i love {dunlin}!

when i own a house one day, it will all be over.  i will probably be very broke from funneling all my funds to that of my new abode.  good thing i don't have a house right now and am very stingy when it comes to purchasing home goods since i'm never in one place for very long.

anyhow, in addition to my west elm + restoration hardware + crate & barrel obsession, i have added dunlin to my list even though they're based in australia. here are a few of my favorite picks so far:

 

this fog linen placemat in navy + white stripes is perfect for my love of all things nautical.  and these saucepans with a spout are simple + genius and so cute in rose or white.

i just want to jump in this bed covered in matteo tat cotton and sleep forever.

this charcoal striped jute storage basket is perfect for extra throw blankets + pillows when it's chilly out and you just want to cozy it up on the couch.  i'm also loving this ketch yacht well glass by davey lighting that was originally designed for yacht interiors.

i hope you enjoy browsing as much as i did!  got any favorites?

have a happy monday, everyone!

xoxo, meg

a pop of {red}

these christian louboutin flats from style me pretty + anticipating taylor swift's red album got me thinking about the attention-getting hue today.  i'm not often big and bold with my fashion, but here are a few ways i would incorporate the color.  what's your fancy?

(one) grab a bright red parasol from penelope's parasols for a classy picnic or walk through the city

(two) nothing's classier than chanel – pick your shade of rouge allure and pucker up!

(three) i love this gray + red combo from design within reach via babble

(four) snag the post street little adair clutch from kate spade – the polka dot pattern liner adds a fun touch!

(five) make some personalized pencils for your desk at great little trading co.

{style} polka dots

it's safe to say that i've been into polka dots lately.  okay, okay and maybe the beach {though now there's been a chill in the weather & it feels like fall} i love that they're a versatile print which can be classy + fun at the same time.  the last j.crew catalog and the newest kate spade pattern of the month got me back on the polka dot train, so here are six of my picks!

 chambray towels // circle shoulder bag // notebook // blouse // lime shirt // pencils

and if you're in the mood for something to blow your mind, look no further than andrew chae from tim be told's acoustic version call me maybe – enjoy!

happy monday!

the brady bunch

i hope y'all had a great labor day weekend.  i definitely did my fair share of laboring this weekend, but in the midst of all of it i found the brady bunch of telephones.  can you believe this?  i know we're in the iPhone age and not many of you {including me} have used a corded telephone in years, but these are just so fun i could die.  this lovely etsy shop in ohio has these phones in a plethora of colors {even more than what i have pictured below}.  saying hello can't get more fun than this!

all images from etsy vendor

mix & match

i feel a geometric wave coming upon us.  i spotted this piece of work on pinterest by Guillem Ferran {would also make a fun & easy DIY project} and found a few corresponding pieces to pair with it.  i've always felt that geometric shapes are hard to wear without looking tribal {not a look i often go for personally}, but i'd sport some of these accessories in a minute!  not to mention, this modern end table's got some sleek lines and it also comes in a tan/walnut finish if you're not all that into black.

one / two / three

{home} gold fixtures

 i love these gold kitchen accents.  it makes the whole room look more classy.  my favorite is definitely this eames chair {2} with red legs - so perfect for the kitchen.  so, very pretty - how could you not love them?!  here are a few gold etsy picks too: vintage 1960s side table / mid-century eames lamp / gold leaf table / gold-stemmed cake stands

one / two / three / four
top image: right / left

happy tuesday, y'all!

Before & After {bedroom}

Since I moved into my new place, things have undergone some drastic change.  A little while ago, I posted about choosing paint colors - well, here's a little before & after in my bedroom!  Suffice it to say that the previous roommate didn't have quite the color scheme I had in mind, so thanks to Behr paint + primer in one I redid it in youthful coral.

Here's a round-up of the tools I used - I even bought a small 8 oz. of a soft white paint to touch up the trim and ceiling that had splotches of the previous green color.

My room is about 8x10' and I ended up using 2 gallons of paint for three coats to get it from green to the coral that I wanted.

Note that I have very little storage space in my room and this shoe organizer pretty much saved my shoe life crisis.

I love candles, and there's nothing better than having a familiar scent permeate through your new place.  My favorite is a brand from Texas called Circle E Candles (thanks, Cathy!) - they are fantastic and have lasted me forever.

 Finally, I picked up some new things for the barren bathroom like this bath rug and shower curtain from Target.

That's a wrap, folks!

{color splash} mint

//one //two //three //four //five //six //seven //eight //nine

{if i were} a photographer

{image source: extragr.am}

I love pictures, especially polaroids.  I have an old Polaroid 600 Land Camera and a Canon Rebel xti which is probably considered ancient now seeing as how there are DSLRs that film in HD now.  I'm sure there's a special fancy name for those, but don't ask me what it is cause I don't have a clue, haha.  Though I rarely let my lenses see the light of day, I remember really enjoying taking photographs especially when traveling.  I wouldn't ever consider myself a photographer, but I know and admire quite a few...cough anne cough tara cough kim cough vicki.  Alright, well enough with the shameless plugs - this post is for all my photog + aspiring photog friends out there.

{things i love} clear glass

{row one} via poppytalk / tap water, design by Racquel Youtzy / bubbled beverage dispenser from Anthropologie

{row 2} glass tea kettle from viva terra / pebble terrariums from west elm / via decor happy

{row 3} botany apothecary jars from two's company / clear glass jugs from remodelista / new norm tea kettle from horne

{if i were} a make-up artist

The other day I took a trip to ULTA for the first time in years with one of my youth girls.  We spent forever skimming the aisles for lip colors and nail lacquers (I decided on Essie's buy me a cameo and OPI's glitzerland), ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the color choices.  I kept eyeing Urban Decay's Naked 2 palette, even though I would have absolutely no clue where to start and how to use it.   If you know me, you know I'm slightly handicapped in this department.  I learned how to put on mascara and eyeliner for the first time (thanks, Cathy!) when I turned 20 and, well, let's just say that's a tad late than most chicas in the world.

