Happy Love Day!

I am so lucky to be able to spend this day with my forever valentine, my husband!

I am so blessed! 

The Artist and The Ebell on the big screen!

Can you believe it? I haven't seen a movie in theaters for over a year. With netflicks and itunes at our fingertips, Will and I always ended up deciding to stay in for movies-- but last night we finally dragged outselves off the comforts of our couch and ventured out to the movies-- and for a great one! We saw The Artist and absolutely loved it! We were not quite sure what to expect since we had never seen a silent black-and-white film in theaters before; but the talented actors, fantastic music, and clever yet moving story really captured my heart. And the icing on top was seeing The Ebell, where we held our wedding reception last September, in several scenes in the movie!

We first recognized The Ebell in the auction scene; the art salon where we held our cocktail hour served as the auction house. Then, there was a scene of Valentino running down the iconic grand staircase of the Ebell Lounge, where Will and I made our grand entrace into our reception! We also spotted the Ebell in scenes of Peppy Miller's house, a courtyard garden, and the hospital. It was so cool and perfect for the movie because

It was so cool and perfect for the movie because the Ebell dates right back to late 1920's Los Angeles, when the movie is set-- and it has stayed pretty much the same since then...

 

circa 1929

today

The Ebell was such a memorable venue for our wedding and will always hold a special place in my heart.

A Pair of Toms

I am actually considering getting a pair of TOMS. To be honest, Toms were never really my style and the first time I saw them, I thought they looked like Chinese peasant shoes….like these on Mulan~ 

My go-to casual flats have always been a pair of black steve maddens but quite sadly, they are just about worn through. So, I have been on the search for another pair of casual, comfortable flats that I can wear to work (lab shoes…meaning completely closed, not open at the top like most flats). I spotted this adorable pair of crochet Toms at Nordstroms: 

So cute! I started browsing and actually found quite a few pairs that caught my eye. I think there will be a pair of "sock-shoes" in my near future… but which one? 

love the pink sole! 

such a pretty mint color~ 

Nordstrom also exclusively carries these cozy-looking fleece lined Toms. These could be my uggs for springtime! 

Of course the best thing about Toms is their One for One program that gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need for every pair of Toms that is sold. I was reminded of my father telling me about one of his trips to China back in the early 80s. He visited a remote rural village in China that was very poor with no paved roads and the children did not have any shoes. He said he left the village with only the clothes on his back...he gave all of his luggage, extra clothes, and shoes to the children and villagers. That's why I think its so wonderful that Toms are giving shoes to children! 

A Personal Palette

I came across this fun quiz called Voice of Colors from Pittsburgh Paints through the decorology blog. It uses a combination of pictures, words, and sounds to create a personal palette that appeals to your personality, style, and senses. It's pretty cool for coming up with paint ideas for a room or even just finding a combination of inspiring colors for other projects.

 

via decorology

I got "Morning Rose" as my personality palette and I think it was pretty spot-on...although I don't think Will would ever let me paint the house pink or any shade of it (but that's perfectly ok with me)~

check it out here. 

Our Wedding Venue

This past weekend, The Ebell, our fabulous wedding venue, was featured in a LA times article! 

I miss this lovely place~ The article entitled "Stepping Elegantly into the Past at the Ebell of Los Angeles" characterized the Ebell as "a piece of history so cherished and lovingly protected that it remains in many ways frozen in an earlier era." This was precisely one of the main reasons I fell in love with the Ebell, that it was so rich in history that it emminated a classic elegance reminiscent of days when women danced in elaborate ballgowns and gentlemen wore stuits with a top hat. The rest of the article is here. Having our wedding reception at the Ebell was absolutely a dream come true! 

Prayer for the New Year

Happy New Years! Will and I started off 2012 in prayer with our beloved church. I wanted to share my key verses for this year from Matthew 6:20-21 and Matthew 6:33

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:20-21

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33

via ohhellofriend and jeffralinn

Reflecting on this past year, I have just been so blessed by God in so many ways. Although I don't want to take any of God's gracious and abundant gifts to me for granted, I pray that I won't become preoccupied with gifts and forget the giver. I want my heart to be more focused on everlasting heavenly treasures and trust in God to provide for all of my true needs rather than all of my fleeting wants. I know that with such a prayer there will probably be many challenges and struggles ahead, but I am grateful that Will and I have each other for support, accountability, and encouragement and ultimately, "...we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Our First Christmas Tree

So it's a little small....

and it's a bit prickly...

but it's potted (alive!)...

and very special because...

it's our very first Christmas tree!

I loved the idea of getting a potted Christmas tree because the tree would still be alive, shed less, and still have that wonderfully piney smell. At first I had my heart set on a 4' tree, but when we got the nursery they only had a handful of very sad looking 4' potted trees left. There were, however, plenty of 2' trees so we settled on that. We've had it for about 3 weeks now and I just love turning on it's twinkly lights every night.