The best made plans…often go awry.  When that happens, I use spider mums!  This lovely spring centerpiece I used for an Easter gathering actually came together by mistake.

It ended up being the perfect, bright and fresh addition to the table setting — and it’s so simple to make, you could throw this together for any occasion!

So here’s what happened… I had 12 members of my family over earlier this month. The *perfectly-planned* plan was for a lovely garden filled with blue hydrangea.  If you caught my girl boss luncheon post… kinda like that! And my menu included barbecue chicken, lightly dressed kale salad, fennel and tomato salad, corn bread and from my Caribbean background the family gathering staple, Haitian rice (red rice and beans).

Time for another micro makeover!

I found these iron chairs at the Long Beach flea market years and years ago. I can’t remember exactly, but let’s say they were $100 for the pair. They were purple and pretty beaten up, but had great lines.

With a little love and inspiration from my favorite Casamidy, I was able to get these chair living room ready!

Take a look at the transformation (below).

Spring days call for Spring Gray!

I keep spotting rooms, architecture, and home accessories with gray accents — and I just love how the typically-drab color is being used to make other colors (including white!) pop.

Incorporating gray can keep your space sleek, neutral, and of course, oh-so cozy!

See some of my favorite spaces for inspiration (below)!

Introducing my cozy breakfast nook!

I love having a special space in my home that is bright and inviting — the perfect place to have a cup of coffee and start my day!

Whether you have a whole room or just a corner, these ideas will help you create a charming place to grab a quick bite before heading out or dine with the whole family. Have a look (below)!

Ladies who lunch!

I recently held a spring luncheon for four fantastic women to discuss a project we’re all collaborating on. There is nothing more inspiring than being surrounded by fellow girl bosses supporting each other and being able to create together!

I invited everyone over to my house for a gathering on my patio – which ended up being the perfect way to celebrate the beautiful spring weather!

Follow along (below) to see how I pulled it off!

Time for a little spring organizing!

As a fan of cozy spaces, I’m often searching for ways to find extra room for storage in every area of the house. What I’m finding is that it’s possible to find homes for all your unsightly belongings with furniture or bins that you’ll want to show off.

My first tip would be to get rid of anything you do not need or use regularly. There is no reason to hang on to anything that isn’t adding value to your life. Haven’t worn that sweater in a year? Two years?? Donate it. Once you’ve narrowed it down and are only looking to store what you absolutely need, find chic ways to incorporate it into your decor!

Take a look (and shop!) some of my favorite finds for easy home storage that are pleasing to the eye (below)!

Welcome to my scatterbrain!

March is already almost over (?!), so I wanted to share some of the products I’m obsessed with right now! Plus, I’ve included some irresistible sales that I’ve stumbled upon and just had to share.

Happy shopping!

The world changes when we change our perspective.

Every day I’m noticing little things about my new home in Beverly Hills that makes me fall even more in love with this property. The other day I was walking around the back of the house through the gated tunnel to my courtyard, when I realized I had never seen the view from this angle before.

I know this may seem like a trivial example, but it got me thinking about how we have the power to take what we see every day and look at it from a different perspective and be enlightened to even more beauty.

Who says dressy clothes are just for dressy occasions?

I’ve been trying to find ways to incorporate the fancier items in my closet into my regular wardrobe — and I’ve found that with a little creativity and willingness to play around, you can find a look that works for almost any day of the week!

Case in point… I bought the Chloe dress pictured throughout this post for a wedding I was going to late last year. As I’m sure many of you can relate, it’s a beautiful dress (that I spent way too much money for), but it just sits in my closet.

A little background, I purchased the dress while rushing out of the store before closing… without even looking at the price tag. I still lose sleep over that sometimes, but what can you do. I had to catch a flight early the next morning for the wedding, so I ended up deciding to make it work. In hindsight, I totally could have worn something perfectly nice that I already owned (without spending an arm and a leg) and returned the dress, but here we are. All dressed up with nowhere to go!

Trend alert: pink sofas!

I am not typically a “pink” girl, but I am crushing on all these fun sofas I’m spotting everywhere! It seems as though people are shifting from the popular white sofa to a pink one… could this be the next staple piece?

My bestie AM will be thrilled with this trend as she LOVES pink, but I can’t help but wonder what men think about incorporating the typically-girly shade. Then again… who cares? I think it provides a surprising color focal point and adds to the visual texture of a space without being too bold. I think I am liking the lighter pink more than the bold…but the bold works, too.  Who knew.

Check out some of my favorite finds (below)!

I recently had the privilege of sitting down with my friend, Linda Grasso of the SheSez podcast, for my first ever on-camera interview (Eek!) about how COCOCOZY came to be. It was super fun to share my story and talk about this passion project of mine — but I was also a bit nervous and self-conscious to go on camera. 

A little background, Linda and I worked together in entertainment years ago, and she’s always been an incredible journalist and interviewer. Because of her warm professionalism, I immediately felt comfortable and open. Thank you for your patience and coaching, Linda!

I’d like to introduce you to my new travel agent… Instagram!

I have been getting so inspired to travel and explore new places through social media. The colors! The history! Who knew hashtags could take me to some of the most beautiful and interesting places around the world.

Take a look through some of my favorite finds and awaken your own travel bug (below)!

Spring showers bring… the need for waterproof fashion and cozy interiors!

Ok, ok, I know we don’t get a ton of rain here in Southern California, but we do have days where I need to throw on a light rain jacket and a pair of boots — if I leave the house, that is! With a reading nook like the one pictured (above), I don’t know if I ever would…

Check out some of my rainy day inspiration (below)!

It truly is the little things that make life happy.

Every morning when I wake up, walk down the stairs and see this morning light in my living room, I am filled with such great joy! It’s easy to start the day with a positive mind when greeted with such a cheerful and bright glow.

The past few years have been a roller coaster for me (to say the least) — and I’m feeling extremely grateful to have found this Spanish style Beverly Hills house after making the difficult decision to sell my tiny little cottage in the Hollywood Hills. 

The radiance in this special spot of my “home for now” reminds me to embrace all the newness that comes with this next chapter!

It might be sunny here in California, but I still have winter mountain vibes on my mind!

This Park City Canyons kitchen remodel by Studio McGee is a gorgeous example of how to take an outdated ski home and transform it into a stylish, cozy mountain destination. This isn’t totally my style, but I love the use of traditional warm colors and bright whites to really give this home some life — while still keeping that rustic cabin feel!

Who said garage doors have to be boring?

I recently spotted a stunning black garage on bettershelter’s Instagram page (pictured above), and was immediately inspired by how much character a simple remodel can add to a home.

Take a look through 24 more unique and distinctive designs (below)!