things of lovely

pink is always the answer.

2012-01-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

after a weekend of dying my hair dark and getting two new [small] tattoos, i felt unintentionally goth. so a little pink on my nails seemed to be the perfect answer for lightening things up. i used light pink on most of my nails and a little sparkle on my ring fingers. its a tad early for valentine's day, but im feeling in quite a love-y mood.

excursion.

2012-01-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

as i mentioned yesterday, the season opener of the rat city roller girls roller derby was this past saturday and we tend to frequent these bouts rather often.
in addition to the roller girls, i included Torina's Chicken Pot Pie Excursion 2012 into the mix. i have never had a pot pie before and i have become a little obsessed with them recently, and thought that i would explore a few of the best that seattle had to offer. (i did not want my first pot pie to be out of the frozen food section.)
well, TCPPE 2012 turned out to be somewhat of a bust. washington decided to have a full out winter storm this past week, making it difficult to get around to places (and closing ticket boxes early, creating a frusting friday evening in the snow for yours truly), add in a few other tiny snippets and we decided to nix out a pot pie location and go to a classic seattle eatery, Dick's Drive-In, for a late lunch. you can never be disappointed with a Dick's burger and shake. !
the roller derby was a fun-filled couple hours and i got my sugar high off of cotton candy. we then headed out to Pies & Pints to get my long awaited chicken pot pie. it was yummy, and with the sweet potato fries dipped in aioli on the side, it was just what i wanted! my husband opted for the welsh pretzels, which i nibbled on as well. we shall definitely return to this place in the future.
all in all - a wonderful seattle day.

with a little pattern.

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

these sally hansen nail polish strips have been on my mind for about two months now. i finally bought a fanTASTIC houndsooth style a couple weeks ago at walgreen's but they've just been sitting on my table awaiting for the perfect time (and non-laziness moment) for me to pull these babies out. with the season opener of the roller derby this past saturday, it felt like just the perfect opportunity to dress up my nails and celebrate with a lil' cotton candy. :-)

a pop of orange.

2012-01-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

today: orange.

~~~

gray lights me up.

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

today: gray.

~~~

gimme some green hues.

2012-01-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

today: green.

~~~

i've got the navy blues.

2012-01-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

so im pretty much obsessed with four colors right now. navy, gray, green and orange. which makes it perfect for this four day week. !

today: navy.

~~~

pinterest style.

2012-01-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

need a little inspiration?
ever since it's beta-beginnings, i have been a huge fan of pinterest. i have been making lists, inspirations boards and notebooks for as long as i can remember so when i was invited to try out this new (at the time) site, i knew i would be hooked right from the start! and i was.
it's a rare day that i don't make a stop by.

wanderlust.

2012-01-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

this is a past wanderlust. one that we plan on taking again this year.
the boy and i took a road trip down south, a side trip to the coast, down to portland and back up again. we stay at two McMenamins hotels - The Olympic Club and Kennedy School. if you haven't been before, i highly suggest staying at one of their hotels at some point. The Olympic Club, (which is in Centralia, and honestly, there's not much else to do in the city) is a historic building with a huge history, part of which includes being a former brothel. from here, we took a side trip to Ocean Shores and discovered Mike's Seafood - the best place EVER to have crab cakes and clam chowder to give Duke's a run for it's money! The Kennedy School is, as you can imagine, a former elementary school-turned-hotel located in Portland. it has a brewery in the little girls' room, a restaurant in the cafeteria and a cigar bar in the detention room...just to name a few. and, of course, you can't take a trip to Portland without visiting Voodoo Doughnut.

cupcake happy hour

2012-01-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

about a month or two ago i came upon this recipe for Blue Moon cupcakes and haven't stopped thinking about them. i finally made them last thursday and both my husband and i were very pleasantly surprised. they have a unique taste, at first a little odd, but then i just couldn't get enough! and the frothy frosting (to mimic the head of beer) is just perfect!
i brought them in to work to get several different opinions and they were a huge success! one of my colleagues describes them as "the twinkies for adults."
(my only negative, and it's a very slight negative, is that the frothy frosting wasn't as "airy" and "frothy" the next day as it was the first day...but it was still delicious.)
i will definitely be making these again!

W is for Wellies.

