Happy Weekend

Happy Weekend!!  Yesterday, I took part of the day off work to do all the chores and errands that have been piling up, and I got to spend some time with my favorite little munchkin - Sofia.  She is my best friend's niece, who is two years old (going on 22).

I swear, she thinks she's calling the shots (which I love).  She laughs when we laugh (she does NOT want to be left out of a joke), she does "cheers" with her sippy cup (pretending she too has a glass of vino), and she refers to any other child (including older kids) as 'baby'.  She is so funny, and I just love to squeeze her chubby legs, and kiss her sweet face.

Today I spent the day with friends in Golden Gate Park... in the fog (hello, summer... where did you go!?) for Oysterfest - despite the frizzy hair, it was a blast to hang out with some cold beverages, downing oysters, and delicious pulled pork sandwiches, and listening to a few bands.  Now I'm home with some wine and my honey... sweatpants have never felt better!

Have a happy weekend!

Dear Diary...

I've never been much on journal keeping.  It starts out with the best intentions - Dear diary, it's New Year's Day, and one of my resolutions this year is to keep a running journal.  This way I can document my life, and look back when I'm old and laugh at how funny/cool/carefree I was in my 20's. I'm going to write in you every day....

First and last entry.  Every time.


One of my favorite bloggers of Little Green Notebook is crafty, and a total genious, and had the lovely idea for her kids to make notebooks for their teachers as a gift on the last day of school.  Theirs were adorable (handdrawn pictures of what they thought their teachers would be doing for their summer vacation) but I LOVED the one she made - using charpak markers, and a blender marker.  It looks like watercolors meets tie-die, and I'm convinced that with a cool notebook like this, I could successfully keep a diary... maybe.

The notebooks started out looking like this:


She taped them off like this (to keep the pages fresh and white):


Her kids' notebooks ended up like this (so adorable):

But I just love the abstract, color wash effect of hers... might totally copy this idea


Check our her entry here!

Flokati Rug

I spotted a Flokati rug in a commercial for this local San Francisco furniture store, and it looked so soft, and luxe, I've since become a bit obsessed.  You are probably thinking, this crazy girl JUST got a new rug... and this is true, but I think that when we move into a larger space, I'd love to invest in a pretty, fluffy Flokati for the bedroom.

I see all the fluff and think how it might not stand up well to a high traffic area like a living room... but in a bedroom... that could be a match made in heaven.  Just picture it... it's a cold morning, still dark out, and the alarm goes off... you get up and swing your legs of bed... imagine how amazing this rug would feel under your feet!  Like butter, I tell you!



A real Flokati rug could put you into some serious debt, but the amazing RugsUsa.com (I wish they had a different name) has the Standard Shag Greek Flokati Natural Rug for a sweet deal.  The 5'x7' is ~$600 normally, but it's 35% off right now.



Doesn't it just look like a cloud with all the pale grey accents below?  And with the zebra skin??  So chic.  I wonder if this is a look I'd tire of, since I normally go for cleaner lines, and very classic pieces.  This is way more hippie dippie than I'd normally go, but looking at these photos where the rooms are based around classic furniture... Luckily we've got quite a few big ticket items already lined up, so this goes at the bottom of the list, but the Flokati... it's on the radar for sure (plus it's just so fun to say).

Knock Knock

Nope, this post is not about a terrible joke, but about my love of front doors.  Having lived in city apartments for the last five years, I've never had my own front door, but I dream all the time how I'd like it to look.

I actually think that front doors say a lot about who you are, and what to expect on the inside of your home.  Don't they add a ton of personality to a building??

 

I am LOVING the roughed up rustic doors with old bronze pulls, crooked slats, dings, cracks and character, but I also love a good colorful door.  It says, "this home is happy... come on in"!  (how fabulous is the pink door above??)



I love the yellow against the grey brick - it doesn't need a lot of additional decor around it since it makes such a strong statement.
 


