diy macrame planters

Though it's quite rare, every once in a while we get lucky and the skies of LA all of the sudden crack and release what seems like months of rain, all at once. After a week of particularly hazy, smoggy weather, this was so welcome last Sunday. It poured and poured all afternoon, which made it the perfect date for two girls from the Northwest to brew a pot of coffee, bake some warm, buttery biscuits, and sit on the floor together, creating. 

Angela and I used to get to do this all the time, when we were college roommates, but now we live with boys and do adult things most days. This cozy, girly afternoon was just what was needed before the return to the work week. These DIY macrame planters were (fairly) easy, after a few rounds of frustrated laughing through various tutorials until we finally got it. We plucked the succulents from my front yard, which is another thing I love about California...succulents are everywhere. Since tutorial writing admittedly isn't one of my strong suits, see Angela's explanation at if found, make for the full process! 

p.s. remember these goddess photos of Angela? this needs to happen again, asap. 

Sunday Christmas

yesterday may have been my favorite Sunday so far this winter. i slept (wa-a-ay) in, drank my coffee in bed, made a big brunch and read Amy Poehler's Yes Please while I ate, went to Trader Joe's to buy a baguette & a big bouquet of Christmas greenery, and then spent the rest of the afternoon dancing around my kitchen to John Legend and wrapping Christmas gifts. Granted, I had to work in the evening, and a guy waiting ever so patiently for my spot at TJ's yelled driving instructions at me like I'm an idiot, but none of that could kill my Christmas cheer. It was a great day, and these are my favorite wrapping styles yet. 

Greenery from Trader Joe's, parchment paper & washi tape from Marshall's, Rifle Paper Co. floral paper from Shop Pigment, the cutest and most whimsical store in San Diego!

3 ways to spice up home decor you already have

Coming to California with only what fit in our cars means that we started out with very few pieces to decorate with. Slowly but surely, we're making this apartment a home, and most of that has meant crafting and thrifting one-of-a-kind things that we love. Here are three things you can do to spice up & re-do home decor pieces you already have (or can easily thrift) to make them like new!

1. Throw some chalkboard paper in it. 

This was originally a mirror that got dropped recently (not to name any names, but...MOM!) but the frame was too beautiful to get rid of it. So I ordered some chalkboard contact paper to fill it with--it's self-adhesive, so I just stuck it to the original cardboard backing and voila! I've decided it will be a weekly rotating Beyonce lyric chalkboard...more on that later.

2. Throw some gold on it. 

Gold spray paint is my new favorite thing. I bought this elephant for $1 at Michael's & the cute little deer was in a care package from home--both were originally grey, but a little coat of paint makes them perfect little buddies for this white & gold themed display. 

3. Throw some gold AND floral on it. 

These frames were originally a powder blue, and I scored them for free at a garage sale. I simply tacked scrapbook paper to the backs & used gold adhesive letters to make some sassy phrases. Overly girly and slightly sassy has kind of become our theme--sorry not sorry? I don't think I'll ever grow up.

do it ya'self: floral wall monograms

Another easy peasy DIY, inspired by Angela & her adorable gallery wall. I did take a few photos of the process, but I was also drinking wine while crafting/photographing...so I'll just leave you with the final result. The original post I saw making these letters used hollow cardboard letters and floral foam, but I could not find hollow letters anywhere in California! So I improvised by cutting the letters out of a cardboard box. Which also meant I didn't have to walk alllll the way outside to recycle said box. Booyah.  

Materials: 

cardboard

scissors

fake flowers in your favorite colors (I bought mine at the dollar store)

hot glue gun

Cut your choice of letters out of cardboard--I did mine & my sister's initials, since it's our apartment. Cut the stems off all the flowers, as close to the petals as you can so it's easy to glue. Arrange the flowers how you like on the letters and hot glue them straight on the cardboard. I then filled in any blank spots with the green leaves, and donezo! Use them within a gallery wall to add texture, like Angela did, or with an ampersand to make a statement piece, like me! Enjoy!

peeking

just a few little peeks at details I've been making & putting together for our apartment this week. As you can probably tell, I'm currently obsessed with florals, gold, & white lights....so sue me.

follow me on instagram for for peeks! xo.

crafting > packing

My parents threw a supah-fun going-away party for my sister & I before a few days before I left for California--a perfect send-off with friends old & new, yummy snacks, lots of bubbly, and a bonfire under twinkling lights. We had such a diverse group of people at their house: family friends going back years, my friends from college, my sister's friends from high school and now...it was just perfect. So much love & joy in one house! 

I was a bit under the weather in the week leading up to leaving, and I just reaaally hate packing but reaaally love making crafts, so I went a little banner-crazy for the party. I hung the pendant banner made from a map of Portland & the CALI BABY banner above the food & drinks, and then made this little sass wall in the hallway, in-between family photos. I was kind of obsessed with it, and it was fun for guests to find themselves on it! I bought a whole pack of this fun sparkly paper, so I'm sure you'll see a million more glittery crafts. The instagram prints are from Origrami, and I adore them! Pretty sure we'll be recreating the sassy wall in some shape or form in our new place...it just seems necessary. 

shout out to my parents for throwing us the party & to all our friends who came! i love you all.