Coming to terms with a brown couch

Our couch is brown. I'm not crazy about it, but it's too new to replace. I've been looking for examples of rooms that I like that happen to have a lot of brown in them, and here's what I've come up with so far.

I actually have a fabric that is very similar to the blue flowers on the chairs above. I like the color palate above, but the browns in my family room are a little deeper toned.

I'm pretty sure the next couch is gray, but I think an espresso-colored sofa in that place would have the same effect.

In the picture above, I like the light blue and the hints of pink and lavender in the artwork and flowers. There's a brown couch in the next picture, but look at all that white! It's way too stark with the brown.

I wish the pillow on the chair in front of the fireplace was covered with a brightly colored fabric. Something like the back of the chair in the room below:

I love the pink. Not the black zebra pattern.

This one's good, too:

Varying shades of brown, with soft white accents. And more purple flowers! I guess I like purple and brown together.

Purple and blue, here's my message to you: thanks for helping me come to terms with a brown couch. I think we can make it work.

Vacation means never having to make the bed

My week-long vacation begins today! I'm in the mood to lounge around in pretty places and not do much of anything besides look at pictures of other pretty places.

Sheets that are slightly rumpled is one of my favorite looks for a bed, especially when I have lounging on my mind. The picture below is probably a little bit too girly to ever pass in our bedroom. Something about the pink hearts, I guess. But I love it, especially the sheets paired with the brown plaid wool blanket. It keeps it from being too frou-frou, and instead makes it casual and warm.

Don't you want to be sitting in the spot right where the sun is hitting the bed?

Here are the heart sheets again, paired with the same warm gold tones. This time the hearts are blue. Manly, even. I love the mix of blue patterns in the pillows and on the headboard, and how the blue is carried over into the wallpaper and the flowers on the night table.

I'm playing a little game here. Each picture has something in common with the previous picture. Can you spot the common link in the next photo?

That's right, it's the casually folded mustard-colored wool blanket at the foot of the bed. I love the drab color next to the red wool on the chair. And, red happens to be the next common link, though the red blanket in the next photo is a little brighter than the one above.

And once again, there's a drab-colored blanket folded at the foot of the bed. The browns and greens are so perfect for these otherwise feminine spaces.

The next picture has layer upon layer in what happen to be my current favorite colors -- pale pinks and blues and mushroom-toned grays and browns. I love how the layers of blankets are cozy, yet there's not a down blanket in sight. It's slightly reminiscent of another one of my favorite layered beds.

And now, for the big reveal. This is where I will be doing my actual "lounging" today:

Buzz-kill :(

Where I'd like to eat Thanksgiving leftovers

Hot chocolate decorating

When it comes to winter, I like my rooms like I like my hot chocolate: Warm, cozy and in various shades of brown and cream.

Hot chocolate with cinnamon sticks:

Hot chocolate with freeze-dried marshmallows:

Steamed milk with vanilla flavoring. Not technically hot chocolate, but they're related:

And the grand finale - hot chocolate made with ghirardelli and topped with whipped cream:

While we're on the topic, would you believe that I drank hot chocolate from a mug just like this for my entire childhood and never even knew what was going on?

I think my parents' version was bears, though. I had friends whose parents had mugs from the same "collection," and I was always sure to point out the coincidence.