I am sooo excited. I get to see Cath (and my parents and Troy!) in just nine (NINE!) days! Woohoo!

I’m not sure if we’ve told you, but we’re all meeting in Paris for about a week, and then they are all coming here to Edinburgh for Christmas!

I’m poorer than poor at the moment because of all the costs for the upcoming Paris hootenanny, but I wanted the flat to look and feel Christmasy for everyone. So I had to use a bit of ingenuity and creative muscle, but I pulled off some Christmas decor for £22 ($35) including a tree (it’s teeny, ’tis true). Some of the items I got free courtesy of my oh-so-generous mother who sent a box full of goodies. She bought me twin versions of what she used in her house (you can see them in this post).

As you can see, I went for a rather masculine look this year: pink, sparkles, white glitter blubs (can’t get anything less practical than glitter baubles!). Really I “blame” it on our fireplace covering. How are you supposed to decorate with a light gray, light pink, and gold tiled fireplace?

This tree stated “2 ft.” on the packaging, but I think after years of following the metric system they confused 2 feet for something else: 20 centimeters perhaps?

Oh and look! I decorated outside for you guys too:

Edinburgh looks even more gorgeous with a dusting of snow. I’m all for it, Edi, but you have to promise to not make it impossible for my family to get here. I’ll stop complaining about your windy, wintry ways if you promise not to ice too much. Deal?

I hope your holiday season isn’t too busy, everyone! I know Cath is uber busy and stressed leading up to her departure to Paris. We’ll have to make sure to de-stress with copious amounts of butter and chocolate.

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Dear Kitcath,

Here is Peckham’s storefront, so you and Troy can take a gander at what sorts of beer they carry:

Matt tried the one on the top left: beet red it was!

I can’t wait until we can go beer hunting together (well, beer hunting and charity shopping — good combo, I think). Now as for American football, that might be trickier to find. How does Troy feeling about curling?

9 DAYS!!!!!!

LOVE,

Larbar

I’m so glad it got a little chilly in Atlanta today. Earlier this week it felt like summer and that’s just not right when Thanksgiving is just a week away. I know I’ll be cursing myself next month when I’m freezing my butt off in Paris, but right now I can’t wait for the colder, holiday weather.

I ran into Cameron of Atlanta Street Fashion the other day and he was sweet enough to take this photo:

Outfit details: New York and Company sweater, secondhand jacket from Lar, Blank cords and Frye boots.

Last weekend Troy and I went out with some friends to Murphy’s for brunch. The company was awesome and the food was delicious.

Now you might ask why my friend Chloe has a piece of food over her face in the photo below. Well, she’s an uber talented food blogger that likes to stay anonymous, but I wanted to include this photo because I love her outfit.

And just because Lar hinted for me to include photos of my place, here’s a sneak peak. I’ll take some more photos later – once I’ve cleaned up a bit

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Dear Lar,

I can’t believe Christmas/fairy lights are so expensive over in Scotland! But don’t worry about decorating for us. I already love what you’ve done with your place and can’t wait for the next blog installment.

I made Chess Squares tonight for a holiday party at work and they remind me so much of you. Let’s make them when we’re in Scotland together. I would say that we should make them in Paris, but I think we’ll have plenty of pastries to eat there!

Love, Cath

 

 

I hate white, blank walls. They give me the heebie jeebies and a bleak outlook on life. Luckily our landlord isn’t a complete white wall enthusiast. He painted his hallway a deep coral (you can see that below), the kitchen is a sort of ocre-y orange and the bathroom is a buttercup yellow. Color, good. Now, they need something on them.

I have less than no money to decorate because moving to a new country costs an ungodly sum no matter how much you pinch you pennies (or pences). So I haven’t done as much as I would like, and what I have done has mainly been done with… paper.

Exhibit A: decorative paper that looks a bit Liberty of London -esque, bought for £1 per roll:

I cut them up and made bunting. Before I left the states, I was a little tired of the bunting, but I’ve grown to love it because look how it makes walls look so festive! That’s our deep coral hallway below:

I also covered some boxes with the paper (they hide our toiletries). Mom, if you’re reading this, that’s a Christmas prezie up on the top shelf — don’t look too closely!

I brought bits and bobs from home, like this miniature book on Matisse. I just love that portrait, one of my favorite images. I made some newspaper hats to share shelf space with the Matisse book and the Kate Spade flip book that has pics of Cath and me at this Kate Spade party.

This is our white-walled bedroom below. I’m debating what to make for over the bed. Originally I was just going to tack up the union jack tea towel sitting in the corner but I’m nervous about making holes in the plaster. Further improvements coming soon…

This is where my Hendrick’s Gin tea cup went to live. It houses my favorite Burts Bees chappie, and my favorite jewelry pieces (AsianCajuns name necklace included). I bought the biscuit tin to house my make-up, and the mint julep cups are my college graduation present from my parents (had to bring a little Southern with me):

Over the fireplace is another bunting made with gold Waitrose paper. The gold matches the tiles in the fireplace (you can see it in the top photo). The map of Europe (bought on sale for £3 -yippeee!) is from one of my favorite boutiques in Edinburgh called Context Interiors.

These guys are from home (stateside) as well. The wedding cake actually has a measuring tape curled at it’s base – so handy! – Cath has the twin to the faux ivory elephant, and the Woodzie bunny is a wedding present from Cath and Troy via Etsy:

So I haven’t done very much, and the designer in me is kind of embarrassed to show you these not-so-pinterest-worthy pics. But I’m going to keep at it and let you know what comes about: a transformation of sorts (on a teeny budget). In the meantime, I hope Cath shows you pics of her place (hint, hint, wink, wink, kitcath) because she has done amazing things with a not-so-fancy teeny 1950s rental. I’ll even add a new category over to the right called “Decor.”

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Dear Kitcath,

Hope my decor will have more going on once you and Troy are here for Christmas! I can’t even afford some fancy fairy lights I want to get for your room (i.e. living room) just yet. I would also love to have slip covers, and some more fluffy pillows on the couch. I might have to get a cheapie sewing machine for these projects! I know: first running shoes and next a sewing machine (possibly). Who am I? What has Edinburgh made me? A “running” (i.e. gasping jogger) sewer person. Next thing you’ll know, I’ll take up rugby.

LOVE YOU!

Larbar