Cross Culture Inspired Threads >>>

Our dear friend Christie who we grew up with and moved to California a few years back came home for a visit with her boyfriend and her adorable weenie pup Zoey Beans. She had a get together at one of our local bars in town. Its an outside bar, with live music and you can bring your own steaks and cook them on a grill if you want. Ive only been there once or twice, and never cooked my food there, but me and Shelley decided we are going to have a girls night there and cook a steak together while we watch the sweet old couples two step on the dance floor.  I love watching couples dance.  My grandfather taught me how to 2-step and waltz when I was younger.  But in the course of my dating life, Ive only had one boyfriend who would dance with me.  Ive always wanted to go out dancing though.  Not clubbing, big difference!  Ive never had a desire to go clubbing... well maybe the thought crossed my mind when I was about 16 or so, but never went, and Im glad I didnt.  I was telling my bestie the other night, I wish I grew up in a town during an era where they had huge barn dances all crazy bluegrass style.  I think it would be soooo much fun!

I wore probably my favorite outfit of this whole year that night.  So many of my favorite elements in this one, from the patterns and colors to the general comfyness of it.  And I am completely obsessed with my new Blowfish boots.  For being wedges and wearing them all day long yesterday, my feet did not hurt at all!  That says alot to me about a shoe.  Love love love love love.  Did I say love?  I got these boots.  I got these amazing tassel earrings custom made by Lost Boys & Lovers a good while back.  One of my favorite pairs of earrings Ive ever owned.

<<< outfit details >>>

tassel earrings - Lost Boys & Lovers

sweater - Threadsence

dress - Ross

belt - Forever 21

leggings - Forever 21

boots - c/o Blowfish Shoes

leather bracelets - Moorea Seal

Announement:  Sadie Rose of Lost Boys & Lovers is in the middle of a move, so she is having a 50% off sale in her entire shop!!!  Now is the time to get your hand on some of her amazing vintage pieces.  The sale is for a limited time.  Click here to go see what she has!

Yesterday a friend pointed me in the direction of SouLodge ran by Pixie Campbell and I fell in love.  I really want to take their Winter Session.  And I talked to my hubby last night and he agreed to do this with me, I cant wait for the winter solstice. 

PEACE,
Laura

Scrabble Wars >>>

We finally broke out the scrabble board in our new house for the first time the other night.  I cant believe it took us this long, but now its on!  We take our scrabble playing very serious in this house!  My cousin bought us this portable board a few years ago and its just about one of the best gifts Ive ever received.  For our first game in the house, James won!  He is so cute when he wins (which by the way this was only the 2nd time he has won - muah ha ha!!! - sorry babe, had to rub it in)  He does a little dance, and doesnt stop grinning the whole night long.  He sings songs about being the scrabble king.  He is adorably victorious.  But let me tell you, when he loses, he is a soar loser.  He is all mopey, its so funny!  So we duked it out the next night, and I won.  It was an intense game too!  *If you are to play scrabble on a cold winter night - hot chocolate is a must*

Bella always plays with us.  She went from being the score keeper to trying to play herself :)

Here it is James, for the record, you beat me by one point!!! 

SCRABBLE WAR IS ON!!!

PEACE,

Laura

Pieces of Home >>>

 1.  This is the sketch I did a few days ago for my next tattoo.  I wanted to make something special just for my daddy.  He was a carpenter, and he made a saw handle that looked just like this (which is a classic old school style saw).  I added two feathers to represent my parents together, and the bottom flower is suppose to be a mountain laurel flower, which holds special meaning for me.  And the most important thing my parents taught me, build love.

 2.  Speaking of my parents, I must say that the friends they left behind are a testament to how amazing they were.  All of their friends always made me feel like I was their friend as well.  And during both of my parents deaths, their friends were right there by our sides.  Today I received this quilt in the mail from a dear friend of theirs, with a note telling me it was just a little something to let me know she thinks of me often.  Im completely speechless and in awe.  It is so beautiful.  And Bella has not removed herself from it all day long!

 3.  I woke up this morning to find it had frozen outside and my hibiscus plant my Nanna gave bit the big one.  Im so very sad about this.  Does anyone know if it will come back next year if it has frozen???  Im so sad.

 4.  I love the way the sun hits frost and makes it shine.  My porch looked pretty this morning.

 5.  My inscence holder and some burning sage, both gifted to me by two lovely ladies I met right here on this very blog.  Love this community!  It makes my house smell so good :)

 6.  Free people catalog.  Although I can never afford anything from here, I still love to oooo and ahhhh over all the pretties, and pretty girls, in the magazines...

 7.  My pony palm I got from my aunt, that I was smart enough to bring in a few weeks ago.  Im loving watching it grow.

 8.  Pieces of a custom christmas present I made.  Sorry I cant show the whole thing.  Maybe one day...

9.  My pine cones.  These were my moms.  She loved pine cones and gave me a love for them since I was a little girl.  We used to have a tree in front of our house that my friends dad planted that grew them.  I loved hunting for them with her. 

PEACE,

Laura

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