Thursday, December 27, 2012

What is in a name?


Baby Schuler is due mid June and so so so many things have been on the mind besides the health and happiness, but...

Here's what's first: 
What to name this little bundle of joy!?

I am not afraid to share our names with you, so here we go:

If she's a sweet girl:
Greta Rose
Molly Rose
Heidi Rose
(Rose is a strong family name, plus I like it, can you tell?)

If he's a little man:
Griffin "Finn" Reynold
Spencer James
Tate Randall
(middle names are all family names)

I guess we'll eventually have to narrow it down, not sure how though, we love them all

A name is SO important to me, it is the first representation of who you are to those who don't know you
I can't help but think about their college applications, first resume, all those things that help form a first impression
I love strong masculine names, and these were what the dear husband and I could agree on!
We may be able to find out whether Baby Shoe is a boy or girl this week, so stay tuned!

Thoughts?

xo,
Tori

Blocks image from HERE

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas, Love The Three Of Us


Merry Christmas!
I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas morning!
Brad and I are thrilled to announce that we are expecting our first little love bug come June
We can't wait until Summer when this little bundle of joy arrives!
We are so blessed this holiday season and wish you a very warm and happy day!

Love,
Tori

Monday, December 24, 2012

Ooh! Christmas!

Well hello my dear friends!
Sorry I've been a tid bit MIA lately, lots going on in these parts!
I tend to be one of those gals who bites off more than she can chew a bit, if you can't tell
Last weekend was our annual girls trip to Tahoe, it was SO perfect, we crafted, ate, drank and were merry
Wednesday I attended my Mom's Red Hats Christmas Tea that I went to least year
This weekend Dad and I went hunting Saturday morning, it wasn't too shabby of a day, a bit cold, but noting intolerable
Sunday was Christmas dinner with my parents, my sister and her husband and kids
Every free moment I've had I've been wrapping gifts, cleaning house, prepping food - this is my very first year hosting a holiday, I am a tiny bit overwhelmed!
There will only be eight of us: Brad's parents, sister and brother, Aunt and cousin but still I am terrified!
I am making a turkey and a ham - for the.first.time.ever - wish a sister some luck!

My week:
Beautiful Incline Village

A little Twilight action with some homemade pizza, Meghan made

Crafts from Girls Weekend



Red Hat Christmas Tea

Hinting with Dad and Mad

Since it is Christmas Eve, I'm off to my parents house again, but this time it's dinner with my Grandmother, my Dad's siblings and my cousins
I look forward to this EVERY year, Baby Cameron is a year now, my how time has flown by!

Highlight of tonight's festivities?
BAKED POTATO BAR!
Yes, you've read correctly!
Can't wait!

Well, to you and yours, a very Merry Christmas, stay tuned tomorrow for a fun post!

xo,
Tori

Monday, December 17, 2012

Totes McGoats


Come Winter you can usually find me lugging around a tote bag of... well my life, really
Between my water bottle, wallet, phone, keys, lip glosses, sunglasses and tape measure, a purse usually will not suffice
Come the cooler months I like to have a place to stash my scarf, hat and umbrella
Living in the Bay Area when the temperature hits below 60 degrees, everyone panics and turns the heat up
With this being said, you are constantly shedding layer upon layer and need someplace to drop them
Hence, the need for a lovey tote!

Nordstrom really takes the lead when coming to GREAT tote options
As you probably recognize the Michael Kors tote I've probably posted a dozen times
I cannot express to you how great this bag is!
It holds a TON of items, is perfection for travel, is easy to clean with one of those Magic Eraser sponges and is so super chic
So take my word, add it to your Christmas wish list - you will not regret it!



Totes McGoats




Friday, December 14, 2012

Friday... Floorplans:)

When I was a little girl, my Mom bought me a Sunset Homes magazine book of floor plans
I have always been obsessed with houses, from copying floor plans and "fixing" them, creating my own, they have always been my favorite thing to view
I spent endless hours on airplanes, beaches, laying in bed, with graph paper and coloured pencils everywhere
I need to dig up my first floor plan I recall completing, it was in colour pencil in who knows what scale, there were carpets with hearts and vines and playroom the size of an Olympic swimming pool

In college we had to take a Victorian home with a super whacky floor plan and re-do it to "today's" standards - this to me was the dream assignment (and yes, I got an A!)

