Bright + cheery childrens' bedroom

{via flickr}

I admire this room. The palette is bright and cheery, but it looks completely cohesive. And the beds are so cute! I really struggle with incorporating different patterns, elements, and pieces of art into a space... which makes me appreciate a job well done even more. The crisp, clean white background really holds everything together, doesn't it?

P&P Valentines on Etsy!

Remember my valentines from last year? Well, if you loved them, you now have the chance to buy your own set to send to those you love!











You can mix and match a set of six cards + envelopes -- choose from the "Olive you" or "I love ewe" designs! See more details or make a purchase here!

And yes, I crack myself up.

Pie bar

{Image c/o Tec Petaja}

I know I've mainly been sharing snips and bits of wedding inspiration lately, but there are so many lovely things I want to share with y'all! Including this absolutely darling pie bar signage from Miss (now Mrs.!) Cowboy Boot's wedding. The calligraphy is by Pretty Pen Jen and the heart holders are from this store on eBay. See more of Mrs. CB's pie bar here and her wedding planning journey here! When you do, make sure to check out her oh ma gahh Julianna by Christos dress and Juliet garden rose bouquet.

I'm headed to New York!

{via flickr}

I'm headed to New York City for the weekend and I would love your suggestions on things to do, places to see, and places to eat! I spent a summer in NYC and lived a train ride away from the city for most of my life, so I've already done most of the "typical" city things, but I always love hearing new recommendations! I already know I want to make a trip to Payard, home of delectable macarons and beautiful packaging. What else should be on my to do list?

Quilled marriage certificate

In love with this quilled certificate of marriage -- a true piece of art, don't you think?

{by Ann Martin, from Oh So Beautiful Paper, via The Bride's Cafe}

Go Jane

Yes, I know this is not the prettiest picture. Yes, I know it is still technically the middle of winter. But regardless of these two (admittedly minor -- let's be honest here!) points, aren't these sandals chic? And they cost -- wait for it -- eleven dollars and thirty cents. Oh yeah! Snag a pair here.

Enter Maribel

She is my new favorite wedding dress obsession, happily joining the ranks of Julianna, Dora, and Carolina. Gahhh! The swiss dots and floaty skirt magic get me every time.

Fourth&Folded

Today I want to introduce you to one of my blogging buddies' new ventures, Fourth&Folded. Chelsey is a self-confessed paperaholic with a love for bold colors, fresh patterns, and crisp patterns. I've been following Chelsey since her days as Miss Gloss on Weddingbee, and knew as soon as I saw the invitations she designed for her own wedding that a semi-DIY paper business would be a natural outgrowth for her talent.

From Chelsey:

My designs are what I refer to as 'classically modern.' To start, you have ‘classic,' which is about a good foundation, proportions and details. Then you have ‘modern’, which negates any antiqueness and allows designs to be fresh, with clean lines and bold colors. It is being elegant, without being formal or stuffy. It is having a strong sense of design and style without being trendy. In effect, it is timeless.



All of Chelsey's designs are completely customizable -- colors, fonts, patterns. She'd also love to design something just for you!



Since the designs are available as digital downloads, you have the option of printing your set with an online printer, a local printer, or at home... or Chelsey will do it for you!



The cost of an invitation + reply card set is $55. Other items, like direction cards, escort cards, and ceremony programs, are available for purchase a la carte.





Sound like your kind of DIY? Check out Chelsey's Etsy store here and her blog here! She's also promised that the standalone Fourth&Folded site will be up and running in the next few days, so I'll be sure to update when it goes live!

J. Crew complaints no more?

You know how I'm always complaining about how much I love J. Crew shoes but how expensive they are wah wah but how it's really impossible to find similar colors + designs at more reasonable prices? Well, I might just have to shut my mouth, because I think these beauties have proved me wrong. They're the Nina Electra at Zappos, which can be yours (or mine!) for just $90. Still a bit more pricy than my usual kicks, but no where near the J. Crew realm (though they do remind me of these lovelies!).

Have any other J.Crew shoe lookalikes you'd care to share?

