friday faves: 9.9.11

it's been a crazy work week and is not ending for me today (ahhh the fun world of retail), but i wish you all a lovely and relaxing weekend!  as for friday faves, i have a couple pretties to share today, hope you like them as much as i do ~

design/decor

ampersand at the table

love, love ampersands as decor but rarely do i see any incorporated in a kitchen/dining area.  but this little space, found in chicago home + garden, is just adorable and the big black ampersand is a perfect addition.  {p.s. see the table? it's really an old door and sawhorses. so cool!}

a yellow & gray room

... that is just beginning to take shape!  it's the bedroom of my dear [and ADORABLE!] friend, joella, who just moved to a new apartment and is in the process of painting and decorating her room with a yellow & gray color scheme.  she's on a major budget but also happens to be majorly creative so i can't wait to see how it turns out!  haven't seen it in person yet but i hope to visit soon.  until, thank goodness she has a blog! [which you should all check out because she is super sweet and funny]

fashion

words to live by

stick to this simple fact & you will never go out of style!

found on this pinterest board

etc

movie posters

for two of my fave movies, by the art of adam juresko.  fun, funky, and all-in-all perfect.  found on the blog, purple deer

a random note

for those of you not in the know (a.k.a. not in iowa), tomorrow is the big IOWA-IOWA STATE game.  whoo hoo!  everyone is throwing on their tee shirts and grabbing their beer koozies and heading out to ames - or the local bar - to support their team.  as a new iowa resident, i was super excited to take part in this.  i'm used to BEARS-PACKERS and CUBS-SOX but never cared too much about college football.  of course, when i was in college near iowa city and spending a lot of time there, i rooted for the hawkeyes because it was fun and i loved the camaraderie.  but with the risk of sounding like a fair weather fan, this year i'll be switching over to the cyclone side.  [note: if you know anything about college football you will know this is not a typical "fair weather fan" situation - iowa state is not exactly known for their football team, especially as compared to university of iowa]  this is my man friend's alma mater so i figured it was a nice gesture.  considering i don't really care and all.  (it's not like he would ever have the audacity to try and tear be away from the monsters of the midway over to the cowboys...)  unfortunately, i'll be missing the actual game this year because there is a big event going on at my store and i have to work.  boooooo!  but for any iowans out there, i hope you enjoy the big game!!

and to everyone else,
you have a great weekend as well!

xx, kait

friday faves: 3.4.11

here ya go! -- a collection of some photography, design, & fashion that has caught my eye over the week, as a disappointing february transformed into what i'm hoping will be a fruitful march.

hopefully this makes you smile :)

~ a playhouse made of books ~

how whimsical & well, awesome!

had i been creative enough to think of this when a child, this would have been my playhouse instead of the one i fashioned out of sheets, tacks, and wood in my backyard.

photo by olivia megalis

~ lovely curtains ~

 i just adore these curtains in this dining room ~ wish i knew where they were from!

[from decor pad, via]

 ~ a woodsy bed ~

 a chic way to bring the outdoors into your bedroom [via tiptoe butterfly]

 ~ polka dotted letters ~

 just in love with these letters.  and i think they'd be super easy to make! hmm... definitely something i should try asap!  i think i'd spell out "peace" as that is a reminder i need on a regular basis - stop stressing & just find inner peace.  [image via]

~ a polka dotted accent wall! ~

because just one polka dotted item per friday fave is just not enough. 

bold & oh so fabulous! [via]

p.s. also love the headboard!!

~ romantic signs above the bed ~

i'm not always the sappiest person, but when i saw this bedroom design, i got shivers.  lovely.  sort of like this other above-bed sign i posted last month.  except i love this one most!

[via]

~ even more braids ~

 yes, i know i included some awesome braided hairstyles in my last friday faves, but that wasn't enough!  i had to share this one as well~

[image via]

~ and even more dianna agron love ~

she's just so adorable!!

hope you're not sick of it - you'll be seeing a lot of her classic self here! [image via]

{love her too?  here are some more dianna posts @ pretty things: on the red carpet 1, 2, 3; as madonna; her lovely profile}

~ mimi + meg's march calendar ~

 see it full-sized and available for download here

oh, and just like in feb, expect many posts related to these little-known holidays!

~ kirsten dunst having tea with a stuffed elephant ~

 

i don't feel a comment is necessary.  this photograph just speaks for itself.

from the Boy by Band of Outsiders spring 2011 ad campaign [via]

 ~giveaways~

~ absolutely beautiful necklace ~

by etsy jeweler Padgett Hoke

head on over to pink to green to enter for yourself!

~ marc jacobs daisy perfume ~

remember a few weeks ago when i did a post about how MJ's daisy perfume is the most photogenic?  and how i love daisies?  and how i don't own this one yet but would love to?

well fortunately, sweetheart blogger over at slumber designs is doing a giveaway for this very perfume!

* fingers crossed!! *

[enter for yourself here... but do it ASAP because the giveaway ends tonight @ midnight!]

