Friday, December 31, 2010

a very happy new year from me to you...


May the stars shine ever so brightly on you in the coming year....
See you here...after a little break... in 2011
xv


Play Food and Toys for Tots!



 Happy New Year to everyone!  I apologize for no post the last 2 weeks.
It's been a bit crazy and I was on a cruise with extended family the 
last week (connecting to the internet was $.50 a minute and I heard it
was an ultra slow connection so I refrained.)  

It's that time of life for me when many of my friends are young or new
mothers.  It reminded me that when I was young, I loved playing chef
or having tea parties.  I would have loved to have a little costume and
play food!  All of my picks in this post for play food is from Amazon
where I spend way too much every month on books, gifts and etc.


Since I just returned, I'm afraid I'm a bit late in posting this next part but
it is for a good cause and today is the last day.  CouponMountain.com has
pledged to give up to $50,000 to Toys for Tots based on the number of
"Likes" CouponMountain receives on Facebook. 

Toys for Tots is a charity that gives toys to unprivileged children who 
don't have normally have the chance to receive holiday gifts otherwise.
CouponMountain will give $1 for every time someone clicks the button
"Like" at the top of the below page.  Please take a moment log on and 
click "Like" on CouponMountain and pass it on.

How You Can Give $1 to Toys for Tots:
·      Select “Like”
·      CouponMountain will donate $1
·      Spread the word to your friends

 

I'm totally on a play food roll.  I think it's so cool 
because I never  got play with bonafide play food ^_^
 
 Baking cookies (which afterwards one 
can use the cookies in a play tea party.)

 Now this set is pretty cool.  You can decorate a cupcake with 
markers and then wipe them off to do it again and again.  They
have versions of this for cookies as well.  It reminds me of the
Cookie app on the I phone which I totally got hooked on.

 
 No one should forget about the food groups!


 
 Another look at the Food Groups.

 

Can't forget the fruit!  It's best to eat fruit on an empty
stomach to get the maximum nutrients possible - that 
means eating fruit before a meal or as a snack on it's
own.  It sounds like the opposite of what most people
do but it is true. 

 
 Pizza Party at my house!  This is really fun set for kids.

 

 This is what it looks like all done up and ready to serve.
 

How about a play food set for the boys?  What could
be better than a grill set for the boys :)  It's one of 
America's favorite past times in the summer - BBQ
and grill.


I am Asian so I must say that a stir fry set certainly appeals 
to me.  Also because it's just fun to dump food into a pan
and pretend to cook it by stirring it around.


It's pretty good - comes complete with a "knife" for 
chopping, snow peas, beef, mushrooms and veggies. 
There's one thing that I always thought was interesting,
Westerners usually eat the snow pea but not the snow 
pea leaves.  Chinese people usually eat the snow pea
leaves instead.


Last but not least is the special occasion fancy cake set. Every 
girl should have one of these ^_^  Perfect for a play party, a 
play tea party and play wedding.

Here's to getting in touch with your inner child.  Happy New
Year everyone!  I'm going to do my New Years Resolution
for 2011.  Whether I complete them is another story...
usually get at least half way through them so I'm thinking 
this year, my list should be more realistic as to what I think 
I can accomplish.
 

Happy New Year

So this is the part of the year where everyone makes promises they don’t end up keeping and are usually broken by the 1st of February. Well here are my obligatory resolutions in no particular order. Just a list of stuff I should do in the New Year. The catch is, I’m really going to try this time around. I’ve already taken steps in the right direction to get some of these resolutions accomplished. So without further ado, here is my list.

Blog:
1. I resolve to write more small space posts
2. I resolve to get more guest bloggers (If you are interested please email me and see number 4 under career)
3. I resolve to finally give this blog a face lift
4. I resolve to have more DIY projects
5. I resolve to have more Giveaways
6. I resolve to comment on more blogs

Career:
1. I resolve to say yes
2. I resolve to finally add more items to Shoebox Décor Vintage
3. I resolve to take on more projects (guess if I’m saying yes this is a given)
4. I resolve to reply to every email the minute/day I get it.
5. I resolve to get all the ideas in my head down on paper and into production.

