Better Late than Never

I don't know why I didn't do this sooner, but I wanted to share my Christmas card for 2007. I made a collage using photos from our trip to Rome, Florence, and Paris during Christmas of 2006. I hope everyone has a fabulous New Year!

Merci Beaucoup! ¡Muchas Gracias! Grazie Mille!

Many thanks to Things that Inspire for including my post on the Sex and the City girls and what their decor says about their personalities in her list of her favorite blog posts of 2007. I am in incredible company on her list, so it is a huge compliment!

Best New Look of 2007

I've always loved Reese Witherspoon. She is one of the few actresses in Hollywood who seems grounded and genuine; like someone who would be a great friend. She's always been pretty, but she showed us a new, streamlined version of herself this year after splitting from Ryan Philippe.

Her new hairstyle inspired me to get bangs this summer. While that may not be a big deal to most, it was a huge step for me because I'd worn my hair the same way for so long. Here are two of my favorite Reese looks of 2007. Both gowns are Olivier Theyskens for Nina Ricci.

Reese and Ryan in 2006

Reese debuted her new look at the 2007 Golden Globe Awards.

Reese at the 2007 Academy Awards in a stunning amethyst ombre gown

This Week's Quote

In anticipation of the new year:

"May the best of the past be the worst of the future." - Irish Proverb

Things I Absolutely Love...

For no particular reason and in no particular order, I give you a few of my favorite things...

My husband, Fabian. He is the cheese to my macaroni.

My second love: Travel

I have a strong case of wanderlust.







New York City: I am yet to visit a city as exhilarating as New York. I love everything about it, even the things you probably hate.

Cupcakes

Colonial Architecture and Colonial Mexico- There is something so warm and welcoming about it. Plus, it's just gorgeous.

My favorite flowers: Peonies

Fun, girly movies like The Devil Wears Prada and Prime- I have watched them at least 40 times each on HBO. I even wrote an entire post about Prime over the summer.

Babies- I can't wait to start a family!

Reality Shows on Bravo- Project Runway, Top Chef, Top Design, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Flipping Out, The Real Housewives of Orange County- Enough Said.

Stately, old mansions in Houston's Museum District, particularly the Southampton and Broadacres neighborhoods, two of my favorite places in the city.

I would love to know the history of each of these houses.

The Live Oak Trees in Houston's beautiful, old neighborhoods

The Alamo Drafthouse- I've also written a whole post on this place. It's a 21 and up movie theater which means no bumping into my students and they serve alcohol and great food. If you needed a reason to visit Texas, then this is it. Now go book your flight!

While I love cooking, I really love chopping vegetables. I don't know if it is therapeutic or relaxing. All I know is that it makes me happy.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a beautiful holiday filled with love and happiness...

This Week's Quote

This is an incredbile challenge from Spanish Golden Age author, Lope de Vega. There are so many things that I would like to do, but haven't done. This is so true! What are we waiting for? Why do we leave for tomorrow, what we can do today?

Look at the stars, look how the shine for you...

I'm not ordinarily a big fan of the color yellow. Sure, I have a few yellow pieces hanging in my closet, but that's about it. The cover of the January 2008 issue of Martha Stewart Living made me see it in a whole new light. It adds such a great, unexpected punch to an otherwise neutral palette. I know I'm probably late to the Yellow Party, but better fashionably late than never. Maybe this is what Chris Martin was singing about a few years ago.

The Martha Stewart Kitchen

Pieces from the Gucci S/S 2008 Collection

Image from Me, Myself, and I

J.crew City Suede Flats in yellow are an easy way to make an outfit fun.

This outfit is from The Lorick Collection. They design most of Blair Waldorf's clothes on

Gossip Girl.

I had originally saved this picture because I loved the style of the curtains, but I love the color more and more every time I look at it.

Yellow lamps add a quirky touch to an otherwise glamourous room.




