I'm Loving...

Melt-in-your mouth delicious chocolate booties.


via le blog de betty and zara

They would make for a very tasty look!

Wedding Wednesday ~ Black {and white} Magic by Jose Villa

With another slew of friends' weddings on the docket I'm back to my old tricks - banking endless wedding shots for inspiration boards, color schemes and tips and tricks to help each bride-to-be.

When I came upon this shoot, styled by Le Fleur Weddings, it exceeded my inspiration worthy requirements. It made me do a double take. I wanted to dig into the detail of each shot - and each time I did, I spotted something I didn't notice before.

And really more than anything, I loved seeing a whimsical play on the black and white combo that went beyond the traditional look of buttoned up black tie.






photography by jose villa via le fleur weddings

And then I realized the photography is by our wedding photographer, the uber-genius Jose Villa.

No wonder it was love at first site!

Check out a recent feature on Style Me Pretty for more shots of the fabulous fete.

Dark Floor Deliciousness

This Tasty Tuesday I'm switching my focus from my favorite foods to rooms so good you'll want to devour them.

As our home remodel planning moves forward my obsession with dark floors only grows deeper. Maybe it's the rapidly shortening days and the impending desire to hibernate.



images via livet hemma (from ikea btw!) and plush palate

Or that dark floor infuse a shot of sexy into a room that I just cannot get enough of. Or maybe it's just the simple fact that this kitchen is too damn fabulous.


Ok, I think it's official then. We have to pull the trigger. Dark hard woods for the new floors it is.

One home renovation decision made! One million to go...

And the Lucky Fashionista Is...

It is that time ~ to announce the incredibly lucky reader who must be working some amazing karma to win the Jo Handbag Niko handbag. The giveaway created quite a well-deserved stir. I'm glad everyone was so excited!

If you don't end up being today's winner, I highly recommend you head to the Jo Handbag site to pick up a bag of your own. I certainly am!

But without further ado, the style-savvy winner is.....


image via coco+kelley

Brittany of B. In the Know! Huge congratulations Brittany. Email apt34blog {at} gmail {dot} com to claim your Jo Handbag!

And a huge thank you to everyone who entered, tweeted or blogged about the giveaway. Have no fear, another great one will be coming up very soon!

*Mrs. E

Monday {Caped Crusader} Workwear

I have a number of fashion weaknesses (shoes, bags, jeans) and right up there among the top are coats. Maybe its because you can keep them for years. Or because they easily cycle through seasons, trends, regions of the world or times of day. It's the first thing people see when you arrive and the last thing they watch as you leave.

Your coat is one of the few pieces of your wardrobe that is actually required to survive the elements. So why not seize the opportunity and use it to make a statement? That's why I'm loving the cape trend this season. It creates quite the dramatic image.



images via late afternoon, dress design decor, studded hearts, everything fabulous

I just love the level of sophistication combined with a great level of comfort, with a side of ease. So my dears, done your capes and have a wonderful week!

Oh, and there's still time to enter the Jo Handbag giveaway! The winner will be selected at 9:00 am PST. You don't want to miss this one.

Happy Monday luvies!
*Mrs. E

Happy {Officially Fall} Weekend

Fall made it's official debut yesterday. Le sigh. Where did the time go??


image via afternoon delight

But I always love the change of seasons regardless. So bring on the boots, the crisp apples, bright leaves, and frosty mornings. It's time to dig in and get cozy.

And apologies for the slightly sparse posts this week. Our travels knocked the wind out of my sails a bit, but I'll be back in full force next week!

In the meantime, I do hope you make the rounds to catch up on all the blogger mischief that took place in NYC this week. The round ups are quite fun.

And there is still time enter the Jo Handbag giveaway. The winner will be chosen first thing Monday morning. Now there's an incentive to get up on these increasingly dark fall days!

Till Monday luvies,
*Mrs. E

I'm Loving...

The fantasy of my wardrobe, my desk and my life looking this fabulous.


kelly werstler via design*sponge

And now...back to reality!

New York Weekend Recap {And A Jo Handbag Giveaway!}

Our jaunt to NYC flew by so quickly, I can hardly keep track of everything that went on. In a mere 48 hours I think I saw all of lower Manhattan while networking my little blogging butt off.

The festivities kicked off with an uber-glamorous dinner party thrown by the uber-glamorous lifestyle expert Kelley L. Moore. The lady outdid herself on the tabletop, I'm tellin' ya. Did you spot the personalized pop-art place cards?? Bah-nanas!



photos by me!

Not only was the whole Rue Crew and Cassandra there, but I also had the pleasure to meet Will of Bright Bazaar and Julie of Create Girl. Let me tell you, when bloggers get together, the good times flow ~ I've even got video to prove it!

