a glimpse of glamour.

♥ i can resist everything except temptation.

2012-02-17T00:00:00.001-05:00

now that i am a married lady with a pregnant sister whose about to pop,

the questions have started to persist about when nick and i are going

to start a family of our own. the answer is.. not just yet. ha!

but if anything were to tempt me to throwing my birth control

to the wayside, it would be this: DVF for gap kids.

i mean, this little girl even looks like my future babyyyy!!!!

source: scoop charlotte

in stores march 15th.

♥ in that one moment in time, i will feel eternity.

2012-02-16T00:00:00.003-05:00

i will not pretend that i was the biggest whitney houston fan who ever lived-

(i will leave that to my bestfriend, mk) but i think that anyone who grew up in the

eighties and early nineties can listen to any one of her greatest hits and immediately

feel like they have traveled back in time to a colorful place where hair was bigger,

makeup was brighter, and you just had to dance with somebody.

i would be remiss if i did not post a little something to honor a woman

as beautiful as her voice- whose star will shine above us

now and always.

source: mtv style.

♥ hello, dolly!

2012-02-15T00:01:00.001-05:00

i am not sure about you-but i played barbie up until an embarrassingly old age of almost 13.

i could definitely blame this on the fact that i have younger sisters-
but in reality, i loved it.

source.

to me, the most enjoyable part of playing with barbie dolls was inventing items that mattel
didn't offer (yet!): baby clothes, credit cards, barbie-sized cheese burgers, christmas trees,
nail polish, etc.. my sisters and cousins and i actually came up with a very impressive list
which we mailed in, thinking we would be asked to become part of the barbie thinktank-
but were thanked with only a handful of coupons and some crushed egos.

more impressively, former fashion designer for betsey johnson/anna sui & heatherette,
pamela thompson has designed something my girls and i never considered:
vintage/repurposed clothing for barbie and her friends!

her tinyfrockshop is extremely well-styled, well-priced and well--just plain fabulous.
anyone up for playing dolls tonight after work???

(spotted on trendland)

ps. my favorite part is the model bio section & the photographer credit is ken.

♥ a journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.

2012-02-14T00:00:00.001-05:00

last year, i introduced you to ada the globetrotting doll-

and a few weeks ago, i got the chance to host her in boston.

we had quite a lovely time,

with ada hanging out in my bag throughout most of her trip,

regaling me with lots of stories about her travels abroad.

she and talula got along marvelously,

although she was unable to convince my kitty to pack her bags

and travel any further than her cozy bed.

see more here :)

♥ conversation starters.

2012-02-13T22:25:00.000-05:00

with valentine's day tomorrow,

i thought i would add a bit of romantic inspiration

to your evening:

love this diy headpiece.

and this greeting card

and these darling cookies.

these embroideries are too cute!

as are these centerpieces.

and this bedside bouquet.

(all images found on pinterest. duh!)

♥ carpe diem.

2012-02-13T00:00:00.002-05:00

to celebrate my first totally free weekend since our wedding,

nick came up with a brilliant idea: to get out of town and

spend an evening in a beautiful bed & breakfast.

on a whim, he chose the hawthorn inn, a charming b&b in camden, maine,

which serendipitously turned out to be everything we could have asked for-

quaint rooms, well-read/well-cultured innkeepers, vegetarian dining &

lots of tea, coffee, books and art all beneath a delicate coating

of freshly fallen snow.

we walked to town and i made the fatal mistake of forgetting

to pack any sort of all-weather boots. hence, the bee galoshes, which

i bought while i was there. stupid mistake- but a cute one, at least.

coincidentally, this is also the weekend of the national toboggan championships,

which we neglected to partake in- but did happen to get a lovely fireworks show

from right outside our window that evening.

as we woke up to a gorgeous sunrise and a delicious breakfast,

we both agreed that it was such a great idea to break from the norm,

sieze the day, and make the most out of a mini-adventure.

♥ so very vera.

2012-02-10T06:09:00.000-05:00

mac cosmetics recently launched a collection inspired by artist/ textile designer

vera neumann. bright and lovely as the scarves for which she was best known

& signed with her famous autograph & trademark ladybug,

this collection is a colorful reminder that spring is on its way!

in case you're not familiar, here is some of her iconic work:

see more here.

♥ your kiss is on my list.

2012-02-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

tonight i attended the boston bloggers february meet +greet where

i mingled with bloggers i know in real life and those i have only met online!

since valentine's day is just around the corner, i decided to share a little love with

this kiss-covered blouse from forever 21 which i paired with some high-waisted trousers.

i feel a bit like i stepped off the set of tootsie (1982) in this outfit.

here's why:

blouses galore.

if you have not seen this film--i urge you to rent it asap.

the ugly fashion will inspire you.

♥ me & you.

2012-02-08T00:39:00.000-05:00

nothing says "i love you" quite like this romantically nerdy array

of pencils, heart stickers and assorted library cards from etsy shop,

knot & bow. if my sweetheart should happen to read this post

before valentine's day- hopefully he will get the hint ;)

♥ belly shot.

2012-02-07T20:29:00.000-05:00

my sister's baby is due next month

and i just realized i have not taken nearly enough

pictures of the belly. so, here are three generations of

chu women- my mom, my sis, and her future baby girl.

love it =)

♥ no influence is so powerful as that of the mother.

