365 : the final day

I must say, this 365 days of happiness was a challenge. Something that started off as simple fun, actually turned into something more. More than just a list of some of my favorite things, this challenge made me analyze my day and find the little things that make me, me. As much as I've enjoyed this past year with everyone out there, I am looking forward to not having to blog every single day.

So, everyone, I hope in some small way, this blog has somehow managed to put a smile on your face at least once. If so, this was a success. Thank you to my devoted followers (my dad & jeff) and to all the silent people out there who either know me, or have stumbled upon my little corner of the world. I hope you all fill each day with happiness, in whatever form that it may be to you.

364 : rose bowl flea market

 I've been on a bit of a thrift store/antique store/flea market kick lately, so I'm so freaking excited to be going to the Rose Bowl flea market tomorrow. It's held on the second Sunday of every month and is supposed to be HUGE. The bff and I are even getting up super early in hopes of snagging some good stuff. Fingers crossed.

Photo from Dust Factory

363 : then be

Ever since I was little, there have been certain things that make me ridiculously nervous. The thought of pain seriously freaks me out. So much so, when I was younger and needed shots, I'd get so upset, I'd throw up at the doctors office. Yup. That was me...wait, it still kinda is. With the exception of the throwing up part.

So my New Year's Resolution this year will be to try and stop myself from freaking and stressing myself out (this is going to be difficult). When I feel the urge coming on, I'm going here: http://then-be.com

362 : being right

Obviously everyone is unique; each with their own thoughts and feelings and ways of handling situations. Sometimes you may agree with it, some times not. This is life.

Although I'm not going to get into details, sometimes it's so nice to know that your gut instincts about people are in fact right. So now that the bff's situation is over, I'll say it one last time... I told you so. Maybe next time you'll listen to me :p

Illustration from http://thesportshernia.typepad.com/blog/2008/05/fu-told-you-so.html

361 : jeff comes home!

My bff comes home tomorrow after 14 days in ny. Just in time to go antiquing at the Rose Bowl on Sunday, I might add. So excited!

360 : my collection

Ok, ok. Just to make a little disclaimer here, you will not be needing to call Hoarders on me. I usually don't like my life cluttered, and seriously despised all my mom's little "dust collectors" when I was growing up. But I guess I have become a collector. At least for now. Surprisingly, I'm ok with that.

359 : letterpress ampersands

My current obsession.

358 : paper source

I love love love Paper Source. I feel like a kid in a candy store whenever I go there. Walking in there makes me want to make stuff. So when I needed to go to pick up some paper for a certain someone's birthday, I was more than a little excited. It took calling 4 stores to find the one place that had it in stock, and it was almost 35 miles to get there, but seriously, so worth it.

357 : dmmh's etsy store

I opened an Etsy store late last night. I hemmed and hawed over it for awhile, and finally decided to give it a try. It's currently limited to just a few of the photo prints from UNEARTH, but stay-tuned, there are a lot of wheels turning and fingers working over at dmmh.

Oh, and a double happy post... less than 12 hours after opening up the store, dmmh was featured in an Etsy Treasury! Super exciting!

Check out the dmmh store and the Treasury!

356 : a new year

2010 was a hard year for me; both personally and professionally. Lots and lots of difficult decisions... some welcomed, some hard. Lots of tears, lots of laughs, lots of amazing clients.

Here's to 2011 and 365 days of happiness, success, love, family and laughter.

355 : making bread

A little burnt, but still soooo good!

Vasilopita is a traditional Greek bread that is eaten on New Year's Day. With a coin (wrapped in foil), baked somewhere inside, it is said that the person who receives this piece will get good luck in the New Year.

For me, it is a tradition that I look forward to. For the past several years,  I've helped my grandma and great grandma (the supervisor :) ) make the bread. In a huge bowl, with tons of ingredients, we stir and then hand mix the dough. After the dough has risen, one main loaf (with the coin) and several smaller, braided loaves are made.

We made it today...can't wait to eat it. Yum!

354 : four years

Today my feisty, smart, cuddly little guy is 4! Time flies.

353 : happy hamster

I'm drawn to hamsters. They're cute and tiny... but the thing I really like about them... when they run around in a plastic ball.

When Monique and I were still a design duo, I tried to pursuade her to let me get an "office" hamster. But her having had them before said they smelled bad. Ugh.

Fast forward a little while later, and what did she get me as part of my Christmas present this year...

A battery operated hamster in a plastic ball. The fun of a real hamster without having to feed it or clean its poop. Super awesome.

AND Gizmo seems to think it's his new bff. He chases it and then runs away thinking it will chase him back. So cute <3

352 : -21.2

A little over 9 weeks ago, the bff and I decided to start our resolutions early and start eating better and hitting the gym on a more consistent basis. It's been hard work literally accounting for every single thing that is put in my mouth (LOVE the My Fitness Pal app on my iPhone), and being on the elliptical for 4 hours a week.

But it's all been worth it. I am happy to say that my goal of dropping 20 pounds by the end of the year was achieved (and then some)! Now to just keep the momentum going to drop the rest.

351 : after xmas sales

I almost always go shopping the day after Christmas. Which is funny because I hate crowds. But sometimes you just can't resist the call of a good sale. This year, my first and only stop... Crate and Barrel? Yup. I seriously love that store. I arrived (by chance) 10 minutes after they opened, and the parking lot was PACKED. I guess other people heart the Barrel as much as I do. Luckily, with some interesting maneuvers and reaching around people's legs, I managed to snag up a bunch of the vintage inspired ornaments I had my eye on. I even managed to get the bff some more meese ornaments (dude, it's an inside joke. I know it's moose). Score!

350 : paris tea

A month ago, while browsing at the Torrance Antique Fair, the bff craved coffee. Luckily there was a little coffee spot, and he ran in while I continued to browse. I wanted some Earl Gray, but was pleasantly surprised when he got me a cup of some super yummy tea. Having no clue what "Paris" tea was (besides some sort of black tea blend) I tore off the little tag on the tea bag and made a mental note to get some.

The super amazing guy that Jeff is, also made a mental note, and bought me some for Christmas. Hooray!

349 : type calendar

Coolest calendar ever. A different font every day of 2011? I think I need to order me one of these. Although I have a strange suspicion that it'll cause my font "wish-list" to grow. Which may or may not be a bad thing :)

348 : koulourakia

When I was younger and before my grandma's Alzheimer's paid it's toll, every year at Christmas we'd get a tin full of greek cookies, called Koulourakia. These ring shaped, slightly sweet cookies are so synonymous with my yiayia and are my most consistent childhood memory of Christmas.

It has been quite a few years since the passing of my grandma, and even longer since she last baked a tin. But last year I had a craving for these little guys and decided to hunt down the recipe...my little attempt at keeping a tradition alive, and hopefully bringing back some happy memories.

This year, I hemmed and hawed over whether to bake my little heart out or not (diets and tons o' butter/sugar don't mix well). But in the end, I decided I needed to. As I get older, I realize the importance of traditions, culture and family memories... of keeping memories of loved ones alive, and never forgetting who you are, where you came from, and the people that have been there and helped you along the way.

So, yiayia, these are for you.

347 : seat warmers

I know it doesn't get that cold in sunny SoCal, but I can no longer imagine rainy days without the comfort of my car's seat warmer.

346 : holiday spirit

Today after dropping my car off to get its first maintenance, my dad and I saw this in Long Beach...

Yup, a homeless person's shopping cart decked-out in Christmas cheer.

We had to drive around the block so we could take some pictures. Seriously awesome. Seriously. The fact that it's chained it to the pole makes it that much cooler.