friday faves: 7.8.11

back to friday faves, my lovely readers!  and oh boy do i have some good ones this week!

design/decor

chic nook

this lil nook by designer melanie coddington is my idea of perfection - classy, simple, feminine, relaxing.  i could absolutely see myself curling up here and reading the day away...

 found on design*sponge

kitchen window nook

more nooks!  clearly i'm obsessed :)

that green color, the cream everything else, and that thick cushion that looks oh-so-comfy.  want.

from my home ideas

fashion

elle fanning in marc jacobs

the girl can pull off couture like no other youngin' and i just love her retro-pretty style.  plus she's just so pretty! {think if i compliment her enough she'll let me borrow this gorgeous dress?!  hey, worth a try!}

picture from getty images, via

SJP channels her animal side in D&G

at the 25th anniversary of "annie" where she presented an award

not always the biggest animal print fan, but when it's done right it's amazing.  and if anyone can "do it right," it's the superstar-fashionista sarah jessica parker herself!

{sorry, best pic i could find.  from rcfa}

p.s. the gown helen mirren wore a few months back was also animal print and also dolce + gabbana - they must be on a roll!

etc

le petit prince journals

all-time fave book in journal form = love

{you can buy it for me - and make my day!! - here}

i want to be a monkey

if i could be any animal, i'd be a monkey.  i would climb trees and enjoy still having fingers and show love by cleaning my friends... and hug little girls like this.  and be happy :)

i mean really, who wouldn't want to be a monkey?!

found on best week ever blog but first posted on cute overload
**correction: this is a sloth not a monkey!  but i would still be a monkey.  and i would still hug little girls and it would still probably be just as cute as this.

giveaways

i'm back to spreading the word about some GREAT giveaways in the bloggy world - whoo hoo!  here's a few ending soon soon soon, so get on it!

preppy personalized platters

 

by dani notes, selection found here.  the always fabulous kiki's list is offering up this giveaway.  if i were lucky enough to win, i would choose the prettypretty platter pictured above.  then again, i would be just as happy if one of my sweet readers one so head on over to enter for yourself :)

fabulous flower accessories

wild & precious always highlights the cutest things!  this time it is the etsy shop the lovely poppy, who makes truly lovely headbands and necklaces and other cute accessories with bright and pretty flower accents.  i definitely encourage you to check out this etsy site and to go to wild & precious to enter for the $20 gift certificate!

have a lovely lovely weekend!

i'll be spending it with my lovely friends downtown checking out a blues club i've never been to, then off to waverly island soaking up the sun.  oh, and then sunday at the office.  can't ever totally get away from my workaholic ways!

xx, kait

 

friday faves: 4.1.11

as promised - a longer friday faves than last week's brief list! 

design/decor/DIY

~ ruler picture frame ~

 i don't have the actual directions for how to make this adorable clip-frame, but i think i just may be able to figure it out.  let's hope so because it's seriously fantastic!  from the fab blog, the lettered cottage

~ french canvas decor ~

that i super duper want.

these beautiful works of art are created with old french dictionary pages.  my fave is the "je rigole, tu rigoles..." one.  my years of french taught me just enough to know that this is the conjugation for the verb "rigoler" which means to laugh.

fyi - the first print is the conjugation of vivre which means to live [merci, michelle!] and the third print conjugates dormir which is to sleep.  adorable!

[from lily and lime, found on the blog dear designer]

~ framing chic shopping bags ~

but only when they are exceptionally chic and worth showing off - e.g. hermes.  (remember i wrote about my love of this idea here)

 image from the coveteur, via the decorista

~ scrabble pillows ~

i also adore the choice of "cozy" rather than "love" which seems to be ubiquitous.
found here but original source (unfortunately) unknown

~ this little breakfast nook ~

i heart nooks of all kinds, definitely including adorable little kitchen nooks such as this one.  i mean, can't you just imagine yourself sitting on the corner booth, drinking your morning tea and looking out through that lovely window?? i sure can :)

image found here 

fashion/shoes/accessories/etc.

~ turquoise fabulosity ~

at first when i saw this posted on the blog simply designed and etsy finds, i wanted the perfectly practical (yet still beautiful) satchel with all my heart.  then 5 minutes later all i could think of was those comfy-cute moccasins.  so i've decided - both are needed in my life.  simple as that.

available at Boden

~ more of mila kunis @ the oscars ~

yes i know i already declared this elie saab creation to be mila's best dress this awards season, but i just couldn't help but share another pic it.  i mean, she is just perfection.  the dress is too actually.  [image found on the vogue diaries]

~ jamie chung, beautiful in bright yellow ~
gown by giambattista valli.  drop.dead.gorgeous.  'nuff said.
it's no surprise she was voted best dressed of the week by both readers of red carpet fashion awards & the fashion critic blogger herself ~

best dressed of the week, indeed. 
~ michelle trachtenberg = marchesa goddess ~

it's times like these that i wish i were michelle t.  now only is she beautiful & talented, but she is wearing marchesa at a ball about ballet.  life crush times a million.  [from rcfa]
oh wait, she was also voted BDOTW @ red carpet fashion awards, the week before jamie chung!  guess we're all on the same page these days :)

fashion photography

~ a model & an elephant ~

 i mean, come on! - how could you not love this image?!  i just find it captivating.  honestly.  can't stop looking at it...

model samantha gradoville and unnamed elephant model.  photographed by sean & seng for pop magazine.  via.

