A Reason to Celebrate

I'm typically not one to get too much into the holiday season. What starts as a simple idea of getting together with family, turns into an endless stressful four-week search for a useful gift. That's where I've been lately. Out and about.

But when the frantic shopping is over, or it is just plain decided not to overexert the spending this year, the holiday season is still very special.

The sun sets early, the temperatures are cold, and more importantly, most of us are lucky to be granted holiday time from work to spend quality time with loved ones. I find the basis of this time a pagan-like tradition. It's a time to be close to the organic. Time to visit, time to release, maybe even time to reflect and face the fears. And it's time to bring nature inside the home--to be close to Mother Earth.

This post is a homage to bringing the outside, inside. I wish there were more time in the day to make any one of these decorations for my home.

Cranberry beaded wreath getting some reflection time. (image via www.marthastewart.com)

You can eat them AND decorate with them. The almighty orange. (image via www.goodhousekeeping.com)

Those shells found on the beach can stretch beyond that aquatic themed bathroom! (image via www.coastalliving.com)

Use greenery you already have by combining existing potted succulents with fall leaves and flowers. (image via www.apartmenttherapy.com)

Woodsy pinecones make a fun and lighthearted fireplace friend. (image via www.countryliving.com)

Don't let that cake stand gather dust. Make use of it with dried flowers from the garden, such as yarrow, pictured here. (image via www.countryliving.com)

Quick Fix for a Quick Season

Short on time? Money flying out your door this holiday season? Still haven't put up the holiday decor? Tired of the same old look year by year? What to do?

Bet you are glad to hear that it's time for another Cheapskate Tip!

The significant guy and I like to keep things pretty simple for the holidays. There's enough to worry about. He's managed to hang onto a potpourri of vintage ornaments and I've managed to keep a small, potted evergreen tree alive for a few years. I simply wanted to add some color and humor to it this year.

Given that approximately 28% of busy Americans shop online for the holidays, including myself, I thought it was best to utilize the cardboard shipping boxes as a foundation to making some ornaments. I also had hoarded for years this goofy Loteria paper. Your variation could be comprised of millions of possibilities.

The corrugation inside the cardboard panels evokes a readymade pattern and texture on the sides. Just add color.

Grab the glue stick and paste away. How you hang and display your final ornament will depend on what materials you decide to utilize. I call our tree the 'Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.'

(image via Charles M. Schulz)

It was best not to attach hangers to these ornaments and hang them. Instead, the Loteria ornaments were rested atop of sprigs and branches. We added some of the lightweight vintage ornaments we already had onto the tree, and the heavier vintage ornaments were displayed on the table around the base of the tree.

In just a couple of hours, I was in the mood for the holidays. Therapeutically ready, nonetheless.

Coupling Fashion Methods

Once upon a time, roughly thirteen years ago, I lived in Finland for about one month. I loved the Finns' sense of humor, their views of friends and family as priority, and their inclination toward the unusual...especially in fashion. I remember walking around in Helsinki in awe with the "anything goes" mentality. No fashion rules. And having no fashion rules allows creativity. It wasn't until 2006 that I discovered Hel Looks. Think Satorialist and Fruits, but documented strictly in Finland.

I couldn't help but take interest in the lovebirds on Hel Looks. The guy/gal pairings were different...yet similar. Couples in love, Finnish style. Does fashion play a role in the laws of attraction?

(All images via www.hel-looks.com)

What's Their Motif?

My significant guy and I were galavanting around Austin, TX recently where some vacant buildings that were once bare had seen a reawakening by the use of stencil art decoupaged to the exterior.

(images via Art & Facts)

Stencil grafitti (non gang-related )is a huge hit in my book--I enjoy gawking at stencil art as much I do with architecture while traveling. It is exterior, outdoor art. Most of it has immense meaning behind it. Street stencil art has been around since the late 1960s as a means of social activism and protesting....It is eye-catching and it reaches a pretty large audience. Quite effective.

I'd love to have all four of Tristan Manco's books sitting atop of my coffee table someday. Utter inspiration. It got me thinking about pulling the street art into interior decorating. Looks like others have beat me to it! Here are some ideas that are reminiscent of street stencil graffiti, though not rampant.

Ape Stencil incorporated onto a hallway wall from the Ed Roth collection (image via www.apartmenttherapy.com)

The amazing UK-based Stencil Library trio has shared some of their own work (image via http://designinspiration.typepad.com)

Comparable to the stencil-printed decoupage graffiti, Lark homeowners had the same idea with combining differing patterns of wallpaper (image via www.apartmenttherapy.com)

Bringing the "street" inside the home lightens the mood and brings a little humor into your life. I'm already thinking up new methods for my home...

Spooky!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Courtesy of the neighborhood flavor.

Different Strokes, Different Jokes

I recently moved from Austin, TX to San Antonio, TX. Only an hour by distance, but worlds away by the vibe. I thought the best way to illustrate the slight differences were by way of fashion styling. Obviously Fall 2009 has it in big for shiny satin fabrics, bib necklaces, layered chains, detailed belts and pleated, ruched clothing. Although both cities have their own unique wonderful offerings, both are also undergoing unusual growing pains. I couldn't help but poke fun at both.

Austin: "Nice loft. What do you do for a living to afford this kind of lifestyle?"

San Antonio: "If I hold out my purse one direction, it will provide a counter-balance to my sexy flamingo stance."

Austin: "You want to dance with me? I know I'm hot, but I'll look flattered."

San Antonio: "It's a tough job as a secretary, but if I dress right, my boss just might take me out for some shots of Stolichnaya."

Austin: "I think about so many things going on in this world that I forget who I am."

San Antonio: "I have a younger 'hippie' sister who lives in Austin who just doesn't know who she is. At least I know that if I look like a bejeweled Pomeranian, I'll woo everyone at tonight's social soiree."

Show me your city's local magazine fashion shots. Better yet...show them to me with your own sarcastic jokes.
(images via Tribeza & SA Woman magazines)

Pondering the Ensemble

Each year, we contemplate the ensemble for Halloween. Having the opportunity to dress up like someone or something else (with societal approval) gives us a giddy feeling. I'd actually like to dress up on a random day besides Halloween and see the reactions of others. That would be a separate experiment...

After Halloween is said and done, I strangely find that when returning home, I am more than happy to peel out of the costume and return to myself. We seem to look forward to being someone else, only to find that we appreciate who we are after the change was made. Maybe its the temporary feeling of "checking out" that appeals to us so much.

That said, I've been obsessing with the costume choice for this year. In years past, I've always made my own costumes. I hit the thrift stores, search the internet, and re-visit my past memories for that certain ah-ha inspiration.

I found these little costumes on the internet that had me giggling all night. There's something about kids dressed as food that I can't resist.

Sushi and sashimi anyone? (image via marthastewart.com)

I'd like some shrimp on the side, please (image via marthastewart.com)

A cupcake for dessert will satisfy that sweet tooth! (image via craftster.org)

Can't wait until breakfast to devour those waffles! (image via marthastewart.com)