Coffee shop, Design

Decorating help and coffee breaks

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Guys, I’m dying for a bitta Thanksgiving food. I still can’t believe it’s a little ways away yet.

To combat those food cravings, I’ve decided to start shopping for Thanksgiving decor. World Market is currently has 25% off their candles, then I had a $10 off a $30 purchase. I picked up 3 varying sizes of their flame less candles. flame-less-candlesPretty right? They flicker like real candles too. Now I’m on the hunt for a nice wreath to hang on the front door and a few table decorations. I’m a picky person when it comes to decorating our home. I want unique looking items, not something typical. Know what I mean?

I’m in a bit of a rush to get our house organized and finished since we have friends coming over for Thanksgiving. My parents-in-law and my husband’s buddy all coming in December. Here’s my dilemma: There’s an empty space dyin’ for a club chair to fit in that nook. I’ve been on the hunt for weeks in stores and online and I can’t seem to find a nice comfortable chair.

Looks a little pitiful, hey?empty-space

View from the empty space. Pardon the photos, they’re grainy since I took them on my phone without any natural sunlight.loveseat-and-desk

I even stopped by this new-to-me place called Home Consignment Center in Campbell. The store is huge! I found this nice green velvet-like chair, but I wasn’t about to pay $229 for it especially since it had no arms! Lol. HomeConsignmentStore

After browsing the stores yesterday I popped into Bellano Coffee to grab a vanilla latte to re-energize myself. I love heading in there to relax and people watch. They play the perfect coffee shop style lounge music, and has this comfy looking couch which is not surprisingly always occupied when I go in. Bellano-Coffee

I like to say this place is a bit of a hidden gem since it’s blended into one of those shopping plazas that you most likely would drive past if you didn’t see it. Half of the cafe is wall to wall windows, so it allows a ton of bright, warm sunlight in. The staff at Bellano are totally chill people, and super friendly. Love the atmosphere inside, and their awesome latte art. I feel so fancy drinking them.Bellano-latte

There’s a column behind the register where the barista’s work, filled with currency from other countries.  I couldn’t spot any Canadian dollars, so I’m thinking I should rectify that situation. Wonder if they’d like some loonies or toonies on their walls?Currency-column

Bellano Coffee

3985 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95051
Hours: Weekdays 7am-5pm, Weekends 7am-7pm

So back to my decorating dilemma. Where do you guys buy your club chairs/arm chairs? Ideally I’d love a velvety grey club chair without any tufting on it that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

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Daily, Food, Photos

Best places to eat in Carmel

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Best-la-Balena-Carmel

Best-The-Grill-Carmel

Best-5th-Ave-Deli

Best-Brophys-Tavern

There are so many great restaurants to choose from when visiting Carmel, it’s difficult to narrow your search down. Whatever you’re craving, Carmel is sure to have a restaurant for it. Although the selection of places to eat is diverse and unique from each other, we enjoyed every bite at the places we ate during our 2 day honeymoon.

la Balena — With their changing lunch menu, you’ll be sure to find something that will tickle your taste buds with flavour. The food and service here was excellent, and we enjoyed our last lunch in Carmel at this Italian restaurant. I would recommend you try their Cavolfiore Fritto (cauliflower appetizer) along with the Frittata. Don’t forget to bring your dogs along with you to this place. Like many shops and restaurants in the area, la Balena is dog friendly.

The Grill — Although the atmosphere of the restaurant wasn’t what I expected with blown up photos of the famous Pebble Beach golf course. The restaurant is smaller than I thought and it can be noisy, paired with paper table clothes on top of linen. We can overlook that for the quality of the food the chef makes. We’d be back again simply for the lamb and salmon we raved about while eating it. The staff were so friendly, popping in to check in on us from time to time. The meals were pricey, but well worth it.

5th Avenue Deli — You won’t be able to eat inside this deli as there’s no seating so it’s a perfect way to grab a quick lunch and explore Carmel, Point Lobos, or drive to Big Sur and have a picnic. There was so much food to choose from, bakery, deli meat sandwiches, and even a buffet style salad bar when you walk in. If you’re stumped for ideas, go for one of their 4 choices of picnic lunch boxes that won’t break the bank.

Brophy’s Tavern — If you want to give your wallets a break from all the money you’ve spent on food, this is the spot to visit. Brophy’s is a traditional American style sports bar serving large portions of pub food to your table quickly. When we ate here, the San Francisco Giants had won their game and were heading to the World Series, so you know this place was hoppin’. It had a great vibe with the local crowd, it was fun seeing them all pumped and cheering at all the TV’s for their our home baseball team.

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Beauty, Daily, Photos, Reviews

Dior Holiday 2014

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Dior-Golden-Shock-headerChristmas! My favourite time of year, and what better way to celebrate that stuff with a bunch of Christmas collections coming out from the beauty front. I couldn’t wait any longer to post it! The collection has been available since October but I thought I’d save it and post about it when it feels a little more Christmasy and appropriate. Hands up, who has been blasting the Christmas music as of late? Anyone, anyone? I’d start playing it on November 1 if it wouldn’t annoy The Guy so much. He makes me wait until at least December 1, and even then he thinks it’s too early. What can I say, I love this magical time of year.

Onto the Dior Golden Shock collection for Christmas 2014:

Illuminating-pressed-powder

Golden-Shock-palette

Dior-Mirror-Mono

Golden-Shock-&-Smoky

Dior-glosses

Shock-and-Shock-powder

5-Golden-Shock-polishes

Golden-Reflections-palette

Dior-Holiday-2014

Smoky-&-Golden-Shock

Diorific Vernis: the nail polishes from this collection are undoubtedly beautifully packaged and I have been setting them on my desk primarily for decoration. While I have been wearing 3 out of the 5 colours (Smoky*: a deep purple, Shock*: a bright Christmas red, and Golden Shock ($29): perfect amount of golden flecks added to the nail), I haven’t been wearing the other two as much since I like either a creamy colour on my nails – you can apply the other two (Mirror*: the sparkly translucent white, or the Gold Equinoxe*: a beige transparent colour) I don’t like the look of them on my nails. I was surprised to see that the formulation of some of the polishes from this collection aren’t as easy to apply as others. For instance the brushes are smaller and when I apply Smoky (my favourite dark purple) it’s streaky which is a bit disappointing considering it’s Dior. I haven’t had any issues with the red, however. Polishes are $28 with the exception of Golden Shock: $29.

Diorshow Fusion Mono: Mirror ($32), a gorgeous golden sheen eye shadow. It perfectly compliments the rest of the collection, don’t you think?

Dior Addict Gloss Two new glosses released for the holidays, Golden Rain* and Pink Excess* are easy to wear by themselves or over top of your favourite lipsticks. The two colours are diverse to amplify any colour you’re wearing.

Dior 5 Couleurs ($61): Golden Reflections* and Golden Shock* stay tuned to see how these swatch! 

Diorific Golden Shock Illuminating Pressed Powder: While it is absolutely stunning in the rich gold packaging, it leaves much to be desired on the face. There’s too much yellow in this for my liking, so I will pass on advising this to you. You won’t find this anywhere else but Holt Renfrew for $82, so if you want to get your hands on it, pop on over!

Prices are in Canadian dollars. Products marked with  * = not available at Sephora.

Disclaimer: The Dior holiday collection was sent for review.

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