Sweet Santa Barbara

This weekend, my boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary (we go by our first date) with a quick weekend getaway to Santa Barbara.

It's always fun to get out of the city for a few days and while Santa Barbara is only a couple hours away, it definitely felt like we were on vacation. The gorgeous drive up the coast, walking through the cute shops on State Street (I found adorable cupcake papers at Sur la Table), delicious meals out, and a canopied king bed in a beautiful hotel suite to come home to (we stayed at The Canary Hotel). We enjoyed a Sunday brunch in the hotel with live jazz music. I ordered lemon ricotta pancakes and he the eggs benedict - both delicious!

{the hotel lobby}

{crisp white linens. hotel beds are my favorite!!}

{I loved the star lanterns in the bathroom, although you can't really see them in this picture}

The decor of the hotel was done in classic Santa Barbara style: white walls with arched openings, Mediterranean red tiling, blue ceramics, and colored accents. I love that breezy California style and actually decorated our house in a similar aesthetic.

Decor aside, what was truly best about this weekend was just being together, the memories made, the good laughs..

And now... back to Monday!

Sweet Girl Gifts

Aside from the religious and spiritual meaning of the holidays (duh), there are so many little things that I love about this time of year. Twinkle lights, holiday music (playing on SiriusXM Love channel - so good!), a lit fireplace, and presents to name a few!!!

While I received these fabulous items (below) as housewarming gifts, I thought I would share with you some of my favorites, just in case you're in search of the perfect last minute stocking stuffer.

Voluspa crisp champagne double wick candle and 'Shine Eternally' matchbook (from my dear friend Brooke, now in our guest bathroom)

William-Sonoma Ginger Spice Cookies (from my friend Kat).

These are amazing!!! They are melt-in-your-mouth delicious and come in cute little shapes like boots and Christmas trees. They're so thin it's like the calories don't really count, right?!

Henri Bendel peony scented travel candle (thanks Abbie!). I am a candle connoisseur and this candle is my new favorite. The fragance is heavenly and there is something about candlelight that is so relaxing and peaceful (especially in this rainy winter weather). I can't wait to try the other fragrances like Fig, Gardenia, Vanilla Bean, and Lavender Leaves.

Taschen Living In Morocco coffee table book.

My friend Tiffany knew how much my summer trip to Morocco had inspired me, and this book is filled with the most gorgeous imagery of Mediterranean interiors.

Below, Martha Stewart's Chunky Knit Throw (in Ivory from my friend Sara). The most scrumptious of blankets.

Also one of my favorites is Keiki Co.'s luxury throws. I have two. My mom has six. They're addictive.

And last but not least, from my seesther (sister) A POPCORN MAKER!!! Popcorn is my favorite snack and therefore sentimental to me. This gift was the best!!!

Another Highlight

My new favorite store: Paper Source

Now that my new hometown is the Hollywood Hills, I am halfway between Studio City and West Hollywood, and since I am a valley girl (and a valley girl at heart), I tend to run my errands in the valley half of our neighborhood. There's better parking and less hipsters. Enough said.

I was on my way to do something productive and work related, like deposit checks at the bank or somethin', when I was overcome by a desire to stop into a store that I had driven past, dozens of times, Paper Source. A big beautiful store located on Ventura Boulevard ( + Laurel Canyon).

And I was not disappointed. This is my new favorite store!!! For one, the store is gorgeous. Mosaic tile entrance... celadon green paint... you had me at hello.

Inside are the most beautiful of things: hand pressed stationary, gilded picture frames, luxury hand creams.. soy candles... aprons with cupcakes...cupcake cookbook.. cupcake bandages! I die. This store is one version of my heaven (the other version is a room full of down comforters, I am very very thin, and there are peonies, orchids, and Red Vines everywhere).

While, I wanted to blow my entire savings account in this small store, I resisted and bought only a few items. This picture frame. It's beee-utiful and it reminds me of my summer trip to Morrocco...

And I'm a sucker for cute bandaids/cupcakes, thus this purchase was a necessity.

And some stationary.

Other items that I wanted to buy, but resisted:

In short, YOU MUST visit this adorable shop. J'adore. Click here for store locations.

Upgrade Of The Day: Fresh Flowers

There is nothing I love more than fresh flowers. Roses, orchids, peonies, and rananculus are my absolute favorite! As well as sunflowers, lilies, gardenia, hydrangeas, lilac... the list can go on forever.