~ item from barberry & lace ~

in celebration of 700 followers, the sweet leigh is giving one lucky reader an item from her shop, barberry & lace [up to $25 value].  if you are not familiar with this etsy shop, definitely head over now because it is just filled with prettypretty jewelry.  if i were to win this fab giveaway, i would choose the pink sparrow bracelet (shown above).  simple, pretty, and with a bird accent ~ perfect for me.

enter for yourself here!

~ golden boho locket ring ~

  by house of harlow, courtesey of Hallelu
this incredible giveaway is from gypsy*diaries in celebration of 1,000 fans [whoohoo!].
enter the giveaway here  

~ striped clutch ~

  adorable clutch by spool no.72, a fabulous boho clothing & accessories company.  fingers crossed i win this awesome purse from IHOD!

~in case you missed it here @ pretty things:~

a couple of my fave posts over the past week--

(not that i don't love all my posts, here are just a few that stick out in my mind)

~ amanda seyfriend epitomizing natural beauty meets couture

~ table i desperately want

~ mantra

~one last thought~

inspirational thought for the weekend.

lovely picture, too!

[via]

decor: eclectic dining room chairs

 

i do like the whole design of this dining room, but all i see when i look at it is... those chairs.  those incredible, incredible chairs.  polka dots, flowers, color, b&w.... love all of it.  eclectic chic to the max.

what do you think?

design by Sarah Richardson

 [images via]

link love: 12.23.10

 design/decor

great dining room - lovely shades of purple, comfy arm chairs & a fireplace. oh yes.
[from here, via]

desk with canopy?  awesome.  [design by nick olsen, via]

even though i'd prefer an actual mirror above my own sink, i have to admit that this bathroom "after" is beyond cool. see more of the whole house's transformation at design*sponge

fashion

1. love this jacket. love the off-the-shoulder style. love the structure. loooove the bows.  man, dior is awesome!  [picture = georgia may jagger for vogue uk jan '11]
2. not a big flannel fan but definitely a fan of unexpected pairings.  go here see cool examples of how to pull off this look.

 sparkles on our first lady? yes, please! [image via]

florence = awesome. [image via]

true, true, truuuuuuue. [via]

photography

lately i've been really into photographs that juxtapose winter bareness and snowfall with bright blossoms reminiscent of springtime.  these photos certainly fit the bill . [1. via; 2. via]

i like this photo lots.  simple as that.  [via]


random

i desperately want these bandages from UO.  & i would wear them all at once.  which wouldn't be a problem because i am prone to extreme paper cuts.  [discovered here]

 me too.  print by etsy artist stephanie fizer [discovered here]

*need to remind myself of this fact often* [image via - i found it here]

just now starting to get in the holiday spirit... & this spirited bike certainly helps spread the cheer! [image via]

hilarious!  my personal pencil would probably be the itty bitty nub of a pencil.  sigh.  [via]


{merry christmas eve eve!}

reblog: bear hill interiors

... from the always inspirational house of turquoise.

kevin walsh of bear hill interiors designed a simply beautiful home that was featured in At Home in Arkansas.  here are my fave 2 rooms :

living room:

use of colors in this room = lovely.  end of story.  ok not quite... i'd also like to add that i seriously love those pillow covers & wish i knew where i could find them for myself!

dining room:

 once again - colors are soo beautiful against the mostly white/wood of the room.  the table is also beyond perfect & the chandelier oh so fun.

i'm also now the newest follower of bear hill interiors blog & have a feeling it will be the featured in many more posts to come!

design: chic & sleek dining room

there's just something about this image that draws me into the design...

LOVE:

-the simplicity of design. i'm one to over design, over decorate, but this dining room's sophistication lays in its simplicity. lovely.

- simple black chairs. perfect.

- black & white with pop of pink. a personal fave color combo.

- shades of pink in flowers. just adds something extra.

- sliver of pink chair in corner -- makes me want to see more & i know i would loove the "more"

- silver vases on top of cabinet. pop!

- intricate chandelier.  duh!

via

design: lavender accent dining room

...with that same pink blossom chandelier with swarovski crystals that i was obsessed with in gwenyth paltrow's beach house dining room...

love:

- comfy chairs/benches 

- deep wood dining table & floor

- huuuuuge windows...

-....with lovely lavender curtains

- beautiful purple flowers tying it all together

and the chandelier.  the breathtaking chandelier.

in case you forgot, here it is:

i'm still madly in love with it.

love this dining room & love this chandelier.

image from decor pad [via]

design: dining room love

a dining room i could definitely see as my own:

why:

- white, white, white [but somehow without being overwhelming]

- beautiful blue color of the chairs

- huuuuge mirror with incredible white molding frame -- i wouldn't necessarily want to watch myself eat, but this massive mirror just captures my heart

- huge window

- chandelier!!  i mean, really - are you surprised that i love this crystal & intricate chandelier?!

yeah, i love it~~

from decor pad [via] 

design: maps, maps, maps

everywhere i look, i see maps in design... & i love it!

in a dining room...

via blessed little nest [it's her dining room!!]

 

from covet magazine [via]

...or a living room...

loooove the overhead light! [from country living, via]

...or a bed room...

[i actually have a huge world map next to my bed in my parents house!]

found on [source]

from the book "rooms for children" [via]

...or next to a desk.

from house beautiful [via]

ohhh yes, i love me some maps!