2012-01-05T05:00:00.000-08:00

as i've said before, i sorta love the rain. and living in seattle, that's a good thing. so i'm going to dedicate another post to a much needed fashion staple for the coming months. and once those april showers hit, i hope this will will help lead some of you to some inspiring accessorizing ways.

~~~

and then i will adopt a lil' piggy and get lil' wellies for him.

wanderlust.

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

i adore Ireland. i traveled there years ago, and once decided that i was going to move there, (that is, until i visited Prague, and that took a solid rest in my heart.) but Ireland certainly does not disappoint - with it's pubs, castles, tiny towns, cobblestone streets...and we can't forget the accents. those accents where you're not entirely sure if the sweet old man is, in fact, speaking to you in your native english tongue, but you continue to listen because it's so charming you just can't turn away. aside from driving on the left side of the road, i had no issues with Ireland, which is why i would LOVE to return there someday...and i have no doubt that i will....

i will start my trip out with a cheers, a gulp, and a salute to Guiness. (slight ew.)

i will stay in a thatched cottage...

followed by a lovely stay in a castle...the Ashford Castle will do rather nicely.

i will bend over backwards to kiss the Blarney Stone.
i will yell, (in my best Irish accent,) from the Cliffs of Moher.

i will roll down the country hills over and over again.
and i will finish my trip out in the best pub there is. the Temple Bar.

i enjoy food.

2012-01-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

if ever there be an event - it's well known that i like to bring the dessert. i, by no means, consider myself a chef or anywhere near advanced, but i just adore decorating food. if i could just sit (well, stand, probably) and decorate food all day - i would enjoy life immensely. so i'm always trying out new ideas and trying to improve my skills and techniques, if you will. i have a ways, to go - but it sure is fun getting there!
so here's a little glimpse of my holiday treats...

this idea came from pinterest - which is the best place ever

a new year. !

2012-01-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

my new resolution:
get on the ball.
get on the ball, get on the ball, get on the ball!
1) buy an item of clothing - get rid of one. (i know some people get rid of 3 or 5...but let's face facts, i'm not that brave just yet.)
2) clean out my craft room...otherwise known at Tori's-Hoarding-Room
3) and possibly the most important one - get back to this lovely blog! (i'm so bad!)

what a year 2011 was.
quite honestly...a wedding took over my life. MINE! and i had [very much] neglected this place. so as a new year starts, i have decided to make actual resolutions this year (as i never do) and i wish you all a fantastic upcoming year!

what are your resolutions/wishes for twenty-twelve?

rain, rain...come again

2010-08-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

im a seattle girl.
and i love it.
i love seattle. i will always love seattle. the green trees, the gray skies, the wet air. i love the city and i love the easy, short trips to the country, the forest, and the desert.
i hear theres a heat wave going on...practically everywhere except washington. which is perfect for me. i have no qualms about not having a scorching summer. (and on behalf of my city i must say that we do, in fact, usually have a pretty nice, hot, sunny summer.) but this year has been an odd one...i can probably count the "summer" days on my fingers. and, altho, i do love a hot day to swim in a lake or where a slinky dress or ride my sea-doo, my absolute favorite season is fall. i love the "comfy weather" as i call it. i love the smell of rain and the dimly lit outdoors. i love breaking out my scarves and unfolding my fleece blanket. and i especially love sweaters. so in preparation for the season to come, i have spent some downtime browsing polyvore.
so, do tell - whats your favorite time of year?

former and present wanderlust.

2010-08-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

in preparation for a year of obsessing over a transatlantic vacation, i have been going thru my old travel photos. my boy and i have been talking about planning a trip to europe at some point (nothing new, i talk about travel pretty much daily) and we have just decided to officially plan one. !
im SUPER excited! as you may know (from this, this, this, and this), i have quite a love for travel...an obsession, if you will. in fact, its really the only thing that i have deep intense feelings about...friends, family, and animals aside, of course. and i have been going thru awful withdrawals, as it has been three years since ive traveled outside of the country.
and, yes, i know that i have had an out of state travel one or two times a year...but its not the same. im not complaining...im just longing.
so, i plan to return to italy and france and show my boy all of my favorite spots and experience a vastness of new ones with him. so, in my excitement - i share with you my previous enjoyments in countries that in no way disappoint.

the loveliness of quiet enjoyment.

2010-07-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

in the haste of this busy month - what with 3 weeks of jury duty, camping and holidays - i had forgotten about one of my favorite television premieres...project runway. ! lucky for me, i had never removed the series recording option on my dvr from the previous season.

so now, on one of my first quiet saturday mornings in quite awhile...i am sitting down with some pumpkin bread, a venti soy hot chocolate (my sad starbucks addiction) gathered by my boyfriend (we alternate saturday runs), and a happy dvr discovery of the first project runway for the new season.

i hope your saturday brings you as much surprise, excitement and/or relaxation as it did me.

fancy on the eyes.

2010-07-29T18:51:00.001-07:00

initially, i was thinking that it might be odd and possibly even awkward to dedicate an entire post to one particular person...especially since one could even classify said person as a girl crush. but then i quickly realized that im not alone. emily from cupcakes and cashmere has loads of followers whom, im sure, share my same opinions, (including coach.) her style is some of the best ive seen, her baking escapades look not only delicious but also fun, and her splashes of diy and home decor are just enticing. as i suggest you do too, i follow her blog daily and love starting my morning off with some fabulous blog candy. !

...also, i dont think ill ever fully get over my jealousy for her nude prada heels. *shaking fist in air*

inspiration found.

2010-07-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

i love found objects. i love sculptures made from found objects. i get super inspired by things made out of things.

these fabulous creations are made by stuart haygarth who works on "design projects which revolve around the collections of objects." im loving the plastic wine glasses lighting unit and the glass lamp shades chandelier. !

this makes me want to go to a junk yard and find some inspiration of my own!

oh, inspiration.

2010-07-14T17:38:00.000-07:00

super inspired.
super.
my boy has wanted me to paint a mural on his man-room wall...lets leave the specifics out, as its very...man-roomish. but i recently came across this mural by charlotte mann that is done purely by marker. i am loving this. so much.
ive been having some debates on what direction im going to go with for my bathroom.......and now, im thinking it needs a marker mural. !

credit: living etc

out an' about.

2010-07-10T15:12:00.000-07:00

in the midst of rain and sun in our lovely seattle - the grass in our backyard has gotten...quite out of control. we took a day to do some intense mowing, and alas, our lawnmower broke. so today we had a young college entrepreneur come out and get it all spick an' span.
so many ideas fill my head of how to go about the designing of my new clean slate.
to get inspiration - i scoured living etc, one of my faves.

merry fourth of july!

2010-07-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

cupcakes - check.

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!

good times holiday.

2010-07-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

long weekends.
so many days off - so much time to relax and do nothing...then again, theres so many things i want to do...so many things i need to do...and baking cupcakes is definitely a need-to-do.

my checklist for the weekend:

~ load new songs onto nano
~ find nano
~ bake cupcakes and master fondant
~ return to freddie's for nail polish
~ pack jury duty survival kit
- nano
- magazines
- book
-snacks/gum
~ catch up on netflix tv show...............ok! ok! its tori & dean! i cant help it - ive recently become addicted! ........i apologize for nothing!
~ 'tan' legs
~ pack for family overnight

whats everyones plans for the holiday weekend?

color me super happy.

2010-07-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

with the long holiday weekend coming up, ive been thinking about the many things that i want to do to waste my time (and money.) ive got a 4-day weekend from work for the 4th and then come tuesday, i have some time to spend at jury duty. and, honestly, im hopin' my jury duty takes a good amount of time...i could use the [additional] break from work.
