anti-depressant.

i spend the past weekend clearing my mind and working my body by getting lost in the woods of big sur. big sur is GORGEOUS! a couple of friends and myself ventured out 12 miles into the ventana wilderness to find peace, some butt-kicking steep climbs, trees galore, and some pretty awesome natural hot springs. we met some great people (as some fun mountain crazies) and re-centenered and humbled ourselves amongst the spectacular scenary.

after about 24 miles of steep hiking in little over 24 hours (and not much other than your standard blah trail food...oh and a bottle of wine! pack ONLY the essentials when backpacking ;) ) we quenched our heard-earned appetite with a stop at Nepenthe. Nepenthe is a casual bohemian eatery with a simple menu, killer winelist, and views that just don't quit! i highly recommend this spot...food for the belly and views for the soul.

souvenir. book about food and the people that eat it.

benedict recipe im dying to make...and attempt to follow (im terrible at following recipes) breakfast anyone?

views. views! VIEWS!

nepenthe: medicine for sorrow, literally an anti-depressant (according to wiki). DON'T FORGET TO TAKE YOUR MEDS! ;)

magpie & rye.

borrowing this link from my gal pal, shannon's blog (shanners in the city)...which you should scope out.  thanks, lady!

really cool stuff from magpie & rye.  can also be found locally at prairie collective in sf.

some of my favorite items:

cool mis-matched earrings.

reclaimed wood + bulb. bright idea! (+corny caption)

tribal pillow.

silk topo scarf.  my bags are packed!

white space.

i just always come back to simplistic, clean, (primarily) white design.  love the distressing and antique looks going on in these two spaces...prevents the whiteness from becoming sterile and univiting. oh, and NICE use of splashes of complimentary colors!

images from delight by design.

crosses the language barrier.

stumbled across this awesome german (i think it's german, at least...) design blog this evening.  can't understand a word of text (ok, a few are obvious), but the beautiful design displayed does not get lost in translation.

cool quilt...and actually possibly accessible in the US.  uban outfitters

looks like a vintage flea market find.

camo.  shelves and accessories camoflaged among same-colored wall.

Little Bee.

After picking up and putting down, picking up and putting down Little Bee, i finally pushed aside real life obligations and responsibilities and allowed myself to get reabsorbed by the pages and stories thoughtfully written by author, Chris Cleave.

Although fiction, this book tells a story of humanity with heart and truth.  It's a novel about two women with VERY different lives brought together one frightful day and then reunited years later.  Its a beautifully written, terrifying, exciting, laughable, and anger-inducing story based on truth that will open your eyes to this beautiful, yet dreadful world that we live in.

I so highly recommend you open up your heart to this story and the chatacters within it's pages. I recommend this book without having even finished it.  As i sat on a serene park bench with today's sunshine seeping into and warming my skin, my eyes were so full of tears when i flipped to the last page that i couldnt deciper the words of the final paragraph.

Puts things into perspective.

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in my dreams.

after a non-stop 9 hour day of work, all i can really think about is sleep.  and this must be one of the most gorgeous beds i've ever seen!

also from cococozy.

ZZZZZzzzzzzz......

belgian style.

beautiful spaces designed by famed designer Kay Douglass.  intricate balance of feminine, rustic, contemporary with cleanlines and a spiced up neutral palette.  

i love the casual, inviting appearance of these dining chairs. sloppy chic.  comfortable, practical slipcovered parsons chairs in a muted eggplant sit gracefully under this plank-topped farm style table. yum!

i think ive seen this kitchen in my dreams.  concrete floor, HUGE fridge, and TONS of natural stone counter space!

love the mix of clean contemporary and traditional here. and lots of white with splashes of intense color.

images borrowed from cococozy.

antique shoppin.

spent a lil time browsing some antique shops on union street in sf before my pilates class. this is what i saw...

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day off.

today is a day off for me...and a REAL full-fledged day off. spending the day treating myself well. took a beatiful foggy walk downtown where i picked up the lastest issue of house beautiful and continued along to my favorite french cafe, la boeme. after sipping my delish dark chocolate mocha to the last drop and enjoying my amazing almond croissant to the very last crumb, i feel relaxed, inspired, and satisfied. it feels really great to slow down in both mind and body. looks like the fog decided to give sunshine a chance today...time for my sunny stroll through town and home.
good day to ya!

from the glossy pages of my magazine:

inspiration from my feb issue of house beautiful.

old traditional kitchen with feminine character, comfy outdoor loving, cool color palette, rustic dining, fantastic wood paneling, scarf 'headboard'.

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ready SET go.

set a pretty table using unique + vinatge pieces to create a special table for your guests.

publique living: pop-up placemat

oomadesigns/etsy: mushroom printed napkin

sarah's kitchen goods/etsy: lace napkins

anthropologie: iridescent flatware

anthropologie: french steak knives.

anthropologie: nautical-inspired flatware

sprouted designs/etsy: avocado-printed napkin

anthropologie: crystal-like coasters

fuzzy lumpkin crochet/etsy: crochet tablecloth

salcaja handmade/etsy: tablecloth

dine. share. love.

tiny houses.

i am really intetested in the idea of a small shelter. smaller home means smaller carbon footprint. less building materials, less upkeep, fewer belongings housed within, closeness amongst residents all appeal to me. less is more!
images from march issue of my favorite magazine, dwell.

lime zest.

i am such a fan of neutrals in particular gray...however a dash of color makes a high impact and adds freshness to this scheme. i think my future living room might look a little like this. pretty ecclectic and not lacking character. incorporating new with old/distressed. down-to-earth, but stylish. most importantly, cozy, inviting, warm.

clockwise from top left:
pillows: handmade, etsy; ladder end table: vinatge, etsy; corner chairs: bernhardt; ikat pillow: crate and barrel; muslin sofa: restoration hardware; trunk end table: vintage, etsy; oversized tufted ottoman: brocade home; fuzzy throw: restoration hardware; french crystal chandelier: vintage, etsy; greek ikat pillows: handmade, etsy.

ive been distracted...

with THIS!

hiking down/up the walls of the grand canyon was an uforgettable journey.  i can't stop RAVING about this place and i urge everyone to check it out!!...and if you'd like company, i'm already dying to go back! rim to rim hike anyone???