i want: love from IL postcards

found this on caitlin wilson's design blog & instantly fell in love.  all of etsy artist lily gene's cards are incredible but i was (obviously) drawn to this postcard ::

obvious, indeed, considering i live in the IL but the vast majority of my friends are spread out around the country/world.  think long-distance romantic relationships are hard?  well i would argue that LDFs (that's "long-distance-friendships" for all you not into abbreviating/acronym-ing literally everything.  and also making up words.) can be harder.  our culture puts such a high premium on romantic relationships, and when you are in love you will contact your partner as often as possible, especially if they are far away.  but with all the busy-busy of daily life, we can tend to neglect our dear friends, again, especially if they are far away.

well i say, enough!  so, dear all my friends in indiana, iowa, wisconsin, minnesota, florida, california, utah, colorodo, ireland, korea, and beyond -- there is someone in illinois who loves you very, very much.  and she will be sending you cards in the snail mail very soon.  because there is something particularly special about receiving real cards, don't you think?  i sure do.  all my love, illinois kait

p.s.  sorry but they probably won't be the exact postcard shown.  although $3 really isn't bad for something so adorable and really perfect, we all know that my strict bujay limits me to target & the dollar store.  one day though...

p.p.s. joelley, hope you know that you were the "florida" friend to whom i was referring :)

i want: a stampler

want?  psssh - more like need.

need need need this on my desk.  asap.

from suck uk
first discovered on badder homes and gardens

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

friday faves: 2.25.11

due to having 2 days off in a row for the first time in months, i've posted a lot this week.  so if you want all of my friday faves, just go over the past couple days' worth of posts, both here on my blog and also on my tumblr.  regardless, here is my compilation of faves today ::

~ braided/twisted hairdos ~

 

fun twists (catch the wordplay?!) on a simple ponytail/bun

[first image via; middle found here; bottom compilationby diane @ a spot of whimsy]

~ pink suede this + that ~
even though it's from a few weeks ago, i still can't stop obsessing over this pink suede this + that.  i desperately want both the bag & the couch!  lovely.


~ floral on black ~

lots of love for this outfit -- super fem, super flattering,  super me.  wish i knew how to acquire it! [via]

~ a funky rennovated caravan ~

 i want me one of these. that way i can load up my things and go on day trips and have picnics wherever i please. doesn't that sound ideal... [via]


~ a huge turquoise mirror ~

i'm not sure i would put it next to a bathtub (just not my thing), but regardless, i love love love this intricate turquoise mirror

from Casaviva magazine, photographed by Winfried Heinze [via]

~ swirly-whirly fonts ~

it's known as Gillian font & i want it embossed on everything i own!
major typography crush. 

~ a very useful chart ~

 (as if i needed some fancy chart to tell me to just wear long pants 24-7!!)  -via-

~ my madre ~

 

not just because she it the most beautiful, intelligent, and inspiring woman i know... but also because she bought me a "treat" (her cute words!) to reward me for all my hard work at my job.  what's this treat you ask?  oh, just certificates for 4 days worth of spa treatments!  i get: a haircut, manicure, massage, and facial.  i'm seriously shocked.  still!   

~ great giveaways ~
$50 credit to minted from simplified bee. 
if chosen, i would get these cards to send to my far-away friends -

but if you're getting married, i would suggest these awesome thank you cards! -

oh, and i almost forgot to mention...

~ AdvK tweeted about ME!! ~

holy man!! color me shocked! and totally, totally, honored.
if i did the tweeter thing, i'd def follow AdvK's page!
coolcoolcoolcoolcoooool!

this is how i feel ~

i have a crazybusy couple days and can barely think straight with all the stress...
- but -
i'm going to keep thinking of these pretty pretty things : braids to try out, a talented fashion designer giving me a shout out, my mom treating me to loads of spa treatments....
and that will get me through it all.


* and one last link -- best week ever's hilarious & tongue-in-cheek awards for the runway looks at NY fashion week

i want: business cards from tiny prints

[note: this is not my contact info]

and guess what...

i got them!

more than i wanted to spend but i finally realized that being overly frugal is just not cutting it.  i need business cards and i don't have any for my current job.  time to suck it up and buy some!!  and really, i couldn't be happier with my choice.

buy your own here

thanks to dress, design & decor for introducing me to this sweet shop

do you have any fave business card companies to pass my way?

i only got a small sampling of these and am very very open to new suggestions!

thanks :)

i want: royal tenenbaums pencils

remember when i stumbled across those awesome rushmore-themed pencils?  well now there are royal tenenbaums pencils!

my only gripe?  i want more!

i mean, it is one of my top-ten fave movies...

buy here

p.s. there's also some awesome "pick flick" pencils from election. heck yes!

p.p.s.  i think it's time for a wes anderson movie marathon!  perfect for this blizzard-y day.

i want: pink recipe box

even though it wouldn't hold very much (yet!), i would looove this pretty pink recipe box from sugar paper!  a-dor-a-ble.

[via everything fabulous]

i want: rushmore pencils

 things i love: wes anderson movies, overachievers, & quirky stationary.

now let's add to the list: these pencils.

 first found here

the creators' etsy page

i want: chicago a-z card

oh yes, i want this card very very much, to frame and proudly display on my wall.

 my only wish? "k" would stand for "kait" not "kanye" ... is that too self-absorbed?!

see tons & tons more awesome chi stuff by the card's makers, third coast collection

first discovered here

random: incredible desk stamps

too cute!  i think my favorite is the middle one.

buy here

via lottie loves

i want: calligraphy address stamp

...problem is, i can't choose which style!

 

once my life becomes a bit more stable, i think i'm going to have to choose one of these lovely designs to order! 

all by the talented emilie friday

first discovered on live love chic

to do: cocktail party invites

i would loooove to receive an invite as cute & creative as this one! :

well... maybe i'll just have to send them out myself!

directions found here on the blog luxe & lillies

i want: amazing thank you stamp

 the sweetest thank you stamp i've ever seen:

"thank you" is soo boring ... *this* is not!

buy complete thank you set by third drawer down here

found on the blog lottie loves