I haven’t forgotten about all of my lovely boxwood followers. My grandmother passed away and I am currently spending time with family.  I will be back to you later this week or the following week. Despite the sadness, there is still so much beauty to share.

XO- Christina

This past July, celebrating her 90th birthday. How quickly cancer takes it toll….

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” -2 Corinthians 4:18

Uhhh. My least favorite holiday is among us. Even my friends in relationships think that this holiday is pretty ridiculous. It is either a pre-fixe menu in a restaurant full of people who probably can’t afford to be there, or it is a quiet night in, that may feel like any night of the week. Of course, if you are with the one you love the most, it is all quite fun. If you have no one but a pug, it is just another night to enjoy a really nice glass of wine.

Don’t fret, even if you are alone with a pug. Also, don’t be discouraged if you have nothing in particular that you want gifted from your significant other. I can always think of things to be gifted from others and gifted to yourself. So, go buy yourself something lovely or forward this as a big ol’ hint to your love. There is always something to buy that is obvious, but these are the little things you should love!

Countertime by BeautyCounter. That is right. Do you want to go back in time to 1938? That is the last year the U.S. regulated personal care products. I find it alarming that the E.U. has banned 1.400 ingredients versus the U.S. only banning 11. The body wash smells divine and the face balm takes off your makeup beautifully and leaves your skin as soft (but WAY more firm) as a baby’s bottom.

Flower Power. Bouqs packages their flowers in a chic and very California way. They last a long time, and provide the right amount of romance to any space.

You know I love blue and white, so it is no surprise I love these tops by CROSBY by Mollie Burch. She designs her own patterns and her tops are generous in size. They wear in a very flattering way!

I love my essential oils. I am not talking about the Whole Foods kind of oils. These oils are therapeutic grade oils by Young Living,  They can be ingested with no problem. Jessica Alba recently admitted her love of Young Living’s Joy Oil as her daily perfume. This uplifting scent boosts moods, calms emotion, promotes peace, and eases nerves.

I personally can not sleep without diffusing the Lavender oil. It is made from actual French lavender (not Lavendula). The smell is heavenly.

I have fallen in love with Sisters Ink Studio stationery. The next time you see me out, my card will be their latest masterpiece. P.S., look at those dreamy liners!!! Also, do you not adore that blue and white countertop???

If you want a little more bling, Jude Frances remains one of my all time favorite jewelry designers. I would gladly take any one of these bangles.

Kate Spade now creates a whimsical and mid century chic home line. The Elise lamp in a stunning quartz pink would make any room (masculine or feminine) chic.

I adore Charmajesty linens. They are high quality, as well as being very current and classic. All you need is LOVE, and by love I mean this pillow!

Olive and Cocoa creates a timely boxwood wreath in the shape of the heart. Another way for you to say, I love boxwood.

As I am sure many instagrams and blogs have told you, it is the Chinese New Year of the monkey! While the actual day of celebration was yesterday, we have the entire year and beyond to relish in the fun and quirky style of the monkey. For one, I have grown up around a bunch of monkeys. Literally, my family has a love of incorporating monkeys in pillows, patterns, and lamps. I find them to be sneakily chic. They seem like an unexpected animal to play around on your walls and in chairs, but there is something a bit whimsical and old world about their presence. If you don’t believe me, just look at these beyond beautiful patterns.

Fun Fact: The Monkey is ninth of the 12 animals in the recurring 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. Every 12 years there is a Monkey year. (Interestingly, Monkey years are all multiples of 12 — from 12 AD, through 1200 AD, to now in 2016.)

Gegan’s monkey lamps are just the beginning on my future monkey inheritance.

Yes, that is Mr. Monkey. I was terrified of him for years growing up. Eventually his coconut held candy and that made our relationship much better. I told my family loves their monkeys!

Singeries by Schumacher

Hand-painted antique wallpaper from Neo Silk Road.

Mizner Monkey Bar in Boca Raton

Scalamandre Venetian Carnival monkey wallpaper via House Beautiful

de Gournay deco monkey wallpaper in a powder room by Miles Redd.

Scenes Chinoise by Clarence House via House Beautiful.

Katie Scott designed wallpaper for House of Hackney.

A playful pattern of ginger jars and persnikity

Vibrant violent makes a fun contrast on this beautiful pattern on bunnies and monkies.

A lovely Scalamandre Ouistiti in a vibrant majolica blue.

Did you all watch that Beyonce and Coldplay concert last night? I think there was some football mixed in too?? I could say I rooted for the Panthers for my love of blue and white, but I am not that shallow…sometimes… In all seriousness, I actually did feel the desire to actively watch this Superbowl since I have a large contingency of family who were rooting for the Panthers. My very ill grandmother has trouble remembering names, but she definitely remembers that the Panthers were going to the Superbowl with Cam!

I thought today I would share a winning home from the almost champions home town. Birmingham-based architects Paul Bates and Jeremy Corkern remodeled this Charlotte, North Carolina home from a traditional expected brick, to a more revived and smart looking classic. I find this to have an incredible edge of chic fun.

Photos by Laurey W. Glenn via Southern Living

Beautiful curb appeal with lush layers of greenery and warm hues of cream. The green shutters provide the most subtle contrast of color.

This really is the most calming and effective shade of a chalky moss green. It superbly contrasts the layered and textured painted brick.

Beautiful palette inspiration. 

These garage doors add a punch of fun to the calm exterior. Boxwood tiered topiaries frame the driveway. I adore how the green makes the landscape lush and layered 

A perfect boxwood topiary. 

A classic and desirable Carolina retreat.