2012-02-07T06:02:00.001-05:00

a while back i wrote about the etsy shop sensation, yokoo-

well, she has gone and done it again. and by "it" i mean she has

opened yet another darling shop, mother, which offers even more evocative
photography, adorable styling and a powerful feminist objective. LOVE!

"mother stems from the desire to rid the fashion world of the notion that modern
feminism is the absence of femininity. I wanted to design clothes for true feminist.
women who are not afraid to be women. women who don't muster up the courage
to say, "yes" but feel quite comfortable in the ease of saying, "no." mother stands for
an authoritative approach to femininity. in nature, the more unseen a
power, the more of an authoritative the role."

spotted here & here.

♥ rows and flows of angel hair, and ice cream castles in the air, and feathered canyons everywhere- i've looked at clouds that way.

2012-02-06T20:51:00.001-05:00

all pictures taken on my phone :)

i've been taking the time to look up alot more lately

and i seem to have fallen in love with the sky,

especially when there are clouds involved.

♥ two roads diverged in the woods- and i took the one less traveled by.

2012-02-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

as i alluded to in last week's post, lots of changes are happening

in the career department- luckily, for the better. i have recently ended my part

time work which although wonderful- took up the greater portion of my weekend.

nick and i are looking forward to finally spending some free time together-

it will be such a treat to see each other's faces in the daylight.

one thing i would love to do this year is go camping.

and if it could be in one of these outstanding tents

from fieldcandy- that would be all the better.

♥ the big picture.

2012-02-03T00:27:00.000-05:00

i took a lot of film studies courses in college- mainly because my professor was amazing

and challenged me to think in a way i had never thought before, and also because it

is so much fun to analyze film and to realize that no shot or scene or close up

ever happens by accident.

which is why i am in love with the tumblr, the final image, which,

just as the name would imply- shares the last shot from an endless

number of films. here are some faves:

big (1988)

willy wonka and the chocolate factory (1971)

midnight in paris (2011)

empire records (1995)

napoleon dynamite (2004)

marie antoinette(2006)
learn more here.

♥ "i think that somehow, we learn who we really are, and then live with that decision. " ~ eleanor roosevelt

2012-02-02T00:00:00.002-05:00

via volume 25

for as long as i can remember, i have been asking myself variations on the

same question: what do i want to be when i grow up?

to some people, this is a simple question with an easy answer-

but for others, like myself, an answer does not come easily- which leads to

feelings of dissatisfaction and despair because unlike most things in life,

which are meant to be shared, your career is something personal,

something you choose for yourself,

that no one can do for you,

but you.

so you may feel like you are a lonesome puzzle piece wandering around

without a puzzle to belong to. you may try to fit places that just don't feel right

or try to force yourself into a picture that may look right but feels unnatural,

but just keep trying. and stay true to who you are. even if you don't

know what you're meant to do or be- your soul knows,

and if you go with that, you can never go wrong.

♥ love in the nick of time.

2012-02-01T20:19:00.000-05:00

just in time for valentine's day-

the lovelies at jsgd are offering gorgeous prints

to celebrate life's biggest blessing: love.

♥ window shopper meets show stopper.

2012-02-01T00:00:00.001-05:00

"a book is made from a tree. it is an assemblage of flat, flexible parts (still called “leaves”) imprinted with dark pigmented squiggles. one glance at it and you hear the voice of another person—perhaps someone dead for thousands of years. across the millennia, the author is speaking, clearly and silently, inside your head, directly to you. writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people, citizens of distant epochs, who never knew one another.

books break the shackles of time, proof that humans can work magic."

*carl sagan, cosmos

i would never advocate the shredding of a book-

not for a window display. not for anything. ever.

but i must say that club monaco's recent visual display in boston

stopped me right in my tracks.

that is what a pile of books can do to a girl like me.

♥ business in the front, party in the back.

2012-01-31T03:39:00.000-05:00

ladies and gentlemen: the mullet look is back.

the last time we saw this silhouette was probably on stephanie seymour,

the ill-fated bride of axl rose in the music video for guns n' roses classic song,

"november rain."

a bit less pouffy and a lot more relaxed, the new hi/lo look is

shorter on one side and longer on the other-

and it's totally fabulous.

these dresses from asos are a-mazing.

as are these fun, summer dresses from revolve clothing.

threadsence has some very nice asymmetrical offerings.

as does forever 21!

will you be trying this trend?

♥ you were much more "muchier"... you've lost your "muchness."

2012-01-30T00:05:00.000-05:00

images via style pantry.

totally in love with the marigold background, the oversized cameo jewels,

the visually disturbing mishmash of patterns & the rose-covered hairstyles

on actress/model mia wasikowska in the latest spring 2012 miu miu ad.

that is all. talk amongst yourselves.

♥ shower time.

2012-01-28T22:52:00.000-05:00

we threw my sister, lissy's baby shower this weekend (!!!)

and as she sat in her mama-to-be throne, with a flower tucked

in her hair and a celebratory teddy bear in her hands,
i could not help but feel a little deja vu.
weren't we just here?

so much has changed- yet so much is the same.
little giada mei sylva is on the way and i cannot wait
to meet her.

♥ kimono is come from the greek word himona, is mean winter. so, what do you wear in the wintertime to stay warm? a robe. you see: robe, kimono.

