{Weekend Plans}

TGIF Peeps!!!

{Obsession Confession: Japanese Tape}

I have an obsession confession...I LOVE Japanese tape {I'd have to say my friend Ros probably loves it more...lol - inside joke - she's bought LOTS} but I really love the idea of taking a plain gift bag, or gift box and decorating it up with this awesome tape! BUT, you don't have to stop there - after doing a search around the web, I found several great photos of DIY projects that kicks using this tape up a few notches...check em out:

via

{After seeing some of the inspiration above, I made this candle holder last night by simply wrapping some wire around an old jar, adding a few beads, wrapping a few strips of tape around jar, and dropping in a tea light. I kind like it! What do you think?}

If you too have been inspired and are looking to buy some Japanese tape of your own, then you don't have to look very far - it's everywhere. My favorite shops are:

Cute Tape

Happy Tape

Pretty Tape

Origamisan

Happy Shopping & send me your DIY pics!!

{How Cute is EmersonMade?}

This isn't the first time I've blogged about EmersonMade {famous for their amazing flower brooches}, and definitely won't be the last! I'm thrilled to announce {for those that don't know already...yea right} that EmersonMade now has a new clothing line....ooo la la! You don't need for me to go on and on about how fabulous EmersonMade is...because you all know how fab they already are. So without further ado - check out some of my fave pieces from their new line - all available on August 10th!

Love love love love love...
To view the full collection, click here...and enjoy!

{Get To Steppin' Summer - Bring On Fall}

For those that don't know, I'm not a fan of hot weather and I am not enjoying this 97+ degree weather AT ALL. There is nothing enjoyable about mosquitoes {actually all bugs}, sweating the moment you step outside at 6:30 in the morning, curling your hair for it all to go flat within 3 minutes of being outside, running from air conditioner to air conditioner, burning your legs on the leather seats in your car, and did I mention bugs? So you know what I say to that...GET TO STEPPIN' SUMMER - BRING ON FALL ~ and here's why...

And...

~ Chilly mornings snuggled under the covers

~ Vanilla scented candles lit around my home
~ Sipping hot chocolate
~ Baking apple pie (ok - eating apple pie that someone else bakes, lol)
~ Homemade soup simmering on the stove
~ Extra blankets on the beds
~ Bonfires
~ Pumpkin patches
~ State Fair
~ Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes (most importantly)

Who's with me?

{Magical Little Spaces ~ My Dream Treehouse}

When I was a kid I really wanted a tree house, and while me and my bestie at the time tried to build one {lol, man I wish I had pictures} we weren't very successful at all. I had my favorite tree that I climbed literally everyday - but unfortunately it wasn't structured to hold a tree house. So maybe you can appreciate my little gasp when i saw this "adult tree house" - how freakin adorable, right? I must admit it is a little too Victorian and  frilly {even for me} but oh what I wouldn't do to have this in the backyard of my future house. How amazing would it be to have this lovely space as my office/studio/getaway? ahhh....so in love.

PS. LOVE the pink boots! To read the full article {via The New York Times} click here...ENJOY!

{Weekend Plans}

TGIF Peeps!

Have a fantastic weekend...and stay cool!!

{Borrowed DIY: Painted Porcelain}

While surfing blogs yesterday, I came across Jennifer from A Merry Mishap who came up with a fantastic idea to spruce up her IKEA porcelain dishes. She used a porcelain paint pen (which you can find in any craft store, I've purchased mine at Michael's) and created a simple, yet modern design drawing repetitive circles around each piece. Once she was finished with the design, she baked the dishes for 35 minutes at 300 degrees to make sure the design remained permanent. And viola!

I only have all white dishes simply because like how crisp and uniform they look in my cabinets {idea inspired after seeing Oprah's party planner, Colin Cowie's, organized cabinets full of all white dishes}... so I decided to take a piece from my collection and try this project out. I used one of my favorite platters {don't ask me why I chose my favorite}, and like Jennifer decided to try the repetitive circle design. Everything was going well until I went to take a picture of my final piece. With camera in one hand, platter in the other, and my purse strap in the perfect position just waiting... I tripped and dropped the platter {yep my favorite, but at least I held on to the camera} on the kitchen tile floor. After breaking into 5 big pieces, I decided to take a picture of the biggest piece so you could see my...broken attempt:

This weekend I plan to try this project again...so stay tuned for round 2 {shaking head...}

{My Dream Kitchen}

While scrolling through Artistic Designs For Living I immediately fell in love with this kitchen and when I grow and get me a big girl Barbie dream house - my kitchen will look {or be remodeled to look} just like this. The white crisp white cabinets, the eggshell blue walls, the grey subway tile, and the stainless steel appliances are doing it for me. The only alterations I would make is to change the chandelier to something like this, switch out the flooring to a dark espresso wood, and add a wine cabinet. Other than that... it's pure perfection!

