Spring happenings

Photo found on luxe + lillies

It's been ages! While I've been off working, traveling, wedding planning, kickballing, and waiting for the good weather, I've missed quite a few major events. I could just pretend like I was on top of it (oops, totally wasn't), or forget they went by altogether, but I'd rather give a quick shout-out to the lastest spring happenings.

Here are a few of the things I've missed:
(let's do this oldest to newest, shall we?)

Earth Day came and went. Have you been doing your part?


Photos from We Heart It, as spotted on Lavender & Lilies

Easter / Passover / the start of Spring came. Oh and the cutest bunny ever - hello, cutest bunny:

Photo also found on Lavender & Lilies, from Baby Animal Photos

An everyday girl became a princess:

Image via Pinterest

And now that those happenings have zoomed by, we have even more to look forward to. The St. John's/Naval Academy Croquet Match, Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, nice weather - I can't wait!

A little margarita / Mexican food combo never hurts:

Photo by This Modern Romance

And don't forget to thank votre mama for all her hard work:

Stationery by Rifle Paper Co.

Happy Spring everyone!

Elementary chic: Mara Hoffman Spring 2010

The Spring 2010 collection from Mara Hoffman is everything you learned in kindergarten at its best: primary and pastel colors, geometric shapes, and lines, lines, lines (both in the prints and in the cuts). I am totally in love with these bright, geometric prints dresses.

And lest ye be concerned that MH can only do geometrics, here's a gorg floral that I also loved:

So, in the words of my ever-mature brother, in yo face (if you thought MH was limited...). :)

Originally spotted here.

Color and print gets plussed

Maybe it's the spring weather coming (welllll, the idea of it at least, since we've had a ton of cold and rain recently - but anyway...) or maybe it's all the 9 by Design I've been watching, but I am so in love with color and print in interiors - specifically on walls/couches - lately.

Exhibits A-D:

Photo from Elle Decor, via Caitlin Creer Interiors

Um, could this giant print be any cooler? Also the patterned rug in grayish-blue makes me pretty happy. And the printed wallpaper in lovely lime-y yellow just happens to fit right in with my other three exhibits (below)...


Photo from Domino (RIP), via Caitlin Wilson Design-Style Files

I never knew I could be so into saturated, bright color, but this photo is totally doing it for me. The couch - wow. And the wall color is pretty amazing as well. A bright yellow pillow on its own? No thank you. In this room? Heck yes. It all works together so well. Love.


Photo of Christina and Chris Cuomo's living room (decorated by Emma Jane Pilkington and shot by Roger Davies) from in Elle Decor, via Habitually Chic

And what might be the coolest sofa/chaise/settee/loveseat (what do you call this thing??) ever, I am absolutely head over heels for this navy ikat thing, especially when paired with the little pop of pink and the addition of silver. Genius. I want this. It has a bit of a touch of the Target ikat chair I've been eying up forever, no? (Though I'm sure the pricetags are not at all in the same realm.)


Photo from Oh Happy Day

Last but not least, perhaps the least colorful, yet still peppy and patterned, is Jordan's living room. The setee - which happens to be from Nate Berkus for HSN - too cute, especially with the Jonathan Adler lemon pillow on it. This room is another good example of a print couch with an oversize print.

So what do you think? Is a patterned sofa too crazy for your taste? Or are you lapping up all that color come spring? Do tell...

And happy Friday, by the way! :)

Bringing the outside in: wrap-up

With spring in full swing, I keep noticing all the beautiful greenery that seems to be popping out all over the place. (Thank goodness I don't have allergies!) Today I came across another gorgeous "plant table" on sfgirlbybay and was about to share it. It's not outdoor greenery, but it is indoor greenery at its best.

Funnily enough, sfg's plant table was inspired by one from Lonny mag, which I featured here back in October of last year. Since I was already sharing another indoor plant set-up, I thought I'd do one final round-up of all the gorgeous indoor garden scenarios I've come across and love. So, without further ado, enjoy this collection of verdant indoor pics (and then get outside and enjoy it in real life!):

I love that this (photo above) was inspired by this (photo below):

Via.


Via.


Via.

Aren't they all so pretty? They make me want to run out and buy a plant table or supplies for a greenhouse window post-haste. Oh wait, we've already got a ton of plants in our guest room window. Well then, I guess I can just breathe deep and enjoy the purified-by-plants air I'm breathing. Happy Spring, y'all!

Lemon leaf garland of goodness

Buckle your desk seats, folks; this one almost knocked me out of my chair. I want Jordan Ferney's brain. This chick is brills. Look what she's done now:

What you see running down the middle of that gorgeous table is a handmade lemon leaf garland with oranges and lemons. Who needs crummy carnations that will probably die shortly after you buy them from the grocery when you can have this gorgeous garland? It's colorful, seasonal, and can you imagine how good it must smell? Probably so fresh and bright.