2012-01-27T03:55:00.002-05:00

at the zoo.ra opening with red bird vintage. picture care of the boston fashionista.

i recently picked up this kimono from forever 21,

and it is orange and floral and fabulous, and makes me feel like i am
walking around in my pajamas all day!

coincidentally, i noticed that blogger/ etsy boutique pretty little world
added some beautiful vintage kimonos to her shop.
i think i need one!

♥ somewhere over the rainbow.

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

i am sure you have seen these cocoa and hearts paintings

already, but they're too pretty not to share.

♥ inspiration and genius- one and the same.

2012-01-25T00:00:00.001-05:00

lately, i have felt a bit uninspired. with fashion blogs out there regurgitating the same

looks over and over and over again, i start to wonder if i really love something or

if i have just seen it so many times that my brain thinks i like it.

(in the same sort of way an annoying ke$ha song will grow on you

if you hear it on the radio enough.)

which is why i must introduce you to my latest blogsession: style pantry.

kept by working mother of three, folake kuye huntoo, this exceptional site offers

posts on everything from art to beauty. but, as you can tell, the style images

are my favorite to browse. if my fashion pantry is empty-

then ms. huntoo's is colorfully over-stocked!

♥ in all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.

2012-01-24T00:00:00.001-05:00

artist matt wisniewski makes insanely amazing mixed media collages

using images from fashion & nature.

i think i'm in lurvvvve.

to see more, check his tumblr.

♥ these have always brought me luck.

2012-01-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

happy chinese new year!!!!!

now that i am a married lady, i get to participate in giving out lucky

red envelopes to all of the younger kids in my family.

i painted my nails to match =) =)

♥ childhood is a short season...

2012-01-21T22:02:00.001-05:00

...celebrate with a good book!

(all images from richard scarry's best story book ever)

♥ i'd like to see you undone.

2012-01-20T00:00:00.002-05:00

practicing the just rolled-out -of bed look last year in barbados.

according a recent article in the new york times, 2012 is going to see women

embracing the "imperfect makeup" look- the one in which you "look as if you are

returning home from a party rather than going out to a party..", apply your makeup

with just your fingertips, forget about mascara (or drawing in your eyebrows)

and pucker up with a popsicle stained looking lip.

i find this mildly entertaining because 1) i would not be caught dead without my makeup
( actually, i have been accused of looking like i was crying without my eye drawn on!)
and 2) because the new york times also published an article last year about
how women with more conspicuous makeup were considered to be more competent
at their jobs, more likable and more attractive. so now what?

one of my favorite feminist websites, jezebel featured an even better follow up
article to the ny times aptly titled, "how to look like shit."

below, please find some of writer anna north's hilarious suggestions:

put on all your makeup as normal, then rub your face real hard against a pillow. now you and the pillow are both ready to go out.
put on your running shoes and go for a brisk run. when you've reached a quick pace, apply lipstick. don't stop running or slow down. when you're done with your run, just put a ball gown over your sweats and head out for a night on the town. you will be the envy of everyone.
apply several different types of eye makeup. then get in a screaming fight with your significant other. weep profusely. finally storm out of the apartment into the pouring rain, where your already smeared mascara will liquefy into artful rivulets extending all the way down into your cleavage. the french call this look le breakdown.
do a bunch of mushrooms, and then let the rainbow-spotted ceiling gnomes do your makeup for you.
get your makeup professionally done, and then put in a set of these "billy bob" teeth. or just drink a lot of coke and never brush your teeth until they all fall out, then get your makeup professionally done and go to a party. smile a lot.
just go out and do whatever you want without paying any special attention to your face or hair.

♥ be careful what you ask for. you just might get it.

2012-01-19T22:15:00.000-05:00

as i have mentioned before, our small grey kitty, talula is a relentless haunt.

she stands on every perch in the apartment, giving us her best cat stare

in order to move our hearts and hands toward any treat she desires.

another thing she does is insert her little body between us and the

refrigerator, which is a pain because we often trip over her or

accidentally close the door on her tail without looking.

last night, nick thought it would be funny to give her a taste

of her own medicine, placing her on the shelf next to

her favorite medicine- milk.

as you can tell, she was not amused.

♥ little pink houses for you and me.

2012-01-19T00:00:00.001-05:00

tonight i stopped into anthropologie and was stopped dead in my tracks

when i came upon this little pink house blouse- that upon second glance is

a beautiful embodiment of where photography meets fashion.

because, you see, this is not just a pretty shirt-

but rather a wearable piece of sarah ball photography.

and as you may have already guessed- her photography is gorgeous!

ps. anthropologie is offering a sarah ball skirt & dress too!

♥ look smart.

2012-01-18T00:00:00.001-05:00

nick and i watched ghostbusters 2 (1989) the other night, and i could not help

but fall in love with the quirky outfits worn by the red-bobbed, spectacularly

be-spectacled secretary, played by actress annie potts.

images via google.

i never thought i would like the round glasses look-

but if it's one thing i have learned about fashion trends,

never say never.

here are some great look alikes, if you're feeling quirky.

1, 2, 3,

and i know this is so dvf spring 2011, but i am king of digging round sunglasses

as well! here are some of my faves:

1, 2, 3

would you try this trend?