Personal:
1. I resolve to exercise 3 to 4 times a week (LOL)
2. I resolve to get the mail organized
3. I resolve to only drink alcohol in celebration of something special (i.e birthdays, graduations, career milestones, a Tuesday night :D)
4. I resolve to cook more
5. I resolve to be happy no matter what happens and no matter what anyone says

That’s my list and I’m sticking to it. So what are you resolving to do in 2011?…Happy New Year Everyone!

Fabulous Room Friday 12.31.10

One of my favorite rooms from recent memory is this fabulous living room in Kiane Von Mueffling’s Manhattan apartment. Designed by Iain Halliday and featured in the December/January issue of ELLE DÉCOR, it is a study in eclectic glamour. The use of scale is perfect and I love that the bright colors used take on the effect of neutrals in this space. Not to mention the amazing assortment of seating in this one room! All of the chairs are insanely beautiful. The cocktail and end tables aren’t too shabby, either.

Well, can you all believe that 2010 has come to an end? It’s been such an incredible year filled with new friendships, exciting new endeavors and a promising new path. I wish you all a lovely and safe New Year’s Eve and I’ll leave you with this Irish blessing: “May the best of the past be the worst of the future.” Happy New Year!

 

{Image Credit: William Waldron for ELLE DECOR }

Drumroll, please…

The winner of the wonderful book, Stealing Magnolias by Debra Shriver is entry #19, Christine of Bijou and Boheme per Random.org. She will be receiving a copy of this beautiful, inspiring book. I read it from cover to cover in an hour and was left wanting to visit the lovely city of New Orleans again soon. Thanks to Glitterati, Inc for donating a copy of this exquisite tome!

Congratulations, Christine!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Day Off

With the New Year right around the corner I'm taking the day off to get organized and beautified. I'll be back tomorrow with a list of things I say I'm going to do in the New Year but we all know I'm really not going to them...Happy Day Off Everyone!

Here’s to a Fabulous 2011!

vanity decorista tumblr

2010 has been a year of surprising new paths, self-discovery, exciting travels, and promising new projects. Though it’s been mostly great, there have been some challenges as with any year. I can’t think of any other time that I have so eagerly anticipated a new year. I have a really good feeling about 2011! Part of my eager anticipation, no doubt, is due to my excitement for the official launch of High Gloss. We have been working so hard on the magazine and cannot wait to finally share it with everyone. We also have a TON of exciting and inspiring things planned for the rest of our 2011 editorial calendar, so it should be a year filled with travel and fun photo shoots (along with all of the hard work that goes into producing an issue)!

In the past, I’ve talked about the fact that I am a list-maker. Everyday, I operate with a to-do list. Yep, each day starts out with a Post-It on my desk and I work until I’ve checked everything off of it. Seeing as how I usually make the same resolutions over and over, I figured I would take the same approach I did in 2009 and make a to-do list for 2011 rather than random resolutions I am not likely to keep.

2011

in charge pretty girl tumblr

{1. Take charge of my organizational skills…a must with everything that I have to oversee and plan for the magazine. I also hope to be the best possible editor that I can be for High Gloss, creating a fresh, top-notch magazine that is inspiring to our readers. Embrace this newfound path that I am on. I have never been happier, more passionate, or more fulfilled by my career than I am now.}

Marchesa inspiration board via Vogue 

{2. Continually search for inspiration for La Dolce Vita, High Gloss, and my own personal life, whether for the home or in fashion.}

door patterson

{3. Seize opportunities that are presented to me and celebrate even the smallest victories! We are always are own worst critics.}

humor trish south mgmt

{4. Try not to sweat the small stuff, surround myself with positive people and laugh as much as possible!}

car patterson

{5. Cherish every moment with loved ones and try to be a better wife, daughter, sister, friend, and puppy mom to Tate.}

Michael Paul Photo

{6. Travel whenever possible! Next to my husband Fabian, traveling is what I love most in life.}

Thank you all so much for your continued support. I know that some of you have been reading La Dolce Vita since its inception in the summer of 2007, while others of you are more recent additions. Welcome! I’m not sure if you all know this, but you all inspire and motivate me so, so much and for that, I am incredibly grateful. I hope to be able to continue to grow and develop this little, old blog without which so many things would not have been possible and to do my best to connect with you and inspire you on a daily basis in the new year. Thank you, my dears! Now, do tell…what are your resolutions for 2011?

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Happy Hump Day

This very last hump day of 2010 is brought to you by the lovely Michelle Workman...Happy Hump Day Everyone!