January, supposedly.

After dealing with crazy weather 3 years in a row, I was really prepared to get snowed in again (it only takes like 2 inches). So far, not one flake. Instead we get days like yesterday. 49 degrees and sunny. Apparently, the rest of the country is experience this, too. It just doesn't feel like winter.

Apart from that, Happy New Year! What are you looking forward to most this year? I, for one, am bound and determined to start seeing some improvement in my feet. That is what I'm looking forward to (cross your fingers). I will never wear heels again, but I will be satisfied with just being pain-free. It puts quite a damper on my blogging, as I'm sure regular readers have noticed.

I got these pictures as we were heading out the door yesterday. The cardigan is new and was free with the use of my Chic Points on Chictopia.com. I really love the black piping around the edge.

You know what else I'm looking forward to? The February issue of Glamour Magazine. You know why? Because I made it in!!! The section I'm in was suppose to be in the November 2011 issue, and I figured they ran out of room or I didn't make it. Then, last month, I got word. I feel pretty accomplished. They sought me out for this and I made the final cut. Pretty damn affirming :) Remember, hard work always pays off. Keep blogging, keep writing, keep doing whatever it is that you love!

In this photo:
Tisvin cardigan
Zella leggings
Ray-Ban Sunglasses
Kate Spade iPad case

Handmade gift: Bath Salts

I make little jars of bath salts almost every year. It's easy and cheap to assemble, and a lot of fun to customize! I use coarse "ice cream" salt, baking soda, and olive oil for my base, then add natural fragrance oils and herbs. Salt draws out toxins and helps soothe soar muscles, while baking soda is great for itchy, dry skin.

Here are some fragrance blends I like:
- Lavendar, clove, and tangerine (great for soothing headaches)
- Tangerine and clove are very festive
- Eucalyptus and mint for circulation and cedar is anti-fungal (great foot soak!)
- Lavender and extra baking soda for someone with sensitive skin

I find most of my essential oils at Super Supplements and a great store in Ballard called Danelion Botanical Company . They have great products at reasonable prices (note: Rose oil is NEVER reasonably priced, no matter where you get it)


You will need:
1+ cups of coarse salt
1 to 2 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp dried herbs (your choice)
1/2 tsp citrus zest (optional)
6+ drops essential oil
1 tsp Grapeseed or Olive Oil

A bowl and spoon for mixing
A jar, plastic bag, or other grease-proof container



Add the herbs (here I use peppermint tea) to the salt.


Now add citrus zest, if you are using it. I would recommend chopping it into tiny pieces so it's less likely to clog your drain (forgot to do that in the pictures!)


Stir the herbs and zest together, then add the grapeseed or olive oil. Mix until evenly distributed. Now add the drops of essential oil. You can add more or less, depending on your preference. Mix well.

Sprinkle the baking soda over the mix and stir to combine.


Lastly, spoon the mixture into your bag or container. I like these little decorative cellophane bags, especially since they won't shatter if dropped in the shower!

Note: If you choose to use peppermint oil instead of tea, limit it to 2 drops. I have ruined many baths by putting in too much peppermint oil. My! Does it burn!

Good tidings!

A peek at the holiday cards I've been working on :)

And guess what!

My dad gave me a camera! It's not new or super fancy, but he got it for a good price at a garage sale and he already has a camera... not sure why he even bought this one. Lucky me! It's a Nikon and is working out really well so far!


I bought the stripped top at Zara, downtown San Francisco. It's actually the first thing I've ever bought at Zara! I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but Seattle is a Zara-free zone :(


As good as Zara's stuff looks (the designers are amazing, really) I was a little surprised at the quality. Half the the clothes I brought into the dressing room had busted zippers or were already splitting at the seams. You can't see it on the top, but the sleeve openings are actually two different sizes. I guess they spend all their production money on design and quality fabrics (wool, silk, etc.), but then skimp on assembly. Still wouldn't mind having one here in Seattle, though.



