Newborn Necessities

Now that I've been a mom for all of seven weeks (almost!), I thought I'd share some of the essentials that have made my life just a little easier this past month-and-a-half.

First of all, the swaddling situation is not always the most fun because you not only need to know how to wrap your baby tightly and comfortably, but your swaddle needs to stay in place. To assist with this all-important task, I highly recommend the aden + anais swaddlers which are super soft and super big. They make the job completely manageable, not to mention their designs are adorable. There's also the SwaddleMe option which has been a dream because no wrapping skills are necessary. It's just a little bag with velcro - anyone can do it!

My husband and I were surprised by the stuffy little nose Camille developed a week or so after bringing her home. The nose drops and suction only work so well on such tiny nostrils so we bought the functional and stylish Crane humidifier. We noticed a slight improvement within a week and deemed it a winner.

Pacifiers and bottle-feeding are apparently a bit controversial when it comes to newborns but I am utilizing both (don't judge). I recommend MAM pacifiers for their cute designs and because Camille seems to love them. As for bottles and pumping paraphernalia, whichever you use, you'll want to have a boon drying rack on your kitchen counter. They're wonderfully convenient and charming to look at.  

My mother-in-law gave Camille a pink Fisher-Price musical seahorse for Christmas and I didn't realize how much we would use it. I had only been a mom for a few days and had no idea that gentle music would be such a welcome addition to nap time. But it is! And this toy was a great gift.

Finally, the Skip Hop activity gym is Camille's favorite. She spends quite a bit of her wake time wide-eyed and cooing on that mat. She loves the jingle of the owl, the tweeting of the bird, and the bright colored hanging apple. It is so fun to see her enjoying a little play time.

Obviously there are plenty of other wonderful items I am using as a new mom and maybe I'll share about them later. But for now, these are my best recommendations. And I truly wouldn't have known about most of them if it wasn't for my sis adding them to my registry. (Thanks Kate!) Get them for yourself or gift them for a friend and make mom and baby very happy!

Etsy Ornaments

Happy Friday! I have found that some of the cutest and most creative Christmas ornaments can be purchased on Etsy (where else?!). In case you missed the feature in the winter issue of Delighted, here are some of my favorites. Take a look and click the links below to purchase.























Set the Table: Holiday Dinner

You may remember these photos from the Fall issue's Thanksgiving feature, but they're too pretty to not share again. If you are still figuring out how you want to style your table for your upcoming dinner party or even your Christmas gathering, use these simple ideas for inspiration!










































Simple and festive is the ideal way to decorate your table for any holiday gathering.  Here are my tips for setting your table with ease and beauty:

Live Plants  Succulents from your local home and garden center are fairly inexpensive and can be combined in any vase or container for an easy centerpiece. The varied shapes of these plants will provide a subtle element of interest to your table.

Candles You can’t go wrong with flickering light at any holiday gathering. Use tapers in a bold color or place a votive at each place setting to provide a sense of coziness.

Linens An easy way to add color and texture to your table is with napkins and runners. Don’t be afraid to mix-and-match fabrics and colors. These shown are from Rufflewood and Pottery Barn.

Place Setting Decor Use more than one item to create visual interest and add color (for instance, I alternated succulents and pears at each place setting).

Infinity chairs courtesy of Blueprint Studios.
Photos by the talented duo at Pictilio.

Gift Guide: Hostess

Delighted's winter issue is full of gift ideas and today I'm sharing the hostess gift list! Anyone planning a get-together this season would be happy to receive any of these items. Order now to have them on hand for your upcoming festivities!




















West Elm Throw | Dean & Deluca Honey | Williams-Sonoma Peppermint Bark | Rufflewood Linen Napkins | PlatesandNapkins.com Paper Napkins | Vosges Haut Chocolate Petits | Smitten Kitchen Cookbook | Del' Oliva Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar

And side note, these items can also be found on Delighted's Pinterest gift board. Happy giving!

