{Design Darling} inspiration

I love lists, planners, nail polish, and blogs more than normal Americans love a baseball game and a hot dog. And, I may have found yet another career/life coach in Mackenzie Horan.

She has red hair, lives in New York, and writes for Matchbook. As if that's not enough to envy, she also has a fabulous life list: 101things in 1,001 days.

Per her own description, the list is "I am keeping a list of 101 things I'd like to accomplish in the next 1001 days. For me, 1001 days (2.75 years) is a happy medium between writing a to do list and keeping a bucket list. It's a way to dream big and make regular progress toward meeting those longer term goals. Here goes!

{62 complete, 39 to go!}

End date: September 28, 2013"

 

This got me thinking. If I ever want to accomplish all of the things bouncing around in my head, I'll need a list too. I'm currently working on mine and will post when complete.

 

Til then, enjoy her blog, pinterest, and boutique. 

Design Love Fest

To finish up a previous series (see here or here for a refresher), I was going to write about the winner of Bachelor, Catherine Giudici, since she too has an enviable job as a graphic designer. But, since I already devoted a post to Catherine's fabulous ombre hair, I decided a mere shout out would suffice.

Moving right along, I found another utterly amaze blogger to follow: Bri Emery. She's got not just one, but two, successful blogs that are both equally presh in their own right; so clearly she's enviable. Side note: I also think she could be a stunt double for the oh-so-glamorous Rachel Zoe, amiright?
 

 {Bri Emery, above}

 {Rachel Zoe}

The first, Design Love Fest was created out of sheer boredom and Bri's love of type and images. It has since spawned a complete graphic design and branding studio (similar to Catherine). Click here for her portfolio.

The second, Blogshop, is "where she enjoys sharing her knowledge and cultivating a strong skillset with her eager students" (aka workshops for bloggers). 

Her office makeover (click here for full post of the transition) was also featured on The Glitter Guide, another favorite of mine.

Needless to say, Bri has escaped from the monotonous 9 to 5 with pizazz and sparkle keeping her creativity in tact and becoming a successful entrepreneur in her own right.

Follow her on instagram, twitter, facebook, and pinterest to see more of her fabulicious life.

 

Cheetah is the New Black

Found another style/life soul-mate today in the freelance writer and stylist, Alicia Lund. If the post title didn't tip you off, we have more than a few loves in common.

For starters, she loves cheetah and leopard 

(as the post and her blog title suggest), lives in NYC with her precious hubby, and is a freelance stylist for a living 

(hello, dream life).

 

{Their wedding shoes. presh}

 

She also has fabulous red locks, 

a topic most know I'm tempted to try.

 

Her loves also include coffee and brunch which, in my 

humble opinion, should be offered 

at every establishment, at all times of day.

Did I mention she's a freelaner stylist and writer? 

Follow her, tweet her, and repin her.

Because she's fabulous.

*photos from Alicia's instagram

Beauty Blogging Bachelorette

Pardon my hiatus, quarter one has been a doozy. That said, no better way to usher in a new season (literally and figuratively) of posts starting with my all time favorite member of the Bachelorette (which wasn't hard to do, minus of course Lesley from the past Bachelor).

You guessed it. Emily Maynard finally has her own website so that freakish fans (like myself) who follow her every beauty recommendation religiously can have 24/7 access to her suggestions (because following her InStyle posts on current style weren't good enough). This might make me happier than when I finally found (and bought) her YSL lip color. 

*

 *photos courtesy of google and emilymaynard.com

Questionnaire Friday

In response to one of my favorite bloggers (who also gets distracted by such posts) I'm answering the questionnaire she passed along from The Pursuit of Style blog.

Inslee's answers (for those too lazy to click here and see for yourself) are:

Talent I wish I had: The ability to enjoy seafood 

Best Gift I Ever Received: In the 1st grade I had the market cornered on pretty ballet flats with bows on them from Jacadi and all I wanted was a pair of white cowboy boots from Kmart. My mother’s classic taste and good judgement told her she could never buy me these boots and live with herself. I begged for weeks, but she knew it would set a dangerous precedent, one that could ultimately lead to me having a lower back tattoo. Not wanting to completely crush my dreams, she did help me bake brownies and allow me to sell them at my dad’s office to earn the money for the boots myself. I learned years later that my dad bought all the brownies. So thank you to my parents for the gift of the entrepreneurial spirit. They taught me that this will allow you to make your own choices, carve your own path and have the freedom to make your own sartorial decisions with the financial independence to act on them. (are you hearing Destiny’s Child?)

most memorable stamp on your passport: Zermatt, Switzerland.

Something I am excited about: The arrival of my new bedding from Serena & Lily. And, just for the record, I am always, always excited about croissants

Favorite Restaurant: You really can’t play this game in NYC. It’s too overwhelming. So I’m going to a throw back, Tuscarora Mill in Leesburg, Virginia. My first favorite restaurant love.

Camo Pants: do or don't: Never in a million years

Lindsay's answers from The Pursuit of Style blog are:

Talent you wish you had: Beautiful handwriting
Best gift you’ve ever received: I’ve only come to appreciate this as a gift recently, and it’s sappy, but my education. Thanks Mom and Dad! I should also give a ton of credit to my boyfriend for killing it this Valentine’s Day with a totally unexpected scavenger hunt. The treasure? A stack of Domino magazines I was missing from my collection and plane tickets for an upcoming trip. So sweet I cried!
Most memorable stamp in your passport: Spain
Something you’re excited about: I haven’t told you guys yet, but The Pursuit of Style is getting a makeover! Hanna has worked her magic for me again and I’m so so excited to launch the new look. Fingers crossed you love it as much as I do!
Favorite restaurant (share the city too so we can visit!): The Cape Sea Grille, Harwich Port, MA
Camo Pants: Do or Don’t?: I really want to be able to pull these off but I’m not sure I’m cool enough, ha!

without further adieu, my answers:

Talent you wish you had: singing well and/or dancing (think Memphis pom team)

 
Best gift you’ve ever received: I'll second Lindsay with my education but go a step farther and also say my leopard bath robe given to me by my TNB's... because only they understand the importance of a fabulous leopard ensemble to get ready in

 
Most memorable stamp in your passport: considering they don't do this anymore (much to my dismay) and the fact that I've only ever been out of the country on my SB cruise last year I vote Cozumel, Mexico. Because nothing tops magic yellow bracelets, double-fisting dirty bananas and nearly getting left in a foreign country

 
Something you’re excited about:The summer, the future, and this weekend. The past year has been full of amazing change and I can't wait to see what's next.

 
Favorite restaurant (share the city too so we can visit!): This one's a toughy but I'll go with Jim's Place Grille and Sakura sushi in Memphis, Tennessee.

 
Camo Pants: Do or Don’t?: now I vote no, but there was a time in my not so distant past (cough sophomore year) where I rocked a thrift store pair originally purchased for sigma nu white trash bash like it was my job

 Your turn.

Got a Secret. Can Ya Keep It?

I just couldn't help myself with the post title. I thought it fit quite nicely with it being the middle of PLL season and the topic of this post of course. None other than my blog obsession with The Sorority Secrets. Being a retired sorority gal myself, I was tickled pink (or rather, azure blue and white for my ADPi ladies) to stumble upon it this week. 

It's frilly, feminine and full of juicy secrets you know you wanted to find out. Even though the site is relatively new, judging by their substantial following, I'm guessing they're the next big thing. Check out cute categories like "campus catwalk," "chapter room [style]," and "secret steals." 

Wana know the best part? They're currently paired with Erin Condren for a giveaway! If that isn't a match made in heaven, I don't know what is. Definitely adding this site to my favorites (and my list of blogs to follow, conveniently located in my Erin Condren planner).

Connect with them on twitter, instagram, facebook, and pinterest.

Details Matter

With a mantra like,

"life is in the details. style accordingly," 

who wouldn't love Coco + Kelley?

A few of my favorite posts include but are not limited to, "damn, you glam" and "pajama party soiree." The ever-stylish team walks you through style, interiors, and recipes with ease. I'm also fond of their "room of the week" column. So, what are you waiting for? Click, browse, and enjoy.

*photos are from the coco + kelley blog posts I've read most recently.

Lily Lovin

Some may be aware of just. how. much. I love blogs, but while it may seem like I post too much about it... I've barely even skimmed the surface. My latest love (found through another fav, Inslee Haynes blog) is Lily Says Go--chic, simple, and fashion-forward. Lily proves that fashionistas don't have to hail cabs on 5th Avenue to (or drive in shiny black sedans) to make a statement. Hailing from the mid-west, she puts her spin on totally adorable ensembles daily. Without further adieu, Lily Marek.

{For this post click here}

In case her blog isn't enough, connect with her on facebook, pinterest, twitter and instagram too.

"Elle Bow Room" Obsession

In case it's not obvious, I love a well-written, well-organized, personalized blog more than a fat kid loves cake. It's sad, but true. In my feeble attempt to make my blog well-received/well-read/famous (okay I'd settle for semi-famous), I enjoy linking to blogs that I find delectable. I have stumbled upon yet another, and as one who's also a fan of witty banter and catchy phrases, it's no surprise that I love the title too.

