11 New Year’s Eve Ideas

Entertaining

Tis time to kick 2017 to the curb. There’s often so much stress around New Year’s Eve – how to make it the very best ever. But actually, all you need is a little something delicious, maybe a friend or two and really, if you want to stay in PJs that’s a-okay too. I’ve dug back through the Apt34 archives to pluck out the perfect ideas that’ll give 2017 a much nicer send off than it even deserves!

> Plain old bubbly is so 2017. Now a champagne cocktail on the other hand. We have a variety for you to choose from. If you like something a little sweet and a little tart try our Diamond in the Rouge. For a super chic cocktail with a bit of sparkle opt for the Apt34 Sparkler. Think French 75 with a sophisticated layer of citrus. If you’re craving something sweet, this Sparkling Raspberry Cocktail (seen above) is the perfect option for you.

> Going out to dinner on NYE is also highly overrated. You’re simply going to pay five times as much for a regular meal. I’m much more of a cook-an-amazing dinner at home type of person. A gorgeous pot of seafood pasta (like this recipe), a risotto (recipe here).

> You can even rock a homemade dessert without slaving in the kitchen for hours. This cake recipe is so good and so easy. And then there’s what might be our most popular dessert of all time. If you like chocolate, definitely check this out.

> Even if you do stay home, it’s always fun to set a gorgeous table. You simply need to pick a color a palette. Black and white can look stunning. Or perhaps you’d prefer to try bold color. Or you can simply drop a tablecloth over your coffee table and make a festive little picnic!

> And then there are those pesky resolutions. I’ve made a habit of creating un-resolutions. Details about that are right here.

However you choose to ring in the new year, I do hope it’s happy, fabulous and fun. I have high hopes for 2018. I’m down for an epic year. You with me??

photography for apartment 34 by aubrie pick

Have Yourself a Cozy Little Christmas

Decor

This post is in partnership with Samsung. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations we’re excited about and that have kept Apartment 34’s doors open.

While I still might a have a bit of holiday shopping left, I’m so ready to put up that out of office message and settle in for a long winter’s nap. Anyone else with me?? Thankfully, we don’t travel during the holidays. But with a toddler and no babysitters in sight we don’t do much either. This year, I don’t mind one bit. Our house is finally, finally, finally coming together (did you catch this major sneak peek?). So this Christmas I’m fully embracing my homebody ways – especially now that I can tuck into my favorite holiday movies without a behemoth of a TV taking over my living room.

Yup, that gorgeous piece of art taking center stage over my credenza is, in fact, the Samsung Frame TV. This is a TV made for us – the design obsessed, aesthetically-minded out there (no shame in that game). Created in collaboration with designer Yves Béhar, the Samsung Frame is the most beautiful TV you’ve never seen (catch that pun!). The Frame challenges the traditional black box TV by integrating a beautiful design with the high-quality display we expect these days, especially my tech-obsessed husband. Its customizable frame has the flexibility to perfectly complement any space, with three bezel options in wood, white or metal (mine is metal).

The Frame transforms into a beautiful work of art when you’re not watching TV by displaying a gallery of 100 professionally curated pieces of art from different genres. I love how the line drawing I chose pairs so nicely with my prints from Minted. It totally goes with my pseudo-Scandi holiday vibe. You can also upload and display your personal photographs of family and friends if you prefer. One of my favorite features is The Frame’s Brightness Sensor. It allows you to enjoy your art in any lighting, automatically adjusting the color and brightness to the ambient light in the room. The art always looks natural regardless of where it is or what the time of day. It’s a perfect feature for our moody living room (deets about the room are here).

Now that we have The Frame, I love curling up on our sofa with a few Christmas treats and a favorite holiday movie for at-home date nights. While the two-year-old sleeps, we indulge in oatmeal cookies (the liquid kind – details here) and a different movie each night. Required viewing includes White Christmas – love me some Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney – and The Holiday, Love Actually, The Family Stone and Elf. There are the Harry Potter movies too (fellow nerds out there??). Regardless of what we’re watching, the picture looks great thanks to the lifelike, crisp picture in 4K HDR Pro, which has amazing rich color and contrast with four times more pixels than full HD. That pleases the husband to no end (I think I can tell the difference). But I’m really thrilled that when TV Mode is off and Art Mode is on, the toddler has no idea there’s even a TV on the wall. To him, it’s just another piece of art. Now that’s a Christmas miracle.

