I religiously follow interior design genius Emily Henderson's blog. Her ideas are brilliant, the photos are gorgeous, and her writing style is equal parts hilarious and heart warming.  All the way back in January of 2015, she wrote a post about the generic sofa.  There in the round up of boring, sad sofas were several that looked pretty similar to my own.   Flashback to 2012, I had gotten a sleeper sofa for my apartment in St. Louis from a place called Weekends Only Furniture Warehouse that was literally only open Friday-Sunday.  Apparently only being open on weekends meant they could charge less for furniture. Interesting model right? Anyways, I had bought an affordable tan option because I was fresh out of college, in grad school, and needed something for my living room that wasn't totally ridiculous.  Tan was a safe choice: I was going to be living in apartments for an unknown amount of time and tan just goes with everything. That couch came with me from St. Louis to Denver and got plenty of use in my apartments. Because it was tan it was easy to dress up with pretty pillows or a fun throw every time I switched places. But once I moved into the house it was particularly sad and disheveled. We have 2 extra bedrooms that could be used for guests so we don't need an extra heavy sleeper sofa in the living room. Especially one that is painfully uncomfortable because the seats were losing their structure.  No one wants excruciating back pain from Netflix bingeing.


I was ready to wait a very, very long time to invest in a new sofa. However, as a very generous birthday/graduation gift, my mom decided to relieve me from my painful, sad couch and took me to pick out a new sofa.



Behold. My brand new sofa.  I took the plunge and went for a beautiful, rich, navy color. This bad boy is anything but boring.  It's velvety and feels so soft.  It adds a dramatic pop of color to my very neutral house. It's everything I ever wanted in a sofa. I think Emily would be proud with my couch selection. 

Moving into a new space pretty much means that I obsessively look through design blogs to find inspiration for how to decorate and organize.  It's also a great way to procrastinate (ugh biostats, don't even want to touch you with a ten foot pole).  Recently I stumbled on a house tour from Design*Sponge and I was floored by the living room.  The art! The textiles! So many colors! Check it out below: 









Home tour by Design*Sponge/Grace Bonney

I spotted this amazing home on THE STYLE FILES and I just had to share it with you.  It's an absolute stunner.  I love the mix of textiles, the clean lines, and the simple style.  Plus, it looks like such a relaxing space.  I adore the colorful tiles around the fireplace.  I would spend all weekend curled up in that bed with a book.  Brunches at breakfast nook? Pure perfection.  I'm also head over heels in love with the tiny vanity in the bathroom.  You should take a peek at this dreamy home and check out the full post here.

It's been about a month since Steve and I moved into our apartment.  So far we love it! Now that things are finally falling into place, I thought I should share some pictures of our beautiful and cozy new home.  










 

My dad is a major foodie.  He loves going to a restaurant and trying to pick a part a recipe so he can make it at home.  He favors bold flavors and wild ingredients.  If you have a foodie in your life who loves to eat, cook, bake, and grocery shop, here are a few delicious suggestions.  The Siracha Cookbook is perfect for your loved one who has to put the spicy and fantastic sauce on everything.  This salt of the America's kit is a great idea for an adventurous cook.  Krave jerky sounds incredible with flavors like Orange Pineapple and Chili Lime.  Malley's is a Cleveland staple.  My personal favorites are the Malley-Oh's and the insanely rich Fudge Sauce, both make amazing gifts.  Jeni's Ice Cream is another famous Ohio treat.  Although I've never had it, I've heard that it's amazing.   How can you not love flavors like Wildberry Lavender and Black Coffee?  Another great gift is delicious Marionberry Jam from Oregon.  I would die and go to heaven if I received a luxrious cheese from Cowgirl Creamery.  I was drooling looking at all of their cheeses.  Want to go for a bold gift? Pick a Himalayan Pink salt board. 

Happy Gifting!


P.S I can't believe there are only 8 days until Christmas! 

My boyfriend's younger sister has worked on an organic farm for the past 7 months, plays the banjo, and loves all things outdoors.  For the "little" sister who dreams of hiking the Appalachian Trail, wants to WWOOF for a summer, or spends most of her time in overalls, I say go for organic, local, or practical gifts.  Burt's Bees is probably one of the most popular lip balms on the market.  My personal favorite scents are the mango and the peppermint.  Another great gift idea is a tote with a funny saying or a pun to take with her to the co-op or farmer's market.  For her love of farming and all things green: a wildflower seed packet in beautiful packaging for her garden in the summer.  If she wants to bring the outside inside, these adorable plant markers are perfect to label her potted herb plants. A pretty bracelet that is both tough and chic (and it's proceeds go towards nutrition programs).  You can't go wrong with a bright pair of gloves that will never get lost in a New England snowstorm.  Another staple is a cozy pair of socks to wear all winter with her Bean boots. I love the Rifle Paper Co.  Herbs and Spices 2014 calendar.  It would be great addition to her dorm room decor.  Any tea-lover/animal-lover will adore this adorable mana-tea.  And if you're really stuck, get her the most practical piece of clothing you can possibly own: a L.L. Bean flannel. 

