weekend inspiration

Blog: Two Girls Two Postcards, where Shanon Gass & Moa Maria write to each other and share a photo "postcard" of what they're up to (found through Papernstitch).

Shop: Kate Spade's sample sale (still out of my price range, but fun to browse). If I bought anything it would be this French purse wallet.


Blog post: bites of inspiration, by Ritzy Bee. Shows the inspiration behind the Martha Stewart Weddings cakes, with photos shot by Johnny Miller.

(by Johnny Miller for MS Wedding Cakes)

Our weekend plans: cleaning, shopping, packing. And hopefully eating some pancakes - I've been craving them all week (and totally missed out on national pancake day!).

spring dresses

I rarely wear heels or fancy dresses, but I do love a simple, comfy one. I own more dresses than jeans at this point (now my sweatpants collection, that will never be matched). I like these ruffly ones paired with a belt - pretty and oh-so-perfect for spring.

drifting by dress (anthropologie found via unruly things)


lilac shower shift dress (jcrew)

industrial chic

When I'm trying to explain craft/design related ideas to Q (topics he has little interest in), it helps to make analogies. Here's an example of how I'd discuss "industrial chic" with my husband:
me: industrial and feminine make such a beautiful design combination.
Q: industrial and feminine what?
me: just, industrial things paired with feminine things.
Q: ok.
me: they balance and complement one another.
Q: mhm.
me: like salty paired with sweet.
Q: ah.
me: like... candied bacon?
Q: ohh! Amazing, then.
(Perfect example of how it works :-)
Aside from analogies, I really am enamored with this combination. Utilitarian, rustic, industrial elements complimented by soft, feminine, whimsy details...

sweets + pink paired w/vintage storage (via style me pretty)


yellow & butterflies paired w/utilitarian bike & books (via pink wallpaper)


pink stripes & gold cord, on restaurant tea towels (via 100 layer cake)


pink & white paired w/kraft paper (via simplesong)

A few favorite spots for an industrial, feminine (or both) fix: 100 Layer Cake, {this is glamorous}, simplesong, the haystack needle, Sunday Suppers.

(top photo: purl soho via martha stewart)

the importance of greenery

It just makes everything more beautiful...


(1. flowerboxes by verdant gardens via oh joy!, 2. bedroom by rita konig via nytimes, 3. under the shade of a tree by miuco)

I'm not the best at caring for plants, and we don't have many spots in the house with good light & safety from the cats, but I'm itching for more green in the house. I'm looking for a big plant for our bare living room. Maybe a lemon tree.

being prepared

We leave for Hawaii in about a week, and I think we're prepared, realizing:
-it's still a work trip (for hubby at least)
-if you're a blond with unusually pale skin, there is a risk of getting burnt (thanks for the reminders, mom!)
-there is a Target on Oahu, so as not to miss the Liberty of London debut
-you "aren't likely to see any actors, sets, or crew" on the LOST tour
-stealing a pineapple is a $10,000 fine*


(photos via a new favorite flickr stream: miuco)

I think that covers the important stuff. Any other tips?

*update: more like $5k. But still.

organizing & kikki.K

I want to organize in kraft & white, with a little inspiration from Swedish-inspired design shop kikki.K...

I also like their blue, grey, and pink collections.

(found via eat drink chic)

inspired: virtue & moir

Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir's performance in Olympic ice dancing last night was wonderful. As much as I wanted US to win, I've been secretly rooting for this Canadian pair the whole time. They were so classic & refined in all of their choices - their costumes, music, choreography, everything. Here's an inspiration board inspired by Virtue & Moir's free dance performance.

Tessa Virtue + Scott Moire (ice dancing: free dance)


inspiration boards: white elegance (inspired by Virtue & Moir)

sources:
1. Virtue & Moir
2. slim belt, tuxedo shirt, metallic dress, pearl earrings
3. lined notebook, knot cuff links, perfume, ruffles pins, flats

PS. Both Virtue & Moir and the American team Davis & White are actually training partners here in our little town of Canton, MI (yep, we got a few plugs last night!).

olympics love

With the Olympics going on right now, I thought it would be fun to share some of these Olympic-themed ideas other bloggers are using to celebrate...