I really think that flowers are some of God's best work.

Today, add some LIFE to your life! Splurge on yourself... get a dozen!

And when the flowers begin to wilt, dry them by tying them into a bundle with a ribbon and turning them upside down... and voila! Enjoy forever!

Home Sweet Hollywood Hills

Finding a new place to live might be one of the most stressful and challenging things to do! EVER!

My boyfriend and I are moving in together and have been looking at places for the past 3 months. From Westside Rentals to real estate brokers, we must have looked at 100 different places! Nothing 'fit'.

Then one day, we were clicking around on Craigslist and saw a listing for a gorgeous house for a price so affordable we thought it had to be too good to be true! We decided to drive by the house to make sure that the address was legitimate. As we pull up to the Spanish style house, I start to get the chills.. yup, this is our house.. It is beautiful! Maple trees, and buganvilias grow over archways, rustic white shutters, and Mediterranean red clay tiling. We are in love!

Like crazy people, my boyfriend is hoisting me up so I can look over a wall to see more. We nearly collapse into the bushes as passersby look at us with suspicion, so we decide to halt our CIA style investigation and call the phone number on the for lease sign to get more information. We find out that the Craigslist post was a scam, and that the asking price for this house is TEN times what we thought it was. Hearing our disappointment and feeling hopeless, the realtor on the phone assures us that he would help us find a great place within our price range.

And so the following weekend, we have several addresses and open houses to visit. We spend the whole morning driving around, scoping out possibilities. Towards the end of the day, we come to a house in the Hollywood Hills. It looks promising but we can't really tell, so we get out of the car to examine the exterior.

At this point, I really have to pee! Like REALLY BAD. We've been driving around town for hours and sipping on Venti iced coffees. My boyfriend has to pee too! We give each other devilish looks. It is very remote where we are. Lots of land and trees. No one around...

loud whisper: 'Should I pop a squat? I'm gonna pee my pants!'

bf: 'Yeah, good idea babe. You walk up there a ways, and I'll keep a look out, and then, I'll go.'

me: 'No, I'm scared. Just come pee with me.'

bf: 'Okay fine.'

me: 'But don't look at me!! Turn around!!!'

So here we are. In the nicest part of the Hollywood Hills... Peeing. Together. In broad daylight.

20 days later, that house is ours. We signed the paperwork and everything! You know how dogs mark their territory... well, I'm convinced that our peeing on this property was a good omen. After months of searching, stressing, and cottage cheese ceilings, we finally found our home. A gorgeous house in the hills complete with a sparkling city view.

Home sweet home indeed.

Diamonds Are Forever

Everyone knows that diamonds are a girl's best friend... but how about a diamond shaped light bulb? I like!

28 year old Swedish designer, Eric Therner created Diamond Lights after tiring of regular round bulbs. The designers says, "I'd like to think of Diamond Lights as a sculpture with a function... to me diamonds are surrounded by a mystic, romantic feeling that I like."

We agree! What a 'bright idea'!

I Love Lucite

I've always wanted a bajillion dollars so that I can have nine homes (exaggeration) and decorate them all differently.

Namely, those styles are: spanish, mediterranean, and mid-century modern - in that order.

This fabulous furniture collection from designer Alexandra von Furstenburg (wife to Prince Alexander von Furstenberg, daughter-in-law to Miss DVF) would go in home number 3 obvi:

Into the blue. Clear acrylic and cool azure make this collection futuristic yet airy.

The 'Ice Acrylic' table in clear with green.

'Radiant Acrylic' coffee table in neon pink. This would be a neccessity in my modern living room, complete with white flowers and my Murakami coffee table book.

'Bullet Acrylic' coffee table in clear. This table reminds me of a diamond. So gorgeous.

These trays are classic and delicious and going in homes 1, 2, and 3.

Now, about that bajillion dollars...

Green Clean

A few days ago, I cleaned out my closet and to my surprise, by taking out items and editing, my wardrobe seemed to get bigger and more fabulous. There was space between the hangers! Everything looked so beautiful. Organizing your home and environment can make such a huge difference in your life. Invest in yourself, not just by buying things, but by taking out the clutter too! A clean home = a clean spirit.

HeatherBrookes Interior Organization is an LA based company that specializes in eco friendly reorganization. They are the masterminds behind fabulous celebrity closets and recycling things you don't need. But you don't need to pay the celebrity price! Mention OnceUponAShine blog and get a free consultation. Clean annnd green, a win win for all.