womanize this

Britney Spears released her newest single, Womanizer, this past weekend and I've already heard it several times on the radio. And I'm not gonna lie...I like it! I woke up this morning and had the chorus stuck in my head. I think they said she's got a new album coming out in December. Let's hope its good stuff and that Britney makes a REAL comeback after all the craziness surrounding her last Blackout album.

pretty pumpkins

Taken from the latest issue of Martha Stewart Living--these scans are from an article on decorating with colorful pumpkins. How awesome is that first shot? It's like art! Who knew pumpkins came in so many colors, shapes, and textures?

snuggle

It's cold, windy, and gray today. It just started to rain. Work is slow. Eyelids are heavy. I'd much rather be snuggled up in my comfy bed reading a book or magazine...or sleeping.


image via Design Crush

Reem Acra

I think this Reem Acra gown worn by actress Olivia Wilde at this year's Emmys is simply gorgeous.



photo via here

Daily Candy

I just signed up for the free Daily Candy email newsletter:


"DailyCandy is a free daily e-mail from the front lines of fashion, food, and fun. Sign up to get the scoop on hot new restaurants, designers, secret nooks, and charming diversions in your city and beyond."

I'm looking forward to reading about the latest and greatest in the DC area and everywhere else!

sign up for free here

boca girl

Picked up these Kenneth Cole Reaction 'Boca Girl' shoes this past weekend. I'm not the biggest fan of the heel, but they are growing on me. I just couldn't resist the cute color-block rounded toe. They're a nice variation to the basic black heel for winter wear and they look real cute with jeans. Plus...they were on sale. :)

little lantern

Hunter and I went to IKEA over the weekend and picked up a few small things for his move to Charlotte (!). I saw these little tea-light lanterns and had to get one because they are just so darn cute. The store had a bunch hanging from the ceiling at different heights and it made for a real cool-looking display. I can't really hang thirty lanterns from my ceiling, so I only got one... but I'll find a good use for it.

will work for J.Crew

I think it'd be an awesome job to work on producing the J.Crew catalog. I always love the styling, the colors, the photo shoots, the layout and design...their print/design team does great work. I don't think I would ever dread going to the office if I had their job--plus, I bet they get some pretty good discounts!

Some of my favorite new looks from their October '08 catalog. And I'm really liking the cover-- it's basic yet bold; a striking use of typography. Loves it!















I want that purple pea coat! Heck, I want it all!!

Pandora

Pandora is my new favorite thing. It's a free online radio system that will automatically compile radio "stations" based on your preferences. You just type in a song or artist and Pandora will make a customized play list. You can rate the songs and bookmark your favorites (and then have the option to purchase them). It's a great way to hear new music without having to search for it.

I usually listen to iTunes radio when I want to listen to variety, but now that I've found Pandora, I've been listening to it non stop. It's so refreshing to hear new artists and songs instead of the same old stuff they overplay on the regular radio. And it's free!

Civita di Bagnoregio

One day I will go to this city on a hill:

Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy; from March '06 Conde Nast Traveler

never ending

The unlimited web page... colorful interactive fun! Perfect for killing time, being distracted, or procrastinating!

Good Things Should Never End

The Duchess

I'll be seeing this movie when it comes out Oct 3. The Duchess stars Kiera Knightley as Georgianna, Duchess of Devonshire and it looks like another historical drama dripping in beautiful costumes and lavish set designs. It actually kinda looks like the English version of Marie Antoinette, which was a colorful feast for the eyes, so I'm hoping The Duchess is equally as enjoyable.



I'm not the biggest fan of Kiera Knightly though, partly because I find it annoying that she always seems to be pursing her lips, like so:


But I can't resist a film thats got intricate costumes, gorgeous sets, and a historically-set story. The Duchess is the typical historical drama and so that means I'll be seeing it!




photos from here

amateur sketch

This video has me laughing hysterically every time I watch it.



I just can't get over the artistic rendering of the "amateur sketch"--and that the news station actually broad casted this!

a girl can dream...

Let's play house! :)

I can't wait until I have my own house to decorate and furnish and make my own. The first thing I will do is paint the walls! All my life, I've grown up with the same plain white, military-housing walls (they usually won't let you paint walls in military housing), so I'm looking forward to having a place with color!

Because it's Friday, and I am spending more time daydreaming than actually working this morning, I pulled some of my favorite pictures of home interiors that I've saved. So lets live vicariously through these beautiful pictures and build a dream home, shall we?

First, there will be a grand entranceway:


Okay, maybe not that grand, as I will probably never own a home large enough to accommodate such a staircase, but this is my dream house and I love this picture and still want a large entranceway with sweeping staircase...

There will be classic crown molding throughout to border walls painted in various striking hues:

via My Notting Hill

A bright, large open kitchen with stainless steel appliances and gorgeous checkerboard floors :

via Southern Accents

A classic staircase with wooden banisters leading upstairs to simple, clean bedrooms with big canopy beds with plush down comforters and lots and lots of pillows (i like to snuggle up in big comfy beds):

via Habitually Chic

A guest bedroom, with built in bookshelves and toile-covered walls:

via The Inspired Room

A quick glimpse into the master bathroom; so soothing and serene (oh, and more checkerboard flooring!)


I'll need a cool office space from which to run my own business (who knows what that'll be yet):

from Pottery Barn

And there will be lots of little cozy nooks to sit back and relax with a good book and cappuccino (or sweet iced tea, or coca-cola):

via My Notting Hill

I'll have lots of built in bookcases to hold my extensive personal library and I'll organize them all like so:


And I'll hang lots of artwork on the walls. Personal photographs, paintings, collages, maps, mirrors...

from Domino via Absolutely Beautiful Things

There will be a big sun room with massive french doors to let the bright sunlight stream in:

via Set Design Thinking

The french doors will open out onto a large porch, where there will be rocking chairs and wicker for us to sit and enjoy lazy summer afternoons:

via All Things Bright & Beautiful

We'll be able to do some outdoor entertaining in our lovely backyard gardens and patio:

via Martha Stewart?

And after all that exhausting entertaining, I'll come back here to my favorite spot to do two of my favorite things: read and sleep!


Ahhhhhh....wouldn't it be nice to live here? I think so. As you can see, I tend to gravitate to the clean, classic, colonial styles. I really like old houses that have history and colonial, symmetrical architecture. It will be quite a long time before I ever own a house looking anywhere near these pictures, but its nice to dream (especially on this dreary, gray Friday morning).


* side note: a lot of these pictures I saved from various websites before I learned to keep track of where I found them. So I'm unable to remember where I found these, and thus can't give proper credit. My dearest apologies--if you know the credit, please let me know and I will add it.

sparkling sage

image from somewhere I can't remember (oops!)

glam goddess

I'm really liking these pics of Anne Hathaway from the newest issue of W Magazine. She looks striking. Such modern couture shots with a hint of Grecian elegance.