It's good to be back :)

In these photos:
United Colors of Benetton coat
Zara top
Forever21 skirt
Vintage fur stole
Vintage bracelet
Xhiliration flats

Stocking Stuffers: $10 and under

stocking stuffers by fleur-d-elise featuring cotton skirts

I labeled this set as "stocking stuffers", but really, most of them would make fine gifts as well. Especially if you are on a tight budget like I am!

1. Forever 21 Make-up Bag $5-$10
The bag shown has already sold out, but Forever 21 is always a great place to find cute things for cheap!

2. H&M Cotton Mini $6
I have a few of these myself. They fit great, come in tons of colors and are super cheap! They're also pretty versatile. Add some flexibility to anyone's wardrobe for just $6!

3. Forever 21 Nail Polish in Sunset $3
Nail polish is always a fun and affordable gift. Check out Forever21 for a million great colors.

4. iTunes Card $10+
iTunes cards make the best gifts! Just like everyone needs food, everyone needs music as well. Hit up Target or Best Buy for one of those 3-packs and you have a gift for your cousin, your dad, and a stocking stuffer for your significant other.


5. Crate and Barrel Snowflake Soap $1.50
This snowflake soap makes a great stocking stuffer or hostess gift. Throw in a soap dish and you've got a great little gift set! Has a soft, clean scent.

6. Miniature bottles of liquor $1-$8
Even though neither my husband nor I drink, little bottles of alk-ee-hall always sound like fun gifts. I haven't included a link for this one, because there isn't really a place online I would recommend buying these. Instead, visit your local liquor retailer for fun, adult-only stocking stuffers.

7. Cooperative Eyeglass Case $10
This is another great gift that can be used by anyone. Check out Urban Outfitters for more styles.

8. Theo Chocolate Bars $3-$4
I've saved the best for last: Theo Chocolates! Made here in Seattle, this has got to be some of the best chocolate in the World! Creamy and rich instead of waxy and bitter, nothing beats their dark chocolate. They use only organic, fair trade chocolate and have the most delicious selection of flavors. The one shown here is Bread and Chocolate and contains crunchy little bits of french bread.

Well, that's it for the gift buying guides! Keep an eye out for some homemade gift ideas in the next few weeks!

Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for IT

gifts for all by fleur-d-elise on polyvore.com

This gift guide has no gender. Maybe you need a gift for a couple or for a whole family, or maybe you just need ideas for someone you don't know very well on a personal basis, like your boss. Well, this is the guide for you!

1. Crate and Barrel Goodies $5-$22
Crate and Barrel has great general purpose gifts. Their gourmet Christmas goodies are always a hit, because everyone likes food! Everything is relatively affordable and comes festively packaged which is perfect if you're hurrying off to a holiday party and need a last-minute gift.

2. Heifer International $10+
Heifer International is a non-profit organization that provides livestock to poor families in the US and around the World. This gift is great for someone who already has everything or a family that is interested philanthropy. You can "buy" anything from a share in a sheep to an entire "Ark" of animals, which will then be sent to a struggling family in your friend's honor. The organization also accepts monthly donations.

3. Kate Spade Leather Cleaner $10
Most people own something made of leather and every once in a while it needs to be cleaned. This gift is for that practical person on your list. Maybe it's your aunt or your older brother, or maybe you are just trying to encourage your younger sister to take care of her stuff for once! This leather cleaner is perfect for cleaning smooth and patent leathers and can also be used on vinyls!

4. Kate Spade Domino Set $30
I swear, this is the last Kate Spade item. There are just so many great gifts on that site! This set of dominoes is perfect for a family with kids or anyone who likes to play games. Fun, affordable, and can be played by all ages.

Holiday Gift Guide: Ladies

gifts for ladies by fleur-d-elise featuring a cotton beret

Buying for the ladies in your life probably isn't as hard as buying for the men, but just in case, I've come up with a list of things I think would make great gifts (i.e. I want them all).

