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‘Tis the Season…

gorgeous diy holiday wreath

Ahh, it’s here. The holiday season has begun and I looove it. To get you in the spirit too, Rue Magazine released their inspirational holiday issue and I wanted to share some of my favorite images. The gorgeous wreath above was created by a San Francisco interior designer and friend, Scot Meacham Wood. It’s a beauty. He shows us how he made it step-by-step in Rue.

Rue Holiday Issue 2012love quotediy holiday cider cup

I also thought this holiday cider cup (above) was so clever and would make a fun gift. Who doesn’t enjoy a hot cup of cider on a long winter’s day? Again, drop by Rue to see how to do this yourself!

Serena & Lily holiday gift guide - Simplified Bee

I’m also thrilled to be included in Serena & Lily’s Holiday Picks from the Pros! They had me pick some of my faves from their holiday collection which was super fun, but frankly hard to narrow down! They also had my reminiscing about my best gift ever… my powder blue ten-speed bike when I was ten. It was a complete surprise and brought me so much joy. I also remember counting down the days until spring when the snow melted away and  I could ride it!

xo

Cristin

 

 

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Read full story By on November 27, 2012 in Christmas, Entertaining, event planning, gift guide, Holiday, Uncategorized

Friday Find: Gold Holiday Decor

Metallic holiday decor is trending and in particular, I am smitten with gold. Timeless, elegant and chic,  gold is fabulous paired with hues of blues, pinks and even metallic silver. From glamorous tabletops to shimmering tree ornaments, touches of gold can be found everywhere this season!

gold + pink holiday table settinggold confetti system ornamentsgold holiday decorating ideasgold glitter gift boxesGold Holiday Party

images top to bottom:

style me pretty |confetti system ornaments  | gold glassware | gold snowflake ornaments | desk calendar | baroque mirror | sea urchin | glitter gift boxes | cheers banner | cocktail party | sequin bag

Happy Friday!

Cristin

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Read full story By on November 16, 2012 in Christmas, Entertaining, etsy, event planning, Friday Finds, Holiday, holiday decor, new years, Uncategorized

Top Ten Hostess Gift Ideas for 2012

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is getting together with family and friends at dinner or cocktail parties. If you will be heading to a holiday party in the next few weeks, bringing a thoughtful hostess gift is always appreciated. A favorite bottle of wine, homemade baked goods or a lovely bouquet of flowers are tried and true hostess gifts and will certainly be well received. However, if you are running short on time or want to bring something a little different, here are my top ten hostess gift ideas for 2012 (and most are under  $30):

great hostess gifts for 2012

Palazzo Soy Candle – $29.50 –  a yummy blend of persimmon, white nectarine and  olive wood.

great bar hostess gift

Knot Bottle Opener – $28 – loving the brass and nautical knot design!

hostess gifts owl dishes

Owl Dipping Dishes – $10 for 2 – great for the animal lover on your list!

 gold confetti note cards

Confetti Note Card – $24 – letterpress + monogram = perfect gift!

persoanlized pencils and case gift

Personalized Pencils – £10 – for the person that seems to have everything!

 chalkboard drink tags - hostess gift

Chalkboard Wine Charms – $9 –  love the personalization and that they can be used again & again!

cheers drink coasters hostess gift

Cheers Drink Coaster – $26 – it just says it all!

great hostess gift - olio olive oil

Olio Santo Extra Virgin Olive Oil – $29.99 – for the chef on your list!

patio olive tree hostess gift

Abequina Olive Patio Tree – $59.95 – perfect size for a patio or apartment terrace.

aztec hot chocolate hostess gift

 Aztec Sipping Cholocate Mix – $15 – the blend of chocolate, chilies and spices sounds devine!

What’s your favorites hostess gift?

Cristin

*this is not a paid advertisement… just items I like!

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Read full story By on November 12, 2012 in Christmas, Entertaining, event planning, gift guide, Holiday, home accessories, Parties, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized

It’s Here! :: West Elm Palo Alto

It’s no big secret that I’m a huge West Elm fan. I’ve selected their affordable designs which feature a mix of clean lines, natural textures and global accents for numerous client projects. So I was thrilled to hear that West Elm was opening a new retail store at the corner of University and Emerson in Palo Alto. Each West Elm store has it’s own regional look & feel and the Palo Alto store is no different. It’s earthy accents and trees take center stage. Twinkling holiday trees line the front window, while stacked logs as if ready for a winter’s fire are placed behind the register. In addition, the new store features collections of decorative accessories and art made by local Etsy artists (love).

The Palo Alto store’s door swung open to the public on October 8th and showcased the brand’s early Holiday assortment including vibrant textiles inspired by hues of nature and new furniture and tabletop for holiday entertaining. I had the opportunity to tour the beautiful store the day before the grand opening and wanted to share some pictures I took of the festive and inspirational displays…

West Elm Palo Alto Holiday DisplayWest Elm Palo Alto StoreWest Elm Holiday VignetteSilver and Gold Holiday Tabletop by West ElmChristmas Trees West ElmWest Elm Confetti Tree Ornaments

I love that West Elm collaborates with outside designers and artists. It brings a freshness to the brand that keeps folks coming back season after season. For Holiday, these colorful geometric glass ornaments by ConfettiSystem has caught my eye.

Throw Pillows by Alison Fox for West Elm

Texas-based designer, Alyson Fox’s geometric pillows (above) and Italian designer, Allegra Hick’s hand-block quilt and bedding collection (below) were also standouts.

Allegra Hicks Bedding for West ElmWhite and Silver Paper Flowers

And how beautiful (& easy) are these paper flowers by British designer Sarah Campbell?

If you are in the Palo Alto area, you’ll have to drop by and see the beautiful new store for yourself!

– Cristin

*photo credit: Cristin Priest // Simplified Bee

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Read full story By on October 24, 2012 in bedrooms, beds, etsy, furniture, Holiday, holiday decor, home accessories, tables, Thanksgiving, throw pillows, Uncategorized