adore more

the collection: indoor plants

2012-02-02T16:52:00.000-08:00

I have this obsession with indoor plants right now. My windows is lined with a small collection, and hopefully I'll have pictures for you soon! Any others plant-obsessed right now?

Oh, goodness! This past day and a half has been so wonderful. I am convinced that I am surrounded by angels. So many random acts of kindness and goodness. And I am so thankful for each and every one of my friends and readers! Thank you so much for supporting my dreams with this little blog. I appreciate it and I am excited for the future. Here's to dreams coming true and another year!

4MM

2012-01-30T02:00:00.000-08:00

♥ I went home to Portland this weekend and had a lot of fun! Doing homework, and hanging out with the fam. We went to Elephant's Deli for my birthday lunch, and I found this sweet little macaron! I ate it after this picture. Yummy.
♥ It was Luke's Grandma's 80th birthday party this weekend, too! It was fun to see all the photos from her life, so much wisdom and life packed into one person.
♥ Also, thought a lot about what I am going to do after I graduate. Accounting, with art,etc. on the side. It will be GRAND. I can't wait. Once I'm done with school, I can blog more!
♥ I loved the sun amidst the heavy rain this week. It's a nice balance (though I would prefer no rain). I stole my sister's rain coat this week though, so I'm prepared. Bring on the rain and the tears! I am ready!

OK, well -- it's my birthday later this week, and I am obsessed with pink. I started using a pink highlighter with my accounting notes and it helps me study better. Anyways, we'll see what happens.

XOXO, GOSSIP GIRL.

the collection: watches

2012-01-26T08:44:00.000-08:00

Spontaneity is good for the heart! I found myself at my friend's comedy show tonight, and I was so happy. SO HAPPY, 1) because she was funny and 2) because I wanted to be there and I went. Yes! How is that for spontaneous?

Well speaking of watches, I've reverted back to wearing one and I put it 5 minutes fast, and it's actually been helping! It's great. I'm pretty much getting every on time, since I was always previously running 5 minutes late. Yea for progress. So, I'm all about time right now AND I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST IT FLIES. So fast. Scary fast. Only bonus about that is that it will be Valentine's Day soon and everything will be PINK! <3 xo.

P.S. I am loving big faced watches. And big faced watches with bling.

inspiration calendar

2012-01-25T02:26:00.000-08:00

Calendars were my go to gift this year for Christmas. Seriously, the best gift idea ever. Everyone always needs a new one, and it's the perfect opportunity to make something perfectly pretty and different! You could make a calendar and go soo many different ways. I love the freedom in that.

This one I made for my sister! She wants to get into photography, so I am really encouraging her to do it when she's young. Especially in photography, there is such a wide array of young, amazing photographers. The perfect field to dip your feet into the world of art! I wish I could say that I thought of all the lovely sayings myself, but I can't -- thank you PINTEREST! (again!) All I know, is that I am saying these to myself every morning to get myself pumped up! Woo!

See the whole calendar here (link updated!).

3MM

2012-01-23T09:09:00.000-08:00

♥ One of my busiest weeks ever. I won't be surprised if Accounting kills me this term. But, I was at least able to work on it with wonderful people! And my current regret right now, is not having joined a sorority. Oh, well. Hopefully I can convince my future daughters to, haha.
♥ I ombre'd my hair again yesterday. I actually did a really bad job, I only did one coat, so not much of a real blend. I'm trying to prep tho for pink hair! And I'm getting kind of scrrd because my hair is turning yellow and I know that I'm going to have to walk around with really tacky hair for a week. But, it will be worth ittt! I know this. Right?
♥ "Listen carefully. Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried in the ground, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal!" - John 12:24
♥ That verse is so good for me. I'm pretty sure that this will be one of my busiest and hardest terms ever and I have overcommitted to everything, but I love almost everything. But, this past week I have wanted to cry almost all of it, and I'm learning that I can do this, but only with God! And I still want to do everything, but I don't want it to take me over. I want to still love and be happy and have fun. So I will! And it will make this term even better.

So here's to a great start of the week! For me and for you. Cheers, hugs & kisses!

the collection: vegetables

2012-01-19T00:30:00.000-08:00

Mmmm, so perfect right?? I need to get to the Farmer's Market stat. It's been raining buckets here, like actual buckets. So fun to bike in. Just woke up and am about to take the wonderful GMAT. Wish me luck? xo.

2MM

2012-01-17T00:28:00.000-08:00

♥ Smitten with this perfect bag this week. I am in absolute LOVE LOVE LOVE. I love it! It's the perfect book bag and perfectly pink. I'm excited to start carrying this around campus and coordinate my outfits with it. Also, the packaging was sooo pretty. Can't get over it.
♥ Luke came down this weekend and I couldn't be happier! We didn't do anything extraordinary, but eat some burgers, have some drinks and catch-up with good friends. Mmm. Unfortunately, school was crazy busy this week (even though it was only the first week!) and I ended up doing homework while he was here, even with the holiday. But, still. Being together is the best always! It's just like old times -- together in Eugene!
♥ Moved rooms this weekend. Which was another reason I was super busy. One roommate moved out and I moved into her room. It's half the size of my old room -- basically my size. I LOVE IT! Once I get everything prettified I promise that I will take pictures of everything to share on the blog. :)
♥ Last week was so busy, and this week will be even busier! Huge accounting project due and GMAT on Thursday. I can not wait until Thursday afternoon. Thank goodness that there is always an end to everything!

Hope you had just as wonderful a weekend, and here's to this week! :)

gem necklace tutorial

2012-01-13T08:12:00.000-08:00

I got some beautiful rough gems from my trip to Brazil this past summer. They were so pretty & purple that I couldn't resist buying a bunch for my friends, as I knew that they would make the perfect necklace! Thus, they're fun and purple and full of great memories for me. :) Here's how you can make your own personal gem necklace.

Supplies: pretty gem stone, jewelry pliers, metal wire, necklace chain, connectors, clasp, measuring tape, and Christmas light bulb (or something round to wrap around)

1. Cut your piece of wire, I usually cut around 4 circles of wire. 2. In the middle of your piece of wire, wrap it around the Christmas light. This will be the opening for the necklace, so wrap it around enough so that it feels strong & secure.

3. Twist the wire, to secure the wraps in place. 4. Place it in the center of the gem's top, and then fit & fold it to the gem's sides. 5. By wrapping the wire around, create the L pictured to create tension and more security for the gem.

6. On opposite sides, bring the wire back up to wrap around the top, and then fold it back down. When you're done, you will end up with a six-piece pie design on the top. 7. Fit the wire underneath previously wrapped wire, and then start wrapping! Try to layer the wire to create more volume and design on your gem. Tuck the end of the wire underneath, and you've finished your gem stone!

8. Cut your wire to the desired length. I chose 32". (You can use this great picture as a guide.) Then, attach the clasp with your circle connectors. And you're done!

Now go wear this bad boy out in public and have a good old time telling everybody that you made it yourself!

Happy happy weekends! xoxo.

the collection: gems

2012-01-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

Oh, and a by twist of good fate, you will LOVE the craft I'm making tomorrow if you love this! I don't know what really started my current obsession with gems, probably just because they're everywhere and they're geometric. They are ever so fun to draw. Stumbled across Kate Bingaman Burt's site yesterday, and I love her pretty gems all around her name. Gems are so lovable because they're shiny.

