Free Photo Contest!

Another contest for you, my lovelies.  Grise Photography is holding a destination wedding photo contest.  You get full day-of coverage, a day-after shoot, a disk of all the images and a free book (which is a great deal in itself, those albums get pricey fast!) all for the price of what it costs you to get them to your big day!  I highly recommend entering contests like this because you never know if you're going to be the lucky one who wins! 

The contest deadline is January 1st, 2010 so that gives you a good long time to think of something winning to tell them!  All the details are right here, so go get 'em!

Go Julia!

I never knew this until Julie/Julia, but Julia Child is freaking hilarious.  She is kind of hulking too, but dang, wit like crazy and handy with a blowtorch.  Here she is at her finest, glossing over problems on David Letterman, and coming out the funnier one in the bit.  Enjoy!

Inspiration Board: Brought to You By the Letter E

I love today's board.  It's sorta how I feel about weddings (well, maybe a little sweeter).  It's romantic and soft, but not saccharine and cliche.  It's real, everyday love, and it makes me feel good because it reminds me that what I feel (complete and totally overwhelming love for one other person) is beautiful in its own right.  It's big smiles and small gestures.  It's rich and it's simple.  It's one really great day, that's just a prelude to the wonderful life to come.


Just a little reminder that the main characters for my letter inspiration boards come from the Daily Drop Cap blog.

That feathered clip makes me swoon.  All these blogs keep coming up with beautiful hair clips that I want to wear but can't figure out how to with the veil I know I want to have.  Who knows, this looks easy enough to DIY, maybe I'll try and report back.  Speaking of DIY, I think I may try making those mobiles and paper flowers myself.  It depends on how ambitious I'm feeling.  That and if we decide to use candles! 

Now, not to rain on the love parade, but right now I am walking into an exam in my Program Evaluation course so think good thoughts for me!

Loft love.

In the last week, Apartment Therapy has had a whole bunch of winners for me. In particular, I am just smitten with these two spaces. Both are open plan loft (well, one is more loft-like) home. I am loving the flowing space, the openness and the great use of storage as a statement piece.


This apartment is in Chicago.

I love the little wood cutout of the state of Illinois on the island.

I am so thoroughly jealous of all that gorgeous light.  The whole place just seems like a place I want to be.  Let's just say that I would have a very hard time finding reason to leave the apartment if I lived here.

This next house was actually built as a church.  It is such an incredible use of space.  The whole thing is one flowing permanent piece of furniture with library bookcases seamlessly becoming kitchen countertops.  This house is where I want to live when I grow up.  I want to be the person that's cool enough to live in a place like this.  Just look at the pictures, you'll see.

Come on!  I told you so.  And yes, someday I will have that many books and a pool table.  That will be a very good day.

Inspiration Board: Brought to You By the Letter D

Today's board is thoroughly modern with just enough little vintage touches to sweeten it up. The color scheme is olive and white. I've used some of my favorite inspiration photos here, I love the baby's breath in the body of the lamp, the hairdo, and of course that incredible tourmaline Vera Wang ring (I. Want. It.). Think modern loft with quirky spins on traditional wedding trappings.

Another Letterpress Giveaway!

Alliance by Bec Winnel.

I have another giveaway to share with you, Lovelies! Bespoke Letterpress commissioned 10 works from 10 illustrators to letterpress in limited editions. They're selling them all, except one, a set that they're giving away! Details here. In addition to the awesome, their entire shop is now 10% off! So go! Scurry! Enter!

Inspiration Board: Brought to You By the Letter C

Yesterday, after seeing an amazing performance of Cirque du Soleil's Alegria*, I forgot where I'd parked my car, called my parents and told them. Well they didn't pick up the phone when I called to say I'd found it (after 20 minutes of parking lot searching) and then forgot my phone in the car. They called the police who showed up at my door 2 hours later. Saying that having the police tell you to call your parents is embarrassing is a gross understatement. Nevertheless, I am fine.

But after my little run-in with the law (well, campus police), I made another letter board, which the site I use to build them, did not save. There are not enough words to say how annoying this was. So I rebuilt it this morning, but I wasn't happy! Let's just say, when "E" rolls around, it won't be my favorite board.

So anyhow, here's "C." It's brown and orange and totally 70's with a little bohemian. More of a weekend theme than a wedding for me, but hey, different strokes, right?

Credits: Jose Villa, Silvana Di Franco

*I realized I breezed over Alegria. To say it was amazing is selling it short. It opens up with the most incredible swinging trapeze act, I mean, I want to be this woman when I grow up and get over my fear of the good swinging trap tricks. Then, the tumble track. Holy crap. Someone threw a triple backflip. I spent the whole act going "Oh man, oh my god." And the clowning was actually funny! That's the one part of Cirque shows that usually leave me cold, but these guys were just great! They're on tour right now with the show so if you have the chance to see it, GO!

I forgot I never said this here, but it makes my circus obsession make more sense. I learned circus arts as a teenager and practiced for a few years. Last summer I taught full time as a camp counselor. Flying trapeze is my favorite and if I ever do get the chance, I really will run away and join the circus.