♥ one cat leads to another.

2012-01-17T00:00:00.002-05:00

i recently came across a brilliant tumblr- writers & kitties

(is there any better combination?) and i was taken with the adorable pictures

of ernest hemingway and his famous six-pawed cats.

it's funny to think an author of such macho writing

could have such a soft side...

the hemingway home in key west, where ernest wrote many of his famous works,

(does a farewell to arms ring a bell?) is still crawling with kitties and

is now a museum dedicated to the feline inclined.

the interior speaks of a life well traveled.

and the kitties speak of a life well lived.

anyone up for a vacation to kitty paradise?

♥

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

happy mlk day

♥

♥ two-tone.

2012-01-15T00:00:00.001-05:00

so the color block trend has been huge for a while now-

but have you seen it worn on the lips before?

hey, if my makeup idol, keiko lynn, can pull it off- so can i.

(only the next time, it will be in public and not in my leopard robe!)

ps. besides the aforementioned robe, i am also wearing two very hard to come by

shades of mac lipstick: pink pigeon & party parrot from the new iris apfel collection.

i especially cannot wait to wear them in the summer time with a tan.

i will leave the robe at home ;)

♥ we just need to take it slow.

2012-01-14T07:44:00.000-05:00

" tempted and titillated at every turn, we seek to cram in as much consumption and as many

experiences as possible. as well as glittering careers, we want to take art courses,

work out at the gym, read the newspaper and every book on the bestseller list,

eat out with friends, watch hours of television, listen to music, spend time with family,

buy all the latest fashions and gadgets, go to the cinema, enjoy intimacy and great sex with

our partners, holiday in far-flung locations and maybe even do some meaningful volunteer work.

the result is a gnawing disconnect between what we want from life and what we can realistically

have, which feeds the sense that there is never enough time." (pg 30-31)

via pinterest.

to begin the new year, i started off with a book that i had learned about last year
when i wrote this post- carl honore's in praise of slowness.

as you can glean from the quote above, honore has a pretty spot-on estimation of
our culture's obsession with time and making sure every minute of our day is crammed
with as much activity is possible. i come from a family of multi-taskers and have often
thought of my ability to cook dinner/ bake a cake/ watch a movie/read blogs and books
all at the same speedy pace as a good and competent attribute to have-
but now i am starting to feel otherwise.

maybe there is something to be said about quality over quantity-
and for this reason have i resolved to slow down this year,
to stop the rush rush rushing, and be more languorous
because if time is all we have- i want to enjoy
every second of it.

♥ black cat.

2012-01-13T00:00:00.001-05:00

my friend najeema posted about jason wu's new target line the other day

and i was immediately taken with the black cat printed scarf & tote bag-

which is supposedly of the designer's own kitty muse, milu.

i don't know about you- but this mischievous milu bears a striking

resemblance to my favorite kitty heroine, jenny linsky.

images via google.

ps. do you remember my jenny linsky/outfit-inspired post?

♥ beauty contest.

2012-01-12T20:44:00.001-05:00

the ladies at one of my favorite vintage stores, artifaktori, are holding an

amazing styling contest that we all just need to send in a submission for!!!

read all the details below- good luck & i promise to share a picture

if i do end up sending one in =)

♥ atlas shrugged.

2012-01-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

we were recently given a very unique wedding gift from my friend, karin.

in her card, she cleverly wrote, "i can't give you the world- so this will have to do."

as you can probably guess-- it was an atlas!

for someone like me who is geographically challenged and who understands

directions based on landmarks rather than road names- an atlas is a perfect gift.

it is also perfect inspiration for today's map-centered post.

all images via pinterest.

i think someday when i have a house, i will map out one of my walls

so there are absolutely no excuses for not knowing exactly where i am.

♥ if you are what you eat- then i only want to eat the good stuff.

2012-01-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

my favorite recipe as of late is this extra delicious, extra healthy
kale & couscous salad, that i spotted last week on poppytalk.

it's fairly easy to put together and though raw kale may not sound very appetizing-
the combination of flavors will have your taste buds singing!

♥ the chapel of love.

2012-01-11T00:00:00.002-05:00

don't let the title of this post fool you-

the chu-ramage wedding extravaganza is over!

and we may now return to our regular scheduled blogging...

i recently stumbled across this phenomenal english chapel-turned-home

sweet home to artist/craftsman, nick kenny and fell instantly in love.

..in love with the corrugated tin roof, the grass green exterior, the mismatched furniture,

the charming objects found at auction, the dreamy white washed walls

and the imperfectly tiled bathroom and kitchen.

when it comes to real estate- some people like brand spanking new everything.

not me. i like something with character. a place with history
in its walls and love in its forgotten corners.
what about you?

(spotted on sfgirlbybay)

♥ our wedding: the reception.

2012-01-10T00:00:00.002-05:00

our wedding reception took place at the red lion inn's gorgeous barn.

it's simple elegance really set the tone for the entire wedding,

and looked so beautiful with just a bit of candlelight and

a few bursts of color.