Sorry, I am just kind of heart broken because I am in the middle of reading Sense & Sensibility for my class, and Willoughby is just making my heart sad. Oh, poor, pathetic Marianne. But, it makes me so ever thankful for my modern day beau, Lukeeeeeeee. :)

Happy GEM-DAY! (I might see a gem weekend in the future.....or gem week?)

be kind and compassionate

2012-01-10T14:52:00.000-08:00

My parents had the wonderful idea of our whole family focusing on one verse for this upcoming season of the year, and they chose Ephesians 3:2. I love it!

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." - Ephesians 3:2

Such a wonderful, lovely verse. I love Ephesians, it's one of my favorite books. Kindness, compassion and forgiveness are three things you can never get enough of and I'm excited to have this verse defining my life for the next while.

I made these two calendars for my parents! Simple watercolor. Simple calendar. My mom "loves it!". So, if you're in need of more love points from your parents, this is the way to go!

1MM

2012-01-09T16:36:00.000-08:00

Yes. Completely, totally & wholly inspired by LLYMLRS. I want to watch my face get older and then show my kids. Is that strange?

♥ This teapot is from my BFF SK! It's the perfect color, size & shape for me. I love making & drinking tea from it. Mmmm. And then, I always remember my best friend Kimmy. Aww.
♥ I MISS MY MOM. (and dad and sister)
♥ This past week of break I studied studied studied for the GMAT. Luke and I would go to a different coffee shop every morning and get some work done. I actually loved it. And then we would watch Community or Modern Family at night. And that was the perfect ending to a perfect break.
♥ School started today, and it was a lot more fun than I expected! I like all of my professors so far a lot, and I had some fun friends in every class. I was really dreading today, but now I am kind of excited for the rest of the term. It will be great.

Happy Monday!

gold glitter journal

2012-01-06T08:17:00.000-08:00

For the past few weeks, my current journal has been nearing it's end and I've been on the lookout for replacement ones. A very important purchase. But I hadn't been able to find the perfect one! I remember stumbling across a pretty pink glittery journal at Anthropologie, but it was lined or something. As my journal's days were numbered and I wasn't finding a journal I really liked, I took matters into my own hands and created my dream journal. And now, you can too!

1. I bought a simple, hardbound Pentalic sketch book. I like them because they are cheap, compact and gel ink doesn't bleed through the pages. I used Michael's generic metallic gold paint for the base and Martha Stewart's Florentine Gold for the top coat. I applied them with a regular brush and a thin one for edges.

2. I painted two coats of the gold base. 3. Then, I painted two coats of the gold glitter. 4. I used a hair dryer to speed up the drying process, which allowed me to decorate the journal in about an hour. 5. Voila! It's done!

I'm super happy with how my journal turned out. For the first few hours, when dry, the journal felt a little sticky and I was worried I would need to apply some kind of sealer, but after a day it feels great and I'm not worried about it. I had heard great things about Martha's glitter paint, and it's done a great job of not flaking off at all -- of course, it's only been a day. Anyways, I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. Absolutely! I can't wait to use it. And the best thing about this for you is that you could do this in any color, and you can love it just as much. :)

top blogs of 2011

2012-01-05T09:04:00.000-08:00

So excited to share with you my favorite blogs that I've been reading this year. I LOVE THEM ALL.

FASHION: llymlrs

Lily has been on my radar for a while, and I first knew her by her graphic design (see here, I love the full collection, but I couldn't find it :( ). I think what brought me back to LLY is her signature ombre hair, which I was able to do successfully on my own hair thanks to her video (prettiest accent!). She inspired me to start wearing my rings, and hopefully her bolder style will really start to wear on me soon. I love her Sunday picture of the week and I think I am going to start that on the blog soon. LLY's supah cool and I bet you won't be able to get over her either.

CRAFT: oh happy day

Jordans run this amazing blog, along with her great creative team. I started noticing that these really innovative DIYs were all coming from the same place, and when I finally got there I loved it & stayed! Seriously, the best crafts are here with the prettiest design and explanations go along with them. I love it. I also love that Jordan is in France and we get to see beautiful peeks of her abroad life and feel a little more cultured. There is a whole community built up in this site of all the people who she collaborates with and features, this is definitely a blog you need to pay attention to if you are in the DIY world!

DESIGN: moxee

Moxee has been one of my biggest favorites of the year. Bre just started her blog, along with her super adorable paper shop with Emmadime, and it has been exciting to see it grow. Great design is always featured, and I love the styling of everything as well. The design tips are the best! I love how seeing other people work and what they do, super inspiring. Come here to see good design from everywhere, everyday!

PHOTOGRAPHY: allister ann + the civil wars

I don't think I will ever get over this. After seeing The Civil Wars this past June and meeting them (!), I learned that Allister Ann was documenting the tour. Ever since then, I would like to say I have been the most avid follower and supporter because the pictures are the most beautiful things ever. But, really. I always come here when I need some simple inspiration (but mostly because I just love it), and always always always leave so awed by the beauty of simplicity (and Joy's great dresses, haha). Possibly the best idea, to artistically document a tour, and I hope that these two teams keep collaborating for the many tours to come!

INSPIRATION: anne louise likes

Anne Louise has the best eye. I love her pinterest and I love her blog because it features those pretty things with pretty thoughts. So, I like it. This girls got a knack for finding artsy things that I am not good discovering, and I love it. Follow her blog and her pinterest. You won't regret it!!

WORKSHOP: candy castle

Candy Castle is fun and sweeter than candy! I super appreciate the crafty, bright handmade element of everything Kitiya makes! My favorite is seeing the chronicles of her craft adventures, involving workshops and store displays! It's fun to see how she designs everything and how it is all hands on and do-it-yourself empowering! Plus, I like her brighter, bolder and funner style and it helps me push myself out of the grays, black and neutrals that I am usually finding myself in. And her workshops look so cool!

PARTY: a fabulous fete

This is classy party central right here! Lauren's gorgeously perfect handwriting and her great sense of understated style makes the perfect combination for me, and I love seeing how she styles things and all the fun parties she hosts! I'm so inspired by the parties and events she plans/hosts and all the innovative, creative ideas she has. She is definitely an inspiration to me.

FAVORITE: design love fest

Uhhh, what can I even say that expresses my adoration for Bri Emery and her lovely blog? I fell in love with DLF early this year and have been HOOKED! ever since. I'm in love with Bri's spunky attitude, her killer design, the great inspiration she posts, her awesome sense of style and the bright colors! It's the perfect place for me! I really like her design column that she does, pretty locations & pretty outfits every single time. And it's so cool to see all of her blogshop adventures! Maybe one day I will be in one of them....! You'll love her! Go!

CHEER: fancy treehouse

I know I put FTH on the list last year, but I couldn't avoid putting on this year's list as I check it almost everyday (same disclaimer goes for the next two blogs...:)!! Coury's style is so cute and creative. I love her use of color, layers and the variety amongst her outfits. Most of all, I love seeing cute Birdie!!! Anyways. There are a lot of other things that bring me to FTH every single day (like the good pictures, fun home decor, big rings, perfect bangs and pretty shoes) but my undoubtedly favorite part of the blog is Coury's super sweet, appreciative, sentimental, silly attitude! It's so inspiring and cheerful. I'm always reminded of how much I have to be thankful for and I love that. Everybody should have a little Coury in their hearts! Yay for KINDNESS & LOVE!