Bold and Happy

Love this bold + happy look for an engagement shoot. (Almost as good as this one!)

Image by Elizabeth Messina via Style Me Pretty

Ikea tent

Cleaning out the "starred" items in my Google Reader and came across this gem, featured awhile back on Snippet & Ink. Those are curtains from Ikea! Brilliant!

Image by Raquel Reis

Heart print

Never seen anything like this before. Love it. This could be the inspiration for an entire wedding.

Via Style Me Pretty

Short, puffy ones

As much as I love a long, cathedral-length veil caught on the wind, it's always the short, puffy, or vintage ones that get socked away in my "someday" folder. What's your favorite kind?

Top image by Jessica Claire with styling by Flowerwild. Veil available from Unique Vintage. Middle image by Vue Photography. Bottom image via Style Me Pretty.

Board No. 62: Pink and Blue and Gold Tinsel

{Click to enlarge!}

To be honest, I wasn't feeling too jazzed about some of the boards I'd whipped up at the end of 2009. Pretty? Yes. But nothing that really made me proud. But this one! This one! I think I'm in love. The color palette bears some resemblance to my favorite wedding of all time, but in a bit more glittery, wintery way. I also love how ladylike this board is -- the frilly cake, the shades of pink and blue, the antique handkerchief ring pillows, the pink champagne. On second thought, maybe this would be better for a bridal shower...

The Details
First row, left to right: blue dress via 100 Layer Cake; popper favors from Martha Stewart Weddings; champagne flutes by Bill Kingston

Second row: pink cake from MSW; bride and groom portrait by Jonathan Canlas; guest book from MSW

Third row: flower portrait by Kari Herer via Black*Eiffel; garden rose and ranunculus arrangement by Steve Steinhardt via SMP; flower pin from MSW

Fourth row: ephemera via Audrey Hepburn Complex; stationery by Cheree Berry from MSW; ring pillows from MSW

Pottery Barn to the rescue!

Remember this post? I think I might have found my complementary pattern, and it's the Meridan set from Pottery Barn. It's a wee bit pricy, but I think even just two of the shams could go a long way towards spicing up the duvet. The quilt, of course, would be a nice bonus. Thoughts?

Recipe storage

Covet! Covet! I am constantly in turmoil over the best way to store my recipes (hmmm, sound familiar?) but I think I could commit to a system if that system happened to come in the form of this darling lacquered box from sugar paper. What do you think?

Bedroom Inspiration, v. 341

{via this is glamorous}

Yes, folks, I've gone and done it again. First there was this. Then I got this duvet cover for Christmas. I like it very much, especially paired with this coverlet. I would really like some patterned shams, a patterned bedskirt, or something of the like to go with, but I can't seem to find something that I like and that meshes well and at the same time modernizes the Colonial-esque nature of the duvet. And then I go and start thinking that rich neutrals (see above) are the way to go. But, of course, once they're in my space, I tend to find them boring. One day I want squashy and comfortable, the next I want crisp and tailored. Today I want pops of color, and tomorrow I'll want a palette of neutrals.

Anyone else plagued by constant interior decorating indecision?

Dress like a cupcake

Besides finishing off my 101 in 1001 goals, I think this will be one of my mottos for the new year:



{via Making It Lovely, a new addition to my Reader}

101 in 1001: January, 2010

As many of you know, I'm entering the third and final year of my 101 in 1001 challenge. It ends on September 28, 2010. I'd like to complete as many goals as possible before then, so to keep myself accountable, I'm going to report on my progress on the first of every month (or close to it!). I'll tell you how many goals I've completed, how many goals are in progress, and which goals I'm going to be focusing on for the month.

January

Goals completed: 32
Goals in progress: 24

Action steps:
1. Read three more books of the Bible for no. 3.
2. Send one more handwritten letter for no. 10.
3. Buy a book of New York Times crosswords for no. 25.
4. Look into local opportunities for mini internships for nos. 34-38.
5. Read another financial literacy book for no. 43.
6. Post snack list for no. 45.
7. Complete no. 57.
8. Research growing tomatoes for no. 86.

See more details on any of these goals right here! What are your resolutions for the new year?