I’m curious – what are some of your favorite holiday movies? Old classics? Current movies? I still don’t get the tradition of watching Die Hard at Christmas. Can someone please explain it to me? I could add one or two new movie nights to our rotation. I’ll take any excuse to cuddle on the couch from now until 2018.

photography by leslie santarina

Gift Guide: For Awesome Nerds

Decor

Where are my awesome nerds at? Today I have a gift guide all about technology. While the last decade of my career has relied almost solely on computers, wifi and the interwebs, I’m one of those people with a bit of a love/hate relationship with all things tech. Or more accurately, it always seems like tech things hate me. They never work right. They take hours to set up. Or they simply stop working for no apparent reason. Do you member the days of resetting things with a Bic pen?? And while our reliance on tech continues to grow exponentially, it seems like tech gear isn’t always keeping pace. That’s why I was so intrigued to learn about Orbi Whole Home Wifi system new from NETGEAR. For once there’s a piece of technology that drastically improves your life, doesn’t make you want to tear your hair out and bonus: it looks good too!

Wi-Fi is the next utility (or at least it certainly should be treated as such, but don’t get me started). As connectivity has become ubiquitous in our everyday lives, hardware manufacturers need to build products that meet both the performance and design needs of the modern home. Amazingly now you get both. The Orbit RBK50 covers up a home up to 5,000 sq. ft. That means instead of having the dreaded wifi dead spots around your house you get top wifi speeds all the time, everywhere. Once we installed the Orbi in our house I could actually go between floors without my download speeds going glacial. Download speeds are finally super fast. And I don’t get the spinning ball of death while I wait for a video stream to buffer.

It also turns out you can get sleek and simple design without sacrificing performance.You don’t have to try to hide the Orbi system in the back of a closet, under a desk or behind a bed. The vertical design makes it easy to tuck into any corner of your house and its sleek white exterior just blends right in.

While it may not seem like the most obvious of gifts, imagine visiting your in-laws and being able to easily stream Netflix from the guest room. Or visiting your grandma’s house and even having wifi. There is simply no reason to ever face that seemingly endless downloading bar ever again. To find out how you can purchase an Orbi system, CLICK HERE. I’ve also rounded up a few amazing pieces of tech that I think will improve your lives. Or least offer some convenience and fun in really pretty packages.

1 > NETGEAR Orbi Wifi System

2 > Wireless Speaker

3 > Charging Cable & Watch dock

4 > Wireless Turnable

5 > Marble laptop Cover

6 > Photo printer

7 > Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser

8 > Noise canceling headphones

This post is a paid partnership with NETGEAR. All opinions are my own and were not directed by NETGEAR. To learn more about Orbi, visit NETGEAR’s website. Thanks for supporting collaborations that have kept apartment 34’s doors open.

Last Second Gift Guide: For All You Procrastinators

Shopping

Don’t worry, I’m a procrastinator too. But it is indeed less than one week until Christmas and most shipping deadlines are coming up quick since Christmas Eve is on a Sunday this year. So I’ve rounded up a last second gift guide filled with pretties that would make anyone smile. These gift ideas are simple, they are timeless, and they’re really impossible not to love – which makes them great for those impossible-to-shop-for people left on your list! And bonus: all of the items below are from favorite retailers many of which are offering super fast shipping – some as little as $10 for next day air & free returns. We’re in this together friends. We can do this!

1 > A gorgeous unisex scent that I love for the bottle as much as for how it smells.

2 > What if you could just look at your wrist to know what time it is, rather than have to pick up a phone. Novel right?

3 > Because everyone deserves to be caffeinated, beautifully.

4 > Hawkins New York is making some of my favorite glass home decor pieces right now. This smoked glass vase is a stunner.

5 > Have someone in your life who’s personality stands out a crowd? These earrings will only help matters.

6 > Anyone else feeling uber pale right now?? This amazing bronzing oil from a small skincare company out of Seattle gives you a hint of glow while it moisturizes and leaves you smelling great too.

7> The gift of green beauty products, especially my favorite moisturizing hand balm ever, cannot be rebuffed.

