A Spring in My Step

My Saturday night is likely going to consist of laundry and HGTV watching, but if I had an excuse I'd be slipping into any of these beauties and dancing the night away.

Loubutin, Manolo, more Loubutin and Giuseppe Zanotti

all photos by marie labbancz via the bride's cafe

Or I'll continue to sit on my couch and stare at my feet instead of the TV. Check out more stunning options at The Bride's Cafe. You will die and go to shoe heaven!

Happy Weekend!

Jump for joy - it's Friday luvies.

photo by ryan schude via forme-foryou and you are my fave

This weekend I might

 Do a little sale shopping

Bake some more cookies

Or simply go out and play!

See you Monday my dears.

For the Boys

I love my redblooded american man with all my heart, but the look of the european portion of the gender  always catches my eye. I appreciate the asthetic of a good t-shirt as much as the next girl...

but a little spit and polish could do our american men some good. I think these clean and classy looks from Danish company The Kooples, would do just the trick, don't you agree?

Freeze Frame

I live in a home with a lot of tall blank walls and I love the collage-of-frames look to create a focal point and add drama to a room.

row 1: room by Nate Burkus via the good design, via a cup of  jo

row 2: photos by Mark Lund via black eiffel, elle decor

I love the idea of starting with empty frames and then hitting up etsy, thrift stores and my artsy friends to fill the holes. Who knows, maybe I'll even pick up a paint brush myself.

Decor Dejour

Creating good tablescapes is an enviable skill.

via dillydallas

This one brilliantly incorporates layers, art and the it color orange so perfectly. I would love to come upon something like this every time I opened my front door!

Let the Sun Shine In

My 2009 style resolution was to keep things light and airy.

via a cup of jo

Melanie at you are my fave found some great sunshiny examples - I want to mash them all into one perfect, well-lit house!

Oh Behave!

I've been craving spring of late, but if I could get my hands on any of the fall collection from Best Behavior I'd welcome gray skies. It feels very Mary-Kate & Ashley-esque.

 

photo via dillydallas

via creature comforts

The line beautifully pairs my favorite grey with pops of uber hip yellow and green. I need that last look, like, yesterday!

The Dream Wedding

To add to my wedding fashion repertoire for 2009, if I were to live out the fairy-tale princess wedding, my bridal party would have to include these heavenly pieces.

The out-of-this-world bridesmaid dress by Erin Featherston Spring 2009

epic wedding dress designed by Christian Siriano of Project Runway fame, 

photographed by Jose Villa via pretty.pretty.paper

Go big, go ruffles, go glam, or go home, right?! Stacy found a few more over-the-top options to send you into bridal bliss!

Say it Ain't So!

Reliable sources are reporting that Domino is doomed. No wonder my subscription hasn't arrived in 3 months.

I don't always agree with their choices or aesthetic (see above image), but it is a dark day for decor for sure - let the mourning begin.

Light as a Feather

I don't know if it's my style resolution for the year or my longing for lighter skies and brighter days, but I'm loving easy-breezy looks for everything right now. Then I spotted Erin Featherston's spring collection and thought the decor and the fashion paired oh so well.

photos: erin featherston collection via pretty.pretty.paper

rooms by joe schmelzer and eek - lost resource!

Alas, I probably have to run off to la la land to get away with both looks, but for now I'll be California dreamin'!

Um Hello,

Hi dream kitchen, nice to meet you. 

via the good design

Where have you been all my life! ( I know you're from PB, but it can be our little secret) 

An It Chic{k}

I discovered another real cool chic, and she's got a real cool name too - Gala Gonzales. Ladies are loving the french girl look, but Gala is bringing it home for Spain. 

I'll take #1 for saturday brunch, #2 for a hot valentines day dinner and #3 for casual friday 

Apparently she has also been deemed an It Girl. (can anyone tell me what that really means and how one gets deemed it?) I guess I was the last to know.

Afternoon Delight

A gorgeous inspiration board from the ever-stunning Lobster & Swan.

via lobster & swan

I'm running home to finally do something with my tearsheets!

Plaid-itude

Happy monday my dears. My apologies for the slow start to the day - it's just been one of those mornings. Maybe if I'd had a fabulous ensemble like this one to jump into I would have been more quick on the draw.

via essenceanddesire

I've avoided the plaid-fad, but I could get into this. Add black tights and a long wooly cardi and it'd easily get me through today's 20-something degree temps and turn into my go-to outfit come spring.  

Unfortunately, I don't know the source of this brilliant look but Joanna just happened to find something similar last week. It's from Steven Allen's spring collection and I think it could work quite nicely. 

plaid top and skirt by steven allen

PS, the spring collection also has a romper - do you dare??

Happy Weekend!

This has been an momentous, world-changing and also exhausting week.

dress by kate towers via {frolic!}

For some reason I feel ready to collapse. This weekend will be reserved for time to reflect and revel in the dawn of a new era. See you Monday luvies!

Lemon Drop

There's a delicate balance to be struck between character and clutter when accessorizing your home.

photo by hallie burton

But I'm loving the details of lemons and baby shoes in this entry-scape!

Swoon

When I first looked at these photos I thought for sure I was looking at Ireland.

photos by braedon flynn via once wed

In actuality, this adorable and incredibly stylish couple wed on a public beach in Santa Barbara, home of my alma mater!  I didn't even recognize it. 

And talk about working alternative (yet amazingly stunning) wedding looks. Le sigh.

You Can Huff and Puff

But you cannot blow a brick house down. I know I said my 2009 style resolution was to keep things light and airy, but there's something so warm, inviting and just solid about brick.

 Exposed brick has it's own sense of history and artistry. You hardly need to decorate around it.

photos by hallie burton

I had the pleasure of living in a row house in DC with arches of exposed brick. Its a bit more difficult to find in the Pacific Northwest, but I think I might have to go searching...

Who's that Girl?

Um, apparently it's H&M's spring collection!

via linnea's life

Hello luvah, give mama the neutrals she loves.  Warm temps cannot get here fast enough!

A REAL Cool Chic

Being a street style addict, I couldn't resist this look. It mixes tones and fabrics to perfection.

I would take pictures of my outfits every day if they looked this good!

You can check out more sweet looks here

A Perfect Pair

With over a half dozen weddings already on the calendar for 2009 I continually have weddings on the brain, but when I spotted Donna and Kevin's story on snippet & ink, it melted my heart.

photo by mimmo+naz

Debates will likely rage eternal about how big one's wedding ought to be, but I think Donna and Kevin have all but convinced me that all you really need is two (+ photographers). 

The Super-8 film of their ceremony cemented the idea for me. I dare you to watch it without crying

What do you think? What is the ideal guest list size?

A Brand New Day

Just pausing to heave a collective sigh - a sigh of relief, of joy, of optimism.

via creature comforts

"Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America." 

Amen.

Lovely Threads

Thread is well known as a chic line of bridesmaid dresses, but their line Thread Social gives you dresses you'd actually want to wear again.

You may have to wait until spring to enjoy them, but the wait will be well worth it!

A Spot of Tea

After having made my list of goals for the new year, I was so excited when the darling Lynne of tea for joy asked me to share my style resolutions for 2009. including design, shopping and some of my favorite blogs. 

My primary 2009 design resolution - keep things light, open and airy!

via cup of jo

Take a moment to brew your favorite morning drink and check out my style resolutions here.

photo by femke reyerman

Tea for Joy has been posting such great interviews and I feel privileged to be one of them. Thanks again Lynne!