Things I Love: Pretty Pastels

This past weekend I noticed that the trees were starting to bloom all over the city and I couldn't have screamed more like a little girl. It's official! We're done with the dreary days of winter and moving to summer! When you live in the Midwest you're never really sure that winter won't come back and bite you in the ass in the middle of May, so I try not to get too excited until I see the trees turning green.

With that in mind, everything that caught my attention shopping around this week was light and colorful, like newly springing leaves. I'm in a mood to throw out all of my black and grey clothes, but I'll hold off on that I guess. But there's nothing better than shopping for sun dresses and open-toed shoes when you can actually start wearing them!

What I Wore: Sheer Vintage Dresses Edition

Oh some days it feels like spring will never come. We'll get one nice day accompanied by three chilly ones. I'm starting to give up hope here. But, it just means that I try to take advantage of the nice days when we have them, like this past weekend. It was the perfect day to test drive this little vintage number. This lilac vintage dress is one of my favorite finds, but it's super sheer so it really only works on warm days. But when it does work, oh it works.

Design Trends from IKEA: Colored Floor revolution

I'm sure by now you're well aware that IKEA is jumping on the mid-century design bandwagon and releasing a whole line of mid-century inspired gems. Great. Awesome. Love it. Looks great. Except, when I was looking through the new IKEA collection there is only one thing that really, really stood out to me...

Interior Design: Watercolor Walls

Phew, let me tell you something about moving. It is the worst. Moving sucks. Dragging moving out over the course of two weeks, sucks even more. BUT, I'm finally here. I've done it. I've moved! There are still a million boxes to unpack and a ton of things to do before this new place feels like home, but it's getting there. One long, busy day at a time. Anyway, getting settled also means getting back to blogging! (My favorite, obviously.) 

With all of the planning I was trying to do for the new place, I found a bunch of interior design inspiration and a few things that I had never seen before, like watercolor walls! Yep, can you believe it? My first thought was "How do I do this? What kind of paint do I need?" and then I quickly realized that this technique was a little something called wallpaper. Which, whatever, I probably would have royally screwed up a wall trying to watercolor paint it. The wallpaper is probably the smarter choice. Either way, these walls are awesome, inspiring, and add color and movement to a room like you've never seen.

Interior Design: Mint Green Kitchens

Newest update in my new apartment adventures: I now have mint green walls in my kitchen! Two walls to be exact. We left the rest of the kitchen white. In a fit of paint whimsy, I bought a whole gallon of mint green paint because I was really excited about the color, without having a plan for it. (I'm the worst) So it went in the kitchen. While I was extremely excited about it during the painting process, I started second guessing myself afterwards (naturally) and hating it inwardly for being too bright (naturally). So what does anyone do when worried about their design choices? Turn to Pinterest, naturally! I immediately turned to Pinterest to confirm that my design choice was, in fact, not insane and that we could absolutely pull off a mint green kitchen with dark wood accents and black floors (Pictures to come soon, I promise. It was already dark when we had finished painting.) - and Pinterest did alleviate all my design woes.

Interior Design: A Wonderland Loft in Los Angeles

Talk about eclectic and colorful. This loft in Los Angeles definitely collects it's charm from the well-curated, hodge podge of pictures, statuettes, patterns, and colors that adorn its interiors. The combination of blues and greens with the abundance of objects inspired by nature make it feel like you're exploring some kind mystical, rabbit-hole forest where anything can happen.

What I Wore: The Simple Things Edition

I am going to preface this post by saying that I am not an American Apparel girl. Generally, I think they are totally over-priced for basics. That being said, I spent way too much money at American Apparel the other day. Even though I know I can get most of the same stuff for way cheaper, they still suck me in some times. This was one of those times. I'm not a big "pants" person. If you follow my blog, you'll see that I mostly wear dresses and tights or leggings. This isn't because I think they look better on the blog, it's because I hate pants! They're constricting. What's the point when I can be in tights all day? However, I do have an unfortunate affinity for mom jeans. I think it's my irrational fear of the muffin top. Anyway, they don't make a lot of mom jeans that make me feel like I'm working it. The American Apparel Easy Jean is one of those.

What I Wore: The Winter Brights Edition

It's snowing as I write this, so I feel confident in saying that winter is not going anywhere any time soon. And I am SICK of it! Winter has taken my closet hostage and I want my damn shoes back most of all! In Chicago, temps have not gotten above 30 degrees in a few weeks, with all of last week hovering around the 10s. As you can understand, that means snow boots and ALL OF THE LAYERS! That doesn't mean I haven't been trying, but it does mean that when I try it stays covered by sweaters and jackets. Even this shoot was challenging.

To break free from my back-to-black wardrobe, I wanted to start adding colors back to winter and knew this purse was the perfect fit! 

Bright and Cheerful Interior Style in a Small Space

What happens when a graphic designer and an animator combine? Adorableness, that's what. And a home full of fun, kitsch, and color. Matt and Mel's little home in Fairfax, Virginia is exactly where you would imagine an adorable hipster couple living. Don't you think?

