Home Sweet Rental

All Pieces Via Modani Except Orchid, Jute Rug, and Patterned Rug

After being introduced to Modani furniture, I thought it would be fun to create a look with their modern sofas. I aimed to decorate the space similarly to the way I would accessorize an outfit. Love that. I hate when I walk into some one's home and can't see a trace of them in their decor. I believe your house should be a direct reflection of your personal style!!!! So I loved this challenge because I decorate pretty much exactly like how I dress. Simple and basic core items like a chic neutral sofa = white tshirt and jeans, tons of colorful, fun pillows = arm party of bracelets, and an exciting rug or chair = a funky jacket or blazer… That's my side by side comparison… because I thought you might've needed that… because I'm just so tired and totally unsure of what you might want… Moving on. This room has made me want to redecorate my entire house starting with the living room. I love this sofa and the reason is two fold. 1. It's leatherette and can handle all kindsa baby drool/puke/poop/etc and 2. It folds into a bed. #winning I think my design is pretty self explanatory. Warm natural wood in modern shapes, a neutral sofa with crisp clean lines, and a ton of texture and color with the accessories. I love layers in a room, much like layers when dressing… They create dimension and a lived-in look. I LOVE creating a space that looks "collected" rather than purchased all in one day. Even though most of it was indeed purchased all in one day… okay, maybe a week... I'm impatient, what can I say!?

Be sure to check out their site!!!

Happy Decorating!

2014: A Year in Pictures

[Favorite baby shower outfit]

[Favorite hiding baby bump/I ate a large burrito look]

[Favorite preggo look for buying real estate]

[Favorite pattern]

[Best accessories]

[Favorite Picture]

[Most worn outfit]

[My usual. Ate this the day I went into labor]

[Most craved meal during Pregnancy]

[Most frequently made meal]

[Favorite healthy, yet seemingly naughty, meal]

[Currently Craving]

[Favorite Products]

[Best News… I peed on those]

[New favorite room in the house]

[Gave birth to the sweetest nugget]

[Best. Day. EVER.]

[My heart melted into a puddle]

[Dreams Came True. See you in 2015]

**All non-food pictures Kelsey Erin Photography**

Happy Holidays

via

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!!!

xoxo- Lo & the Blissful Happenings Team

[And His name will be the hope of all the world." Matthew 12:21]

Blissful Tykes

photos via Kelsey Erin Photography | [StormTrooper Pillow] [Robot Sheets] [Ladder Bookshelf] [Rocker] [Kick Ass Dresser] [Rug] [Elephant Hook] [Yellow Hook] [Deer Hook] [Letter R Hook] [Lamp] [Trees Art Work] [Birdcage Art Work] [Blanket] [Crib]

Happy Due Date!!!!! October 2nd, the day The Captain and I have been dreaming about for months and months is here!!! Little did we know that the nugget would surprise us 8 days early!!! but I thought today was the perfect day to share the nugget's room with you!!!! It's still sort of a work in progress, but I've decided to err on the side of caution and add as I feel necessary. I am obsessed with his dresser and can't say enough wonderful things about Stephanie, it's amazing re-vamper. You must check out her Etsy site!! I love his wacky robot sheets and stormtrooper pillow, which was actually the first thing I bought for the room. Boy or Girl it was happening!!! This rocker took a while to decide on because I refused to do an ugly rocker and I also refused to spend more than 500. That's already too much, but you would be amazed how much some places charge for seriously unattractive nursery rockers. I feel like I could use 1 or 2 more pieces of art, but again, I want them to be amazing so I'm waiting until I see something I can't live without!!! I'm so excited to finally have the perfect place for my Circles and Squares birdcage print!!! And come on, look at that hat collection, I definitely hope to grow that focal point as well!

I love that I have a room Rocco can grow up with!! My dream is to one day make a living helping people design chic and funky bambino rooms that really stand the test 'o' time. No silly themes, just cool rooms! And because the world deserves to see my beautiful child here's another shot just for the heck of it.

Photo via Kelsey Erin Photography

Picture This…

Sooooooooo first let me apologize for being an incredibly unreliable blogger over the past few weeks. Sigh. I know, I know. All 13 of you have been super stressed not getting your BH fix. I'm so verrrrryyyy sorry, but damn, sometimes life is busy and crazy and busy. Over the span of 2 weeks we had 10 house guests. 7 people and 3 dogs, in case you were wondering. It was wonderful getting to spend time with family, but boy-oh-boy I was wrecked!!! I hate that the blog had to suffer, but I'm back and we are ready to roll… like rollin' with my homies. Ya dig? Moving on. I love pictures. I fill my house with them. Nothing makes me sadder than when you walk in someone's house and only a lonely wedding photo and their college diplomas grace the walls. Yuck. I want life! I want pizazz. I want to know you just by looking at the pics on your wall!! This is your home where you live!!!! Make it uniquely you, filled with photos and pieces that matter!