How awesome is this bubblegum pink door - with the white walls, and modern cacti, I picture the owners living their lives in the poolside cabana, cool cocktails in hand.




This red door brightens up a dark stone stairway... it looks damp and cold, but I imagine a warm cozy living room with a steaming cup of tea waiting in there...



Look at that iron scroll work on both of these - the doors on the left say "french bourgeois", while the doors on the right say "hot Havana nights", but both scream "fabulous."



A simple red door on a dark farmhouse - the lack of detail here is what makes the most impact.  My favorite part?  The old iron pull on the door.




I could go on and on forever... will someone make a coffee table book of JUST doorways??

Girls Trip: LA Weekend

I am SOOO excited...  I am headed off to La-la Land just after the Fourth of July with some girl friends for a quick getaway, and it could not come sooner!  We are all in need of a little sunshine, girl time, and some summery cocktails by the pool.

We are staying at The Sandard, West Hollywood, and for any fellow Sex and the City lovers, that's the hotel the ladies stayed at during their LA trip.  It's totally 60's mod, with a great pool, and it's just steps from all the hottest restaurants and bars on the strip.  CAN. NOT. WAIT.


For anyone who has ever been to LA (or So-Cal for that matter) you know that it's a total scene, and it's all about what you are wearing 24/7, so I'm using this little trip as an excuse to go shopping... I have a few very clear images in my mind of what I'm looking for... we'll see if I can make these "wants" become a reality...

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Daytime

La La Land I by beckyc1923 featuring a lip stick

Asymmetrical dress
Sam Edelman cork wedge sandals, $153
Feather jewelry, $10
Lanvin wide belt, $595
TOMS gold sunglasses, $139
Lip stick, $32

This high-low dress is eerily similar to one of my favorite looks from Pinterest (remember #10 from this post a few weeks back?)  This outfit is easy-breezy, while still being totally on trend... perfect for a bit of shopping, lunching at The Ivy, Star Spotting, and throwing over my swimsuit after a bit of sun-bathing by the pool.  Must find....

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Dinner

La La Land II by beckyc1923 featuring a coral lipstick

Wallis lace top, $49
Denim skirt, £12
Giuseppe Zanotti platform shoes, $850
Oasis clutch handbag, $55
Amrita Singh 18k jewelry, $300
LK Designs 18k jewelry, €97
Giorgio Armani coral lipstick, $30
Essie nail polish, $8

This flirty little circle skirt will still be flattering after a big dinner, while the high necked blouse keeps it from being over the top at a restaurant.  It's LA - not SF - so edgier is always better.  I love the studded clutch next to the soft skirt.  I'm imagining something like this for dinner at Katana or FireFly...

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Dancing

La La Land III by beckyc1923 featuring aventurine jewelry

Bodycon dress, $157
Promise Shoes high heel pumps, $55
J Crew clutch handbag, $80
Aventurine jewelry
Miso set of bangle, £10
Bare Escentuals lip gloss, $18
Urban Decay black eye makeup, £12

I am thinking something white at night to compliment my new LA tan... this dress is sexy without being too much.  I love the deep-v, and the flattering pleats.  That belt is very mod itself, and a few sassy accessories like the leopard clutch and coral drop earrings keep the focus on the dress.  I'll be wearing this at the top of Skybar, for a little dancing and cocktail sipping under the stars.

Recipe - Asian Grilled Salmon and Roasted Asparagus

This is seriously THE EASIEST recipe of all time (which is perhaps why it's also one of my favorites).  Do not be fooled - it's as delicious as it is easy.  So yummy in fact, that it converted my salmon-hating boyfriend.

I stole this recipe from the Barefoot Contessa, whose methodology to cooking revolves around simplicity, and enhancing the natural flavors of food.  For those of us who don't stock up on the extremely random spices and herbs needed for other recipes, it's perfect :-)

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Ingredients

• 1 side fresh salmon, boned but skin on (about 3 pounds for 6 servings)

For the marinade:

• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons good soy sauce
• 6 tablespoons good olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

Yep, that's it... 4 ingredients for the marinade...