Baby Room

The fall issue of Delighted will be live next week! Hooray! I'm looking forward sharing some great autumn ideas and wonderful stories. In the meantime, however, we can still look back at some of the features you may have missed from the summer issue. Today I want to share Noelle's baby nursery and all of the beautiful DIY elements her talented mom, Cheryl, created. It's completely impressive, as I'm sure you'll agree. Check out Cheryl's blog and Etsy site to find out how to make your own (or buy a similar version)!

Hand Painted Trees on the Wall

Giraffe Art Made with Hole Punched Paint Chips | Mobile Available on Etsy via Right.at.Helm

Reupholstered Glider and Handmade Pillows
Noelle's mom, Cheryl,  shares the three principles she used in designing this room:

Infant-focused decor It was important to me that the decor in Noelle's room not just be pretty, but stimulating for an infant. Infants like to look at objects with high contrast, so the tree decals and wall prints were designed to be simple and clean with clear edges. The hot air balloons and animal mobile were made with very light materials so that a gentle breeze would send them bobbing to keep her occupied.

Smart storage I kept the room clutter-free by keeping anything we use daily (e.g. diapers, wipes) in the top dresser drawer, and putting storage boxes under the crib skirt for blankets, sheets. Picture rails also allow us to display books and toys in easy reach.

Varied Textures Rich textures can really warm up a room and make it look sophisticated. I chose fabric that had a thicker weave for her pillows and added chunky-knit throws and blankets. A basket and some pinecones brought in more organic textures but were painted grey to keep it in the color palette.

Photos by Cheryl Lim Tan of Right.at.Helm

Linzy's Cheerfully Modern Studio

Linzy is an architectural designer from San Francisco and created a living space that is not only stylish but super functional...and it's small! See pages 14-27 of Delighted's summer issue for more photos.

Interview with Linzy Griswold

Age: 32

City: San Francisco

Profession: Architectural Designer

How would you describe your decorating style?

Cheerfully modern

Where do you look for design inspiration?

I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by design inspiration every day as part of my profession, however I find the best source of inspiration is an accidental encounter best discovered by looking around…Also, I am a close follower of design/photography/fashion blogs, love to follow local artists, and most of all, find inspiration from travel.

How many square feet is your studio?

450 sf (there’s no better activity for a foggy Sunday than measuring one’s apartment!)

What key features did you look for when choosing a studio?

Location, price (out of necessity), an updated kitchen (hello dishwasher!) and decent mid-day light, although the adjacent buildings are a stone’s throw away.

What feature in your current apartment is your favorite?

Tall ceilings, although standard to many older San Francisco apartments, helps the space appear larger than it is. Also, I was able to find a studio with a dining nook that allows me to entertain without feeling too crowded. I must admit, the saving grace of my studio is the oversized walk-in closet, which was originally a sleeping alcove and now houses all my clothes, shoes and books. 

What decorating tips would you give to other studio dwellers?

Before you move into a studio, purge! Also, if possible, the furniture should be proportionate to the space so that the rooms are not cluttered. Try experimenting with pops of color and do not be afraid to mix things up a bit from season to season. One can always rotate art on the walls and change out pillows or a bedspread so that the space feels new again. Make your space personal by creating small vignettes on shelves or tables and add touches of greenery with low-maintenance plants (succulents and air plants are simple, sculptural and work with many types of décor).  Don’t forget about fresh flowers…a never-fail means for instant rental blues therapy.

What pieces do you splurge on? Save on?

I try to take advantage of design discounts whenever possible (hence the Eames chairs I have started collecting). Spend a bit more on pieces that you can foresee having in 15 years…and save on items that may be temporary.

What is your favorite piece of furniture or artwork?

This is a tough one…The New York bandshell photograph my boyfriend took that reminds me of New York in a subtle way, some prints by Jay Ryan that give a youthful feel to my space and the handblown glass hanging terrarium in my kitchen.

Interview with Linzy Griswold | Photos by Steve Spiering