ADVICE: promise tangeman

Promise came back this year after an unofficial blogging hiatus and I couldn't have been happier! I love her bold, edgy style and you can't deny that her design is killer. KILLER like AWESOME. I love the business tips she posts. I love hearing how other people work!! It's inspiring. And the messy bun tutorial that she posted? Yes, have been doing that all the time since I saw it. And all my friends love it! Promise is just so cool.

BEST: a beautiful mess

Again!! But how can you not? Elsie's AMAZING. She has the greatest work ethic and a wonderful creative mind. It's so encouraging and inspiring to see everything she's doing. She's been a huge encouragement to my blogging journey and seeing her get excited about what she's doing gets me excited about what I'm going to do. Her e-courses are the best, and she is always coming up with great content!! Incredible. She is my biggest inspiration. Can't wait to go visit her and that sweet shoppe! Eek.

My goal for this upcoming year is to expand my blog roll, so if you have some other favorite blogs that aren't on this list -- please link them in the comments! I'd love to see the best of the rest of the net. Haha. But if you aren't familiar with some of these blogs, it's definitely worth it to check them out! This wraps up my end of the year review, so until next time, here is last year's list. xo.

the collection: frost

2012-01-05T05:56:00.000-08:00

Our heater broke this past weekend, so I feel like I have a special connection with the winter time cold right now. But, it makes me appreciate space heaters and hot water oh-so-much! Anyways, frosted leaves are always fun to step on and crunch to little pieces. Another fun winter past time. I must go and crunch some now. Good day! xox.

top songs of 2011

2012-01-04T08:30:00.000-08:00

Top songs of 2011! Fun stuff. I know that this list is all over the place. Sometimes I'm proud of that, and sometimes I'm embarrassed. But what can I say? I am a Pop Princess at heart! Yes, with capital Ps. Here is my list in the short (with youtube links!):

1. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - In Motion
2. TV on the Radio - Second Song
3. St. Vincent - Cruel
4. TV on the Radio - All Falls Down
5. Coldplay - Princess in China
6. Glee Cast - Don't Stop Believing
7. The Welcome Wagon - But For You Who Fear My Name
8. Glee Cast - Light Up the World
9. John Mark McMillan - Skeleton Bones
10. The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build a Home

Other Favorites:
Katy Perry - The One That Got Away
Jessie J - Domino
Grouplove - Tongue Tied
The Joy Formidable - Whirring
Flo Rida - Club Can't Handle Me
Justin Bieber - Somebody to Love

Now I'm feeling a little insecure, so if you enjoy some of these too, please let me know. I'll need support. Until next year, I'll be pressuring Luke to write me some pop singles like these so I can be the next pop sensation! Can we get #popprincess trending?

And this is my list from last year.

X.O.X.O.

top albums of 2011

2012-01-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

These are my favorite albums that I listened to in 2011! I had a bunch of these albums on vinyl, so they were even more fun to listen to (like #1, 2, 8 & 9!)! Sometimes I feel like I listen to a lot of music. And other times, not so much. Honestly, I couldn't make this list without looking at my iTunes listen count and last.fm. But, after spending time remembering all the GOOD music that I've spent the past year listening to, this list makes me happy and inspires me to keep listening to these great albums.

Top Ten Albums of 2011
1. The Civil Wars - Barton Hallow
2. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - The Social Network OST
3. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy
4. TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light
5. Foster the People - Torches
6. Grizzly Bear - Blue Valentine OST
7. The Naked & Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You
8. The Welcome Wagon - Welcome to the Welcome Wagon
9. Aaron Copland - Appalachian Spring
10. Starf**cker - (self-titled)

Honorable Mentions
Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)
Florence + the Machine - Lungs

I hope you find some new music to listen to, or even better, I hope that you've already been listening to these albums, too!

For a more official list, check out my bf's countdown at the Feedback Loop! And just for kicks, here are my favorite albums from last year. :)

hello 2012!

2012-01-03T01:29:00.001-08:00

Happy new year! Hope you enjoyed the holidays and made some great memories with your favorite loved ones! I know I sure did, and I am soo thankful. Continue celebrating, for as long as you can! 2012 is going to be great. Be back with some 'best of 2012' lists all this week! Cheers! xo.

merry memories

2011-12-27T14:09:00.000-08:00

I have been loovvvinggg this Christmas break. More than ever before, maybe. Here are some fun pictures from last week, when Luke finally came back! We made lots of fun memories and I loveee instagramming them. Too much fun and goodness. Let the holidays continue forever!

the collection: christmas trees

2011-12-22T00:29:00.000-08:00

Nothing so perfect. My Christmas absence is being filled with making tons of Christmas memories. And I hope that you are making so many Christmas memories as well!

handmade holiday: coco draws

2011-12-16T09:39:00.000-08:00

Caroline's simple, cute drawings always kept me coming back to her blog. Plus, I love her use of color and her darling handwriting. She documents the most desirable pretty things and then I want them all. She was just featured on Bagaholic Boy's blog and I can't wait to see where she is next!

What inspires you and your work?
Everything in the world around me inspires me. I get inspiration from winter walks, beautiful photos, blogs/magazines, and from the day to day in everyday life!

Why drawing?
I've always been a doodler- especially during those long lectures at college. But one day, this past year, I picked up a pen and started to draw more seriously and I haven't stopped since! I love being able to make my own interpretation of an object. And there's something so satisfying about using actual physical tools for drawing.

What does your workspace look like?
I like to have as little on my desk as possible so that there's less distractions. And the bigger the desk, the better! I like working on a blank canvas and it's no less different with my workspace. I also have a few art prints and photos up for inspiration and motivation for those days that I need it! And I always have a big cup of tea nearby.

What is your favorite thing?
Can it be more than one thing? Because I absolutely love my mugs! Anywhere I go, I always check out the mugs and cups first. And I never buy a complete set of them because I like having a collection of quirky, mismatched mugs. :)

What are you looking forward to most about this holiday season?
Unplugging (from the web) and being with my loved ones.

Imagine you're throwing a holiday party. What would it look like and who would you invite?
This year I'm really feeling the Winter White color scheme so I'd probably run with that. I would put up twinkle lights everywhere and in unexpected places because they're so magical and bright. And I would invite a few of my closest friends to keep the conversation intimate and the atmosphere cozy.

Irresistible, huh? Be sure to check out Caroline's blog full of pretty pictures and her etsy full of pretty things!

I'm so happy that I was able to feature these lovely artists this week right before the holidays! Big thanks to Andrea, Suzy & Caroline for their appearances. I am so inspired by their lovely hearts.

Cheers to all!

the collection: christmas lights

2011-12-15T14:35:00.000-08:00

Don't these pictures just make you want to swoon? Well, at least me. I have been spending the past few days at home watching Gossip Girl and trying to pound out Christmas presents! It's so fun! I wish I could do this all year round. I'm excited to share what I've been making after the holidays! LUKE IS FINALLY COMING HOME ON TUESDAY!! And I am excited to walk all over town with him and look at the Christmas lights everywhere. Unbelievable.

I hope you are just excited for this Christmas as I am. And are you loving the interviews? I think it's too fun and love how they are so inspiring. Mmm, XOXO!

handmade holiday: dear darling

2011-12-14T09:44:00.000-08:00

Suzy Lee is the creative mastermind behind Dear Darling. I fell in love with her work awhile ago -- how can you resist that penmanship? Her calligraphy is so inspiring. It is so whimsical, dreamy and perfect! I can't get enough. We're so lucky to have Suzy on adore more today!

