big news . . .

Sitting down to write this post, I can't begin to think of what to write - my mind is completely blank. When the final version of my 7x7 Magazine feature landed in my inbox, I gasped for air, my jaw dropped to the ground and I may have been bouncing up and down at my desk. Coming up with the overall tabletop design and every single detail was so much fun. I enjoyed every minute of it - from finding family heirlooms, to bringing the chartreuse green branches and lotus ponds on the plane with me (flight attendant couldn't believe it), to waking up before the sunrise to go to the flower market. This table was a labor of love.

A big thank you goes out to Leilani Marie Labong for selecting me to be to featured for this 7x7 Magazine piece. Seeing our ideas come alive was so much fun and your writing captured every detail. I'm truly honored to be part of the December 2010 Holiday issue.

*Photos: Cody Pickens for 7x7 Magazine

staying warm . . .

Temperatures are below normal in San Francisco. I shouldn't be complaining but I get goose bumps every time I step outside into the cold sea-breeze weather. When I came across these Wrist Worms the other day I knew I had to pick up a pair for myself. They come in an array of colors (hello shades of gray) and are perfect for someone always typing away (that's me). I might pick up a few pairs for stocking stuffers as well.

*Photos: Wrist Worms

deck the halls . . .

This weekend I started decorating our apartment for the holidays - I know it's not quite December, but I just couldn't resist. Ornaments went into bowls, stockings were brought out and my mantel is looking quite festive with lots of candles.

I've been lusting after this TOAST Christmas catalogue. I'm just going to warn you right now - if you open it up you’re going to want EVERYTHING. My Christmas wish list consists of socks, pajamas, dresses - the list goes on and on of items from TOAST. If only I lived near one of their stores, but that might be dangerous for my bank account. I hope these images from their catalogue puts you in the holiday decorating spirit, because it definitely got me in a cheery mood.

*Photos: TOAST

10 Things That Make Me Happy: Definitely Golden

Happy Monday! What a wonderful long weekend it was - spent time with friends and family, decorated our apartment for the holiday season, had many cups of hot cocoa and the best part was I didn't turn on my computer the entire weekend.

My Thanksgiving dinner turned out wonderfully. This is the first Thanksgiving Eric and I have cooked together - our turkey was perfectly cooked, brussels sprouts were delicious, homemade pumpkin pie was yummy and the only complaint was that my mashed potatoes were a little lumpy (husband's opinion). I couldn't have asked for a better night because we were surrounded by loved ones.

Today, I'm excited to have Marzena from Definitely Golden. Her blog inspires me every single day with images that make my heart beat a little bit faster. If you're ever looking for beautiful images and photos, this is the blog to check out. I promise you will love it.

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There are a lot of things I like about Sacramento Street and this series is most definitely one of them. The ability of a well made composition to tell a story in a short glance is something that I find very attractive. And now, I am one of those people: one of those people who actually enjoys making list.

1. i grew up enjoying the pleasures of tea culture which had different repercussions in my life: you will always find different blends in my cupboard and of course, it always has to be the real stuff which means whole leafs. the whole ritual of a well made cup of tea couldn't be perfect without the right visual hardware. although i tend to opt for everything plain and white, this teapot by the porcelain manufacturer

hutschenreuther marks an exception. its vintage pattern is both, beautiful and timeless.

2. a beautiful handwriting is something precious. unfortunately the occasions to write are quite rare which makes it even more important to indulge in a fountain pen and good paper. moleskine notebooks are great, but if you are in search of an alternative, the leather bound notebook from pinetti is definitely something special.

3. the gentlewoman is perfect - in so many ways. although i am a huge fan of blogs and websites, i wouldn't want to miss the experience of a well made magazine. this one convinced me right away. the content is refreshingly different and every picture a true eye-candy.

4. a must-have piece of jewellery is a pair of golden hoops. they come in different shapes and sizes, but i think that the classic version in a medium size is recommendable, since you can wear them easily during the day. the automne oak leaf earings by aurélie bidermann can be a wonderful extension to your collection.

