Why not

Brody and I do not own our own house...yet. We have three years of law school tuition to think about before we can make any kind of down payments. That being said, it's never too early to start thinking about decor right?

When I think about my style I would hope for timeless, casual elegance. Casual like the beach, but elegant like a beach in the hamptons. One of my favorite inspirations is Diane Keaton's charcters' home in Somethings Gotta Give. The movie isn't that great but everytime it's on I find myself watching it for the house. It's GORGEOUS. From the thick planks of cherry hardwoods, the myriads of french doors, the crown moldings, the charming cedar shingles and white trim....sigh. So timeless. And wouldn't you know it? It was a showhouse at one point, which a lot of my pictures below have been stolen from...

Another one of my favorite real estate inspirations just happens to be one of my favorite new sitcoms. Modern Family. It's fantastic. The characters, the dialogue, the subtle humor. Watch it. Seriously. Wednesday on ABC, 9/8 Central. But the cherry on top is the three incredible homes the families live in. They are all stunning and decorated impeccably.

So like any crazy person who is desperate to decorate their own dream home, I've been saving screen-shots and photos of my ideal home/style. Classic, eternal good taste...








Don't feel relaxed already?

To-Do List

My To-Do List:

1. See Petra

2. Climb Machu Picchu

3. Concert at the Disney Concert Hall

4. Sky Dive

5. Hot Springs on Deception Island / Cruise to Antarctica

6. See all the Cirque Du Soleil shows in Vegas

7. See the pyramids, Giza

8. Explore Jerusalem

9. Go inside a Parkside penthouse in New York

10. Watch a taping of SNL

11. Hike the alps, see the Matterhorn

12. Ride a donkey in Santorini

13. Explore Athens

14. See everything in the Louvre!

15. Notre Dame

16. Cross an ocean on a boat

17. Sunbath in Nice

18. Ride a gondola in Venice

19. See the David

20. Sistine Chapel

21. Parthenon

22. Eat Deep Dish in Chicago

23. Bungee Jump in New Zealand

24. Attend some kind of entertainment awards show

25. Be on National Television

26. Hang Glide

27. See St. Basil's cathedral in Russia

28. Visit Hong Kong, Tiananmen Square

29. See the Cristo Rendentor in Rio

30. Tango in Buenos Aires

31. Visit Stratford upon Avon / Sherwood Forest

32. Ride the eye of London, meet a royal

33. See Journey in Concert (only if Steve Perry is the lead)

34. Go on an African Safari

35. Audition for a reality TV show

36. Go to a rain forest

37. Drive a sports car on the autobahn

38. Stay in a high-rollers' sweet in Vegas

39. New Years in Times Square

40. Write a book

41. Have my book made into a movie ;)

42. Whale watch

43. Learn a second language

44. Ice skate in Central Park

45. Attend an Olympic event

46. See the Taj Mahal

47. Run a half marathon

48. Stay at a house in East Hampton

49. Participate in La Tomatina festival of Bunyol, Spain

50. Holi color festival

51. See an LDS temple in China

And more to follow I"m sure. What are some of yours?

Tea Time

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of joining my Culture Club ladies for the Afternoon Tea at the Grand America. It was so fun to see these lovely ladies, but the ambiance and incredible hats and gloves (thanks again Beth) just made the whole affair that much more authentic and memorable. Any occasion to wear bright red lipstick is fine by me.

Bethany started it off by presenting each of us with an adorable little packet with our own lipstick and white gloves, chocolate or mints, a white doile, and a CD. Then we got to choose one of her Grandmother's vintage hats to wear, which were all incredible. She had some great style!

All the credit must be given to this lovely lady on the left, who was also the organizer and photographer. She is so incredibly talented and creative she could easily take over Martha Stewart's job without skipping a beat. I wish I could say I took these pictures, but alas, it was all Bethany. You can see all of Bethany's photography on her website and blog.

As for the menu, we got to choose from such tasty delights as spiced plum, creamed chi, and raspberry tea. Personally, I went for the coconut almond hot chocolate, on Kate's recommendation, which was divine. Then we sampled finger sandwiches like smoked salmon, cucumber, turkey cranberry, and more and had fresh scones with devonshire cream, lemon curd & rasberry jam. We topped the afternoon off with a choice between three french pastries or a slice of either chocolate mocha cheesecake or coconut cake with strawberries and cream. I opted for the pastries and sample a fruit torte, strawberry crumble and a lemon canoli. It was delicious and so much fun!

Thank you ladies for such a fun afternoon! I loved people-watching and chatting with you all about the upcoming year.

In LOVE

I am head over heels in love with this dining room. Everything from the cast stone fireplace, the gorgeous pedestal table, the elegant upholstered chairs, and the pièce de résistance...the AMAZING chandelier (which is actually electric despite how realistic and wonderfully rustic those "candles" are).

It's perfection.

Nieces & Nephews

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of taking some holiday photos of my sweet nieces and nephews at Gardener Village.









Aren't the adorable?!