Anyway, no matter how late in the game I am, I still love the idea of having all the pretty colors and packaging.  You really don't need any of these things, but I'm such a sucker for all these pretty vanities!

{pinkwallpaper.blogspot.com via houston design blog}

A Valentine's Banquet

Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope you all have a lovely day, no matter your status.  Today is just a day to be reminded of what we should do every day - love.  Spend it with someone you love, whether it's your family, best friend(s), or lover.  

Photo credit: Briana Smith

Just thought I'd share a few pictures from the valentine's banquet we had at church this past weekend.  I emptied most of the contents of my room to put together this dessert table.  Thanks to everyone who brought delicious treats!

Photo credit: Daniel Kim

for the {reader/writer}

Though it's often hard to find time, I love to read. I'm in the progress of collecting Coralie Bickford-Smith's clothbound series (there are 4, the first two are pictured below). I haven't read most of these books, but they're the classics and I do hope to read them all one day!

 

I also love to write, particularly cards. The written word is so powerful and (sadly) a dying art. There's something especially exhilarating about getting a card in the mail, so 9 times out of 10 I'll pay the oh so hefty postage and send you snail mail over an e-card.

So if any of you out there are like me, here are some things that are bound to get you excited:

p-p-p-party every day

Who doesn't love a good party? I believe there is always a reason to celebrate. In this case, it was to celebrate the end of a season. Cathy and I decided to throw an intimate party for our friend's band, Tim Be Told (check them out if you haven't!) as they closed their tour in Houston.

We made a map plotting the cities they had gone to & made labels for the food and beverages on chalkboard paper. You can find these 4x6" postcards at Paper Source (Cathy and I's frequented favorite store).

Eric graciously individually squeezed each lemon to make a delicious watermelon lemonade (smitten kitchen). So, enough of the prep pics -- here are some snaps from the party!

 

The main menu included honey barbecue ribs, oven-roasted asparagus, mixed salad, mashed potatoes, fried eggrolls, korean ribs, kim chi & seaweed.

inspiration board: glass

Glass of any kind is such a versatile piece in decorating for weddings or in your home. It can definitely be a bit of a hassle to pack to keep everything safe, but I think it's well worth the trouble.

Mix clear bottles with milk glass vases for centerpieces or use apothecary jars for sweet snacks or coffee beans (as pictured). I love the hanging decanter lights, which give any event a very antique feel. Reused empty glass bottles not only save you money, but make for centerpieces that keep the eye interested and your wedding unique. Empty mason jars filled with water and a floating candle are great for a more rustic wedding, when you need just a little extra light on the tables. And, I stumbled upon this hanging wine bottle candle which would be great for a patio/deck wedding.

video: rue + kate spade stop motion

this is ridiculously cute!

video: organizing the bookcase

i must admit, i'm still hooked on the bookshelf post from a few days ago. i spotted this video on ordy and joon via katespadeny; organizing a bookshelf is always a serious, time-consuming undertaking...as shown here.

collection: bookshelves

ever since beauty and the beast i've dreamed of having a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. granted, i may never read enough books to fill the shelves, but i definitely enjoy reading and wish i had more time for it.

{from gianna botsford architects}

{from lonny mag}

{from alaco library ladders}

{from citified}

{from pottery barn}

{from apartment therapy}

{from pierre chareau's maison de verre}

{from the brooklyn home company}

etsy spotlight: vol25

sorry for being MIA these past few days. i took a little vacation which was wonderfully refreshing, but not to worry - i'm back and will post later about my outings in austin, texas.

today's etsy spotlight features these beautiful prints from volume 25

most of these prints go for $24 and are 8x10" in size (printed on 8.5x11")

ideas to make someone's birthday happy

recently one of my best friends turned 22! though we had a failed attempt at finding an ice cream cake in his favorite flavor, my roommate had the clever idea of opting for these ice cream cupcakes instead. it's essentially cupcake mix in an ice cream cone, which she baked (nope, they don't burn!) and let cool. to make it look like ice cream, she added icing and sprinkles! aren't they cute?

 

birthday banners are always a great option for easy, simple decor, but if you have some time to personalize it you can use an x-acto knife and some cardstock to make letter cut outs of their name. trust me, it's easier than it looks. here's a trick: print out the letters on microsoft word (insert word art with only the outline) and cut around the edges

**don't forget to use a cutting mat!

 

and, this is an easy way to make it interactive. we had everyone at the party sign a note on the letters of sammy's name so he had a take-home card at the end of the night. so simple & multi-functional!

for food, we had a potluck - which works out well because everyone is invested in the party and brings a little something to share. sorry, i failed at taking photos of the food, but it was delicious. i made barbeque ribs this time (instead of the sweet and smoky ones) and i definitely think they were more of a hit this time because i marinated them overnight (drenched in bbq sauce) and baked them for 2 hours at 300° F. again, so simple and delicious. although, i didn't eat any, but i heard they were fall-off-the-bone good.

 

all this to say - put some personal touch into the next party you throw.
even stocking up on their favorite drinks (in this case, IBC root beer in the bottle & sweet tea) or desserts (we had 5 tubs of ice cream) shows your dear friend how well you know them & how much you love them. make a friend's birthday special this year (: