Wednesday wishes + Happy 4th of July

I hope you have fun celebrating freedom, independence, no work/school, pretty fireworks, or whatever you like :). I'll be heading up to the mountains tonight to enjoy the show and full moon. What will you be up to?

via Ffffound

Friday night links + A Memorial Day weekend

via Javier Carrete

Summer is starting, and it's a long weekend! We're celebrating my brothers' birthday, and I'm also thinking about making a last-minute drive up to San Francisco and Davis to visit more law schools. What are your plans?

More wallpaper! (via Design*Sponge)

10 uninhabited islands. (via mental_floss)

Summer wardrobe considerations. (via Refinery29)

Hungry Hungry Hippo and other game-inspired movies. If only. (via Flavorpill)

I'm in awe of this nine year-old's self control and taste. (via Never Seconds)

Who took the Zuckerbergs' wedding picture? (via Buzzfeed)

I want to watch Moonrise Kingdom. (via NPR)

Creative and simple DIYs for that Memorial Day BBQ. (via Oh Happy Day)

via Design*Sponge

As always, have a great one!

Jensen + Josen

Happy birthday to my twin brothers ♥.

via Desi Colours

People get busy in December + Birthday rankings

How common is your birthday? ☺

Oscars + A few more golden statues to give

Overall, I enjoyed watching the Oscars even if it was safe and predictable. Some people were complaining about how Billy Crystal didn't have anything new or exciting planned, but I don't see how this came as a surprise. I do wish a few of these actors and movies below had received something as well.

via Vogue

Both Seth Myers and Kristen Wiig are such funny, talented people, and they're gorgeous in this shoot. I'm sad she didn't win anything last night, but judging from all the projects she has lined up, I'm sure she'll be at award shows again.

via Celeb Source

I haven't seen The Artist yet, but I'm a little disappointed that both these guys' and Gary Oldman's movies didn't get more love from the Oscars (except when The Descendants' won for adapted screenplay--Jim Rash!). Also, where did the Clooney/Pitt bromance go? I miss it!

via good wallpapers

And finally, I cannot believe that Transformers had more nominations than Drive. I don't even...

But what did everyone else think? I thought the Cirque du Soleil performance was fun, if a little random. Meryl Streep and Christopher Plummer had the best speeches. Fav dresses were Jessica Chastain's and Octavia Spencer's!

Happy Chinese New Year! + Lucky dragons

via PaperCulture

May you be blessed with happiness and joy.

Friday night links + A festive weekend

via sixth and main

The President sings! ...That's different :). (via The Obama Diary)

Coolhaus now has peking duck as an ice cream flavor. That's...different. (via Coolhaus)

One of these days, I'm going to stop being the annoying person who makes everyone look at cute, animal pictures. Today is not that day. (via Buzzfeed)

I've been wanting this mini-skirt for awhile, and it's finally on sale! But still not worth it, right? (via Zara)

Most alumni are satisfied with law school experience according to some survey. I hope they're telling the truth. (via National Law Journal)

The Afghan Women's Writing Project is a collection of stories and poems written secretly by Afghan women for the world to read. (via AWWProject)

And after you've read some of their stories, you deserve to throw yourself a 'pity party' if you still feel down about your own life. I love this fun way of acknowledging a bad day. (via Wit + Delight)

via Eye Poetry Photography

Chinese New Year is next week! Have a festive one ☺.

Friday night links + Rockin' NYE weekend

via Pretty Peach Peonies

It feels like our lives are always in fast-forward. Can you believe it's the end of 2011 already? I hope I'll be more productive than I was this year...but we'll get to resolutions and reflection next week. For now, enjoy even more end-of-the-year lists!

