{Happy New Year} Celebrate!

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I hope you have a wonderful evening celebrating all that 2011 was, and all that 2012 will bring! 
Here's to living fully and loving more in the coming year!
Cheers,

PS. You can find me over at Adventures of Newlyweds sharing how I ring in the New Year!

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Dream Home 2012

all images via HGTV.com

This year, HGTV's 2012 Dream Home is a modern, rustic, and western ranch in Utah. You know I love me some rustic/modern pairings, and this house is no exception.  While I was longing to see a few lighter and brighter touches to the home, I did love how warm, cozy and inviting it is.  My favorite part of the house is that stunning floor-to-ceiling brick living room. Ahhh! It's safe to say I'd definitely accept if I were to win the dream house (:

I can't wait to watch the special on January 2nd!
What about you? What's your favorite part of the home?
Happy Weekend!
Love,



PS. I have two sponsor spots left for January. If you'd like to advertise on Michaela Noelle Designs, please email me at michaelawarner90@gmail.com to reserve your spot. Love to have you! xo

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Top Eleven Projects of 2011

I really can't believe I'm writing this post right now, because writing this post is acknowledging the fact that 2011 is coming to a close! This past year has been fun, challenging, sad {with the loss of our pup!}, exciting {as I drove my new car to Seattle and redid my bedroom}, and a whole bunch of other things. In the midst of everything, I learned a lot about myself, design, life, fashion, friends, family, and of course a few DIY projects along the way(:
Take a look:


1. I moved into, decorated and moved out of my first college apartment:

2. After some serious Good Will Hunting, I spotted, sanded, painted and changed out the knobs on this pretty white dresser.  It found its home in my bedroom at home in California:

3. This Cookies-in-a-Jar recipe was a perfect gift for one of my good friend's weddings:

4. When my family decided to put our house on the market, we ripped up the family room carpet and refinished the floors. We love our new Pottery Barn rug and pretty wood floors:

5. I took my obsession with mason jars to a new level by adding Chalkboard paint to the jar:

6. In order to give my hair a break, I tried out some No Heat Curls and it worked so well I do it at least once a week now!

7. Again with the mason jar thing.  This time, I created a lace vase:

8. I made both a DIY Clothespin Bulletin Board
and
9. This Glossy Magazine Collage Canvas for me new bedroom in Seattle.

10. Upon moving into a disaster of a room in Seattle, I gave it a little TLC. My Chevron Dresser is my favorite part of the room:

See finished room and source list here.


11. And finally, most recently, my favorite Christmas project was these mason jar snow globes:

Guess you could say I made great use of mason jars this year?! Ha! Hope you enjoyed these projects. Can't wait to see what 2012 has in store! (:


I'm linking up with Rhoda at Southern Hospitality.


What was your favorite project you did in 2011??
Happy Thursday!
Love,

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She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not: Bijou and Boheme

Hi friends! I'm super excited for another installment of She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not. This week I have the ever-stylish and always spunky Christine from Bijou and Boheme

Her house is fabulous...especially these fun new chairs she just recovered.  I'm totally smitten with Christine's style and her sweet personality. I know you'll love hearing her loves and loves-me-nots!

***

Hi there Michaela Noelle fans.

I'm happy as punch to be here today sharing my loves and love me nots.

First up, the good stuff.

SHE LOVES ME:

1. Burberry

Truth be told, I've never been much of a label girl...I generally prefer to spend my spoils on pretty things for my house.

But...my sweet hubster just surprised me with that magnificent coat on the right and well...I might just have become Burberry's number one fan.

I've purchased a long wool coat every 2 years for about 15 and none have lasted more than a couple of seasons.

I can tell already that this will be my forever coat.

It's gloriously soft, perfectly tailored and just feels so well made.

I still feel a little ill about the money shelled out on this beauty but....it's pretty much made me want winter all year long and if a garment can do that, well...it must be a good thing.

