A little somethin, somethin

I'm happy to report my place is aaalmost done being decorated! I've bought everything my heart desires for now. Just need to find the time to (carefully) throw it all on the walls.

On a side note, though, I'm absolutely loving this photograph over at {Color Me Katie}.

I imagine myself and the beau at a party or art show or something, sneaking around in this jungle of lights to steal a kiss away from the crowd.

Decorating dilemmas

It's amazing how different moving was when I was in school compared to now when I'm working. During school, I'd move into a new place and have all day and night to unpack and get settled. Now, I get home from work, exhausted after the long day, and want to do anything besides cleaning and organizing.

Luckily, now, the unpacking part is finally done and I've moved on to the fun side of moving - redecorating. However, for some reason, this time I've found decorating to be more stressful than anything else. I can't decide on what direction to go with for my new place. I want it to be more mature-looking than my apartments have been in the past. I want it to look like the pictures from Living, Etc. magazine (new favorite read from the UK). But, I can't quite focus and get there. Sigh...

This is my ideal. A muted palette with accent colors. A clean, pulled together look.

This isn't my favorite but I do love how there's no real standout direction for the room, yet it still all looks cohesive. This is what I'm struggling with right now.

I really want to do a photo wall, but am a little intimidated if I could pull it off and be 100 percent happy with it...

Looooving this fabric wall. It's an ingenius alternative to wallpaper. I just wish I had more wall space in my studio; I would totally do this if so.

Lastly, the feel of this room is what I'm striving for in my home. It's so cozy and warm. I also adore all the different textures used. I'm trying to do this with pillows, throws and with my bed's duvet cover.

We'll see how it all turns out. Wish me luck!

P.S. All images are from {the gallery over at Living, Etc.}

Dreaming of Christmas

The weather is finally starting to cool down here in Sunny Southern California.  And, it's finally beginning to feel a teeny bit like the holiday season.  Though, I'd get much more into the Christmas spirit if I paid a little visit to this dreamy snow-covered cottage.  But, alas I'll just have to settle for playing nonstop Christmas jingles and drinking too many gingerbread lattes.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and were able to start feeling some holiday cheer.  I'm excited to share with you all a new Monday tradition that I'll be starting tomorrow.  Until then though, have a good night!

Image found {here}

Blog Out Loud

Wednesday night, I had the pleasure of attending the fourth Blog Out Loud event.  We talked about all things blogging - where to get inspired, how to advertise yourself, typical dos and donts and so much more.

It was hosted at DWR | Tools for Living, which is an amazing modern design store in Santa Monica.  

The event was put on by Rebecca Orlov of loving. living. small. and Megan Arquette of beach bungalow 8.  And, there were five very inspiring panelists from all up and down California.  

It was so awesome to be in a room filled with people sharing the same interest in blogging as me.  I felt instantly connected with everyone there.

The entire evening was a blast.  I loved getting to explore the store after the Q&A was over.  I was immediately grabbed by this patterned panel that hung behind the registers.  The pop of orange really completes it.

And, isn't this such a unique carpet hanging on the wall!  I adore the look of the messy, handwritten cursive.

There were so many beautiful things to look at during the event and so many things to think about as I walked back to my car.  I'm excited to share with you all the changes that will eventually take place around here as well as in my own life.      

Porn for designers

Blogs, cheese, magazines and karaoke.  What do these things have in common, you may ask?  They are all things that I'm quite addicted to.  However, my magazine obsession is what got really out of hand this summer while I was in New York.  It was there that I got the joy of visiting several stores entirely devoted to the sale of magazines.  I was in complete and utter heaven.  Although, it was also kind of hell at the same time because of how torturous it was having to restrain myself so much. 

As far as the best of the best goes, my all-time favorite magazine is JANE Magazine; however, sadly, they had to close shop a couple of years ago.  Now, I'm loving Frankie Magazine and Uppercase Magazine.  Although, I've never actually held a copy of either in my own hands, I have been enjoying some of their layouts online - pure design beauty!

Frankie

Uppercase

Pure beauty

If I had to imagine the ideal happy place right now, this would surely be it.  The weather would be a perfect Fall day - light sweater, jeans and nothing more.  The only thing I'd possibly add would be a couch or hammock instead of the park benches.  Then, I would lay down and read for hours on end in my little pink paradise.  How peaceful that would be.  

I love collages

I have been feeling so unmotivated and uninspired lately.  I'm in one those funks.  Those frustrating funks that you know you'll snap out of soon, but it's still getting to me.  I need a project.  Something to will me out of bed in the morning.  Something to get excited about.  But, until then, I'll just peruse through the blog Record the Day.  It makes me happy.  The collages are simple, yet beautiful.  They remind me of all the magazine collages I'd make as a kid.  Only these are more elegant looking.  

Relaxing afternoons

I've been on a big reading kick lately.  While I do most of my reading these days either lying on the couch, crammed on the subway or taking it easy in Union Square, I would absolutely love to curl up to a good book in one of these beautiful scenes.  



I bought a beach towel at Coney Island over the weekend and can't wait to take it to Central Park, lay out and read there.  I suppose that that will have to do for now.  Hopefully, I can get out sometime this week and finish my current book - "My Sister's Keeper" (which is so amazing, by the way).  When I finish that, I'm going to finally complete "Eat, Pray, Love."  And, from there, who knows.  Do you have any good book suggestions?  What are you reading right now, if anything?

Photo {one}, {two} and {three}

Inspiration walls

I don't normally post on the weekend, but I was a bad blogger and missed yesterday. My apologies for that. It's a lazy Saturday today. The wind is blowing so hard outside, threatening the city of rain soon. It reminds me of the start of winter in Southern California and makes me want to curl up in sweats and watch movies all day.  

What is everyone doing the rest of this weekend? I'm visiting Coney Island tomorrow. I'm so excited to go on some classic roller coasters and to witness the famous Coney Island freak show. I'm hoping all the fun amusement park sights will get my creative juices flowing more. I've been feeling rather uninspired lately. I know it will pass, but it's times like this that I wish I had a nice big inspiration wall to look at for motivation.

I love these inspiration walls, especially the huge collage one by Diane Bergeron. Be sure to check out her Web site where you can view this piece in greater detail. If you had an inspiration wall would it be more free flowing like Diane's or more organized like the one by dottieangel?

P.S. Little baby Joshua was born last night! I officially have two nephews now. Welcome to the world, little guy!

XOXO, Amy