Refinery29's fashion predictions. (via Refinery29)

LA's most dubious moments. I wish I had dinner on the 405. Or enjoyed Roscoe's with the President. Mmm..chicken. (via UrbanDaddy)

Also, LA's popular nightlife spots of the moment. (via UrbanDaddy)

6 reasons the Clippers might be better than the Lakers this year? Hey, I didn't write it. (via Guestofaguest)

11 things that might be more expensive next year. Hopefully not. (via Deal News)

20 of LA's biggest house sales...so I can use the phrase "in this economy?". (via Curbed)

80 party dresses. (via DailyCandy)

This list is silly. Like tigers could ever be "out". They're so furry! But there are some trends here to consider if you enjoy these things. (via Washington Post)

Go Irvine Law School. It's now on the list of impossible schools to get into. (via Thomson Reuters)

This last one might be pushing the theme a bit, but check out this list of celebrity faces on one person's face. She knows her makeup. (via 9gag)

And that's it. Have a rockin' New Year's Eve whether you're cozying up at home or partying it up at an exclusive nightclub. Just make sure your night doesn't turn out like this. See you all in 2012 ♥.

via 9gag

Merry Christmas! + A slamdunk

via 9gag

 Whatever you did for the holidays, hope it was a success! Have an exciting, relaxing, whatever-you-want day ☺.

2011 Pretty Presents + For the host/ess

Give something to your host/esses this year to show them how much you appreciate their efforts. It's a busy month with all the holiday bashes they'll be throwing.

See #6.

Something for them to unwind and de-stress before that next big soiree.

via Arch Daily

Where: Your favorite spa

Price: I recommend getting at least a $100 gift certificate if you choose to buy one. Otherwise, they'll be paying for half the gift themselves.

Alternatives: Throw a spa party to return the favor.

Help them keep the guests happy with this foosball table.

Where: Amazon

Price: $174.49

Alternatives: This tabletop one is much cheaper.

This is gorgeous.

Where: A+R Store

Price: $140

Alternatives: You can move on to this after or just get a self-watering planter if fish aren't for you.

Hosts usually take great pride in their homes, and this Chickadee smoke detector is sure to have them cooing (did I already use that joke?) away.

Where: Charles&Marie

Price: $66 (shipping varies)

Alternatives: Replace more unattractive household appliances with this cool-looking outlet.

Okay, this one might just be because I like cups and mugs (as you can see). But it's so pretty!

Where: Shop Modi

Price: $16 (+ $6 shipping)

Alternatives: This jug,  Sake Bombs, or the Bobble Filtering Water Bottle (I have one; either it works or I've been drinking dirty water.)

Show her that you know she's much more than just a good cook with these jeweled earrings.

Where: Anthropologie

Price: $38

Alternatives: More options here.

Felted soap to keep your guests clean and entertained.

Where: Etsy

Price: $18 (+ $3 shipping)

Alternatives: More designs here.

I love tearing the perforated edges of paper towels, and I can't be the only one. I wonder how tearing these fancy cotton napkins would be like. My hands are tingly just thinking about it.

Where: A+R Store

Price: $28 (+ $9 shipping)

Alternatives: These are some napkins you can personalize.

I hate to say it, but in this day and age, calendars are becoming a little...unnecessary. We have everything on our computers and phones, and they give out plenty of free ones at banks/stores. If we like to write things down, we usually turn to a sensible-looking planner. But calendars are becoming more creative every year, so I always end up getting one anyway. I like this calendar because there's also a drawn recipe each month!

Where: They Draw and Cook (Check out the rest of their recipes too. They're adorable.)

Price: $16 (+ $6 shipping)

Alternatives: There's also the Bubble-wrap calendar and plenty of more on Etsy. If you just want calendars for their pictures, I would buy them a couple months after the new year. They go from $20 to $1.

Nikki McClure's beautiful paper-cuts. I have a print of hers on my wall!

Next up: a gift guide to keep even the biggest spenders busy. ☺

Wish BIG + It's 11.11.11

via Pinterest

Blog + One month!

Oh blog, you and I have lasted one month together. How should I celebrate?

My imagination:

via Pinterest, Miss Pandora, $imbolism

Reality:

via Pinterest

Here's to many many more months! ♥