One of my favorite gifts of all time was when my aunt donated mosquito nets on my behalf.  This year, since I am now fortunate enough to have a paycheck, I hope to give gifts that serve double duty.  Here's a list of some incredible options that are beautiful both in physicality and meaning.

1) Heifer International.  Heifer International gifts are more than just charity: they are sustainable.  Rather than just giving food, they give cattle, sheep, camels, or goats which can produce food long term for consumption and for sale.
2) Oxfam International.  Oxfam is committed to long-term solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice.  Gifts such as mosquito nets and water jugs may not seem like much but they vastly improve public health initiatives.
3) World Bicycle Relief. This amazing organization works in two ways: it makes sustainable bicycles and sells them (at a reasonable price) to those in need of affordable transportation.  By purchasing goods from their store, you can help fund their incredible project.  Check out the store here.
4. TOMS Marketplace.  TOMS shoes and sunglasses are well known, but have you heard of the new TOMS Marketplace? It's a place for social entrepreneurs to raise awareness and sell their goods.  I love this bracelet, hat, and table runner.  You can also shop by cause and region.
5. Kiva.  Kiva is a fantastic non-profit organization that uses the internet to help microfinance individuals around the world.  You can give a loan for as little as $25 to help businesses grow and support education.
6. Thistle Farms.  Thistle Farms is part of Magdalene, a residential program in Nashville, TN for women who have survived prostitution, trafficking, addiction and life on the streets.  Thistle Farms is a job training program through Magdalene that allows women to gain experience in manufacturing, packaging, marketing and sales, and administration. Purchases of Thistle Farms products directly benefit the women who make them.
7. Proud Mary.   Proud Mary works with global artisans in the developing world to create beautiful accessories and home goods. All of their fabrics are produced in collaboration with textile artisans using traditional methods of weaving and printing. Their artisans are paid a fair wage for their work.  I love their beautiful pillows and bags!
8. Far & Wide Collective. Far & Wide Collective partners with extremely talented artisans from post-conflict and emerging economies. Their goods are on the pricer side, but they are beautiful and support amazing talents from across the globe.
9. 31Bits. The 31Bits model is to empower people by selling their products in the fashion industry.  Their products are ethically made in Uganda. All of the jewelry from 31Bits is stunning and beautifully crafted.
10.Accompany. This amazing company scours the globe to look for beautiful, handmade, ethically sourced products.  Many of their products are associated with some pretty incredible humanitarian initiatives. 

I hope you liked this list of gifts that give back.  If you can't financially support a good cause, you can also give your time: volunteer at a local pet shelter or a soup kitchen, organize a food drive at your school or office, or donate your gently used clothes. 

This year, so many people in my life have either gotten married or engaged.  When thinking of thoughtful gifts for newlyweds or the recently engaged, I immediately gravitated to home goods that were both practical and fun.  I love the idea of a picnic basket: it's a great choice for couples who enjoy spending time outside.  A picnic is a romantic and easy date and a picnic basket makes it both easier and more glamorous.  For the couple that travels, a scratch off map is a perfect way to commemorate trips taken together.  Another wonderful idea is a great smelling candle for romantic nights in.  A ring dish is both sentimental and practical: it serves as a place to always put your ring so you never lose it (Side note: I LOVE that it comes in "Mr. & Mrs.", "Mr. & Mr." and "Mrs. & Mrs.").  Give the homebodies you know the coziest throw for watching movies together on the couch.  Agate coasters are equal parts practical and pretty.  If all else fails, a set of gilded letter mugs are a winning choice.  You can buy a set with letters with their initials or you can buy a several that spell out a sweet word (LOVE, XOXO, or any other meaningful word).

Ah yes, it's that time of year again.  Thanksgiving is next week, Hanukkah is fast approaching and Christmas will be here way too quickly! After last year's last minute shopping fiasco, I've decided to do all of my shopping now.  For the next few weeks, I'll be providing gift guides for a variety of recipients.  This week, it's all about your L.L Bean Boyfriend.


Is your boyfriend an L.L. Bean Boyfriend?  If the answer is yes, here are some sweet gifts he'll love.  In fact, they're great gifts ideas for anyone who loves the great outdoors and enjoys craft beers (I know plenty of ladies, myself included, who enjoy such things and would like most of these gifts with the exception of the beard tonic). An obvious choice is to add another flannel to his collection.  L.L Bean makes legendary flannel shirts that he'll always love.  Although L.L Bean Boots are a wintertime staple, a pair of leather chukka boots are a great alternative. A rucksack is perfect for casual camping trips, international adventures, and even day to day use.  This hilarious growler is perfect to bring home his favorite brew from the local craft brewery.  Warm socks and a wool cap are perfect for staying warm on winter walks.  Whiskey stones are a perfect addition to his bar collection.  This highly rated Beard Tonic will keep his whiskers silky smooth.  This sunscreen from Kiehl's will keep him well protected from the sun all year long.  Other fun gift ideas include taking him snowshoeing, visiting a local whiskey distillery, and just spending some quality time outside.