 ~ b&w portraits ~

stunning.  
the gorgeous model eniko mihalik, shot by lachlan bailey in vogue china march 2009  [via]

giveaways

~ hip, hip, hooray! ~

hey remember back in the day (erm, just a couple weeks ago) when i posted about a fab giveaway from sandy a la mode??

well... i won!

this was honestly the greatest part of a not-so-great week :)

* now onto some great giveaways you should enter *

~ the double whammy giveaway ~

 both $100 for gas money and $100 for clothes??  count me in!

enter for yourself over at shasta ann

~ simply lovely necklace ~

by lisbeth jewelry.  silver & rose gold, the perfect mixture & perfect level of simplicity.  can't help but desperately want it!  this beautiful necklace is being given away over at caroline & the city.

~ say it sweet giveaway ~

in honor of reaching 150 followers, the sweet lori over at penelope blue is hosting her first giveaway.  the winner gets their choice of an 8 x 10 print from the great etsy shop, say it sweet.  my fave is the picture shown above because i just love the english words: "i love thee with the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach."  love, love, love.

anyways, enter the giveaway for yourself here!

now a personal note...

 God is throwing quite a bit at me these days and this upcoming weekend of work will be the greatest test of my patience and endurance.  i am a strong believer that we are not given any more than we can handle, but that doesn't mean the "handling" part will be easy.  i know i will get through the weekend, but i also know that it will take nearly every inch of my energy.

so please, dear followers & visitors, send me some happy thoughts.  that's all - just some happy thoughts please :)

i want: accessories from need supply co.

because they are just too uniquely-funky-awesome.  here's my top 5 picks:

need supply co.

link love: 11.11.10

design/decor/architecture:
- super fun & brightly colored eclectic furniture by stacey sharon
- blogger leann over at fabulously french found the most beautiful chandelier - perfect shabby chic style
- an ode to ballet pink in design
- this seems like an absolutely adorable decor shop .... if only i lived in serbia...
- really cool rooms with tree wallpaper
- completely unique loveseat
- best of: fonts in homes
- an ode to castles

fashion/beauty:
- i want every single pair of shoes from the christian louboutin resort 2011 collection
- i LOVE this girl's style ~ mia wasikowska ~ mixing quirky with ladylike
- incredible frilly fashion by holly stalder, found on a blonde ambition. go look. seriously.
- adorable & totally quirky accessories found on lulus.  i love all of blogger angela's choices ~ i think my fave is the rhinestone bicycle charm necklace [in silver]
- the so-called sexiest heels & boots of 2010 -- my fave are probably the valentino lace pumps
- tory burch holiday pretty things
- super adorable shoe clips
- pretty pretty dress bryce dallas howard wore a few weeks ago
- eva mendes wore a crazy sexy dress that i kinda want in my closet
- i heart braids [esp the pic of my girl zooey d!]
- report on the nyc bridal market from junebug
- love me some owls in decor

photography:
- beautiful boho chic photo shoot from vogue russia nov 2010.  love.  although i don't think it would've been the worst thing in the world if they allowed lovely model hilary rhoda to appear happy/joyful/anything other than somewhat confused and/or apathetic.  can't boho chic girls be happy too?!
- another boho chic photo shoot - no smiles but still awesome
- dree hemingway seems to always capture my attention & admiration in her glossy photo shoots.  here she is in uk vogue nov 2010.  my fave shots are her looking peaceful & beautiful on the horse.
- more on my new model fave, kat hessen
- way sexy photo shoot in harper's bazaar australia nov 2010 
- life magazine's most iconic covers

etc:
- sketchbook for the free people november catalog
- gorgeous black & white wedding - look @ the incredible cake!
- the apparently traditional ode to purple
- 10 ways to get inspired for christmas
- a chanel doll!  too cute. & classy.

pretty pictures: all about audrey

so sorry for the lack of posts this past week, i started a new job [!!!!!] but still had to nanny until the family found someone new.  result = leaving the house between 6-7 am every morning, & not returning until after 9 pm.  needless to say, i've been tired, stressed, & without any time to blog :(

as an apology, i have decided to post beautiful pictures of my beautiful idol, audrey hepburn with dogs [most are of her & her cute little doggie Famous]:

there's just something about audrey that makes all my stresses melt away... especially images of audrey & animals -- her joy is contagious :)

here's one more for good measure:

joyous!

all photos found on audrey1

pretty picture: cowgirl

....who is simply stunning

mona johannesson by jimmy backius

**you should definitely check out the whole photoshoot here**

pretty picture: gemma ward as brigitte bardot

i'm obsessed with this shot, & the whole photoshoot in general.  gemma ward [a.k.a. gorgeous & oh-so versatile] +  brigitte bardot [a.k.a. definition of sexy] = A.  oh, & a cute pup?  that's an A+ baby!

by karl lagerfeld for harper's bazaar

via the terrier and the lobster

pretty picture: the chicest show on earth

photographer laspata decaro & model jessica stam

  

i just can't get over how incredible this photoshoot is - there just are no words.

go look now at all 38 pictures & be astonished!

stunning.

via the terrier and lobster

celeb style: book nerds - pt. 2

gisele

one of the sexiest women alive, reading and snuggling up with a cat. 

yessssssss!

elle italy feb 2009

via dress, design & decor via tfs

see book nerds pt. 1 [marilyn]