8> Because Mansuer Graviel bag, I just can’t quit you

For our entire gift guide archive, CLICK HERE

image via coco+kelley

10 Ways to De-Stress During the Holidays

Entertaining

While the holiday season is my favorite time of year, it’s really easy to get swept up in the rush and before you know it, January arrives and it’s all over. This go ’round I’ve committed myself to be as present as I can for the entire month. Now that we’re about half through it’s good to take stock of how you’re doing. I’ve done my best to relish simple things like putting ornaments on my tree with my toddler or choosing my Christmas wrap scheme for the year. But what I’ve really cherished is making the time to connect with people I care about.

One way I accomplished this was hosting a mini retreat with California Closets. California Closets helps you love how you live. Virtually anything you dream up, they can design and build. I collaborated with California Closets for both my master closet and my pantry and my dreams were most certainly realized. So the December season arrived, I gathered a group of my favorite women in one of my favorite Bay Area escapes – Bolinas, CA – for a long, slow, dreamy afternoon filled with laughter, crafting (yes crafting!) and of course amazing food in a gorgeous setting.

Taking time out can be really hard. There is always work to do. There are always to-dos that run off the end of the page. There is always someone wanting something from you. But you’d be amazed how enriching pressing the pause button can be. Taking even just a few hours out of the grind to take care of yourself feels indulgent, it feels luxurious – it feels freeing. It’s the best way to restore energy during one of the busiest times of year. As you drive north from San Francisco and turn west, reaching the crest of Mount Tamalpais and then descending through redwood trees to arrive at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, you cannot help but exhale. The sense of calm is palpable. This is the feeling I wanted to offer my friends and hope we all can carry through the year’s end.

This quote rings so true for me right now.

For our craft we created our own asymmetrical holiday wreaths (they were inspired by this post). The genius that is Natalie Bowen Designs guided our creative endeavor. Using evergreens, leaves, flowers, even mossy branches pulled from the side of the road, we had a ball letting our creativity flow – yes even me! Everyone’s final results were stunning.

There’s also something really special about sharing a meal this time year. It lends an intimacy to the season that you just don’t get from cocktail hours or holiday parties. Our setting, the darling Eleven Wine Bar & Bistro offered soul-nourishing, local foods including oysters, cheese and the best sparkling rosé. There was nothing fancy or overwrought. Just fresh, local ingredients and simple timeless flavors. It’s a great reminder that you don’t have to beat yourself up if you’re not a gourmet chef. You can create a beautiful experience over pizza!

I’m so grateful to have found a moment to take a deep breath and connect with friends this season. Even if you don’t have the ability to create a gathering like this one, you can do a few things to take care of yourself this season. I’ve included my top 10 below. I hope they inspire you to not only get through this season, but truly enjoy it.

10 WAYS TO DESTRESS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Make those lists – all the lists and check them twice. It’s impossible not to forget something this time of year.
Bite off your to-do’s in manageable chunks. Can’t carve out four hours to write your Christmas cards in one sitting? Spend 15 mins a day getting a few out the door.
Make things in advance. Cookie doughs, pie crusts and breads can be frozen. Sauces can be made the day before. A little preparation goes a long way.
Yoga. Yoga is your friend.
So is Love Actually, The Holiday and The Family Stone
Make time for meditation. Even just five minutes a day is proven to calm your nervous system, lower your blood pressure and lead to clearer thinking. And there’s an app for that.
Give yourself a night off. A bubble bath, a good scrub or body oil, candles and maybe that meditation app.
Release the desire for perfection. You don’t need to throw the perfect party. You don’t have make the ultimate meal. You don’t have to make sure every single family member is happy
Try making something. Like with your hands. While I usually shy away from DIYs, we made wreaths at our dinner and the end result was so satisfying.
If all else fails, there’s always some egg nog nearby

For more holiday gathering ideas, CLICK HERE

placesettings via chairs & cups / florals & wreath making by natalie bowen designs / accessories via Found Rentals / location & menu by Eleven Wine Bar Bistro

photography by andrea posadas

This post is in partnership with California Closets. Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations we’re excited about and that have kept Apt34’s doors open.

Gift Guide: For Discerning Littles

Decor

When it comes to giving gifts to littles, it’s wise to remember that you’re actually gifting to the parents too. So those toys that light up, play songs, wiz, bang, and whir? Yeah, we’re not so thankful for those. But there is a treasure trove of amazing goodies out that there that kiddos will clamor for and that won’t make mamas shudder when adding it to the ever-growing collection of kid-related accouterments. Here are some faves I’m going to be giving to the new wee babes in our life (and a couple I’ll be adding to our world as well!).

