i die: ari heckman design.

founder and ceo of ash nyc, ari heckman is a dream of a designer. his composition between bold yet cozy interiors earns him high praise from yours truly. 

just beautiful. 

the writings on the ceiling.

a latest obsession of mine is using wallpaper to the ceiling. while wallpaper can date a space or, if not properly installed, look like a worn mess, companies are now making temporary wallpaper which allows you to enjoy all the loveliness these patterns offer without having to make a long-term commitment. i myself am a huge fan of wallpaper and would use it in every room if i could. take a look at these inspirations...loves.

 look at how amazing this looks in a little one's room. 

it's like instant artwork. 

for your temporary art work head over here to tempaper where you can browse hundreds of beautiful patterns and lovely shades. 

away message.

hello there. wow-it's been quite awhile since my last post. we've been busy traveling and hosting lovely friends, wedding planning and catching up on our to-do-lists. a little bit of what's been on my plate as of late:

good reads. i have been patiently awaiting the release of garden & gun's southerners handbook. it's everything i thought it would be and more. get yours here.

and of course i've been attempting to bake:

we had some halloween fun with our favorite dc little ones:

have been puppy sitting and baby loving all around the east coast:

here's to hoping the past few weeks have been equally as exciting and fun as ours. talk soon. loves!

i die: betsy burnham design.

ummm, we are obsessed. burnham design is so accessible and super swoon worthy.

check out her design site here to get more inspiration. a knock favorite for sure. betsy gives us design that is not only eclectic, colorful, expressive and fun-it's all within reach. whether it's styling your sitting room with funky trays and exotic pillows or covering neglected chairs with convo starting textiles it's doable and totally interchangeable. amaze. we LOVES burnham design. get yours today. 

and while we're at it. her instant space concept is beyond-instant/space is an alternative service from burnham design, which offers clients do-it-yourself custom-designed spaces for a reasonable fee. and why didn't we think of this?!?!?!

some purchases that are very burham-ey. these buys might appease you until we can snag some face time with the one-and-only betsy:

firenze velvet tassle pillow

heroes indoor/outdoor area rug

kyaari throw

bentwood coffee table

galvin cafeteria dining table

woodland garden curtain

lately.

hello there. yes, it's me. i know it's been some time since my last post. what have i been up to you ask? securing a venue, a date, a bridal party, a dress and a wonderful wedding planner. now, on to the fun stuff...the details...below, my inspirations that might inspire you. and not just for a wedding-it makes me want to revamp everything! loves.

SEQUINS.

i am obsessed with sequins right now. specifically sequin table linens. what is it about these sparkles that make me feel like a little kid again? needless to say, they will be making an appearance at our next dinner party.

FONTS.

so, in my spare time-which, i have much of these days thanks to being 'in between' jobs, i am teaching myself calligraphy. it's just so beautiful and really takes notes to another level. check out these amazing looks compliments of where else, etsy of course.

LOUNGE.

these darling outdoor living spaces were created as lounges at weddings. seriously? they are more lovely than most people's homes (myself included). something to aspire towards.

CUSTOMARY.

i had custom wine labels made for the lovely ladies standing on my side at the wedding and they are EVERYTHING. lori, at ten twelve designs (here) did an stunning job-so much so that i am officially dubbing her as our stationarist. yes, that is a thing. this idea goes far beyond nuptials. use them for beer, booze, waters, anything really. they make the best gifts even if they are for no real occasion, simply to say, i'm thinking of you. loves. 

until next time my loves. and remember, do something creative every day. 

watchit...

hello dears. so as you might have guessed it, wedding planning has taken over my life and mostly my mind. where to do it? when? who to invite? what to wear? the list goes on and on. my forever love to those of you that plan weddings for a living-it's so dynamic and amazes me now that i've gotten a little taste. one idea that my loves and i are thinking of including is an outdoor movie night on thursday for folks that come in early to celebrate with us. what a fun way to have everyone meet and mingle and sets the tone for the weekend. which is, to celebrate our love and our families and to make sure everyone enjoys themselves and feel comfortable and a part of the family. while pondering the idea a few inspirational photos to help my case:

we may just have to have a dry-run at our humble abode...whatever y'all are watching i hope it's as fabulous as you! loves.

garden partay: how to make your home grow green.

i have what you'd call a black thumb-or whatever is worse than that, an invisible thumb really. i can't get much to grow indoors or out. the problem with this is that i really enjoy greenery and would love to have a secret garden in our urban home. if you're like me, find a few of these tips, compliments of the one and only martha which seem to help. finding lovely inspiration doesn't hurt either. loves.