What inspires you and your work?
I think I'm inspired by a lot of different things, but in regards to calligraphy specifically, I think it's just the beauty of words. Words are so important to me, and can carry so much weight. I think it's just a result of that romantic affair that i have with them. I read this quote that says so much to me about the way letters kind of remind me of people. Matthew Carter once said, “As the saying goes, type is a beautiful group of letters, not a group of beautiful letters.” I think letters find their homes and meanings in the words they're placed in, and I think people can be the same way. Alone, we can only be so beautiful, so it's in community and the incredible and complex people that we're surrounded with in this world, that we can find an even deeper meaning. At least that's been my experience.

Why calligraphy?
Calligraphy is a practice of staying in the present to me. I have this tendency to always be thinking of the old and good times, or always dreaming up what the future could look like. I love those things about myself, but I think I aspire to be more consistently in the moment. I love my past and future, but don't want them to steal from my present. My present makes up my future and made up my past. When I'm practicing my calligraphy, I look to the beginning of a word or line and to the end as reference points, but my attention has to always be focused exactly on the tip of my nib. That's where the real stuff is happening. That's what I have control over. I think calligraphy teaches me so much about life, and that a very kind, mysterious God is changing and shaping me through it.

What does your workspace look like?
Nomadic. So, in the fall of last year I began a crazy adventure. I decided to go see some more of the world. All my stuff was given away, sold, or packed up and stored away, and I left with a couple suitcases to Scotland. Ever since then, my workspace has not been consistent. Sometimes I'd be doing work at the kitchen table of my flat in Glasgow, other times I'd be in coffee shops and libraries, and sometimes I'd even take it down to a quiet pub! I've even worked out of the booths in Whole Foods before!! All of my calligraphy goods go into a special bag packed with everything I might need. My lifestyle has made my workspace a constantly moving and changing space, but I'm looking forward to the day that I can have the comfort of a consistent workspace again. One Day!!

What is your favorite thing?
My favorite thing is music! and reading! and music! Like I said, words woo me. So basically a good song lyric will change me forever, and a brilliant and complex book character will become my dearest friend.

What are you looking forward to most about this holiday season?
Every new years I go up to the mountains with a group of really dear friends. We pack the car with groceries and go stay in a friend's cabin for a few days, watching movies like Annie Hall and When Harry Met Sally, listening to tons of really good music, going on long brisk hikes around the lake, and cooking up a feast together. I always manage to read at least one brilliant life changing book while I'm up there and spend tons of time journaling. It's always been the perfect environment to reflect on the last year and the wishes for the year to come. I feel pretty changed from this last year and all the adventures it brought, so I'm excited to spend some special time revisiting it all with dear and brilliant friends.

Imagine you're throwing a holiday party, no limits on anything. what would it look like and who would you invite?
Wow! What a tremendous question. My favorite parties always involve building forts, crafts, and projecting movies outside under the stars, so I think it would involve all of those things. If I could have anyone I wanted there, it would be all my friends here and in the far away countries I visited, together with all my favorite book characters. We would probably watch Home Alone and drink hot toddies. This would be a dream. Rachel, do you happen to be a genie? Could you make this happen, please?

I wish! And then I would come to the party, too! I love Suzy's heart, it's so cool to see how beauty and God play into her work and complete it! Love it. Don't forget to check out Suzy's blog and etsy! Cheers!

handmade holiday: song & dance

2011-12-12T09:34:00.000-08:00

With this upcoming holiday season, I am especially about supporting handmade artists! Especially with craft fairs everywhere, it's fun to find new artists and new style to fall in love with and share them with all your friends. I found a few solid handmade artists online whose work I loved and am sharing a peek into their hearts with you this week! I am so excited.

First, is Andrea of Song & Dance. Her work has earthy undertones, and I am especially in love with everything rock from her (these babies are my favorite). Her colors are killer, and her studio pictures make me swoon even more!

What inspires you and your work?
It may sound cliche but nature is a big influence on my work. Shapes, colors, textures, materials, you name it! At some point a light bulb probably went off because of something I saw growing off of a tree, in a photo I took on a hike, or driving somewhere, or at the rock shop down the street.

Why jewelry?
Because I love it and aside from shoes it's my biggest addiction. I think another factor is that I love tiny details, especially those in antiques. The next step for me would be to take a casting class so I could make my own jewelry that is reminiscent of all the old estate jewelry that I love so much.

What does your workspace look like?
I can show you! (See above and below - like a nerd I cleaned up my whole space to snap a pic for my website that will hopefully be happening soon). My favorite part about my space is the brick wall, the big giant windows that are on that wall, and all the natural light that comes in. I can honestly say I am most content sitting at my desk, listening to music, and making new things. Something about the space, and our whole apartment in general just does that to me.

What is your favorite thing?
Wow, that's tough I have so many favorites! Probably traveling and seeing new places, even though I don't get to do it very often. Traveling is just so exciting to me I feel like a totally different person when I am off discovering something new. I would love to travel the whole world if I could. Two (well I guess it would be three) close seconds would have to be my rabbits- Willow and Fred because they always make me laugh, and then finally my music collection.

Adorable paintings that Andrea did of her two cute rabbits!

What are you looking forward to most about this holiday season?
Ski season! I live in Pennsylvania and right now we are having such a crazy Indian summer! The warm weather just goes on and on. Usually by now we have at least a few inches of snow on the ground, so I am definitely starting to get anxious to get my skis on and get outside into the cold. I'm also looking forward to decorating our apartment for the first time!

Imagine you're throwing a holiday party, no limits on anything. What would it look like and who would you invite?
I am imagining gold, lots of gold, shiny sparkly glorious gold! Tons of beautiful streamers by confetti system (confettisystem.com), and big geronimo balloons everywhere (geronimoballoons.com)! Tons of great food of course, I think I would have to hire all of the amazing people over at the flashdance (theflashdance.com) to document, and dj the whole thing! As far as guests go I'd of course have to invite my friends and family- especially the friends I don't get to see very often. A few of my very close buds have moved across the country, I miss them so much so of course I would make sure to fly them home for this.

Isn't her packaging the cutest? And you can only get your hands on that if you purchase something cute! Be sure to head on over to her shop, Song & Dance, for more close-ups of her products, and to support her at her ultra-cute, ultra-new blog! Can't wait for what's in store!

gray goodies

2011-12-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

Mmm. I am really into gray these days and so some of these items are my favorite. Especially that simple splatter pouch! Shopping and giving handmade is the most fun. And making things is even better! I hope you are all taking care of yourselves during this cold winter and drinking lots of yummy hot cocoa with marshmallows! :)

Find here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

the collection: snow

2011-12-08T11:42:00.000-08:00

It's so cold here. I feel like it's going to snow any minute because my ears are about to fall off and my nose is so red! I am being a happy pappy as I am done with finals and excited to spend some good quality time on cucuco! Hehe. Hope you like what's in store. And also, that you like this snow!

