Monday’s Pretty Things – The Oaxacaborn Blog

Every Christmas tree doesn’t have to be a big, Costco-sized production. Here are some lovely ideas to use small, table-top trees — or even the extra branches you might have leftover after trimming to fit into the tree stand!

My Lovely Things on Oaxacaborn's MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Decorating with Christmas Tree Branches
Tiny tree in the hallway via Anna Truelsen / My Lovely Things

Nora Lill on Oaxacaborn's MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Decorating with Christmas Tree Branches
Fir branches in jar of water via Nora Lill

Christmas Tree Branches as Chrismtas Trees via A Barefoot Day on Oaxacaborn's MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Decorating with Christmas Tree Branches
Evergreen branches in mason jars via A Barefoot Day

waltherogco_dk on Oaxacaborn's MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Decorating with Christmas Tree Branches
Cut tree in glass vase via Walther & Co

Table-top Christmas tree with wooden and wire geometric ornaments via The Design Chaser

Princess Pine in Clay Pot Anna Truelsen on Oaxacaborn's MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Decorating with Christmas Tree Branches
Princess pin in clay pot via Anna Truelsen / My Lovely Things

Noralill Branch in Jar on Oaxacaborn's MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Decorating with Christmas Tree Branches
Evergreen branch in jar of water on tin tray via Nora Lill

Fika on Oaxacaborn's MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Decorating with Christmas Tree Branches
Small tree in Swedish enamel bucket on windowsill via B.I.B. And I spy pour-over coffee! The whole photo series is here, and it’s lovely.

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Have a photo of Scandi-inspired Christmas loveliness? Send it to me, and I might feature it on the 4th Annual Scandinavian/Nordic Christmas Series! Click here to find out how.

Inspiration, Monday's Pretty Things

MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: From Sault Ste. Marie to Novi Sad

October 20, 2014October 20, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

I haven’t done a Monday’s Pretty Things round-up in a while. In fact, if you’re a new reader you might not even know that Monday’s Pretty Things are, well, a thing! That’s just sad. I’ve been collecting plenty of inspiration, I just haven’t been sharing it. (I’m sorry. Let’s end that drought now.)

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan via Conde Nast Traveler: Ten of the Snowiest Places in the World

I’m shivering just thinking about the fact that I lived in one of the places on this list. Brrrr.

quitokeeto Modern Bamboo Steamer
Modern Bamboo Steamer via Quitokeeto

Utilitarian things like pots and pans and appliances should be attractive as well as functional, don’t you think? These steamers from Hong Kong are so pretty.

Le Dans la Camel and Off White Interiors
via the ever-lovely French blog Le Dans La

A space doesn’t have to have a lot going on to be beautiful. The unified color palette here is so calming.

Peter via David Fleck on Society6

David Fleck’s portfolio is full of gems. I spent a good twenty minutes browsing the other day, and enjoying all the illustrated details.

Underpass in Novi Sad / Нови Сад

Images from the former Yugoslavia, or anywhere throughout the Balkans, Eastern/Central Europe and the former Soviet states fascinate me. There’s a sadness about so many of them, and yet such a poignant beauty. Like I wrote here, “it makes me very happy and it makes me very sad.” If you have any seemingly-everyday snapshots from those areas, favorite blogs or Instagram accounts, photojournals (like RFE/RL’s Picture This!) or anything else related. send them my way! They don’t all have to be epic — like these images of Communist-era buildings — I love a good peek into everyday life, too.

Inspiration, Monday's Pretty Things

MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Green, green, green (plants)

June 30, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

If you follow Oaxcaborn on Instagram, you know about our succulent planting adventures (see below photo) so it’s no surprise that this week’s Monday’s Pretty Things is all about greenery! This was inspired by a couple of things — one, the incredible Urban Jungle Bloggers project, and two, the fascinating conversation here about the challenge of spending time outdoors if you, like many people, are an apartment dweller. (Most people don’t actually live on a rambling ranch!)

Hopefully these Pretty Things — and the #UrbanJungleBloggers Pinterest board — will inspire you to create your own green oasis no matter where you live.

Hanging plants via Atelier Solarshop

Urban window via Rennes on VSCO

Floral workshop via Wit & Delight

Japanese home via Spoon & Tamago

White interior via Ukkonooa

Fika via Oaxacaborn on Instagram

Monday's Pretty Things

MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Plants to Brighten the House

June 2, 2014June 2, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Monday's Pretty Things - Inspiration from Oaxacaborn
Plant display inside the Loose Leaf shop, via photographer Sean Fennessy for The Design Files

Greenery and sprouted things - Monday's Pretty Things - Inspiration from Oaxacaborn
Plants in pretty vases, via stylist Lotta Agaton and photographer Kristoffer Johnsson for Residence Magazine

Swedish wildflowers - Monday's Pretty Things - Inspiration from Oaxacaborn
Swedish wildflowers via Hilda’s Hem

Midsommar wreath of flowers via Bo Mimi

Spider Plant in bathroom shower_Web
Spider plant hanging from shower (my home).

