Wedding Weekend!

My sister is getting married tomorrow and I can not WAIT to see her walk down the aisle! All of the important details are in place, now I just need to figure out my hair and makeup. Unfortunately, what I always have in mind never turns out like the pictures I use for inspiration. I am clearly not blonde like Jane Krakowski or tan with long locks like Gisele! So this time around I'm trying to find looks that I could actually pull off. I'm loving Rachel Bilson's hair and those red lips on Cameron Diaz...

Let's hope for the best!

Vintage Ads

I wish advertising was this chic in 2010!

Vintage posters for La Rinascente, the Italian department store

see more on Design Love Fest

Elastic Belt How-To

Since it's usually too hot and humid to wear anything form-fitting in the summer, belts are great for taming flowy dresses and gathered skirts. I like to use black elastic and then add buttons or brooches...

You can buy elastic in all colors and widths at the fabric store or online. I prefer the smooth, heavy elastic over the non-roll version with grooves, but they all get the job done. Figure out the amount you need by simply wrapping the elastic around your waist until snug. Since skinny elastic will stretch more easily than wider elastic, you will need to measure them separately. Then add 1 inch for 1/2 inch seam allowances.

I make it easy and simply sew the 2 ends together (with no clasp), which means stepping into it or putting it on over your head. (There is no video tutorial for this because it is just as awkward as it sounds.) Once you have your 2 ends sewn together, pin a brooch on or sew a few buttons (click here for a button HOW TO).

I'm wearing my button belt with this black top and green skirt (both from Target).

With my sister, wearing the 3-button version:

If you aren't into making belts yourself, Stella McCartney makes one, but it will set you back $395. Ouch!

Kid Books

Every once in awhile I need an escape from adult-level reading. I get my fill of Pat the Bunny and Goodnight Moon every evening, but there are a few chapter books I read as a kid that are just as entertaining the second time around. I'm currently immersed in Matilda and the horrible events of Miss Trunchbull. Roald Dahl's classic is such a fun read, full of illustrations for all ages.

Miroslav Sasek's 'This Is' travel books are also among my favorites. They are filled with vibrant illustrations of all the best places to see. I started my collection before P was born with London and Paris but we have expanded the collection with a few of her own...

Modern children's books are also a colorful (and cheap) way to fill collage walls. I have a few pages from This Is New York framed in ours.

I came across this bookshelf art by Jane Mount on Design Sponge and immediately recognized some of the same books on our shelves. The artist paints "ideal bookshelves" of people she knows. It would be quite comical to see the paintings of our's, as they are filled with completely different things. History and HP for my husband, fashion and photography for myself, and Knuffle bunny for P. Hopefully someday we'll have a library for all of our books, since they are overflowing into every room for the time being.

Fiesta Fashion

It feels like I've taken up a foreign language: "Charreada, Cascarones, Coronation," these are the norm during Fiesta. At the Coronation, the new Queen is presented along with her court, wearing the most outrageously beaded dresses. They are all hand-sewn and the trains are over 15 feet long, weighing a ton. You can see all 26 dresses and trains HERE. (Really, you should click that). The Coronation was the perfect occasion to wear my ruffled red dress, as I clearly wasn't the only one overdoing it! I paired it with a black skinny belt since there was enough going on up top. This one I found at The Limited and turned it around with the clasp in the back. If you haven't been to The Limited since 2003 (that was my last visit) you might be pleasantly surprised. For the rest of the outfit, I kept it simple and wore my black Jimmy Choo sandals and carried a black clutch.

For the second event I wore my white one-shouldered dress from last season, which I updated with a matching vintage brooch and earring set. If you're ever in the need for costume jewelry, flock to your nearest flea/thrift/vintage store. My favorite is the Guild Shop, as it is stocked with gaudy jewels. I wore my nude pumps, which have been extremely versatile this spring. This pair from Ann Taylor is a great shade of nude and I've been able to stand in them for hours at a time.

For the Queen's Ball, I re-wore my long black dress that I've had since senior year of high school. Altered now for the 5th time, this BCBG dress has been my go-to formal over the years. Seeing as the week was full of events needing new accessories and dresses, I was thrilled to borrow my sister-in-law's fabulous necklace. I broke in my Naturalizer T-strap heels for my sister's wedding this weekend, although they didn't require much breaking in as they are SO comfortable!