LIGHT:

• If the tag says direct light, the plant needs six or more hours of bright sunshine a day, hitting it head-on.
• If the tag says moderate light, the plant needs bright, direct sunshine only part of the time—about four hours a day.
• If the tag says indirect light, the plant needs to be kept a few feet away from pounding sun at all times. It wants only ambient light.
• If the tag says low light, the plant needs no direct sunshine and little ambient light. It’s happy in a room that never gets much sun.

North-facing windows don’t receive much light, southern windows tend to be sunny for much of the day, and eastern and western windows are sunny for part of the day. But, of course, trees, shrubs, and buildings can block light. Get to know the light in your home simply by observing it. That’s the best way to figure out what plants you can accommodate and where they should live.

WATER:

How often should I water my plants? Because conditions vary, there’s no way to give hard-and-fast advice like “Water once a week.” Heat and sunlight specific to your home will dry out the soil at different rates. You’ll have to feel the soil with your finger. If the plant’s tag says, “Water steadily or evenly,” then water whenever the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. If the tag says, “Water moderately,” allow the top inch or so to dry out between waterings. One note: Don’t overwater. It’s as liable to kill a plant as underwatering.

What’s the best technique for watering? Thoroughly saturate the soil until water comes out the bottom of the pot. (If the water is not reabsorbed within a day or so, empty out the saucer.) When you can, take plants to a sink or a tub and give them a soaking; most plants love this. (African violets are an exception.)

CONTAIN:

The Right-Size Pot: When replanting, use a container the same size as the one the plant came in or two inches larger (a four-inch-diameter plant can go in a six-inch pot, a six-inch plant in an eight-inch pot). Too big a pot means too much soil that holds too much water—and this can rot the roots. Also, a pot should always have a drainage hole in the bottom.

Smart Materials: Terra-cotta is a durable classic, but also consider resin or fiberglass. These hold moisture longer (moisture evaporates through terra-cotta), which gives you a little advantage if you’re forgetful about watering. To protect floors and furniture, use saucers that are glazed on the inside. (Any glazed dish works just as well.)

while you were out.

so, wow. a lot has been going on in my world. i am sorry to say that my dear blog was the one to suffer due to all the fun i've been having. i hope your week has been just as amazing as mine. here's some of the highlights of my past few days. loves.

first, there was THIS!!!! yes my dears, I'M ENGAGED to a wonderful man and we are beyond excited. still shocked and thrilled. i can't wait to share all the planning details!

and some fun with friends and some delicious finds around the hood.

the most abundant seafood market mere miles from our house. thank goodness i didn't know about this sooner-i die. if you can't find me i'll be here. 

some style tries.

and cannot post without remarking on another life changing event-the musical styling of one Mrs. Carter. need i say more? i'm obsssseeeddd with bey. beyond.

dancing to 'single ladies' has never been that fun. have a great week! talk soon. loves.

i die: kate bosworth.

style star: k. bosworth.

regardless of the look, the occasion, the whatever, she always looks amaze. certainly a knock style star. she makes every outfit look polished, put together, yet effortless. we strive.

summer cold.

yep. i'm sick as a dog. where did this come from? ugh. it's lovely outside-of course. and my love and i had big plans to visit a few outdoor markets we've been wanting to hit up. alas, he's turned into my nurse today making me tea, lying to me when i ask how bad i look and generally being wonderful as usual. so what does one do when they're laid up? well, first off, you need the essentials. 1. green eye mask like this one 2. peppermint moist towelettes like these  3. some luxe bath treatment found here 4. a favorite tea mug 5. thermometer like this go-to  6. a humidifier-a must 7. and cozy, cozy jammies like these

and what to do?

read?

visit here for the nyt 2013 bestsellers list for some good reads.

watch the tube?

if so, i'm obseeeeessssseddd with investigation id. 

sleep?

yep. pulling a lohan might be the best choice...i'm sorry i don't have a more exciting post for you today my dears-just not up to it. but promising after some tlc i'll be back-in-action sooner rather than later. at least, that's my hope. loves.