Christmas Tree >>>

We put our christmas tree up the other day.  First christmas in our new home!  Pretty exciting.  Really its a bittersweet feeling b/c I cant show my parents.  My dad was never into christmas, but I know my mom would be so delighted to see.  I love our little tree.  I looks much smaller in this big house then it did in our rent house where it almost reached the ceiling!  One of my favorite things is unwrapping all of my ornaments this year.  Im a sentimental girl at heart, and it is no different for christmas time.  Every single ornament on my tree has meaning.  They were all either gifted to me, or were my mom's old ornaments, many of which were handmade.  I actually went a bit traditional this year and used red, green and blue lights.  I usually only use pink lights!  But we were out and I didnt want to wait :)

Its kind of hard to see, but at the top of the tree there are two birds.  My mom gave us all these birds for our trees one year, and I got hers when we split up her ornaments.  So now I find it very fitting to have these two birds sit atop my tree.  Those of you who have been following me for a while now, know that the symbol of two birds together means alot to me.  Which is kind of odd thinking about it now, but I have two birds flying together tattooed on my back, which at the time was for me and my mom.  But now, I think its for my mom and my dad.  Gosh, this realization just made me all gooey inside!

I have way too many ornaments to go into details of them all, ha ha.  But some of my alltime favorites are below.  And of course, Bella helps me every year get the ornaments out!

My great grandmother made these little christmas trees.  I have two of them.  She made several, and Im pretty sure all of our family members have one or two.  I love how old fashioned it is.

These four below were all handmade.  The first one was my 1st grade ornament I believe.  The little angel is one of several I made, and still some of my favorites.  The angel and moon my Nanna painted me on my birth year.  And the little santa sitting in the measuring scoop was made by James grandma.  And the horse below was one of James newborn ornaments.

I love these old ornaments.  This porcelain santa was from my moms tree.  His face is cracked and I just adore him.  The acorn was also my moms.  The funny face one was actually made I think by my great grandmother, right Nanna???  And the hair was from their dog!!!  Ha ha!  The other one, Im not sure, but I know its old.  And the glass bell ornament below was my favorite every year to hang on my mom's tree.  I loved the way it shined and sang while you put it up.  My mom always told me to be careful with it b/c it was very special.  I wish I remember now where she said it came from.

These below were all handmade by my mom such a long time ago.  The ice skates Im not positive about, but the rest for sure.  My most favorite ornaments.

The birdie in this one was an anthropologie ornament.  Each year James lets me pick out one special ornament from there.  This year though, I bought my special ornament from Lune Vintage, I cant wait to hang it up!  The peace sign was made by a friend on etsy!

These below were all gifted and/or handmade by etsy artists.  Except the little glass clown.  Two years ago Nanna let me and James pick out an ornament off of her tree to put on ours, and James picked the clown.  So each year now, I save it for the last and let him choose where he wants it on the tree. 

 

I cant wait to hang our stocking.  I need to find the right hangers for the now that we have a stone fireplace.  I want to get some twinkle lights for our fireplace as well.  Im really starting to look forward to my time off at the end of the month.  I want to bake pies, and have fires in the fireplace and enjoy myself on the couch with a good book and hot chocolate.  Just be.  I think that is my biggest wish this year.  Time to just be.  

What are you wishing for this year for christmas?  Im way more excited about the giving than the getting this year.  

PEACE,

Laura