I found it via the Inslee blog, which I'm clearly infatuated with considering posted an Inslee illustration yesterday, have one on my right-hand column (yes, look to the right--the girl with the top knot eating an assortment of breakfast food), and even once inquired how much a custom illustration was (too rich for my blood, but fabulous for those who can afford them). Elspeth is one such luck lady (click here for her Inslee write up).

Elspeth, or Elle, has a presh pots tumblr, blog, and pinterest to boot; so, I'd guess she was as good a candidate as any for a custom design. 

Happy browsing!

Blog to Book?

It's no secret that I'm an uber fan of SATC and SJP. Not only does Carrie Bradshaw manage to make a successful living as a columnist, a 4-time author and Vogue contributor, but she also lives in a Manhattan brownstone apartment and has a closet any gal would kill for. Granted, I'm well aware that Carrie Bradshaw is a fictional character (click here for the "Carrie Bradshaw Lied" blog for a glittery dose of reality); ergo, her accolades are fictional. But do they have to be? 

{Compelation of Carrie's fictional (as in they don't exist.. not just fiction reading) books}

This is a question I find myself asking whenever my mind wanders to one day writing a book and/or novel. Thankfully, my handy dandy helper, pinterest, has a few tips for those of you out there who might also be thinking about writing one day. And if she can turn her columns into a successful book, who's to say you can't turn a series of blog posts into one too?

This user-friendly site answers that question, and then some. It's a perfect starting point to turning content you already have into a potential best-selling book. And if you're looking to completely start from scratch, or make new characters (considering most besties aren't going to let you air their personal lives to the public just to earn a profit), this next cite (below picture) is the next step to stardom.

 {site numero dos}

Now, if you think you want to create a book/novel and don't have any previous content you can recycle/don't want to, then starting with characters is a must. Once you have an idea in mind, you'll need a plot (duh, characters don't just create their own stories here people), which is where the last site comes into play. And by site I do mean book, because you're going to have to do your homework and use your imagination to create a totally brilliant new plot.

As Ms. Huntley used to say, "there's no such thing as a free lunch," and it's gonna take some effort to get on the NYT bestsellers list. Hope this has helped a little or maybe inspired you to even consider writing. Everyone has a story, and what good is it if it's never told?

Cheap Chic

As I mentioned before, I've been in a DIY mode lately--everything from my bedroom to my blog has gotten a face lift. Now (as any true addict might do), I've moved to my next obsession: my wardrobe. If you've ever read my blog before (or met me) you know that I opt for comfort over fashion and I'd rather spend my paycheck on nail polish and magazine subscriptions instead of the latest fad, but recently I've had to eat my words in a big way. Don't get me wrong, I'm still all about comfort and not wasting my hard earned paycheck on frivolous things, but I do have a new desire to update my closet. Maybe it's my new workplace environment that is fully accepting of casual attire (aka I can buy clothes I actually like/would wear anyway and wear it to work) or the fall weather (new fun colors and layers and amazingness), but regardless, I've got the cheap chic fever.

My new obsessions are insanely amazing and make daily fashion look fun even for me (mind you I always opt for comfort and often look at an outfit and go, "Yeah, right. Not on your life.")

J's Everyday Fashion = She takes magazine/runway/celebrity looks and recreates them for commoners like myself from stores like Old Navy, Target, and Gap, and she even links to sites that have similar looks. Seriously, I warn you, you will want to buy most everything she features. My current obsessions are here, here, and here, but you can find the links to individual pieces from outfits easier on her Facebook.

Much like J, this Brooklyn blogger could fill a calendar with daily outfits, and she, too, links to her finds. Unlike J, she mainly puts the outfits together herself/ doesn't always share the exact look she was inspired from, but her outfits and links are equally amazing. Current favs include this, this and this.

Current Obsession: Elements of Style Blog

I seem to stumble upon fabulous blogs every day lately, but this one is seriously amazing. I'm in the process of re-doing my room and since I'm sick of buying sample paint colors only to find them subpar, I decided to search pinterest for paint colors with examples and names. 

That's when I found this:

{elementsofstyleblog.com}

By: Erin Gates

{like, hi, hello. even her business cards 

are gold, glittery, and amazing}

Along with the paint demo that will be greatly used in the upcoming weeks, her blog, twitter, and pinterest are filled with other gems like these:

{shout out to kelsey jo who has a similar print

 hanging in her room}

And most importantly,

it's proof that even the classiest of ladies

love to have a little fun.

{Reese Withersppon lovin' life}

*all photos are from Elements of Style or Erin Gates' pinterest.