Handful of Treasures: July 2009

Friday, July 31, 2009

Yummy Mustard {shoes}!

Sometimes, some things are so hideous, they're amazing. Like the color mustard -- it shouldn't be pretty, or fabulous. Especially if it's in velvet. But look at these lovelies!

Ralph Lauren Purple Label , via Wedding Bee

Kate Spade Grammy, via Wedding Bee

No, I don't think I could *actually* pull these off. Although who'm I kidding, if I had $500+ to throw on these, I *totally* would. Or if there was a killer Zappos-like return policy in whatever store/online retailer that carries these, I would plunk money down, try them on, then return them :) If I didn't fall in love. And magically win the lottery so I could snatch these up. Ah, dreams.

Ah, competition

Man. I just spent a *ridiculous* amount of time creating some inspiration boards using dresses from Style Me Pretty's Look Book for the SMP contest :) Not that I necessarily need a $250 Crate & Barrel gift card -- I mean, yes, that's big money to me, but ... I just thought it would be *so*much*fun* to "have" to sit down + go through all the things I've tagged as pretties + create a board :) I know, nuts, right? I even diagrammed the layouts so that I could easily list out the credits -- super nuts, right? But eeee, fun :D !!

Well, here's my most basic board -- I think you can tell I got tired. Guess that's what procrastination does to ya, I still haven't learned :D!

Elizabeth Messina [ceiling],
Cake Coquette,
Kenneth Pool, Magical dress,
Jennifer Skog [table setting],
Jennifer Dery Photography + Adrianne Smith Floral Design [roses],
Boutwell Studio [rose in water],
Jennifer Dery Photography [bouquet detail], Neysa Ruhl Photography [Veil]

Friday Love

{Cliff Mautner}

Such happiness

I hope everyone's Friday is filled with this much love + happiness :)!

Boutwell Studio via Style Me Pretty

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Congrats, L & S!!

Love Notes by Sarah Drake on Style Me Pretty

Stephanie Lairson Weddings on Style Me Pretty

CHEERS TO THE HAPPY ENGAGEMENT, L & S! Much love + hugs for the official start to the process of sticking together for all eternity :) I know, I'm such a romantic ;) But eeee I'm so excited for you guys! Here's to sooo much fun + pretties + (of course!) lovin' ahead -- you know I'm here for y'all for whatever you need :)

Kristin Vining Photography on Style Me Pretty

Daria Bishop on Style Me Pretty

Be still my beating heart

Timeless Vixen Vintage strikes again. It is taking all my willpower not to purchase this right now. It is sooo crazy not in our budget. Like, it is more than my wedding dress was. And since I don't know when exactly we're getting married in the church to become religious-ly official, it would be insane to buy this, right? Like, when easily this covers 1/3 of the ski trip we're heading on next January.

How can clothes = travel? This is so unfair.

I just soooo heart the graduated shades of blue. And of course the lace. It's no obviously-vintage-wedding like the darn dress that opened this whole new world of vintage dresses. But isn't it cute? And re-wearable? Heck, I don't know where. But look at that flounce! And did I mention the lace? And the ohsolovely shades of blue? le sigh.

CS: Best Salad

This salad converted me to loving salads. Okay, and a good Cobb Salad, but that's really just some greens tossed w/ meat + egg + cheese + olives, right? mmmm.

Right, back on topic.

Warm Tortellini and Cherry Tomato Salad

"Extra-virgin olive oil and two kinds of vinegar make an easy, classic dressing for this pasta-and-vegetable salad. You can also try this with chicken or mushroom tortellini or cheese ravioli."

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups)

Ingredients

2 (9-ounce) packages fresh cheese tortellini
1 1/2 cups (1 1/2-inch-long) slices fresh asparagus (about 1 pound)
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 cups trimmed arugula
1 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
3/4 cup (3 ounces) pregrated fresh Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/3 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered

Preparation

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Add asparagus to pasta during last 2 minutes of cook time. Drain.

While pasta cooks, combine vinegars, oil, and pepper in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add pasta mixture, arugula, and remaining ingredients; toss to coat.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 403 (26% from fat)
Fat: 11.6g (sat 5.7g,mono 4.4g,poly 0.6g)
Protein: 21.7g
Carbohydrate: 52.4g
Fiber: 7.9g
Cholesterol: 50mg
Iron: 1.9mg
Sodium: 725mg
Calcium: 415mg

Cooking Light, JANUARY 2005

Just a little wishing

Rafe
Emma [shoulder bags]
Mila [red + straw wristlet]]
Shana [yellow + straw bag]
Rihanna [yellow, purple clutch]

KORS Michael Kors
Niche [upper left]
Ghita [bottom left]
Saturn [right]

Diane von Furstenberg, Rialto

Photos via gilt

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Mmmm, delicious (looking)

Check out this makes-you-look-like-a-fancy-pastry-chef gadget at William Sonoma! It is most definitely going on my wish list.

via Williams Sonoma

Happy Birthday, J!

{Lisa Lefkowitz, event styled by Gloria Wong, feat. on Style Me Pretty}

Happy Birthday, J! It's like Style Me Pretty knew the prettiest cake had to be featured on your birthday! [We'll ignore that it's a wedding cake...]

And again, I'm sorry I dropped the ball on your cake balls.

{bakerella}

So to make up for it... your very own etsy earring collage :)! Because you always have the most fabulous earrings :)

Row 1:Dal Mare; birdzNbeez

Row 2: rayfa ; friedasophie
Row3: thejewelrybar; loriyab

And all things fabulously 'Jessica' on etsy :)

Row 1: Poppy Raye Studio; Selena Designs
Row 2: Helen Marie Designs;Marolsha
Row 3: Quirky Beauty; fashionrefined

Cheers to your 28th!

NB Purge: Gorgeous crazy weather

These images are just so *striking*! And okay, the shoes + bouquet are gorgeous :) But really -- those crazy skies -- amazing.

Style Me Pretty feat. Raw Photo Design photography, Blush Floral Studio

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

BIA: Brilliant

via Real Simple

Literally, though. I love this lighting. And the whole ad totally makes me want to crawl into bed. *Genius.* Sidenote: can you imagine what kind of styling it took to get this look? Like, some romping around? Several shots of the pillows one way, then another? A little more turn down? I don't know if I have the patience for that :D But mmm, looks so posh + cozy + inviting, right?

Art is in the eye of the beholder

Casadei Sweet

How is this not art?

Etsy finds {greens + gold + wood + iron}

village clayworks pottery
adorn jewelry moss ring
feminesque bird necklace
julie garland jewelry chalcedony earrings
vintage from japan mold
talula key necklace

Sunshine

Want to see what's made me smile lately?

BURGER AND FRIES ON A WEDDING BUTTON. Nothing truer.

{Kawartha Photography via Style me Pretty}

This fabulously rocking nerd-couple. And I say this because Mrs. Gummi Bear* fully calls herself out (photos of her e-ring on a nintendo handset (or whatever it's called)! wedding photos of her + her guests playing video games at the reception!), and I love it when geekiness is flaunted!

{Mrs. Gummi Bear & Mr. GB}

A cabinet of shoes? swoon.

petra bindel via desire to inspire, also via This is Glamourous

This gigantic old-fashioned sofa bedecked in such a delightful print!

Design*Sponge, feat. toots & mango

Hee.

{Kate Harrison Photography}

This caption, following the vows said by Mr. Candy Corn to Mrs. Candy Corn: I love that our photographer caught Mr. Candy Corn looking at the officiant like “Did I do that okay? Should I just stick this paper in my pocket? Durrrr…” So cute.

Laura Kicey

Hee, this little cutie! (flickr search for "mocha" -- surprise :D!)

Okay, this is gonna be blind faith cuz I can't see the video in the post, but I *know* the code is here - but aw, I *love* this coreographed wedding party dance! Well, at least I know (1) a couple bridesmaids coreographed their part, and (2) the end (beginning with the groom entrance) was coreographed. I gotta say -- white guys dancing always makes me laugh :D

*And yes, this means that I do, in fact, do a little weddingbee stalking. I know I have a problem. But *why* should it be seen as a problem? It's fun! It's a community! Um, that's all I've got.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Done

via Anacasta's Corner, feat. Ingrid Michaelson, Take Me the Way I Am

Okay, no more whining. Since clearly my life won't be getting better with me just sitting and having a pity-party explosion (even if accompanied by pretty pictures :) ) -- how about a pact? Any one else out there feeling a little blue, let's all make a set of goals that are achievable -- something that stretches us just a bit, but we know we can check off :)

Here's what I'm going to do:

Bring my lunch every day this week;
Get into work by 8:15-8:30a this week;
Walk 20 mins at least 1x more, and 1x this weekend;
Close at least 5 cases at work this week;
Eat my produce before they turn bad;
Return my library books on time (due 8/10!);
Make 9 recipes out of Bobby Flay's Mesa cookbook ...er, within 1 renewal :).

Hey, I didn't say my goals would be exciting -- I def don't need more drama at the moment :) nice & steady would be fab. But feel free to really reach out for something new + exciting if you like :)

le sigh

photo by petra bindel/folio management/portfolio cph/elle interiör, via decor8

So, really, I'm not manic. Although, don't people sometimes fight their diagnoses? But ... It's just been a little more... politically charged here in the office atmosphere, and I'm so not a politics person. I have barely relinquished my need to have everybody like me, you know... I was just reminiscing with a friend about elementary school days, when we got along with + liked *everybody* and *everybody* liked me, too. I mean, why doesn't that happen nowadays? Everyone's told me to shake this off, and it's just business. But.. then why do I feel so bad? Boo.

This pile o' pillows + fire look fantastically comforting. Hot cocoa anyone? Minus that it's 100+ degrees outside? sigh.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Me in my faves

So, Kelley @ My Island Wedding is having a sort of virtual get-to-know you -- how delightful :)! Here's me, if I were to define myself by a handful of my favorites:

My fave breakfast food: Shipley's jalapeno, sausage, and cheese kolache!

My fave recipe, when I want to eat healthy + delicious: Vietnamese Vermicelli, courtesy of Mai Pham at Fine Cooking -- usually, I just rip open a bag of salad + cook the noodles for ~3-5 mins, and it's the caramel-marinated pork (except I use chicken :D) that's the most tricky!
My fave dessert: molten chocolate cake.

foodisluv

Favorite artists/music:

above and below: swotti

Eil

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's Somewhere Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World medley
amazon.com

Keb Mo's Life is Beautiful [photo source]

Currently fave songs:

Music is the Heart of Our Soul

Learn to Press Forward; video @MTV

My fave indulgence: reading.

shots by me

My fave luxury: a massage!

steel wool
My fave beverages: a triple chocolate, ice-blended mocha from It's a Grind and a really good mocha from anywhere else (so far, my faves are from Central Market and A Chocolate Affair from a local coffee shop!)

jayybeeezy

anthro_aya