sukha-amsterdam
Paper cranes hanging in the Suhka Amsterdam shop window

Oak tree growing in a jar of water - An-Magritt - Oaxacaborn
Oak growing in a jar of water via An-Magritt

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See even more pretty things…

Monday's Pretty Things

MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: 10 Inspiring Storefronts and Cafes from Around the World

April 14, 2014 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

10 Inspiring Storefronts and Cafes from around the World // Fruit shop in Naples, Italy // Photograph by André Benedix on Flickr
1. Fruit shop in Naples, Italy // Photograph by André Benedix on Flickr

10 Inspiring Storefronts and Cafes from around the World // Fish shop in Naples, Italy // Photograph by André Benedix on Flickr
2. Fish shop in Naples, Italy // Photograph by André Benedix on Flickr

10 Inspiring Storefronts and Cafes from around the World // Seoul South Korea Coffee Shop
3. Cafe in Seoul, South Korea // Photograph by handsforholding on Flickr

10 Inspiring Storefronts and Cafes from around the World // 19 Alexandra Road, Clevedon
4. 19 Alexandra Road, United Kingdom // Photograph by Lou Archell on Littlegreenshed

10 Inspiring Storefronts and Cafes from around the World // LOKL in Kuala Lumpur
5. LOKL Coffee Co. in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia // Photograph by Loo Jia Wen as seen on Bloesem

10 Inspiring Storefronts and Cafes from around the World // Julianna's Crepes _ Atlanta
6. Julianna’s Coffee & Crepes, Atlanta Georgia // Photograph by In Honor of Design

10 Inspiring Storefronts and Cafes from around the World // Fatbird Cafe in Bangkok
7. Fatbird Cafe in Bangkok, Thailand // Photograph via BKKMenu

10 Inspiring Storefronts and Cafes from around the World // Hara Donuts Korea
8. Hara Donuts (하라 도너츠) in Seoul, South Korea // Photograph by the Seoul is for Lovers blog

10 Inspiring Storefronts and Cafes from around the World // Purple garlic stall in St-Vivien-de-Médoc, France, during Market Day
9. Purple garlic stall in St-Vivien-de-Médoc, France, during Market Day // Photograph by Oddur Thorisson for Manger

10 Inspiring Storefronts and Cafes from around the World // Bakery in Ghent, Belgium
10. Bakery in Ghent, Belgium // Photograph by klaartje on Flickr

Christmas, Monday's Pretty Things

MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Christmas Greenery

December 9, 2013 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

There’s nothing like the piney, earthy scent of fir boughs inside this time of year, don’t you think?

Deconstructed Christmas tree via Free People
Deconstructed Christmas tree via Free People

Herriot Grace Handmade Wooden Grain Spoon

Handmade wooden spoon via Herriot Grace

The home of designer Maria Cornejo and photographer Mark Borthwick via Totokaelo

Martha Stewart's Cedar Wreath Chandelier
Wreath chandelier via Martha Stewart

How do you bring the outdoors inside at Christmas?

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For your merry perusal, here are some [Christmas-y] Monday’s Pretty Things from the 2012 archives:

Monday's Pretty Things

MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Fall, Family, & a Little Bit of Yellow & Blue

September 25, 2013 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

This week marks the start of fall here in the Northern Hemisphere, and while Florida’s proximity to the Tropic of Cancer makes the change of seasons less pronounced, the weather is dipping ever so slightly in the autumnal direction. It’s a welcome, if nearly imperceptible change; merely a bit less of an “I’ve instantly been poached” sensation when one steps out of doors.

And while my presence has been scarce here on the blog, it’s been for the best reason possible — family is in town! My heart is beyond happy watching this little face chatter away with “gamma” and “gampa”.

September 2013 - 3 - Milkmaid Braids on a Toddler

September 2013 - 2 - Milkmaid Braids on a Toddler

This seasonal shift always makes me think of yellows and blues, despite these hues often being seen as spring colors. But why should they be confined to just one end of the year? Autumn is full of ever deepening blue skies and — in some parts of the world at least — rich golden leaves.

And so here, on a very non-Monday, is a tiny round-up of pretty things.

The Adventurer, a nautical/anchor mug via ModCloth

Plywood triangle banner via Against the Woodgrain on Scout Mob

Sandalwood & Musk soap from Mozi‘s Big Bear Collection

California letterpress print via 1canoe2 on Etsy

Enamelware plates from Best Made Co.

CC1 Square Blouse via Yarnmade Sweden‘s Cactico line

(Want to see even more pretty things?)

Monday's Pretty Things

MONDAY’S PRETTY THINGS :: Greens in Florals and Foliage

September 3, 2013 Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Well, it’s not Monday; but these are still pretty things, so let’s just roll with it. :)

First of all, I have to talk about blogger Justina Blakeney‘s kitchen. Isn’t it real? I can not get over how welcoming it is! I feel like Justina would make a really good best friend, because it seems like the kind of kitchen a best friend would have. Seriously, you need to go see the whole tour here.

While I’m on a green kick…