i want it now: flirty & feminine

The feminine, flirty details of the spring/summer line at J. Crew are simply irresistible. Just pretty as can be.

(Tiered Linen Playa Dress in Papaya)

(Perfect Fit Chiffon Ruffle Tank in Beechwood)

design inspiration: blue redo

What was once a dreary, dull bathroom has been completely updated into a fresh, contemporary bath that's bursting with blue! I love the library sconce that lights the vanity and the vintage farmhouse sink sitting atop a simple blue table. The penny-tile floor is fabulous. If I was redoing our bathroom, I would totally use some of these ideas.

(from the pages of Coastal Living; photography by Erica George Dines & Tria Giovan)

I'm pretty sure that House of Turquoise would love this. I think it's absolutely swoon-worthy! Hope you like it, Erin!

spotlight: midwest modern girl

I love letters, I {heart} fancy fonts (monograms are one of my favorite things!), and so of course I am swooning over these handmade invitations.

Just perfect for a baby shower, no?

(Alphabet Invitations by Midwest Modern Girl)

i'm happy today because...

The lovely Michelle over at Oh Mishka! tagged me and now I'm tagging these six ladies to name the six things that made them happy today: Dionne, Emily, Anne, Joslyn, Mary and Suann.

So now, in no particular order, the six things that make me happy:

1. It's Friday! I know it sounds cliche, but I have been looking forward to this weekend for months. My dear friend is getting married tomorrow, and I can't wait to celebrate with her!

2. I'm 19 weeks pregnant this week. Almost half way there!

3. Enjoying ice cream treats with my co-workers. I don't know whose idea it was, but boy was it a good one! I haven't had a Good Humor strawberry shortcake bar in ages. And I confess that this was actually from yesterday... but that ice cream bar was so darn good, I can't stop thinking about it!

4. Looking at inspiring photos of nurseries to get my mind rolling on how to decorate ours. And I think I found our crib!

5. Knowing that tonight is going to be a quiet night at home after a sort of busy week. Take out is a must.

6. Looking at pictures of Lulu from when she was a puppy. She was the cutest little furball I've ever seen. Seriously.


Even though my list is sure to be different from yours... I do hope that you take a minute today to think about what makes you happy.

tgif

Have a sunshine-y weekend that's full of fun!

See you next week!
xo, Kristin

(Sunny Day by April Rocha via Frolic)

Visit her shop for the rest of her collection.

design inspiration: fireplace nook

I love the cozy living room with its corner bookcase in this charming beach bungalow. Most of us couldn't get away with a turqoise floor but here the hue is perfect. It's beachy keen!

(Living Room at the Beach Bungalow on Martha Stewart)

spotlight: mia joie

Adorable!

(Amelia Shoes from MiaJoie)

Bright and cheery eco-friendly baby shoes from Mia Joie. I'm swooning over her entire collection...

And how lovely do they look paired with this?

design inspiration: a caribbean cottage

A lovely little glimpse into the Beside the Point Cottage in Bahamas' Cistern Cay. The 250-year-old cottage is bright and cheery with glossy white walls and ceilings, a jumble of traditional and contemporary furnishings, and views from nearly every room of the crystal blue Caribbean.

Sounds dreamy...

(Coastal Living Wish You Were Here: Beside the Point Cottage)

Guess what? You can actually rent this beautiful cottage by the week! For more visit here.

i want it now: cap-sleeve dress

I really love this dress...

I think I can pull it off for my friend's wedding this weekend. (I just have to picture it with a little baby bump under that skirt!)

(The Grand Holiday Dress from Anthropologie)

*Update: I went to the store last night to try on the dress, and yikes! it was much better in the photograph. Definitely way too much cleavage for me -- especially now that I'm expecting (if you know what I mean!). So, instead I picked up this to wear with this lovely necklace. And because I have the hardest time making decisions, I also got another cute dress, but I can't seem to find it online. Now I can't decide which dress I like better!

tgif + happy mother's day!

Be sure to give all the momma's in your life a nice big hug on Sunday.
Have a wonderful weekend and see you next week!

xo, Kristin

(My momma and Me, circa 1978)

spotlight: zoetropa

I was shopping for some notecards when I stumbled upon these adorable hand-printed goodies. They'd make perfect baby shower thank-you cards, don't you think?

(Little Shoes Notes from zoetropa)

i want it now: green glass pitcher

A beautiful green ribbed pitcher from Madison Belle...

(Green Glass Pitcher, $38)

The idea of a cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer day is so tantalizing.

design inspiration: attic bedroom

How can you not think spring when you see a bedroom bedecked in citrus-y yellows and greens? Of course, the striped rug caught my eye and that wall of built-in bookshelves is a wonderful idea for taking advantage of every inch of space.