5. my laptop and i, me and my laptop. we are practically inseparable, a perfect match. this model (q530) is my second samsung and i couldn't be happier. being a lightweight, it practically begs you to carry it around all day everyday. and its minimal design is just right for me.

6. a day without coffee is not a perfect day. there are a lot of coffee shops to discover and i seize the opportunity every time i can. but, i'm also happy to have discovered the perfect place for the daily fix: godshot offers great coffee made with a lot of love and expertise. on their card you can find the classic espresso as well as the australian flat white. the later is the smaller version of the well-known latte and served in a little glass which is used in the french culture for water. by the way the blend black cat is a perfect fit for this kind of coffee.

7. very few things are as personal as the scent you are wearing. it is important to go with the season and it is important to have a choice. but then again, it is important to find the perfume you never get tired of and which you can put on daily, feeling it simply belongs to you. since quite a while chloé is the one.

8. you certainly know by heart the desperate exclamation of a saleswoman "madam, this will absolutely go with practically everything". for once, it could be more than a cliché: le vernis by chanel in black satin is an allrounder and really goes with everything. i promise.

9. christmas and new year are just around the corner which is a perfect occasion to show your friends that they are not forgotten. i tend to browse through little shops in search for some unique cards produced by tinier manufactures like metoyou. the price you pay for those beauties is maybe a little bit higher, but so is the paper and design quality.

10. i'm running the danger to repeat myself, but i think that those pair of chloé shoes are a fabulous excuse to spend a whole evening browsing through the latest spring accessories at style.com.

thankful for . . .

This year been a special one - Eric and I now call each other husband and wife, friends - old and new - inspired me to follow my dreams, family that supports me at every turn in the road and amazing Sacramento Street readers that share this space with me. I have so much to be thankful for this year.

I wish each and everyone of you a wonderful Thanksgiving - may it be filled with family, friends and lots of yummy treats. All of us have so much to be grateful for this year!

xo, Caitlin

*Photos: 1. Hitchcock Blonde 2 & 3. dress, design, decor

winding down . . .

Over here on the West Coast we've had a serious drop in temperature. We went from 80 degrees to 30 - 40 degrees in a little over a week. With the temperatures dropping and the days getting shorter, it's time to hunker down in my apartment. I'll be prepping the linens, eating warm meals at home with family, taking advantage of my blanket addiction by curling up in a few with my never-ending stack of magazine I need to read and beinspired by. When it's time, I'll pick out the perfect holiday outfit to celebrate this year’s festivities - who doesn't love a little sparkle this time of year? What I'm looking forward to the most is having the alarm clock going off and being able to enjoy a few lazy mornings in bed.

What do you have planned this holiday weekend?

*Photos: 1. 3. 5. Twig Hutchinson 2. mary ruffle via tumblr 4. maison 23

on the menu: cranberry sauce with pears

This cranberry sauce has been made by my grandmother, my mom, and now me. It’s simple but delicious. If there were one thing I could eat at Thanksgiving, it would be this cranberry sauce.

Ingredients

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon ginger

Two peeled and chopped pears

12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries

Directions
Dissolve the sugar, water, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger items over low heat—about 5 minutes, depending on the heat. Then add the two peeled and chopped pears. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add fresh cranberries and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat when the cranberries begin to pop.

Enjoy! I tend to eat all of it before we even sit down for Thanksgiving dinner.

*Photo: flickr

on the menu: drunken pumpkin pie

I've been craving pumpkin pie for the past few weeks and when I came across this recipe over on Tartelette, I wanted a piece of pie even more. This recipe is easy as pie (haha, yes I think I'm hilarious)! Head on over, I'm making my batch tonight.

*Photo: Tartelette

a stunning bedroom

I can't even count how many times I have saved this image to my desktop - too many. But on this dark gloomy day all I want to do is climb right in and have a lazy day with a stack of unread magazines and a huge cup of hot cocoa (with marshmallows of course). It also doesn't hurt that this room is gorgeous - the walls are amazing, the bed is dream-worthy and the doors opening to the outside are something I want in my next home.