On Monday, I had the privilege to go to HGTV headquarters for a hosted lunch with an even broader contingent of design bloggers. The best moment was listening to Melissa, the brilliantly hilarious mind behind the Lil Bee read her birth story to the whole room. It includes going into labor while in the midst of an HGTV interview!


design star emily henderson, rue mag founder crystal, melissa of lil bee

After lunch it was time to get gussied up and off to the Rue Magazine launch party! Another fabulous opportunity to put faces to blogger names. Here I am with Coco+Kelley and High Heeled Foot in the Door! I was also so thrilled to meet Mackenzie of Design Darling and Brook of Fabulous Doodle, among others.


 high heeled foot in the door, cocokelley and me, dress by Meme shoes from Aldo!


Caitlin and i, and the required shoe shot!

The husband and I did manage to squeeze in a romantic dinner at Mario Battali's Otto Pizzeria before we jetted back home.

Sadly, I didn't do any shopping in NYC for myself. However, I did pick up a giveaway for YOU, dear readers! New York based Jo Handbags have graciously provided my absolute favorite Niko bag to give away to a very very very lucky Apartment 34 reader.




So, run, don't walk to leave a comment on this post my dears. Be sure to include your contact info. Tweet about the contest and you'll get a second entry!

A winner will be chosen at random at 9:00 am on Monday, September 27!

So Totally Rue-d Right Now

My dears, I made it  back safe and sound from an absolutely spectacular stint in and around DC immediately followed by a crazy 3-day whirl wind through New York City.

I've got so many stories and great pictures that I so cannot wait to share with you, but the 20 hour travel marathon I'm currently on is greatly impeding my ability to form full sentences. Even in my exhausted stupor I have to at least say a huge congratulations to the Rue Crew though.


photo via cassandra

This pic says it all. The hard work paid off and the ladies enjoyed a well desereved party hosted by the New York Design Center Monday night. I was so thrilled I got the opportunity to toast to Crystal, Anne, Caitlin and Alaina in person.

And of course I couldn't come home empty handed. I snagged some great fashion finds - perhaps even some for you luvies. So check back in a bit. I promise you'll be glad you did!

Scenes from DC

My dears, I'm taking a break from our regularly scheduled Work Wear to bring you a few scenes from what has been an amazing tour back east. The husband and I have had a ball soaking up the sun, people watching and leisurely strolling through as many parts of town in each place we've visited. Our stay in DC couldn't have been more lovely. I could have wandered the sweet streets of Georgetown for days on end.



photos by me!

And New York is proving just as idyllic. Ah the joys of time away from your daily routine. Returning home is going to be the rudest of awakenings.

I promise I"ll have some great fashion week reviews and a complete recap of my time with the Rue ladies when I return!

Happy {Dancin' Shoes} Weekend

I must say being on vacation is rather grand. I'm so loving lazy days, warm temps and catching up with family and friends. But we'll really be kicking into high gear this weekend as we head to NYC! I've got a ton of resautaurants to choose from (thanks to your wonderful suggestions), more friends, new and old to meet and greet, and then there's the main event: getting all gussied up to celebrate...


images via everything fabulous and cherry blossom girl

...the launch of Rue Magazine! I've been pouring over every page since it's debut yesterday and could not be more impressed. I'm so excited I get to congratulate the Rue ladies in person!


images via Rue Magazine

You can expect a full report of all the fun next week!

Till Monday luvies.

*Mrs. E

Out and About

My dears, I cannot tell you how nice it's been to run around some of my favorite cities this week. The husband and I are checking out all of my old stomping grounds in Washington, DC today, but I promise I'lll be back a bit later.


via sterling style

In the meantime, happy Friday luvies!

*Mrs. E

I've Got a Crush

On home renovation inspiration. We'll be breaking the seal on redoing our entire house when we return from NYC so I'm banking all the tear sheets I can find right now! I think my vision is starting to come together.

I have a crush on dark floors in bright white kitchens,



on tufted ottomans for my future living room,



on a eclectic mantle,



on sweet vignettes in unexpected places,



on perfectly packed gallery walls,



on subtly sultry bedrooms that use my favorite shade of grey,



And on every girl's dream closet!



Swoon, right?! Now I'll have to see how we put all of these different puzzle pieces together. It'll certainly be an adventure worth sharing!

Jaw Dropping Wedding Dress

Style maven Cherry Blossom Girl, recently got married and her wedding in France was an amazing style-fest. It all started with her stunning wedding dress, that was a perfect mix of casual elegance, flouncy layers and pure marital glamour.




Did you happen to stop the champagne pyramid behind her?! Every note of this wedding was pitch perfect. You can see oh so much more perfection here!

Wedding Wednesday {Cake Wars}

Are over. I've found the clear winner. Simple, lovely, timeless, goes with everthing. As anything truly stylish does.



There's even a mini-me version!


photography by elizabeth messina via kiss the groom

Now I've got to know where this beauty is from! The rest of this wedding, by the way, is just as gorgeous and can be admired endlessly at Kiss the Groom.