Growing up I always wanted an attic bedroom and now I do all over again after seeing this brilliant space.

(Small Bedroom on Country Living)

dream house: porch

The elements of my dream house are always changing. I'm constantly finding inspiration in all sorts of interiors, but through all the revisions, one thing remains the same... I definitely want a huge porch (complete with ceiling fans) for spending lazy days with family and friends.

Kind of just like this...

(Front Porch at Riverside Cottage on Martha Stewart)

(Porch Rockers at Riverside Cottage)

spotlight: leptit papillon

Loving the bright colors and whimsical feeling of this colorful garland handmade by Leptit Papillon. A lovely way to brighten any room...

(Macaroon Colors Garland)

For more handmade creations, visit her Etsy shop.

tgif

April showers bring May flowers!
Happy first of May... and have a wonderful weekend.

See you next week!
xo, Kristin

(Spring Greens from Green Island Studios)

tangerine dress

Since my days in non-maternity wear are numbered, can someone please do me a favor and get this dress?

It's just too darn pretty to go unworn...

thanks!

(Fiji Dress by Modaspia at CandyStore Collective)
Via Oh Joy!

spotlight: dottie angel

I think this is a pretty clever way to display photos of family and friends. Send in nine photos to Dottie Angel, and she'll make them into a lovely banner using bits of vintage fabrics.

(Custom Photo Banner by Dottie Angel)

For only $48, it's an inexpensive and one-of-a-kind way to display cherished photos.

design inspiration: tybee island renovation

From the pages of Coastal Living (March '09)... a few interior shots of a renovated hundred-year-old house. The beach house was given new life when the owners opened up the spaces, painted the walls a powdery white and brought in pops of bright colors. All the while, the goal was to keep the identity of the house as when it was first built. It's left me wanting to see more! (And oh, how I long for a trip to the beach!)

(A Light and Bright Kitchen with an adorable turquoise blue screen door to the pantry.)

(See walls of unpainted boards saved from the original house in a perfect example of Old Made New in a Dressing Area.)

(A Perfectly Positioned master suite in what used to be a wrap-around porch.)

For the rest of the photo portfolio (and to see before pics -- always a favorite of mine! -- click here.

(all photos by Richard Leo Johnson)

spotlight: she's crafty

Some irresistible handmade goodies for the bambinos...

From the very talented Hadley Fierlinger of She's Crafty.

Visit her Etsy shop for more great handmade goods.

tgif

Another weekend is upon us, dear readers. Have a lovely one!

See you next week!
xo, Kristin

(Free Spirit by Shirae)

See the rest of her collection here.

spotlight: city of dionne stationary

I simply cannot resist cute and unique stationary. The cards are hand-illustrated by the very talented Dionne (check out her blog!)

(Simple Joys in Life, set of 4 cards, $12.50)

See the rest of her collection here.

travel: waterfront cottage

I want to go there now...

A three-bedroom Maine cottage rental right on the water. Porches, a fireplace and nearby lobster bakes? I'm in!

(Maine Cottage Rental)

(PS - thank you, Liz Lemon, for giving me a cheeky line to say all. the. time.)

spotlight: periwinkle bloom

Have you seen the lovely collection of organic tots' attire from Periwinklebloom? I'm finding it hard to resist...

(Gathered Dress, $48; Bubble Dress, $62)

design inspiration: holly aird's london retreat

From the online gallery on Living Etc. ...when can I move in?

(A pretty flowery rug brightens up the neutrals of all those comfy pieces of upholstery.)

(A beautiful farm table gets a new lot on life.)

(I never would have thought to put a big photograph on the backsplash of the stove. And now I can't stop thinking about it)

(Such colorful bedding! I am loving that embroidered trim on the sheets.)

(I have never seen a pink tub. Nor have I loved a tub so much.)

(A perfectly playful child's room decked out in bright colors.)

To see the rest of the photos from this amazing house tour, please click here. I know you'll enjoy!

tgif

I'm hoping all of your weekend wishes come true.

See you next week!
xo, Kristin

(Everyone Needs a Wish Jar 5 x 7 print, $8, by Beth Retro)

I first saw Beth's work on Creature Comforts.

See the rest of her collection here.

spotlight: weeds & wild things

Hello, wee little village.

I'd like to take you home with me.

(Shelf City by Weeds and Wild Things on Etsy)

butterfly garland

I came across this butterfly garland at Via Maris NYC and think it is simply lovely...

(Butterfly Garland, 80" long x 7" high, $20)

spotlight: carol hannah

This silk chiffon dress - in a dreamy lavendar - is pretty as can be. It's just perfect for a summer wedding. I especially love the back...