No need for cut flowers when you can use these easily attainable "ingredients":

Oh and did I mention that Jordan's instructions make a 14 foot garland for only $16? Yep, told you she was brilliant.

Here's the post about it on Jordan's site (Oh Happy Day!) and full instructions are here.

Now, GO. Get the instructions for thyself. I want to throw a party post-haste and do this, like, yesterday.

Rainy Monday

Goood morning, all! It's so hard to get out of bed on a rainy Monday, no? I was able to drag myself out (reluctantly) this morning, and have been a busy bee all day so far - I'm hoping this momentum lasts despite the gray day. How about you? Are you dragging just a bit today or not minding the rain?

I was saving the above photo for fall (crunchy leaves don't seem quite right with spring in full swing), but the wellies caught my eye - I think some fun rubber boots will be just the thing to keep me going today.

Hope your Monday is quick and painless! Be back soon... xo, r.

Photo via mix tape.

Spring happenings

I've been gabbing about the slowly burgeoning spring weather and being outdoors lately, but I'd be pretty fake if I didn't divulge two other, slightly less natural, things I'm siked for in May.

Numero uno:

May 28th, people!

And slightly less fantastical, but definitely over-the-top in its own right:

9 by Design on Bravo

Are you into/excited about either of these things? I'm glad they cranked out the next SATC so quickly...but then again, I guess they kind of had to or the ladies would be 60 by the time the next one came out....

Good day sunshine

It is so stinkin' beautiful out! I heard it was supposed to rain today, but I guess the iPhone weather app was off - but I am juuuust fine with that. This sun is amazing! Seriously though, where was spring? I think there was one spring day and now we've vaulted straight into summer - it's 82 degrees today! I'm fine with that but just wondering...

I cannot wait to get on a boat. I am slightly less excited about getting in a bathing suit (blerg), but if I looked like the chick in the photo below, I'd be happy to rock one all day. On a separate note, isn't her headband awesome?

Hope you have a great sunshine-y day and have a chance to get out on the water or just outside. See you tomorrow!

Photo 1 via Oh Hello!; photo 2 by Carter Smith (model Anja Rubik), via Fairy Tale Diaries.

Jackfruit-wha?

The fabulously funny Sarah Von from yes and yes recently posted about her efforts to try 31 one new things, one of which was tasting a horned melon. Hmm. Ookay. Lucky for me though, she also talked about some other exotic fruits she's had and mentioned the jackfruit. Here's her description (hope she doesn't mind me sharing):

"I became addicted to jackfruit while backpacking through Thailand. Despite looking like a flower, it tastes like bubble gum. Truly! If Willy Wonka invented a fruit, this would be it."

Genius! Now I am desperate to try one of these jackfruits. I do, after all, love me some cotton candy, and if I can get it in the form of fruit (See, body? I don't hate you after all! Now shush and keep chewing those deep-fried french fries!), then it's even better!

Does anyone know where I can get a jackfruit? I am going to have to hit up Whole Foods in search of one of these...though every time I go into WH looking for something exotic in the produce section (remember my persimmon obsession?), some 20-year-old granola head gives me the stinkeye when I ask about said weird fruit. Oh well, for cotton candy in the form of fruit, I'll take a visual lashing from a treehugger.

If you've ever had a jackfruit, or if you know where to get one (in MD), let me know! Thanks! And thanks, Sarah, for the inspiration!

Dreaming of getaways

With my return to work, I think my brain is already in vacation overdrive. I've been dreaming of exotic locales and awe-inspiring trips to take for days now. Luckily for me, the blogosphere provides plenty of inspiration. Here are three interesting idylls that have caught my eye lately:

1.

At the Utter Inn in Sweden, it's just you (and perhaps one other person, preferably someone you like a lot) in a typical Swedish red house. This red house floats one kilometre out on Lake Malaren (where you're brought by boat). You can have dinner delivered to you by boat, or use their inflatable canoe to visit a nearby uninhabited island. You can also swim and just relax in general. And oh yes, and the sleeping quarters are below the water level, so you fall asleep with fishes swimming around you and eying you suspiciously. Kinda weird, kinda cool.
Spotted on mix tape.

2.

Villa Else is not too far from Utter Inn - it's located in Denmark in the middle of Søllerød Nature Reserve and facing beautiful forests. This bungalow is so cozy and cute:



Photos by Stuart McIntyre. Spotted on Walking Around.

3.


Perhaps the swankiest of all. The entire page was in Spanish (or Portugese?) so I don't have too much info on this house, other than that it was photographed by Romulo Fialdini. Sorry. Pretty, though, no?
Spotted on Aubrey Road.

Ahh, to get away. A girl can dream... Until then, I'm excited for today - it's supposed to be 82 degrees! Hello, summer! (Wait, where did spring go?...)

P.s. If you think sleeping in a treehouse would be more your style, check this out! And don't forget about the possibility of swimming on the edge of a waterfall - yikes!