pics by Kelsey Erin Photography

This is our formal living area. I love this wall. Simple, yet a little funky. As you will notice, I sorta hate symmetry but I also love balance. I think one thing people are afraid to do is print massive pictures! 8x10's are so small!!! Give me a 16x20 any day!! They are perfect for anchoring a photo wall and really make an impact. Also, never underestimate the power of a pair of antlers, they never get old. Probably my favorite wall in my house! Full of my boys, my favorite kid, The Captain, and weird "art" work. I have a mix of pro-photography, home pics, and magazine clippings. I have been obsessed with my Kate Spade t-rex ad and my Alexander McQueen top hung in the meat packing distract since college, both are torn from magazines. So a super fun magazine ad paired with a killer cool off center mat looks baller… in my own wacky opinion. I 'm not so much a fan of matching frames… clearly, but if you are that can work too!! It's all about what most suites you and the photos you want to hang!!

So this wall is in my super girlie guest room. Loooove that room. I like how organized and clean this one is. The shelves are good ole Ikea and they do the trick nicely. I love how the Made By Girl print balances the shorter shelf. I tried to keep these frames simple, doing only black, silver, and white. I love using photo shelves and think it's super fun to stack and arrange the photos like you have amassed this huge collection over the years that has organically grown.

I think that's the trick with any kind of decorating… You never want to look like you bought the mannequin… Ya know, you don't need  everything to match! You want your home to look like you've spent years collecting pieces that give your space character! Have fun and don't put pressure on yourself to have that house you saw on Pinterest, instead create your own pin worthy home!!! How's that for inspirational!?!? Boom. Drop microphone. But then pick it up because it's probably expensive…

books. books. books.

I have a problem. A serious book problem. I am not a Kindle/iPad gizmo reading kinda girl. I want, nay NEED, to have book in my hands. I read The Help on my Ma's iPad and it was fine, but just not as fulfilling as ferociously tearing through a tree-killing paper book. I am obsessed, going into Barnes & Noble is one of lifes greatest pleasures and I have to try very hard to remind myself that I can get everything cheaper from them online or for Amazon. Patience has never been a virtue I possessed. I'm a big fan of pretty coffee table books. They are just so fun and interesting and make me feel like a fancy lady who has fancy coffee table books… You'll find stacks of them, literally, all over my house. Above is my formal living room, the vintage 70's lucite table is one of my most favorite purchases. I stacked it up with some super girly books, a pop of pink, and my favorite mug.  You guessed it, more books. My collection of random fashion, decor, and art books. I have more, but I realize I would look like a candidate for Hoarders if I didn't at least try to streamline my collection in our common areas. Yes, I have not one, but two Sex and the City movie picture books… dude, the movies may be giant piles of crap, but you can't deny the amazing clothes in both films. I bow to Patricia Field and her fashion mastery. This Ikea footlocker is one of the few Ikea purchases that I imagine we will have forever, it's one of my favorite pieces of furniture and it perfectly hides our obscenely large movie collection. Yes, I probably should be on Hoarders.  More fun!!! This is our tv console, good ole Expedit from Ikea. That's probably our next piece to replace, we want a fancier more grown up piece that has a similar vibe. I am obsessed with bookends and knickknacks… clearly I have a bit of an elephant thing. I hate uniform looking bookshelves. Sooooo boring!! I want to have fun odds and ends that really give it some life! We have been collecting these steadily over the last few years. I also like the books to be placed a bit haphazardly to create some charm. I sort of organize each shelf… sort of, a few travel books, my healthy eating reads, the books that I always go back to, and a few vintage finds that fill my heart with joy. I'm working on cleaning up the billions of wires behind it which is much of the reason I want another piece of furniture. I think being surrounded by books that make you feel happy creates such a personal and special touch to your home. We have a massive Expedit stuffed to the brim in our guest room, but keep the really special books out and near us at all times!!And finally, my very small but super special Pride & Prejudice collection. I am slowly building this up. Anytime I find an interesting or pretty version of Pride & Prejudice I buy it. New, used, antique, it doesn't matter. I've got 3 so far, but hope one day to have enough to fill it's own bookshelf… because you CAN NEVER have too many books. I feel like someone is calling Hoarders on my book loving ass, like right now…

My Styling Philosophy

I have declared 2014 the year I kick ass. I know people say that every new year, but I am one determined lady. As some of you know, I started lloStyling in 2012 and saw some growth within that, but since starting Blissful Happenings I've found that lloStyling was only the beginning. Blissful Happenings Studio is currently in the works and I'm so excited about what's to come.

