Casa de Berry

2011, boys, holiday, home, husband

2011 recap

December 23, 2011by casadeberry2 Comments

I realize it is still a few days until the year is over but I saw this adorable idea and had to make my own — I saw it on pinterest but I do not know where the original link is from — if anyone knows please let me know so I can give proper credit, or if it is something for sale I will remove my post. But for now, here it is, a review of our 2011:

I also made one in Spanish – so if you habla español, here is that one:

I made it in Photoshop, it was pretty easy, and it would make a great newsletter as well – have a wonderful holiday weekend!

2011, boys, decor, holiday, house

Christmas lights

December 21, 2011by casadeberryLeave a Comment

This is what one side of the house looks like at night:

I would show you the other side but cars are parked in front ;D

The wreath looks so festive with the lights – all white – and in front there is a net of lights thrown over the ivy bush so the elephant on the ball can rest there. My boys were obsessed with all things elephant and we just had to get that decoration for them. They also love the snowman and little elf next to the elephant.

You can barely make this out but it looks so cool in person – to the right of the windows you may see some large snowflakes falling on the wall. My husband found this projector years ago that has disks for every holiday – hearts for Valentines, pumpkins for Halloween, etc. – that we project at the appropriate time of year. It adds a little flair to the outside of our house. We don’t have a porch, just a little entryway that is pretty dark so most of the decorations and lights are on this side of the house.

Things are ramping up to our holiday weekend, we’re visiting with friends and relatives and I am enjoying seeing this wonderful time through my boys eyes. That’s truly the best gift of all.

hair

Hair product love

December 19, 2011by casadeberry2 Comments

I am telling you, this turning forty thing has been so far, so good – I FINALLY decided to throw out all the nasty hair products that I’d been accumulating for years, none of them left my hair looking the way I wanted. I went into the beauty supply store with the last of my birthday money and got a few products that have completely transformed my hair. The saleslady was very knowledgeable and not pushy at all, I told her what my hair issues were and she suggested some options. This is what I ended up getting:

In order of use

1 – Matrix Biolage Aqua Immersion Creme Masque – A wonderful deep conditioner, I let it sit in my hair for at least 5 minutes and it leaves it so silky and soft. I do have to make sure I rinse it out very, very well or it can leave my hair way too slippery for styling.
2 – Pureology Blow Dry Amplifier – You work it through the damp hair and then blow dry your hair. I would say this product has singlehandedly changed the results of my blow-drying. I’ve used it on days where I didn’t use products 1 or 3 and the results were still pretty amazing.
3 – Pureology ShineMax – The final touch for a perfect, glossy mane.

So, these are the products that have completely transformed my hair. I used mousse for years and finally realized it was drying out my hair too much. I have lots of hair but it’s very thin and super damaged. The back of my head has always been a frizz ball, no matter how much product I added AFTER blow-drying. Now I use the Pureology Amplifier and no more frizz ball!

I don’t have any good pics of my hair before but I’ll try to get a few shots soon ;D

2011, about me, boys, family, holiday

Taking a moment

December 16, 2011December 16, 2011by casadeberry2 Comments

We’re going full throttle around here. It’s the holidays — there are things to do, things to clean, things to make, things to buy, things to cook — and life is busier than ever. Which is why it’s important to me, in the midst of all this wonderful chaos, that we take time to simply be.

As much as I love Starbucks’ Caramel Brulee Latte, I’m not willing to plunk down $4 every morning, so I’m using our Caramel and Vanilla Torani syrups to make a reasonable copy. Then my darling husband got me this and I’ve been LOVING my morning coffee:

It’s non-alc, yo, so don’t freak about my driving the boys around in a Real Happy mood ;D

Always – ALWAYS – dreaming of my favorite city in the world. I’ve been here a few times, never when it’s snowed, though, so when one of my favorite bloggers posted this today I just had to snag the pic:

I mean, seriously. Wrapped up in a (faux) fur jacket, walking arm-in-arm with my sweetheart, then ducking into a cozy cafe for some warming up and people-watching. Someday.

I recently gave in to my tingling little hands and grabbed some beads. I used to have a jewelry business and although I do not have one now, once in a while I feel the urge to make something pretty. So I made something with this:

I’ll show you in a few days ;D but how perfect is this? A pendant with a map of Paris, in turquoise. Hello?!?!

Enjoying a few days with my mama, she’s spending some time with us and we’re having a great time. It would be better if I hadn’t been sick most of the week, because this nasty cough and sore throat thing is annoying me to no end. At least the stomach thing is over. You really don’t want to know.

Enjoying my family. The boys are off for two weeks as of this afternoon so I mean to take lots of pics, do lots of crafts, and just spend lots of time hanging out with them. I love that my youngest is a total snuggle-bunny, and my oldest, although a self-proclaimed big boy, is still sweet enough to want to cuddle with me. My husband and I have some alone time planned as well, nothing super romantic but just being able to hang out and talk without the chaos of life is gift enough.