♥

our first dance was "forever young" by bob dylan-

a song that has meant much to us over the years and perfectly

expresses our attitude towards life and love.

my sister, lissy and our comedian friend, will

gave heartfelt, hilarious speeches.

in addition to our strawberry coated wedding cake, our friend, chris baked

some delicious vegan cupcakes for the occasion. sampling them earlier on,

i didn't feel half as bad eating the entire container.

there were lots of spontaneous performances that night.

lissy turned into sasha fierce during beyonce's "put a ring on it."

timothy and i danced to cyndi lauper's "time after time"

a la romy and michelle

and then nick and i gave the performance of a lifetime-

singing along to the eleven minute, way-too- extended version

of my favorite karaoke song, meatloaf's "anything for love."

it was a crowd pleaser!

....but i won't do that.

♥ our wedding: the portraits.

2012-01-09T00:00:00.002-05:00

after the ceremony, we toasted to marriage,

took some pictures with our loved ones, and

snuck off with our photographers to the

carousel where we got engaged!

the sun was setting, the strangers were smiling,

the carousel was twirling, the arcade next door

was buzzing and we were

floating on air.

♥

"love does not consist of gazing at eachother,

but looking outwardly together in the same direction."

xoxo

♥ young at heart.

2012-01-07T20:38:00.001-05:00

i just wanted to share a picture of the arm party my mom is rocking today.

no, that winnie the pooh watch and those candy colored children's bracelets

do not belong to a five year old, but rather a woman whose eyes light up

at the sight of anything sparkly, hot pink, or covered in cupcakes.

it's no wonder my mom is my style icon. i just love her.

♥ our wedding: the ceremony.

2012-01-06T00:00:00.020-05:00

a few things i will never forget about this moment:

how happy everyone was that day. happy for us, for marriage, for love.

the proud smile on my dad's face and the adorable way he asked me,
"are you ready my honey?," spotting the lady from the salon on the bridge
who i invited to sneak a peek and actually took me up on my offer,
and trying not to trip over my puffy dress & petticoat
as we made our way towards the aisle.

you may have read about our wedding vows & first kiss already,

but let me tell you again how crazy/amazing it is to have your dad
walk you down the aisle and then turn around and marry you to your

highschool sweetheart. pretty freaking amazing.

and to have both fathers speak during the ceremony

was just double the loveliness.

some people said our wedding made them want to want to fall in love-

i take that as the highest compliment.

walking through a shower of brightly colored heart confetti

is an experience nick and i will always remember.
(timothy threw a big handful right in my face!)

little confetti hearts clung to us for the remainder of the evening,
and even into the next day! my bestfriend found one in her hair, i think.

images via hello love photography

as we walked away, we could not believe that we had finally done it.

we were sweethearts, soul mates, bumbling companions

and now, at long last, husband and wife.

♥ our wedding: getting ready.

2012-01-05T00:00:00.001-05:00

a picture is worth a thousand words, they say, and so here are a thousand pictures

that tell you the story of our preparations for the best wedding day ever.

♥

once again, all gorgeous pictures taken by hello love photography.

read about my wedding dress & nick's bowtie & our invitations.

♥ our wedding: details & decor.

2012-01-04T00:11:00.003-05:00

going into it, nick and i had very little experience with weddings.

i was never one of those girls who always dreamed of the day her father

would walk her down the aisle. i had no expectations, really, which is both

a blessing and a curse, because i had no idea where to begin!

thankfully, our wedding was a few months behind my sister's

which allowed us plenty of time to figure out what we wanted,

and a collective creative effort to help execute it.

i am happy to say our wedding turned out

absolutely perfect.

here are some of my favorite details:

i made the wedding ring pillow from a vintage scarf purchased

at my favorite store, streamline antiques.

my little sister, jennie gifted lissy & i with our own custom dress hangers.

mine had a big blue heart, which was reminiscent of my wedding shoes.

i wanted the wedding flowers to look like i had walked through a field and gathered

them myself. after hundreds of emails, jen & jessica gave me just what i wanted. we used

milk bottles, mason jars, mercury candle holders & lanterns to complete the tables.

the programs were made from etsy shop, extravagant exits.

and were filled with handfulls of hand-stamped heart confetti.

i hand-made colorful flower pins from felt for each guest and used each to

designate the table number at which they would be seated. we laid them on top of a

roll of astroturf & used small chalkboards to number each table.

i wrote out our wedding menu on a diy chalkboard i made using a

bit of white spray paint, chalkboard paint & this ikea frame.

our kitty cat cake topper came, from etsy shop, melabo.

i am still so in love with it.

both of our parents had paper bells of some sort at their weddings, so i thought i would

be nice to continue the tradition and tied some simple pink & white vintage-looking

bells to the trellis under which we tied the knot.

our wedding favors were two delicious snickerdoodle cookies

baked lovingly by my momma. each package was wrapped in tulle &

tagged with these adorable labels, made by me with this stamp.

*most photos taken by hello love photography.

♥ maybe the best thing any of us can do is not quit, play the hand we've been dealt and accessorize what we've got.

2012-01-03T11:31:00.001-05:00

tonight i watched the film certified copy (2010), and although i cannot

tell you if the story of the author & the antiques dealer were fantasy or reality

or both- i can tell you i was inspired by the chandelier earrings worn by

juliette binoche's character, referred to only as 'she.'

i haven't seen many big earrings this year, and i find sometimes

that if you don't see something out and about,

you forget to wear them.

so here's to making use of the accessories we have at hand.

♥ a new year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.

