I Concur, Jane Austen.

"I am excessively fond of a cottage; there is always so much comfort, so much elegance about them. And I protest, if I had any money to spare, I should buy a little land and build one myself, within a short distance of London, where I might drive myself down at any time, and collect a few friends about me and be happy. I advise everybody who is going to build, to build a cottage." Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility

NURSERY?! I Will Trade Rooms With This Child Anyday

Um, check out the 'before' and 'after' of this nursery please. It's QUITE obvious we have some pretty stylish parents on our hands. There is a great deal to appreciate about this room, but let's focus on the most noteworthy features: 

Chevron flooring....

the age appropriate chandelier, that DRESSER....

the airy blue & light tangerine color pairing is perfect

Love the assortment of framework and photography. How cute are all the wedding pictures? It's kind of like saying, "Dear baby, here is a road map for how you were brought into this world..."

{Via Somewhere Splendid}

I Love the Mystery of Accessories

What I mean is, I love seeing original accessories on people that gives you a little hint at their obviously intriguing personality. How poetic & romantic is this tote from Fieldguided? It reads: "There is thunder in our hearts".

PS! Fieldguided is a way cool Canadian boutique. Not crossing the border any time soon? No worries! They have an etsy shop (where you can snag this tote!)

My Love for Unique Calendars Continues...

I love, love, LOVE this calendar from The Wild Unknown. Each month has the most beautiful lyrics written in a different style, and suited appropriately to season.

Find the calendar here! Be sure to check out the rest of the shop too, adorable. 

A Simple Double-Knot Updo

Tired of the same old, same old Saturday night hair routine? This updo is equal parts easy, creative, and chic. Who knew your shoe-tying skills would come in handy in so many ways?! Give it a try!

Find the full tutorial right here!

Words of Beautiful Wisdom

For just a while, calm your thoughts. In this moment, simply be.

There is much in your life, and there is much more to come.

Yet you have always been, and you always are, more than enough.

For a moment, let go of the way you appear and the things you’ve done. Feel the truth and power of who you are.

In silence, there is much you can know. Beyond thought, there is much you can understand.

Touch the person who always lives inside the person you are. Be immersed in the beauty and wonder of being.

Feel the strength that is always there. And know that whatever may come, all is well.

Vogue & Watercolor

Catie Parr is brilliant at replicating iconic fashion images in watercolor. She also has some of her own originals; check out her etsy shop here

The Best Advice I've Ever Been Given From a School Text Book

While catching up on some reading for class (such a good student I am) I actually came across something that made me stop and go, "Wow. That is legit inspirational advice. From a TEXTBOOK, no less." These tips of advice are on how to develop your creative instincts. I literally want to cut these out of my book, blow the page up 100 times, and use it as wallpaper:

*Look at things with new eyes

*Hear with new ears. Listen to the world outside of yourself for a change. 

*Ask questions and start learning from people you might not usually consider resources.

*Stop saying or thinking "No." Be more open to possibilities. 

*Keep things in perspective and, at the same time, try to expand your horizons.

*Don't be put off by rules that may not even exist. Don't limit your thinking.

*Get excited about ideas that may change the way you do your business. 

*Inspiration comes easiest to a rested mind. Escape, on occasion, from the daily grind. (This is pretty much the U of M telling me it's okay to skip class once in awhile. I get it.)

*Record ideas whenever they occur. 

*Don't just look for information and ideas in the "normal" places.

*Draw heavily on personal resources - remember the content of your dreams.

BHLDN

My equally fashion obsessed friend Judith (her blog "Scrapbookings" is a dreamy little escape for those obsessed with unapologetically feminine photographs & "save-to-inspiration-folder-immediately" quotes) clued me in on the best thing to happen to a bride's wardrobe in....ever. Anthropologie + Wedding attire? So much pretty, it's killin me. The magically gorgeous line is titled "BHLDN" (pronounced "be-holden") which is actually based on the Dutch word blijven which means to keep. The BHLDN e-site went live on February 14th (awww, cute. Unique, incredibly charming, and B-E-A-UTIFUL.

{Images via Patterson Maker, Cupcakes & Cashmere, We Heart It}

Hop on This Trench Sale NOW

Women: if you don't have a trench coat (arguably the most classic coat of all time) by now, shame on you. 

Lucky for YOU, there is a gorgeous DKNY one on sale right now at Bloomingdales for $111 (originally $278). 

Yes it may still be a bank breaker, but let's do a little cost per wear equation ... If you have this coat for 3 year's worth of spring and falls and wear it 25 times per season, you're practically making money off this coat. 

Just sayin'. Find it here.  

"Fear is the thief of dreams." - Brian Krans

...Fear is a much better feeling than regret. Don't you agree?

THEE Best Baby YouTube Video I've Seen in a Long Time

This is a bad day curer if I've ever seen one.
This child is so baller. 

The cleverness & creativity put into the wedding details on Feather Love Photography blog is outstanding. The coverage of these ceremonies is wedding candy in photograph form. 

Check out these playful & heartfelt vows exchanged between Kestrin (love that name) and Jonathan. They are just plain awesome and prove you don't have to be mushy gushy traditional to be meant for each other. 

