2014 Countdown till christmas: Day 1

December 5, 2014

December is here, and that means it's time for an Xmas countdown! I'll be posting an illustrated advent calendar every day in the month of December. Hope you enjoy!

Hi! I'm Sarah.

This blog is where I share inspiration for creating an oasis for body, mind, spirit & space.

It's an extension of Very Sarie- my creative studio that combines Design, Art Direction, Illustration, Styling & Content Creation.

I'm thrilled you're along for the ride.

ARE YOU A KINDRED SPIRIT? Then we should definitely get to know each other.

Hit me up your favorite way below.

MY ADVENTURES ON iNSTAGRAM

An inordinately delicious Kale #salad:
Massaged kale (lemon, olive oil, and then literally massage it with your hands until the leaves break down a bit)
Top with: Celery, apple, and toasted pine nuts.
I dressed with @primalkitchenfoods honey mustard, but any honey mustard or Dijon type of dressing will do the trick. Enjoy! .
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#vegetable #saladbowl #meal

Just standing around, taking in the #landscape. You're a show off #California, but I'm cool with it. 😎 .
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#landscapephotography #landscapelover #woman #californiaadventure #californialove #californiangirl #nature #naturewalk #naturelove #naturepics

My childhood fascination with pretty doors and the secrets that are held behind them never wanes.
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#travelphotography #travelersnotebook #griffithobservatory #architecturelovers #architecturelover #abmtravelbug #abmtravel #doorsofinstagram #doorsandwindowsoftheworld #losangelesphotographer #losangeles #ilovela #finditliveit #mytinyatlas

Working on my backyard jungle.
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#plantsmakepeoplehappy #bhgsummer #jungalowstyle #abmplantlady #urbanjunglebloggers #plantstyling #crazyplantlady #plantlovers #plantstagram #plantlove #earthinspiredhome #howwedwell

There's a special place in my heart for the multi-layered grungy tile at @barrelandashes . .
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#ihavethisthingwithfloors #ihavethisthingforfloors #ihavethisthingwithtiles #abmlife #abmlifeiscolorful #clementinedaily #abmtravelbug #dominomag #jungalowstyle

Have a few things planned this weekend, but hoping to spend a fair amount of time bumming around right here. (Already sitting in that chair as I type this.) What are you up to??
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#jungalowstyle #showmeyourboho #simplystyleyourspace #anthrohome #homewithrue #smallspacesquad #howiboho #sodomino #bohoismyjam #smallspacestar #bohemianlifestyle #finditstyleit #bohemianhome #mycovetedhome #foundforaged #howyouhome #pocketofmyhome #showemyourstyled #currenthomeview #currentdesignsituation #thisiswhyihavetothriftshopeveryday

I forgot my sunscreen on a recent snowboarding adventure and ended up with a horrible sunburn on the bottom half of my face. You know, that "sporty" goggle tan lines look. (Google it- it's not cute. Or sporty. IMHO) The silver lining was whipping up this DIY skin saving mask. Seriously- it's part of my regular routine now.
It's yogurt, colloidal oatmeal and Manuka honey and you can head to the blog for more specifics + the post mask routine that got my face glowing again (in a non tomato- red way.) .
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#diyskincare #diybeauty #clementinedaily #abmlife #wholebeauty #NaturalSkincare #greenbeauty #cleanbeauty #sensitiveskin #skincare #greenskincare #instabeauty #skincarejunkie

Picked up this Hudson Bay point blanket at the flea a few months ago (20 bucks- holla!) and I've been shuffling it around the house. Think I finally found a permanent spot for it in the guest bedroom. (For now 😂) .
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#thisiswhyihavetothriftshopeveryday #smallspacesquad #finditstyleit #dominomag #ruemagazine #abmathome

It's a little dreary in LA today, so I'm pretending I'm out in a field of flowers doing my best "blogger jumping" impersonation. (Reality- I'm in a bar drinking craft beer like any sensible person does on a dreary day.) .
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. #vscreativeadventures #abmtravelbug #abmlife #darlingescapes #californialove #abmhappylife #darlingweekend #thisjoyfulmoment #abmlifeiscolorful #superbloom2017 #gosomewhere #ilovecalifornia #dayinmylife

Dreaming about summer getaways. This one at Ojai rancho inn was a favorite, for sure. @sheltersocialclub

Alright- @barij taggged me for #twentythingsaboutme. So let's see... 1) I live in LA but I'm originally from the Midwest. I grew up in Iowa and then lived in Minneapolis for many years. (I miss everything about it except winter)

2) I have a birthmark behind my ear just like the one Mikhail Gorbachev has on his face. (Luckily, its usually covered by my hair)