The Viceroy Hotel in Palm Springs made yellow its signature color.

Good Morning, Upper East Siders...

I am so glad that they finally aired a new episode of my favorite show, Gossip Girl this week.I stumbled across a great blog devoted to Gossip Girl last night. If you love the show as much as I do, check it out here: Gossip Girl Report. You can thank me later. :)

XOXO,

Paloma

Mini Spice

You know you are freaking fabulous when you can get away with wearing a skin tight rhinestone get-up and you put your three sons in "POSH" t-shirts. I LOVE Victoria Beckham. She is so may-jah! Oh yeah, the other kids are cute, too. Happy Friday!

The Bedroom Inspiration Saga Continues

This is my third post about what I want to do to update our bedroom. I was originally inspired to do a fluffy down comforter with a solid white cover. I think this look is just so cozy and inviting and it reminds me of hotels. What can I say? I would be on vacation everyday if it were up to me. Anyhow, I ordered a nice down comforter, but it was too small in both length and width for our King sized bed (you'd think that they'd have standard measurements!), so I had to send it back. I kept the solid white duvet cover which I had ordered because I figured I could replace the comforter and keep the duvet. Well, today, I got a great new comforter which measures 108" x 90" and is big enough for our bed, but lo and behold, the duvet cover is too small. It would have been too easy for it to fit, right? So, after an extensive search online, I've decided that I like a few different styles from Pottery Barn and they are actually big enough for the comforter. Only one of these is solid white, though, but I do like the different embellishments on the other two options.

What do you think? Should I go for one of these? If so, which one? You would think that something as seemingly simple as a white duvet would be easy to find, but it's been quite an ordeal. I still haven't decided on lamps either. I know I want a gourd shape, but don't know whether to go with white or antique silver leaf. Or do I want crystal? Alabaster? Maybe I should strive to be more decisive in the new year...

Pearl Embroidered Duvet in Sandalwood (left) or Powder Blue(top)

PB Classic Duvet Cover shown here in white, though white doesn't seem to be an option online, dammit! I will have to check at the store. As luck would have it, this is my favorite one.

Morgan Duvet Cover available in Porcelain Blue or Espresso

This Week's Quote

Great News from the set of the Sex and the City Movie

So, you may have heard about the possibility that there might be two more Sex and the City movies. Well, I have it on good authority from a behind the scenes source that two sequels are in fact, in the works!!!

I called it...The Hills Finale

So, after watching the two hour special, "Lauren Looks Back" this weekend (Hey! I had surgery! What else was I going to do?), I decided that Lauren's big announcement would be that she was going to Paris this year and that she would not be choosing a boy over an amazing opportunity this time. I already knew that she would be going to Paris because I remember seeing pictures of Lauren and Whitney at the Crillon Ball. However, I must say that I am a little annoyed that she and Brody haven't hooked up. Anyhow, here is the preview for the upcoming episode(s) in Paris. Tune in for gorgeous Parisian scenery, Lauren's french hook-up, and Whitney's decision to leave Teen Vogue.

Paris Preview

P.S. How ticked do you think camera-whores extraordinaire Heidi and Spencer were that they didn't get any face time on the after show?

Oh Christmas Tree...

We started decorating for the holidays a couple of weeks ago, but we had a terrible time picking out a Christmas tree. We spent all of last Sunday looking for a tree and we came home empty-handed. I think I may be a little picky. Anyhow, I had surgery on Friday morning and I asked my husband to just go get one that afternoon and bring it home. I wanted no part in picking it out as it had already been stressful enough. Well, lo and behold, he brought home a gorgeous Noble Fir and now the house smells amazing. We decorated it yesterday and now, it officially feels like Christmas.

Ready for its close-up

Our fireplace

Close-up of the garland I made

A close-up of my fun Christmas stockings. They are dupioni silk with feather trim and jingle bells on the toes.

The exterior of our home- I have since added a wreath to the door.