My Bliss {Busy Being Fabulous}

Hi, this is Deb from Busy Being Fabulous!

When Erin asked me to be a guest on her beautiful blog I was very excited. Anyone who is familiar with my  ' busy being fabulous'. blog will know my fascination with Scandinavia . So when I was asked  the question ' What is your Bliss' I had an immediate answer.

 I long to travel to the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi Sweden.

For me it is a life long dream and up until now every time I have been to Sweden it has been the wrong time of year . 

The making of this extraordinary  Hotel is done by a team of hundreds  durning the icy winter months. 

Each year a new Architect is invited to create their version of this winter wonderland. There is something totally magical about the idea of being amongst walls of ice and refracted light . These images have been beautifully  shot by Jan Jordan ....http://www.janjordan.com/

For me this is my bliss maybe its yours too ! See more on  my design  blog, Enjoy!http://www.busybeingfabulous.typepad.com/

My Bliss {Destination Inspiration}

Hi everyone, Adriana here from Destination Inspiration. I was honoured to be asked by the always lovely Erin to take part in this guest post series, while she’s off getting married! I stumbled across Erin’s blog no more than a year ago and have been an avid reader ever since.

As a lady living as an expatriate in the city of Dubai, I can sometimes feel overwhelmed, busy, or stressed out – so it’s important for me (and everybody else!) to find a moment for ME time.  I find utter bliss in sometimes the most simple of things. So, welcome to my ‘Bliss List’. The top 10 things that totally bliss me out. What are yours?

pics 1 & 7 - credit: dressdesigndecor.blogspot.com

pic 2 - credit: gardiun.co.uk

pic 3 - credit: inthisinstance.com

pic 4 - credit: redbubble.net

pics 5 & 10 - credit: stardustandsequins.wordpress.com

pic 6 - credit: ffffound.com

pic 8 - credit: hippairs.com

pic 9 - credit: kerentravels.wordpress.com

My Bliss {A Diary of a Lovely}

Hello all, I'm Helena from A Diary of Lovely. I'm really excited to be guest posting here at Erin´s home while she is enjoying the married life. I'm really excited for gorgeous Erin, she is entering an incredible new adventure in her life and I wish her all the best from the bottom of my heart (and I can't wait to see the result of her amazing wedding when she comes back).

When Erin asked me to be part of her guest bloggers I said yes immediately, I'm really honored to be here and very excited to write about what makes me bliss. Now of course, I'm torn, because to be honest, too many things make me bliss. My family and boyfriend and happiness of course in general. But this is about lighter things and at the moment what really makes me bliss and go "aaaah" and "oooh" are gorgeous colorful scarves. I wear scarves all year long so you can imagine I have a good collection, it's one of the many things I really enjoy buying. Scarves can be worn in so many ways and can dramatically change any possible look. They can add sparkle, coolness, sophistication, anything goes with the right scarf. Here are some of my faves.

I know it's spring time and that I should be thinking about bikinis and sandals but here it's still on the cold side so I couldn't pass this chance to share my passion about scarves. Can you tell that I also love street style? Blissful! 

Thank you Erin, this has been so much fun! Be happy! 

Images: 

http://adiaryoflovely.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-love-how-casual-it-is-thanks-converse.html

http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html

http://lefashionimage.blogspot.com/

http://dressdesigndecor.blogspot.com/2010/04/all-wrapped-up.html, 

My Bliss {From the Right Bank}

Hello! I'm Ally of From the Right Bank and I'm very happy to be blogging here today for the new Mrs! Erin asked us to share our idea of bliss and at first I thought this would be tough but when it came down to it, the answer was quite simple. For me, bliss is - and this may seem like a paradox - nesting and traveling.

 

I've been traveling the world since I was a child and it's my greatest source of inspiration. And when I'm done with one of my adventures, having a nice home to come home to is my idea of sheer bliss. 

 

(Udaipur, India shot from the Lake Palace Hotel)

 Thanks for having me here today, Erin and congratulations to you and your new hubby! I wish you a blissful life together! xoxo, Ally

 

(Photos by From the Right Bank)

My Bliss {Destined to Design}

Hi, this is Jessica from Destined to Design

Sharing a fantastic meal in a well-designed space with friends and family brings me total bliss. I'd like to say I'm a foodie, but the truth is, I just like eating. And being an interior designer, I have a great affinity for aesthetically pleasing surroundings. Living in Los Angeles, where a new restaurant seems to pop up weekly, I have a lot of fun planning my weekends around food adventures. I've actually got a running list of 'Restaurants to Visit/See/Consume At' that's getting a bit lengthy. Luckily I've developed a few food-minded friendships with people in the city that are willing to seek out places like this with me. While it's easy to find something great and stick to it, I try to make a point of taste-testing somewhere new at least once a month, and tend to use special occasions to make reservations at that one great place I would feel guilty about dining at on a normal day.

