Blog Love: The All in the Family Edition

happy monday dear readers!  hope you had a great mothers' day!  i find mothers' day difficult, but this year was different.  i used a mantra:  WWBD?  and WWJD?  i.e., what would buddha do?  what would jesus do?  it worked.  i was my fabulously funny self.  a good time was had by all.  whew hew...high road for me every time! 

i looked at mothers' day differently this year.  as a celebration of women.  mothers, grandmothers, aunts, mothers of furry children, mothers-to-be, etc.  no longer did i feel excluded from this great day.  it is in that vein, that i'd like to continue my celebration of women today, with a very special edition of blog love.  the all in the family edition!  grab your cup of coffee, this is a fun one!  i'd like to introduce (or re-introduce as the case may be, 'cause i think every one knows these fab ladies) some of my favorite bloggers from Ottawa!  each extraordinarily creative, funny and beautiful in their own way.  kim, jen and julia. (respective links will be at the bottom of this post)

meet the fabulous kim.  as you know, kim and i have been friends from the early days of blogging.  i believe she and i first met when i discovered apartment therapy.  i never lurked!  i dove right in even though i had no clue what i was doing.  i didn't even know what a blog was at the time.  i believe i first met kim when we entered the annual color contest at AT, and found each other on flickr.  as you know, i am not using flickr as much as i did in the past, but i still love it (for details see my post on social media below).  

kim is one of those people you like immediately.  she's spunky, so damn cute and courageous.  she adores cats and even though has a large brood, is always adopting and rescuing cats.  and she's a fabulous decorator/designer!  i love watching kim's style evolve.  one of the things i like most about kim's decorating is that even when something is temporary, it's gotta be gorgeous!  i so get this.  i mean you gotta have beauty, even if you are planning a renovation.  renovations take a long time and are muy expensivo.  i don't know how married couples survive them.  i'd have to move into an apartment.  i've watched kim move, renovate, and do quick pretty fixes and i believe there is another huge renovation in the works.  i've watched kim go from using tons of color (like i do).  she loves pink (as i do) and had a pink kitchen for a time.  i am amazed at the speed at which she can paint!  her husband and she are a great team.  he's a great builder.  her style now is rather neutral/ethnic/organic/industrial/rustic chic.  not eclectic, but collected.  it's very very cool.  i also appreciate how she incorporated masculinity when she got married.

kim writes desire to inspire with jo, another fabulous lady.  jo is from australia, and they have never met face to face, although they are the best of friends.  desire to inspire is one of my favorites, i read it everyday!  and i owe a debt of gratitude to DTI.  according to google analytics, the bulk of my traffic comes from DTI.  thanks for linking to me ladies back in the day when no one would!  also, as i stated below, DTI is mega huge, but never made me feel excluded or like crap.  even when i criticized animal skin rugs.  kim appreciates all comments - even negative - as long as you have the courage to own your comment.  don't go negative if you are anonymous.  i think that's a good rule of thumb for commenting any way.

kim writes a fabulous blog with her sister jen called closet rivalry.  it's one of my favorite fashion blogs, and on my daily read list.  kim has a high power very technical job.  i'm a little envious of her programming skills but too lazy to learn.  hey we each have our respective strengths, right?  honestly, i don't know how she does what she does, but i am so glad she does it!  and with such flare!  kim told me in the early days that blogging is A LOT of work.  girl, you ain't lying.  i can easily be at the computer 24/7, but i force myself to unplug from time to time, in an effort to maintain balance.

i adore seeing what kim wears to work each day.  kim can never be accused of being lazy.  she is meticulous with her appearance.  and it's just the right amount of feminine with an edge.  my favorite.  kim and i have been having a ball talking about hair.  i dearly miss my eye makeup, but with kim's encouragement, i have found other ways to be girly. you're never too fat, too old or too anything.  it's fun to be a girl!  and you never need to be jealous, we are each fabulous in our own way.  as you can see, kim has found her unique voice and the world is a better place for her having shared it.  ain't technology grand?

i particularly adore the pic above.  love the alley.  love the juxtaposition of concrete and kim's lovely outfit.  love the vents behind her which mimic the stripe motif.  i also was tickled 'cause i had an outfit like this back in my corporate america days.  i don't think i looked this cute, but hey, we are all fab in our way, right?

i really got a kick out of this pic.  i had these exact shoes (in a cheap payless version).  i adore the black nail polish!  it's only recently i worked up the courage to wear black nail polish.  it looks totally fab with these shoes, and again provides just the right amount of edge.