During a brainstorming session, I was asked about my style philosophy and how I want that to translate into my business. After much reflection it's quite simple, I think it's important to feel good in your clothes. BOOM!! Is your mind blown?! I know there are a lot of grand notions about style and fashion that make it seem very distant, that it's only for lanky, thin model types, but not for the everyday woman. I don't buy that! Clothes are meant to be fun and a piece from Gap can be just as exciting as something designer if it fits well and is styled properly! That's where I come in!I want to inspire great style in every woman! I want the stay at home mom, the college student, and the business woman to go in their closet and love EVERY piece. I think it's common to think of a Stylist as something only rich people have, a complete luxury, but I am here to flip that idea on it's head. I want to help you rediscover the closet that you currently have! We might say farewell to a few things and I will always suggest new pieces to enhance your wardrobe, but I'm here to maximize what you already own! At the end of the day I want you to feel confident in your clothes! Confidence speaks volumes and I believe it is the key to blissful living. We are fans of bliss around these parts!

If you are need of styling services, hit up the Hire Me page above! And remember, you don't need to be in San Diego, we can do all consults over Skype! Oh the glorious internet! We are working to have a legit site in the next few months and are planning a giveaway here on the blog!! Stay tuned for awesomeness!!

photos via Kelsey Erin Photographer featuring Estela from Weekly Bite

Holiday Delights

My holiday table | Photo via Kelsey Erin Photography

Holiday food is the bombdiggity!!! It's warming and delicious and perfect and fabulous. Being vegan, I've had to make some considerable changes to the classics, but I assure you they are tasty and just as satisfying. I find inspiration everywhere! I love reading vegan and non-vegan cookbooks and blogs. I love turning a recipe into a veggie delight! It brings me such joy! Such joy!! And when it tastes so freaking good,  I'm so happy I wanna run into the streets screaming good tidings and kiss a good looking stranger right in the face. Here are 3 recipes, one created from my mind hole, one exactly as it was written, and one adapted to my plant based lifestyle! All of them are magical holiday dishes!! Enjoy!

Green Beans with Shallots and Almonds Serves 4 as a side

1 pound trimmed green beans

1/4 cup sliced almonds

4-5 large shallots sliced into rings

a sprinkle or 2 of whole wheat pastry flour (any will work)

1 tablespoon olive oil for the beans and 1/2 cup or so sunflower oil to fry the shallots

a splash of veggie stock (I like to add some stock to help the beans steam)

salt and pepper

So this is super easy. I've made it twice already and I'm sharing the more naughty version. After light dredging the shallots in flour, I shallow fried them in a frying pan until golden and crispy! Once out of the pan lay them on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. YUM! You might need to make more because you WILL eat them as they cook up. Then start the green beans, get a tablespoon of oil heating in the pan. Toss in the green beans with the oil and add a pinch of salt and a few turns of the pepper mill. Toss in a splash, roughly a tablespoon, of stock and put on the lid. Check every 2-3 minutes, you want them to be soft, but still have a bit of a crunch! You definitely want them to keep their brilliant color!! Once they hit the sweet spot toss in the almonds, shallots, and another pinch of salt. Sauté for a min or so and serve!! Soooooo good!!! If you want to make the healthy version, omit the oil and sauté beans with only veggie stock and instead of frying your shallots place them on a cookie sheet in a 450 degree oven for 10-15 minutes!! Fat free masterpiece! 

"Christina Hendricks's Rub All Over Your Body Stuffing" Sorta...

Serves two thousand people

day old cornbread (I use this whole recipe minus the green chilies)

day old biscuits (I use this whole recipe from The Kind Diet, but switch the oil for apple sauce)

1 cup celery, finely chopped

1 large onion, finely chopped

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoons salt

4-6 cups veggie stock

1 tablespoon dried sage

1 teaspoon parsley flakes

1/2 cup melted Earth Balance (I use the sticks for this)

optional: Field Roast's Smoked Apple Sage "sausage" crumbled

This is so easy. I make the biscuits and cornbread the day before and try not to eat them. I actually like to chop my veggies and measure out my herbs too. Then the day of I just crumble up the biscuits and cornbread and dump everything else into a huge baking dish! Preheat the oven to 350. I pour over the earth balance and start with 4 cups of veggie stock. Bake for an hour, adding stock if it begins to dry out.

This was a hit. Creamed Kale is where it's at!!! I found this recipe at Food to Glow and holy bananas!! MIND. BLOWN. I can't even believe how delicious this dish tasted. So simple. I can't wait to make it again!!! Can a person be in love with Kale? Like truly, deeply in love?? Because I am. I definitely am. Check out the recipe here and make the vegan version, DUH. Enjoy these delicious recipes!!!!!!!