im super pumped to make my 4th of july cupcakes, and ive got an appointment with a fabulous buddy to go get manicures on saturday. ive never EVER gotten a manicure before...the thought of messing with my cuticles is equal to how to people feel about the whole nails/chalkboard thing. plus, im pretty good with a polish brush. but i have recently discovered calgel via cupcakes and cashmere, and have since become obsessed with the insanely awesome gold glitter emily got done. sadly, there are only 2 known places that do the calgel process in washington...and neither of them have the gold color. !
super bummed. SUPER bummed.
but im still loving the idea that it stays on for some 3 weeks and doesnt hurt your nails...so ill still go for it.
another thing that i have been obsessed with finding for the past...few months is a neon pink nail polish. im talkin' day-glow. for some reason, i stock my supply with loads and loads of pink varieties, but have never been completely satisfied.
insert fred meyer.
a dog-food errand and last minute turn towards the make-up aisle last night brought me face-to-face with my perfect color: fusion neon (by sinful colors.) internally, i jumped for joy. my journey was over. the picture doesnt deliver the goods...its almost glow-in-the-dark. i love it.
THEN, off to the side of my perfect neon pink...there it was: matte nail polish. maybe its easy for some to find, but i have been in love with anything matte for...forever. and i have wanted matte nail polish for years and have only seen it in expensive designer products...which i never want to pay for. i probably just havent looked hard enough...even so, i plan on stocking up on numerous colors.
**bonus: i found the perfect gold glitter polish. usually when i hunt for a sparkly nail polish, im only presented with the visually sparse glitters and quickly get deflated. but i found some sort of nail art polish (dont have the name 'cause i didnt buy it...just yet...i will return) that is pure gold sparkly glitter and i couldnt be happier........well, aside from the calgel being available in said gold.
so my dog-food errand to fred meyer quickly pumped me up and gave me three fantastically awesome surprises.
i see some nail polish posts in our future.

about me.

2010-06-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

so im constantly redecorating.
painting...walls, frames, shelves...changing pictures, reorganizing books, end tables...all of the above. i thought id share a lil' more of myself with you all and snap a few shots of my abode...as it currently looks...being that im sure it will change sooner or later....
my jewelry area could use a little work...ive basically just jumbled a variety of ideas together there...but, kicking out a big tv and taking over the top of my boys dresser, as well, ive got more space to work with...ideas anyone? i know that i will stick with the bowls and plates thing - as i have an issue with actually putting stuff away.
i must say...i heart my silhouettes of my kids - the animals. is it a little sad that i find it funny/ironic..?
and, yes, i know my shoe shelf isnt really a design thing...but i love them.

oh, the plans i have.

2010-06-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

yesterday we had a beautiful sunny day here in seattle - which is very few and far between, thus far. we seem to be the only ones left in the dark (pun intended) as we emerge from spring into summer. i know we're known for our rain and dreary gray days here, but we do have our share of fabulous days filled with sun...and we're usually enveloped in it by now...but, sadly, we've only had a handful of good days so far.
and, altho, it was bright outside, my boy and i were holed up in our basement trying to get the last bit of organizing done for our now "bar/home-gym"...and all i could do was daydream about how i was going to decorate it.
so, i keep seeing peoples lists for what they plan/want to do during the summer months and being that i love making lists (and have already made quite a few) i thought id share with you my ever-growing list for summer twenty-ten and beyond.

~ have more weekends at blue lake with friends
~ float the river
~ FINALLY download all the songs ive been wanting
~ as lame and girly as this is: loose freakin' weight
~ garlic fest. !
~ walk the start! heart walk with my boy
~ bite of seattle and/or taste of edmonds
~ get down an dirty in the yard
~ paint kitchen
~ big bbq in the backyard
~ long "girls" weekend with bang
~ get jewelry on etsy and sell at the markets
~ visit the hoh rain forest and enchanted valley
~ wear more skirts/dresses
~ have an "our basement is now a bar" party
~ organize my blog behind the scenes

...and here are some lovely 'summer' images that ive been dying to share...

irenesuchocki

oh, lovely day.

2010-06-25T20:39:00.000-07:00

i have made my first hautelook purchase.
yay!
one 'busy' day at work i checked my email just in time to be one of the first to visit the BCBG MAXAZRIA sale. and after months of attempting to find the perfect black bag...i decided on a beautiful mushroom number.
fast forward one week.
as i drove onto our street today i saw from a distance and brown cardboard box waiting quietly on my front porch. i full on screamed, ran (literally) to said box, fumbled with my keys and tore the box open.
happily to unveil...this:

madewell.

2010-06-20T13:36:00.000-07:00

so, i got an email from j. crew informing me of a new sister site called madewell.
the things are casual-lovely and i plan on spending some good times there.
here is my wish list, thus far...

*sidebar...apparently i am just late at hearing about madewell...its been around for quite sometime. well, whatev - its new to me and lookin' good. !

re-think.

2010-05-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

so ive been planning a kitchen make-over for about a year now...and its partly going to happen soon here, once the weather gets nice and i can do some major sanding in the outdoors.

i have had a plan to paint one wall with that chalkboard paint...and i have recently come across an office space with a chalkboard wall...and now im thinking ill have to add a calendar - cause its just too friggin' sweet-lookin'.

ideal home via [beauty comma]

a wanderlust, of sorts...and a lil' history.

2010-04-11T15:00:00.001-07:00

we all know i adore anthropologie. and even tho i peruse their website regularly, i get super pumped when the new catalogue arrives in my mailbox. i heart their diverse photography and displays each month.

so when a recent one arrived with the shoot in a location that appeared to house numerous amazing ruins, my passion for travel took over and, after awhile, i barely saw the fabulous clothing. i looked thru this edition several times, even showing my boyfriend, who actually gave me a slight acknowledgement to the catalogue.

i vowed to myself that i would find this location and visit it sooner or later.

...a little late in the game - i have found it. !

it is, in fact, fairly new. starting in 1949, an english millionaire, edward james, built his garden of eden in xilitla, mexico. he constructed 36 structures, including palaces, temples and pagodas.

and i adore each and every one of them...that i have seen, thus far...but i have faith.

my boy and i have already been planning a trip to mexico and this seals the deal. this is definitely one location that i will not omit from the itinerary.

my favorite thing today...

2010-04-03T18:07:00.001-07:00

there are a few things in life that i will never tire of...paper and fonts is two of those.
(i am blessed to live right down the road from the paper zone)
today on our drive home from a movie, i was complaining to my boy about how disappointed i was in the font choice of the movie title and subtitles. he proceeded to make fun of me...as he usually does when fonts come into conversation...(which is slightly often.)
...this conversation lead me to browse for one of my favorite subjects and i ended up on the lovely simplesong. i want to throw a party simply so i can order invitations or move and order change of address cards. !
their letterpress style is fabulous and i will soon be purchasing the 'i *heart*lists' sheets, as i do, indeed, adore making lists. i literally have lists everywhere...in my purse, on my nightstand, at work, in old coat pockets...everywhere. so when i came across these, my eyes opened a lil' wider.

under one of these, please.

2010-04-02T12:23:00.000-07:00

i live in seattle.
and, yes, the stereotypes are true. we get a lot of rain.
we get rain so often that we know the slightest of differences in said precipitation and know the name for each. and there are a lot.
that said - every seattle girl needs a fabulous umbrella.
now, dont get me wrong - there are those gals that like to put on a strong face and say "i live in seattle, i dont need an umbrella!" then pull up their hoods, zip up their northface and head out.
and being the die-hard-seattle-lover that i am - i heart the rain.
i love the sound, the smell, the gray and the coziness...and i have no problem getting wet and often enjoy it. (i also love my northface jacket...a native must-have.)
but i also enjoy a fabulous umbrella...and if i dont have to get wet - i wont.
and im quite in the market for a new one...or two.