Olympic party invites (by You Are My Fave):


Olympic cupcakes (by Poppytalk):


Olympic ring cookies (by the decorated cookie, via fee-amore):

This week I'm ready for more figure skating!
And, total side note: have you watched the Skeleton? I think skeleton athletes are either amazingly brave or out of their minds.

weekend inspiration: safari & travel

Something I've been inspired by lately is the safari/travel style. Thinking back, I've always been drawn to certain elements of this style, but never fully realized it. Here's a few things that have gotten me into it lately:
1) a trip to Pottery Barn (their botanical prints, travel goods, and the Cavallini line)
2) watching The Painted Veil and Jurassic Park : )
3) Q's new military uniforms
4) thinking about travel/our upcoming Hawaii trip

(bomber jacket by jcrew; sofa by pinch design via olivet; luggage by JW Hulme Co via wool & spool)

I've been full of creative ideas with this in mind (getting a little carried away around here, but not doing Indiana Jones marathons just yet). Anyone else liking this style?

simple wedding

(1 via snippet&ink, 2 Lacie Hansen via 100 Layer Cake, 3 michaelis boyd, 4 martha stewart via LJKautcher)

I was making real-life concept boards today and found this group of photos and thought they went perfect with one another. They make me envision a simple, chic wedding with romantic details like calligraphy, sweets, and soft colors.

olivet diy projects

I'm excited to see that Mary from Olivet has been sharing DIY projects for parties/weddings over on her blog lately. Everything is so sweetly styled...

centerpiece/table number

glass water bottle favors

(photos by Lauren Harrison for Olivet)

winter daydream

I thought these photos deserved their own post today, during this long stretch of winter. And for what it's worth - yes, I'd love to go to the market and pick flowers and don a white blouse outside in the sun (a la last photo) today if I could.



(1 anthropologie, 2 valeria picerno via tumblr, 3 grapesgrapes via tumblr, 4 genetic denim via dress, design & decor)

(This weekend I rearranged a bunch of things in the house, brought some decorations out of hiding, and added some plant life to the mix. Q didn't notice much of a change, but to me it was an instant mood-booster.)

cavallini & co.

We stopped at Pottery Barn over the weekend, and I was so inspired by the line of office accessories they are carrying by Cavallini & Co...

(from top: small notebooks; bookplates & rubber stamps; sticky notes)

Cavallini's designs are all travel/nature inspired, and they manage to make it look fresh & interesting. Their website, Cavallini & Co., is worth the effort of clicking over to, I promise.

weekend inspiration

Blog: glass half full, about a creative couple (Wakako & her German husband, Frido), splitting their time between their canyon home in LA & apartment in Seattle. Wakako happened to connect with me last fall and since then I've been enjoying her blog - seeing glimpses of their life, their projects, and the beauty they find in nature.

(photos: glass half full)

Blog Post: "George," by Catherine of Little Glowing Lights. Catherine posted about a ginger cat named George, living on a farm, who kept her company when she went to a wedding on said farm. George made me laugh, so I bookmarked the post, only to find out a couple days later that poor George had passed. Whether or not you like cats, he looks like the sweetest little friend.


(photos: Little Glowing Lights)

Shop: Still Life with Wallpaper.

Enjoy your weekend - I'm looking forward to spending it with my husband (Bright Star, Valentine's Day, planning our trip).

hawaii trip

Yesterday we booked a flight and in about 3 weeks Q & I are off to Hawaii! Counting several days out of town beforehand, in total we'll be gone for over half the month of March.
Q is going for work related reasons, and I'm going for weather related reasons.

(photos from the 70s when my mom lived in Hawaii - that's her above)

Sadly, it's the farthest away I'll have traveled before, unlike my husband who has been everywhere from the Middle East to Honduras.
Where's the farthest away you've been?