Stop! Scooter time!

I think that might officially be the worst blog title ever. MC Hammer, you can thank me later for the surge in Google searches of your name after this...

Good morning! Happy Tuesday! I am back in blogland! Huzzah!

With temps supposedly as high as 80 degrees today, I'm thinking it might be time to bring out ye ole blue scooter from winter retirement and take it to work instead of driving the car (sunroof open or not). I only wish my hair looked this good after the quick commute:

...because I can assure you it does not. I either have crazy rats' nest tangles or severe helmet head. Yes, I have a secure white helmet that makes me look like a bobblehead doll - safety first!

This girl looks chic, too, as only the Milanese can:

I tried that scarf-on-head business and all I got was a loss of 30 bucks after the silk scarf flew off my head. What you say? Bobby pins? Oops.

Either way, I can't wait to start up the Vespa and go for a ride. Do you have any fun warm-weather plans in mind?

Photo via What Possessed Me; photo 2 via The Sartorialist

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!

Moss bunnies from Papier d'Amour, spotted on Brown Button

I'm late in wishing you all a happy Easter, Passover and beautiful spring weekend! I hope you all have had a great one, and see you back here soon with new stuff!

A tree in the house is better than two in the yard...

...is that not how the saying goes?

I know I've talked about greenery here on sea*life*style before - about how my boyfriend can grow peppers in a third-story apt., how much I love this crafty plant table, and I talked about my lust for an indoor citrus tree, even posting this gorgeous inspiration photo:


But with the chills of winter, I had all but forgotten about the possibility of lush greenery. Today I saw this photo on Pretty Pieces and was right back into my verdant obsession:

This giant Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree, or Ficus Lyrata, is so pretty! After seeing this, I'm dying to add some true trees to our little house - not only for their beauty, but also for the air-purifying qualities. We're already doing a decent job of it with B's plants scattered about the guest room, but I think a big ol' tree would really seal the deal of green air in our home.

I've narrowed down my wont to either a fig tree or a citrus tree, and I've dug up a bunch of photos to illustrate my point of how amazing a tree in the house can be. Check it out:







So what do you think? Do you like the idea of a tree (or trees) in the house? Have you ever seen a Fiddle Leaf Fig indoors (I hadn't, either indoors or out!)? Do you like citrus plants inside?

Here's to spring's greenery - inside and out!

Photo credits: pic 1- here; 2- Grant K. Gibson's home; 3- House Beautiful, via Little Green Notebook; 4- Domino, via Dress, Design & Decor; 5- Grant K. Gibson's home; 6- House Beautiful, via Little Green Notebook; 7- SHELTER; 8- Abbey Goes Design Scouting; 9- Domino, via Dress, Design & Decor.

Have a great weekend!

Did I really just read that there is a chance of snow today?? I thought we'd been over this, weather - it's spring now - act like it! Jeesh. Fine fine, if this is just March's way of finishing up the lion part, and you're about to go out like a lamb, I guess I can deal for one more weekend...


Photo from Mary Ruffle

In the meantime, I'll be opening windows (after the snow, I suppose), enjoying the sunshine if it peeks out for a bit, and having a good weekend. We're going to a friend's 30th birthday fiesta (margarita! ay yi yi!) and then back in time for baseball for B - if it doesn't get rained out, that is. Either way, I'm excited for another weekend and some fun hanging out with friends.

Monday will be here soon; enjoy yourself in the meantime (and hope to see you back here Monday!).

Sun, spring, books and dance

With the weather turning more and more beautiful by the day (hellooo, spring!), I'm so eager to spend more time outside. But a slew of books gifted to me for my birthday has me eager to dig into those, too, so I'm a bit torn on how to use my free-time. Right now I'm trying to soak up the sun during the day and do my reading at night, but I'm looking forward to the days when it's warm enough out to sit outside in the park and read.

Here's a lovely quote about doing just that - reading in the sun (and dancing too):

I love this sentiment by Voltaire. Reading and dancing really are two of the best art forms/activities humanity has discovered.

And here's a self-portrait. It's me, reading in the evening:

Ha - I wish. Check out those shoes!

So what about you? Have you read any good books lately? Do you ever get the chance to just sit in the sun and read or dance up a storm? Both things are fun to do, free and good for you. With that being said, here's a cheers to spring (and sunshine), to dancing, and to reading good books!

Photo 1 from Mary Ruffle on tumblr; photo 2 from atmosfere neorealist via This is Glamorous.

Eye candy in candy colors

Now that it's officially spring, pastels are popping up everywhere and I am lapping them up. These candy-colored baubles from Irene Neuwirth are beauts, aren't they? They're way, way out of my budget range (the necklace above is almost 20k!), but I'd take any of these trinkets over Easter candy any day...wait, let me think that one over for a moment - I do love candy... ;)

Spotted on Greedy Girl.