christmas is that you?

I can't believe December is finally here! It may sound cheesy, but this IS the best time of the year. I love how people come together to celebrate each other and spend quality time side by side. Maybe it's the colder weather that brings people closer, or perhaps the desire to celebrate an accomplished year. All I know is that the air is crispier and the smell of fresh pine trees make me wish that every month was December. And let's not forget all the twinkle lights...

This will be the very first time we spend the holidays at home. Partly because this 34 week pregnant gal can't really go anywhere at this point, but I love that we will be able to host my parents here for the holidays. With that said, I get to pick out a tree and decorate our cozy little home. With the baby coming after the holiday, I want to keep it simple - b&w stripes, gold and silver accents with a hint of the outdoors. While in Tahoe for Thanksgiving, my mom and I went on a hunt and brought back a whole bag of fresh pinecones from the woods behind our cottage. They smell amazing and will definitely be going everywhere around our little apartment.

What are you planing this Christmas - staying in or going out? If you're off on an exotic adventure, please do share. I would love to live vicariously through you while I lounge my big ole belly on the couch.

Hope you come back soon,

M     

P.S:: For more Christmas inspiration, hop on over to my Pinterest album. 

let there be fall

Fall has just commenced here in Southern California and I am so excited to pull out the few sweaters that still fit this ever changing body of mine. I know I'm going to have to resort to shoes, handbags and cute jackets - which quite honestly I don't mind doing... 

However, If I had to put together the perfect fall outfit for my non pregnant self this would definitely be it! The plaid shirt, skinny girlfriend pants (best one out there for us petite women), the handbag (just ordered one for myself as a late birthday gift), flats and this amazing necklace to top it all off.

What are your fall season essentials? 

Hope you come back soon,

m

featuring - move loot

sectional couch / floor lamp / area rug / coffee table / chair

Move Loot has quickly become my newest obsession. If you are anything like me, you consider searching for furniture online is the best hobby ever. I can go hours looking through craigslist. Refreshing the pages to make sure nothing good has been added. My search doesn't even have any filters added, because I need to see everything. Just in case, you know, I stumble upon a magnificent accent table I don't even need. There is one thing that holds be back when it comes to buying used furniture online. I always rely on my husband to come with me to check it out. No woman in their sane mind would roll up to some strangers house to look at a vintage mirror. And truth be told, I missed out on so many good pieces because Chris just didn't think we really needed that extra comfy chair - and he was probably right 99% of the time! :)

Nonetheless, I have found a solution to all my furniture seeking problems: a site called Move Loot. It's like craigslist, but without all the awful pictures and the hassle of having to find a guy to come pick up the piece with you. Granted, it's not available all over the States, but if you are located in the cities that they serve, definitely check it out. Did I mention they deliver to your house? Yep. I just purchased a media stand from them and two super nice guys came to my office and dropped it off right on schedule! 

Since I will take any excuse to re-decorate, I set out on a mission to curate my favorite living room pieces in Los Angeles! Sadly, I do not need any new furniture therefore, feel free to use all the items in this post - and I encourage you to. :) 

Hope you come back soon,

M

This post was not sponsored by Move Loot. I just really love to share tips and products I love with all of you. 

i would live here: hgtv smart home

Sometimes I daydream of having a different career.

Being in a completely offbeat environment and doing diverse things, brings a certain excitement to my daily life. Call me crazy, but I have never imagined myself doing one thing for more than a couple of years. Off course, adulthood hit me hard and I set out on a stable and steady career path. But if I had to choose, today, what I would be doing this year, it would be interior design.

Of course, reading is what I do most of my spare time, and is probably the job I would want to do forever and ever. Want to pay me to read and write/talk about my thoughts and feelings? I would be thrilled to. Yes, that is my dream job. However, not many people seem that interested in the novels I am so captivated by, so I think I'll stick to home decor. Navigating interior design sites is definitely number two on my list and like many gals out there, HGTV is my favorite channel to binge watch. When we still had cable (we went cable free a year ago), it was on all day. Even when I wasn't watching. I mean all day long. I had seen all House Hunters episodes maybe three times and would catch myself humming opening songs more than I would like to admit. It was comforting, and made me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. Kind of like how Gilmore Girls does. (any kids from the 90's here?!)