And now, I love seeing a clients plans, currently we have a client here in my office that is building another 12,000 Sf home - ALL custom
From massage room to Pilates studio, you name it, they have it
In the neighborhood they are building in, I'd say they will probably spend around $13 million just building it, and that's not including the furnishings - bizarre, I know!

On those extra Friday nights when Brad is working, I am not going to lie, I'll stay in and draft our house or a dream addition
When we did our little remodel, I drafted our home in CAD and then in Google SketchUp to help Brad get an idea of what the space would look like
It's a helpful tool to know how to use, our kitchen cabinets went in with out a hitch because my measurements were so precise

Sometimes I pretend a client comes to me with an old home and I need to remodel it, or that I am a custom home builder with an endless budget

Here is one I did with some "extra" time the other night, I cold totally see myself in this house, even though I prefer the master bedroom on the second floor
The facade of this dream house would be as so:


Now here, I'd like to introduce you to my "baby"...
This is my custom design dream home of mine, say if we were to win the lottery 
You name it, I've got it!
I am still always working on it, the kitchen is far from perfect in my eyes
But a home where my parents are close by, there's somewhere for us to work out and stay healthy
A full vegetable garden - it's a dream!
I know posting this is totally screwing up my blog format - but honestly I have no idea how to fix it and this is worth sharing to me:)


The original floor plan  owe credit to Dream Home Source
I basically just copied it and made my simple revisions
You can access it - HERE

This is what the facade would look like, even with my revisions:


Thursday, December 13, 2012

THIS Watch

Since I was in high school, this darned watch has been on my wish list
Walking through the Duty Free shops in the airport in St. Maarten as an 18 year old, I stopped my Dad and said: 
"Dad, if I graduate college, will you buy me this watch?"
Well, let's just say, 5 years of college and a bachelor's degree later, no watch has appeared on my wrist
I have begged and pleaded for this watch, but the moment the cost came up, my Dad, my husband, and anyone else I have shared this with stares at me blankly or as if I said I had the black plague
But then this morning, the early morning reminder e-mail from Gilt stared me in the eye, "Estate Watches" on Gilt this morning, limited time only!
So needless to say, this lovely is on my wish list once again, and I even went as far as adding myself to the wait list for someone else to drop it from their cart
I'd do anything for this little slice of wrist candy, gorgeous, right?

Dream on girl, dream on...

HERE

Anyone need design service??
Will trade services for wrist candy

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

12.12.12


Not only is today's date super awesome being 12/12/12, but guess what else it is?!

It was December 12, 2011 that I finally got the guts and posted my first entry
I am so happy I did because I use my blog as a tool to look back on something and enjoy or sulk in it again
I am not a writer, a photographer, a chef or perfect at anything, but I do know what I like and I have fun with it - that's what this is all for, right?
Thanks to my friends and family who have encouraged me to keep posting regardless if I am feeling creative that day :)
So, here's to another year!

Merry Christmas, Love the Schulers

This is our first Christmas as a married couple so I got myself organized in September before the rush and ordered our Christmas cards
I ended up sending out two different cards, one from Tiny Prints (below) and the other through Shutterfly directly
I have to say, the quality of the Shutterfly cards were great and a 1/4 of the price, I guess I just like the clarity of a real photo versus one printed on a matte cardstock

This is one of my favorite wedding photos, I love how we're actually looking at a different lens  and the light on us was so beautiful right then
I remember our wedding like it was yesterday, although it flew past us, I cherished every moment

Anyway, Merry Christmas to you all!

Love,
The Schulers :)

Monday, December 10, 2012

If I Were a Man, I'd...

