Build your own bar cart!

KB loves to make drinks and we both love anything with a mid-century mod feel. This Christmas I decided to build him a bar cart! I used a bunch of bar stuff that we already had and added a few more to make it a complete cart. It turned out better than I could have imagined, mostly because KB really liked his Christmas presents! 

Bar Cart (similar, similar) || Similar Stag Champagne Bucket || Similar Cut Glass Shaker ||
Similar Gold Cups || Decanter and glasses set || Copper Lamp || Gin & Tonic Cup (not online) || 

Similar Copper Corkscrew || Moscow Mule Mugs || Initial Whiskey Stones || Copper Bottle Opener ||

The Dead Rabbit || Speakeasy || Ultimate Bar Book || Contraband Cocktails || 

Love you lots, 

Pantones of the Year!

I have wanted to post this for soooo long, but with Blogmas going on until three days ago I had to wait until it was over. Now that Christmas has passed (I'm a little sad), I can share with you a few pieces that fall in line with this year's top Pantones!! 

For the first time in my memory there are two colors of the year so we have lots to choose from! Expect to see a lot of pastel pink and periwinkle blue in the coming months, especially in the spring! Hopefully these options will help you add the hottest colors to your wardrobe so you can mix them in sooner rather than later!

One || Two || Three || Four || Five ||

Six || Seven || Eight || Nine || Ten ||

One || Two || Three || Four || Five ||

Six || Seven || Eight || Nine || Ten ||

I must admit I'm not a huge fan of pink, but I've been lusting after a pink trench coat and a mini skirt! So maybe I will treat myself to a few new items! On the other hand, I've always loved blue! I think I might need to find the perfect spring sweater in Serenity! 

Which of the two Pantones is your favorite?

Love you lots,

All the Shoes!

One || Two || Three || 

Four || Five || Six || 

Seven || Eight || Nine || 

Have you ever had those years when all of your gifts are a variation of the same thing? Like all sweaters or clothes? Well this was the year of the shoes! And let me tell you I was not complaining! 

So this Christmas I received quite a few pairs of shoes. I am a shoe fanatic, so you could say I was a little more than excited! Don't freak out, though, these weren't all Christmas presents. I purchased the pink ones at the beginning of the month Cyber Monday shopping and the tall brown boots were re-gifted to me after they didn't fit my mom. 

The Tory Burch pairs (booties and flats), the amazing Nike Flyknits, and the sandals were all Christmas gifts and I've been wearing them all since I opened them! I was so thankful to my family for all my amazing gifts and my stylish Mama made sure I was stocked up! The sandals and flats are coming with me this week to Miami! I can't wait to get near a beach again and wear sandals! Pedicure here I come!

Then! I went to the mall yesterday and the Nine West stores in San Antonio are closing their doors to focus on online shopping. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING is on sale! I got three pairs (black booties, patent flats and black pumps) for the original price of one pair of shoes! I spent less than $90. So if you are in the area RUN to the mall and see what's left in your size! 

My feet are so happy! 

Love you lots!!

Post-Christmas Shopping!

So I have to admit that day-after Christmas shopping is much more enjoyable to me than Black Friday. The deals are just as good and I have gift cards from the holidays to spend! These are the stores that I am shopping at today! (I mean the one's I am ordering from online.)

One || Two || Three || 

Four || Five || Six || 

One || Two || Three || 

Four || Five || Six || 

One || Two || Three || 

Four || Five || Six || 

Happy post-holiday shopping! 

Love you lots,

DIY: Christmas Pillows

Need one last gift? These are great and easy to make! You can paint them, let them dry this evening and then slap a bow on them in the morning! Merry Christmas! 

I made fall versions of these for Halloween and Thanksgiving and people loved them, so I knew I had to make some for Christmas! I made these stencils (links further down), grabbed some gold paint and I got to work. I started these in California and brought them to Texas to finish up the painting. Now my mom has fallen in love with them so I gifted them to her for her Christmas decor. I'll make some for my house next year!!

Time to get crafting!!

I made a full length video a few months ago about how to make these pillows. And instead of making the exact same video twice and boring you all, I will link the video here and you can follow the steps, but replace the stencils!! 

Here are the four new stencils for you to print and use!

Baby, it's cold outside || Ho Ho Ho || North Pole || Reindeer ||

Hope this last minute DIY helps with your Christmas gifting! Merry Christmas! 

Love you lots, 

Chocolate Chip & Walnut Banana Bread!!

I'm a sucker for a good banana recipe! I found this one a few years ago and I've made a few modifications over the years. I have it saved in a Word Doc and can't remember where I found the original that inspired me to make it, but I've made it every Christmas for the last few years!

It. Is. So. Good!

Here's what you need: 

 1/2 cup butter 

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 cup flour 

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

3 bananas (ripe ones are easier to squish!)

1/2 cup milk 

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup dark chocolate chips

Pam or another cooking spray

Bundt Pan

Cookie Sheet!

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit! 

 Step 2: Chop up the butter and add it in with the sugar. 

 Step 3: Turn on the mixer and combine the sugar and butter until it looks like the picture above.

 Step 4: Add your eggs one at a time and mix them up until they are fully combined.

 Step 5: Combine all of the dry ingredients and whisk them together until the flour is fluffy. 

 Step 6: Mash up your three bananas with a fork. 

Step 7: Add the milk and vanilla to the mashed vanillas and mix it all up until it's combined. 

 Step 8: Add the liquid and dry mixture in small alternating increments. Mix it all until it's combined! I needed to scrap the sides with a rubber spatula just to make sure the flour didn't stick to the sides and then I mixed it up again.

 Step 9: Add your walnuts and chocolate chips to the mixture and combine until they are evenly dispersed through out the mixture. (Secret note: I always add a couple extra chocolate chips because it's the best part, obvs!)

 Step 10: Spray your bundt pan with cooking spray. The worst thing is when your cake sticks to the top when you flip it! 

 Step 11: Pour the mixture into the bundt pan! Put the pan on top of a cookie sheet to protect your oven in case of overflow (it's never happened, but I'm paranoid). Bake for an 1 to 1 hour and 15 minutes. It's done when you can stick a knife in it and it comes out clean. 

Step 12: Let it cool for a while and flip the banana bread out of the pan! It smells amazing and tastes even better!! Share it with all of your friends because it's the best breakfast (or treat) EVER!

I am cooking this tasty bread for the second time this season this morning!

Love you lots, 

Warm Drinks & Warm Fires

For the adults in the room: 

What you need: 

1 1/2 oz whiskey1/2 oz elderflower liqueur1/2 lemon1 tsp honeySpices (cloves, star anise, or cardamom pods)
Put the spices in the cup, add the liquors and stir. Squeeze the lemon half into the cup and add a strip 

of its peel. 

Then, fill the cup with boiling water, and stir in honey to taste.

This is one of KB's favorite winter drinks to make!

Hope you enjoy your warm drinks, a warm fire and lots of family. 

Love you lots,