Hello Cali!

By Melanie

photo source: tiny water blog

I just got back from NYC and I hate to disappoint but I'm simply too tired to put together an in depth post. I promise to make it up to you. Soon I will have lots of New York to share with you. Amazing city, lots of laughs and tired feet!

I came across this cool fabric shelf. I'm thinking about adding one in my spare bedroom above the desk.

photo source: Living etc.

I love this idea.

Lookbook: Power Bun

by Heather
I had no idea Mel was posting about hair buns yesterday; must be sistertuition. Here's my tight bun with a haphazard swirly wrap.

I feel very controlled yet sexy in this outfit...I should have worn my glasses and held a book for a sexy librarian look. As if I was a librarian by day and high class hooker by night. How else can I afford to pay my bills on a librarian salary? Haha, I'm on a tangent.

It was actually way too hot in Santa Monica over the weekend to sport this look, but I was jonesing for some fall getups after countless hours of blogger stalking. I mean it is November! But I relish the warm sun, so I'm not really complaining.



(click on images to enlarge)

Dress from H&M (bought 2 years ago); denim wrap by Killah (bought 6 or 7 years ago on major sale); leather purse (with removable chain and loop attached in the back to fasten to your belt!) from some random shop on Main Street in SM [squealed with joy when I spotted it on sale]; tights from Stocking Shopping (great inexpensive novelty stockings online); boots by 2 Prima from Loehmann's about 3 years ago.

The Perfect Do!

By Melanie

Happy Monday everyone! I'm still in New York but I wanted to say hello! So let's start the week off talking about the perfect hairstyle!

Buns are such a classic hairstyle. Perfect for the days where you just don't feel like taking time to style your hair but still want to look like you did.

The bun is my favorite style for work. Pair it with glasses and you instantly look like a scholar!

photo source: bazaar mag

The bun in the photo above is so elegant and classy.

I love how the bun offers many variations.

The glamorous sleek bun with and without bangs.

photo source: makeupandbeauty.blogspot

The sweet and pretty bun.

photo source: bazaar magazine

The easy "just tie it" bun.

photo source: bazarr mag

The trendy side bun.


photo source: 2009hairstyle.blogspot.com

The party headband bun.

photo source: polyvore

The effortless messy bun.

photo source: polyvore

photo source: prohaircut.com

photo source: bazaar mag

I think the messy bun is my favorite!

The bun hairstyle gives you so many options for any situation, is easy to create and looks fabulous!

Halloween in New York

By Melanie

Tim Burton Halloween in Harpers Bazaar layout via fashiondevo.wordpress.com


Well, I'm off to NYC (see details in this post)! I can't wait! I Hope you have a great weekend too!


Weekly Lookey Lou:


Love Maegan posts this fabulous DIY ruffle scarf. I want it!


MadebyGirl posts DIY Halloween. Creative and fun!


Because im addicted posts about creative spaces.


Happy Halloween!

Home Decorating

by Heather

I renewed my lease for a year in July and decided to do some redecorating. I was a quick-draw with the credit card, but hanging all the pretty artwork took months! I still have a few patiently waiting to be displayed, but here's some of the new additions to my cute beach cottage.
Pillows from Bo Concept. A gift from my wonderful beau and they couldn't be more perfect for my couch. It's hard to tell in the photo but the embroidery is beautiful. The couch is new too, but it's a slightly used Craigslist find by Ikea. It came with a mint condition red corduroy slip cover, but I opted out of the college dorm look and bought a new cream one for $11! Yep, $11! So no qualms about having a glass of red wine while lounging.

Papermoth's Easily Broken image from Etsy.

Alicia Bock's Friday's Child photograph and Breeze photograph bought from her Etsy shop.

Great Lakes print from Ork Posters. A shout out to my hometown as I grew up splashing around Lake Erie in Cleveland Ohio. Alicia Bock's Fox Glove photograph from her Etsy shop.

The flower image on top of the fridge was a freebie with purchase from Alicia Bock. The urban coffee photograph on the fridge is from Gothicrow's Etsy shop. The painting on the wall to the left is a Van Gogh Sunflowers' reproduction found thrifting many moons ago. It's nicely framed in beat up red wood box.

Another gift from my sweetie! He's so good to me and has amazing taste. It's from a shop in San Diego called Mixture. It's resin on wood by Amy Paul.

Photograph taken from the Brooklyn Bridge by Weberphoto on Etsy. Sorry, there's a glare on it but click on the link to get a better view -- it's very cool. It's hangs above my flatscreen.

I also bought these prints from Papermoth, which go beautifully together, but I have yet to hang them.


Perpetual City.


Capricious in blue/violet.

Engagement Photos!

By Melanie


(typography poster that I created for my design class which I made to detail our day taking the engagement photos.)

A few weeks ago, Brian and I had our engagement photos taken in Laguna Beach. The talented Henry Bui was our photographer. He did such a wonderful job. I just love the photos!

It was so difficult to choose which ones to share but here are some of my favorites!

photos via Henry Bui at http://www.glimseink.com/

I love the composition of this one. The way Henry angled the camera is so cool. He has such great style!

This is a good one to give to our parents.

Look at that sky! Amazing!

I think this one is my favorite!

This one is my favorite of Brian.

I love how Henry captured so many different types of light.

The photos were taken at Heisler Park which is part of Main Beach in Laguna. It's a little more secluded although there were a few people there enjoying the sights as well. There was actually a romantic dinner going on right to the side of us!

I love the heart!

Brian was such a trooper! At first I wasn't sure if Brian would get into taking the photos. I'm sure he felt it was a little dorky but he totally got into it! They turned out so nice. Thanks Henry!

Blogger Pick 3

by Heather

I could spend hours, days, weeks lost in the blogger lookbook world. Who needs magazines anymore?! ...Well, the stack about to tip over by my couch might say otherwise. So I'm a fashion junkie; join in the fun with me.

via Late Afternoon. This San Francisco model has the best lookbooks, hands down. I'm madly in love.


via Keiko Lynn. Fiery and sweet. She designs her own line from her Brooklyn studio.

via Mint Vintage Junk. She's so cool. This soda machine lookbook post reminds me of the '97 Cindy Crawford Pepsi Ad, but less sex and more fashion.

Who's in your top 3?

Bursts of Color

By Melanie

I love walking into a bright bold room where the colors just pop! It's like the room is yelling "Hello! Let me brighten your day!"

But with bright bold colors I think there is a fine line between it working right and being over powering. You need to have the right amount of bold for it to look good.

Bold done right:

photo source: Living Etc magazine

I think this green works well because it is paired with the white. This is such a cool bedroom. I need to revamp our room. I think Brian would be happy with this type of decor. Great style and not girlie. We already have the white duvet cover so we just need the headboard and the green walls.

photo source: Dwell Magazine

Orange floors? Some how it really works well. Notice how it's paired with the white. I like how the bookcase background is orange too. Nice flow.

This is a fun kitchen/dining area. I love that orange!

Bright pink that is not too girly.

Doesn't the bright blue wall play off the pink really well?

photo source for the above photos: living etc magazine

Green door and a green doggie scarf! How cute!

Happy Monday!