Directions:

Light charcoal briquettes in a grill and brush the grilling rack with oil to keep the salmon from sticking (if you don't have a BBQ, use a grill plate inside on the stove).

While the grill is heating, lay the salmon skin side down on a cutting board and cut it crosswise into 4 equal pieces. Whisk together the mustard, soy sauce, olive oil, and garlic in a small bowl. Drizzle half of the marinade onto the salmon and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.

Place the salmon skin side down on the hot grill; discard the marinade the fish was sitting in. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. Turn carefully with a wide spatula and grill for another 4 to 5 minutes. The salmon will be slightly raw in the center, but don't worry; it will keep cooking as it sits.

Transfer the fish to a flat plate, skin side down, and spoon the reserved marinade on top. Allow the fish to rest for 10 minutes. Remove the skin and serve warm.

Now for the asparagus... equally easy...

Ingredients:
1/2 pound asparagus
3 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 tablespoon Salt
1 teaspoon Pepper
1 teaspoon Red Chili Flakes

Directions:
Wash and dry asparagus, and cut off the woody part of the asparagus stems.  Line up the stems on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil (approximately 3 tablespoons to thoroughly coat).  Toss them to be sure all sides are coated, and sprinkle with salt and fresh cracked pepper.  Finish with a generous sprinkle of red chili flakes and put the baking sheet in a pre-heated oven at 375 degrees.

After 5 minutes, toss the asparagus once more to be sure they evenly roast.

Take them out after roughly 15 minutes - you want them to be a bit crisp still, so keep an eye on them!

Happy Weekend!

What a week!

Many ups and many many downs for me, but I'm looking forward to a low-key relaxing weekend in our foggy city by the bay.  While we will be freezing our butts off tomorrow at a friend's rooftop BBQ, but I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for a bit of sun.

Isn't this photo just lovely?  If only I could transport myself there right about now... it is actually a photo from Antibes, 1938.

Have a lovely, happy weekend (and happy summer!!)

xo

ASOS... it's Love

Has anyone else ever heard of ASOS?  They are the UK's largest online fashion and beauty property - they've got editorial style look books, along with clothing for sale.  Anyway, I've been recently introduced to this site, and it's amazing!  The best way for me to describe it... it's as if Zara and Forever21 had a baby.  Yes... it's THAT good.

This week, one of my favorite bloggers, Joanna Goddard from Cup of Joe  featured a discount code (ACUPOFJOE20) for a full 20% off full priced items.  Amazeballs!

Obviously I had to investigate, however a word to the wise... the British Pound is WAY more than the US dollar, so be careful!!

Now, on to a few of my favorites...

ASOS Full Skirt in Shimmer Fabric

£40.00

Yeah, um look at the exposed zipper.  This is such a feminine silhouette with the full skirt, the inverted pleats, and the shimmery, crinkly fabric, but that zipper takes it to a new level of modern.... SOOOO LOVE 

Lipsy Sequin Bust Peplum Dress

£55.00

The sequin detailing and the peplum is sooo awesome, and the mint keeps this dress fresh.  It's feminine, but edgy at the same time.  I also reallllyyyy love how there is a gap in the sweetheart neckline. How do those Brits make it possible?!

Aqua Vapor Low Front Dress

£40.00

So sexy, in the front AND the back.  The fabric says "business" but the exposed skin says otherwise.  And that sweet peach belt?? Perfection. LOVE LOVE LOOVEEEE.

Re-Vamping the Bedroom

I am like a giddy little puppy - we have made the decision to go with a king size bed and replace our queen mattress!  Hooray!!

Knowing that, I can really start planning out our bedroom.  I made a few short term changes by flipping over our duvet, and getting some cute pillows and throw blankets to spruce up the bedding, but it's time to make some real strides here!  I came up with this inspiration board based on the changes in my tastes, and some of the accessories we already have!

