Baby Love

I couldn't be more excited to see my baby's nursery featured on Holly Mathis Interiors — though it's nearly unrecognizable without toy cars and musical instruments strewn about. As much fun as it was to curate a collection of travel souvenirs, childhood books, and favorite things for this sweet boy, it's even more thrilling to watch Ory grow and play in a space made just for him. Great memories are being made in this room!

Flying Colors

Today marks the celebration of Holi, my most favored and vivid experience to date. India is full of energy and hypnotic hues, but the flying colors that explode during this festival create unforgettable memories. I've spent all afternoon rummaging through old photos of pink-laden streets and pigmented people and all I can muster up is, "What a party!"

Over the Moon

These images were sent to me a few months ago, and I still come back to them time and time again. Artists Laurent Laveder and Sabine Sannier created these "moon games" without Photoshop or any special effects, and paired the prints with calligrams in a French book titled Quartier Libre. It's refreshing to see such raw creativity in today's tech-heavy world.

Set Up Shop

I often say nothing beats real mail, but unexpected, glowing press on my new business landing in my Inbox trumps all—especially when it comes from the gals behind Houston Tidbits. Tidbits has the inside scoop on must-dos around town and this Tuesday I'm ecstatic to be a vendor at their first-ever Tidbits Sale. Snag a ticket, drop by, grab some grub, and kick-start your holiday shopping with one-of-a-kind pieces you won't meet coming and going. And if you're extra eager to shop till you drop, head outdoors this weekend and join the masses at The Urban Market. Houston Galleria, eat your heart out.

Boy, Oh Boy

What started as a small break from the computer unintentionally turned into a sabbatical blog leave, and my world has changed tenfold in the process. In January we moved from our overseas adventure back to Texas and what better time to have returned because in June we welcomed our first child, Ory James. Life couldn't be sweeter!

I also started a business, Mela & Roam, selling exclusive handcrafted linens and curiosities discovered during my Southeast Asia travels. Each 'dohar' and throw is one-of-a-kind, so photographing every piece is a slow process when the tiny lips above need constant smoochin'. I love sharing part of my travels and found treasures through Mela & Roam and the blankets—ranging in size from Baby to King—have been so well received I can hardly keep them in stock!


Malaysia taught me a great deal about seizing every possible moment, accepting [and loving!] change, and adapting no matter what life throws your way. Detaching from a computer for, oh, so long allowed me to focus less on 'reporting' and more on actual living. I'm still learning how to juggle baby, business, and blog, but I'm doing my best to live in the present if nothing else.

So This is Christmas

My friend is traveling Germany fulfilling a lifelong wish: to experience Berlin's Charlottenburg Schloss Christmas Market. She emailed this photo and I instantly felt a holiday rush like no other! Is there any better time of year?

Case Goods

I've made the switch from paperbacks to pixels, and I'm sold by how quickly I can coast through verbose books. Unfortunately for aesthetes there are few well-designed Kindle cases on the market, but these five options welcome being judged by their covers.

[1] Beautiful Skin Leather and Lace; [2] J.J. Boyles Monogrammed Leather; [3] Moleskin Reporter-Style; [4] Hard Graft XII Wool Case; [5] DVF Canvas Clutch.

Leafy Greens

I love stumbling upon random photos that share a common thread. My recent finds err on the side of towering, textural, leafy greens.

[Mischa Barton in Elie Saab; Karl Fritsch emerald ring; Tartine's Late Summer Chicory Salad.]

Sunny Side

I often ramble about being a stranger to cool fronts, coats and boots. Malaysia always has sunshine, even when it's masked by cursory rain. So while Stateside family and friends are reveling in dropping temps, we're still enduring heat. This is certainly not a complaint, it's just a way to say I'm greeting the weekend bikini-clad and dancing to cheery tunes. Happy Friday!

Sit Pretty

A quick glance at the images amassed on my computer's desktop, it's evident I'm on a chair/seating fixation.

[photos via Rue, Lonny, Garden & Gun, Erin Martin and Justin Coit.]

Wax Lyrical

My obsession for textiles is no secret, and perhaps one of the best parts of living in Southeast Asia is being surrounded by ethnic batik, ikat and hand-embroidered fabrics. I just finished a 3-day batik painting class and now have even more appreciation for the tedious process that uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique. When researching ideas for my class I discovered Toronto based artist Gabrielle LaSporte. I love her spin on batik, taking a traditional process and transforming it into modern, fine art with loads of character.