Love, Rachel

the sun does not know it is a star

2011-12-05T08:37:00.001-08:00

- geoff mcfetridge

Soo so so so so inspired.

gift guide

2011-12-02T11:53:00.001-08:00

This is my new color. Sweet and pink. Yes. Yes Yes. Looking at this makes me happy though. Everything is sweet and pink. Just what I want to get all my sweet and pink friends. :)

Find here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

the collection: tattoos

2011-12-01T09:54:00.000-08:00

I am like almost pretty convinced that I want that little infinity wrist tattoo. Like, so almost positive. But, maybe I should think it over for a while? Hmm. What is your favorite tattoo ever? Please do share!! Or even, share your tattoos! :)

alvin diec

2011-11-30T08:13:00.000-08:00

via designlovefest

Too much awesomeness. SRSLY. My favorite bands amidst some awesome design. This is what I would love doing one day...like, maybe tomorrow. Yeah. Check out more of Alvin Diec's work here.

happy birthday

2011-11-28T10:07:00.000-08:00

I'm just really loving those hard rock diamonds. They're irresistible, really. I can't afford any real ones yet though, so I just draw them. Hehe. Hope you are all recovering swelly from a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I can't get over what a great weekend it was. So thankful for my family, and the Wonder Years on Netflix! 1.5 weeks and then I am home free. Woohoo.

Loves.

white saturday

2011-11-26T20:20:00.001-08:00

Black Friday. Oh, what a day. I had a lot of fun dressing some kiddos up for the local Macy's Day Parade! And then, I just wandered around Portland and remembered why I always love it.

I've been desperately looking for the perfect gifts for this time of year, and have no such luck. But here are some real beauties that make my eyes happy. :)

Find gifts here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Hope you all had wonderful Thanksgivings with loved ones!

xos

shabby apple giveaway

2011-11-21T09:28:00.001-08:00

I'm excited to invite you to enter into Shabby Apple's giveaway! Shabby Apple is giving away one of their gorgeous 'Light as a Feather' necklaces. Shabby Apple has some darling jewelry and really great dresses! Entering is simple, just like their Facebook page and then leave a comment below! Enter additional times by following their twitter or blog and leaving another comment for each follow below! Giveaway is only open to U.S. readers. Entries will close next Monday at 12pm, when winner will be chosen. :)

Hooray for pretty jewelry!

trending now: lauren moffatt

2011-11-20T10:46:00.001-08:00

This adorable Lauren Moffatt coat is trending everywhere. I love it! Isn't it so fun to see all my favorite bloggers styling the same coat in different ways?? Yessss! The best thing about being behind the trends and watching them as they come is that now coat is on sale at Anthropologie. My favorite. Mmmm, be sure to say hi to Coury, Naomi, Sandra and Elsie and see more pictures of them in this cute coat!

the collection: glitter

2011-11-17T09:55:00.000-08:00

I love glitter. I don't care if it gets everywhere. It's more like inspiration. And then inspiration falling off in little pieces and covering everything. That is what I want my life to be like. Maybe love instead of inspiration. Maybe love that inspires inspiration. Love like glitter. Love like everywhere.

welcome to hotlanta

2011-11-16T09:20:00.000-08:00

So, my boy is in Atlanta. As of today, it's less than a month until we see each other again! HALLELUJAH. It's crazy that time can go by sooo fast, too fast, everyday, but the past three months without him have not seemed quite so.

Anyways, I developed these pictures to help me through the last days! They're from a traditional Kodak disposable camera. I love film! I like all of my pictures of Luke. I had the camera all the time, so none of me. Only a couple where I look too silly. And it's sad, because the arm-length self portrait didn't do wonders for me this roll. Thank goodness we can try again! ♥

you will love this

2011-11-14T09:30:00.001-08:00

If you're like me, this will make you happy. I've been studying so much that I've been forgetting what makes me happy, but once my eyes meet any of these little guys -- oh, do I remember! I can't wait until I get a pug of my own....!

Anyways, another reason to love PINTEREST!

rock diamonds

2011-11-12T13:33:00.001-08:00

I am in love with rock diamond gems! And the obsession doesn't look like it is going to end anytime soon.

Drew up some cards and put them in the etsy shop! Please enjoy them if they're your fancy, too! <3

the collection: cinnamon rolls

2011-11-10T09:40:00.000-08:00

Nothing calls in warm goodness like cinnamon rolls. Hello foggy mornings, dark afternoons, cold sheets and breath that you can see. Fall is here and I am going to warm myself by eating my weight in nothing but cinnamon rolls.

goodness

2011-11-08T08:05:00.000-08:00

Hope you're not getting sick of all these feel-good sentiments....because I am just getting started! I mean, it's almost Christmas time. :)

Be sure to check out more of Jon Contino's work here. It's quite impressive.

first restyle!

2011-11-07T08:47:00.000-08:00

Alright, alright. So these pictures are a little ridiculous. I know, so you can laugh. Let me preface. I made this dress in a little more than an hour right before I went to a Halloween party (I was a black cat!). And for dinner, I had decided to bake a butternut squash, so it was baking in the oven and then started burning and the house filled with smoke. The entire house. It was freezing outside but I still had to open the windows to clear the smoke.

So, these 'before' pictures were taken in the midst of my smoke filled house while I was a mess. The graininess is from the smoke! Crazy. Anyways, I feel like I'm being super vulnerable with all of you by showing myself in such a pitiful, but fun, state. But I don't have any other pictures of the dress before, so you win.

ANYWAYS.

I got this dress for like $4 or 8? I don't remember. But it was cheap. It was too big, but it had cute sequined shoulders and enough fabric to work with. I just sewed it in with two basic straight lines and hemmed the bottom. I made the v-back, where it was just a simple across hem line before. (Inspired by this!) And then I managed to shorten the neck area while keeping the sequined shoulders in tact and functional. While it is a little tight sometimes in the arm holes, it is manageable. I love it! And I'm proud of myself because I've always wanted to alter my clothes, and I was finally forced into it!

And now that I've started, I'm not going to stop. Look for more alterations in the future! :)

2011-11-06T01:05:00.000-07:00

via crush cul de sac

after effects

2011-11-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

It's true!

And when I say 'we' I mean.......me. Unless you love her, too -- and you probably do because she is irresistible. She's been on my mind, with her wonderful Christmas album and all....so I spent a good hour or so looking through pretty pictures and making a pinterest of some favorites. (Please tag me & add some more?)

This month is a sad. Love is not in the air...if you know what I mean. But, Halloween and all of it's after-effects will be gone soon enough once the Christmas Spirit settles in. Then, it's all love from there on out! TRUST ME!

<3

the collection: mittens

2011-11-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

It's finally starting to get chilly here in the PNW. I prefer keeping my hands warm with a lovely pair of knitted mittens. Perfect for getting in the Christmas spirit, especially now that it's post-All Hallow's Eve. Can't get enough of She & Him! <3

it will be.

2011-11-02T00:21:00.000-07:00

thank you ----

Seriously. Please & thank you.

In other words, Halloween is over. Wish I could give you some cute pictures of me in my cat costume, but I just can't! Pray for me to get over my camera fear. But, Halloween is over. Do you know what that means? Yes. THIS.

perfect bunting banners

2011-10-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

Added ten new bunting banners to the shop this weekend! They sure aren't seasonal like the last few banners, but that sure doesn't mean I don't love them as much as the last ones. In fact, I do quite love them more. I have been in love the nude/pink/peach scheme (thanks to this lovely lady) and these bunting banners were the perfect outlet for me to express it! Gahh. My favorite banner is definitely the last one posted.

I hope some of you love these as much as I do! :)

chalkboard clean

2011-10-28T08:23:00.000-07:00

Chalkboards are super fun to have around. They're perfect for every season and every day because you can change them every season or day. But, changing them! How can you get a beautiful chalkboard once you've loved and decorated it with a ton of chalk? Cleaning is easy peasy.

