Votivo

I am dedicating this blog to my favorite diffusers, Votivo. They can be a little pricey but they are totally worth it. My favorite scent is Clean Crisp White. I don't really like sweet smells but more of just a clean smell. I absolutely love the feeling of having a clean house, with all the windows open to feel the San Diego breeze, and my diffuser standing proud on the coffee table with Blossom Dearier playing in the background while I am designing...it just doesn’t get any better. That is when I come up with my best ideas! Click here for a link to the website.

Fabulous Find

I was poking around online and fell in love with this necklace.....
so flippin adorable!

Valentines Day V.2

I LOVE this Holiday!

Bloomies

This last Thursday I went to a private bridal event at Bloomingdales. I had so much fun. I really like networking with the vendors there, I have seen them a lot lately. It just so happen to also be the weekend I was helping my friends who own a bridal boutique for a Claire Pettibone trunk show; one of them is currently on maternity leave. They had brought the dresses to the event and when I met up with Anne she couldn't wait to tell me that the designer would be at the event and was going to be at the shop with us meeting the brides who were interested in her dresses. I got really nervous. Claire was a little quite at first but then she warmed up as we went to appointment to appointment. She is one of the most fascinating people EVER. I am so inspired on how she keeps such a high profile career going along with having a two year old daughter. Her husband is super nice as well and helps in the family business which originally started in lingerie that is carried and Nordy's. As the brides came through she gifted them little customizations on their dresses if they bought that day…super nice, she even did a custom sketch of a dress and signed it for a bride. Her style is very non-traditional but she was telling me how she travels to Europe to pick very unique lace and silks. She has stunning dresses with lace draped over the open back and beading…to die foe! Such a pleasure to meet her...I have her personal contact, definitely will be doing lunch!

 

 

(these are a couple of dresses)

The Happiest Place on Earth

A week ago my family met up at Disneyland to celebrate my little cousin’s birthday. The forecast called for 10% rain and a lot of people were probably home watching all the football playoff games but not us. We didn't have to wait in any lines except for one; it was a perfect day to go. There was about twenty of us that went. I had the best time, there is something about Disneyland that makes you just smile. I think the adults liked it more than the kids. I posted some picture for you to see!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love

This last weekend I actually took some time to look at my planner and realized that Valentine's Day is almost here. I always love to go all out when decorating the house and everything takes some much time that I like to have the decorations up for a while so you get to enjoy them. I found these really cute little heart wreaths online that you could make yourself. I love decorating, love my hubby, love my family, love shoes, love chocolate....love crafting. What do you love?

Rainy Day

Today has been quite cold in San Diego and I am so happy! Lately the weather has been perfect, 70-75 degrees ever since New Years. Today, however, I was so happy to get out my coat and boots. I LOVE the rain. Even though I was in the office all day, I loved looking out my window. Not to mention it got really cold today. I can't wait to snuggle up with my hubby on the couch.

Bridal Season!

This first week back at work has been VERY busy. The San Diego bridal industry is so busy all the time. Between helping the dress shop out, invitation orders and tending to all of my clients, I just crash at the end of the day. Did I mention that I have bridal show after bridal show almost every weekend for the next three months! Even though it gets really crazy; I really love to help brides find there style. Weddings are such a special thing and to be asked to be a part of something so personal in someone’s life makes me feel honored. Congrats to any new brides out there.

Quest to Organize

I always love getting a new organizer at the first of the year. I always like something going on so during my time off at Christmas, and when I was hiking, I decided to go through everything, clean out, and organize. Whenever I decide to do this, Ian always thinks it is a bad idea because they house is always pretty clean but when I go through everything, I level the place. I went through everything from clothes to organizing all of our bills. I even finished our family budget and 2010 goals a week ahead of schedule. For those of you wondering what the heck, it really is fun to go through and see what your personal and mutual goals are and to make sure everything is checked off by the end of the year. Even doing our family budget is always good to look at everything as opportunity and what you have already accomplished. I have a completely new outlook on 2010...it is already a better year and somehow I feel like it is a year of transition, change and endless possibilities!