~~~

oh, miss richie. ...

2010-03-31T17:46:00.000-07:00

so.
nicole richie was at the seattle nordstrom the other day. and even tho i live in seattle and my best friend works at nordstrom (GRUMBLE) i was somehow unaware of this...and i only found out the next day on nicole richie fashion.
very upset.
as mentioned before, she is one of my guilty-pleasure celebrities. i cant help it. i heart her.
so i was perusing her lovely style that i adore...and now i shall share it with you.

fabric everywhere.

2010-03-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

i am quite a fan of allicoate. her fabric-wrapped pendants, keys, forks...are fabulous, her illustrations are whimsy eye candy and lord knows, i love embroidered word.
i fully plan on buying one of her soft drop pendants...and if for nothing else, just so i can get her sweet new fabric-inspired stickers. !

lighten it up.

2010-03-29T18:14:00.000-07:00

pastels are all over the runways and i want to go shopping...sadly, i cant visit the runways or the stores right now...so, instead, i visited polyvore. !

i like to look at these.

2010-03-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

im having a lil' bit of a blue day...and isnt it always great to look at pretty things. ?

~~~

oh, to have a party....

2010-02-07T16:32:00.000-08:00

my birthday's coming up...(and ill be in DISNEYLAND)...but i want to throw a separate party just so i can hang these fabulous garlands all over my house. !

~~~ wood & wool stool

~~~ ~~~

~~~

too cheesy to call this a poster post..?

2010-01-31T11:19:00.001-08:00

i am obsessed (yes, another obsession) with posters and papers and fabrics - anything i can frame and hang or lay or lean somewhere. my home is starting to get a little overflowed (is that a word?) with pictures and frames and round cardboard tubes filled with things yet to be framed.

knowing this is the first step.
...but i still have yet to conquer my obsession.

i want these:

~~~

~~~
~~~

~~~

oh, ms. chase, how i heart thee.

2010-01-17T13:43:00.000-08:00

so.
i have recently re-purchased the my so-called life series on dvd (because i had it on vhs and thought it time to move on...). needless, to say, i have been watching it time and time again. (those of you who dont love that show - i do not understand you.)
anyhoo...im reliving all of my favorite outfits of angela's (and rayanne's) that i copied back in the day and im realizing how much i still love them...and plan on copying once more...maybe a select few with some slightly modern alterations.
...also, being from seattle - her slouchy/grungy style is really close to my heart. *toothy grin

credits: my so-called life

a different time

2010-01-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

so, im eternally told that im a hippie. i dont wear headbands (those kind) or bellbottoms (anymore) and i dont give a peace sign to everyone (unless im making fun of my asian friend...please dont take offense.) i guess its because i eat granola and quinoa and recycle like theres no tomorrow...because of said fact...that there may not be. heh. and i guess i was a vegetarian/border-line vegan for a while. (thats pretty much over...for the most part)...(well, i guess theres not really a "for the most part" in that type of situation, eh.) maybe its because i have several pictures where im hugging trees. maybe its because i want to live in a van and just drive wherever the.....i just love travel. altho, i guess it must be said that last halloween, my boy and i decided last minute to go to a costume party and i decided to be a hippie...because i actually didnt have to buy anything.
i guess i see it when i come across photos of me like this:

anyhoo...my post for the hippies.....

credits: nadinoo, hrystia kaminska

almost too much.