here's kim in the alley, again looking fab-u-lous!  i love that she's including pics in the alley.  so edgy.  this is one of my favorite looks, ripped up jeans dressed up.  this is the sort of thing i used to wear in college, but we did it on the cheap.  i'd get jeans from the goodwill, rip them up and hand paint them.  people always wanted to buy them.  and dig those shoes.  omigosh.  kim, i neeeed those.  keep up the alley shots girl!

there are so many pics of kim's that i could share, but you probably already follow kim.  if you don't you'll want to.  here is a recent pic from her kitchen.  very different from my own style, except that kim and I both enjoy white pottery.  i adore how kim has styled this shot and have it in my inspiration folder.  i'm not so skilled at vignetting and tend to do very clean and simple.  kim has managed to stay clean and simple, with more objects than i tend to use.  also, i dearly love the organic and earthy touches.  i wish kim and i lived close to each other so we can go thrifting and play makeup and hair.  kim, you are fabulous, you go girl!

next, meet jen.  i believe she is the younger sister of kim and julia's.  she is also a cutie.  apparently, good hair, skin, teeth and legs run in the family (their mother is also gorgeous).  as i mentioned above, kim and jen write closet rivalry together.  jen has what i think is the most difficult job in the world - she's a stay at home mom.  her daughter is too cute, so you get to see pics of jen with her and they are delightful!  jen is a natural beauty, and has a cute, simple style.  i am always amazed, i'd probably look like something the cat dragged in if i had to care for a toddler.  not jenn, she always looks fab.

an exciting bonus is that jen is pregnant with her second child!  and guess what?  she's cute as a button even preggers.  oh btw, jen - kim kardashian called.  she wants to know what she should wear tonight.  kim kardashian is another fabulous woman, but she's got nothin' on jen.  it's also been great fun talking hair with jen.  i love a girl who can talk hair.

furry children are a big part of the sisters' lives.  i think jen looks absolutely adorable in this pic.  wait hold on...what's that kim kardashian?  oh jen, kim says can she borrow that dress tonight?   p.s. jen, can we see some pics of your home?  thanks love, you are fabulous.

next meet julia.  kim's twin sister.  she is also fabulous.

she writes a blog called the boo and the boy.  it's a delightful blog.  i've linked to it many times on this blog.  julia also has great style, i loved her recent bedroom renovation.  i've cried with julia and prayed for her husband many times due to his illness.  and i am watching her kids grow like weeds!  julia shares some of the things they say, and they are wise and hilarious!  and even though i'm not much into kids' decor, julia shares some kids' rooms that i enjoy and have found inspirational.  i swear i would buy stuff from pottery barn kids for me!  julia can talk hair too, and changes her hair a lot.  i love when she died it bleach blonde.  p.s. julia, i call my nephew boo!

as you can see julia is a hot mama too.  like i said, the good looks run in the family.  i believe - if i am not mistaken - that they also have an older sister.  i must ask kim if she has a blog.  (update:  received email from kim, no other sisters.  i probably got confused but didn't want to leave any one out!)

who needs reality shows when you have fabulous blogs like these to read?  i often find (extra)ordinary women so much more interesting than celebrities.  ladies, i feel like you are my friends.  thanks for always being a source of joy and inspiration.  i hope you all enjoyed your mothers' day.  and always remember, i am fabulous and so are you.  

want more fabulousness?  here's the links!  xo

Desire to Inspire

Closet Rivalry

the boo and the boy

Blog Love and a Love of Scandinavian Design

Every where I look, people are looking to simplify their lives and their homes, so it's no surprise that Scandinavian design is popular.  It's long been one of my favorite design styles.  I adore the generous use of white - as you know my fantasy is to have white floors and walls.  Like living on a cloud.  I love how airy this type of design is.  I love the use of geometric shapes, soft colors and pottery.  There also elements of the hand made, organic, industrial and purely functional.  When done well, these elements are combined with a restrained hand, achieving a simple and serene environment.  I love reading Scandinavian blogs, I recently found a new (to me) blog and I had to share.  I could not find much personal information about the author (and the text is in Finnish), but the writer is exceptionally creative and talented.  Her home is beautiful, her photography is wonderful.  The blog is an absolute joy.  It's called Weekday Carnival and I highly recommend it if you haven't seen it.  Get your cup of tea or coffee, pull up a comfy chair.  You'll want to stay a while.  The images are so gorgeous I had trouble selecting just a few.  

