sitting room wish list

If my budget was unlimited (and maybe if I had a separate sitting room), this is what I would put in my house right now.

1 - a blue velvet loveseat from Barclay Butera via One Kings Lane

2 - a 4-light chandelier with pink and citron accents

3 - a Bassett Mirror Co. console table with mirrored doors

4 - a zebra-striped Barclay Butera chair via One Kings Lane

Oh, and I'd also get a sheepskin rug for the bedroom, which I'd lay over the high-pile white rug we have in there now. I'm putting this on my "maybe" list, as I'm redoing our master bedroom soon.

shoe storage

I'm constantly looking for storage and organization options, since I find that I always have more shoes than will fit in my closet. My favorite options are below!

1 - Obsessed with this Lilly Pullitzer Rousseau Ottoman - if only it wasn't $1,000

2 - Seventh Avenue oval ottoman is a "steal" version of the Lilly Pullitzer, at $140 instead of $1,000

3 - Shoe shelving via Lonny Mag - If only I had enough space in my house for a room like this! (Someday?)

4 - Glass door hutch, image from Lucky - gorgeous way to display your favorite pairs

5 - Shoe racks are a nice option for small-space living

6 - See-through shoe boxes let you see exactly what you have without letting your favorite pairs collect dust

7 - Crown molding as a shoe rack is an interesting option to add dimension and highlight your shoes as art!

beach blankets & coverups

How cute are these towels with messages for other beach-goers - and growing up in New England, lobsters to me always = summertime! Both of these coverups are super cute and easily go from beach to boardwalk (I love the crochet one!).

1. Busy towel // 2. Reserved towel // 3. Lobster towel

4. Striped cover up // 5. Crochet cover up

1 year with our little man

A year ago today, we went to the airport and met a shy puppy who was nervous from his plane trip from Texas to Boston. He quickly became part of our little family, and I can't imagine not having him in my life! Sprout, happy 1 year adoption anniversary!

T and Sprout at the airport, just a few minutes after we picked him up

Dragging T's backpack to his bed

First Fall - playing in the leaves (and really excited about it)

Sprout got his own stocking for Christmas

Look at that face! xx

P.S. I am obsessed with my puppy and not ashamed of it :)

summer neutrals

My summer neutrals aren't as conventional as the nude shoe that has been so popular lately (partially because I haven't been able to find the perfect nude shoe to add to my closet). I'm also normally mixing silver and gold accessories - I find that if you mix the right pieces, it can look modern rather than confused.

Calvin Klein Kendall pumps - love these!

Name necklace via Etsy

Marc Jacobs Molly watch in gold

store spotlight: C.Wonder

I recently discovered C.Wonder, and I cannot get over some of the items in the online shop. 100% obsessed with the Ikat navy tableware!

Ikat tableware - Patriotic frame - Animal print napkin rings (on sale!) - French Bulldog pillow cover - calf hair bracelet (on sale!)

retro-inspired swimwear

We're having a mid-week heat wave in Boston, and I'm doing all I can to think about work and school and not playing hooky and going to the Cape. While my drawers are full of two-piece suits, I'm loving this season's retro-inspired swimwear, with everything from 1950s polka dots to 1970s crochet.

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non-registry wedding gifts

Purchasing gifts for a couple who didn't register can be a bit daunting, but it doesn't have to be! Putting together a personalized gift basket is a sweet idea and stands out from the 35 blenders they'll receive.

For the entertainer, put together a basket of items they'll need for their first dinner party as a married couple: agate coasters, natural wine stopper, a bottle of your favorite wine, and a slate cheese board.

For the correspondent, custom address stamps (square and rectangle) and note cards are a great gift in a desktop organizer. 

For the traveler, modern luggage tags and a custom pillow featuring the airport code of their favorite destination (or honeymoon destination) are fresh when presented in a tote.

off for the weekend

Happy weekend!

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Somewhere among writing my final paper for one of my classes, attending a birthday party night out, going to a bachelorette party, and celebrating Father's Day, I'm planning to spend some time in the studio, lengthening and strengthening! Have a relaxing weekend - see you Monday!

iced coffee at home

A few years ago, I found an amazing iced coffee recipe in In Style magazine. Luckily, I held onto the recipe.

image via

1. Soak coffee grounds in cold water (8 cups of water, 1.75 cups of coffee grounds - I use a mixture of French Vanilla and regular grounds) in the fridge overnight. 2. Strain into a fine sieve or cheesecloth into a pitcher. 3. Pour into your favorite glass, add ice, and stir in milk or cream and sugar to taste. Coffee can stay in the fridge up to 2 weeks.

summer wedding wear

I'm starting to pick out outfits for this summer's weddings, and these items are at the top of my list. Normally I wouldn't put the same color in a dress and shoe, but blue is my favorite color, and these shoes (4) are basically a nude base anyway.

