The Process of Living: A Colorful West Palm Beach Bungalow

Two weeks ago, Dan and I flew to Florida to spend a few days with my friend Drea, her man Alex, and their amazing five-year-old daughter, Marlowe, at their colorful bungalow in West Palm Beach. My friendship with Drea is unlike any other in that I followed her blog for a few years and finally met her in India this past March! A mutual love of Indian food, sarcasm, and ridiculous youtube videos bonded us pretty quickly and now I'm happy to call her my friend in real life.

Drea and her husband Alex are both insanely talented chefs- like, professionally- he works at a major destination resort and she recently published her own cook book, and clean eating and simple living are huge passions of theirs- they even grow their own produce in their backyard garden. Unfortunately  Drea's health took a major, sudden, mysterious dive shortly after our trip to India, but she has been sharing her recovery journey and new relationship with food over on her blog. I have always admired Drea's eclectic, effortless, and unique style and decor, but after visiting her house, it's obvious that she has poured a lot of love and thought into creating a colorful and cozy place for her family to call home. Since cooking at home is obviously a big part of their life, a lot of my favorite memories from our visit revolved around their beautiful dining table that was layered with patterned textiles, bowls, serving dishes, and colorful jars of goodies at every meal. Check out our breakfast spread below.

As is common in Florida, most of these photos were taken on a rainy morning, and I just loved the dark, moody lighting and rich colors in every room. The two floral couches are definitely Drea's signature design pieces, and a collection of handmade rugs are layered across the living room floor gives the room a bohemian vibe. And plants. Everywhere. The house feels as tropical and peaceful indoors as it does out- we spent a good deal of time drinking espresso (thanks Alex!) and listening to records in this room. It was pure magic.

Thank you Alex, Drea, and Marlowe for welcoming us into your home and letting us crash your lives for a few days! You guys are beyond amazing and we can't wait for a West Coast reunion soon. xo

You can find Drea on Instagram, Pinterest, and on her blog. 

Enjoy the process!

Hailey

The Process of Living: An Artsy Couple's Colorful San Francisco Pad

Every once in a while, I come across a home tour that makes me wonder if those weird sci-fi shows are true that say that every person on earth has a twin somewhere living a parallel life. This home, belonging to a crazy-cool couple in San Francisco, is easily one of them. I feel like I could move right in and feel totally at home- the gorgeous natural light, the artwork, the natural textures, insane wood floors, and pops of bright color are right up my alley. I love that the overall style is clean and modern but not stiff or sterile, a perfect mix of young, fresh, and functional. I could definitely see sipping a craft beer or having a game night in this living room- am I doing "hipster" right? But, who knows maybe our San Francisco spirit-couple will want to take a vacation here in San Clemente and we could do a little house swap. Too soon? I kind of feel like the kid who accidentally got invited to the party and now won't. stop. talking. (Be cool, Hailey!) So, anyway, I'll just leave these photos here and let them speak for themselves. But, if you live here, in this house...call me. Sometime. Jk, jk. But seriously though.

This tour originally appeared on Apartment Therapy, images via David Dines

About The Process: Basket Weaving in Rwanda

In Rwanda, these handwoven baskets are traditionally given to commemorate significant life events such as weddings, births, and graduations- as they are truly a labor of love, taking skilled artisans up to two days each to complete- often with a baby or two on their backs!

Natural fibers are carefully stripped, dyed with organic minerals, and dried before being woven into intricate patterns that are both beautiful and culturally significant, often passed down through generations of weavers. 

Weaving is also a primary source of income for many women in rural African areas as it utilizes locally harvested and sustainable materials, and allows them to work from home while caring for their families. The income earned from selling baskets like these enables women to become financially independent, open bank accounts, hire other workers, and invest back into their communities.

It is also an enjoyable social activity, as many women will gather to weave together, while sharing news and watching the kids play, not unlike the quilting circles of our own past.

Thank you for considering buying fair trade this season and supporting artists and creative entrepreneurs around the world!

Hailey

Images via All Across Africa