Beautiful painting done by author and son.  Dig that coffee table.

Her styling is so skillful.  Beautiful vignettes are everywhere.  I always see beautiful wooden bowls at the Goodwill.  She makes me think I may need one or two...

Ahhh.  How I adore all that white!  I need that shelf unit for my pottery collection!

Love the pop of the turquoise hanging lamp and the concrete table top.

Another skillful display.  I adore the simple forms.  I have a thing about objects - they must be beautiful and functional.  So I am really digging those stacked white canisters.

I love this vignette in her kitchen!  Usually I am squeamish about knife display.  Not sure why this one works for me, perhaps the black helps it be a little more modest?   I am really digging that gray color block, the abstract vase by Michael Geertsen and the salt mill by Muuto.

Really clean, simple office space.  Love it.  Simplicity fuels my creativity.

Beautiful and soft Christmas display!  I love that branch with the lights so much I'd keep it up all year.  Also really love the pink painting.

She and I share a love of boxes.  I love her DIY projects.  On the right, is an origami-inspired cardboard box she made.  She has a great tutorials on how to make these and other origami projects.  I may try my hand at these.  Be sure to check out Weekday Carnival.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!  I'll be adding this blog to my link list.  Have a great weekend dear readers!

Simple Living: Large Art Work

For the next few days, I'd like to focus on simple living.  Living simple does not mean you have to live without beauty.  You can live simply AND stylishly in a small place, and with very little money.  If you are craving stylish simplicity in your home, think about your art. Just because your space is small doesn't mean you need small art.  In fact, one large piece is very impactful and looks much less cluttered than a grouping of small art.  You can use a large piece to delineate separate spaces in your place.  

Victoria, the writer of one of my long-time favorite blogs, sfgirlbybay, recently moved into a new cottage.  It is great fun to watch her new place evolve.  Victoria's style fascinates me, I am intrigued that she chose a black sofa for her new place.  Her places have always featured a large amount of white, and are done in a soft and airy way.  So far her place is looking simple, soft and sophisticated.  I am in love with the coffee table and rug.

One of Victoria's regular guest bloggers is the Jealous Curator.  She writes a series called "Art Goes Here,"  and has a knack for choosing unexpected art.  I was very inspired by her post yesterday, where she chose some potential art for Victoria's new living room.  I got a little carried away, and started envisioning some of my photos hanging in her place.  (Of course, IMHO she needs to add one or more pink pillows to this room.)

I am in love with enlarged urban photography.  Digital cameras have made everyone an artist!  Perhaps this piece is a little too masculine.  Maybe it should be hanging in a restaurant in Akron.

I love this one.  It's surprising the effects you get when shooting reflections while window shopping.  I need those lace boots!

I think this is my favorite.  I love photographing the tops of churches, and I am always intrigued by the patterns of wires.

I couldn't stop there.  I had to try out some of my paintings as well.  These pieces have been sold, but are from my Sans Electric Chair series.  I may do a new series of these.

What do you think, dear readers?  Did you ever try having a photo enlarged on a canvas?  Even the most mundane object becomes art when taken out of context, photographed and enlarged.  I've found that the most reasonable place to have your photos enlarged is Staples, and they do a great job.  Stay tuned for a post on how to make all those family photos into art.  If you'd like to see more of my urban photography, click here.

Neon!

I'm not usually one for trends, but...I must admit I am in love with neon!  Now I need to figure out how to do a pop of neon in my home.  Shouldn't be hard since I'm already in love with hot pink.  I just discovered a new blog that I adore called My Attic.  She makes great use of neon.

Isn't that neon pink vase sublime?  She spray painted it herself.  I love how it pops against the white.  I think I'm going to attempt to spray paint a vase neon pink.  I've spray painted vases before (see previous posts) and it's not that easy!  Looks like she's skilled at it.

I've always loved hot and cool colors together, so I am fascinated by her project entitled Neon vs. Pastel. 

When it comes to color, she and I have a lot in common.  As you know, I am obsessed with color blocking.  She's also a fan!  Take a look at her blog it's divine!  I'm going to be adding My Attic to my link list.

I use a lot more color in my home than I do in my wardrobe.  I usually wear black and add pops of color with accessories.  So the neon purses at Target are calling my name.

Especially this yellow one!  I think I need it.