As any obsessed human being, I am on point with my HGTV contests. It just so happen to be Smart Home season and everyday I wait patiently for that email reminding me to enter the contest!! This particular house has me jumping up and down with excitement. First off it's in Austin, TX. Hands down, my favorite city ever. Second, it's a modern farmhouse. Needless to say this is my dream home. With that said, I wanted to share some of the amazing features in this house.

Let's start off with the kitchen...

Open floor plan, amazing hardwood floors and backsplash... leading us into the gorgeous dining room.

 Followed by the living room. This would be my reading area for sure.

The back deck is simple and cozy. Makes me want to fire up that grill! I mean, have the husband fire up the grill...

And to wrap things up, this amazing master bedroom. Maybe I would change a few details, like the artwork. But other than that, I'll take it as is.

Fingers crossed I get to call this home! I know it's very unlikely, but a girl can dream right?

Hope you come back soon,

m

p.s: all images from hgtv.com 

spring fling

Let's face it, winter is great but when Spring comes along that is all we talk about. The news is out, the tulips are covering our Instagram feed and J Crew just added THE white vintage cropped pants to the new arrivals page.

No better time to share my go to season staples. It all starts with the white cropped pants, button down shirt and nude heels. Casual, comfortable and chic! That is all I think about lately. Whenever I put together an outfit or go shopping for something I need, the first and last thing that comes to mind is "will I feel 100% comfortable in this?" When it comes to picking an outfit for the day, no one wants to end up in that super uncomfortable, pull here, tuck there situation. I am so guilty of this!!!

After many days starting at my closet and desperately trying to mix and match pieces, I decided to stick with certain color palletes and easy to pair prints. White, black, grey, nude. Repeat. Always works and leaves you with tons of room to add stripes, polka dots and texture. I leave the bold patterns (aka Lilly Pulitzer, Kate Spade, etc) to dresses. Makes it simple to wear and adds that summer feeling to any wardrobe.

What about you? How do you transition from winter to spring? And aren't those white pants perfect?

xoxo,

m

favorite winter outfit

Call me crazy but Winter is my favorite season. Summer is great and all, but as soon as that first winter chill comes along, I get all excited. There is nothing better that warm wool socks paired with a pair of comfy leather boots, am I right?

Winter also makes me crave a simple wardrobe, and it is usually when I decided to donate every single item in my closet. I love the feeling of stripping away of all the unnecessary things and making room for more of what matters. When I no longer have 10 thousand clothing options (that usually goes untouched) I have more time in the morning to sit down and enjoy my cup of coffee instead of rushing out the door grabbing anything and everything in my way. That is no way to start your day!

Even though Southern California does not do winter as it should :) I still manage to fit in a few of my favorite things.

What's your favorite winter outfit?

xoxo,

m

P.S: shop the items sweater / tote  / watch / pants / earrings / boots

vogue editorial

When I was in college majoring in Publishing, my heart wasn't sure whether I would pursue the book or magazine industry. Even though I have always been infatuated by paperbacks and the stories that are told, shinny magazines have always been a world I wanted to tackle. They have the perfect mix between words and imagery that collide in the most unexpected way. Where typography has the freedom to occupy any blank space giving a greater purpose to letters and their kerns. 

This Vogue Australia editorial caught my attention last week and has been on my mind ever since. There is something so classic about this photoshoot that makes me a tad bit nostalgic... The lighting, the sail boat, the outfits. Simple, yet elegant. Extraordinary in a simplistic way.  

modern farmhouse feelings

I have to confess something... I've been addicted to the Outlander book series as of lately and I feel as if my world has been on pause.You know when you feel out of the loop? When things around you start to shift and you only realize it after a few days? Yep, that's me lately. 