So, I hope you have a great weekend, and I hope I get rid of the last of my germies, too!

2011, decor, friends, holiday, home, kitchen, red

Delicate ornamentation

December 14, 2011December 12, 2011by casadeberry4 Comments

My friend K recently gave me these gorgeous little ornaments – aren’t they sweet?

They are laser cut wood and very delicate and pretty. I debated whether to spray paint them but decided to leave them in their beautiful natural state and just added a little rhinestone for bling.

I hung them above the entry from the living room to the kitchen, since the red background would make them pop.

I spent A LOT of time in the kitchen watching dishes so I can just look up and see these beauties.

Some of them twirl back and forth and look so lovely.

Thank you Kat — I love you and my ornaments!!!

2011, candle, decor, glam, gold, holiday, ikea, white

Corner bookcase all decked out

December 13, 2011December 10, 2011by casadeberryLeave a Comment

We have a little bookcase in the dining room – it has most of our cookbooks and fits perfectly in a little corner. I decided to jazz it up with some holiday goodness this past weekend:

To the left are the doors going out to the side deck, but our avocado and pear tree block most of the light. Since this corner can get a little dark, I chose some bright accents in gold and white.

First is a beloved picture of my boys. I’ve had this frame for decades but it’s usually on one of the living room bookcase shelves. Now it gives some much needed glam to my little bookcase. The floral fabric is from a runner my mom made — she made a few some years ago and I love to add them throughout my house. The red and green candle holder is cute but gets lost in the larger decorations so I put it here.

Then comes another candle craft I made with candy canes, this one in a mason jar. I added a taper, taper ring and glittery bow.

Last are my white lantern from IKEA and a rustic gold star I got at Pier One.

The bookcase looks so cheerful now — I am very lucky to have so many little areas to decorate. Hope you like my corner bookcase!

2011, candle, craft, decor, holiday

Candy cane candle

December 12, 2011December 15, 2011by casadeberry12 Comments

After seeing this idea on pinterest, I decided to make a couple of holiday crafts with some candy canes – that’s right, Christmas candle crafts with candy canes. It’s all about the alliteration.

I have a couple of glittery white candles, one of which I chose for this project. The easiest way to keep the candy canes under control was with the help of a rubber band:

Once all the candy canes were secured, I added a pretty bow to cover up the rubber band and give the finishing touch:

Simple, but so pretty and colorful:

Hope you enjoyed this little craft!

2011, accessories, bags, bright, clothing, colors, cosmetics, fashion, polyvore, red, style

Fashion Friday: Get ready to Tango in Tangerine in 2012

December 9, 2011by casadeberry2 Comments

Pantone has announced THE color for 2012 – Tangerine Tango — I have to say, I am happy this is a color that me and my Latina complexion can embrace ;D

It’s a warm red, much like many lipsticks I found during my quest for the perfect bold red lipstick. This shade of red can be worn now, for the holidays, to add a pop of color in winter, in a bright spring outfit, through summer, and combined with more earthy hues for fall. I came up with a few ideas:

Will you tango in Tangerine next year? I’m off to find some nail polish ;D

2011, bath, decor, paper

Christmas Bathroom

December 9, 2011December 9, 2011by casadeberry3 Comments

That’s right – around here we decorate just about everything.

Last week I went to my favorite paper store, Paper Source, and got a few seasonal papers. Paper Source has no idea who I am or what I do, or that I worship their papers, so this is all my opinion about products paid by moi.

Now gentlemen and little men can look at this as they go about their morning business. Well, part of their morning business. Part number 1, as it were.

On the opposite wall are these three frames, which usually sport botanical prints, but now have these quirky sweater prints and a fun animal print in the middle to tie the colors together.

Poor Fleur is still lonely up there:

I really must get her some company soon. The holidays should not be spent alone.

2011, decor, holiday

New Christmas stockings on the mantel

December 7, 2011December 8, 2011by casadeberry10 Comments

I recently had a gift card left over from my birthday loot and decided to buy new Christmas stockings for our family. I think it’s the second thing I’ve ever bought from Pottery Barn because their prices are usually ridiculous, but these were super reasonable – $9 for the little ones, and $16 for the large ones, embroidery included and free shipping.

I like how they coordinate and look cohesive. I didn’t want anything fancy or with any designs, just our names. My husband and I had made stockings for each other when we were first dating, but we never made anything for our boys – I know, right, bad parents! – they had stockings but they were just plain. If you look at my oldest’s stocking (third from left) you will see a tiny stocking hanging from the same hook. He has a stuffed toy elephant that he loves so I bought a mini stocking and added an elephant pin in honor of Soft Elephant.

Our old stockings are hanging around the house – the boys’ plain stockings are hanging on their doors, mine is up by my desk, and my husband’s is by his desk.