Style Gawking {Industrial Chic}

I have long dreamed of taking over some abandoned industrial space and turning the blank slate into my dream home. That's why my jaw dropped when I stumbled upon this former garage!





While we may not be moving into our own industrial space anytime soon, I'd love to bring a few elements into our current suburban abode.


table lamp | laptop sleeve | buffet | stool | chest of drawers | candle sticks | pendant

The look would bring inthe perfect balance of well-oiled design with clean lines and clear purposes to the typical overstuffed and oversized style of 'burb living.

Let the vintage shopping begin!

Straight from the Street {JCrew Fall 2011}

It's official. Jenna Lyons has done it again. Images of this week's  JCrew Fall collection preview are hitting hot and heavy across the blogosphere.

Like most, I am also totally smitten with everything I'm seeing, particularly after I noticed the heavy streetstyle influence. Here are a handful of my faves.





Here's hoping that the looks turn out to be as fabulous in person as they appear online - especially this little number which I want asap!

(Do you ever go into JCrew after a lookbook or catalog comes out and feel as thoroughly disappointed with the fit and quality as I do?)

jcrew images via style.com, streetstyle images via non-sequitor, vanessa jackman, streetstyle asthetic,

Fresh Faced & Fancy Free

I am a self-proclaimed make-up novice. Despite multiple attempts to learn tricks of the trade I remain relatively clueless on how to make make-up work for me. I always fall back on the barest of essentials. Tinted moisturizer, mascara, gloss. That pretty much sums it up.


all images via f...tourist

That's why I"m loving these barely there make-up looks. I'm sure it takes an equal amount of skill to appear impossibly fresh and stunning and like you're not wearing a speck of anything.

What do you think? Are you a fan of a full-face alla Kim Kardashian or the less is more option? I'd love to know your favorite make-up trick!

Wedding Wednesday {Snapshots}

photography by erin hearts court

Images like these are why I so love weddings - the quick seconds that nobody ever really "sees" but amazing photographers somehow manage to capture.

An emotion, a thought, a fleeting feeling in suspended animation.

Le sigh.

Double Take {Rachel Comey}

For this week's 4:00 pm fashion fix, I bring you my over the top crush on Rachel Comey. My wallet, on the other hand, doth protest too much.



Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered the Rachel Comey doppelganger from Urban Outfitters.

Total perfection, right? Unfortunately, I'm heartbroken once again as the Urban Outfitters option are sold out and I am left to covet from afar. Very very far.

Live: Styled Magazine

Luvies - I am so so excited because the debut issue of Styled Magazine is live! Styled is your ultimate guide to DIY entertaining. Throughout the issue you'll see the amazing skills of Camille Styles, You + Me, Erin Loechner, Chelsea Fuss and Melanie Blodgett among others and stunning ideas for Easter brunches, 30th birthdays, and sweet tea parties.

I was thrilled to be asked to play a part, especially when I learned about the assignment. Victoria gave multiple people a single inspiration photo with the idea of building an entire party around it.



I took on the signature drink. You might remember the inspiration board for my project I shared a couple of weeks ago. Here is how my final product, the Pomberry Bubbly, turned out!


top image by  gracelina, bottom image styling by me for Apartment 34 Creative, photography by collin monda

Be sure to go check out how to put together your sprinkles inspired party, as well as the entire issue of Styled here.

Congratulations Victoria. You done good!

Tasty Tuesday {Portlandia Style}

I have quite the crush on Portland. I love its lovely boutiques, independent fashion lines, thousands of bikes, tapestry of tattoos and its amazing food. That is the one stereotype that is deliciously true.

And while I hate to spoil a well-kept secret this one is just too good. It's called Navarre. When the hottest brunch spots have lines around the corner Narvarre is there quietly beckoning you to enjoy their french infused, italian influenced and spanish inspired treats.



The husband and I recently enjoyed a long lazy brunch filled with house made bread and peach jam, blood orange mimosas, poached eggs with lentils and the best eggs benedict I've ever had.

The menu reads like grocery check lit - you literally tick off what you'd like. The half dozen or more homemade pies (like pear and chocolate) tempt you from the counter as you watch the cooks make your breakfast.

It's like going over to good friend's house for brunch. A good friend who knows how to cook very very well.

So while the people of Portland may not realize what they're missing, I know where I'm headed every time I come into town!

all images by me

Monday Workwear {Would You Dare?}

After catching sight of this look on Garance Dore, I just keep coming back to it.


image by garance dore

I'm pretty sure I had a cropped sweater like that circa 1995, and yet the whole thing just works so well, I'm tempted to give 'er a go now.