Just get a wet cloth to wipe the whole board with, and then dry it with another cloth. Too easy, right!

Don't you love the new plant my mom gave me? I do. I'm thinking of starting a collection of some good greenery.....

the collection: pumpkins

2011-10-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin is one of my favorite things about fall! Pumpkin cheesecake. Pumpkin pie. Pumpkin spice latte. Pumpkin candles. This year, I just can't get over fall. And pumpkin. The weather is WONDERFUL with the sun shining. I am so thankful!

Looking forward to going to the pumpkin patch this weekend and really getting sentimental for the season.

Did you see that She & Him's Christmas album is out? $5 on Amazon! Now, that is a good way to get sentimental for the season.

Happy Thursday!

Love, Rachel

mini cinni goodness

2011-10-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

'Tis the season for cinnamon rolls!

Resist the goodness of Cinnabon and make your own cinnamon rolls! It's so fun and you will be so proud of yourself after you do it. Plus, making them yourself totally justifies eating as many as you want -- guilt free! Yes to that.

I used this recipe and then changed it a little, for better or worse. I really like this recipe because it doesn't require a bread machine. It's super simple. And they're done in 90 minutes!

1. Ingredients!

- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup margarine, softened
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 (.25 ounce) package instant yeast
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1/4 cup water
- 1 egg
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup margarine, softened

2. Heat milk until it bubbles.
3. Stir in margarine and then let cool.
4. Mix 2 1/4 cup flour, yeast, sugar & salt.
5. Add the water, egg, milk mix and to flour mix and beat.
6. Add the rest of the flour, a 1/2 cup at a time and make sure to stir well.
6. When dough forms a ball, knead on a lightly floured surface for five minutes.
7. Cover dough with damp cloth for 10 minutes.
8. In another bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon & softened margarine.
9. Roll out dough, hot dog style to make mini buns! Then spread brown sugar/margarine mixture on it. (Mine looks super buttery... because it is. I added too much butter because I thought it would spread easier, but I added too much. While this mixture might need a little more butter, add it sparingly! Be careful.)
10. Roll up dough and pinch it closed. Then cut!
11. Place in pan, cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
12. Bake for 20 minutes at 375F! Woohooo.

Be sure to make some yummy frosting, too.

Happy Autumn-ing!

dot in the city giveaway

2011-10-25T22:39:00.000-07:00

So exciting!! It's Beth's birthday week and we are celebrating with her by giving away a shop credit. Celebrate with us by heading over to Beth's blog and entering the giveaway. She's doing a giveaway everyday this week with tons of great handmade artists. It's wonderful. It's like a pre-Christmas season!!!!!

yes, please.

2011-10-21T10:06:00.000-07:00

This is perfect and just what I need.

Happy Weekend! Make sure to take some time for yourself. xo.

the collection: scarves

2011-10-20T09:15:00.000-07:00

Scarves make everything better. Do you remember when I made this scarf? Gosh, I'm so happy I did that because I wear it ALL THE TIME. Maybe like everyday. Almost everyday. It's just so simple, matches everything and is soooo warm. Infinity scarves with chunky yarn are the best!! Definitely invest in one. It will make your life a lot warmer, and for me that means happier! :)

Hello to all the new readers! I am blown away my how much bloglovin' I've received this week. You guys are the b-b-b-BEST! <3

Love, Rachel

super simple paper flag

2011-10-19T10:22:00.000-07:00

Making paper drink flags is super simple and an easy way to spice up a party! Janelle & I made some for a birthday party recently. They are super easy and super fun to make. And it was so fun to personalize your flag with whatever you wanted to say, and made for easy drink markers. :)

All you will need for this project is paper, tacky glue & bamboo skewers.

1. Cut a long strip of paper. This will be the width of your flag.
2. Cut the long strip in half, or as desired. This will be the length of your flag.
3&4. Make the triangle cut out at the end.
5. Fold over a 1/2 cm at the opposite end.
6&7. Put some glue down on the inside.
8. Place bamboo skewer on the glue.
9. Fold paper over the bamboo and glue.
10. Press realllyyy hard to make sure that it doesn't come unglued.

And you're done! So easy. Right?

the winter cool

2011-10-18T13:56:00.000-07:00

Another seasonal bunting banner up in the etsy! This time it's winter colors! Ohhh, the anticipation.

Click here to see more of the banner! I hope you love it!

a simple playlist

2011-10-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

Not particularly "autumn" or "trendy" or anything at all, really. My listening turnover of songs has slowed down just as life has been getting faster. Here are some oldies, but goodies, that I tend to always fall back on when I'm working on something. I hope you like it! :) ALSO, if you have any good suggestions of what you've been listening to lately, I would LOVE them!

Here's to a great week ahead! xo.

daily dose

2011-10-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

Pink is my new favorite. Nowadays, I am always on the lookout for the perfect shade of pink top. Not too bright, not too sweet - just a light hazy cotton candy pink to sweeten up my mood. Since I haven't found any such top yet, currently getting my daily pink dosage by soaking in these lovely ladies. If you have other pretties, tag me & let me know!

bring autumn inside, please

2011-10-15T00:12:00.000-07:00

Two new items in the etsy this week! Two seasonal square bunting banners in a scheme of burnt oranges and mustard yellows. It's the same color scheme as the banner I made for the party -- I ended up loving the colors and made two more! Each are around twelve feet in length with the strips about 2 inches wide. And made with upcycled materials so you can feel GOOD about making your house and the world a prettier place. :)

Click to see them on my etsy here & here.

only the best

2011-10-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Bernadette Pascua's work is breathtaking. Can't get enough of it. So simple & so beautiful. Understated? I love it.

Also love how vogue her work is, yet so casual. This is the perfect inspiration I've been needing to get my nose back into my sketchbooks! I see a fun weekend ahead. :)

Be sure to check out her tumblr & blog for more beautifulness.

Happy Friday!

the collection: ombre hair

2011-10-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

Mmm, will I ever get sick of ombre??? Will anybody? I hope not. Gosh, Lily Melrose has really made me appreciate the beauty of ombre just from simply wearing her hair well. She made a really simple video on ombre-ing your hair, too. It's so simple! I did it this summer and it only cost me around $7 and 2 hours of my time.If you want to do it -- DO IT.

I don't think I've even posted a picture of my hair on this blog. (Sorry! I am still have camera fear.) But, I'm going to probably cut and re-ombre my hair soon, and I promise promise promise that I will post pictures here. If I don't, you can unsubscribe, or do something threatening like that.

Cheers! xo

an autumn party

2011-10-12T22:04:00.000-07:00

One thing I've learned over the past while is that food is key to good parties. If you have sufficient amount of food and it's decently good, a more than great party is easy to have. For this birthday party, I decided to take advantage of the season and fall into autumn...! (too cheesy?)

I stuck with a classic theme of mustard yellow, burnt orange and the great outdoors! I decided to keep it simple and limited myself to filling our small little dining room table with desserts and fun. My roommate had some lovely cake plates that I used to vary the dessert heights and I filled in the extra space with tea lights in glasses. Such a simple idea with a great effect! My friend gathered some colorful leaves and we hung them beneath the chalkboard which looked really good. I stuck the cute paper flags in another glass and invited people to make their own flag! Finally, I scribbled the dessert names on cards and voila! A sufficient dessert table.