1> Finding non-cheesy, kid-friendly tableware seemed like a never-ending quest. Enter Miniware. Even the cutlery is cute. And eco-friendly. Problem solved.

2> I am endlessly obsessed with kids books (check out this post if you need more recs). This story, about what you can discover when walking in the woods, warms the heart & is easy on the eyes.

3> Every kid needs a cuddly friend and a sweet, friendly deer is perfect this time of year!

4> A rocking robot?! I just want one.

5> The train obsession is real. This guy connects and includes blocks.

6> Gotta love it when a kid dresses better than you do. This cactus romper is too cool for school.

7> Because every mama needs a few minutes hands-free.

8> Do not be fooled. You do not need an ugly, ginormous automated chair that takes up half your living room. This rocker will do the trick and looks amazing!

SHOP THE GIFT GUIDE

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Check out the rest of our gift guides HERE.

image via house & home

How to Add Modern Holiday Moments to Your Space

Decor

I have waited a long time for this day to come. After more than three years, we’ve completed the bulk of renovations on our house, I’ve designed (most!) of the spaces and I finally get to celebrate a holiday season in a house the feels like home. And while I still can’t quite do the full top-to-bottom reveal just yet, I can’t help but share a few sneak peeks of my favorite modern holiday moments I’ve created this year. First up is a mega sneak peek of my living room.

I’m sure you’re not shocked to learn I’m not into very colorful holiday decor. It feels weird to me to take a bunch of red and green stuff, dump it all around your house for a month and then pack it all away again. I’m more of a “use everyday things to lend a festive spirit to your space” kind of person. Thankfully, I was able to turn to my friends at Overstock.com for all the super gorgeous finishing touches I needed to not only make our spaces feel holiday ready but also find some treasures I’m going still going to love come January 1. Case in point – so many pretties for my living room! It really is the finishing touches that set the tone for a space. Thankfully, I didn’t have to dash all over town or spend hours and hours searching for the perfect piece or even pay for shipping. I found my swing arm wall sconce, textured throw pillow, throws, a chic tray, candle holders and more all at Overstock. Rather than douse my space in literal holiday cheer, I love making a nod to the season through texture, layers, warmth and just a few light touches of obvious holiday decor (hello DIY wreath!! More on that to come tomorrow).

In this hectic tech world, it’s nice to have something soft and cozy to cuddle up with. I’ve long been obsessed with the jumbo knit trend (do you remember the master I met while in Australia a few year back??) and this gorgeous handmade throw is on Overstock right now. It adds immediate cozy yumminess anywhere you put it.

Coffee tables are a great spot for a little holiday cheer. Using a tray as a mini serving area lets guests sit back and relax. I’m obsessed with this tray’s brass handles and marble insert. Perfect spot to place a holiday tipple. I also love breaking out a bit of crystal this time of year. A crystal decanter and glasses make even ice water feel special. The holiday season is all about glowing light so I tend to put candles just about everywhere. I’m obsessed with this brass candle holder set and I know I’m going to use them all year long.

Even with my minimalist ways, I can’t resist a fun little layer of this gorgeous magnifying glass. It’s sturdy enough that I would totally let my kiddo play with it.

Cozying up on the couch is probably my favorite holiday activity. A textured pillow adds that inviting (dare I say hygge) touch you crave this time of year.

And then there is the mantel! I’ve longed for a fireplace where I can enjoy mantel moments again. But this year I’m craving a touch more subtly then over the top elaborate setups of years past (turns out the simpler route is also much easier to maintain than the ever-dropping garlands). I opted for a gorgeous magnolia wreath from Overstock (that’s faux but that can be our little secret). I also added this really amazing polished aluminum reindeer bust. Rather than wall mount him (still don’t have the heart to punch holes in my pristine plaster walls), leaving him on the mantel was the perfect solution. A few more of my prized candles and a little bowl of Christmas baubles completes the look. While I like my more clean vibe, if you wanted a playful take you could hang some Christmas baubles from Vixen’s ears (that’s what I’ve named her).

In my book, it’s not the holiday season without a bar cart moment! I broke out more crystal stemware to add to my cart but kept the rest of it nice and spare. A gorgeous peacock feather wreath adds a modern glam touch.

If you are in the garland mood, Overstock has a ton of great options for that as well. For this look, I applied my holiday layering trick by starting with a (faux!) evergreen garland, topped with a string a Christmas balls. I then tucked a marble tray underneath as a little seat for some pillar candles (always candles) and a few more loose Christmas baubles complete the look.

