Guest Blogger: Courtney of In(side) the Loop

I am honored to introduce, for the first time on TBF, the lovely Courtney Barton from one of my most favorite blogs, "In(side) the Loop." I started reading her blog long before TBF was even a thought. She has a killer eye for style, an adventurous spirit and that certain je ne sais quoi only a Louisiana native living in Kuala Lumpur may possess. She lives her life "out loud" with husband JJ, and her dog, Burkly Deluxe in tote. Her passion for exploring beautiful countries and hunting down wondrous Malaysian food & wine is quite contagious. She's simply delightful and I'm so thrilled to have her here.

I asked Courtney to devise a personal holiday dream list.

Here's what she came up with:

I certainly don't expect Santa to deliver a bag teeming with laptops, cameras, and fine art, but I love having aspirations. After all, what else is an ultimate Wish List for? Happy, happy holidays!

1. Ever since meeting Malaysian artist Ahmad Zakii Anwar, I've become utterly obsessed with his contemporary charcoal drawings. Zakii's pieces are so realistic they resemble photographs, and I can't think of a better souvenir of our time living in Kuala Lumpur.

2. I love sending tangible, handwritten mail. My mother-in-law gave me a "B" wax seal when I married JJ, and I don't think a week goes by without finding something that needs to be signed, sealed and delivered. I'm nearly out of my navy wax, so I'm hoping for a motley box of refills.

3. LoefflerRandall shoes are my greatest weakness. I have a pair of snakeskin flats I've owned for nearly three years—and they still look brand spankin' new.

4. I've managed to capture many great moments with my trusty sidekick [the Canon G9], but now I'm itching for something more advanced. Enter the 7D. Way out of my amateur league, but I love knowing I will never outgrow its capabilities.

5. Since Malaysia isn't exactly known for winter, I can't justify the expense of new boots. A pair of Bandits—like the Darjeeling ikat bows—could jazz up my current shoes.

6. I adore my MacBook Pro, but my eyes beg for a larger screen while my photos beg for more storage space. iMacs fascinate me. The thought of having nothing more than a monitor, keyboard and mouse gracing my desk sounds just dreamy; CPU units be damned.

7. Quote Studio is chock full of smart, well-crafted designs. I could have made a wish list from this designer alone, but I'll start with the S-shaped coin purse to house my Shanghai Rummy sen. When I win big, I'll return for the rest of their drool-worthy bags.

8. If asked a month ago whether I'd like another dog, I would have lightly laughed and maybe mentioned something about you being off your rocker. Then I sauntered into a local pet shop and came across a 2 month old Saint Bernard. A Saint Bernard that threw her arms around my neck at our first encounter. I'm still thinking about that sweet girl...and wondering exactly how hard it is to potty train a dog.

Visit Courney's blog, In(side) the Loop, here.

Thank you Courtney, we're so glad you could stop by!

Have a very Happy Holiday!

xo

*Coincidentally, but not entirely accidentally, I am also a guest blogger today!

Visit me at the English Muse for dreamy Parisian photographs from 1962!*