What do you think? Would you dare?

Monday {Purely Professional} Workwear

As the first of April rapidly approaches, my spring-wardrobe check-list is getting longer by the day.



images by marica rosengard for gloria magazine via who what wear

These fresh takes on suiting are my latest additions - cropped trousers with killer sandals, layering with slouchy blazers, and playing with mix & match fabrics leave you looking ready for a big meeting without having to resort to the predictable navy blue, black or pinstripe.

You'll certainly command the attention of any room, boardroom or otherwise.

Happy Monday luvies!
Mrs. E

Happy {Be Bold} Weekend

If you ever needed a good reminder to let go of whatever holds you back ~ here it is.



Advanced Style: Age and Beauty on Nowness.com.

As these wise women say so well, don't let doubt, hesitation or regret keep you from being/doing/saying/wearing what's in your heart. Because in the end, what really matters is not what you accomplish in life but how happy you were along the way.

So rock on sister-friends and have a fabulous weekend while you're at it. I'm going to push myself to go out of my comfort zone and take a fashion risk this weekend - I'll be sure to let you know it turns out!

Till Monday luvies,
*Mrs. E

What it Feels Like for a Girl

I mentioned earlier this week that I already have seven weddings on tap for this year. Well, I just found the dress I wish I could wear to every.single.one.




That skirt is made to twirl in. This is why I love being a girl. Thank you Melene Birger.

I've Got a Crush

On cherry-popping chairs and sandals,




On painted pouts and fingertips,




On fine feathered friends,



On black and white,



On feeling ultra feminine,



And on philanthropic fashion.

It's not too late to do your part to help relief efforts in Japan. For Japan with Love is still going strong with nearly $60,000 raised to date {their goal was $5,500!) Please join more than 1,500 bloggers who have committed to For Japan with Love.

Your heart will thank you.
*Mrs. E

ps. click on the images to link to their source!

Black and Tan

Even though St. Patrick's Day has already come and gone I'm giving a nod to my Irish name with my love for the classic: black and tan.

So what that I happen to prefer mine in the form of fashion rather than the famed beverage?


lovely angelica bucket bag by raoul, sandals via rebecca minkoff

If I had either that bag or the sandals in my possession it'd certainly be a happy hour!

Cheers luvies!
*Mrs. E

Lovely Wedding Insight from Feather Love

During my daily wedding inspiration surfing, I recently stumbled across what I thought was brilliant insight on the trials and tribulations of pulling together a personal, unique and affordable wedding. Noa, the talented photography and artist in her own right, runs Feather Love Photography. (You can also see her profiled in the latest issue of Rue Magazine here!)

Noa's got the market cornered on capturing uber-personal, totally spectacular weddings. She recently provided some thoughts on weddings over at East Side Bride. I couldn't have agreed with every.single.thing she said more. I loved her ideas so much I had to share my favorite tips and tricks with you.

Wedding Planning Tips from Noa Azoulay-Sclater of Feather Love Photography




Tip 1: Ask family and friends who have specific talents to help out, as a wedding gift to you. This cuts the costs down & and also gives you a more personalized, intimate DIY feel for your wedding. I once shot a wedding which was one of the most beautiful & fun weddings I have ever been to- almost everything was done by the couple and their family and friends. It was on a friend's property; beer was brewed by the groom; bbq was grilled by friends for dinner; the bride’s brother was the officiant; mom, grandma & aunties made the cakes; friends & bride made all the decorations & invites; the groom created the ipod playlist for all the music that day…

Tip 2: Try and find talented newbie vendors who want to build their portfolio.

Tip 3: Instead of having a sit-down reception, they had really tasty food stations that went on all evening where guests could balance out their blood-alcohol levels by having something to munch on consistently throughout the night. It felt more like a party or a really long cocktail reception where people went from dancing, to eating and chatting, to dancing, to drinking, to eating, and it moved smoothly & was super fun. No rush. No millions-of-things-to-get-done-before-the-cake-cutting. The bride & groom got to hang out with everyone and have a good time. More importantly, the catering cost a LOT less than a sit down reception, and it tasted better. The whole thing was less… stiff
 
Tip 4: Come up with what an ultimately fun party would look like if you could decide on it all by yourself. Imagine there was never a wedding before yours, start from there, and come up with ideas that would make you and your fiancé happy. Personalize it.
 