New Years Resolution

(View of Lake Murray from the top of the mountain)

I know it doesn't sound very interesting but my New Years Resolution is pretty typical this year. It is always nice to want to get into better shape and so I am blogging to brag about myself a little bit. Year after year Ian and always say that we are going to get into shape but this year seemed really different...like we finally mean it! =) We got home from Christmas traveling and threw away everything in our fridge that was bad for us. Then we went to costco and got all raw food. We usually shop like this but our major downfall is not finding the time to cook and so we eat out a lot...we are super busy people you know. We are now going on a week of going to the gym every night and cooking. I, Julie Galyan, even got up early Sunday morning and went for the hike by myself. I love to hike because it really kicks my butt and I love the after the fact feeling however hate doing it. It is about 3 miles up...totally off roading style. I went about half way because I felt like I was going to die and I knew this would be the last place anyone would ever look for me. Here are some pictures of the mountain. I really like sports and I even consider myself competitive but I do not like hiking or camping but will do it for my hubby.

I wish I could say this is how peaceful Ian and I looked at the top but that is not the case. This is no small mountain people!

Happy New Year

I don't think I have ever been more excited for the year to change...this last year was really hard and I am so happy to have it behind me. We had a low-key New Years this year, just hung out and watched the ball drop on TV. When we were home for the Holidays, three of our friends got engaged and one of our friends found out she was pregnant plus we have a family member, Jill expecting in May. I can tell this year is going to be a busy one. I had a blue moment today when I was thinking about how my grandmother would call all of us to see if we had our black eye peas today...it's a southern tradition for good luck! Could you imagine calling all of your kids and grandkids all in one day...she most have been on the phone all day! I miss here so much but I know she is watching over us. Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

It seems that December was the busiest month of 2009. Within the last couple of weeks, it seemed like Ian and I tried to squeeze in as much as possible into the last couple of weeks…we loved every minute! Our Holiday marathon kicked off on Sunday december 20th when I went to one of my best friends wedding . Lacie and I have gone to school together every since first grade. She was a beautiful bride!

We drove home to San Diego right after the wedding with my mom and brother. I was so happy they came down to finish up all the last minute shopping. Molly was also suppose to come down but she had to work and keep my Dad company. We took my mom to the mall and it took us 45 minutes to find a parking spot…I really miss Bakersfield in times like these. We drove home late Tuesday night just in time to have the annual baking day with my sister. We love to bake all the traditional holiday goodies, gingerbread men, peppermint bark and so on. We love to bake but love even more to give it away. We went and worked out after for all the nibbling along the way!

We also took Jordyn to Calm to see the lights...it was a blast!

A lot of people ask us if it is hard trying to see people when we come to town. The drive from San Diego to Bakerfield does get old but our families are the best. Everyone knows how to share time with us and my only regret I have is not spending enough time with everyone. After doing this for almost eight years, we got it down. Every Christmas Eve is spent with Ian’s mom side of the family. This year we got Jordyn her first bike, she was so excitied. I love visitng with his Aunt Tammy and Uncle David, they always have the best wine! After visitng with his mom side we go to the Methodist Church where Ian and I got married for the Christmas Service. We were so surprised to see all the renovations they are doing…it looks great. Christmas mornig is always with my mom, dad brother and sister and then we usually go to the bigger family for breakfast. This year everyone was all over the place which was a little hard especailly because I wanted to spend time with them and think about my grandmother. This year we went to my Aunt Mary’s for a later dinner and even though some of us were apart, we called eachother. I’m sure the neightbors thought we were crazy; can you imagine that many people all on speaker phone! After we were done opening gifts at my house we headed straight for the Galyans side. We weren’t able to stick around for the white elephant but it was nice to spend time with brother in laws and nieces. We had early morning mimiosas and ate monkey bread. We got the most thoughful gift from Ian’s Grandmother. She had put together a book of Ian’s late grandfather from birth to wedding photos to when he was older. Not only did the book have photos which I though were amazing to have but Grandma Mimi also wrote on each page explaing everything. I was SO touched. I never got to meet him and it is such a nice thing to have especially when you have questions. The book really inspired me. THANK YOU GRANDMA MIMI!!!

 

Even though this year has been somewhat difficult, it definitely ended on a good note. I got my leather chair that I wanted for Christmas and Ian and I are planning a trip to Puerto Rico in June for a week. We are so excited! Merry Christmas to all!