Beautiful Things

{jewels in her hair}

{top knot, statement necklace, denim shirt, white pants, high heeled sandal - spring perfection!}

{obsessed over this collection of rings}

{breath taking 17th century chateau staircase}

{a dreamy shared girl's room}

{Provence, France - please!}

Wow, there is so much beauty out there in the world! Those are the images inspiring me today. I am so eager for the prettiness of spring to knock on my door. 

Friends, if you do not follow Lovelies on Facebook, then I just want to share that we had a really cool feature over on the August Haven blog. You can check out the Q&A here and my top picks from August Haven here. On a related note, I'd love to get some feedback from you if you're in the Green Bay or Appleton area. Are you blogger? And if you are, would you let me know in the comments or via email and also send me your web address? And also, would you be interested in a blogger meet up this summer? Something fun and laid back but at a cool location. Finally, if you're from the area and love reading, would you be interested in a meet up too, perhaps and blogger + friends evening. :) Lots of questions I know. But the idea has come up and I'd like to see if there would be a turn out of any sort. So let me know! I would love to meet those of you that might read Lovelies and are in the same city and I'd love to know who else takes the time and effort to write online. So keep in touch! 

I'm Inspired By ...

 outdoor dinners 

 dainty rings

 this tiny wardrobe

 backyard parties (every which way!)

 water nymphs

 chocolate caramel cake 

sheer kimonos

Can't Get Enough!

Another wish list, my dears, and seeing as 90% of my closet devotion is entirely to footwear, it is obvious that they should have their moment too. 

Short or tall - what will it be?

{both sparkled lovelies from Asos}

These are also terrifically smashing, don't you agree?

{$49.50 - Sam Edelman for American Eagle Outfitters}

I couldn't leave out my usual be-floraled beauties! 

{$78 - Anthropologie}

I'm eager to try this flat platform again, though it's taken me a bit to come round. I remember wearing flip flops (early 2000's) with a replica platform that were just eeeeew! (They did not have that print though). But here we are again and I'm thinking that I'll give it another go. 

Again, but in a cobalt blue. I LOVED these but they sold out ages ago. And how could they not?

{$138 - Free People}

DIY Painted Necklace

Hello friends! 

Just a quick DIY post today featuring a necklace makeover. I'm so in love with the neon accessory trend and this necklace is a fave! So I grabbed an old necklace from American Eagle, one that I really wasn't in love with "as is", and my fuchsia polish by Essie (Peach Daiquiri) and finally popped by Walgreens for a cheap yellow polish for $1.99 as I'm just not sure that I'd want to wear this one on my nails. It's a stretch. :)

I tried 3 coats of polish in a symmetrical pattern and voila, done! I think it's cute and would be lovely with a white tank and a pair of jeans in the months ahead. 

I have a fantastic giveaway planned for tomorrow so stay tuned! Till then ... 

Trying out the Turban

I'm completely & whole heartedly obsessed with this head wrapping fad. I don't know why it's taken me so long to really fall in love and give it a try, as I've seen it done for a while now. But I'm smitten and now wrapping everything I see around my head (grabbed the table cloth scarf yesterday and the one hanging on my lampshade today - easy to add an accessory whenever it tickles you when they're laying about the house on every available surface). So ... the question is, does it make me look retro cool or is it just plain weird? I have to admit that I'm pretty sure my "nanny" growing up wore something similar around her head and even if not quite like this, I still am reminded of her each time I look in the mirror (my SA friends will "understand" :). I followed this tutorial, it's very simple and she looks amazing, and it worked on my first try (have tried other tutorials that didn't quite cut it). And since my hair is in dire need of a color and bang cut, turbans are my newest staple. 

*Warning - They are indeed man repelling. Each time the huz sees me wrapped up like this he looks a little horrified. Also was made fun of by "the stylish guy". Whatevs dudes. Let's have the ladies decide. 

And a side note, last night the huz and I went out for sushi! (I did not wear my genie pants though). 

For the Bride - BHLDN

Anthropologie's new wedding line, BHLDN (pronounced "beholden"), has now opened their online site and oh my goodness, it's a feast for the eyes! Even if you're not planning a wedding any time soon (or a vow renewal perhaps), their ethereal collection of dresses, jewels, hair accessories and shoes are breath takingly beautiful enough for, oh I don't know, just because ... 

Here are a few of my favorites.

I can't imagine how dreamy a walk through this store would be. Nothing less than perfect. 

This and That {at home}

Good morning friends. Hope you had a smashing weekend. Ours was not quite as spectacular as that, but that's due to the fact that little E now sounds like a barking dog. Not quite healthy yet but perhaps on the upswing? Though everyone else is healthy! 

Here's what I did this weekend - I spent some time ... reading (Little Bee), ... exploring new-to-me shops (Assemblage), ... eating disgustingly good food (Five Guys Burgers and Fries), ... celebrating more tiny birthdays (Chuck E Cheeses - AGAIN - arg!), ... preparing for dance classes (sigh - back to work - how I love to be "lazy"), ... paging through the new issue of Lucky (when did they become so small?), and finally, chilled at the movies (Country Strong - loved it - can't stop thinking about it). 

First things first, my 6 year old. Seriously?!

And then ... I found a picture of my outfit from last weekend's New Year's Eve (seems like ages ago already). A little late but here it is.
{sweater - Gap, belt - Aerie, skirt - J. Crew, boots - Michael Kors from T J Maxx}

 

 I asked my sister if I could share this clutch with you. It's so incredibly gorgeous in person and I hope these pictures do it a bit of justice. She received it for Christmas (from Anthropologie - but how could it not be?). 

 Made myself a few heavenly cups of tea this weekend. 

 And tried out my new (free!) IPhone app called Instagram. Pretty great little pictures.

 A flokati rug now offers a much cozier spot for our bums to get comfy fireside. 

 An interior shot of Assemblage. A sort of scrap booking and odds and ends kind of store, filled with oddities and vintage buttons, beads, pocket watches and more. Really inspiring. Looks like they offer book making classes and the little creations there are fantastical! (De Pere)

 Lots of dreamy snowfall over the weekend. Quite Narnia-esque in the backyard actually. 

 The shower curtain basking in the morning sun. 

My sick little man spent some time laying in my bed while Yo Gabba Gabba entertained him. (Taken with Hipstamatic app). You can tell how much weight he's lost, can't you? ha. 

An Explosion of Color!

Just a bit of color to brighten your day. Hope it's a sweet one!

Aren't these the coolest?

This is how I put the "icing on the cake" (tutu and hair accessories for dancing ladies). Inexpensive but pretty.

My brand new shower curtain!!! A sight to behold.

{1. via ffffound.com}