Have a man cave!
I would never get tired of this space along as I had a ladies lounge to visit here and there, stay tuned...
Grab a beer and stay a while!

xo,
Tori
Man Cave

Friday, December 7, 2012

Christmas Wish List

Since I already got my Christmas gift from the hubs, it's unrealistic that I will get anything else on my wish list
But... once MUST have a Christmas Wish List, duh
So here's mine!
Just a little of this and a little of that!

What's on yours?

xo,
Tori
Christmas Wish List



PJ's: J.Crew vintage sleepwear Handbag: MICHAEL Michael Kors michael kors handbag Sunnies: Karen Walker The rest: Christmas Wish List 

Thursday, December 6, 2012

A Royal Name - Time to Vote!

Image - HERE

What's your vote for the future King or Queen of England?:

Ideas:
Boy:
Spencer - the late Lady Diana's maiden name
William - one of Prince William's four names
Arthur - one of Prince William's four names
Philip - one of Prince William's four names
Louis - one of Prince William's four names
Charles - William's father
George - one of Prince Charle's four names and the late King's name

Girl:
Diana
Victoria - a FANTASTIC royal name suitable for yet another royal, and I will allow them to follow it with Rose
Charlotte - a royal name
Caroline - a royal name
Elizabeth - the Queen's name and Kate's middle name
Angela - one of the late Queen Elizabeth's middle names
Marguerite - one of the late Queen Elizabeth's middle names
Alexandra - one of Queen Elizabeth II's middle names
Mary - one of Queen Elizabeth II's middle names

What's your vote?

...doesn't have to be listed above!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

A Nursery Fit for a King... Or Queen?

As the entire world sits and wonders how far along Kate is...
Is sit here and wonder, a King or Queen?!

Congratulations Will and Kate!


Image - HERE

I hope to see them have a girl first, don't you?
Little Diana, perhaps?

A Royal Baby


But how great to see a boy running around Kensington Gardens, I just hope they do not steal my favorite boys name: Spencer!

His Royal Highness' Nursery




Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Random Musings

How stinking cute are these?
Found them at Home Goods, bought them for my best friend, oh and she bought them for me
Get it?

Don't you want them too?


Monday, December 3, 2012

Our Christmas Party 2012!

 Saturday night was our Christmas party, it was quite the delight!
We had at least forty people and honestly we never felt crowded at all, it was quite initiate
We had to keep the list small (at 40?) but were able to have great company
Carrie, my best friend as you may know, co-hosted with me, she knocked it out of the park!
She provided all the delicious homemade bites and even these adorable mini pumpkin pies that were to die for
I took care of the beverages like the mulled cider and the Irish coffees and got to decorate my house - my favorite part!
Unfortunately I am terrible about remembering to snap some photos before guests arrive, but we really did deck out (tastefully I must say, no Santa throw up in these parts)!
We were able to have the food in the kitchen and living room area and the drinks in our family room
It created a perfect flow and I just wish I had snapped an image of the drinks area, it was too cute 
I just love to entertain!
We used up almost every wedding gift we received in May for this event, so much fun, but oh boy so much hand-washing!
Honestly it is nothing when you look back at your event and everyone is having a blast
With beautiful decor, festive music in every room, scrumptious homemade eats, delectable desserts like homemade peppermint chocolate whoopie pies by OmNom, endless Champagne and wine, warm and toasty drinks (I could go on) - it makes everything worth it!

So... the red dress, what do you think?
I was on the fence, it fit funny in some places, but I adore the colour, so perfect for a Christmas party, don't you agree?

Hope everyone is starting out their holiday season right!

Happy Holidays!


The hostesses
My Dress: H&M, Necklace & Bracelet: Stella & Dot, Shoes: Tory Burch, Tights: J.Crew, Earrings: Custom

The incredible spread Carrie created plus my decor:)

Our festive invitation!
Mac and I, my roomie and wonderful sous chef!
She was a wonderful help prepping in the kitchen

Tree #1: The Bird Tree
for the living room
(decorated in all my adorable birdie ornaments)

Tree #2: The Family Tree
for the family room
(decorated in all my hand-me-down and homemade ornaments)

*Please excuse the iPhone photos, my camera died two minutes after guests arrived - bummer!