Obviously, we'll be working with what we've got, so while the red punches of color from my original bedroom inspiration board would be fun and bright, I need to look for things that match the core pieces in the room - the biggest being the rug.

Right now, the bedroom has a large piece of remnant carpet I got for next to nothing in my early 20's - it's an oatmeal color, and while it has done it's job, it's time to move on to greener pastures.  Recently, we got a new rug for the living room, which means the old living room rug has been rolled up and is chilling in our dining room.  It's currently leaned up against the wall and I can't wait to move into our bedroom.  Our "old" living room rug looks almost EXACTLY like the one in my inspiration board, so the red touches from past inspiration boards would feel wrong with this soothing tone.

Now that you can see that the rug is all soothing shades of aqua, tan, and brown, I think I should keep that feeling going throughout the bedding as well.  For the most part, the biggest changes will be the bed frame (one nail-head upholstered headboard... coming right up), the bedding, the "new" rug, and a chandelier (for glamour).  The art in my inspiration board is already hanging up, the lamps are a done deal, and you all remember my toil (posted here) to re-finish the dresser and nightstands in the bedroom...

I could also do bedding like the Barbara Barry collection.  I do love the look of the blue quilted bedding, with a big fluffy duvet folded at the foot of the bed.

I also really like this pale blue paisley - I think I'll have to see how busy the room looks once the rug is in there.  The room doesn't get a ton of natural light which is a real challenge, so I don't want to make it feel super small, or super dark....

What should I do?  Are these too dark?  Too girly?  Should I keep looking?  Or am I over analyzing everything??

Daddy's Little Girl

Can you guess which little nugget is me?!  I was looking through old photos yesterday at my parents house, and came across this one - in honor of Father's Day, I just HAD to post.  Wasn't my dad so handsome?!  Look how young he is!!  Kris is almost as old as my dad was in this picture - crazy!

Anyway, this is pretty much how I remember my dad growing up - a full beard (or mustache) which he had for years and years... pretty much since I could remember.  He finally shaved it off when I was in college - a traumatic experience for me.  The first time my parents came to visit me in the dorms, I was so excited to see them that it took me a full 10 minutes or so before I realized that he had shaved it off... and then I cried (story of my life, from the girl who hates change).  I just remember saying, "Oh my gosh, you look like Uncle Scott!" - perhaps not a compliment at the time.

Since then, I have gotten used to him without the beard - he is our silver fox, and one of the best people I know.  He loves the simple things in life - getting his hands dirty with projects on the house, going sailing (the wind is FREE), and stretching out in our sunny backyard for an afternoon cat nap.  He is stubborn, loyal, and the hardest worker I know... he loves to golf, loves his vodka (vitamin V is the most important vitamin), but most of all he loves my mom. In so many ways, he reminds me of ME, and I am so proud to be his baby daughter.

Happy Weekend!!

This photo is how I feel right now - its almost the weekend, and I am so beyond ready!  The weather in the bay area is going to be hot - in SF it will be in the 80's and anywhere outside of the city will be close to 100 degrees!  Just how I like it.

Tonight, I plan on relaxing - maybe a glass of wine and a movie with my honey, but the rest of the weekend will be spent down on the peninsula - Saturday we are headed down to Atherton for a pool party with Kris' buddies.  I can't wait to soak up the sun (a few margaritas) and the smell of the BBQ.  Sunday, I will be with my dad for Father's day - we'll be headed out on the bay for a day of sailing, which means some beer, sandwiches, and wind in my hair.

I can't wait.

Have a lovely weekend!!
xo

How Pinteresting: Week IV

Oh Pinterest, how I love thee.  Even though I need to improve the number of projects I actually do, who doesn't want to see a round up of Pinterest's best of the best - the prettiest, coolest, and most inspirational pins from the past few weeks.  I know I sure do!

Without further ado, let's go!

