pretty pictures: mia wasikowska in harper's bazaar australia

note: OK before i get to the super pretty pictures, i'd like to sincerely apologize for the weeks of being completely M.I.A. [side note: i was M.I.A.  now i'm doing a post on the beautiful MIA wasikowska.  because not only is she beautiful but also because i am a sucker for a punny pun!]  but back to the missing blogger.  my life has been in a completely state of flux.  and although this is a prime time for documenting pretty things, there has been one major conflict in doing so : i've been sick.  yes, that is my über glamorous excuse.  i have been bed-ridden and without internet for over a week.  before this i was traveling.  so basically, no computer/internet time.  no blogging time.  except i had all the time in the world while stuck in bed - miserable, miserable irony.

but i'm back.... i hope.  i'm posting now because i can and because i am just so apologetic for the absence and just so lonely without the blogosphere [oh dear, did i just admit that?!].  but i can't really commit to being "back" fully.  with all going on, and with this ridonculous health junk, "commitment" is not really a word in my current vocabulary.  but i promise, promise, promise to try my bestest to keep the pretty things coming!  so please keep the sweet comments coming.  i can't stress how much i love them :)

as for the gorgeous photo shoot i can't wait to post...

here is pixie-perfect actress mia wasikowska, photographed by will davidson for this month's harper's bazaar australia.

and one last perfect picture, the lovely mia up close & personal - within minimal makeup no less

i hope to be writing a lot more in the coming days and weeks - most posts on beautiful things in the world, and perhaps a new second blog filled with my eclectic thoughts and musings.  just something to satisfy that need to write and overcome that fear of sharing my writings.  we'll see...

scanned by dustjacket attic

friday faves: 6.24.11

first full week back in the u.s. of a.  back to the office and commuting and sleeping normal hours.  back to chatting on the phone  with my girls and wearing heels and straightening my hair.  oh, and back to my pretty things blog!  and back to the many pretty things out there in the blogosphere ~

design/decor

~ perfect entry way space ~

black & white beauty.  i especially love how the books match the color scheme!

from the always-incredible tobi fairley, in the may issue of traditional home magazine

{via the glam lamb}

~ watercolor walls ~

head over heels in love.

 by the crazy-talented black crow studios {via effortless style}

 fashion/shoes

~ craving WHBM ~

as all who know me are aware, white house | black market is pretty much my favoritest store.  and somehow it's been about 3 weeks (maybe even 4...woah) since i've shopped there!  chicka-whaaa?! so here are some of the many cute new items from WHBM that i would love right about now ::

black & white & accent love forever~

that's it for now -- off to iowa for my first weekend off of 2011!  whoo hoo!

pretty picture: strong dancers

there are no words to describe how moved i feel after seeing this photograph.  wow.

taken by the incredibly talented marcus roy hoffman

pretty pictures: jennifer lawrence for flare

she is just so gorgeous.

shot by max abadian for flare, june 2011

via fashion gone rogue

one more look at my fave pic:

wedding wednesday: balloon engagement

yes, i know that my segment is titled wedding wednesdays, but engagements precede weddings, as do engagement photo shoots, so it's all good.  actually it's all very, very good.  because it's simple and sweet and playful and whimsical and.... and filled with BALLOONS!  and we all know how much i love balloons!  so take a gander and enter the magical world of balloons & the beauty of love ~

and my fave ~

it's very sixteen candles... but with balloons.  so it's even more awesome.

beautiful photo shoot brought to you by brittany esther

pretty pictures: harpers bazaar uk april 2011

just a couple photos from a gorgeous photo shoot in harper's bazaar uk, april 2011, featuring the gorgeous - and pregnant! - eva herzigova ~

 a natural goddess, indeed.

photographed by the talented michelangelo di battista

see the whole editorial here

pretty pictures: heidi mount for georges rech

~ a couple of my fave images from this gorgeous [all b&w!] spring 2011 ad campaign ~

 love the b&w photography from this campaign

... and it successfully makes me want these sexy georges rech dresses!

see all ten great photos here

friday faves: 4.1.11

as promised - a longer friday faves than last week's brief list! 

design/decor/DIY

~ ruler picture frame ~

 i don't have the actual directions for how to make this adorable clip-frame, but i think i just may be able to figure it out.  let's hope so because it's seriously fantastic!  from the fab blog, the lettered cottage

~ french canvas decor ~

that i super duper want.

these beautiful works of art are created with old french dictionary pages.  my fave is the "je rigole, tu rigoles..." one.  my years of french taught me just enough to know that this is the conjugation for the verb "rigoler" which means to laugh.

fyi - the first print is the conjugation of vivre which means to live [merci, michelle!] and the third print conjugates dormir which is to sleep.  adorable!

[from lily and lime, found on the blog dear designer]

~ framing chic shopping bags ~

but only when they are exceptionally chic and worth showing off - e.g. hermes.  (remember i wrote about my love of this idea here)

 image from the coveteur, via the decorista

~ scrabble pillows ~

i also adore the choice of "cozy" rather than "love" which seems to be ubiquitous.
found here but original source (unfortunately) unknown

~ this little breakfast nook ~

i heart nooks of all kinds, definitely including adorable little kitchen nooks such as this one.  i mean, can't you just imagine yourself sitting on the corner booth, drinking your morning tea and looking out through that lovely window?? i sure can :)

image found here 

fashion/shoes/accessories/etc.

~ turquoise fabulosity ~

at first when i saw this posted on the blog simply designed and etsy finds, i wanted the perfectly practical (yet still beautiful) satchel with all my heart.  then 5 minutes later all i could think of was those comfy-cute moccasins.  so i've decided - both are needed in my life.  simple as that.

available at Boden

~ more of mila kunis @ the oscars ~

yes i know i already declared this elie saab creation to be mila's best dress this awards season, but i just couldn't help but share another pic it.  i mean, she is just perfection.  the dress is too actually.  [image found on the vogue diaries]

~ jamie chung, beautiful in bright yellow ~
gown by giambattista valli.  drop.dead.gorgeous.  'nuff said.
it's no surprise she was voted best dressed of the week by both readers of red carpet fashion awards & the fashion critic blogger herself ~

best dressed of the week, indeed. 
~ michelle trachtenberg = marchesa goddess ~

it's times like these that i wish i were michelle t.  now only is she beautiful & talented, but she is wearing marchesa at a ball about ballet.  life crush times a million.  [from rcfa]
oh wait, she was also voted BDOTW @ red carpet fashion awards, the week before jamie chung!  guess we're all on the same page these days :)

fashion photography

~ a model & an elephant ~

 i mean, come on! - how could you not love this image?!  i just find it captivating.  honestly.  can't stop looking at it...

model samantha gradoville and unnamed elephant model.  photographed by sean & seng for pop magazine.  via.

 ~ b&w portraits ~

stunning.  
the gorgeous model eniko mihalik, shot by lachlan bailey in vogue china march 2009  [via]

giveaways

~ hip, hip, hooray! ~

hey remember back in the day (erm, just a couple weeks ago) when i posted about a fab giveaway from sandy a la mode??

well... i won!

this was honestly the greatest part of a not-so-great week :)

* now onto some great giveaways you should enter *

~ the double whammy giveaway ~

 both $100 for gas money and $100 for clothes??  count me in!

enter for yourself over at shasta ann

~ simply lovely necklace ~

by lisbeth jewelry.  silver & rose gold, the perfect mixture & perfect level of simplicity.  can't help but desperately want it!  this beautiful necklace is being given away over at caroline & the city.

~ say it sweet giveaway ~

in honor of reaching 150 followers, the sweet lori over at penelope blue is hosting her first giveaway.  the winner gets their choice of an 8 x 10 print from the great etsy shop, say it sweet.  my fave is the picture shown above because i just love the english words: "i love thee with the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach."  love, love, love.

anyways, enter the giveaway for yourself here!

now a personal note...

 God is throwing quite a bit at me these days and this upcoming weekend of work will be the greatest test of my patience and endurance.  i am a strong believer that we are not given any more than we can handle, but that doesn't mean the "handling" part will be easy.  i know i will get through the weekend, but i also know that it will take nearly every inch of my energy.

so please, dear followers & visitors, send me some happy thoughts.  that's all - just some happy thoughts please :)

monday faves: 3.21.11

i missed friday faves this week :(

there have been some majormajor changes at my work the past week and i just haven't had the luxury of blogging.  still, friday faves has become a true fave of mine.  i get to compile all these lovely images and blog posts, and then carry that inspiration over into my life.

so anyways, i feel badly that i couldn't do a friday faves this week.  i know it's late, and i know it isn't too comprehensive, but i still wanted to do a little compilation.  so here it goes...

 ~ adorable bridal shower invites ~

definitely my kind of party!  [via]

~ marion cotillard ~

*marion cotillard in interview magazine, back in aug 2010*
I thought Nine was disappointingly boring, but had the one saving grace of being filled with beautiful women, one of whom being Ms. Cotillard, who simple exudes subtle sexuality.  this picture is perfect proof.  read article

~ great fashion-action shot~

this pic will definitely be on my inspiration board for our next photo shoot!  anja rubik just nails it in this editorial from vogue spain, march 2011, shot by alexi lubomirski  [via]

~ a funky & fabulous reminder ~

would love this framed somewhere i could see everyday

by Ingrid Hall Collection [via] 

~ a beautiful tub ~

simply put: absolutely beautiful.  found here, original source/company (sadly!) unknown.

~ adorable little girl ~

swoon!  she is just too too cute.  and how can you not smile when looking at this pic?!  [via]

giveaways:

emerson made gift card

it's official - IHOD has some of the all-time greatest giveaways!!  this time it's store credit to the unbelievably incredibly shop emerson made.  TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS credit!!

if for whatever reason i were lucky enough to win, i would get either the ultra-chic but still work appropriate black scallop skirt or the adorable tiny stars yes dress.  love!

fun items by cameo nouveau

this lovely giveaway package includes adorable earrings, makeup, and a hand beaded bracelet, alll by this great shop Cameo Nouveau.  thanks to BB&B for this giveaway, and for introducing me to cameo nouveau!

head on over to enter for yourself.  oh, and you get an easypeasy extra entry, just be a facebook fan of bright, bold, and beautiful! 

another great plum pretty sugar giveaway

 this time the prize up for grabs is the pink love poppy tank, hosted by the fab sandy at sandy a la mode.  i didn't win last time, but maybe one of us will this time around!

enter for yourself (by friday) here!

have a happy, productive, and inspirational week!!

~ kait