Refresh: Must-Haves

refresh: 2014 by fleur-d-elise featuring West Elm

January is always the month I feel most like doing a little "Spring cleaning" and life organizing. It's one of the best times to do it, since crummy weather tends to keep me trapped indoors. Out with the old and in with the new, or at least I rearrange things so they feel new and fresh. Here are a few of my favorite items for refreshing your daily routine:

1. Spots Matchboxes - $12 for a set of 6

Lighting a candle is a great way to chase away the Winter blues. Stylish, patterned matchboxes make the ritual all the more aesthetically rewarding. 

2. Elum Big Stack Note Bar - $24

This notepad may be giant, but it's far from cumbersome. It'll be the anchor of your desk and the neon pink is capable of brightening up an entire room.

3. L'Occitane Cèdre & Orange Eau de Toilette - $75

This smells almost exactly like a certain Hermès perfume I love, but costs much less. It's woodsy and warm without being sweet. Sophisticated and subtle.

4. Agate Jewelry Box - $49

A jewelry box should be treated like a piece of furniture. It should add to a room, not clutter it. This striking box is made by pressing an agate pattern into glass. I love the malachite green, as much as ever, and have made 2014 the year to add more of it to my life.

5. Speedy Stamp Kit - $13.50

It's always a great time to pick up a new hobby. I've decided to start making my own stamps and it turns out it's way easier than I thought! They don't have to be complicated or perfect, and are a fantastic way to add personal touches to stationery, tote bags, even linens! Pinterest is full of tutorials and design ideas.

6. Beyoncé - $16

If you're short on funds and/or time then maybe some new music is what you need. This CD is flawless and I may be just a little obsessed. Spend an evening watching the DVD that comes with it, then make sure to load the CD onto your iPod. Queen Bey is the perfect workout partner!

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In Photos: Winter in Seattle

I always think of winter as a barren, dark time, but really it isn't. Winter sparkles, winter renews, and even though the trees are bare, the natural world is anything but dead. The absence of the leaves just makes for a different view of the world.

I think the berries, in this tree full of robins, are Mountain Ash. The fluffy bits are the seeds of a vine called Traveler's Joy. It seems to be taking over the tree in the best way.

 The birds here are very busy during the winter. The ones that stick around are always clamoring for food. When it gets really cold, some of the chickadees are gutsy enough to land in your hand for a few seeds.

 I love days when everything is frosted over.

 Ice crystals

 A dock down on Lake Washington

The pomes of some species of hawthorn

lichen

 A foggy view at Green Lake

 The snow pack hasn't started to melt yet, so Elliot Bay is crystal clear. It looks almost tropical, but, man it does not feel tropical!

Fog and sunset at Alki Beach

 I've been working on Valentine's and there are quite a few January birthdays, so some birthday cards are in order, too. I was just using this catalog as a work surface, but this printed lady might find herself as part of an art project...

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