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1. Black and White Graphic Painted Floors
La Dolce Vita is responsible for posting this FABULOUS dining room, and while it takes a brave person to paint hardwood floors, these are absolutely amazing.  Without the floors, the room would be nice but the graphic design opens the room up, and take it from "nice" to "holy guacamole"!!  Wouldn't this be a great way to revamp some sad wood floors that needed to be re-finished (or worse, torn out?!)  Time consuming, yes, but expensive? Not at all.

2. Chunky Statement Necklace from Shopbop

Shopbop has this stylish necklace in stock, and while a bit out of my "on-a-budget" price range, I can't help lusting after it.  Dress up a plain tshirt, or wear it with a flirty dress for a night out.  Something about it reminds me of this necklace Carrie wore on SATC...

3. Prettiest Bedroom in the World?

Um... I think so!  I had really loved dark wood for a long, looonngggg time (thus all the dark wood furniture currently in our apartment), but now I'm really loving distressed wood with the look of being reclaimed, or even antique.  Wood with a greyish hue seems really organic and brings a peaceful feel to most rooms.  Between the upholstered headboard, the weathered wood, and the fluffy white bedding, I am loving how this room looks!

4. Voluminous Blonde Hair

Leave it to Heidi Klum to make us hate her even more than we already did.  I am pretty sure that this photo is the definition of a blonde bombshell.  I am going in to get my hair re-blonded (we aren't all natural blondes anymore) and am thinking that I might go after some side swept bangs.  I've let mine grow out, and they are past my chin now, but this looks so cute on her - I think I could work the bangs again!

5. Marble Fret Coffee Table

This coffee table from ZincDoor is as graphically interesting as the rug it sits on!  The lattice pattern on the sides makes a huge visual impact, while the clean smooth top doesn't take it too far.  I love the table, but the price tag is a painful $4998... let's be real, that equals WAY more than $5K with taxes, shipping, etc.  To make myself feel better, I also tell myself that it would be way too busy (and big) for our modest apartment... but isn't it pretty??

6. Asos Black Mesh Skirt

How adorable is this?!  I've never ordered anything from Asos, but hear nothing but great things about their clothing - this skirt is just 35 Euros, and obviously comes with lining since it's sheer!  I am seriously considering placing an order, and will keep you posted when it comes!

7. Trellis Linen Drumshade

Shades of Light has his awesome drum shade in both a natural taupe and pale blue, and I love how simple it is.  I still love a good glitzy chandelier, but for a more muted (and boyfriend friendly) look, the drum shade has really been growing on me.  I'm not sure if $179 is a good price, but I love it anyway!

8. Slouchy Sweater

This girl's glasses are all sorts of wrong with the rhinestones, but overall, this look is so cute and easy to wear.  Even though its loose, the deep wide v-neck makes this ultra feminine, despite the ripped up jeans, and un-done hair.  I have no clue where this sweater came from, but it's going on my wishlist for summer, since San Francisco is never hot.

9. Nailhead Chair

This Chair is from Joss and Main - a site I've been hearing more and more about!  It's membership only (it's free to register and join), and while I don't know a ton about it yet, they have some really wonderful collections.  From the number of blog posts I've written about my love of anything with a nailhead trim, it should come as no surprise that I am in love with this chair.  It's got great lines, the nailhead pulls out the details, and I think I could happily sink into this at the end of every day.  If there were casters on the bottom, I think it would be PERFECT.

10. Coral hi-low dress

A HUGE trend this spring and summer, hi-low dresses are everywhere.  I'm not 100% sold on all of them, but in this floaty fabric, I think its really feminine and pretty.  It also helps that the front isn't super short - that can look sort of odd.  I also love the double wrap belt - it makes a "long" dress more casual so you could wear it in the afternoon when it's still light out.  This would be perfect for a rehearsal dinner, wedding, or nice dinner out.  Know what would really finish it for me??  Some sort of aqua accessory - coral and aqua are like peanut butter and jelly... it's just so right together.