what you’ll need:

• -1 16oz box of penne
• -4 to 5 medium ripe tomatoes (i used hot house. yum.)
• -1 bunch of fresh basil
• -1 ball of fresh mozzarella
• -4 cloves of garlic (i pressed it)
• -olive oil

& here we go:

1. chop tomatoes into large but bite-able chunks.
2. double check that your basil is clean, pull leaves off the bunch & cut extra large pieces in half.
3. tear or cut the fresh mozzarella into pieces the size of your thumb. you don’t want them too big or they won’t melt later.
4. sautee garlic & olive oil in a large skillet or pot, then move it off the burner but don’t clean it up yet you’ll be using this pan again.
5. cook your pasta until it’s al dente & strain, reserving about 1/4 cup of the pasta water.
6. pour the 1/4 cup of pasta water into the pot with garlic & oil. add the pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella & basil last. cook over medium heat until the pasta is well coated with garlic & oil, the basil starts to wilt & the cheese starts to melt. add s+p & serve!
7. enjoy!

here’s the before:

i really wanted a modern update… a little funk & something unexpected since the chandelier is already so glam. i picked up a few packages of round bulbs for $6 & came home to do the swtich.

it turned out to be the perfect update i was looking for… modern, fresh & definitely suttle. i love it.

& the after:

what do you think? there are tons of great light bulb options out there so be curious! bulbs are an inexpensive change-up that will make you feel updated right away. i’m working on a few other light fixtures around the casa & can’t wait to show you the edison bulbs!

i was extremely lucky to get in touch with friends in the area who gave us lists & lists of thing to do, places to eat & sights to see. i had NEVER been west of Tennessee & was stoked about visiting the pacific northwest… it was one of my favorite trips ever & i can’t wait to see more or the glorious US of A.

my first ever view of arizona. breathtaking & like another planet…

ahhh! i tried not to faint from over excitement once i saw the view of store #1 up the street… a real dream come true.

real italian cappuccinos at cafe senso.

it was abnormally cold while we were there so we stayed BUNDLED up, but i couldn’t complain because it was sunny EVERY single day… blessed.

the famous gum wall. totally gross but i found a G!

fish at pike place market. i was dying to cook something french!!

oh so fun.

i love how retro the space needle is… built for the 1962 world’s fair!

gil rotating while we enjoyed brunch.

photos from the top: those are snow capped mountains from the distance!

quite possibly the best photo i’ve ever taken on my iphone… but this still doesn’t do mt. ranier justice. ahhhmazing.

what better way to see the whole city than from milion dollar condos? we took some fun tours to see some amazing real estate… the views & spaces are incredible.

our favorite places to eat+drink:

• Black Bottle
• Cafe Senso
• Root Table
• Portage Bay Cafe
• Crepe de France
• Hot Cakes
• Espresso Vivace

our favorite neighborhoods were Pioneer Square, Ballard & Capitol Hill.

our favorite sights+things to do:

• NORDSTROM of course! Downtown is the Original, Bellevue is amazing & don’t forget the Rack!
• The Space Needle is so fab, but beware… we wanted to do brunch at the top but didn’t know the restaurant operated separate from the viewing deck so we ended up paying twice. lesson learned. you have to make reservations & the 3 course (delicious) brunch is $50 a person but includes the viewing deck. rotating 360 degrees around the city on a clear day, eating crab eggs benedict with my gorgeous husband & gawking at the mountain… worth every penny.
• Downtown Shopping is fun, fun, fun.
• Pike Place Market is epic. along the water & just like i’ve always imagined. i was a total freak over all the sleepless in seattle spots… how many times did i say “tom hanks was standing RIGHT HERE!!!” eat the donuts, visit the crepe shop & meet the locals.
• Pioneer Square has the feel of the west village. Old bookstores, loft apartments, cute shops… it was my favorite.
• Mt. Ranier National Park isn’t too far away but winter wasn’t the ideal time to visit.
• The Music & Art world here is phenomenal… so much to to culture experience!

what we loved:

• the people were nicer than i expected! as a southerner who obsessively smiles at everyone i was surprised at how friendly the Seattlites were… people struck up lovely conversations with us everywhere we went.
• everyone seems young, healthy & in shape.
• pets are everywhere… there are twice as many dogs as children in the city, which as childless rabbit lovers we can appreciate.
• it’s GORGEOUS. i’ve never ever seen anything like Mt. Ranier… it’s utterly breathtaking & completely indescribable. we were lucky to see it almost everyday, which isn’t common. a friend of mine lived in Seattle for 3 months before she got a view!
• it has that big city feel with nature & the great outdoors mixed right in… wear jimmy choos or birkenstocks, celine or mountain hardware, either way you’ll fit right in.
• although we didn’t visit far outside the city Victoria, Canada is just 3 hours away & California is oh so close. it was hard to comprehend how far away from home we were but how many amazing places were just a hop, skip or jump away.
• it’s so fun to be surrounded by water, the views of everything around are gorgeous.

i’m really hoping to visit again soon… i’d love to experience the not-so-hot summer in the pacific northwest. seattle, you were fab.