2010-01-06T18:31:00.000-08:00

so.
alicia bock is a fabulously fabulous photographer (not to mention a fabulous blogger).
i dont even know where to start...i am obsessed with her views of paris and they make me want to return and go to each place she photographed. i love her flora [period] and i adore a gal who adores polaroids. !
...and her textures are amazing!

i dont know which one (or five) to buy first. !!!

oh, happy day.

2010-01-06T17:48:00.000-08:00

do you know how excited i am? so!

problem one ~ i have been planning to make a hanging lamp for about 2 months now. my only dilema: which of my two ideas to choose from.

problem two ~ i have loads of sweaters that are too small to wear (or too worn out) but too cute to get rid of...and i dont want to do the tired ol' idea of turning them into pillows. ok - its not such a tired idea, and actually, i might, in fact, make a few pillows...but still, it didnt satisfy me.

problem solver ~ my new country living magazine came in today with a gem of an idea! a sweater-covered lamp shade. ! and quite a few other insanely fantastic ideas.

credits: country living

will you allow me, yet, another anthropologie post.

2010-01-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

i dare not deny my love of this place. and who would disagree with me. ? a rare few, im sure. and i share my love with you now:

drool.

2010-01-03T11:50:00.001-08:00

i have just come across these fabulous pieces of fabulousness.
these are the fancy work of danielle meder for a fundraiser, and sadly it is over...
so i am going to buy me some keds and make these quick away!

credits: outsa pop via worn fashion journal

a place to hang.

2010-01-03T09:32:00.000-08:00

is it odd that all i want is a stairway to hang pictures in. ?
ok, so thats not all i want, but still........
i do have a stairway, but it leads to the basement - and the basement is, currently, none too pretty. oh, i have plans tho - many a-many plans.
i just want my old-school picture-hanging wall.

...except that the pictures wont be old-school family style. more fun things.
altho, it must be said that i crave a photography session with my boy of the looking-off-into-the-distance kind. *cheesy grin*

or maybe ill just paint 'em.

[ . ]

2010-01-02T09:50:00.000-08:00

you know whos awesome. ? alexa chung.
granted i only have this opinion from looks alone (and a few slight tv thingies) but, sometimes, looks are enough...style-wise.
alexa chung just looks awesome.

i heart embroidered words.

2009-12-31T10:28:00.001-08:00

credits: people spend hours...., mr x stitch via alli coate, little yellow birds via kate o'connor, charlene lam, and via oxhouse ...which i am so happy to discover!

happy stuffing day!

2009-11-26T09:44:00.000-08:00

credits: real simple

project runway.

2009-11-21T13:20:00.000-08:00

so i know this is old news - but i dvr pretty much all of my shows...and i just watched this one.
i REALLY wanted althea to win! dang it!
i would have worn (for the most part) everything that she made!
poo-ey.
while, i must admit, irina makes some pretty good shit...i just...dont like her.
so today, we shall have an althea post:

credits: project runway

readings.

2009-11-21T12:50:00.000-08:00

you know - i read once that youre never supposed to apologize on your blog for missing some posts here and there...that youre just supposed to go on like there was never a break...soooooo, after explaining that youre not supposed to leave said message - here is todays post:
as mentioned before - i have a little magazine problem. i buy and i buy - to no end. and i can never part with them. and while i havent quite fixed that last build-up problem - i have just remedied my wallet-gouging issues (no pun intended)
i finally subscribed to the magazines that i spend $5 a month on.
yay!
here are some fabulous pictures from some fabulous magazines.

nylon - their covers get me every time.

people style watch - is it weird that i love magazines featuring "airport style"..?

elle - fabulous fashion and pictures.

country living - im constantly dog-earing this magazine.

credits: nylon, people style watch, elle, country living

crochet is the new black.

2009-10-04T10:20:00.000-07:00

i am in love with what i have found through bliss. im currently loving anything crochet, so when i first saw the picture of my surely soon-to-be-owned earrings, i sighed a little. and spent many a time gazing upon the beauty that is TaniaNovaCrochet. i must buy at least 7 to wear each day. crochet earrings are my new 'days of the week underwear'.

top 5...thursday.

2009-09-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

so, this is going to be the top 5 shoes that i must buy now. clearly more immediate than the average top 5 favorite things...that usually last a lil' longer...but i want these now and im going to share that with you.

1 - wanting these so bad right now...and i will get them, because they are fabulously mossimo from target.

2 - im rather enjoying these zipper shoes from steven, that im sure i will only wear for a season - but it will be one beautiful season.

3 - any kinda toms shoes are fabulous, really, but im loving their new ones with laces. i want to buy a ton - what with their amazing one for one thing they do. *side note: i get made fun of cause i love their commercials everytime i see them...so heartwarming!

4 - of course, as you know, i love me some lamb.

5 - i am also buying these converse on my trip to target.

fashion time.

2009-09-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

my latest venture to my gmail has led me to urban outfitters' sale...here's my shopping list:

wanderlust.