1. Kate Spade Rain or Shine Mug $20
This is my favorite thing on the list. Who wouldn't want one of these?! They're made by Lenox (ooh la la) and at only $20, it's waaay cheaper than what the tote bag version of this design costs.

2. J.Crew Edie Purse $238
Ok, so I imagine at $238 this isn't something you are going to be buying for all your best girl friends, but maybe put it on your own Christmas list...

3. Diptyque 'Roses' Scented Oval $45
This would make a great gift for a special lady, like your mom or grandma. The loop makes it perfect for hanging in a closet and the scent lasts for 3 months. Visit the Nordstrom website to find matching candles and other scents.

4. Weleda Everon Lip Balm $5
I am wearing this lip balm right now! It's my favorite. All-natural, high quality ingredients leave your lips soft and healthy. Real vanilla and rose oils give it a delicate scent and at $5 it makes a great gift or stocking stuffer!

5. American Apparel Beret $20
This cotton beret comes in 4 colors and the wool version comes in 13 colors! The cotton version isn't quite as stiff as the wool and has a more relaxed fit. Both are adorable, though!

6. American Apparel Turtleneck Crop Top $28
This gift is especially perfect for any fashionistas you may know. The cropped style pairs perfectly with high waisted garments. Made from spandex jersey, this sleeveless top is also great for layering. Comes in 8 colors.

7. Kate Spade Hinge Bangle $88
I will never have this kind of money to spend on gifts, but I'm kind of obsessed with everything at Kate Spade right now, so it's on my list.

Holiday Gift Guide: Guys

gifts for guys by fleur-d-elise on polyvore.com

I always struggle with what to get for the men in my life. Mostly it's just because guy stuff is kinda boring, so I am even more prone to buying something I like as opposed to something the man I'm buying for likes. "Enjoy your bubble bath set! Lemon Verbena is kind of a manly scent, isn't it?" It's either that, or they end up with the same thing every year (I always have to stop myself from buying my dad barbecue sauce every year).

I have this inkling that some of you might have the same problems, so I've come up with a short list of tried-and-true guy pleasers (my husband owns all of these things).

1. Tanner Lanyard
Made in the US from English bridle leather and tanned with natural vegetable dyes, this lanyard is perfect for keeping wallets and keys close to the body. It looks pretty tough, too. Available from Blackbird Ballard.

2. Filson Travel Kit
So $90 this isn't exactly a steal, but it sure is nice. These waxed-canvas bags are made in Seattle by a company with a long and interesting history. All their products are durable, high-quality, and super cool (at least according to the men I know). Check out the Blackbird website to learn more about the company and their products!

3. Stanley Thermos
Nothing says "tough and manly" like a Stanley Thermos! They come in quite a few colors now, are still made of high-quality stainless steel, and are great for keeping coffee piping hot.

4. LUSH Soak and Float Solid Shampoo and Tint
Cade Oil gives this solid shampoo its distinct campfire scent. My husband's favorite scent (and flavor) is smoke, so he was pretty thrilled when I found this shampoo bar. Every once in a while he gets very worried that they discontinue this scent and swears he's going to go buy 10 of them just in case. This one bar has lasted him for so long though, that I'm pretty sure 10 would last him the rest of his life. The bar is $10.95 and the tin was free with purchase. Make sure you get the tin or you will think your bathroom is on fire!

hello there!

Oh goodness! This always happens. I go on vacation and my whole flow is completely interrupted. It takes me weeks to get back into the swing of things. I'm surprised I am even back on my regular work schedule. And, of course, breaking my camera on vacation doesn't help in the blogging department. It's just the LCD screen that's broken, but it still makes it hard to take pictures since I can't tell what it's focusing on and I can't use any of the menu options. These pomegranates were photographed just 2 days before the fateful drop. I have never seen them "out in the wild."

We had a wonderful trip, my feet felt quite nearly fantastic, and I was even able to go shopping at Zara! We don't have any in Seattle, so it was a real treat. I'm a little disappointed in the quality, but I'll leave that topic for another post.

Hope you are all well! xoxo