Only thing that's missing are all my peeps, and Chef Garvin preparing this, this, ooo and this for everyone...{you didn't think just because I would have this fabulous kitchen it would make me want to cook did you? lol!!!}

{Etsy Love: Leah Duncan}

After doing a search on Etsy for "Summer Scarves" {don't ask me why because it's hotter than HE-double hockey sticks and the last thing I want is something around my neck} I stumbled upon Austin-artist Leah Duncan. I really do love the soft colors of the scarf below on the left and think I need to purchase it for when it gets a little cooler outside {or for Italy. PS. I promise you - you will get sick of hearing me talk about Italy, I'm sorry, I'm just so freakin excited!}.

In addition to Leah's lovely handprinted scarves, she includes a collection of prints, cards, calendars, tea towels and so much more. To check out her shop click here ~ her blog click here ~ and her website click here. ENJOY!

{Forfeit Fashion for Practicality?}

As I'm preparing for my trip to Italy, I'm wondering I have to forfeit fashion for practicality? I'm searching for the perfect bag and while I'm completely in love with the idea of carrying a backpack {yep, they're coming back in a big way}, everyone is telling me that it's not a great idea due to pick pocketers. Is this true? If so, then I'm trying to convince myself to start loving the idea of carrying a messenger bag - keeping in mind that I need to carry my camera, extra lens, and all my purse items. Below I searched through Polyvore and found a few bags that I really like {but look at the backpack...isn't it perfect???} - sigh... What do you think?

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

Now I won't forfeit fashion when it comes to shoes BUT I will make sure that they are comfortable {even if I have to stuff some Dr. Scholl's in them}. So I'm planning to take 1 pair of sneakers, 1 pair of flats, and 1 pair to wear to dinner and/or out for drinks. I'm still working on my "evening shoes {aka - heels}" but what do you think of these options for my sneakers/flats? Any contenders? {PS. Can't believe I'm saying "sneakers" instead of "tennis shoes"...lol - these southerners are rubbing off on me}

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

{Weekend Plans}

TGIF Peeps!!!

Enjoy your weekend!

{Italian Street Fashion}

Well...today a very large sum of money will be exiting my bank account to finally pay off my Italy trip. It's official and I'm super stoked! So now that the trip is paid for, I get to do a little pre-Italy shopping - woohoo! Oh malls and online shopping, how I've missed you. I've found some amazing street style pics to give me a little inspiration for how the Italians roll regarding fashion. I figure since I'm gonna be in another country - I can be a little bit of a fashion risk taker while still staying true to my everyday style. So...here we go:

{I love this casual style - this is very me. Now I've heard through the grapevine that you won't see many people wearing shorts, so I wasn't planning on taking any - but I love the casual look of the pic to the left. And {clearing throat} that bag is...ooowee-worthy!}

{Socks and pumps - I've always wanted to do this...}

{Love the pops of color, and again the bag...shaking head}

{Love the hat, LOVE the hat - and with the pink (maybe not the polka dots), yep I'm feelin it!}

{There is absolutely nothing better than jeans, a white tee, and a pair of pumps. PLEASE look closely at the shoes... AMAZE! I'm also realizing a trend that I will need to take some comfortable black flats. PS - look at the bike, I'd die!}

{So this may be a little much for Italy in September - mid to upper 70s - but I still love the coat, the scarf,  and that chevron patterned skirt}

{Love the jackets, the necklaces, the glasses, the white tees, the casual flats, the leopard print flats, and the black Chucks - head to toe cas fabulousness}

{Finally, in a nutshell this is my version of Italian casual chic that I hope to pull off this September. In my Julia Roberts Pretty Woman voice ~ I've got to go shopping...}

Pics via The Sartorialist and Le Blog De Sushi}