2017 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

The holiday season is quickly approaching upon us with Thanksgiving right around the corner.  It's one of my favorite times of the year.  The Season of Giving is my excuse to look for the perfect gifts to add to my shopping list.

WEEKEND GUIDE TO SANTA BARBARA

Santa Barbara has long served as a go-to getaway since the days of Sir Laurence Olivier and John F. Kennedy.  Stretched over miles of beaches against the dramatic Santa Ynez mountains, upscale boutiques, art galleries and restaurants feature Spanish colonial-style heritage buildings.

DOUBLE DUTY FURNITURE

Double duty furniture is like a superhero.  They have maximum versatility and can be used for multiple functions.  By day, it could be a sofa; by night, a bed.

Whether you have a small studio and don't have the space, or want to live more simply, there are a number of advantages to double duty furniture.

• Less clutter
• No need to spend money on additional pieces of furniture
• Easier to rearrange if you move it to a different location.  Clunky furniture is harder to style and can be limiting due to its size restrictions.

Here are a few ideas on how to implement this in your home.

The next time you decide to buy a new piece of furniture, I encourage you to try shopping in your own home for an existing piece and see if you can use it for a different purpose.  I'd love to hear what great ideas you have!

SOFA  +  BED

Our Current Family Room - West Elm Tillary Sofa/ Bed :: Coffee Table/ Bench Seating/ Hidden Storage (similar)

Back when we lived in a one-bedroom condo, we had friends that would occasionally stay the night.  We remove the back pillows of the sofa and put the sofa bases together lengthwise.  It instantly became a queen sized bed.

RECIPE :: HOW TO NATURALLY DYE EASTER EGGS BLUE

Natural dyes can create some of the most beautiful colors.  Plants, spices, animals & fungi have been used historically all over the world to dye clothing, textiles, artifacts and act as a color additive for beauty products.  You can easily create a rainbow of colors using everyday ingredients found in the kitchen.  Mix & match different dyes, or dye the eggs at various lengths of time and your results will multiply.

AN ECO-FRIENDLY EASTER BASKET

Can you believe Easter is right around the corner?  Where did the time go?  Not sure if it's just me but I feel like this year is going by faster than normal.  Last Easter, Jace was barely a month old and I was completely sleep-deprived so it was tough getting into the holiday spirit.  I didn't get him an Easter basket, but I did manage to snap a quick photo of him in a beanie with bunny ears though.

As I put together Jace's Easter basket this year, I decided to forego all of the plastic and disposable options in favor of a more eco-conscious basket that the little guy would love.

DECLUTTERING BABY ITEMS

The company that I work for recently hosted a donation drive through LovedTwice.org.  These clothes that my little babe Jace has outgrown will be going to a good home & not in the landfill.

Over 900,000 babies will be born into poverty in the U.S. this year. (Source: LovedTwice.org)  Baby clothes are expensive and they grow out of them quickly.  Rather than throwing clothes away, here are some resources I have discovered that fit my goal of decluttering while helping other families seeking less expensive baby essentials.

SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS TREES: LIVE VS. ARTIFICIAL

Image Credit: Pottery Barn

The Christmas tree is largely a Germanic tradition, dating back to the 1500s.  In the 1700s, German immigrants brought over the tradition to the U.S.  However, the Christmas tree didn't gain notoriety outside of the German households until the 1830s, when Queen Victoria & Prince Albert (both of German descent) brought the tradition to Windsor Castle in the U.K.  This caught the attention of the public and soon, the Christmas tree tradition widely spread.  In the1930s, the idea of an artificial tree was invented by U.S.-based toilet brush manufacturer Addis Brush.  The first artificial trees are merely a giant, green toilet bowl scrubber.  History shows that the Christmas tree is a deeply rooted tradition on an international level.

Before splurging on a tree this season, there are advantages and disadvantages to a live vs. artificial tree to consider.

MOTHER'S DAY

Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas and soon-to-be moms!  This year, I get to experience it with a whole new meaning.  I never truly realized how amazing motherhood would be until my sweet little boy came into my life.