friday faves: 5.6.11

my weeks are always stressful, increasingly so. it's hard to keep my stress from seeping into this blog but i know it does - almost always on fridays as that's when i have to prepare for the true hurricane of stress: my store being open on the weekends (a.k.a. no sitting, no eating, no stop to the talking, no rest from the lecturing, virtually no sleep). this is a common fact amongst my friends. i've lost many of them due to my demanding work schedule and it has been difficult to justify this to myself. i just have to keep saying that while they are off having fun, they are likely racking up debt and struggling to stay afloat in this economy. i may not make a lot of money and i may not get a lot of sleep, but i am gaining incredible experience virtually unheard of from anyone my age (hellooo - CHINA?!). so it's worth it. it has to be worth it or else i'll lose my mind.

so what does this have anything to do with friday faves? it has to do with something that happened tuesday of this week. i spent my day off on monday in bed, flipping through bridal magazines (because really, i can't stop working even on days off) and feeling very lonely. i was also texting a long-time friend who is currently stationed in the army in north carolina. unlike my now-gone friends here, he has stayed there for me. he made me laugh, made me think, made me feel like things will get better. those were his words: things will get better. he promised that they would get better the very next day even! of course i laughed. but then i got to work on tuesday and an hour in, the ups guy arrived...

bright & happy tiger lillies in a lovely pink vase! they actually arrived still as buds - this picture was taken one day later when they really became to blossom and fill up the whole office with the most beautiful scent ever.

and he was right, it made my day better! it actually helped me through what ended up being a very difficult work day. funny how little things can make such a huge difference... but that's why i started this blog - to fill my daily life with the little pretty things we can too easily forget.

but without further ado, more images for this week's friday's faves . . .

{random note: i just NOW realized i forgot a friday faves last week! many, many apologies - i could've sworn i wrote one but somehow it disappeared! hopefully this post, full of pretty, pretty images & great giveaways, makes up for it! can you ever forgive me?}

design/decor

~ perfectly whimsical fairy lights ~

all pictures found on the great miss walker's blog [unfortunately, the original source for all images are unknown. please, please tell me if you know it!]. it was impossible to pick just one fave, so here are my top 4. want more? check out her original post!

~ perfectly "kait" vases ~

meet hoot vase, the most perfect hand-blown glass ever. absolutely adorable. but unfortunately only available for Canadians. so sad, eh? found on the one and only, design crush

fashion

~ more flowy dress + leather jacket lovin' ~

as much as i'm a sundress kind of gal, this leather jacket really adds that extra something-something to abigail spencer's look. [images via the vogue diaries]

~ dita's red hot dress ~

a woman who doesn't need a red carpet to look absolutely stunning, the epitome of the modern day pin up, miss dita von teese. goodness gracious is she hawt! [from red carpet fashion awards]

etc.

~ two of my faves... kissing ~

love them. love, love, love. love everything about this picture... well, except for the whole lakers thing [GO BULLS!!]
pictures from getty images; via best week ever

~ more from my favoritest ~

goodness gracious is he incredible. and completely dead-on. [via]

giveaways

~ a pretty clutch for a pretty girl ~

from emerson made, of course -- where all pretty little things are made! hosted by one of my favorite blogs/bloggers, lindsey over at lee la la. head on over to this post to enter for yourself - giveaway ends monday morning! and then thank me for introducing you (if you hadn't been already) to such a lovely blog :)

~ a 200 follower giveaway that will take your breath away ~

... because it's for an item from TIFANNY & CO.!! woah! super sweet blogger lindsey, who has a fab blog called my dolce vita filled with pretty pictures and exercise motivation and also spiritual motivation, is celebrating her 200+ followers by offering one of us our own choice of items from tiffany's! double woah! the choices are exceptional - everything from jewelry to perfume. my personal choice is the tiffany blue coin purse, pictured above. so go on over to this post, become a follower if you aren't already, and take your pick! you have another two full weeks to enter, too :)

~ fuji instant mini camera ~

a friend of mine from korea had a snazzy lil camera just like this and i completely fell in love! so when erin over at sunshine and carousals posted that she is giving away one of these mini instant cameras in honor of her birthday, i nearly squealed! if you think this camera is about as cool i do, then head on over to enter for yourself!

~ link love from around the blogosphere ~

- i usually save this for wednesdays, but you must check out this parisian masquerade wedding!
- a fellow polka dot lover's fabulous collection of PD finds
- a gorgeous tattoo, exactly the spot where i want mine!
- some crush-worthy twisty-buns
- keri russell's gorgeous home

~ in cased you missed it ~

some of my fave posts right here on pretty things from the past few weeks:

vera wang bridal 2012

vintage wedding dress,

"one fine day" editorial

atelier versace ss 2011 gowns

my dream apt kitchen

have a fabulous weekend and especially lovely mother's day!

xx,

kait

friday faves: 4.22.11

how the heck is it friday already???  don't i get more time to prepare?  or relax?  [also, i just now realized that i completely skipped over wedding wednesday.  i promise, i'll make up for it next week!]  ohhhh boy...  but anyways, here is a small sampling of this week's prettiest of the pretties ~

design/decor

~ dream kitchen organization ~

remember when i posted about that pretty rental the other day?  i began designing it from a dirty mess to what i envision to be one day a gorgeous retreat.  and it would be organized as beautifully as the above picture.  oh yes, yes it would.

via vintage home tumblr [original source unknown]

~ dream house in SF ~

truly a kait-dream of a home.  just head on over to desire to inspire to completely fall in love.

fashion

~ zhou xun wears my fave chanel flapper-esque dress ~

i'm still totally in love with this dress - i mean, this is the THIRD post it has made its way on to! [see: 1, 2]  not to mention that i love chinese actress zhou xun's styling for the 2011 hong kong film awards about 1,000,000 times more than the model's runway look.  gorgeous.

image via red carpet fashion awards

~ helen mirren is a baller ~

and my current fashion icon for being able to pull off this look.

clearly i'm still loving the look of dress + leather that i included in last week's friday faves.  and man does helen mirren rock this leather jacket over a flowy leopard print dolce & gababana gown!  seriously blown away right now...  [found on RCFA]

~ pretty pretty necklace ~

worn by amanda seyfried at the red ridding hood premiere in london.  

necklace by by tom binns.  [via the vogue diaries]

etc.

 ~ super cool merchandising ~

found in the store of Perrin Paris, via haute design by sarah klassen

definitely something to stow away in my "maybe one day" book . . .

 giveaways

~ barberry & lace store credit ~

one beautiful item from barberry & lace, in honor of creator/blogger miss leigh ashley having 800+ followers!  whoop whoop!  so head on over to her blog to enter & also take advantage of one of the many ways to get extra entries ~

p.s.  if i won, i would get one of her gorgeous new headbands!  swooooon.

~ jewelry set by ten things ~

... that i am absolutely in love with.  daydream lily is hosting this incredible giveaway where one (very!) lucky winner gets both the earrings and the necklace - my personal fave - shown above, by the etsy jeweler ten things.   i am majorly crossing my fingers for this one!

one last thing...

~ i won! ~

the adorable cake holder i included in last week's friday faves giveaways section.  all i have to say is thank you thank you to both cassie over at moon face for hosting the giveaway, and to the etsy shop stands for all seasons for offering it!

i think i'm going to end up putting my fave perfumes in it or something because i definitely want it in my room, not the kitchen.  it all depends on how large it ends up being... i'll keep you all updated!

well, that's it for this week.

a bit briefer than usual, but hopefully still enough to add some color and inspiration to your life :)

friday faves: 4.15.1

here ya go, friday faves for mid-april day!  lots of pretty things for lots of pretty followers ~

design/decor

~ distressed pink bathroom cabinet ~

just love this - simple as that!  by graham & green [via]

~ suitcase stool & hatbox ottoman ~

 completely awesomesauce.  tons more similar upcycled furniture by REcreate

[discovered on lottie loves]

~ DIY twinkle light headboard ~

 unique, whimsical, seemingly easy to make.
see the directions here

fashion

~ leather & sundresses on marissa miller ~

 love this juxtaposition of hard and soft, and desperately wish i could pull it off - not quite sure i could... the leather would just look too out-of-place on my typically super fem self.  

image via the vogue diaries.

{pssst - want more? check out blake lively in a similarly awesome outfit}

fashion photography

~ circus love ~

*cite previous post on jessica stam @ circus

gorgeous photos from the editorial "magical mystery tour," shot by the incredible ellen von unwerth for vogue nippon.  

found on the terrier and the lobster

{psst - want more?  remember jessica stam at the circus??}

~ mirror-shot-love ~

i'm really just in love with this shot - everything about it, but mostly the awesome angles.  this is definitely something i'd like to try out in our next photoshoot!!

from elle uk april 2011 - model sessilee lopez shot by karen collins

see the whole breathtaking photo shoot here

 ~ elie saab editorial love ~

i'm pretty sure it's impossible not to fall in love with the designer after seeing gowns photographed this beautifully.  

[1. elie saab haute couture photographed by benjamin kanarek, from harper's bazaar china april 2011 - via; 2. olivia palermo wearing elie saab for elle mexico. photographed by steven gomillion & dennis leupold- via]

~ happy model love ~

i've previously expressed my love for happy models {exhibits: A, B, C} and this one definitely ranks way up high.  i mean, a bathing suit model doing something other than pouting or giving some other "sexyface" is a true treasure.  can't say it enough - love this pic!

model marloes horst

[via] 

etc

~ a double decker dress shop ~

woah, woah, woah... i read the story of the bus and now desperately want to find it!  not just to shop what will most likely be one of the cutest collection of dresses ever, but also to meet this erin character, who would most likely be one of the coolest and most inspiring women ever.  see more on happiness is..., where i first read about this bus.

~ paperie: papél new york ~

a little q & a with owner raegan hirvela ::

What is your aesthetic? I always had a vision of the shop aesthetic having a classic concept with a modern edge.   From our store fixtures and window displays to the products we carry, I look for items and ideas that are timeless. 

How does your studio style convey your professional aesthetic? Although the music is fun, the cards on the shelves get more than just a giggle, and Francesca my daughter is constant amusement for the customers, but when it comes to collaborating with a client, it’s all business.  We have a dedicated space in the back of the shop where the bride & groom can sit down, relax and flip through our edited selection of wedding vendors.  We created this space so that it was secluded enough for client meetings, while un-obstructing the flow of the store.   It allows first time customers a sneak peak into the customized world of stationery and invitations that we offer.  We achieved this with our room divider made of reclaimed coffee tables that I picked up at thrift shops and the Salvation Army across the city.  It is simply awesome!

 ~ *--*--*--*--*--*--* ~

must be added to my "maybe one day" file... [via]

- psst : the divider she speaks of is in the pictures i included above -

giveaways

~ lovely green necklace ~

by Friedasophie.  head on over to bijou and boheme to enter (with lots of chances for extra entries!!)

~ free blog header ~

i already have my own beautiful blog header from debby @ inspired design, but if you're in need of one, head on over to HERE and enter to get a gorgeous header of your very own!

*note: the header pictured above is just one of the many up for grabs!

~ adorable pink stand ~

loooooooove!  this cute stand is by stands for all seasons and is being generously given away over at moon face.  hurry on over to enter... no really, hurry -- the giveaway ends tonight!

~ a book on social change ~

for anyone interested in something a little more substantial than just pretty things, there is a giveaway going on over at from the right bank for the book, Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan.  i read the excerpt and this is seriously powerful - and way inspiring - stuff.

head here to enter

one last thought... 

“all you need is love. 

but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”

- charles m. schulz

hope your weekend is filled with lots of love & lots of chocolate as well!!

~ kait

celeb style: blake lively & her [slightly] edgier side

my lovely blake took a fem & ruffly christian dior dress & toughed it up a bit by adding a cropped leather jacket.  my opinion?  LOVE. 

as a leg-conscious lady, i also love blake's addition of black tights -- it shows women everywhere that tights can be classy & fashionable.  [tights can also go incredibly, incredibly wrong, which is why i'm extra happy to see her show how they can look great!]

now, my fave blogger over at red carpet fashion awards [where i also obtained the pic] wasn't a fan of this look, so i understand it may be not be well-received by all.  either way, i'm on the "love it" side of the debate.

pretty pictures: kate moss for vogue paris

 sept 2010

          

my favorite:

80's biker chick meets sandy from "grease" [think final scene]

all-in-all badass sexy.

i've never really been into leather but this editorial makes me wanna have a sandy-style makeover of my own, & rock the leather jacket & leggings like this, too.

... on second thought, it's just not me - i'm more of a sandra dee :)

*see more grease chic*

photographed by: inez van lamsweerde & vinoodh matadin

[pics via oh fashion model]