Of course I would then need some new nail polish.  I think either of these looks by the fab Anna of Door Sixteen would look great with this bag!

My Favorite Outfit for 2011

As you know from a previous post, I love color blocking.  Both in fashion and decor.  This is my favorite outfit of the year.  Orange, pink, black and white.  Oh and don't forget those fab blue shoes.  It works because the colors are all saturated jewel tones.  In addition, you can pull off using lots of colors when you have no pattern and balance it with black and/or white.  This outfit could inspire a beautiful room.  This gorgeous outfit worn by the fabulous Chiara Ferragni.

These are my favorite shoes for 2011.  Can you believe they are Payless!  Just shows great style doesn't have to cost a lot of money.   I adore them.  I would wear them with skinny jeans, a jean jacket, a white t-shirt and a ton of pearl necklaces.

How I do mid life crisis

The few Americans I know who have not been touched by the recession are busy buying sports cars and convertibles.  I'm not impressed.  Here's how I do a mid-life crisis.  Thinking about a pink wig.  I've  written of my love for pink hair on this blog several times (see previous posts here and here).

Amazon

I fell in love with pink hair the first time I saw Dale Bozzio.  I wore the Annie Hall uniform, but my hair was pink with white streaks.  Pink hair is an addiction I never got over.  I still love it.

I know I'm the only person in the world who is not a Lady Gaga fan.  But I gotta give props where they are due.  This is the prettiest I've ever seen her look.  The girl rocks a pink wig.

Ya'll know that Nicki Minage is the shit right now.  That girl really rocks a pink wig.  See previous post here.  This outfit was on a fashion faux paus list, but I kinda dig it.  Love the graphic leggings with the clear mini, the pink jacket, and I always love piles of bangles.

I want your hair

Look at this coy little cutie!  Innocent and sultry at the same time.

 

I should've bought this Hello Kitty bag I saw at Target.  I worried that I would look ridiculous carrying it.  By the time I went back, it was gone.  Surprise.  I wish I was one of those daring people who wore whatever they wanted and didn't think for one minute about whether people were judging them.  If self-acceptance is a topic you're interested in, here's a couple of cool blogs to check out: 

Fat Shopaholic

Advanced Style

I bet this fab lady would carry a Hello Kitty bag, wear a pink wig and wouldn't worry what anyone thinks.  Advanced Style is an awesome blog written by Ari Seth Cohen.  If you love style, fashion, moxie, freedom and confidence, you'll love it.  Maybe I should just take the plunge and buy this pink wig.  What do you think dear readers, would you sport a pink wig?  Wanna see more?  Check out my flickr gallery, here.

some blog love and lots of inspiration

I have some more rooms that I'd like to add to my inspiration file before I reveal my latest incarnation of my apartment. I discovered a fabulous blog entitled Solid Frog. The original language of the blog appears to be Swedish, so I am unclear on some of the links. However, Solid Frog is a gorgeous blog. Mia Linnman, the author of the blog, also shares her fab paintings.

This lovely picture was part of a post on Lindsey Adelman lighting. I love her lighting, but it is the modified recliner/tulip chair and ottoman that fascinates me. I am in love with the color of the fabric as well. Love the pale gray walls, and the blue glass vases. If you know the designer of this room, or any of the resources, please contact me.

Love the look of a loft with a clothes rack as art. Love the mundane and functional as art. I think I could pull this off in a loft space because my clothes are mostly black, and some white blouses. See my previous post on clothes racks, here.

Love, love, love this room! I'm always admiring accent walls, but this takes the accent wall to a whole new level. Love the asymmetry of the accent painted around the window. Also completely in love with that night stand. Not sure who the artist is, but desperately want to know. Karim Rashid, perhaps? That would be my first guess, or maybe Jaime Hayon. All above images from Solid Frog.

The table reminds me of the work of Hilda DeSchutter. Hilda makes amazing upcycled sculptural pieces with vases. I adore her structures, and have been meaning to do a post about her. I know she makes lamps, I'm going to contact her to see if she does tables. I'll be sure to keep you posted. In the mean time she's got a fabulous blog, entitled Art Design Kitsch, which I will be adding to my link list.