2009-09-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

back from vacation and in wanderlust mode.
and i dont know why it has taken me this long to do a norway wanderlust, considering norway is my all time travel obsession that has yet to be actualized. *side note: ive traveled a lot and i have no idea why i have yet to visit norway, being that its #1 on my list and i have a town full of relatives and i started my norway travel fund (of $20) when i was 11.
sigh...some day.
faux day shall be today:

i would visit all of the "so-norway" towns.

i would not (hopefully) be confused by norwegian restrooms.i would celebrate the culture the non-tourist way. i would eat smörgåsbord pretty much every day. (yes, i know its originally swedish) i would take a picture with all the vikings. i would explore the (neutrally)-colorful bergen.i would add to the sign at trollstigen (the troll ladder).
i would send home loads of postcards in ginormous excitement. i would stand on the wedged boulder at lysefjord. i would judge my next destination by wooden signs - cause i love me some village signs. i would enjoy some last day dessert of kransekake. i would fly home in my new hoodie.

credits: prime international, nhh, word of mouth, all ears, discover the world, dark roasted blend, travel postcard, barberis yiannis, axis of aevil, zazzle

top 5 wednesday

2009-09-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

so, i stole an idea from champagne and marshmallows and i give her full credit!
she's started doing a top five tuesday and i love it.
i have an obsession with making lists. theyre all over. i write at least one [of some sorts] a day and then i find 7 in a purse or pocket a month later. (usually, only half crossed off)
so, i think wednesdays will be my top 5 day. (altho, please forgive me if im off a day here and there...as i have a [slight] hard time sticking to dates.)...(also, my taste's change rather often, so i may have a top 5 of the same thing a month later *wink*)
today - my top 5 favorite handbag designers (stemming off of my last post)

1 - marc jacobs, by far.

2 - l.a.m.b.

3 - chloé

4 - louis vuitton (i prolly wouldnt buy one unless i came into a good amount of money, but they're so classic - its worth the money)

5 - b. makowsky (either a hit or a miss with me, but when its a hit - its a smasher)

lovin' a little l.a.m.b.

2009-09-02T10:11:00.001-07:00

im having a l.a.m.b. moment. i love gwen stefani and her adorably awesome style. how can you not love her. ? years ago, i was stoked to find out she was designing her own line. and im still loving it today.
so, i shall dedicate this day to her and her magnificently beautiful pieces.
(also, side bar, since junior high, i have been in love with gavin. and its mainly a love of his insane talent. bush has always been one of my all-time favorites and he is never a bad thing to gaze upon. such a perfect grouping they are.)
again-also, i am oh-so fortunate to have this first exquisite bag, and i love it so.

101 in 1001

2009-08-31T10:23:00.000-07:00

so i have started the 101 things to do in 1001 days project. i actually started it at the beginning of this month...but i just finished filling the last few empty spots, so i am finally at 101.

yay.

a lil' more jcrew-in'

2009-08-31T09:06:00.000-07:00

when loving cardigans, there is no better place to turn than to the fabulous jcrew.

now these gals clearly arent wearing cardigans, but i love the style (especially the pink clutch).

also, you could easily place a cardigan on. yes...easily.

wear these.

2009-08-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

being turned on to kaleidescope by hidden in france...i was also turned on to frosted willow along the way.
here's some lovelies to soak up with your eyesight.

places i want to sleep.

2009-08-24T13:22:00.000-07:00

i want to curl up and wrap the covers fluffily (?) around me and just lie there for a bit. ...or a while.

credits: alkemie, the paris apartment, anthropologie

more.

2009-08-24T09:12:00.001-07:00

ok. and now since ive mentioned rachel bilson, i got a little google-crazy and am now sharing my findings with you.
enjoy her style as well.

the new "it"

2009-08-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

so i just got my late-month fix of magazines and vanessa hudgens is all over them.
can someone tell me when i got so old? all my magazines are covered with girls 10 years my senior and i dont know how i feel about that.
*correction: i do know how i feel about that. i really wish they would stay in the teeny bopper magazines until they are, at least, 25...maybe 23. of course, by then, im sure ill still feel the same way, since i, too, will be aging along side them. but at least then, ill know theyre adults and theyre at a fashion-y age. if that makes any sense....
since when do we 30-ish years olds have to read fashion magazines covered with disney stars. ?! (side note...i am in love with disneyland and [most] things disney) but i am slightly perplexed and over this 17-year-old-being-the-"it"-thing phase.

now. moving beyond my rant...and going completely against it.
is it wrong that i, in fact, am getting into vanessa hudgens style?
its becoming (or always has been...i dunno...) very rachel bilson, who im liking as well.
i think this goes with my love for comfy/slightly-lazy looking gals.
anyhoo...shake your heads at me if you will...but here's some outfits im loving...(and ever-so slightly hating myself)

things.

2009-08-18T14:19:00.000-07:00

freshly found has just lead me to this incredible designers flickr site.
i love making things into things and she does it insanely well.
im so super duper inspired!

shes also got a blog.

oh, women

2009-08-18T13:48:00.000-07:00

i cant help but find this hilarious

thanks i *heart* you

hold, please.

2009-08-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

being bored at work gives me plenty of opportunity to clean out my email box...and in the process, find gems!
glamour has a link with bags under $25! yippee, i say!
who doesnt love bags, things under $25, and 'window' shopping?!
(theres also heels under $50 and dresses under $100)
here's a few of my faves:

do we sense a pattern here? ...i kinda like gray.....also, i notice that most of my faves are from target

fotc.

2009-08-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

can i just say how SUPER stoked i am that flight of the conchords is now out on dvd! (season 2, that is)

it has taken WAY too long, considering i dont have hbo. *grumble*

so i would just like to dedicate a moment to the men that make funny hilarious!

wanderlust.

2009-08-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

today will be taking me away to iceland.

i would peer out the window at the lovely island.

i would get sprayed by the rainbow encompassed skógafoss waterfall.

i would take a dip in the blue lagoon.

...and also the the jökulsár lagoon.

i would (somewhat reluctantly) try some thorramatur.

i would trek one of the many glaciers.
i would take pictures of the colorful cities.
i would visit iceland's version of the countryside in maelifellssandur.

i would hunt down puffins...in a purely non-hunting way, of course.

i would sit and watch the strokkur bubble. i would search for the lagarfljotsormurinn (iceland worm monster) in lake lagarfljót.

i would end my trip by viewing the insanely gorgeous event of the aurora borealis.

credits: visible earth, finansol, nomadic matt, the boston globe, select world travel, chung89, nilli.vefalbum

outing.

