Happy {Mid-Summer Night's Dream} Weekend

My loves, it's finally Friday. Breathe a sigh of relief.




photos via automatism, everything fabulous and bonnie tsang

I don't know about you, but I'm so ready for a slow, luxuriously lazy weekend. I hope you get to lay back and enjoy it too.

Till next week luvies,
*Mrs E

I've Got A Crush

On being brave enough to bike in a skirt,



On design in bag that turns out this looking this good,



on fanciful fashion,



On fall boots and bags,



On totes for a cause,



and on the amazing work of my blog friends. Thanks again Lovely Clusters!

I'm Loving...

Billowy blouses. Pair them with cutoffs, skirts or skinny jeans to carry you through the summer.


sartorialsit via lots of spots, definitely golden, haute design

And in the winter they can be beautifully layered under blazers and boyfriend sweaters or paired with cropped pants, tights and ankle boots.


by tommy tom via jak&jil

Start scooping up a blouse or two now ladies. I know I will be!

Wedding Wednesday {Sugarcomb Event Design}

Wedding planning is a combination of skill and art. As any current or former bride will attest, you can never underestimate the importance of skilled wedding planning. Many brides will also discover that event planning in not in their genes. Nor in their mother's. Nor in their best friend's. For those brides, I highly recommend calling in a professional.

That's why I'm thrilled to welcome Sugarcomb Event Design as the feature sponsor of Apartment #34. This newly-wed can confirm - a wedding is really all about the details and if they're not your thing, that is where planning help from someone like Sugarcomb comes in!



photography by jack young and sarah rhoads

Based in Seattle, Sugarcomb helps brides with whatever they might need, whether that's narrowing down the vast universe of design choices, to managing all event planning and execution needs.

Sugarcomb also just launched a great starter kit they're calling The Sugared Starter (great name, right!), to kick off someone's wedding planning with guidance from an expert wedding coordinator and designer.



The package includes a customized wedding binder as well as logistical and design meetings to ease into wedding planning, and all of the decision making and questions that come along with it.

If you're newly engagd or know someone who is I'd highly recommend checking Sugarcomb out! A wonderfully planned wedding is sight to behold - and the key to a completely stress-free big day.


Would you like to reach thousands of style savvy readers everyday and let them know about your services, shop or art? Apartment #34 is offering a spnosorship special for August!

Email apt34blog {at} gmail {dot} com for more information!

Berry Berry Good Tasty Tuesday

My absolute favorite thing about summer is berry season! I am a self admitted addict.


Give me a flat of raspberries, blueberries or strawberries and they'll all be gone before you turn your back. Well, maybe not that fast, but damn close.

I'm currently on the search for the perfect berry cobbler recipe. A crisp would do quite nicely as well.What better way to enjoy fresh berries than wrapped in some warm baked goodness, don't you agree? Of course, the perfect kitchen in which to do the baking helps too!




fruit photography by katie quinn davies, sweetcakes bakeshop and sweetfineday via {this is glamorous}, bliss & coco+kelley, dream kitchen by rethink design studio via full house

My criteria for the perfect cobbler/crips include not too sweet, reasonably healthy, and something that lets the berries be the star!

This option currently featured on Food&Wine magazine seems like a contender.

Ingredients
2 pints blueberries (about 5 cups)
1 cup plus 2 teaspoons flour
5 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon kirsch
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk
 
Check out the complete instructions here. And if you have a favorite recipe, please share! I promise to report back my results!

Monday Work Wear {Still Feening for Fall!}

Fall just keeps teasing me today. I just took a look at Apartment #34 sponsor Dace's fall line and now I'm really looking forward the first crisp night of the year! I'm planning on stocking up on cropped pants to wear with my wedges now and then with my ankle boots come September.


via dace.com

I know, I know, I should be appreciating every sunny, 80 degree-day we have in the Pacific Northwest, but what can I say, fall is my favorite season and as the new lines begin to trickle into stores my interest has already been piqued.

Especially as I flip through my favorite glossies and see coats like this from Ralph Lauren and Tod's.



And then there is my favorite fall purchase - a new bag and a pair of boots for the season (or 3 or 4!).



proenza schouler via because i'm addicted and reese hudson black leather bag via froufrouu

There are so many thick cable knits, layered looks and yummy tectured goodness to look forward to. But for the moment, back to our regular summer schedule. Enjoy those tanks and rompers now my dears.

Happy Monday luvies!
Mrs. E

Happy {Dog Days of Summer} Weekend

My luvies, what are you up to this weekend? With a forecast of clear skies and 85 degrees I am sure ready for some good ole fashioned fun in the sun!

images via oh and design crush

I see farmers markets, dog parks, sunday brunch, chilled rose and maybe even a dip in the water in my immediate future.

Hope you stay cool this weekend my dears. A few more fun announcements about Apartment 34 next week!

Cheers,
Mrs. E

A Great Space

Now that things are getting back to normal after the wedding, I had to find another project to keep my creative juices flowing so next up...home renovation! At this point, I have no idea what I'm getting myself into, but I'm loving step 1: bank inspiration.

Like this rad Brooklyn apartment's kitchen and dinning room.


via from me to you

I abosultely adore the mismatched Ikea chairs - brilliant way to add interest and play off of the (stunning) hard wood floors, and in totally economical fashion. And I spy lots of handy Ikea shelves in the kitchen too. Brilliant and on budget? Love it.

Definitely filing these ideas away for later! Be sure you check out the rest of the apartment here.

Pretty It Up With Pattern

Maybe it's the sudden infusion of vitamin d from the Portland sun, but I'm totally drawn to energetic patterns right now. Ask my husband - not my norm! It's certainly an easy way to make a bold statement without saying a thing.

pillows via bestill, dresses catherine malandrino resort 2011, chair via elite leather company

I've long been a fan of using pillows to reengerize any tired room. The tiny investment can result in big change to the space. And a dress with a fabulous print is an instant outfit. No mixing and matching required. Throw on, go out and be the life of the party. While a statement piece of furniture may be a bit harder to pull off, it's such a great way to break the matched set habit. 

Because sometimes you just get tired of being quite, right?

And the Elizabeth & James Winner Is...

Thank you to everyone who entered the Shopbop giveaway for an Elizabeth & James shopping spree. Trust me, this was a giveaway I wish I could win!

But without further ado, the very lucky reader is (cue drum roll)....


photo via elizabeth & james

Chop Suey! A fellow Seattlite at that. Huge congratulations to you!!! Please email apt34blog {at} gmail {dot} com to claim your prize!

Thanks again to everyone for entering this week's giveaway. Check back for another great one coming quite soon.

Happy hump day!

*Mrs. E

Wedding Wednesday {A Fashionable Crowd}

I had an entirely different post all set for this week's Wedding Wendesday, but as I was trolling my biggest wedding photog crushes (it's a weekly ritual), I was suddenly stopped dead in my tracks.

A recent Palm Springs wedding captured by Max Wanger not only took place in one of my favorite locales, at a kick ass and take names hotel, but it also had some uber-fashionable guests! I just had to be sure you saw it.



I thought the peaches and cream bridal party was equally fabulous. Note the shoes!


all images by max wanger

Note to self, make sure to take satorialist-inspired photos of your guests at your next fete. Such a great way to get pics of friends and to capture the personality that made the event memorable!