2012-01-03T00:00:00.004-05:00

the celebration of 2012 would not be complete

without it's requisite list of resolutions.

here are a few of mine:

write more. write every day.
grow an herb garden.
think positive. be positive.
appreciate what i have.
go out more. be adventurous.
read at least 40 books.
be more creative.
make more meals from scratch.
learn how to read maps.
blog about the wedding.
get used to my new last name.
have more fun. stop taking life so seriously.
be a good aunti (my niece comes in march!)
slow it down.
keep adding to this list.

♥ new year's kiss.

2012-01-01T01:19:00.000-05:00

happy 2012, my darlings.

♥ write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.

2011-12-31T00:05:00.001-05:00

last year's new year's inspiration was audrey hepburn's

sparkly pink number from breakfast at tiffany's and this year,

i am inspired by another oldie but goldie.

goldie hawn, that is.

with her outfits from the film, overboard (1987) to be exact.

love the floral headpieces, the poofy gowns,

the gigantic earrings, the fringed shoulder pads

& the over-the-top glamour.

images via google

i hope you have an utterly glamorous new year.

♥

♥ when i wasn't reading blogs, i read these books in 2011.

2011-12-30T00:00:00.001-05:00

♥ bloom where you're planted.

2011-12-29T11:38:00.000-05:00

kitchen prints via anek.

one of my many new year's resolutions is to grow my own herb garden.

i once read a book on vegetable gardening and got totally overwhelmed with the

idea of composting, clearing a patch of land, etc- but my friend maggie

the farmer assured me that if i plant seeds, something will grow.

so cheers to a year of effortless blooming.

♥ you're a human sparkler.

2011-12-29T07:08:00.000-05:00

images via google.

last night i watched the hauntingly lovely film, mata hari (1931),

and was quite taken with the unique costuming of

greta garbo's ill-fated character.

dressed by adrian, who is best known for designing

the costumes for films like the wizard of oz, greta garbo's

character dazzles in sparkling head pieces & dramatic

fur jackets.

i am quite inspired for new year's!

♥ recipe for happiness.

2011-12-28T01:11:00.002-05:00

another favorite gift i received for christmas

was this recipe box, which my mother lovingly

stencilled for me at my request.

as a keeper of a makeshift recipe notebook,

i am very excited to organize my various recipes

into one pretty little location.

here are some other favorites:

this vintage recipe tin is utterly fantastic.

this gorgeous recipe box from rifle paper co. is to die(t) for.

and this recipe binder from etsy shop 1canoe2 is super cute.

this cath kidston recipe organizer is floral & functional.

you can also make a virtual recipe box right on food-centric

website, epicurious. i do this already- in a far less sophisticated manner

called emailing myself recipes to myself. works for me.

how do you keep track of your recipes?

♥ gifted.

2011-12-27T07:47:00.002-05:00

makeup, books and chocolate-

i don't think there's anything i like better.

♥ let heaven and nature sing.

2011-12-25T18:23:00.000-05:00

may your days be merry + bright. ♥

♥ daily polish.

2011-12-23T01:33:00.001-05:00

images via pinterest.

recently, the new york times published an article which alleges

that nail polish sales are the currently the leading economic indicator

in the US, over lipstick. coined by leonard lauder during the early 2000's recession,

the lipstick index suggests that when the cost of clothing/ shoes is too much

people will buy smaller luxury products, such as lipstick.

as someone who is familiar with the joys of daily nailpolishing,

i have to say i am not surprised that this recession's little luxe

is nail varnish rather than lip color.

here are some fun & frivolous nail ideas

to help you momentarily forget how broke you are.

via pinterest.

have you been buying alot of nailpolish lately?

or are you sticking with lipstick?

♥ i'm dreaming of a white christmas...

2011-12-22T07:56:00.001-05:00

i hate winter in new england, and will live

in denial through most of the season, dressing however

i want and ignoring the fact that it's freezing out.

but lately, i am really missing the snow.

here are some pictures from last year's blizzard, taken

when nick and i bundled up in thousands of layers,

ran out into the night, shoveled the sidewalks

& sang in the street.

♥ speak- and the world is full of singing.

2011-12-21T10:32:00.001-05:00

image via pinterest

i met up with the lovely miriam from proxy apparel,

to speak about my blog, and i ended up ranting for nearly

two hours. it's funny to see what a brat i am in print.

♥ cats and dogs are my favorite people.

2011-12-21T07:24:00.000-05:00

i am kind of obsessed with every quirky little animal drawing

from artist, gemma correll, so it's no wonder some people

would choose to have her work put on them

in permanent ink. love!

via.

♥ repeat the sounding joy.

2011-12-20T08:42:00.000-05:00

jewelry via laureldenise.

joy, hope, and love-

is there anything more to ask for

this season?

♥ christmas is a state of mind.

2011-12-19T13:33:00.000-05:00

these holiday cards from the dancing cat

are purrrrrrrrfect for celebrating this festive season

in style.

♥ pink slip.

2011-12-19T00:00:00.002-05:00

currently obsessing over the movie posters for the

disturbingly good film, drive (2011).

it's making me want everything in hot pink.

like nars lipstick in schiap.

these neon azalea cashmere gloves from j crew.

and this michael kors ostrich embossed satchel.

these steve madden pink party pumps.

this fluro skinny belt from asos.

and of course, ryan gosling looking too fine.