2009-08-12T14:43:00.000-07:00

so i spent time making my travel outfit for my flight...(aka...my wanderlust post) which, in my head was tomorrow...but today is, in fact wednesday!
goodness me.
ok - well, now that i am all 'packed' and 'dressed' i will follow with my trip to iceland.

[phase two]

2009-08-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

i apparently go through phases. and im on the fashion phase right now.
ive just discovered lookbook and am in love. i love looking through magazines and catalogues, but my favorite is seeing people in their street-wear. my favorite photos of celebrities are the paparazzi-following photos...which semi-pains me, cause i know those [greedy bastards] can suck the life outta people...but...i love seeing the olsen twins walking out of starbucks...or seeing ms lohan buying more leggings...or nicole ritchie...doing anything, really.
but lookbook is none the greedy bastards...so we can enjoy them with no shame.

credits: victoria confidential, renée sturme, lauren waine, emma kavan, anne-laure mais, stevie d, victoria confidential, zina d, renée sturme

the fabric of our lives...hopefully.

2009-08-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

so...are you like me?

sittin' there watching tv, or having your quiet time with your new magazine...when you spot an ad.

the women look so chic and comfortable. youre anticipating the designer/logo you will soon see at the end of the commercial...(or the oddly-long split second that it takes you to move your eye across the magazine ad)...only to see that its cotton.

and then you get all pissy cause youll never know where they got that dress/skirt/shirt?

well, sadly, where this post seemed to be going...i still have no answer.

but i did find something kinda fun to do in your down-time.

the cotton website has a look-book with zooey deschanel, and others. and then, later, you can waste time making your own. ...like i am about to do.

side note...well, not really on the side...if anyone does know the answer to my "where did they get that" question...please, please let me know. !

work here, please.

2009-08-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

so im working...(and when i say "working" i mean thinking about it and occationally going through a box or two)...on the back room that contains my computer and craft/art supplies...and loads of boxes from when i moved...a year ago.
the future title of this room will eventually be my den/project room. ive got a few random inspiration boards goin' on and a few tables sprawled with random projects all over...but i have yet the time and non-laziness to actually get it all together.
thus, the theme of this post:

credits: mischievousmeg, giac1061, leaca's philosophy, .naa., smoothpebble, mundo flo, saltandchocolate, teenbra, yellowgoatdesign

skirts. skirts everywhere!

2009-08-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

i heart these skirts.

topshop~

anthropologie~

future wearings.

2009-08-03T17:09:00.000-07:00

i have found yet another creator of fine things. so many li'l birdies and clouds and hearts.
just adored.
and being the little seattleite that i am...how can i not get the cloud and umbrella earrings. ?

now, if youll excuse me, i have some purchases to attend to.

a li'l prep in my step

2009-08-03T09:08:00.001-07:00

so, i got an email this morning from the lovely jcrew with this image imbedded.
i instantly fell in love.
...which, of course, brought me to their website, and i am no longer monogomous to the first image. i have since fallen in love with many, many more...

i want to dress right out of their pages.

time for pretty.

2009-08-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

some lovely pictures for a quiet, sleepy sunday.

credits: marika, @maco, tearoom

lovely jewels.

2009-07-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

i am apparently having a jewelry week. ...er, few days, at least. but who doesnt love looking at fabulous jewelry?
and i was going to write a post of a few designers, but now ive found quite an array on this gal's etsy page. (which i actually found through her blog - blue moss)
im also really liking how she photographs some of her shiz. very cool.
so enjoy, and soak up the good times of accessorizing.

my future accessories.

2009-07-28T14:37:00.000-07:00

i have recently discovered this jewelry creator via bliss.
i want these.
i want one of each.
i dont see any jewelry currently in her etsy shop, but i shall wait patiently...and if not patiently, then maybe through a well drafted email.

(she is also here.)
enjoy.

covered.

2009-07-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

i love me a good collage.
and a good collage-turned-wall-art? superb.

credits: made by girl, the style files, sfgirlbybay - i unfortunately lost some of my image links, so if you see something familiar send it on over and ill link it right away

obstructing view.

2009-07-27T09:06:00.000-07:00

i want this lace fence.

i must have this. this is the answer to my LONG-asked and much debated over question of how i will cordon off my yard without it looking cordoned off. they make them in half sizes, too, and that is precisely what i shall have.

i will have it.

credits: droog

287 days of splendor

2009-07-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

the average woman spends 287 days of her life choosing what to wear.

thats a lot of time spent in front of a closet...or dresser...or pile on a chair.

either way, we really deserve a lovely place to rest our threads.

credits: design sponge, popsugar, decorology, girl world decor, spicy biscuit, decor8

♥obsession♥

2009-07-23T08:21:00.000-07:00

for quite some time now i have been in love.
my love is always haunting me - always in my mail box, my email, my web browsing, and yet, just slightly out of my reach. i stare longingly at it, wondering how it will look next to me, wondering how soft it will feel on my arm....
we always want what we cant have. live and learn.
but someday. someday, this will be mine.

credit: anthropologie

twisted.

2009-07-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

so, ive always loved braids, but ever since a bored-lonely night where i discovered that i can, in fact, french braid my own hair - i have been obsessed.
i do it rather often - so often that itll probably go out of style simply because of me. its just so easy to spruce up a normal boring hair day with a quick little weavin'.
so today, i shall make a list of things that i have done, will do, and am slightly-jealous-that-my-hairs-not-thick-enough to do:

credits: sweet fuzz

wanderlust.

