When It Rains It Pours!

By Melanie

Friday evening after shopping for Christmas presents, my car broke down! I had to have it towed all the way home. We're in the process of getting it fixed. Ugh! I hate car problems.

source: pricenetwork.ca.com

Luckily my Honda CRV has been pretty good throughout the years. But it's still not fun dealing with car issues! It almost makes me want to get a new car but it's just so nice not having a payment now.

source: Clifford Coffin 1950 Vogue Magazine

So after all the car problems, I enjoyed the rest of the weekend. It was nice staying in and listening to the rain Saturday night. I totally got into the holiday spirit and played some Christmas music and designed my Christmas card! I should get it back from the printers on Tuesday and I can't wait to mail them out.

I used one of the engagement photos that Brian and I toke awhile back (here) and turned it into our Christmas card.

Engagement photograph by Henry Bui at glimseink.com
(Christmas card designed by me)

I wanted it to have a California feeling so that's why I didn't use traditional Holiday colors. I think it turned out cute! Do you like it?

How was your weekend?

side note: Did you see the shocking DEXTER season finale? Whoa! That was intense!

Rain Drops

By Melanie


photo via Allure Magazine

It's supposed to rain here in So Cal all weekend. Although I love the sunshine, I have to admit that I'm exited for it to rain. Cozy! Plus Heather and I will be in South Beach next weekend for our cousin's wedding and it will be warm there! So rain and maybe a movie sounds so good this weekend!

Weekly Looky Lou:

• Brazen Careerist: Ceres Chua talks about changing careers and doing what she loves in "It takes Courage." I love how she talks about being okay with being behind the career "schedule". I totally agree that for some people it takes time (and wrong careers) to find the courage to go after your dreams.

• Brunch at Saks posts about black, white and silver holiday decor. I love veering away from the traditional and stepping outside the box.

• Dirty Blonde posts the WILDFOX Barbie Summer 2010 campaign. Funny campaign -Hangover Doll- LOL! Perfect for the holiday parties!

source: Dirty Blonde

This Barbie must have had too much eggnog!

Have a great Friday and a warm and toasty weekend!

PrettyFine Giveaway Winner!

A big thanks to everyone that made a sweet comment on our $100 giveaway post for a gift certificate to PrettyFine Jewelry. I scribbled all the names on tiny strips of paper, tossed them in a bowl and the winner is....

Jennifer! Yep, the one we all know and love in the blog world: Made by Girl.

AND, for kicks, I decided to offer 2 additional $50.00 Gift Certificates...

The second winner is Julia from Fourteen Fashion Statements!
But um, I not sure the postal service will deliver to "Narnia : Neverland" as stated as your location on your blog. ;)

The third winner is Erin from Calivintage!

I'll be contacting everyone tonight with the Gift Certificates.

Check out some new additions I'm adding to the PrettyFine site this week:

Over-sized "Jigsaw" natural shell necklace with a 30" 14k gold snake chain. The shell design measures a whopping 4" in length and width.
$60.00 with free shipping. A great holiday present for the stylish.
Matching earrings coming soon too!

Over-sized "MOP" natural shell necklace with a 30" sterling silver snake chain.
$55.00 with free shipping. The price is right for a holiday present *wink wink*.
It reminds me of a more subdued version of this:


A great offbeat daytime look. Sterling silver Dendrite Opal pendant with a 30" snake chain. $120.00 (with free shipping).

Rainbow Moonstone Cross pendant necklace.
$70.00 (with free shipping).

P.S. We offer a 20% affiliate program. Help us get the word out, in return generate passive income. Sign up here (it's free and easy).

Stop to smell the flowers

By Melanie

I'm sure you all can agree that when you have limited funds and Christmas gifts to buy finding another use for an item you already own is the best! The flower in the hair is one of my favorite looks. It's just so pretty and glamorous.

So I was so excited to see another creative use for it on the Etsy store Prudence Octavia. Decorative napkin rings. What a great idea! Perfect for the holiday party, girls get together or a sweet dinner for your guy. This flower really makes a plain napkin look so stylish.

Source: Prudence Octavia

I wish I would have seen this before I hosted Thanksgiving dinner. Oh well. Good excuse to have a dinner party, right?!