♥ ps. i love you.

2011-12-16T12:30:00.005-05:00

my husband recently wrote this email to paramount pictures,

on behalf of a few films that he would really like to see

released on dvd. i think it's probably one of the most

adorable things i have ever read:

Hello,

I understand that Paramount owns the rights to the Charlie Brown films, "Race for your life Charlie Brown," and "Bon Voyage Charlie Brown." Why have these films not been released on DVD/Blu Ray? Is a release planned? Who do we need to convince to release them?

...These films are cherished pieces of Americana. It would be a credit to Paramount to release them, especially in these times when we need to rally around cultural symbols of fellowship and cooperation. People would be happy to buy them!

All the best,

Nick Ramage

Boston, Ma

♥ the snow doesn't give a soft white damn whom it touches.

2011-12-16T00:00:00.001-05:00

in his homage to the original snowflake photographer, wilson. a bentley,

japanese photographer, yuji obata spent five years perfecting the art

of capturing the infinite & unique beauty of snowflakes in motion.

i can't believe i am saying this- but i'm kinda hoping

for a white christmas.

♥ music is everyone's possession.

2011-12-15T11:30:00.001-05:00

how fantastic is this animated belle & sebastian video,

directed by illustrator lesley barnes?

i sort of need the bookmark versions now:

♥ let it snow.

2011-12-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

images via google.

it's been a long time since i've watched

frosty the snowman (1969).

i forgot how pretty it was.

♥ she uses tangerines.

2011-12-14T01:23:00.001-05:00

sunglasses, satchel, dress, clutch

just the other day, pantone named tangerine tango as the big color of 2012.

yet another reason to look forward to fashion's next season.

i have a feeling it's going to be juicy!

♥

2011-12-13T16:46:00.000-05:00

this is ridonkulous. i love it.

spotted here.

♥ a diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday, but never remembers her age.

2011-12-13T13:21:00.000-05:00

thanks to those reminders on facebook,

we don't really need to remember people's birthdays anymore,

but if you want to kick it old school, i recommend audrey walas'

gorgeous birthday calendar. i want one!

♥ season's greetings.

2011-12-13T05:38:00.000-05:00

i am so loving these colorful holiday cards & custom stamps from

new york based / japan originated design team, the butter.

have you sent out your holiday greetings yet?

♥ and the winner is...

2011-12-12T23:36:00.000-05:00

the lucky winner of the junghwa pinwheel necklace is...

# 1 ariel! congratulations, you lucky lady!

♥ it takes a long time to grow young.

2011-12-12T06:50:00.000-05:00

it feels like just yesterday i was listening to paula abdul,

playing with my plastic jewelry and starter makeup, talking about

how much i loved kitties, the color pink and books.

and now, 28 years later, i am glad to see not much has changed.

happy birthday to me ♥

♥ it's beginning to look alot like christmas.

2011-12-09T23:13:00.000-05:00

we set up our christmas tree tonight

and our kitty found a purrfect

place to snuggle up.

have a cozy weekend!

♥ pillow talk.

2011-12-09T07:47:00.001-05:00

tonight, timothy and i attended a fabulous party

to celebrate a studio opening of a fabulous designer,

and while there we fell in love with this fabulous pillow.

turns out it was custom made by luxury accessories-turned home

accessories designer, michelle hatch. for her eponymous collection,

michelle uses a mixture of swarovski elements & nailheads to create

dazzling designs. love it!

♥

2011-12-08T07:55:00.000-05:00

sooner or later we all discover

that the important moments in life

are not the advertised ones,

not the birthdays,

the graduations, the weddings,

not the great goals achieved.

the real milestones are less prepossessing.

they come to the door of memory unannounced,

stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit,

and simply never leave.

our lives are measured by these.

*susan b anthony

♥ in regards to this gloomy day..

2011-12-07T13:52:00.000-05:00

this print just says it all.

♥ cover it up.

2011-12-07T07:31:00.000-05:00

last night i watched the romantic mystery, charade (1963)

and i fell in love with all of the fabulous coat + accessory combinations

worn by audrey hepburn throughout the film.

images via google.

in winter time, (especially here in boston where winter drags on forever),

i often place more importance on the outfit underneath the coat, and

just throw something/anything warm over my body to bear

the elements. but this year, i am inspired to put together

something more presentable, because, as erin

of the blog, elements of style rightly says:

"in the cold northeast, sometimes all people see is

your coat and not the cute outfit underneath!"

here are some ideas from jcrew

to get you started:

leopard gloves

long black leather gloves

leopard hat

shearling ear muffs

an iconic trench

a bright red coat

an easy peacoat

or a lady day coat

xo.

♥ pinwheel necklace giveaway!!

2011-12-06T12:00:00.002-05:00

this week, i am very lucky to bring you a giveaway

from the adorable etsy shop, junghwa.

this pinwheel necklace is one of my favorite pieces from artist amy stewart's

collection of handmade jewelry. delicate, feather-light and simple, amy's

offerings are perfect for layering and are true examples of

simple, everyday prettiness.

sister to the equally-talented myra of etsy shop twigs & honey, amy proves that

the creative gene runs in the family. starting out as a certified medical assistant, amy decided

to switch careers and follow her creative roots, opening her etsy shop two years ago

with the encouragement of her sister. inspired by people with great style, amy's

technique is a lot of trial and error, reading, researching and creating items

that she would like to wear. love it!!

to participate in the giveaway:

please like amy's facebook page & leave a comment

below with your name & email address!

a winner will be chosen next monday- good luck!