For some unexplainable reason I have been craving cozy blankets, warm fireplaces, and fuzzy socks all the time. When I'm done at the office, I roll into my apartment boil some water for a cuppa tea and spend the rest of my afternoon reading. I am blaming it on winter fever, but maybe it's something else... Not quite sure what though. I have always been a city dweller and country feeling has never been my thing, however the older I get the more out of touch I feel about city living. Small cramped apartments in a great location, are no longer my priority. And with every end of the work week, I crave the outdoors and fresh air away from traffic jams and city pollution.  

Now and then I catch myself day dreaming of a little farmhouse in the countryside. The kind of home that is oblivious to trends and that withstands the test of time. Smell of oak, cotton and firewood. Gives you comfort when you didn't even realize you needed it. And gives you room to grow and do life in it. 

A girl can dream right? Maybe one day, Chris and I will be able to let go of city living and give into the wood carved, white painted, fluffy blanket kind of lifestyle. 

xoxo,

m 

P.S: Have you had a change in feeling regarding your lifestyle? If so please do share! xx

what colored my week - black on black

B&W Stripes Art Print / Striped flats / B&W alarm clock

It's been a while, I know. I did not forget about you little blog and whomever may still be reading. I hope you haven't stopped checking in to see what's going on in my side of the world. Life has been amazingly busy and, as much I hate to admit this, my head has been 90% devoted to work and 10% to my little family of three. Even though I've become quite the juggler, work has given me so much and this past week I received an unexpected promotion! Who would have thought that LA would be so kind to me? After I complained about how dirty it was; how expensive and untrustworthy the city appeared to be. It wasn't warm and welcoming, and to be honest, I started doubting the whole California way of life. I apologize, Southern California. Even though I still stand my ground when it comes to certain opinions, I did underestimate you and I hope you will forgive me. 

But this is not about my love/hate relationship with la la land. This is about my color obsession this past week. Black, black, and black! Maybe it's the never ending sunshine that prevails in California that has me craving for some gloomy weather. Or maybe it's because when I was a teenager, my dream was to move to NYC and become one those New Yorkers that only wear black and are ever so chic! Either way, I might just have to try to pull it off in this sunny 75 degrees weather. 

How about you? What color has been on your mind lately? 

xoxo,

m        

i would live here: miriam schneider of snail mail shop

All images via Rue Magazine

Have you ever encountered a picture on Pinterest that wasn't connected to any link whatsoever, but you were so in love with it that you just had to find the source? This happened to me this weekend, when I saw this amazing living room. After searching all over the web, I finally found the source and it had to be the one and only Rue Magazine. 

This lovely SF abode belongs to Miriam Schneider of Snail Mail Shop. The lovely letterpress business, where you can find all kinds of paper goods.  

Miriam's home has the perfect balance of girly and earthy. She incorporates colors such as pink, gold and white with light browns and black. This is exactly what I try to do in my own home, and I've got to say that she nailed it! 

Can I move in already? Hope your week is off to a fantastic start!

xoxo,

m

p.s: what does your dream home look like? 

food styling

I have to admit, I'm a total foodie. There is nothing that gets me going quite like a good tasting meal. And none of that no gluten, fat-free, vegan stuff. I like butter, olive oil, cheese and meat! I have been thinking about food a lot lately... Maybe it's because for the past month I have been on a Weigh Watchers plan and have been counting points on top of points, and have realized that there are not enough of those for me to be able to enjoy the guilty pleasures that I have. But on a happy note, I am now 7.8 ibs healthier and I couldn't be more excited about it.  

So to fulfill my food (and design) craving, I wanted to share my favorite food styling/illustrated photography by Dietlind Wolf! The styling is great, simple and creative. And the use of watercolor illustrations are a super clever way to substitute props, using the white background to make all the other colors pop out.

I'm in total awe with this amazing design and totally getting hungry right now.  All I want to do is throw my daily points out of the window and munch on some buttery piece of bread, dipped in a cheesy mix followed my a mouthwatering piece of red meat! ;) 

xoxo,

m 

what colored my weekend - pink people

Hello and welcome back! This post was originally scheduled to go live yesterday, but I had a pretty hectic day and it completely slipped my mind... So without further ado, this is what inspired me this weekend.

Maybe it's the fact that I have been craving a beach getaway in a while or maybe it's the end of summer in sight, but I am entirely captivated by the work of Monica Ramos.  Particularly this beach scene (called Summer Love) that run edge to edge in the most perfect pink pastel color palette that make you somehow feel the warmth of a sunny day. 

In order to cool down the temperature, I decide to pair the illustration with easy breezy pink perfections, such as the hand painted Mara Mi Kiefe stationery set with gold foil printed inside envelopes; the pop of color S.M.E.G refrigerator, that I know will probably never find it's way into my home due to it being, well PINK; and last but not least pink hunters for rainy season - that is everywhere else but Southern California ;)    

What inspired you this weekend? Please do share. 

xoxo,

m

product branding: wishbone coffee

Images via behance

The alarm goes off, you turn around and try to reach for your phone. After feeling the nightstand with your hands  for a few seconds while your eyes are still closed, you find it and can't help but hit the snooze button. Even though the phone is telling you to get out of bed, your sleepy self knows there is another alarm coming on in the next 5 minute window. 

Does this morning routine sound familiar to you? This is exactly what goes on every single work day morning for me! The feeling of never wanting to get out of bed takes over me and I can barely open my eyes to turn the alarm off... Even though I clearly went to bed at 9 pm the night before, there is nothing that will get me out of bed with the first ring of the alarm. Well, there is one except to this rule: coffee! Freshly brewed coffee. This is the only cure to my love for sleep. Black, no sugar, french pressed Brazilian coffee will get me out of my sleepy mode in no time! 

This is why this adorable color block design has been on my mind, ever since I found it online. Even though the content is not Brazilian, Guatemalan coffee with a side of good design is something I am okay with any day! 

Designed by Also Known As, the main objective of the project was to re-think the traditional packaging methodology used for coffee. "Used as a tool to showcase our ability to think and work beyond the convention, we determined from the out-set that drawing inspiration from uncommon sources was essential to the success of the project (...) An attractive shape, an airtight seal, something unexpected. This container delivers on all counts, but how to break from the unfriendly, industrial, and for all intensive purposes toxic associations we as consumers have made with that form?" 

For that the designers did right in adopting a bright yet soft color pallette combined with elegant and approachable type, that helps soften the bran against the harshness of the metal material of the packaging.  

Now, I can say I am in the mood for a cup of coffee. In a local little coffee shop with hand crafted wooden chairs and on a brightly hued mug! Wishful thinking for a Wednesday morning? 

xoxo,

m

p.s: check out Also Known As pinterest and instagram account. All sorts of inspiring things are happening over there! 

what inspires me - clementine daily

All images via clementinedaily.com

If I had to pick one online publication that speaks to me and that inspires me on a daily basis it would have to be Clementine daily! I don't even remember how I ever came across such wonderful website, but all I can say is that I am glad I did. The gals at Clementine sure get me and they talk about everything I would love to talk her on my little blog and inspire me to do so. They incorporate all the lovely things in life - and I'm not just talking about pretty dresses and statement necklaces. Little things that are ever so important for us to truly live a full life with the people we love and with ourselves. Without further ado here is their ever so charming manifesto: 

"Clementine believes in the simplest of pleasures – the power of worn denim, her sister’s famous chocolate-chip cookie recipe and a fresh bouquet of hand-picked lilacs. She’s been known to burn the chicken when hosting dinner. Her library card is wrinkled and frayed. She paints outside the lines (and toenails). She never underestimates the power of mismatched throw pillows. She values wisdom over smarts and authenticity over perfection. Her thank you notes are handwritten (and OK, quite late). She’s an expert napper. She hates the phone, but loves the conversation. She always packs a spare, usually in the wrong handbag. She’s afraid of spiders, but not of hard work. She loves a good thunderstorm. She sings off-key (and oft). She’ll choose strawberry ice cream every time. She loves style,  not fashion. Her best ideas come to her in the shower. She pet-sits for neighbors. Mascara makes her sneeze. She believes that table crumbs are dinner’s confetti. She’s still on the hunt for her signature scent. She’s ever-growing, ever-changing, ever-learning. She’s a barista, a chauffeur, a chef, a teacher, a student, a therapist, a personal shopper, a cheerleader, an interior designer and a housekeeper. She’s better than good enough. She’s Clementine."