P.S. Today is the last day to enter the $100 giveaway (click on the sidebar icon)!

Blogger Pick 3

by Heather
Blogger stalk with me...

via Style Bubble. I love this eclectic Londoner. Susie's writing is just as colorful as her fashion sense (although, ironically, I choose an outfit post lacking color).

via Beckerman Bite Plate. Gotta love sister blogs ;) Three blond mavens chronicling their outfits from Toronto.

via Fashionnerdic. This 18 year old shopping addict from the Netherlands has impeccable style.

It's been cold and rainy in Los Angeles, so I think I subconsciously picked grey and black color schemed fashion to go with my weather induced mood.

DIY - A Perfect Spot To Read

By Melanie

I saw this photo below and was instantly inspired to revamped an ugly old table that my boyfriend has. Instead of asking him to store it (and by store I mean hide) in the garage, I decided to DIY my own night stand!


Source: Made By Girl (From Room Service)

Originally I was going to paint it a bright color like the one above but then I thought that would compete too much with my fuchsia drapes and the room would have way too much pink. So I decided to stick with a very pale blue.

DIY Project begins:

Is this an eye sore or what! It even has rust!

After about a 1/2 of sanding and painting it, here is the finished DIY:

Although it's a bit on the short side, it works perfectly for a nightstand by my bed in the spare room. I love the how it's a great spot to place my favorite reads.

It actually is not as small as it looks in this photo though.

I think DIY may be my new hobby!

Side note: This past weekend I finally rented Twilight. Umm..I hate to say it but I didn't think it was that great. And I LOVE vampire and ghost stories. I thought it was a bit kiddie. You can tell it is made for teens. But maybe my view is skewed since I'm addicted to HBO's True Blood series.

Did you like Twilight? New Moon? I heard the books are better than the movies so maybe I'll read them.

Busy Girl

By Melanie


source: V magazine

I've been working late all week so I haven't had a chance to create a Weekly Looky Lou this Friday. But don't be disappointed or upset because it will be back next week! I just haven't had any time to check out the blogosphere (I hope to catch up on my favs this weekend).

So just a little Friday inspiration.

source: W mag

Lookbook: Sparkle

by Heather

A little sparkle for a holiday party.
I'll be attending my boyfriend's condo association's x-mas party in San Diego this Sunday. He said the attire is "smart casual" so do you think this fits the bill?





(click on photos to enlarge)

Grey sweater stolen from sister's closet; Belt from American Apparel; Black stretch pants by 7 for all Mankind (bought a year ago at Loehmann's); pumps from 9 West; Necklace from PrettyFine; rings from PrettyFine; Earrings from PrettyFine; Purse by Cynthia Rowley (another Loehmann's find from a couple of years ago -- gosh, I use to practically live there!).

Like the jewelry? You can win it by entering the giveaway (click on present icon on right hand sidebar).

Home Sweet Home at MoMa

By Melanie

One of the MoMa exhibits that I saw during my NYC visit was home decor/interior design (see Monday's post for part 1).

I loved the colors and style.




This light fixture is amazing!

Ooh, I love the pink! The chain is made of hearts. How cute!

Love the sleek simple style.

What a fun yellow balloon like chair.

source: Please check out MoMa to see who the designers are.

I had such fun seeing this exhibit. Now I'm in the mood for some home decorating!

Happy Seattle

by Heather

Over the holiday weekend I went to Seattle with my boyfriend to have Thanksgiving with his family. It was an awesome trip. My first time in Seattle and I loved it. Also my first time meeting my boyfriend's family and they were so sweet and welcoming.


We walked all over downtown Seattle on Friday and it was actually sunny!

We went to the free sculpture park which was pretty cool.



My woodsy requisite Seattle shot.

Pike's Place market had the most sinful mac n' cheese from Beecher's....and you know how I have a weakness for the gooey goodness.


If you look close you'll see that I caught this couple smooching at sundown.

This picture was taken right before the tree lighting in Westlake Center, but the crowd was so massive that we turned and walked in the opposite direction. It was beautiful there with all the white lights.
We capped off our day with a cocktail at the Four Seasons hotel bar. These pretty silver Holiday trees lined the lobby.

How was your holiday?

P.S. Don't forget to enter the $100 giveaway (click on side bar present icon)!