(Lavendar Avenue Dress by CarolHannah, available at Etsy)

See the rest of the collection here.

design inspiration: child's room (and some news!)

I have some wonderful news, my dear readers... I'm pleased as punch to tell you that my husband and I are expecting twins this fall! We are beyond thrilled and a little nervous too, as I'm sure you can imagine. So, you'll definitely be seeing more baby/child themed posts as we move through this pregnancy and prepare our life for the little bundles.

Now more than ever, I am looking at kids' rooms with a whole new energy. I spied this wonderful vintage-inspired room and just had to share it with you.

Isn't it lovely?

(Vintage Child's Room from Country Living)

tgif + happy easter!

Wishing you and yours a fun-filled Easter.
(One that hopefully includes lots of chocolate!)

(Spring in Our Kitchen by Moline)

(Gosh, I love EVERY single photo she posts. I'd move in if I could!)

spotlight: print*pattern*paper

Such a cute, easy way to to decorate a child's room... I love these wall cards from Rebecca, the uber-talented artist at Print*Pattern*Paper.

Numbered 1 through 10, the cards feature adorable images and text. Kid-friendly yet not too saccharine, these card creations give the perfect dose of fun and color for the modern kid's room.

(Wall Cards from Print*Pattern*Paper)

Available in two sizes: 5x7 ($18) and 8x10 ($32)

design inspiration: photo gallery wall

Another brilliant arrangement of photos and artwork; this time winding up a staircase. (Amanda Peet's staircase!) I am so inspired by gallery walls like this (and this and this) -- I just have to do this somewhere in my house.

(Amanda Peet: House Tour via Domino Mag)

spotlight: elizabeth rosas earrings

These shimmering dangle earrings are pretty as can be. They're made with hand punched discs of silver with a snake skin-like texture. I think they'd add a bit of "wow" to any outfit.

(Dangle Earrings by eRosas Jewelry)

For more from her collection visit the shop.

tgif

Have a wonderful weekend!

(Grape Hyacinth by Hannie on Flickr)

spotlight: lamixx

Mama needs to update her wardrobe, and I have had my eye on this top for months. Every time I look at it, I think just how cute it would be with a pair of ballerina flats and black leggings.

I think it's time to bite the bullet...

(Check Mate Slanted Bow Top by Lamixx)

See the rest of Jacqueline Rose's collection here.

spotlight: bukushuns by djenya

I have never in my life "ooh-ed" out loud over bookends until I spotted these. Are they not the cleverest little things you've seen?

I'll just leave it to Djenya, the artist, to describe:

"Bukushuns - or Book Cushions - are hand-made ceramic bookends that look like soft little pillows. They are filled with sand and sealed, making them heavy enough to hold up your entire library. Can also be used as door-stops, paper-weights, or simply as decorative sculptures to put on your shelf."

(Bukushuns by Djenya on Etsy)

design inspiration: modern-retro kitchen

Here is a perfect example of just how interesting an all white room can be once you add a just a few colorful accessories. The mantle showcasing bright plates, the pitcher of fresh flowers and the checkered tablecloth have just what it takes to enliven the room, and thanks to the blank canvas of the walls, they really pop as accents.

I love the tiled floor, too (tho' I'm not sure what it would be like to clean with all those grout lines).

(Modern-Retro Kitchen on Living Etc.)

spring wardrobe update

Say hello to my new spring handbag! I thought the bright blue color would do a lot to brighten these dreary days we've been having. (It seems like winter just doesn't want to let go!)

I picked it up from the ever-adorable Roscoe Village boutique, Glam to Go. One of my faves in the city with quite possibly the nicest owner anywhere.

(Turn Lock Pleated Tote by Melie Bianco)

design inspiration: rustic bedroom

There is nothing campy about this rustic retreat. From the cool iron bed and vintage trunk at its foot to the wide plank floors and beamed ceiling, I love everything about this room. And do you see that ladder back cum wing chair off to the side? What a fantastic idea.

(White and wood bedroom from Country Living)

art by kat hannah

Loving the vibrant colors and the child-like appeal of this print.

I know just where I'd hang it...

"Mosey" fine art print by Kat Hannah.

See more of her collection here.
Visit Kat's shop here.

how do i explain this one?

Wow... if any of you are actually still checking in, I'm finally back. Several things kept me from getting to Contented Me (which I am not going to go into here), but I do hope you'll forgive and forget and read on as I promise to get some new posts up asap.

I do have some news... that I can't share just yet, but I am really looking forward to being able to do so soon.

Thanks for sticking around.
xo, Kristin