VIVA LA...

FIESTA!

For 5 days every year Santa Barbara literally shuts down and turns into a giant fiesta! The smells of taquitos, tortas and churros are everywhere. The streets are littered with confetti that has spilled out of brightly colored eggs. Festivities start at sunrise and continue far past sunset. Santa Barbarans get very in the spirit of celebrating the town's Mexican heritage with Flamenco performances, Mariachi music streaming out of every watering hole (and the streets) and a red rose tucked behind the ear of every senorita. I've lived in SB since I was 3 and fiesta brings back lots of memories. I even got into Flamenco dancing when I was little. Yes. A blond, skinny little Flamenco dancer.

(dressed:

H81 top,

H81 jeggings,

old navy wedges)

Last night we went to the Mission to see the Fiesta Pequeña - Fiesta's opening ceremonies. It was a delicious picnic of cantaloupe, brie, crackers, and a zucchini-tomato tart I made. There may or may not have been a few glasses of wine passed around amongst the girls as well. Beautiful twirling skirts against the Mission background is quite a sight to see.

We will still be finding confetti long after Fiesta is over....

The making of the bird's nest

My little girly-girl was super happy to have a girl's night...even though her brother was there was add some male element. 

And he was even able to make a few friends on the walk home. Challenge you to a lightsaber duel?

What special events shut down your town every year? 

XO,

Chelsea

military + pink

I made a fun discovery today.
My son is an awesome photographer. Not sure why I hadn't thought of it sooner, but the kid really has an eye. Their smiles and the peachy tint of twilight made last night's shoot a fantastic adventure. Plus nothing says adventurous like stopping by an antique railcar. Whatever can be done to quench the wanderlust.

(dressed:

jacket: gap

dress: H81

heeled brogues: Tribeca, old

socks: jcrew

sunnies: thrifted)

My favorite time of year has finally arrived. Fiesta celebrations in Santa Barbara have created some of the best memories of my life. The music, the dancing, the food and celebrations all mingled under the curtain of stars against a backdrop of palm trees and the American Riviera is pretty surreal. It doesn't hurt that it also falls on either the week before or week of my birthday. Life in Santa Barbara comes to a halt as everyone flees work to descend upon the Mission, the mercados and the streets. Mariachi bands on every corner, Flamenco dancers at every turn. Giddyness!!

XO,

Chelsea

some love around this home

I've been very busily lovin' my home, but haven't shared any peeks in a while.

For some reason I am extremely picky about butter dishes. I never think they are quite wide enough to actually accommodate and they are either way too plain or way too ugly. But this little one caught my eye...and then its wayward brother and sister caught my eye as well a few shelves down. For $4 all in, it was hard to resist. Butter dishes, really? The things I obsess over sometimes...

This sweetly made heart has been on my to-be-framed list forever. I even had the shadowbox sitting out waiting to be filled ever since my sweet little guy made this for me. I'm proud to have such a creative little soul as a son.

What are you loving at home this week?

XO,

Chelsea

PS - I mentioned a few posts back that I'd be having a giveaway as soon as I hit 20. Well, that time has come so I'll be back tomorrow with a little something!

more norway

the light in Norway is simply amazing. we had such perfectly beautiful weather, enjoying the people out walking and picnicking in the park. afternoons on the water, miro at the museum and never getting enough of the goods at United Bakeries.

window-wings

<3 <3 <3

Summer is my favorite time of year, but I'm already excited to see how amazing Norway looks at Christmas. 

XO,

Chelsea

Wardrobe Wednesday - this rocks

I am very much in love with the raw rock vibe of these baubles. A little bit Flintstones, a little Pocahontas, but all the way sexy in a raw and natural way.

Fools gold studs

turquoise slab ring

Geoffrey Good's amazing Hex Agate Necklace

agate ring 

dara ettinger's amazing necklace

raw diamonds

dollhouse for a doll

S C O R E!!

Kid tested - Mommy approved.

Feeling very grateful for finding this awesome dollhouse today for my sweet little girl. I definitely feel as though my thrifting luck has been pretty awesome lately. As soon as I've put something on the mental "want" list, I've come across it almost immediately.

I'm digging the simple, clean lines of this all wood dollhouse. Finding the dollhouse was the easy part, now comes the furnishing! I'm really looking forward to the hunt of finding cool accessories and even some awesome DIY action for this sweet find!

Anyone know a great source for dollhouse stuff?

Also - I've noticed that everything is listed by scale. How do I know what scale dollhouse I'm working with? 

XO,

Chelsea

I HEART Thursdays - Etsy Love

It has sure been a while since an I <3 Thursdays post. I have seriously missed doing these and I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of my blogging schedule. I'm also missing the Two Things Tuesdays and looking ahead at showing some DIY and craftiness. Sometimes I feel as though I should get a bit more directional on this blog. I love fashion, I love food, I love my kids, I love where I live, I love travel and I love decorating. That makes it pretty difficult to streamline into a blog...instead it reads more like a stream of consciousness of what's in my head at the moment. Of course it would be nice to be super directional and say this is a fashion blog or decorating blog or whatever. But then I tell myself, this is mine to do with it as I please.


There. That's my rant for the day. Lack of sleep has made me crazy. I can't wait for my honey to come home. I can't seem to get to sleep until well past midnight when he's away working. I have spent the last week spooning my iPad and streaming Arrested Development starting from the pilot. Top that with nightly visits from feverish little people and its all added up to some serious luggage under my eyes. Tonight I am vowing to get to bed early; or at least as soon as I've cleaned the house, met the girls for dinner, played softball and picked up my man from the airport. Whew!! A busy evening, but I wouldn't want it any other way. Life is worth living to the fullest.

That said...its on to the actual posting of my <3 picks for today.

I love Etsy. Who doesn't?

A simple search of "hearts" turned up all sorts of crush worthy goodies

refashioned.etsy.com

 

 

 

 heavymetallaundry.etsy.com

 

 

 theolivebird.etsy.com 

 

 

  nubambu.etsy.com 

 

 

allencompanyinc.etsy.com

 

 lovecalifornia.etsy.com

 

 PrinceDesignUK.etsy.com

Now head on over and get yourself some Etsy Love!!

XO,

Chelsea