Picture Story Post

There are ups and downs to traveling to see your family for Christmas, the plus is that I really do love the exclusive family time I get that makes it that much more special.  This is also the life I’ve known since I left home for college at 17 which is also a little crazy to think about.

Here’s a shot from our Christmas pajama party the night before I left to Cali.  Our sweet Melayne was still sick and couldn’t make it into town from So Cal.

It was a great night, we agreed on a weekend for another girl’s Vegas trip, ate a lot, played Girl Talk which revealed to us that we are in fact, lazy.  “Using makeup, draw on your feet” dare really just told us we’d rather take a zit sticker.

I was able to wear my knitted cap back home in Granite Bay, Nor Cal.  I used Knit Collage Gypsy yarn in Kinari Bazaar, a pattern from Purl Soho (here).  It was originally a child’s size pattern but I just fell in love and this was the first attempt of mine to knit in the round.  One skein of this is about $40, and so a picky knitter/yarn snob must be wise on materials and time, to determine if this is worth gifting or if buying a gift makes more sense (and knowing who loves handmade versus store bought gifts).  This hat takes two skeins, so you’ll spend $65-$80 depending where you find your yarn. I love Knit Collage’s line and her products can be found already made at Free People and Anthro!  I would love to knit everyone special on my Christmas list one of these next year but I need to find alternatives and perhaps more muted as I’m not sure if everyone loves the whimsical bling like I do ;)

If you really love these products, some adorable custom knit items are sold right on the site here.  If you truly love this pom pom hat you can find two similar versions here and here.

Benjamin and I took Paris for a walk to get some coffee  (he’s 64 in dog years according to Pedigree’s dog years age calculator), and he wore the cutest knitted coat by my mom.  Sometimes we find it in the bushes or in the middle of the lawn which means he’s over it.

I am so into the leather backpack trend, are you?  I debated on a high end but then settled on this metallic faux leather one from Forever21.  We have so many trips coming up in 2015 I’m so excited and hope to use this a lot.  This also means I should get rid of some of my other bags, I need to gather my donations, or list on Poshmark I’m a crazy purger!

Paris eventually fell asleep in the backpack, similar to this scene on Christmas day:

We’re showing off our new hats from my mom and dad – mine is fox fur.  I love real fur, and if you do too, don’t be ashamed.  I’ve grown up with it in my house, my grandma and my mom have gorgeous pieces and so I’ve always loved it!

Paris got a little worried we’d leave to the airport without him – Benjamin had to head back Christmas day because work calls and the OR is a busy time with cases this month.  I’ll be back at work on Sunday shooting a favorite friend/client of mine’s extended family as soon as I step off the plane.

He’s such a little lover!  Hope you had a great day wherever you were, however long or short, make the most of your last days of 2014 – I’m looking forward to going into the new year!

“There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” – C.S. Lewis

More Anthropologie…