2. Blonde hair dye

It seems silly to think I'm just discovering this now.

I've been highlighting my hair since the tender age of 13.

But last week, something changed.

I learned there's now blonde all over dye- it takes half the time to process, costs a third the price, and colours the entire head...and the best part, instead of stripping each hair, it thickens the strands.

My hair is a much more natural blonde now...more like the right photo than the left...it also feels thicker and because it's not screaming for moisture, is needing washing only half as often.

All of the above = bliss for this girl.

3. Bows

Feminine, pretty, sweet and a little saucy...bows are such a perfectly girly adornment.

I'm obsessed with bow front blouses and dresses at the moment...I must own a large pink version...soon.

4. My new art

I've recently added a bunch of fabulous art to my home and I'm in love with all of it.

In my mind, nothing makes a home more beautiful than walls packed with the stuff...and for me, the more feminine the better.

If you're looking for some of my favourites, check out the shops of:

Esther Bayer, Kim Davies, Leigh Viner, Betsy Podlach, Eleni Sofroniou and Debbie Carlos.

Adore them all.

5. Books

Like art, I love love love pretty books.

If there's an open flat surface in my house, it's most definitely filled with stacks of my favourite reads.

6. Medinilla Magnifica

I just discovered this plant last week and I can not possibly express how much I love it.

To me it's like an orchid and giant house plant got married and had a perfectly divine love child...it's the perfect mix of floral and greenery...large styles.

I'm praying I can keep mine alive...completely makes my hallway come to life.

And now for the not so fabulous...

SHE LOVES ME NOT:

1. Gluten Free

I'm on week 5 of this and I have to say, I am feeling SO much better- more energy, better skin etc. BUT...I miss 'real' bread and cookies and pasta.  Yes there are alternatives, which are all pretty great actually but they're just not as good and so much more expensive...not the end of the world but not something I love dealing with.

2. Chicken Pox

We've just gone through 3 weeks of this in my house and I'm beyond over it.

My son had them in his mouth and ears...horrible.

I vaccinated my daughter so it was really nothing with her...my son on the other hand...no needle and hideous pox...all of which added up to severe mommy guilt.

Hate this one.

3.  Me and computers

I am starting to think I'm actually cursed when it comes to computers.

I blog/work/use the things every day and can't imagine my life without them but...I have the WORST luck.

I'm on computer 3...and that's just this year alone.

My current one is 2 months old and is already mis-behaving.

My last one broke 4 times (in different ways) in less than 6 months.

@*#%@#)*$ !!!!

4. Laundry

We just don't mix.

Period.

I loathe it.

The folding...the carting up two flights of stairs...the putting away...all bad.

And on that happy note...a big thank you to Michaela for having me...was simply delightful putting this together :)

xo

***
Thanks, Christine! I love all the art in her home! She's definitely got an eye for that (: And booo chicken pox...I had them when I was two and a half/three and I distinctly remember it being the worst thing ever! 


Be sure to stop by Bijou and Boheme for more loveliness!


What are you loving this week?
Love,

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Christmas Day in Photos

Happy Tuesday, friends! After a wonderful weekend and much needed break on Monday, I'm back with some photos from our Christmas Day!

  My brother and me:

 Our new Christmas PJ's...our tradition!

 Almost cried when I opened this one...

 We may not have received a golden retriever for Christmas, but for now this calendar will do (:

 Stocking time! {Mine was hand-sewn by my grandma when I was a baby!}

 Pumpkin bread and egg casserole for breakfast...yum!!

 We went to dinner at my grandparent's house.  My aunt always brings party poppers, and this year we found these hilarious hats in the poppers! Here's my crazy family in our yearly family Christmas Day photo:

Ha!


Then we came back to our home for dessert and games.
This Yuletide log was a hit!

 Ginger cookies with cool whip:

 

That was our day! How was yours?! Back tomorrow with another installment of She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not (:


Love,

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