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reception bag essentials

As I've already mentioned, T and I will be traveling to quite a few weddings this summer and into the fall. And because we're making the trip and staying in the couples' hotel choices overnight, here's what I'm hoping to find handed to us in a sweet little bag from reception when we check in...

bottle of water 
Water is essential. Whether or not your hotel is in an area where guests can drink the tap water and not fear getting sick, be nice and include this. Two bottles would be a plus.

candy
I don't care whether it's a custom-molded chocolate bar, truffles from your favorite sweets shop, or a good old Hershey's bar, but there had better be something tasty and sugary in there.

granola bar
If your guests are running late and don't have time to grab a snack before the ceremony or breakfast before they head out of town, it's nice to have something small at the ready!


"things to do" pamphlet
One wedding last summer brought us to the lovely town of Clinton, NJ. While it was an adorable town, we had no idea where we were. Luckily, the bride and groom had put together a pamphlet of their recommended restaurants, movie theaters, shops, etc., so we had some idea of where to go without spending too much time on Google.

small sewing kit
This should also be included in a basket in the bathroom at your reception venue, but it is a plus to have one available when you get to the hotel. Safety pins, bobby pins, and hair ties are nice extras.

essential information
If you have a shuttle running only one trip from the hotel to the venue each way, or you are expecting certain guests (like your college friends) to be in a specific spot for a photo op at the reception, make sure to include this information. Not everyone is good about reading (and keeping) emails, and I've definitely been guilty of reading an email on my iPhone and then forgetting about it because I got distracted.

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Those are the essentials. If you want to go the extra mile, include items like small toys for children (if they're coming), flip flops (his and hers) for a destination beach wedding, extra snacks, sunscreen, ibu profen or Tylenol in a small pack, postcards from the city or town where your wedding is being held or where you met, mints, regional favorites (like maple syrup if your wedding is in Vermont). Your guests are going to be excited to spend the day with you, but don't forget about the little things - they definitely make a difference!

bits of my weekend

We took off this weekend for a fun trip to Maine to what I would consider an upscale cabin (part of a resort). Sprout was great on the four hour drive each way, and even though we drove through quite the storm halfway through the drive there, we had a great day both Saturday and Sunday, with gorgeous New England summer weather!

We also stopped by the outlets on the way home, where I picked up this sassy shirt. I had seen it on JCrew's site and was upset when I realized it was all sold out in my size - but not in the store! T's reaction to my purchase: "What is it with you and leopard?"

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sparkle & feathers

I'm totally in love with this Sue Wong cocktail dress. It has sparkle, feathers, and a deep V back - what more could a girl ask for?

images via ideeli

So then today I came across this feather dress tutorial from Meredith & The New Yorkie, which inspired me to DIY my own version. I'll post as soon as it's perfect. (It might be a while - I haven't started it yet) :)

3 things thursday: a new combo

When I was getting dressed yesterday, I pulled out a striped shirt (the gray and red one) and thought, "Hey, why not?", adding the pink striped button down. Topping it off with a tortoiseshell Michael Kors watch, I was ready for the day. Not usually a combination I'd put together, but it felt new and that made me happy.

Note: Yes, that is my steering wheel. No, I was not actively driving when I took this photo.

longing for a finished master bedroom

I've run into quite a few dilemmas lately, all of them solvable - if I had a never-ending supply of money. (Though isn't that usually the case?) Unfortunately, being a graduate student while working full-time means that some of my income has to be set aside for things like books, when what I'd really like to be doing is making our master bedroom look less like a mish-mash of furniture and more like this:

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back from vaca

We took 2 (rainy) days off and spent some time at the Cape with my family. Sprout had a great time - he's such a fabulous snuggle buddy and travel pal!

written word

Years ago, my college roommate and I discussed how great it is to both receive mail and buy stationery. I keep boxes of monogrammed stationery in my desk drawer, both at home and work, because I really believe there is nothing like a written note - especially when it comes on fabulous paper.

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