i’m so blessed to have had another happy & healthy year with the hubs & bun. we both blogged A LOT, tackeled TONS of new house projects & are excited about 2013!! each passing year i’m always surprised & completely blown away as i watch the number of my blog readers grow. a HUGE heart felt thank you to each & every person near & far who stops by to check in, & read + comment on posts…

here are a few fun facts about the blog from 2012:

love, the looking glass has seen thousands & thousands of visitors this past year, of course from the USA mostly but the United Kingdom & Canada were in a close 2nd & 3rd. with over 275 new photos, i hope you saw things that inspired you to live small, dress up & kept you wanting to try more!

twenty twelve, you were great, see! but we’re ready for what’s coming next!

i already have SOOO many cakes & exciting things to share with you all. stay curious, there’s lots more to come!

our first real big house project was a built-in bookcase… we love it!

i’ve really enjoyed making our laundry detergent… we’ve saved TONS of moolah & i love knowing we’re not covering our skin with gross chemicals!

our summer vacation in charleston for gil’s bday was such a nice getaway…

i made my first rainbow cake… it was for a very hungry caterpillar party!

i ran my very first 5K ever! {the color run}

we turned our unusable back yard into a huge deck! i can’t wait to turn this into an amazing living space as soon as it warms up outside!

sadly my car died… but hubs surprised me & we got a Fiat 500! meet FiFi… & i learned to drive a manual transmission… it’s been interesting to say the least.

hubs decided to come work with me at Nordstrom while he focuses on his masters degree… & we love working together! seeing his face more often makes a job i already loved even better. come shop with hiim, he’s a amazing personal stylist!

hubs & i were somehow blessed to have a few days off in a row this christmas {which hardly ever happens in retail} so we packed up all the presents & henry & hit the road to charleston. it was my first christmas spent in the southern city & it was quite beautiful. the palm trees were all lit up & the carriage riders were bundled tight in blankets. on Sunday evening we did a little downtown shopping, ate at our favorite restaurant: Hall’s Chophouse then we headed back home to hibernate for the rest of the holiday… we really tried to rest. we slept in, stayed in our comfy clothes & the couch was my seat of choice. i lost count of how many christmas movies we watched, i don’t think we ever ceased eating + drinking & there were presents galore. i think my favorites from gil were tiffany rope rings, a le creuset enameled cast iron french oven, peugot salt & pepper grinders & a new julia child book. i have plans to really explore cooking & baking in the new year… i know gil is excited.

headed to downtown charleston… isn’t he handsome!?

SO happy about this beauty… i’m pretty sure i’m going to cook everything in it all the time.

my favorite wrapping paper to date… i heart herringbone.

we’ve already taken down all the holiday decor at Nordstrom! until next year…

we did a little family photo shoot with the talented andie linn… henry was very excited to be a part of it. obviously.

even though christmas seems to come & go so quickly it’s always such a magical season… each time i read the story of Jesus’ birth i am more awed by the gift that he is to us. one we could never deserve but one i am more thankful for with each passing year. this christmas was one to remember & we haven’t even celebrated with my parents yet!! can’t wait to spend new years eve with them celebrating the most wonderful time of the year…

it seems to come faster & faster with each passing year. i usually have tons of last minute shopping to do but Gil & i bought almost everything on our list this year at Nordstrom on our annual house party day… our discount goes up for one day only so that we can shop our hearts out! our family is lucky to be surrounded by piles of silver boxes on christmas morning. i have just a few things left to pick up then it’s time to start wrapping (i bought the cutest wrapping paper at target, it looks like real black & white herringbone! love!) but i thought i’d share some of my current favorite gift-giving items with you all… enjoy & remember one for them & one for you!

1. diptique candles:

i love diptique everything, their paris made scents are to die for. this cute set includes baies: they’re best selling scent, roses: my favorite & a fig scent that’s just lovely.

2. whiskey rocks:

perfect for whiskey, scotch or bourbon lovers. these soapstone rocks keep the drink perfectly cool with out watering it down the way ice will…

3. poach pods:

poaching an egg julia child style is no easy task but these are a wonder! we use them ALL THE TIME & they’re amazing. perfectly poached eggs everytime & a fab stocking stuffer for your favorite cook.

4. tiffany key ring:

like tiffany says: “good keys need a proper home.” what better home than a sterling silver initialed key ring. for a guy or gal it’s just gorg & perfectly classic.

5. faux fur throw:

you can’t go wrong with faux fur in the winter. who wouldn’t want to snuggle up with one of these & watch elf? i love this restoration hardware beauty & with so many colors to choose from they’ll match anyones style.

6. bamboo keyboard & mouse

how cute is this?! both pc & mac compatible…

7. kate spade gumdrop earrings:

these subtle yet gumdrop sized studs will make any girl light up. i wear my black ones just about everyday, but each of these candy coated colors is a must have.

8. bodum glass coffee cups:

we all have coffee lovers in our lives (probably ourselves included) so it’s a good thing these come in a set of 2. the double-walled hand blown glass is incredibly lightweight yet heatproof… so you can easily hold & sip away.