If I were you, I would run over to their site and sign up for their newsletter. Also, they sure do brighten my Instagram feed! 

And ohhh, this video... 

p.s: this blog post was not sponsored by clementine daily. these are my opinion only! 

xoxo,

m

hooray! it's the fourth

I love everything about 4th of July. The colors, the fireworks, family BBQ's and the good old American patriotism. Even though I was not born here in the States, and my immediate family lives far far away in Brazil, after being taken in by my lovely husband's family, I feel like this is my home. I am building my life here as an adult and I love everything about it.

With that said, having family in another country makes snail mailing not the best choice. Sure, I love writing letters and cards, but when the estimated arrival date is an average of a month at a time, I rely heavily on Paperless Post! They have great options with designs from Kate Spade, J. Crew, Johnathan Adler, and even Oscar de la Renta. Pretty fancy, hum?

It wasn't a surprise that the moment I received Paperless Post's email showcasing their Independence Day card collection, I flipped out! Even though I probably won't send anyone a "Happy Fourth of July" card, I fell in love with a few too many of their designs... If I had to choose, my favorite would definitely be the "Dinner and a keg" one. Common' a 4th of July celebration wouldn't be the same without a keg stand performance, am I right? Ok... I'm just kidding. I don't even remember the last time I did a keg stand.

Any-who, Chris and I (plus my lil' bro) are on our way to Vegas tomorrow!!! MY VERY FIRST TIME! To say I am excited is an understatement. This is will be a memorable Independence Day for sure!

Hope you have a fantastic holiday weekend, m'dears!

xoxo,

m

El Xitxarel·lo wine bottle packaging

Packaging design by Albert Virgili Hill 

I'm not the one to judge a book by it's cover, however when it comes to shopping for wine, what can I say... I am a sucker for a well designed label and will probably go with the cute wine bottle in the corner that I have no idea what it tastes like. It is true that 70% of the time the wine is not the best kind and I end up wishing I had gone for a classic Robert Mondavi (one of my favorites), but I think this one might have changed the odds.

The whole concept of the wine was created based on the intent to promote the consumption of local wine, and also recover the good old art of vintage insulting. Say what?? That is awesome. I am so guilty of using way too many bad words (sorry mom and dad!) and I love that sometimes people can embrace a ingenuous and funny insult!

In order to preserve the vineyard's unique language, El Xitxarel-lo dedicates its bottle to honor them. Each bottle contain 77 catalan insults, being each graphically represented considering its meaning.   

The best part, in my opinion, is the fake alcoholometer that "measures" your "drunk level" with old insults. So in the middle of the bottle you start feeling a bit "Calent" (a tad bit drunk) and by the end of the bottle you are considered a "bottle emptier". Brilliant! 

Now were can I find myself one of these for the weekend? 

Hope your week is off to a fantastic start and Happy Hump Day!

xoxo,

m

new office space

Grow-bot planter / Los Angeles print

Monday is upon us once again, and if you are anything like me you welcome it hesitantly. However, this week I am looking forward to spending tons of time in my office, because I have new furniture and a new layout. And we all know what that means.... Decorating is in order!! I do spend 40 plus hours of my week in that teeny space, so I might as well buy plenty of plants, a pretty b&w stripped pillow for anyone that wants to pop in and chat and an LA print to hang, don't ya think?  

All walls will be painted white and my furniture is a light color wood - minus an amazing mint Fiberglass Shell armchair (like this one but with funky arms) and gray filling cabinets. Since I have no windows (hence no natural light) I want to keep things white, bright and green. 