♥ it's written in the stars.

2011-12-06T00:00:00.002-05:00

while at times i feel that my horoscope is a total crock,

i still cannot resist reading it every once and again

to see if it's true.

for this reason,

i am in love with the new horoscope prints from

JSGD which boldly and colorfully

summarize everything you need to know about each

zodiac sign.

for a 20% discount from now until 12/20

use the discount code CYBERDINO at checkout!

♥ the ground beneath her feet.

2011-12-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

spotted on the velvet fantastic.

ever wonder what it would feel like to walk on air?

well, japanese photographer natsumi hayashi tests that theory

in photographic form on her blog, yowayowa camera woman diary.

i don't know about you, but i find these levitation pictures
very up-lifting.

♥ birthday baby.

2011-12-05T00:11:00.002-05:00

happy 27th birthday to my gorgeous sister, liz liz,

who is six+ months pregnant
with a baby to bee.

so far, from my sister, i have learned that pregnancy

can bring a tear to a husband's eyes, that you must face the fact

that your clothes are just not going to fit the way they normally do
and any type of cheese is a perfectly suitable meal. ha!

it already looks like 27 is shaping up to be
a pretty magical year. stay tuned :)

♥ home is where your heart is.

2011-12-02T17:04:00.003-05:00

via kitty genius.

i am such a homebody that the mere

thought of going out to a bar for drinks

makes me want to kick off my shoes

and stomp around until nick says

we can go home.

what a lucky husband, i've got!

hope you have a fun weekend-

doing whatever it is that makes you happy.

♥ quote of the day.

2011-12-02T06:45:00.000-05:00

via.

thanks to my bestfriend, cc,

who reminded me of

yet another book

i need to read.

♥

2011-12-01T07:41:00.002-05:00

yay!

♥ plus one.

2011-11-30T07:17:00.001-05:00

i recently spotted this picture of my cousin, jaimee, on her facebook looking too cute

with the bridesmaid dress she wore for lissy's wedding + leg warmers.

typically, it is very difficult to re-wear a bridesmaids dress without

looking obvious- but my girl did it. just add legwarmers.

here are some faves:

via.

have you tried this trend- again?

♥ cookies are made of butter and love.

2011-11-29T05:14:00.000-05:00

since it appears i have been living on nothing but cookies lately,

i thought- why fight it? here is a yummy chocolate-molases cookie recipe

i tried recently from martha stewart's cookie of the day email club.

soft and chocolatey and showered in confectioner's sugar,

these little cookies will taste good days after making them-

which is both a blessing and a curse.

ingredients

1/2 cup seminsweet chocolate

1 stick unsalted butter

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

2/3 cup light brown sugar

1 large egg, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons dark molasses

1 tsp vanilla extract

confectioner's sugar for dusting

directions

1. put on an apron. just for kicks.

2. preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3. melt chocolate and butter in microwave on high in 30 second increments,

stirring after each until chocolate is almost melted. stir and let cool.

4. in separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, & baking soda. add brown sugar,

egg, molasses and vanilla to the cooled chocolate mixture, whisking to combine.

5. add flour mixture and combine.

6. scoop the dough by tablespoon and roll into balls.

7. place on a large ungreased cookie sheet

8. bake until crackly looking (about 12 minutes)

9. let cool, then dust with confectioner's sugar.

10. eat, enjoy, indulge.

♥ right in your backyard.

2011-11-28T12:00:00.001-05:00

just wanted to share a photograph i took of the sunset

from my parent's back porch on thanksgiving.

sometimes the world outside your backdoor

is so beautiful.

♥ pass it on.

2011-11-28T00:00:00.002-05:00

via.

"the book-lover's anthology stepped out of it's wrappings all gold-embossed leather and

gold-tipped pages, easily the most beautiful book i own including the newman first edition.

it looks too new and pristine to ever have been read by anyone else, but it has been:

it keeps falling open at the most delightful places as the ghost of it's former owner points me to

things i've never read before. like tristram shandy's description of his father's remarkable

library which 'contained every book and treatise which had ever been

wrote upon the subject of great noses.'

i do think it's a very uneven exchange of christmas presents. you'll eat yours up in a week and have

nothing left to show for it by new year's day. i'll have mine till the day i die- and die happy
in the knowledge that i'm leaving it behind for someone else to love. i shall sprinkle
pale pencil marks through it pointing out the best passages
to some booklover yet unborn."

pg. 56

at the recommendation of my very good friend & fellow book-lover,
amanda, i recently purchased, devoured, and fell madly in love with
the utterly adorable book, 84 charing cross road.

told completely through letters exchanged back and forth between a book-loving
script writer and a number of friendly salespeople at a second hand book store in london,
this work is a very quick read and will just as quickly work it's way
into your heart.

♥ reunited- and it feels so good.

2011-11-25T17:39:00.000-05:00

via

tonight i will be attending my 10-year highschool reunion.

i might just tell everyone that i invented post-its

a la romy & michelle.