J: I vow to love you
K: I vow to love you
J: to respect you
K: to always make fun
J: to be your best friend ever
K: to constantly generate a force field of awesome to guide and protect us
J: to do what I love
K: to actively maintain our relationship
J: to be lucky
K: to live a charmed life
J: to live as long as possible
K: to ask nicely for what i need
J: to communicate my feelings effectively
K: to live a life of hilarious bliss together
J: to provide for you
K: to solve problems
J: to make time for you every single day
J: to remain curious
K: to stand by my man
J: to put our relationship first
K: to build a community around us
J: to build a family life together
K: to give you babies
J: to change the diapers on those babies
K: to be great parent
J: to sing with you in the morning
K: to give you shoulder rubs, intermittently, for as long as we both shall live
J: to remember how lucky I am
K: to rock out with our great grandchildren
J: to take you on one hundred honeymoons
K: to maintain a menagerie
J: to clean up
K: to sing songs to you
J: to speak for you when you sing your voice out
K: to throw radical parties
J: to be faithful to you
K: to take joy in doing nice things for you
J: to be compassionate
K: to be devoted
J: to be committed
K: to be happy
J: to Listen to you
K: to support you
J: to stay with you forever
K: Do you vow to be my husband?
J: I do. Do you vow to be my wife?
K: I do.

Twin Cities Proud

Why We're Here: Twin Cities from Seven and Sixty Productions on Vimeo.

Lauren Conrad's New Lookbook

So I don't know if ya'll heard of not, but our good friend LC was supposed to debut a new show on Mtv quite soon detailing the production and design of her new clothing line, Paper Crown(aka this one below). However, Mtv  cancelled it last minute, declaring it too "high-brow" for their audience. Hey, Mtv: boo you whore! 

The line hits stores this fall, though as of now  the 'where' and 'how much' details are still TBD. Until then, we can muse through her new collection filled with ultra-feminine detail, muted colors, and plush fabrics...

This is What it's All About

Find the person you'll still have a crush on when you're 75.

{Via}

Assessing Your Closet

One of my favorite blogs Kendi Everyday (I am unable to come up with the words to describe how crazy-adorable she is) recently posted a how-to for something I've been meaning to accomplish for oh, three-ish years now: conquering my closet. Cleaning it out, making note of what I have and what I don't have; otherwise known as assessing. Below is her step-by-step guide to building a closet just for you. You can check out her first part of the guide, appropriately labeled "Purging" here. 

1. Take inventory of what you have. This could just mean figuratively or literally, however your brain works. I take a mental inventory of everything in my closet every once in a while; it's a nice reminder of what I have. I am Kendi and I have short-term closet memory loss. It's nice to have a refresher of what I have.

2. Make a list of closet needs. So let's say you went through your closet and you discovered that you don't have a black pencil skirt that fits any longer. A black skirt would work perfectly with what you already own,  so this would be a basic need. Create a list of items that would really tie your wardrobe together. Everyone's is different but mine would looks something like this: 

• black pencil skirt
• high-waisted khaki trousers
• cable-knit sweater
• flats

Put this list in your purse or type it into your phone. That way the next time you are out shopping you will know what you really need. It's just like a grocery list, you don't need three loaves of bread just like you don't need three black identical skirts. Also, it helps to have direction when you are shopping. Misguided shopping leads to a misguided closet.

Make sure that everything on your need list fits into your current wardrobe. Remember, you want a working closet -- a closet that you can walk into and create an outfit by simply choosing a few items. If everything works together, then this is possible. (Working together doesn't mean everything has to match. It just means that you don't throw something random into your closet that you'd never wear but you bought because it was one sale.)

3. Now make a want list. I treat this list as a splurge list. Maybe there is a new trend I want to try or maybe I just want something that isn't a direct need. That goes on this list. So my want list looks like this:

• full a-line skirt from Anthro
• brown suede heels from Urban Outfitters
• drapey cardigan from Gap

You notice that I got really specific on this list. These are my wants -- I've seen these items online and I know that I'd like to add them in. But they are not essential to my working closet, although they could work. Your Want List should also be saved somewhere. But this list does not get fulfilled until your Need List is fulfilled. Once you buy your basics, you will find that your wardrobe will be easier to build upon. 

I like to think of the want list like the frosting on a cupcake. It's the first thing you taste but the last thing you need. 

4. We touched on this a little bit last week, but set your two lists aside and step back into your closet. Since you've assessed what you want and need, now look at what you have. Put your remix skills to work and start creating outfits. As you are putting items together, try them on and make sure the outfits work. Yes, that's right play dress up in your closet. Or as I like to call it "Kendi's going out and trying to figure out what to wear". Just be sure to hang up your items after you take them off and don't toss them on the ground like I do. Not that I do that, I'm just saying that to help you, of course.

5. Wear some of your experiment outfits that you put together. You'll quickly figure out what you like and don't like to put together. This also helps with your need and want lists. Maybe you hate pencil skirts after all. Mark that off your list and figure out a new style. Maybe you love them and want more. You get the idea. But mainly get to know your closet and figure out what you expect from it. Soon you'll be on your way to figuring out your style and telling your closet exactly what that is.

{Image via Cupcakes & Cashmere}