The Royal Wedding

First of all, I want to say a huge thank you for all of your comments on my new haircut.  You really know how to lift a girl right out of a funk!  Because of you, I’ve been walking around with an extra strut in my step.  Thank you so much!

Speaking of walking – today is all about the Royal couple walking down the aisle.  I hope you will be indulging in the fairytale of today.  Since I had to pre-schedule this post due to the fact that I’m traveling, I’m going to devote it to Will and Kate through the years.

Cheers to Will and Kate!!  Happy Royal Wedding Day!!

Maryland Bound

Today, Graham and I are off to Maryland to indulge in some East coast prep time.  We are off to one of Graham’s college friend’s wedding.  Friday night will be the rehearsal dinner and Saturday the wedding.  The rehearsal invitation came complete with a little crab illustration – you know the motif made my heart pitter patter.  Seersucker?  Don’t mind if I do!!

Loved this vintage House and Garden clam-bake shoot.  Via Katy Elliot.

Funk Lifted

I’ve been in a tiny funk lately.  There is no real reason to be in one as my life is very blessed.  But funks happen, you know?  Feeling sick of the dull drums, I did something that I feel is a very female move, I went for a drastic haircut.  I decided not to chop the length of my hair but rather go for bangs.  Knowing full well that if I hated it, I could put the bangs back in a bobby pin and move on.

It was a little scary because the last time I had bangs, I looked like this.

But, I’m actually not one to get scared about hair cut changes.  Once, in highschool, I said “surprise me” to my hairstylist.  The next thing I knew he was cutting it so short he needed to get out men’s sheers for the bottom.  Lesson learned on that one.

Here is the new look…

I’ve got to say I’m liking the change.  If nothing else for the change in and of itself.   I’m feeling refreshed and am back at it again!

Cape Dutch in California Wine Country

Today’s post is for my In-Laws who are South African.  I think that one of the most beautiful styles of homes is the Cape Dutch style, which is a popular style in South Africa’s wine country.   Stellenbosch  is one of my favorite places to visit and Graham and I have often wondered what it would be like to build a Cape Dutch style home in California.  Designer Patrick Printy did just that when he renovated his Sonoma County home.  The final look came out stunning and I really love how he mixed California style decor with a few homages to South Africa through out.  If he had designed the place with an African theme throughout the home, I think it would have felt forced and out of place.  This, to me, feels like the perfect mix between the two places, like a nice Cab/Merlot blend.

All images via Elle Decor.

Going Green

A color I’ve been very into lately is green.  A pastel green can be perfect for spring.  I thought I’d do a little round up where green paint really brings life to rooms.

This leafy green on the floor really livens up the space.

Instead of opting for green on the kitchen floors, it’s always a great choice for the cabinets; I think I would have prefered the island counter in butcher block.

The saturated lime green on the stairwell and walls of this home add to the light, airy feel.

Love the bold decision to use green for the dining room walls.  Bamboo chairs paired with a coral chandelier is always a favorite of mine.

Going green for wall color reminds me of the guest room I decorated…

What do you think about green on walls, cabinetry or floors?

(All photos by Coastal Living, except final photo by me).

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!  Graham and I are off to the beach for the weekend to spend the holiday with our families.  Can’t wait to watch the little ones fill their baskets with eggs.  Hope you all have a very happy Easter!!

Artist of the Week: Michelle Armas

Oh happy day!  Michele Armas’ paintings put me in a good mood.  I love the bright happy colors and the movement in her pieces.  I think it is beautiful and like a little party in each painting. 🙂

Her smaller pieces are really affordable and look great in a grouping.  I love how Liz put them up in her bedroom…

Check out Michelle’s work here.

Purchased

I made a little, scratch that, huge purchase this past weekend.  It actually didn’t cost that much but it’s massive in size…

7 feet tall to be exact.  I fell head over heels for the wood carving and the armoire door handles and I just had to have it.  It’s actually not going to be in our current apartment but stored away for our next place.  We’re determined to live in the Presidio and I’ve already measured where we hope to live and it’ll fit in perfectly in a sunroom.  Can you believe I’m already talking about moving?!

The armoire needs to be cleaned up a bit but it’s in great vintage condition.  What do you think of it?

Campaign Dresser

So remember this yellow campaign dresser I found on Craigslist for dirt cheap?

And then I posted about how I fixed it right up with a happy coat of white spray paint.

Then the dresser sat in my mom’s garage for two months.  Sorry Mom!  Finally, this past Sunday, I convinced my husband to drive down there and help me bring it back up to our apartment.

It feels so good to have it home.  So this little bookshelf nook has been through a few looks since we moved in seven months ago.

First there was this little black dresser..

It was too small for the space and so it ended up getting cluttered by a bunch of miscellaneous stuff.  I sold the little black dresser on Craigslist and then this happened to the space…

Lovely.  One huge pit to put all of my crap.  Ummm…not working.  So happy to have the space organized again and that the dresser fits in perfectly.

Don’t worry though, if it all looks a little feminine.  We do have a masculine bookshelf as well in another part of the apartment…

Can’t get more masculine than a cow head.

I do still need to style the books on the bookshelf.  I’ve considered covering all of them in butcher paper, like the good old school days but don’t know if I want to take the time to do that.  They need some work.

The Dress

* Update:  My source that Sophie Cranston is Kate Middleton’s dress designer is via various British news outlets.  In no way has this information been confirmed by Sophie or the Royal Family.

Kate Middleton’s dress designer has been revealed.   Sophie Cranston will be doing the honors.  She is my in-laws good friend’s daughter!!  So basically through six degrees of separation, I am an integral part of this wedding….or maybe, I skipped a step or two.  But still, this is MAJOR.  If I lived in London, Sophie and I would be best friends…or well, we would have met.

Sophie’s clothing is stunning.  Kate wore a dress by her label, Libelula, to a friend’s wedding:

I can’t wait for the big day.  I know that Sophie will create the most beautiful gown and Kate will look flawless.  Now, if only I were attending the event.  One of my reader’s daughter is attending the wedding!!  Oh so thrilled I get to live vicariously through these amazing and lucky women, even though there are quite a few steps of separation between myself and them.