The Better Legging & Zooey Girl

Do you sometimes find regular cotton leggings to be too thin? Well I found this "Pixie" that I can only describe to be not quite a legging and not quite a pant. It's ponte. A double knit that is a great mix of softness and structure and thicker too for staying warm this winter! Do you own a wardrobe staple that I need to know about?

On a totally unrelated note, did anyone watch the Golden Globes last night? It was fun to chat and follow along on Twitter!  I didn't have a stand out favorite as far as fashion, but I was loving how stinkin' cute Zooey Deschanel was and always is.

I'm such a fan of her not-take-myself-too-seriously attitude. It's positively refreshing!

A French Affair

My love affair with the French started at the age of 4. A bed sheet served as a veil as I wed my little playmate francais. I went on to study the language, all the way to the Cote d'Azur. I hosted a French exchange student. He kissed me on the neck. I cried. He was quite dashing, but a lot to handle at the age of 14! 

Despite the near French kissing disaster, my love affair continues, and I'm currently trying to realign my lucky stars to include this charming French rental on the left bank. Wouldn't it be terribly lovely to wake up here? To slowly sip cafe au lait on a balcony overlooking Paris?

I can hardly believe this darling Parisian apartment can be mine for as little as 1650 euros for an entire week! And it sleeps four!

I just need one lucky couple to make this affordable for Alan and I. Who's in for Paris 2012?

{Haven in Paris via A Cup of Jo}

Wear More Lace

I heart lace. Two of my favorite dresses are lace. So far black, pink, and since I'm trying to make red my signature color this year, it may be time to buy this little beaut!

Cocktail Hour

There is so much I love about this vignette- the vintage wallpaper, the color palette, the perfect styling, and hello?! The liquor! Personally I prefer a bar cart, naturally ;), but if you must shake and stir atop anything else, I wouldn't judge if it were as pretty as this.

It would also help if you served up my go-to . Hendrick's please ;)

What's your tipple of choice?

{House Beautiful | The Alphabet in My Apartment}

A New Year with Effortless Style

A New Year with Camila of Effortless Style Interiors

She's a stylin' new mom who finds the time to do it all- effortlessly :)

Your Greatest Accomplishment in 2011

It might be cheesy, but I must say becoming a mom. My husband and I had been trying to start a family for a little over 3 years and things just weren't working. We had gone to specialists and had a loss so finding out I was pregnant in April (after a return trip from High Point market!) was a complete surprise.

Your Greatest Aspiration for 2012

To continue to grow my interior design business and blog to the point where my husband could come on and work with me full time. Right now the poor guy works his normal full time job with crazy hours and then helps me with my business during those extra hours in the day.

A New Year with There Comes a Yes

A New Year with Colleen of...

Your Greatest Accomplishment in 2011

2011 was the year I left a salaried job to chase after what I felt I was supposed to be doing; designing. I was terrified, but figured it was now when my husband and I had no children and no mortgage, or never. Leaving that job opened the door for my design work at Lonny, which fulfilled a 10 year dream of laying pages for a magazine. It's an amazing feeling to have my name on a masthead-- my heart is absolutely in publications. 

Your Greatest Aspiration for 2012

This year is definitely a turning point for me. Last year was, at first, about finding my career path. Then I was in an extremely serious car accident, which I wish I could say hasn't affected, but of course it has. Dreams and aspirations are amazing, but oh lordy health insurance is important too. So 2012 is about making a living out of those dreams. I'm assisting Jenny Komenda with interior design work, which I've found so satisfying, after many years of essentially manipulating pixels. The tactile experience, the errand running to new, out-of-the-way stores (I love getting out of the city!), room installs-- it's an energizing process. I'd love to try my hand at styling too, but baby steps first!

Jason Wu for Target

Finally a collab that doesn't make me want to vom. (A-hem Versace for H&M.) $19.99-$59.99. Available from February 5 through March 6th. Come to mama.