2009-07-17T09:21:00.001-07:00

so this is two days late, but sometimes thats what happens when you travel....no?

today i would love to go to portugal.

i would stay in a place on a hill.

i would travel the streets of lisboa with no direction.

i would dine on all of their cultural foods.

i would peak over the edge of europe.
i would visit all the little towns and villages.

i would admire the beauty of the pena palace...

...and take a closer look.

i would walk along stone steps.

i would gander upon the gothic belém tower.

i would depart through these doors, onto my next destination.

credits: homestay portugal, travel reader, soultravelers3, national geographic, birmingham mail, ellenvanderslice, galenfrysinger

fancy-isms.

2009-07-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

i just really love doilies.

credits: lisa s, country living, ffffound, tara murray, ravenhill designs, barbara crochet studio, woolly fabulous, williewonker, traceface80, girl world decor

design me some foods.

2009-07-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

ive always wanted to be a chef...not to cook the food, but just to design it when its all done. rearrange the food all pretty-like on a cool plate. im kinda anal when i actually do cook at home...my chicken has to be in the perfect position to the two sides, and garnished slightly with whatever is around me - because, as said above, im not huge on cooking.

i know there's probably no such job, but im excited to think that one day...there just might be.

credits: aran goyoaga, la tartine gourmande, del sole, vegan yum yum, teeny tiny turkey

currently being inspired.

2009-07-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

im so inspired lately...by so many things.
two that i am...scratch that, three that i am currently taking on:

1 - pretty much re-doing my whole house - including painting the house exterior
2 - starting a 101 things to do in 1001 days list
3 - joining the people of the 365 day self portrait project

not sure when 3 will start, but its on my 101 in 1001 list, so within the next three years...altho, i should just get in gear and just do it today.

we'll see.

p.s. i have started my [still building] list here.

everything flora...and maybe some fauna.

2009-07-12T10:38:00.001-07:00

credits: *miniyork*, yumi yumi, anthropologie, saffron craig, a view to, bugsandfishes

green thursday.

2009-07-09T18:17:00.000-07:00

green has long been my all-time favorite color - even tho, it is a little hard for me to be partial.

credits: bugsandfishes, beth retro, rachel whiting, good on paper, bed of flowers, piperlime

blue wednesday.

2009-07-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

blue is classic. who doesnt like a li'l blue in their life?

eff'd up.

2009-07-08T11:12:00.000-07:00

just a li'l post to say:

something is eff'd up in lovely-ville.
my links have gone haywire and im having a beast-of-a-time attempting to fix them.
so i apologize if you click and recieve wrong link-love...or no link-love at all.

im working on it.

pink tuesday.

2009-07-07T11:32:00.000-07:00

today is pink. pink is one of the main colors that makes me stop and stare. pink is really making a good run for my #1 spot as favorite color. we'll see....

yellow monday.

2009-07-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

so i have decided that this week will be a colorful week.
i have so many colors that i wish to dedicate posts to, so i will just dedicate a full week to them.
first off: yellow.
im super into yellow lately. yellow walls, yellow shoes, yellow bags, yellow...yellow...yellow!
i will have to see how i can figure yellow into my house - which may be hard, cause ive got so many bright colors currently going on....
also...one of my big regrets in life was never buying that pair of yellow heels at the outlet mall.
sigh.........

i need pretties.

2009-07-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

on days like these - aka: irritating days filled with irritating people - a gal just needs to look at things that are pretty, inspiring and just plain eye-catching.

i hope this serves as a calming place for you when needed, as well.

and, if not, then just enjoy for the one-time viewing....

ode to anthropologie.

2009-07-03T15:54:00.001-07:00

i heart anthropologie like none other. if im ever in the middle of a cataclysmic disaster and the only way to save everyone i love was to find the perfect outfit and furnish a house all at once, i would have no problem.

the world would be peaceful once more. in fact, the world would be more peaceful, because i could do it 73 times over.

i would be paraded around on the shoulders of the saved, all the while looking fabulously boho chic.

im not even sure if is that is a term, but there it is. that is anthropologie to me. boho chic. and i love it so.

i could also never have to spend a dime on art for the rest of my life, as long as anthropologie catalogues are around.

read and re-read.

2009-07-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

so, i have a slight issue with releasing magazines and books from my possession, which in addition, creates an issue with my roommate - aka boyfriend.

my magazines are always dogeared and ready and waiting for me to look them over time and time again in oh-so convenient location(s). *meaning: piles of magazines randomly placed all around the house.

i have come up with quite a few ideas of racks/shelves/hiding areas throughout my time...current project = issues with pliers and wire.

i think my goal should be a little more realistic: stick with my piles...but pile them in an eye-candy sorta way.

case in point:

color me this...

2009-06-21T10:59:00.001-07:00

after years of various colorful walls i am painting my entire house white.

correction: appleblossom.

i am in love with this color and keep touching my walls as i pass by. no answer to your why question, really, as it surely feels no different than the previous green that occupied it.

the color just looks soft. it relaxes me and makes me antsy at the same time, being that i want to continue to always build on the lovely color and paint more and more walls/things. no one else seems to be as intrigued with it as i am, but i heart it nonetheless.

this appleblossom also makes for a perfect canvass for all of the bright colors i want to surround myself with.

the perfect canvass.

i am going to paint my flea-market table in a glossy this.

i am going to paint all of my picture frames this.

i am going to have this somewhere in my pillows.

this will be somewhere, im sure, as this is my all-time favorite color and always ends up somewhere in my house.

my fabulous craigslist kitchen hutch is going to be painted this.

heart.

2009-06-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

i have recently discovered a fabulous swedish gal who inspires me to no ends. her home is beautiful, her crafts are alluring and her photography is pure loveliness.

enjoy, as i did.