Hopefully by the end of this week I will have everything in place and will be able to post an update! In the meantime, if you have any suggestion on what kind of plant can grow inside with no sunlight (probably none), please send it my way!!! 

xoxo,

m

what's blooming in june

I cannot believe that we are halfway through 2014. Crazy! Nevertheless, June is a beautiful month and I intend on enjoying it to the fullest. There is nothing like the first month of warm weather. Flowers are in full bloom and people are happy to be sporting summer clothing and eating alfresco once again. Sometimes I think June has us all fooled.... You know perfect 75 degree weather, humidity is still at ease. It makes us feel like summer will be mild and perfect! Ha! As if. Come July we will all be begging for Fall (or an incredibly cold swimming pool to lounge in.)

Jokes aside... This is my very first summer in Southern California and I am definitely having mixed feelings about it. On one hand I LOVE that humidity here is never an issue. But on the other hand.... have you ever experienced desert weather before??? It's painful. Plus your skin feels like it will fall off and die of dryness. I don't think I have ever spent so much money on moisturizer before. 

Wow, this post has gone way off track. Flowers. That was what I was supposed to be talking about. Daffodils, Gerbera's, Calla Lily's...These are definitely my favorite flowers of all time, making June the second best month of the year (October being the first.) So head on out to your nearest Trader Joe's and stock up on some pretty blooms! I know I will be doing just that this upcoming weekend. 

xoxo,

m

what colored my weekend: summer hues

hello sunshine flats / kate spade iphone case / anthopologie chair / coffee mug / print from tumblr no link 

And i'm back! Oh gosh, I am so so so devastated that I have left this blog behind this past few weeks but you know how it goes... Life happens and time is limited. Plus, I have turned into a full-time blogger at work and that has been where all my blogging attention has turned to. Regardless of the reasons, I am incredibly happy to be back and hope you all will forgive me for my absence :) 

To return on a very happy and colorful note, I put together my favorite mood boards: what colored my weekend! Usually I try to post this on a Monday using it kind of like a recap of my weekend, however we are breaking all kinds of rules today so why not do it on a Wednesday? After all, I am still daydreaming of my sun-filled weekend...

If you follow me on Instagram you are aware that my little bro flew all the way from Rio to spend a couple of months with Chris and I exploring Southern California, and we have been making the most out of it. On Memorial Day Weekend we camped in the Sequoia National Forest (jaw-dropping views) and this past weekend we decided to stay local and drive to Santa Monica beach and enjoy the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean. While there, we took the tourist route and ventured out on the pier for some good old hot dogs and ice cream cones. The never ending blue California skies always seem to inspire me... and along with the very colorful accents near the pier, it seemed like a what colored your weekend mood board perfect moment! 

Hope you are having wonderful week so far and here is to me coming back to the blogging world!!! I am so happy to be here :) 

xoxo,

m   

currently obsessed: pretty baskets

I have been obsessed over storage baskets for the past month. At first they seem  like an unnecessary object to purchase. You know... no kids to gather clutter, no fireplace therefore no firewood to store, throws usually are in use or thrown on top of the couch, and no room for one in our teeny bathroom. However, with the arrival of Lady (our new pup), there seems to be dog toys everywhere and boy does she like the stinky shoes we leave near the front door. Now just like that, pretty baskets are not so unnecessary anymore! 

For the past few weeks, I have been tracking down the cutest's basket around the web and have come down with a few that are going to be purchased in the near future (with the exception of one, since it is way over by budget). 

Here it goes... 

1. NATE BERKUS. This seagrass basket with the lovely navy details will most likely hold one of our balcony plant.

2. GEOMETRICAL pattern, I love you. This is a great inexpensive esty find and will most likely be housing all of Lady's 50 plus toys.  

3. TARGET does it again. Nothing like a great color block steady woven basket. This baby already resides in our apartment and keeps our shoes away from the pup.  

4. AND the overpriced one. The classic black and white stripes... Why do have to cost an arm and a leg? Now I have to find a more affordable one, even though I probably don't need (or have room for) another one. 

xoxo,

m