So here are a couple places I've visited lately that are topping my list. I'd like to think that anyone else with a discerning eye and satiable appetite would agree with me.

 

1. Bottega Louie Restaurant and Gourmet Market

700 South Grand Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90017

www.bottegalouie.com

Recommend You Try: The Asparagus with Fried Egg, and their Burrata & Grape Tomatoes. Their deli Mac 'n Cheese, slightly warmed, is also delicious.

 

 2. Terroni

7605 Beverly Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90036

www.terroni.ca

Recommend You Try: The C’t Mang Pizze.

3. Joans on Third

8350 West 3rd Street

Los Angeles, CA 90048

www.joansonthird.com

Recommend You Try: Their seasonal pumpkin cupcakes - no explanation necessary.

 4. Gjelina

1429 Abbot Kinney Boulevard

Venice, CA 90291

www.gjelina.com

Recommend You Try: The Gruyere, Caramelized Onion, Fromage Blanc & Arugula Pizza, and the Heirloom Spinach Salad with Green Olive, Tomato, Feta, Crouton & Pinenut - sounds so simple, but it's all in the spinach. But what will change your life forever is their Butterscotch Pot de Crème with Salted Caramel & Crème Fraiche. One time a girlfriend and I went just for that and sat on their patio in the rain instead of waiting for indoor seating (just to give you an idea).

 

 5. Antique Garage

41 Mercer Street

New York, NY 10013

www.antiquegaragesoho.com

Recommend You Try: Their Grilled Halloumi Cheese Salad.

And for all of your readers that delight in gastronomic creations, here are a few of my favorite food blogs (some for the recipes, some for the kitchen product, and some just for the insane photography). Enjoy!

1. Sunday Suppers

2. 101 Cookbooks

3. Oh Joy Eats

4. Sprouted Kitchen

5. The Jewels of New York

My Bliss {Rebecca June}

Hi everyone! Rebecca from Rebecca June here and I am so excited to be doing a guest post for the talented Erin of Apartment #34!

I am ecstatic for her and her soon to be Mister and in honor of the pure *BLISS* they are experiencing while they are off getting hitched I thought I would let you know what makes me beyond happy. {I also am recommending the newlyweds partake in this while they are in Mexico if they have a spare moment.}

My nirvana is swimming with dolphins or any sea life really.

I cannot even begin to tell you how peaceful and giddy I get at the same time when I am floating in the ocean next to a dolphin. After the third or fourth time I went, my parents cut me off. I then told my hubby that he would have to take over this expense. Luckily he did, and along the way I have gotten him sucked into it too!

On our honeymoon we went to Cancun and once we decided where we were going I immediately started looking for places where I could get in the water with these adorable guys. Not only did we get to swim with the dolphins there, we swam with manatees! It was spectacular! They are so huge, so gentle and so graceful. We got to feed them, kiss them, and play with them. It was like a happy high!

Then on our first anniversary we went to Hawaii where we swam with seals. Once again, I cannot tell you how amazing it is to be holding onto and hugging an animal that you never think looks that big until you get right next to it.

So for me, I get the biggest smile on my face when I get to climb into the ocean and play with an animal that most people only get to see from afar.

So Erin, CONGRATS, and enjoy every moment for the next few weeks as it will go so fast! If you have a free moment though, go swim with a dolphin or two!

xoxo,

Rebecca June

My Bliss {Fee-Amore}

Hello apartment #34 friends! I am Fiona from Fee-AMore. I am happy to be invited by Erin to do a guest post here while she is away embarking on her blissful journey. How exciting!

A lover of good designs and colours, i am excited to share this London-based label line Ostwald Helgason with you. I enjoy their Spring/Summer 2010's collection and i hope you will too!

 

Ostwald Helgason is founded by Germany-born Susanne Ostwald and Iceland-born Ingvar Helgason. Coming from different and diverse backgrounds, this pairing certainly sparked and created some very exciting fashion scenes. They are known for their unique bold prints, exuberant colour palette and a very strong take in textiles and tailoring design. This is very evident in this Spring/Summer 2010's collection. Be it slightly subtle or extremely bright pieces, each piece certainly bring about that something unique to shout about. I hope you enjoy a piece or two from this collection!

