I got my white Christmas after all! We arrived in Michigan to a fresh blanket of snow that continued to grow as the week went on. If you’ve been following me along on instagram, you may already be sick of the wintry photos but I can’t stop!
Where my parents live, in the southern part of Michigan, they don’t usually have this much snow this early in the year, so I am in heaven! We hiked, sledded, and walked along the frozen shore until the sun went down. Not a bad way to spend the last weekend of the year.
2. We finished work on the cabin (well, for now at least) that we slowly renovated ourselves, where the kitchen went from this, to this.
3. Rupert and I spent my birthday in New Zealand where we road tripped around the north island in a vintage Kombi. It was the trip of a lifetime (see part 1 & par 2).
6. The other top Smitten Studio DIY of the year was this simple Ikea hack.
7. A big change in 2013 was with the selling of our home and the buying and moving into a fixer upper. Glitter Guide sent over a photographer for a Style at Home feature just weeks before we moved out. It was the perfect way to say goodbye to the first place Rupert and I owned together.
8. In the new house we started renovating by refinishing the floors, knocking down a few walls, and painting so that right now at least the living room is livable.
9. We sold out of the first collection of A Sunny Afternoon products much quicker then anticipated so I added new designs, stocked up on some of the favorites, and launched the winter collection with a pancake brunch with friends.
Only one more sleep until Christmas! This year Rupe and I weren’t able to have a Christmas party at our house because of all the renovations, but oh how we made up for it by attending a whole lot of them. Of course Smilebooth was present at most of the soirees, which is always a hoot. At this one, my fellow girls in gold and black and I turned it into a dance booth to properly document our accidental coordinating outfits. Clearly Santa Rupe wouldn’t be left out.
Happy Christmas Eve!
Images from Smilebooth from the Dart office holiday party.
Post-it tree backdrop by Jesi Haack Design
I’ve picked out a few of my favorite shiny and sparkly numbers for New Years Eve dress options. There is not that many times a year when head to toe sequins are encouraged and I always take advantage. :)
This weekend I was down for the count with some kind of bug that has been going around Rupe’s office. He had it a couple weeks ago and somehow I was able to stave it off until now. I think your body knows when you just can’t afford to get sick and the past few weeks were it.
The holiday rush of A Sunny Afternoon orders were amazing to have (thank you guys) and happily kept me up to my ears in saw dust and order fulfillment, and I’ve been working late nights on the blog all while managing the renovation (we broke ground on the addition! more to come on that.). Finally, this weekend I was ready to slow down and finish my holiday shopping when BAM the sickness knocked me into bed and I don’t think I hardly even left it Saturday. Thankfully I’m feeling better today and looking forward to a less hectic couple of weeks.
Top left image at Menotti’s (my fave coffee shop) and top right is the beginning of our foundation for the addition.
I recently stocked up on cozy sweaters for my trip to Michigan. I have been living in this leopard pullover from Anthro for the last week (see what I mean) and scored some great basic ones from Madewell’s big sale. Now here’s hoping we get some snow while we’re there!