*Photo: greige

10 Things That Make Me Happy: Live Creating Yourself

Today, I’d like to welcome the talented Alaina from Live Creating Yourself. She’s one of my best blogger friends, when we first met in New York it was like we had been friends for decades. She and I talk about everything, from what fashion finds we’re dying to have, to interior design questions like “I changed this around, what do you think?”, to needing a pick me up on a bad day – we’re always there for each other. I feel incredibly fortunate to have Alaina in my life and feel lucky that she is a friend. We will forever have a bond that no one else has.

By day Alaina is a graphic designer for a non-profit, but at night she transforms blogs into beautiful sites – from banners to navigation bars to a complete site overhaul. She’s the girl to go to if you want a site re-design.

Thanks Miss Alaina for guest blogging here today! Miss you.

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Thank you, darling Caitlin, for asking me to share 10 Things I Love on Sacramento Street. I thought I'd keep the theme winter- and holiday-related in the hopes of giving some good gift ideas to your readers. I figured if these items make me happy, they might make the loved ones in your lives happy too! Enjoy.

Black Turtlenecks (J.Crew merino wool), $69.50

You couldn't show less skin if you tried, yet somehow, the black turtleneck manages to be sexy. It's my go-to article of clothing come cold weather - perfect for work, holiday shopping, dinner dates, cocktail parties, and for cozying up and watching a movie. Seriously, invest in one. I own at least four.

Burberry cashmere hat, $175

I was fortunate to receive a cream-colored cashmere Burberry hat years ago, and it's still my favorite winter accessory. I know it's costly, but it's perfect and still looks and feels as beautiful as the day I unwrapped it.

J.Crew glitterati ballet flats, $125

These shoes literally bring smiles to people's faces. Strangers on the street stop me to compliment them and ask where they're from. My family laughs and says, "They're so you." And I discover an extra spring in my step when I put them on. Who knew a ballet flat could bring so much joy to the world?

Coralie Bickford-Smith Penguin Classics, $13.60 on Amazon

Art and literature in one.

West Elm faux fur throw, $95 (on sale)

I made some hot chocolate, popped in Love Actually, turned on the Christmas tree lights, and cozied up under this lil' number. What did you do this weekend?

Ikea Expedit Bookcase, $69.99

The thrifty girl's china cabinet.

Monogrammed Mugs, $6

I've never actually drank out of my A mug. It sits nestled on my desk, coraling pens and paper clips, and I love it. Given the personal detail of a monogram and the price point, I'd say this is one of the best gifts you can give a coworker.

Christopher Radko Ornaments, $45-75

My siblings and I were gifted Christopher Radko ornaments every Christmas from a very young age. Of course, we didn't appreciate them then; we just tried very hard not to break them. Now I have my collection hanging on my first Christmas tree in my apartment and memories of Christmases past come flooding back every time I glance at them.

Pottery Barn birch pillar candles, $15-69

The kind folks at Pottery Barn sent one of these my way, and it is absolutely STUNNING when lit. I highly recommend these for your home this season. I know I want more!

Rosebud Salve, $6

If you've ever experienced Chicago winter winds, you'll understand why this is my knight in shining armor.

Kate + Andy Spade

What an incredible treat to get a peek inside the Spade's New York home this weekend. Let me just say, my head is brewing with all sorts of inspiration after seeing details of their home. From the beautiful living room, to the dream-worthy kitchen, to the bedroom I want this very second. Kate, could I please move in? I'll take the coat closet - I don't take up a lot of room.

This last image of Kate at her vanity is my favorite. Her style is stunning - hair, make-up and outfit. Where does one get a fur shrug like hers? Seems like a must-have this winter.

Thank you Todd Selby for taking these beautiful images of the Spade's home. I'm in awe.

*Photos: Todd Selby