But really, when it comes right down to it, the holiday season is about cuddling up with the ones you love most. That’s the number one thing on my to-do list between now and 2018. Thankfully, I have plenty of jumbo knits and my cuddly pup ready to help facilitate!

For more holiday decorating ideas, CLICK HERE

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photography for apartment 34 by Leslie Santarina

This post is in partnership with Overstock. All thoughts, opinions and content are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting posts that keep Apartment 34’s doors open.

Eight Modern Garland Ideas

Decor

Does anyone else out there decorate for the holidays in phases? While our tree is up, I’m still working to deck the rest of our halls. While I did a traditional garland on our staircase last year, this year I’m craving a slightly lighter, more modern touch. I’ve yet to land on exactly what I’m going to do (watch Instagram the next couple of days for sneak peeks) but the following eight modern garland ideas are offering major inspiration.

Digging the ultra minimal look.

Magnolia and eucalyptus are a pretty alternative to classic pine boughs.

While I’m wanting to simplify, it’s hard to resist a major moment this time of year.

Black, white and a hint of green. A picture perfect holiday look, no?

I’m loving the look of subtle draping, though the bird is a bit much. Too much design cliché for me. The mixed candles are a bit more of a practical approach.

Really loving this clean refined holiday style.

This reminds me of my favorite of my mantles to date. A touch of drama with the draping, a bevy of candles, but still monochromatic and clean. This might be my winner. Will be sharing my halls fully decked quite soon!

Do you have a favorite look?

images in order of appearance mokkasin / these four walls / hunted interior / faux martha / lonny / unknown / studio mcgee / lonny

Eight Advent Calendar Ideas for the Modern Home

Decor

This year I’m embracing the holiday season more wholeheartedly than ever. I don’t know if it’s this extra week between Thanksgiving and Christmas or the fact that my kiddo is now old enough to really understand and be delighted by the season. It’s amazing how quickly your inner child comes out when your toddler stares in awe at a sparkling tree.

One of my favorite childhood holiday traditions was the advent calendar. I waited with such anticipation to mark each day. But since I’ve turned out to be one of those hippy moms who doesn’t let her kid eat sugar (yup, I’m a mean mommy) I’ve been looking for advent calendar options that don’t include chocolate nor have an overly-saccharine design. I’m embracing the holidays, but I still have my aesthetic standard to uphold people. So I’ve been hunting. And hunting. And hunting! Turns out there are very few attractive advent calendars on the market. And by very few I mean none. But in my hunt, I did uncover a litany of ingenious fellow bloggers who have flexed their DIY muscle and created some stunning advent calendars that would fit seamlessly into my vibe – and I think yours too. Case in point the simple yet stunning option hanging strings above (if anyone knows the original source, pls tell me!). Here is a quick collection of my favorite advent ideas with you.

Geometric gems don’t immediately scream holiday decor. My favorite.

While chalkboards usually feel a little too Fixer Upper for me, I love the nice font and pop of black on this guy. You could simply use a chalkboard pen to mark off the days.

While I typically don’t do a lot of holiday color (this year’s tablescape excluded) I also say metallics don’t count as color! I love the idea of little gift tags that you add to an advent “tree” one by one.

Color black, white and very happy. I love Homey Oh My’s take on cute little advent gift bags. You need a hefty wall space for this baby though.

This scaled down option could tuck in nicely just about anywhere.

This snow-white scene is certainly right up my alley. The black tip of the DIY branch is the perfect attention to detail that I adore. Of course, I wouldn’t expect anything less from one of my all-time faves, A Merry Mishap.

This little triangle calendar idea is ingenious – and you could execute this idea at virtually any scale, from teeny tiny to huge. I’d drive myself a little crazy trying to get those lines perfectly symmetrical though.

I’m actually probably going to try an idea a friend suggested – books as my advent. So starting December 1 there will be a stack of books under the tree, numbered 1-24 and we’ll get to read a new story each evening. Some will be holiday themed, some will just be wonderful stories but I love the idea of a little excitement each day as we build toward Christmas morning. I’ll be sure to share sneak peeks on Instagram! But I’m curious, how do you mark the holiday season? If you have favorite traditions, please share. I’m always looking for new ideas.

images in order of appearance source unknown / cherry blossom / the merry thought / we are scout / homey oh my / apartment therapy / a merry mishap / weekend carnival

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