And that bunting banner was a cute little addition, too! I managed to whip it up 30 minutes before the party. Thank the Lord for sewing machines.

It was a really fun party! We celebrated three birthdays. They were turning 21, 22 & 23! There were a lot of friends and a lot of love. Nothing beats that.

chalkboard

2011-10-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

Isn't Janelle so cute?! I think so. She's so cute & artsy & takes pretty pictures. I was soo soo soo happy after she decorated the chalkboard. It is perfectly cute and perfectly happy. Just like Janelle. Tehe.

party preview

2011-10-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

Birthday Party was a success! Thanks to great pal, Janelle, things got done & got done cute. Here's quick preview of some of the fun things, with even more fun coming -- if you can believe that! :)

In my eyes, this is perfect.

2011-10-09T17:06:00.000-07:00

thank you amanda k. white

the collection: sailboats

2011-10-06T12:03:00.000-07:00

I know it's not sunny anymore and sailboats are a thing of the past, something we called summer. But, it doesn't take away from their whimsicalness and adventure. With all the rain in the days to come, maybe we'll end up needing sailboats to float through our flooded towns. xo.

fall bash

2011-10-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

Planning a birthday party this weekend for some good friends, and I made a little inspiration board because it's makes everything seem more fun & real. I've got a few ideas and excited to put on a little fall bash! So many good ideas to work with.

See the pinterest board I made here for a few more good ideas!

Love, Rachel

curveball

2011-10-02T21:30:00.000-07:00

School started and week one is over. Can't believe it. School and life is throwing me off a little so the creative productivity is a little behind these days.

I can not stop thinking about this sweater and how easy it would be to make. And how cool!

Also, planning on throwing a birthday bash this weekend so it's time to get those creative juices flowing. Awesome pinterest accounts, anyone?

cactus

2011-09-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

So fresh.

Happy Friday! xo.

the collection: pink hair

2011-09-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

PINK! Mmm. Does it get any better? I love all things pink. I wanted to incorporate more pink into my wardrobe this year, but these days I just find myself wearing black and tan, like I'm 60 years old. But I just can't stop! So, I'm thinking about pink hair.....Just thinking.

I realize that all of these pictures are pictures of lovely girls with lovely blond hair. And I have dark black hair. Not fair. I'm thinking that I bleach all the color out of my hair (but enough so that it's still there) and then tint it a light lovely pink. LOVELY, RIGHT?

Until someone talks me out of it, I might be doing that for Halloween. Ha.

Cheers to pink hair! <3 I wish.

P.S. And I want to say that I made this collection before seeing Katy rock the pink hair (see here), not that it matters. But, hey! Cool!

fall & leaves

2011-09-27T23:12:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how quick fall got here. All of sudden it is rainy & cloudy - no more sun! The best thing about it is the beautiful colors that come with the season. Fall is the prettiest here in Eugene, the trees and the leaves and the colors are stunning! Ohhh. So, I made them last forever on these postcards. Postcards are my favorite! It was super fun. I picked some dried leaves from outside, drew them, painted them and stamped them. It was really fun. Fall forever. XO.

See more pictures on my flickr here. :)

love is forever

2011-09-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

Mmm, love those leaves inspired by those pictures by that one artist....(you know who I'm talking about, right??). Anyways, love that style. I'm really excited for this chalkboard because I'll change it throughout the year to whatever season of feeling I am having and it will always look pretty. I love pretty stuff. Just wanted to share you this little tidbit of my new room. I'll probably have a "full tour" of my bedroom soon.

I hope you are all having a lovely Sunday and that this upcoming week is fantastic!

xo!

old-fashioned flowers

2011-09-24T21:37:00.000-07:00

thank you olivia bee and anne louise

the collection: beach polaroids

2011-09-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

Mmm, the richness of actual film and actual pictures, while still paired with the 'instant'. Oh, how I wish I had a polaroid camera. Or even one of those samsung things. I got a disposable camera in Atlanta, that I can't wait to get developed. I am absolutely positive that I need to save up for a Holga or Diana soon. Any opinions on which one is better/more likeable?

Anyways, summer couldn't have gone by any quicker this year. I just got back from Atlanta today and I am one sad, sad girl. And what will this sad, sad girl go do tomorrow? SHOP AT THE MALL. WOOHOOO.

golden farewell

2011-09-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

Goodbye summer!

thank you louise v.

there are

2011-09-19T06:48:00.000-07:00

Stars in my eyes? YES.

postcards

2011-09-16T22:31:00.000-07:00

I love postcards.

They are so fun! So simple. Cheaper to send than letters. :) And fun to decorate. Let this be a season of postcards.

the collection: braids

2011-09-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

I am in Atlantaaaa. Going to go out and finally do something. Braids are the easiest/funnest/most stylishest thing to do while you are on a plane for 7 hours. TRUST ME.

atlanta

2011-09-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow morning I'm heading out to visit my lovely boy in ATLANTA! I'm excited to see him AND explore a new city. But, I have no idea where to start. What are your suggestions? Hotspots? Favorite places to eat? Mmm. Can't wait.

thank you pinmarklet

so blessed

2011-09-12T23:55:00.000-07:00

srsly.

thank you simply bloom for the photo

cut-off love

2011-09-10T23:35:00.000-07:00

So easy & so perfect. Perfect lack-a-daisy summer project. :)

some favorites

2011-09-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from the photoshoot that I LOVE, but couldn't quite fit into the lookbook:

For some more, check out the flickr set.

photos by: Maiko Ando

the collection: olsen twins

2011-09-08T10:37:00.000-07:00

Oh, the Olsen twins. I can never get enough. SRSLY. Their style is so original and they pull it off so well. I wish I could wear heels like they do! It was hard making this collection and only focusing on TEN, not even counting the pictures of them individually. So much artistic inspiration in these two, love it.

finally!

2011-09-07T09:02:00.000-07:00

I know I shared about this project foreverrrr ago, but it's finally here! Cucuco's first fall 2011 lookbook. I hope you love it and have fun looking at it. Big thanks to Maiko Ando for taking the beautiful pictures. And to my lovely friends for modeling. :) It was so fun to put this together, I hope you like it!

Open publication - Free publishing - More cucuco

This fall collection is specially one-of-a-kind handmade and will not be restocked once sold out, so be sure to get the one you love before someone else does. :)

♥

ombre bookcase

2011-09-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

I moved in to my new house a week or so ago, and while I was at it I painted this bookcase that has never sat quite right in my heart. But now, thanks to some good love & paint, it finally does!

I'm really into white these days, especially in homes (if my pinterest didn't give me away), so of course I chose to go from a too vibrant blue/purple to a simple, understated white. I spiced it up a little bit by making each of the back panels a different shade of gray. It's fun! It was super frustrating trying to get all the coats of gray to match each other (make sure you make more than enough paint for each layer! it's definitely worth it). And I made two trips to Michaels because I underestimated how much paint I would use, so just go big! Haha. And the most important thing is to make sure that you tape off all the corners super well! It takes time, but it is worth it! :)

Hope you enjoy, and maybe inspire some more ombre home decor. Ombre is never not fun!

the collection: turbans

2011-09-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

So hip & so trendy. Turbans are something that I definitely want to wear more this fall. Perfect fall accessory, I mean if you get it right, I bet you can make it cover your ears!