9. a mini-rex rabbit:

i can’t say enough that bunnies make the BEST pets. they’re oh so cute, silent, they bathe themselves & require no vet visits or shots as long as they’re healthy. they run $10-$20 & are sometimes free. & our bun henry is litter trained & roams free around wtih house without a cage. make sure you find a quality breeder & check out the house rabbit society for some great info on raising rabbits.

10. chalkboard wall planter:

this vertical herb garden brings your kitchen to life while saving space so you can live small… 10 spaces are surrounded by an adorable chalkboard frame that allows you to keep your new herbs freshly labeled.

happy shopping & gifting! be curious!

i think i’m still figuring it out but i do know for sure that i’ve been called to be a wife. one that brings good to my husband & not harm… one that helps the poor & speaks wisdom. one that is profitable… i’ve got staying up late & having expensive taste in the bag but watching over the affairs of my household & building a home is what i love most & i’m honored to do it.

i know it looks different for all of us. some of us aren’t married, we’re renting apartments or funds are extremely limited but no matter what, as women (no offense to my male readers like Marc) i think we’re the ones who can choose to make wherever we are a place that’s more than just a home. a place that overflows with encouraging words & reminders of His love for us. a place that’s a comfortable hideaway from the things stirring non-stop on the outside. a place that resources what we already have so that we aren’t wasteful, as well as a place that riles up the creativity inside all of us…

i’m doing my best & that’s all i can do. sharing ways to encourage all of you to live small, dress up, make changes, & be the best version of yourself is what i love most. so if now that means cakes, antiques, wallpaper, lots of spray paint & pin after pin then let’s get back to it… maybe i just needed a little pep-talk… but really, i’ve missed you.

i’ll leave you with a few things i’ve been up to these last 2 months:

i ran my first 5k the color run! isn’t my friend leigh cute?

this is the apple pie i baked with my mom on thanksgiving… it was more than delish.

i diy’d my own metal letters… i’ll show you what they spell soon enough

we have our christmas tree up & in a new corner! i added a huge burlap bow on top after i snapped this photo.

& this is what henry has been up to… he’s constantly resting under the tree between snacking on it.

i’m a total creature of habit & we never tire of this place. if you’ve never been you just have to try it… not only is the food impeccable but it’s located in a quaintly lovely historic college town. oh & they play the best music. honestly that may be one of my favorite parts. i could eat the cali benny & listen to the mama’s & the papas ALL DAY LONG. {hey south queen citiers, they now have a locations in dilworth & ballantyne!}

i’m loving this cooler weather so i thew on my favorite sweatshirt & jumped in the car.

sunglasses: bp nordstrom

sweatshirt: j.crew

white collared top: lush via nordstrom

jeans: forever 21

polka dot loafers: gap

bag: lv eva

phone case: rabito via nordstrom

bangs: dirty & pulled back

*this is NOT a sponsored post.

it’s been fun having a building permit in the front window & i’ve loved seeing the progress each day when i get home from work. but now that it’s almost done i’ve been obsessed with finding inspiration to make it look & feel amazing back there. i can’t wait to furnish it, plant tons of things & really make it feel like an extension of our home, french inspired & all.

i’m kinda bummed that we’ve missed all the outdoor clearance sales but it will come together eventually. home decor patience is not one of my virtues… alas, there are a few must-haves on my wish list:

-a couch of some kind {i’d really love to find a great sectional that’s not $7 grand.} or chaise lounges?!

-a fire pit

-string lights a la paris

-small trees, i’m thinking a fig or lemon tree & a few others too

-a grill {we don’t have one. YET.}

-gil wants some kind of cool large outdoor rug

-a raised herb garden

-& lots of pillows.

here’s what i’ve been pinning lately… take a peep.

love the rug & the black & white stripes… right up our alley.

can you name this tree?! if so please tell me, it’s perfect!

i can’t wait to use these barrels for planting & drink sitting…

these lights remind me of our wedding… & paris. love, love love.

lately i’m loving greens way more than flowers.

wait, i wish i could afford this furniture for inside my house! love the mirrored table & all neutral pallette.

i’m thinking if i can’t find the perfect couch, my dad & i could build one out of pallets right?!

not sure if our HOA will approve a pergola, but we might try next summer. oh so homey!

what’s your favorite part about your outdoor space? please share! can’t wait to show you all the final product soon… be curious!

all photos via my pinterest board… click here to find the links.

even though i can be a neutral nancy i decided to wear a fun, bright vintage printed skirt, my new favorite boots & a black h&m tee with mesh polka dots {very a-la stella mccartney.} i had my bestie Jessie at MAC give me some sassy black liner & told her to give me a pop! she went straight for the brightest blue, electric eel. i loved the look & it was SO fun for the day.

needless to say i soon realized i looked like a walking circus… & i kind of liked it. be curious!

{& it’s not too late, if you’re in charlotte visit Nordstrom tonight to join in the beauty bash fun!}

skirt: value village

shirt: h&m

watch: nordstrtom

boots: nordstrom 

eyes: MAC electric eel

lips: chapped