Ladies Gift Guide

It's beginning to look a lot like traffic, rude people, and long lines… That sounds very bah-humbug, but the truth is I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!! Love it, I just can't stand what the holiday season does to so many people, which is why I shop from home. I love purchasing all my holiday delights directly from the internets so that on the rare occasion that I step out into the retail world I'm able to keep a smile on my face and let people go ahead of me in line etc, etc. Moving on, after The Captain's dude list I got a few requests for a gift guide for the girlies!! So here you go!!

1. Love More Tee - I love ScoutMob's super awesome Shoppe that has tons of super cool independent designers and so many must have products. This tee from Arquebus Clothing out of Texas has the coolest shirts and I'm obsessed with this one! And considering how much some retailers try to sell graphic tees for this is a steal of a deal!!!

2. Naked 3 - So I can't wait to get this!! I'm a fan of the original and think that 3 has amazing shades that ARE different than the other 2 palettes, proof here. I think these shades are more subtle than the previous 2, but still have plenty of intensity! Perfect for a NYE bash or just grabbing brunch with friends. Fab.

3. Makeup Brushes - I lalalalove MAC makeup brushes and these sets are an affordable way to get 5 killer brushes. The super cute travel case also makes it very easy to… well, travel with them. Any girly-girl would love to get this set.

4. Rebecca Minkoff bag - This bag is so fab. It's like a fabulous angry Chanel without the 2 grand price tag. Perfect for any fashionista. RM is one of my favorite designers of quality,  affordable handbags and this is a classic!

5. Rose hip & Red clay face mask - I love a good face mask and this company, Beridan Naturals, is one of the coolest brands around. Even their packaging is too cool for school. This pretty pink mask is perfect for cleansing and detoxing trouble skin! While the clay absorbs impurities and toxins, the rose hip powder exfoliates leaving skin smooth and bright. I want everything that they make!!

6. Madewell Tee - This looks so comfy that I can barely stand it. I love a clever gift, but a super soft well-made (see what I did there) tee is a perfect present. It would be great with jeans or maybe even paired with #12.

7. Fox Pillow - Sooo Foxxxxxyyyyyy. This pillow is just the cutest thing that I've ever seen. It's a fox pillow. I don't know why, I love it. So if the lady you are shopping for is a touch quirky this might make the perfect gift… and bonus, it's on sale!!!

8. Kate Spade Planner - I never thought I'd be a Kate Spade girl, but lately I've just loved everything they make. This planner is so fabulous and a perfect gift for the lady who is far too classy to put her important meetings in her iCalander. Plus, gold polka dots are, like, the best thing ever.

9. Diptyque Candle - This is for the chick who literally has everything. I don't ever think to buy myself a pricey, fancy candle, but I can assure you I would flipping love to get one as a gift. I think I'm speaking for most women when I say that. And this one smells of hazelnut, basically fall in a candle. Yes, please.

10. Betsy & Iya Ring - I mentioned my love of this brand before, but I toats love their style! I dig their jewelry and am a big fan of the way they run things! I love buying jewels from small companies because your piece is truly unique. You don't see it on every other person. I found them on Etsy and can't stop buying from them!!

11. Jane Austen Penguin Classics - This is for the book worm. I have a few of these Austen classics, but to get a whole set!? Be still my heart!!! These books are beautiful and look like art work displayed in your home. If your lady has mentioned on more than one occasion her love of Mr. Darcy or Mr. Knightley or Edmund, this is a much purchase.

12. Fancy Skirt - This is so fancy and beautiful and fancy. It would be super funky with a crop top, casual with a chambray shirt, über fancy with a silk top so many options!! Ladies love when their men buy them clothes… perhaps I should specify, ladies love when their men buy them AWESOME clothes. Did I mention it's fancy?

13. Spiralizer - Yes, yes, yes. The health nut in your life will jump for joy over this gadget. It makes zucchini pasta a snap and just in case you're thinking, "what the duck!? I just want regular pasta!!!" It also makes the perfect curly fries!!! Winning.

14. Chloe's Vegan Desserts - Chloe knows what she's doing. She's the only vegan chef to ever win Cupcake Wars, so naturally her dessert book is freaking awesome. Everything is delicious. Everything. Don't get me started on her chocolate chip cookies!!! Perfect for your veggie with a sweet tooth.

15. Global Bread Knife - Yes. A bread knife. What? I want a nice bread knife and Global knives are hands down my favorite. This knife is sexy and it's perfect for cutting up some yummy italian bread, slicing tomatoes, or stabbing the occasional zombie.