P also got a new dress for the festivities. I found an embroidered J.Crew top from Goodwill recently that I made into a sundress. I should have known she wouldn't be a fan of the sleeves, so now it's sleeveless!

CHARREADA

What a day! If you've never seen a Mexican Rodeo before, you are missing out! We had the honor of attending the Charreada but the best part was the pre-show entertainment. The dresses were full of festive colors and the Charro suits were incredible!

Adios Fiesta!

Viva Fiesta!

The city of San Antonio is in full out Fiesta mode, with still 4 more days to go. Fiesta is an 11-day festival that began in 1891 to honor the heroes of the Alamo and has continued to grow each year. This is my first time to experience Fiesta and it is UNBELIEVABLE!

Photo from SA News

No.13

I love walking into a familiar smelling house. Bob's Flower Shoppe N0.13 is a favorite of my mother-in-law's and it's such a fresh, homey scent. I like to burn it year-round but it's especially nice in the springtime. If you enjoy the smell of fresh flowers, you will love this candle!!

No.13 Bob's Flower Shoppe

Bon Voyage

There's nothing very glamorous about a 45 minute flight on Southwest, but I am always reminded of these chic illustrations when I head out of town. This woman looks so pulled together in her blue-lined trench and color coordinated luggage.

And although my days of traveling solo are far and few between, there is nothing more entertaining than flying with a 2 year-old. It's like carrying a parrot on your shoulder, who narrates the entire experience aloud. On repeat. We make friends with flight attendants, strangers, and people who usually want nothing to do with us.

See more of Caitlin McGauley's watercolor illustrations HERE.

Personalize It

Monogramming is such an easy way to update your everyday basics. There are countless options when it comes to what and how you personalize, so think outside the box when choosing your look. Monogramming and embroidery also make great graduation, wedding, and baby gifts!

Target cover-up and bathing suit from last season...

White linen napkins get a quick makeover...

Monogrammed pillows add a personal touch to an all white bed or neutral sofa...

I absolutely adore these MURVAL Jute bags my cousin-in-law is doing with the coral monogram.

Be sure to check out monogramming services offered online: J.Crew and Williams-Sonoma Home are 2 of my favorites.

Official Business

We have a few years until the tooth fairy comes to visit, but this Official Tooth Fairy Kit is too cute to pass up. The kit includes a Certificate of Record and most importantly a deposit bag for transactions.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered!

Wedding shoes

For my sister's upcoming wedding I was determined to find comfortable heels. Even though they will be hidden under a full-length gown, I had to talk myself into shopping at Naturalizer (which I previously associated with old ladies). I'm so glad I found these black T-strap heels because they are incredibly comfortable...and somewhat fashionable!

Naturalizer Princeton

12 more days!

Straw Please!

My go-to accessories for spring and summer are straw purses, bags, and hats. They are versatile and inexpensive so you can afford to add (or lose) a few each season. While I usually pick mine up at thrift stores and flea markets, Etsy carries a wide variety online. If you miss out on any of these below, search "Vintage: straw _____ " for similar results.

Lauren Moffatt's Spring line is full of straw accessories.

Black+White $22

Floral Clutch $14

Envelope Clutch $12.50

Tan Belt $6

Seafoam Green Belt $10

Wide Brim Hat $26

I picked up this straw hat in Deauville last summer but unfortunately it didn't make it back with us. I'm already on the lookout for its replacement!

Words of Wisdom

I love the saying on this post card I found last weekend...

This world is not so bad a world

As some would like to make it,

But whether good or whether bad

Depends on how you take it.

Can you imagine, 1 cent stamps?

Dye Job

If you want a quick transformation, RIT dye can make that happen. I had leftover white taffeta fabric from a dress I made my sister-in-law and used the scraps to make pillows. I dyed individual strips of fabric and sewed them together to get a wide range of hues.

There are a number of dyeing techniques but I prefer to dye fabrics and trims in pots on the stove top for a more accurate and controlled color. For this project I made separate dye baths for each color, starting with a weak dye bath (more water to dye) and slowly adding more dye for the darker strips. For the pink dye bath I added a little red and for the green dye bath I added a little blue. The ColoRIT Color Formula Guide is a very helpful tool to get you going. Throw your white Hanes V-necks or your white jean shorts from last season in the wash with a packet of RIT for a fresh look. You can purchase RIT in liquid or powder form at the grocery store, art supply store, or online. The options are endless.