MARRY ME

2011-08-30T11:09:00.000-07:00

Add this to my list of things to make!

run run run

2011-08-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

So in love with "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People and you will be too, if you're not already. Love this cute little cigarette print, reminiscent on Warhol's Campbell soup print. Fun stuff.

poppies for grace

2011-08-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

These beautiful products have been popping up all over the internet & pinterest and I couldn't resist sharing them. They are so beautiful, simple & inspiring. I wish I had thought of them! These first bags are especially close to my heart!

Be sure to check out Poppies for Grace for more lovelyness, and word on the street is that "hellousa" will give you 15% off! Hooray!

tell me why we gotta stop

2011-08-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

Oh, for the love of bleach blonde hair.

thank you Kathryna Hancock

CANDLE LOVE

2011-08-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, I made these candles for my mom. Now, it's my mom's birthday again and I'm not making candles for her, but I thought I would share just how easy it is to really make your own candles.

And, voila! A candle. Another helpful tip is to hot glue your tabs to the base of your jar. Makes the whole pouring thing go a lot easier. I hope your candle-making experience goes well and that you can fill your house with some pleasing aromas soon!

goldie

2011-08-25T17:35:00.000-07:00

I have been in love with this dress forever. It's perfect! I would wear this dress everyday if I could. Today I learned that it's from Betsey Johnson. SO CUTE. I want to make this.

the collection: ray bans

2011-08-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

So, a part of me hates the paparazzi. You know, the whole invasion of people's privacy and all the disrespectful stuff like that, but -- I don't know. I love seeing all of this good style, so, I mean, if it's out there. Why not? Anyways, don't be expecting a lot more of this paparazzi nonsense. I just wanted to point out how Ray Bans are like the magical pants for all of celebrity culture. And I would really like to be a part of that culture...

let us not lose sight

2011-08-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

thank you brent schoepf

when all you see is

2011-08-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

So in love with this dress.

found here & here.

product roundup

2011-08-20T22:39:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky to have had these beautiful, creative ladies model cucuco's fall line! I LOVED seeing how they styled my products and the outfits they wore them with. Plus, it was such a joy to work with them and FUN! Be sure to check out their product post and check out their other work, they are all amaaazing. :)

Lea is amazing. Her blog started out as a fashion journal of her ridiculously cute & creative outfits and now is in the transition of becoming more design focused. I feel like it's a win-win for me, because I love her adorable style and her taste in design is killer. Be sure to check her blog & keep up with her as she explores the design world more. She is GREAAAATTTTT. <3<3
I love Chelsea. We are great blog friends and have worked on a few things together, which I love. Collaboration. Which is great, because she has a super cute blog filled with fun bits of life, vintage fun & fashion. Plus, she has a fun twitter, if you are ever in the mood.

Janelle takes the prettiest pictures, actually. And she has a great eye for typography and design. I love her eye for pictures and am excited to see more of her work, word on the street is shes doing some weddings in the future, -- so get excited!

Ilene is like a dream come true. I have been reading Ilene's blog since I started, and I remember messaging for her advice about shop & blogs and she was so encouraging. So, it's so cool to be able to work with her now!! Her shop is a great example of what I want my shop to look like someday, and her blog is full of her fun life and cute outfits! What's not to love?

Julie Iliana. Ahhh. Soo coool. I loved her blog because it definitely stands out in the ocean of fashion blogs. Her style is actually killer and I want to try pulling it off sometime soon. I love her honesty and real personality and her heart is golden. I just wish I was as cool as her, so I read her blog!

fall collection 2011

2011-08-14T22:39:00.001-07:00

I'm so excited to announce that the fall collection 2011 is available now! My five lovely friends all modeled one product which will be on my etsy, with more colors, too! Be excited for a lookbook this week! Be sure to take a look!

And thank you, thank you, thank you for reading!

jovial julie: larger flower clip

2011-08-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

Hello dears! I'm Julie Iliana from the blog sundaypicnics. I haven't had the pleasure to meet Rachel personally like some of the other lovely bloggers who have written here, but I am stoked to have been part of her launch for CUCUCO (I can't get over how cute that name is!)

When I received her package in the mail, (even the envelope was adorbs! it's sealed with stitches!) I was excited to find this hand sewn royal blue flower accessory. I immediately envisioned myself wearing it to summer weddings, beach shindigs, romantic nights... heck, I'm wearing it while I write this because I can't get over how it makes my messy hair look "professionally-messy" ;D and I absolutely love how it looks with this button up cowboy-esque blouse I'm wearing.

Thank you so much Rachel for this awesome opportunity!

PS- she has the cutest wall banners ever!

XOXO

inspiring ilene: small flower clip

2011-08-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

Hello, friends. My name is Ilene, the voice of Much Love, illy. I got the chance to get to know Rachel over blog world for a couple of years now. I remember her being one of my first readers and supporters of my blog - and she is such a sweetheart! And she recently sent me a pair of her lovely new silk rosette hair accessories that I got a chance to rock out. They are the perfect size to be worn together and apart. I am a huge supporter of handmade, so I absolutely thrilled for Rachel to launch her new collection!

joyful janelle: necklace

2011-08-11T11:24:00.000-07:00

Hi! I'm Janelle from Create Contrast Photography! I actually met Rachel in a Business Calculus class and I'm so so inspired by how she gets to be so creative and chase her dreams with cucuco!

When she asked me to model her new line, I'll be honest, I was terrified, because I am way more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. But getting to pick out an outfit and figure out how to do her cute necklace justice was pretty fun!

Can't wait to see the whole line and how all these other beautiful creative people have styled them!

charming chelsea: three flowers

2011-08-10T11:18:00.000-07:00

Hi! I'm Chelsea, and I blog over at Love, Chelsea Lauren. I've been a fan of Rachel's shop for a long time. We started out with a little swap of items from our shops, and I loved my headband so much, I went back to her shop to buy two more! I always get compliments whenever I wear them out. I was so excited when she contacted me about her new line. This mustard flower clip is one of my favorites! I can't wait to see the new line!

lovely lea: headband

2011-08-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

Hello, adore more readers :D My name is Lea, and I blog over at Pretty Prudent whenever I get the chance. I was acquainted with Rachel back in high school and to be honest, she is part of the reason I decided to start blogging; I was a lurker for a long time and then finally, one day decided to take the plunge.

So you can imagine how flattered and excited I was when she asked me to help promote her new collection.

I'd like to say that for the whole day I wore this outfit and this lovely hairband, I picnicked and frolicked in fields, however that would be a big a fat lie. In actuality, I sat in front of my computer all day in indesign, working on my graphic design homework. But you have to admit, this outfit and the hairband definitely make it look like that's what I did all day. Which I think, is pretty dang awesome.

I paired the hairband with a fairly simple, mostly neutral outfit. I didn't want to overwhelm the craftsmanship and pretty texture of the hand made flowers with crazy colors or a crazy outfit.

Thank You, Rachel for having me on here and sending me such a lovely accessory. They'll be available for purchase in the next week. Go for it :D

dearest friends,

2011-08-09T02:45:00.000-07:00

So excited! These next few days I will be gearing up for "the launch" of cucuco's first "official" "line" of hair accessories. (The quotation marks convey my lack of disbelief that it is actually finally happening. It's happening?) But, I am REALLY excited to share the pieces that I have been making and I am super excited about it because some absolutely lovely ladies are styling each accessory in their own way.

I hope you love & enjoy it. Come back later today & check it out!

Smooches,
Rachel