What I Wore: The Galaxy Never Dies Edition

I can't give it up, you guys. No matter how hard I try, I just can't do it. The galaxy trend can never die! I will take it to the grave with me! Am I obsessed with galaxy print? Yes, obviously. But can you blame me, really? Space is just cool. Period.

Anyway, I got this party dress on Modcloth recently and I haven't worn it much because part of me thinks it's too young looking for me and another part just thinks it's too much. Now that the holiday season is creeping up on us, my goal is to turn it into a perfect party dress.

What I Wore: The Holding Onto Summer Edition

Fall is here. Like really, officially here. Thankfully, it only feels that way in the mornings and evenings and the daytime is still sunny and relatively warm! Not that I want global warming to be happening, but if it is going to happen, I am okay with Chicago becoming a tropical destination. #justsayin

Until that happens, I'm going to take advantage of the warmer weather and keep wearing my lighter, summer pieces into fall. I find that sticking with the pieces that are longer, but still light are perfect for those days that go from 80 degrees to 65 degrees in a few short hours. This outfit in particular is one of my favorites because of the brightly colored skirt. Ain't nothing better for fixing a gloomy day or a gloomy mood than some bright colors. It's the little things, you know?

What I Wore: The Long Skirts Edition

So I have to apologize, mostly to myself but some to anyone who's noticed. I've been in a blogging slump these last few months and I just haven't been able to shake off these blogging blues (cue the acoustic guitar and raspy voice). I've been ignoring my Etsy stores too even though I have been collecting cute vintage clothes and making jewelry again. Still, I somehow could not get myself motivated. But now that warm weather is here and the trees have finally started to bloom, I feel refreshed! 

So here's to getting my lazy butt back in gear and not being a disappointment of a blogger anymore! 

Monday Design: Cozy and Chic Guest Cottage

New interior designer obsession: Angela Free. I have already been through the whole website and now I can't wait until it's updated with the latest projects. Creepy, yes I know. But I can't help it! Free's decorating skills are so soft and feminine, but fun and playful at the same time. Particularly I fell in love with this guest cottage she designed. Doesn't it make you feel like you're in a dream?

Monday Design: Masterful Color Combinations

I've finally started to repaint my apartment from all the crazy colors that it's been for the past year or so and it's coming along slowly. Which is giving me time to second guess myself. Of course, I've been dreaming of getting the white walls back for months and now that it's finally happening, I feel like I'm going to miss the colors! What is wrong with me people? Indecisive much? I realize though that my color combination skills are not so great and the real reason I hate the colorful apartment is that nothing matches, not that it's colorful. I should take some lessons from this color conscious couple who live in a beautifully decorated Los Angeles home that has bright colors and prints everywhere and yet still manages to look wonderfully put together.

What I Wore: The Unconventional Office Wear Edition

As I mentioned at the start of the year, 2013 is the year of shopping my closet! And I haven't broken my resolution yet, although it's already been tough. I don't think I have enough winter appropriate clothes. I have a TON of cardigans though. Like, an absurd amount. So I'm playing around with what I have and trying to be creative with my outfits.

Monday Design: Winter Perfect Pastels

So in the midst of getting over the death flu that everyone has contracted, I've been spending a lot of time at home scheming and plotting design changes for my apartment (an apartment that I might be moving out of in April, yes, I'm insane). This past weekend I finally started repainting the walls and it was super exciting! It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do. Now, I've been living in a sort of Barney playroom apartment with every room being two different colors for a little over a year. I also had pretty bright colored furniture for a while from a time where I lived in a dark basement apartment. Well, the bright red couch has been replaced with a subtle grey one and the walls are going back to white! Now my biggest dilemma is what color scheme I want to change to.

After a year of living in a rainbow, I've been really drawn in to subtle color palates which is why this pastel home decor really caught me eye. I love that there are still splashes of color but it's all so subtle that the design is still clean.

Photo Friday: Up Close

When it comes to photography, interior design or otherwise, I'm obsessed with color composition and details. Just like many of the shots by photographer Brett Stevens. Or rather, almost all of the shots. I can't accurately describe how gorgeous all of these shots are. The color composition is absolutely beautiful. I love how many of the shots are photographed with one color scheme in mind. Enough blabber, just look at this photography...

Photo Friday: Rainbow Strings

I would be oh-so-thankful that it's Friday, but I decided to leave all my Christmas shopping for this weekend. Why? Because I'm a crazy person. So before I go into all out frenzied panic mode, I pulled some pretty colors from the internet.

What I Wore: Getting the Blues Edition

Have you noticed the peplum trend lately too? I've seen it everywhere and I have to admit I love that it's back. However, I have this problem with peplum that it rarely seems to hit me in the right spot and finding flattering peplum styles has been a challenge. Yes, I know my life is so hard.

What I Wore: The Fall Color Blocking Edition

Color blocking is not my strong suit. It seems so simple right? A few colors on top of each other, no problem. Wrong. I think I own too many prints to successfully color block at any point. However, I do love the way that large blocks of color can bring an outfit to life all on their own. Color blocking is the one trend that I always feel stand perfectly on it's own and needs limited accessories (shocking, I know). So how do I color block? I cheat. And you can too!