Tip 5: Consider having a ‘picnic wedding.’ It’s easier to gather up & borrow 20 colorful blankets, rugs, & a bunch of floor pillows than it is to pay to rent 100 chairs & 15 tables. Have it catered by your local middle-eastern deli, buffet-style (I’ve always wanted to do that! In fact it was my initial idea and it would have been a lot better than the catering we had) at $10-$15 per head. Borrow all tableware & serveware from friends and family, mismatched looks great! Decorate by throwing decoration parties where your girlfriends come over & drink wine with you whilst watching Project Runway or Jersey Shore or whatever is entertaining that you can talk over, & make cool stuff that you can hang everywhere at your wedding.
 
Tip 6: Browse for more “contests” on blogs to get some potential freebies that will free up your budget for other priorities. Broke-Ass Bride is great with posting contests & stuff like that and she has tons of other great ideas too.


Tip 7: Cut down your guest list. Nobody likes to do that but I can promise you that 5 years after my wedding I can look back and cut my guest list of 130 down by at least half, easily. And if anything, I would much prefer to have a 20-guest wedding if I could do it all over again today, for a million different reasons. And btw, most brides say that, and I really wish I would have listened back then.


Still need help with wedding planning? I'm now offering creative wedding design services through Apartment 34 Creative. I'd love to help you create your most special day. Do check it out!




via eastside bride, photography by noa via feather love

Wedding Wednesday {Spring has Sprung}

With Spring officially in the house it's time for cherry blossoms, daffodils and daylight until 7pm. Love it. It's also time for the official kickoff to wedding season! Double love it.

How many weddings are on your summer calendar? I've counted seven thus far. It's time to let the matrimonial creative juices flow. And now all brides and wedding fans have the holy grail of inspiration. Jose Villa - in book form!

I cannot wait to see what the book holds - there's so much gorgeousness to choose from. And it's also filled with great tips to apply the modern approach of fine art photography to weddings. It's an design skill that I so admire. As the wedding industry continues to evolve I love seeing these art and design forms getting the respect they deserve.

So run, don't walk to get your copy of Fine Art Wedding Photography. You can even pre-order a signed copy here!

Be sure to check back in a bit for more inspiration for the kick off to wedding season.

*Mrs. E

Style Gawking {Prim and Proper}

I think I just found my spring uniform. I love it for it's buttoned up yet totally fresh feel.



I'd wear this to the office, to happy hour and out running errands on a Saturday afternoon. Now if only the gorgeous line were available in the U.S.! Europe can you help a girl out?!

Happy 4:00 pm fashion fix luvies!
Mrs. E

image by sandro via {this is glamorous}

Tasty Tuesday {Rustic Goodness}

I often dream of alternate carriers: boutique owner, magazine writer, wine maker, buyer for Neiman Marcus, chef...

I have no illusions that being a chef might be the hardest work ever, but I am so enamored with the responsibility and satisfication of providing great food and memorable dining experience for others. There's something so visceral about it. Food creates memories that seep into your soul and last a lifetime.

While I'll probably never have a restaurant of my own - now and then I do make a valient attempt at a good dining experience in my own kitchen. For this week's Tasty Tuesday I thought I'd share an experiment that actually turned out alright ~ I recently tried my hand at fresh-made gnocchi!




To say I'm a novice would be the understatement of the century but I definitely had fun experimenting.



The finished product was an actually enjoyable bowl of rustic potato pillows. Check out the recipe below for the cooking how-to's.



I just wish I had the rustic kitchen like the one above to eat my gnocci in. I should add interior design genie to the dream carriers list!

Bon Apetito luvies,
*Mrs. E

Rustic Spinach Gnocchi
2.5 lbs of potatoes
1 lb spinach
3/4 C flour
1/2 C fresh grated parmesan cheese
2 egg yolks
pinch salt and pepper

After boiling and peeling potatoes, mash by hand or put through a ricer.
Blanch spinach until soft, wring out thoroughly, then chop
Mix potato, spinach, eggs, cheese, adding flour until the mixture is no longer tacky
Roll out dough into long tube then cut into 1 inch pieces
Drop 20 at a time into a pot of boiling water until they float to the top - 1 minute or so

TIP: Have a pan with some olive oil and garlic ready on the side to sear gnocchi, it gives the outside a nice crisp brown layer and keeps them together a bit better (if they are falling apart a bit like mind did!)

See a similar recipe in the March issue of Lonny Magazine here.

gnocchi images by me, myself and I! and kitchen by clive tompsett via skona hem

Winner {Joss & Main} Shopping Spree

Luvies thanks so much for patience! Without further ado the Joss & Main shopping spree winner is...