3) I have 2 pitbull mix rescue dogs: Rita and Georgia

4) I have a background in Graphic Design and I'm a sometimes artist. Those of you who have been following me for awhile might remember I used to post mostly art here.
5) I still make art- just not daily anymore.
6) I changed to what I'm currently posting on Instagram because I was at a creative conference and one of the speakers said "do the thing that you're doing when you're procrastinating what you're supposed to be doing." I realized that thing was walking around my house and exploring and taking photos of EVERYTHING
7) I have 3 brothers and no sisters. Somehow, over the years I've acquired several close girlfriends who also only have brothers.
8) I'm an introvert (INFP), but I've never had a problem getting up in front of crowds/groups. In fact, speaking and presenting to others is one of my most favorite things to do.
9) when I get interested in something, I get REALLY interested in it. I'll research and read everything I can find on it.
10) I'm in a long term relationship with one of the greatest guys on the planet. We're not married though, and have no plans of getting married. We're totally cool with it (it works for us) but it seems to freak other people out.
11) The other thing that freaks people out, is that we have no plans to have children. I could write a book about all the unsolicited advice I've received as a childless woman.
12) I love the heat. I will take sweating my butt off to being cold any day.
13) did I mention I REALLY hate being cold? (Like really hate it)

14) I was born on Friday the 13th.
15) thrift store shopping is one of my all time favorite activities. (Continued in comments)

Ok, ok. I may not always actually WATCH the races, but that's never stopped me from whipping up a batch of juleps. This recipe- with a strawberry + ginger twist- is up on the blog.
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#KentuckyDerby #runfortheroses #mintjulep #julep #thebestdrinkever #drinkup #cocktaillovers #cocktaillife #bhgcelebrate #igdrinks #cocktails #abmhappyhour #happyhour #cheers #drinkstagram #kentuckybourbon #thirsty

Jungle ceiling has me like 😍😱😍😱 #exploringthecity #abmlife #lalife #lostinla #seekmoments #darlingescapes #abmtravelbug #discoverla #instatravelgram #thingstodoinla #ilovela #californialove #darlingweekend #travelchicks

Sunday gratitude:
The smell of jasmine everywhere in the city. Impromptu dinners with people I love. Freshly filled bike tires. Wind on my face while riding said bike. Late night recipe making/cooking sessions. Dogs that sneak onto the bed at 5 am. Feeling strong in my body. The arrival of hot summer temps. Realizing that there is never an end to learning more and improving a skill- and feeling really freaking excited about it. #abmlife #abmhappylife #behappyandsmile #seekmoments #thisjoyfulmoment #abmtravelbug #bhgsummer #clementinedaily #elevatetheeveryday #gratitude #gratefuldays #gratefulme #gratefulness

When you've been someplace a bunch of times but never bothered to look up and see this: the prettiest geometric interlude between me and the sky. I'm spending this Sunday working on home projects, watering plants and generally just puttering around the house (and in A-Ok with that.) #vscreativeadventures #lalife #lostinla #exploringthecity #discoverla #abmlife #abmhappylife #bhgsummer #thisjoyfulmoment #instatravelgram #candyminimal #abmlifeiscolorful #ilovela #californialove #slowsunday #gosomewhere #dayinmylife #darlingweekend #abmtravelbug #abmlifeisbeautiful

Hit the road for a Friday adventure with @drinkingwithchickens and we took a wrong turn, almost ended up at lego land, and then found our own private field of flowers. Yay us!! Good thing we had our @goverregirls glasses ready to go! BTW- they're going to be on @sharktankabc tonight- check em' out and cheer on these amazing glasses! #darlingescapes #abmlife #abmhappylife #abmtravelbug #abmlifeiscolorful #goverre #sharktank #superbloom2017 #wearetravelgirls #wearetravelladies

I am currently parked at home, hard at work in front of my computer screen, but it doesn't stop me from dreaming of sun filled, lazy lunches in adorable cafes. (I'm having a pretty good time working though, so it's all good 😉) #vscreativeadventures #thingstodoinla #exploringthecity #behappyandsmile #lalife #lostinla #seekmoments #darlingescapes #discoverla #sodomino #homewithrue

Happy #friyay! Last weekend I was playing tourist in my own city with my brother who was visiting. This weekend I'll be chasing powder in Mammoth Lakes. #californialiving #californialove #californiangirl #ilovecalifornia are your fun holiday weekend plans??

The honey ho cake at @barrelandashes will get you every time.

The reality of living in LA: usually only seeing the beach when guests come to visit. #sadbuttrue #vscreativeadventures