Simply Put: I Am a Bandit

Some "Christmas babies" despise that their birthday is at Christmas time. 

People cheat you out of presents and just give you something for both.

I have never ever had that experience.

I make out like a BANDIT at Christmas/Birthday time!

So in honor of my amazing family and friends making me feel like a Bandit, I'm all about stripes today!!

This is one of my all-time favorite pictures - I think it's the heart that catches my eye more than the pretty blue stripes.

I love the contrast of this whole room and adjacent room!

I adore the creativity of extending the stripes onto the ceiling!!

I even love these intentionally "messy" stripes!

Probably my favorite look of all is these horizontal stripes that are all different widths.  I also love the round mirror on them - a contrast in shape!

Being the flea market sucker that I am, I think these aged paintings look so unique on these narrow, crisp black and white stripes.  The paintings really catch my eye against this backdrop!

How fun is this door??  I think this is perfect for a courtyard or poolhouse or something!

I love the holidays and all that comes with, but this birthday girl is ready to get back in the routine (and the GYM) today!  Because let's be honest - with all I've eaten lately - stripes are NOT my friend!!

~ the brunette

happy birthday, brunette

Today is the brunette's birthday!

I wish her nothing but happiness! 

Cheers to the brunette...

~the blonde

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a little cheer...

lots of love...

plenty to eat...

and sparkly things to unwrap!

~ the blonde & the brunette

Too Good for Santa

My first thought when I woke up yesterday (Thursday):

"I don't have to set my alarm clock for the next 6 days!!!"

Somehow I'm up and going at 7 this morning though, and everyone wakes up early on Christmas!

I was playing on google and came across a "Santa Tracker" on Google Maps!

Isn't that fun??  Right now he's in Australia, poor soul, but he only gets about 30 seconds per city so he's MOVING!  No wonder he needs all that sugar and milk!

Speaking of cookies and milk, I really wish I had one of these mugs to help Santa out.

It is perfectly sized to hold one of these!

(and I could keep the rest to eat)  :o)

Halfway to Heaven Peanut Butter Cookies

If you've really got some time on your hands, I think Santa would really appreciate this:

Truth be told, if I were Santa and had to cover an entire city in 30 seconds, I would need some coffee:

As good as Santa's been to me over the years, there are always a few items that I want more than anything, and those items I REFRAIN from putting on my list!  These items are the ones that I'm afraid Santa's elves won't be able to make, and he might miss purchasing it.

I will say these items are kind of RARE. 
Thankfully there are only a few items that I feel this strongly about.

Here are two:

This sweatercoat from Anthropologie - we have both been dying for this one.  This week, it went on SALE, plus Anthropologie was having 25% off sale items, PLUS it's my birthday month so I got another 15% off!  Sometimes things are worth waiting for!

This green wool blazer from LOFT has removable faux fur collar. 

I removed it and wore to work once already, but I love that you can "dress it up"!!

I just couldn't wait for Santa on these two items, so I think I should wear one to Christmas Eve service and the other on Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas (eve)!

~ the brunette

(for image sources, visit our pinterest page "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas")

a spunky design....

My Sputnik love affair began last year when I found an amazing chandelier at one of my favorite antique stores, but the affair abruptly ended when my husband when to look at it and realized that the wiring nightmares with that early 1960s style light would be extreme.   

You can find the sputnik chandelier in so many styles, sizes and finishes...

This flush mount is super cool!

Another beauty...

This office belongs to fellow blogger, Knight Moves.  Her Sputnik is from Z Gallerie...check it out here.

The fabulous Sputnik design isn't just for hanging...

I want one of these sculptures immediately!

This is a such a statement piece...

Jonathan Adler and Kelly Wearstler both offer pretty pricey Sputnik sculptures, but hopefully, the knock-offs will start coming soon:)

I'm not really sure if these wall sculpture/art things qualify as a Sputnik design or if they are just more of a starburst...either way, I like them and thought they fit in nicely with this post:)

These are sold individually by Jonathan Adler...

But this set is from Chiasso and it's $118 for all three...that's not too bad and they would definitely make a statement in any space!  I think these are a yes!

~the blonde

A Holiday Hike

After indulging with a little too much food and drink Friday night, I woke up early Saturday morning to go for a hike with my dad.

Along the way, plans changed, and I ended up playing tourist downtown with my mom and dad.

Here are a few snippets from my beautiful downtown Hot Springs (on a very cold, overcast morning).

Maxine's Puzzle Room - one thing I love about Hot Springs is how over the years, things continually change.  The puzzle room was a coffee shop, connected to a lingerie store for a long time.  Now it is a music hotspot in Hot Springs.

I love all the old buildings.  At street level there are all kinds of stores.

Above are businesses, the second floor in the background of the picture used to be the Poet's Loft - not sure if it still is or not??

Until recently, the Buckstaff was the only bathhouse still in operation.  It is still the "truest" to the original experience of a bath.

Throughout downtown, there are fountains with the hot water, where you can take a sip.

One of my favorite parts about downtown is all the old murals...

The Arlington Hotel - definitely the most recognizable landmark downtown, and such an interesting history.

According to legend, Al Capone rented the entire fourth floor when he came to Hot Springs. (Supposedly he was a good tipper.) The Al Capone suite rents for $350 a night. That's more than the Ronald Reagan suite, which goes for a mere $295.

Random shale cliff wall - this forms the back "wall" of a parking lot.

This is the most recognizable painted ad on a building in Hot Springs

The Pancake Shop is also a major tourist attraction because they serve amazing breakfast!

I love this building - it used to be Cafe Rue Orleans and have the BEST beignets.  I haven't been inside since it's Rolando's.

Mountain Valley Water company is located in downtown Hot Springs, but it's not actually Hot Springs water.

The historic Majestic Hotel...

The Arlington Hotel lobby does a big gingerbread house every year.  This is me and my mom - with rosy pink cheeks from walking!

Across from the Arlington is a public park with the Hot Springs cascading down the mountain.

A nice drink of hot water on a cooold day!

(I look like I have a pillow on my butt - geez louise!)

It definitely felt good to get out and move my bones after a big meal, and really take in the beauty of my hometown.

~ the brunette