The winner is Kristina! Huge congrats Kristina - I'll be in touch soon!

And my dears - even if you didn't win this time around, you're not out of luck. Have you checked out the rest of Apartment 34's fantastic sponsors lately?

Each has a bounty of fabulousness:

~ If you love handmade handbags, head to Moop.
~ Looking for a new home project? Check out what you can do with wall stencils!
~ Need to beautify your home or yourself? Then you have to shop Pretty Mommy.
~ Getting married {or addicted to weddings like me?}. Then head to Young Married Chic for inspiration and to Acute Design for adorable bridal accessories.

Interested in promoting a giveaway or advertising your business to thousands of style savvy readers? Apartment 34 is now accepting sponsors for April. Email apt34blog {at} gmail {dot} com for details!

Monday Workwear {Dazzling in Denim}

While I have folders upon folders of work style inspiration, I must admit, I always come back...to my jeans. They're the first thing I reach for almost everyday. And while the winds of trend may say that wide leg is back or peg leg is out, these days really any denim goes.

You can go big,




Crisply cropped,




Follow the street and narrow,



Be colorful,



Go dark,



And relaxed, but still refined.



I think I have my looks for the week done and done!

PS - thanks so much to everyone for your patience with the delay in announcing the winner of Joss & Main shopping spree. I think you'll agree it was worth it. Friday's blogger day of silence in honor of for japan with love raised more than $52,000! 

And have no fear, the winner of the $200 shopping spree will be announced at 12:00 pm today!

PPS - You can still enter here.

For Japan With Love

The world, in so many different places, seems to be wracked with chaos lately. It can leave you feeling small and helpless. That's why I"m so grateful to Lydia and Lucia and their lovely idea of a bloggers day of silence in honor of the devastation in Japan.

A gesture - yes - but there is also very real ways you can help. Lydia and Lucia have created their own fundraising site for japn with love. All proceeds will go to Shelterbox, who are often first on the scene to help survivors and are currently working in the hardest hit areas in Sendai, Japan.

I hope you'll join us to help for japan with love. There are three ways:

Give.

Go to for japan with love and donate today. Go again tomorrow. Here's a bit more about Shelterbox from Utterly Engaged: ”shelterbox was one of the first organizations asked by japan to help and were on hand on the saturday after the quake. each large, green shelterbox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.”

Go quiet.

This Friday, March 18th, join in a bloggers day of silence. No posts of any kind to acknowledge the devastation going on in Japan.

Tell others.

Spread the word. Tweet. Tell your blogger friends and to the rest of your friends - no matter how far removed you are from the devastation you can help. Every little bit from of it, from a dollar to a healing thought can make an actual difference. No matter where you choose to donate, here, the Red Cross or with a local restuarant or store that is donating its sales, every little bit helps.

Click here for more information on the bloggers day of silence.

I’ll be giving as well as going silent on Friday – and I hope you will too.

Flower Power and A Winner!

Everytime I seen florals this time year I always think of Meryl Streep's line in Devil Wears Prada: "florals, for spring...groundbreaking."

And yet, despite the cliche, I'm still digging the resurgence of flowers this spring.



It's uplifting to see the pop of color and the resurgence of energy after a long cold winer.

That's why I was so excited to host Apartment Guide's Going Green Challenge Giveaway. As we've been reminded a lot lately, our planet is precious and we must all do everything possible to not only make it pretty, but protect it for generations to come.

Without further ado, the Going Green Giveaway winner is....Erin, of the Roaring Mid-Twenties!  Congratulations Erin. It must be the luck of the Irish!

And don't fret - there is still time to win a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Be sure to enter the Joss & Main $200 giveaway - a winner will be announced soon.

Happy St. Patty's Day luvies,
*Mrs. E

looks 1 and 4 by fleur wood via frolic!, look 2 via the clothes horse, look 3 by stella mccartney

A New Classic

Some might say that the yellow and grey combo has run its course, but the pair still make my head swivel every time.



So when does a trend turn into a tried and true classic? Not that I have any actual authority to do so, but I'm saying right here and now. Yellow + grey is here to stay.

look 1|2|3|4|5|6

Sweet Seattle Wedding

Today's wedding is for the home town crowd. The entire thing was actually a surprise ceremony that the bride and groom threw at the hot spot restaurant, Staple and Fancy.





Guests thought they were coming to a simple dinner party, but instead they witnessed a darling ceremony. What's better than an amazing meal with a side of I Do's!


via seattle metropolitan magazine
photography by affinity