Thank you for having me here, Erin! 

My Bliss {Everything Fabulous}

Hi Everyone - this is Sasha from Everything Fabulous!

Nothing brings me more joy that to spend a day with family and friends somewhere out in the country enjoying a relaxing lunch...that ends when the sun goes down.

And spring is the perfect season for that...is not to hot...you can lay in the grass and take a little nap...the kids running around playing ball or chasing each other. Usually days like this stay with you for a long, long time.

And getting everything ready before the day is part of the enjoyment for me. I have my baskets for plates. I usually wrap the knife and fork in a napkin with a cute bow jars as flower vases are the best and always a nice tablecloth.

When you come back Erin from your honeymoon the weather is going to be perfect for alfresco dining with friends & family!!

My Bliss {Bonnie Tsang}

Hi this is Bonnie Tsang. I'm a wedding photographer and food blogger.

A cup of mocha blisses me out - the aroma, the atmosphere of a cafe, the warmth from holding the cup...  A plus when you get into a great conversation with a wonderful friend!

My Bliss {The Love List}

My bliss? Simple. My work. I know, I know (gag) shameless self-plug. But I'm sorry, it's true! I love waking up in the morning and walking (down the hall) into my studio, cup of tea in-hand, ready to start the day. As a graphic designer I've found an amazing niche of designers, retailers, bloggers, and other creatives who put their trust in me to build their brands, help them with everything from names to logos, and design all kinds of fun things -- from full websites and blogs to hang tags, concert posters, and party invitations. I have an amazing team of girls (and one guy!) who help me in all aspects of business at Front Porch Studio and my blog, The Love List. Let me tell you -- their lives are rough. Aside from the occasional Starbucks run, I make them do all kinds of awful things like pull tear sheets, twitter, and conduct interviews ;) I know how lucky I am, so my bliss is simple - I'm thankful every day that I get to wear all of my favorite hats; writer, designer, consultant, and publicist.

Here's a peek into my studio -- little #17 might be small, but she is mighty! I had fun decorating it with a mix of high (John Robshaw pillows), low (Pier 1 etagere), and sentimental (framed mementos and family heirlooms).

What's your bliss? Okay, so I realize for all of you it may not be work, but I'll be reading comments today to hear where you guys find it. Maybe it's in a bubble bath.. or maybe it's at a little cafe in Paris! Maybe its snuggling with your pup or eating a great meal - no matter what it is, I find that readers always offer the best inspiration, so I can't wait to hear where you find yours ;)

My Bliss {Erin Ever After}

Hello lovelies! Erin here of Erin Ever After. I am so very excited to stop by the fabulousness that is Apartment #34 and share my bliss list with you while Erin is off getting her Marriage on. There are probably a bejillion things that bliss me out; definitely too many to list. I am a connoisseur of the pretty and am known to fall in LOVE on a daily basis but I’ll try to narrow it down to a few things that are getting my bliss engine purring at the moment. So sit back and relax, pour yourself a margarita in honor of the fabulous Mexico nuptials that be happening as we speak and prepare to be blissed. Should I use the word bliss in one more ridiculous phrase? Blisstastic! Ok, ok I’m done.

 Xoxo Erin Lepperd 

1. Books – lots and lots of them. The older, the better

2. Anthropologie – every single little thing in the store makes me so very happy

3. Coffee – oh how I love thee. Let me count the ways…

4. Tea Cups -  the more mismatched, the merrier

5. Tights – oh how I love me some tights. (I think I own a pair in every color - I don’t discriminate)

6. Traveling – anywhere my little pocket book can afford but Paris has my heart

7. This Wedding Dress- sends me to a whole other bliss level

8. Cupcakes! – especially from this lady

(link to http://www.wix.com/sweetemiliajane/info)

9. Kissing my husband – it STILL gives me crazy butterflies after seven years. I hope those butterflies last a lifetime.

10. Spring Flowers – it is crazy how much pretty blooms can brighten my day

Books : http://100layercake.com/blog/, Anthropologie: http://weheartit.com/, Coffee: http://weheartit.com/, Tea Cups: http://www.rodneysmith.com/portfolio.php, Tights: http://minkyloh.tumblr.com/post/446262764, Travel: http://dressdesigndecor.blogspot.com/, Wedding Dress: http://www.verawangonweddings.com/, Cupcakes: http://weheartit.com/entry/1871535, Kiss: http://www.corbingurkin.com/index1.html,Flowers: http://sweetemiliajane.blogspot.com/2010/04/vintage-bottles.html