Yesterday I awoke to another eight inches of snow. On top of the 2+ feet that still remained from the last snowstorm, everything seems devastatingly snowy to me. I find it both funny and sad how quickly the novelty-aspect wears off. The sun is shining today, so hopefully it will melt, melt, melt the aforementioned snow. In the meantime, I've been going through pictures and remembering times when I was warm!
When I needed an escape from Los Angeles smog (which I now miss, believe it or not!), my favorite excursion was to drive the two hours up into the mountains, and rent a cabin in Big Bear. Whether getting a bit of color on the porch, or sitting in front of the fire on a cooler evening, everything about Big Bear is relaxing. I love the hustle and bustle of urban living, but sometimes it's nice to take a break, breath the fresh air, revel in the beauty of nature, and recharge.
A view like this is a tremendous stress reliever!
And besides my own home, there isn't anything more cozy than a cabin.
Nothing says "relax" like a beer tasting.
Alpine sledding? Sure, why not!
Hiking? Yeah, I dig that!
Taking the ski lift to drink in the gorgeous scenery? Yes, please!
And it's pretty magical to look up at the night sky and see it filled with stars!
Big Bear is a skiing destination during the winter and it's quite lovely to visit then, but I prefer it during the off-season, when it's perfectly sunny and warm, wonderfully green and blue, less crowded, and exceptionally serene.
Images by Lauryl Lane.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle could not have said it better. The little things ARE infinitely the most important. Many people think of flowers as a "little thing." Or a luxury. I suppose they could be categorized either way. But whether "little" or "luxury," they make the world a brighter place. I can't imagine living without the ability to fashion and cultivate these gorgeous bits of nature into works of art.
One of my dearest friends is Megan Gonzalez of 
In celebration of Valentine's Day, here's a sneak peek of a bouquet I fashioned for a recent collaboration. More on that later. For now, isn't that ombre effect exhilarating? Hope you're spending a beautiful day with the one (s) you love!
{a+t}'s wedding | miss havisham chandeliers
Every once in a while, I come across an article, some exquisite styling, or some inspiring photography that I want to remember. In this case, it was an article from the March 2011 issue of Vogue Magazine. I clearly didn't take great shots, you can see 
Winter seems endless. I've never seen so much snow in my life. But I'm trying to stay positive and people keep reminding me that spring is just around the corner. I can hardly wait to see the dead landscapes of Colorado transformed into radiant green!
Thanks to all who have sent messages and tried to alert me that my website was down. It was actually out since Tuesday night due to some major hard-drive failures at the server host. As a result, my email wasn't working properly either, so I've been biting my fingernails the past few days, feeling somewhat at a loss.... you've no idea how much I rely on this site and my email for the day-to-day operations of running this business. I told my grandmother about this over the phone yesterday, and about the blizzard we're currently experiencing here in Denver, and she encouraged me to use the time wisely and consider it a "gift." I did manage to clean my office after having turned it into a war zone while I was prepping and paying my business taxes... and now that we're back "online," I'm excited to jump back into corresponding with my clients, relaying new design ideas, and of course, blogging!
I arrived home yesterday after being with my family in Cleveland for a week. The "currently reading" post that went up last Tuesday had been scheduled in advance, but otherwise the lack of posting was due to the fact that I was traveling, and grieving. My younger cousin Peter, who had been tormented by mental illness for the past ten years, chose to leave this life in search of something better. I still can't think of him without crying, but I am comforted by the knowledge that he is finally free.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson