{guest post: seashells by the sea shore}

Posted on August 21, 2009 by

I am sure once the warm summer nights make way for a chilly fall breeze I will be dreaming of being back on a beach somewhere. This lovely winter white seashell clutch by EightSeasons will be the perfect accessory to help me hold on to my summer memories just a while longer. xx, Sam from Pretty Lovely

{friday finds: pretty tough at intermix}

Posted on August 21, 2009 by Jenn

I have an intermix in the mall nearby. There’s also one on SoBe. I try to avoid both out of pure fear and knowledge that my self-control is not that strong. Behold, two perfect examples of Intermix’s temptation below.

In other news, Project Runway kicked off last night at its new home, Lifetime. We’ve got an interesting bunch. Head on over to {iStyle} to see a recap of the designers and the results. {Spoiler alert!} Between Mad Men and Project Runway kicking off this week, I’m a happy girl. Now all I need is Gossip Girl. Also, there’s only a few more hours until the giveaway is over, so hurry-up! I’ll announce the winner on the TGIF post at 5 p.m. EST. Good luck!

{everday beautiful life: sweet & low}

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Jenn

Yes, it’s Thursday! Man, am I having a nutty week. If there ever was a week to look at the everday beautiful, this is it. This week, we welcome Megan of Sweet & Low. Below she shares 5 things that make her life beautiful. Ready?

1. {Peacock feathers} I find peacocks to be absolutely stunning and beautiful creatures-they have a subtle grace and elegance to them. Instead of having the traditional vase of fresh flowers on my coffee table, I’ve arranged a bouquet of faux peacock feathers. Every time I pass by the table and see them, I am immediately reminded of all the little beauties of nature.

2. {Hand-written letters} These days, with technological advancements like IPhones, Facebook and Twitter, snail mail seems far and in between. Sure, it may be quick and easy to send a text message. Still, nothing compares to receiving a hand-written letter from a family member or friend via the old-fashioned way.

3. {Farmers’ Markets} One of my favorite things to enjoy during the summer months is a weekend trip to a local farmers’ market. Grocery store produce just can’t compare to the bright colors and smells of home grown tomatoes and peaches. I recently discovered apple butter and now I just can’t get enough.

4. {Baking} If I’m sad, I bake. If I’m excited or anxious, I bake. If I just got the best news of my life, I bake. Can you see a trend? I tend spend a lot of late summer nights and long weekends scouring websites and old cookbooks for new recipes to try. I have a killer sweet tooth and love to bake pies, tarts, breads, cakes, cookies…and essentially anything that calls for chocolate. I like to think of my time in the kitchen as a cheaper alternative to therapy: I just love the idea of creating something delicious from different ingredients and then sharing it with the people I love the most.

5. {Black & White Photography} Two summers ago I took a 2-week trip to Italy, staying in Rome, Venice and Florence. The experience was probably the best 14 days of my life and I truly cannot wait to go back. While I was there I took hundreds of pictures of hidden alleyways, cozy little mom & pop shops and gorgeous old Italian architecture, all of which were in black and white. Getting back to the States and developing the film was absolutely breathtaking. An entire wall of my bedroom is devoted to photos from my trip. To me, nothing is more precious, beautiful or inspirational than that collection of photos.

{Other posts in this series}
+ Frolic!
+ Design Crush
+ Daydream Lily
+ Concrete & Honey
+ Simply Seductive
+ How to be Sensual at Home
+ 6 Ways to be a Wild Thing
or click on the category at left to enjoy them all.