Friday Fun, Part II

Dear readers, I discovered the most fab blog and shop and I must share!  It is written by Doe Deere, who lives life as art, or as she puts it - she "narrates her own fairy tale."  This girl has got it goin' on.  Not only is she an artist, but she's an entrepreneur as well.  She's a totally fab makeup artist and has an online shop.   Here are a few of her lipstick colors that I'm not sure I can live without:

There are so many cute pictures on her blogazine that I had trouble only using a few.  I particularly love this one, I'd like to have a poster of it.

Like I said Doe is a rad makeup artist.  She does celebrity-look makeovers.  This gorgeous creature is made up to look like Twiggy.

Talk about an It Girl.  And she gives tutorials on celebrity makeup!

Here's Doe in one of her unique lipstick creations.  She's absolutely charming and adorable.   Her blog is a pure, unadulterated celebration of girly fun and very inspirational to boot.  It always picks me up, puts a smile on my face and makes me happy to be a girl.  You simply must check it out.  Her blog is here.  Her shop is here.  I will be adding her blog to my link list.  Doe, thanks for being an inspiration.  You go girl!

an influential apartment and some blog love

Dear readers, as you know, Apartment Therapy features some amazing homes on their site. I adore seeing how people design their personal spaces. But sometimes, a home speaks to me in such a way that I feel compelled to write about it. This one not only spoke to me, it haunted me. I could not stop thinking about it. This is one of those homes that makes me want to throw everything away and start over. I've mentioned many times that I miss the minimalism of my youth. I am still highly enamored with minimalism, but I also love beautiful things. I'm not sure I'd call this a minimalist apartment, but it certainly flirts with minimalism. The curator of this home has showed a sense of restraint. But make no mistake, restraint is not easy. The look is simple, but it's not easy to achieve. It takes a soft and purposeful hand.

This is Mike's home. He's a student living in a studio apartment. A home should speak of its owner, and this one clearly does. It says, "I am confident in my choices and I know who I am." Such a marvelous thing in someone so young. He's definitely one to watch. He's going to have a successful career. I adore functional pieces as art. Witness the clothes rack which he made of pipes. It works because Mike's wardrobe color palate is carefully limited (for more on clothes racks, see my previous post here). Like I said, he knows who he is, he lives his art.

I love his sofa. It looks very much like my Danish sofa. I love the low scale.

The blue on the walls and stripes of the wood floors are art. He's correct not to make these beautiful elements compete with clutter.

He designed a perfect work space. The window is a nice touch.

This picture shows a simple, organic still life Mike created after purchasing a cup from ceramicist Teresa Chang. Love that tea pot, which I assume Teresa also made. Form and function, my favorite. In this case, creating simple Zen-like elegance. I'm also a lover of asymmetry.

This apartment makes me miss my studio apartment. It was small and humble, but it seems to be just the perfect amount of space. I'm beginning to look at alternatives to conventional living, and simple living in particular. How much space and stuff do we humans need? Of course we need a few pretty things, but we shouldn't get tied down to them. I think this is what the Buddhists meant by detachment. It doesn't mean you don't like things, or people. It just means that you value your freedom above all, and that you should always travel light.

Great job Mike! Thanks for the inspiration. I look forward to following your career. Mike's house tour on Apartment Therapy is here. Also check out Mike's fab blog, Other Blog. I will be adding Mike's blog to my link list. As always, thanks for reading! xxoo

A Little Bit of Happy and A Lot of Blog Love

I've been following Apartment Therapy's Color Contest, and Nichole's "Little Bit of Happy" Room is by far my favorite. I had to see more of this wonderful place, by reading the comments I found she has a blog. And a wonderful blog it is! It's entitled Parlour, and I will be adding it to my link list. Here's a peak at her beautiful home. It's feminine, cozy and oozing creativity.

As you know, gray is my new favorite color. Love the gray sofa. Love the nature pics by Cassia Beck. Also love how they are framed uniformly and straight. Hanging them this way cuts down on the cluttered look of a grouping and looks like one large art piece. Love the large hanging light. You must read her blog to see how she created it! She glued coffee filters on a paper lantern. Fab!

Love the big cameo! She painted that. Love the black pops against the white.

Sky blue coffee table. Gorgeous. Love the houndstooth pattern on the rug.

Love the black accent walls with the pops of white accessories.

Cute kitchen! Love the gray cabinets, the paintings and look at that pendant lamp! She painted it. Love the pink peaking out!

Nichole is incredibly talented. I had to show this table that she painted. Love the chevron pattern in pink. It's for sale at her Etsy shop. I want it! Nichole, you go girl! Thanks for being an inspiration. Hope you win the contest!