anya hindmarch

I enjoyed this article about Anya Hindmarch from the September issue of Vanity Fair. She's one of those really cool people you wish you knew. And I loved this picture.
{image: Simon Upton/The Interior Archive via Vanity Fair}

help, I'm bored

I know you've seen this cute packaging, but have you played around on the "help I'm bored" section of the website? Very clever.
{images: Help Remedies}

perfection

I adore these book covers, from Mara Zepeda's home tour at design sponge. I think I may have to make this image my computer background, I love it that much.

kate spade clothing

Cute stuff over at Kate Spade's new line of clothing. And not too crazy expensive, either. Their new website looks great, too.

{images: kate spade}

summer salad

Last Friday was okra night at the cabin, and my mom made this delicious salad to go with the main course (the okra). She found it in InStyle magazine, from Hugh Acheson, the chef at Five & Ten in Athens. Sadly, I have never eaten at that much acclaimed restaurant, as it opened after I had already graduated (also, sadly, I am that old). Here's the recipe:

Salad: Toss arugula, large chunks of watermelon, and crumbled feta (my mom used goat cheese). Drizzle with dressing.
Dressing: In a jar with tight lid, mix the following, and then chill:
1 C. olive oil
2 T. fresh lime juice
2 T. champagne vinegar
2 t. chopped fresh thyme
1 small shallot minced into small half rounds
salt and pepper to taste

{image: chowmama, a site with kid-friendly foods that look extremely adult-appealing}

the art of le tour

We watched the Tour de France religiously--Trey for the cycling, me for the scenery. For the final stage, Lance Armstrong rode a Damien Hirst designed bike, which will be auctioned off later this year for his Live Strong Foundation. In an interview, Lance mentioned he was a Hirst collector. I thought that was pretty cool.
{image: live strong}

on the bedside table

This summer, I've been reading A Year in the World by Frances Mayes. The writing is a little frou frou for my taste, but it's a nice escape for a girl whose kitchen has been ripped out all summer and she hasn't had a home-cooked meal in about six weeks.

{images: amazon, castle}

grant design collaborative

Let's see if I remember how to do this blogging thing...Last week was home in Canton for lunch, and my mom and I dropped by a new store downtown, Grant Collaborative. Apparently, it's the "laboratory" for an amazing graphic design group that I can hardly believe chose to take up residence in little ole' Canton (previously famous for, um...hmmm...maybe as the birthplace of golfer Bobby Jones, even though Atlanta claims him? or the 1973 Lady Warriors State Basketball Champs?).

Check out their website here, where you can see more work like they did for 1. Herman Miller, 2. Goin' Coastal Restaurant, and 3. Blackberry Farm.

{images: grant design collaborative}

the summer book

I don't know where the time goes these days--can't ever seem to find the time to update this blog (and I don't think it's going to get any better now that So You Think You Can Dance is back). But now that summer is here, I'll be pulling out one of my favorite books, The Summer Book by Susan Branch, filled with lots of easy summer recipes and ideas.
{image: amazon}

grosgrain napkin ring

I spotted this really cute grosgrain ribbon napkin ring in House Beautiful--from Social Couture.

pretty, amazing

Well, I'll just have to say that is one gorgeous dress.
{image: j. crew}

stripe love

Love these striped canvas fabrics I just found online at Paper Source.

keith lissner cocktail dress

Dear Matt and Mere,
Please get married soon so I can wear this pretty dress to your wedding!
Love,
Laura
P.S. From here, spotted on Daily Candy this am.

south of the border

I started hearing some buzz about Mexican Coke a while back, because it's made with cane sugar instead of America's favorite sweetener, high-fructose corn syrup. So passing a grocery store in Fort Valley, I gave it a try and it was really good--we're talking pre-1985 good. Well, the secret's out--read all about it here in this month's Garden and Gun.

{image: garden and gun}

summer linens

How fun to set a summer table with some vintage Vera napkins? I found these on Etsy, after reading Eddie Ross' Storque post: 1. The Collector's Closet, 2. RetroWear. 3. Joules.

florence (green)

So much to see in Florence--highlights included climbing the Duomo and dinner at Le Barrique. And after touring the Uffizi, I'm a little less concerned about the cracks in my plaster walls.

venice (blue)

Maybe the tourists have gotten the best of it, but I still thought it was the most magical place I've ever been. Everything is a photo op in that town.

tory's inspiration boards

tory burch's south of france inspiration board

I love to browse through Tory Burch's inspiration boards (found via style court). Really, I love to browse through anyone's inspiration boards, and I'd love an entire book or website devoted to them.
{image: tory burch's style guide}

milan (orange)

Stylish city--how could it not be--with bits of orange around every turn. We were only there for one night, but it was a great place to start.

italy

So I'll share a few of my (588) pictures of Italy. Inspired by this advice from Nichole and her blog, Little Brown Pen, I tried to pick a color in each city and shoot it. These next posts will help me figure out if that worked out.

summer scarf

The only time I felt halfway stylish in Italy was when I was wearing a scarf. Gap--put this one on sale and I'll buy it.

how to take pictures

I tried to get Trey to take pictures of me walking around Italy (like this) but he doesn't really play that game (the architect is better with buildings). Maybe I can photoshop my head on her body and add it to my scrapbook? Love flipping through the online catalogs at Toast, where I found this one.
{image: toast}

a little bit of italy

Just a little taste of our trip to Italy--more to come. It was amazing, of course, and now I need a vacation to get over my jet lag. Fortunately we were not near L'Aquila during the earthquake, but joined in a national moment of silence last Friday while in the Sistine Chapel.

favorite places: italy

Well, actually I've never been. But I'm headed there tonight--be back soon!
{image: lonely planet}

favorite places: les deux magots

Best hot chocolate ever. And I'm sure the fact that it's in my favorite part of Paris didn't have anything to do with it.
{image: les deux magots}

favorite places: lords of the manor

When I was 12, I took a trip around England with my parents and their friends, the Carters. It was great, and of course I didn't appreciate it as much as I should have, because I was too busy trying to make them find the McDonald's in each town (if there was one to be found). Our last stop was the Cotswolds and the Lords of the Manor hotel. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when I walked into the guestroom that almost exactly matched my pink and green Laura Ashley room back home.
{image: slh}

favorite places: the phillips collection

Trying to think of ways to get inspired lately, I started thinking about some of my favorite places of all time. So that's what you'll be getting this week, starting with The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC. I discovered it the summer I interned for my congressman in DC (when, thanks to Monica, intern was sort of a dirty word). I don't think I've ever felt more at home in a museum, maybe because it is in a former home. And since contemporary art is my thing, I'd be happy to move right in.
{images: The Phillips Collection}

it's time

It's time to take a little break...I think I am suffering from a case of blogger block or something. I'll be back soon.

70 and sunny

This weekend I'll be wearing some J.Crew flip-flops, L'eau de L'artisan, and Opi's Coney Island Cotton Candy. Finally, I think warm weather is here.

dinner for four

Such a perfect room. From Habitually Chic's post on stylist Lili Diallo. And more pretty things in her portfolio.

lulu de kwiatkowski

Love this girl--her style, her fabrics, and her book of collages. There is a nice profile of her (with more pictures of her collages) over on 1stdibs. This collage is about her childhood; mine would probably include ballet shoes, Hello Kitty, and Chef Boyardee. And it would probably be completely made of stickers, as I was quite an avid collector.