it's September what??!

I had a really enjoyable time posting random iPhone photos during the August Break, and I had all intentions of returning to regular blogging activities. Which I guess, for me, regular means posting whenever I get a chance or inspiration strikes. I really do keep meaning to be a better blogger, but it just never seems to happen. Maybe if I had a nanny, or a driver, or a maid. But then my life just wouldn't be my life, and that won't do.

I realized this evening that I haven't uploaded photos from our camera since the beginning of June. When I did, I found this photo Carl took of me crossing the street in San Francisco. Kind of made me feel like I had my own paparazzo. 

Happy Friday!

friday sleepyhead

[image source]

I had every intention of putting together a Fancy Friday post today. Truly, I did. But after a very hectic week and the launch party for WinWin Living last night aboard the Tamsen yacht, I really am just too sleepy to put together anything that will actually be readable. 

Instead, I just sort of wish I was escaping to this tent with lots of books, wooly socks and snuggly kiddos. Of course I'd be too exhausted to actually erect said tent, so I'd need some sort of tent set-up assistant or something. Luckily, it's Friday and we have lots of relaxing with friends on the schedule. 

Where would you like to escape to?

xo,

chelsea

Fancy Friday - 3.25.2011

Happy Friday everyone! I, for one, am extremely happy it's Friday. Not for any particular reason other than I'm excited to relax and create this weekend. I'm not sure how most people are, but it takes me some time to get in my creative groove - but then once I'm there I feel like things really flow. Now I see why people in creative jobs come up with amazing things. Carl says the same is true for coding. You need the music right, the mood right, food at the ready and a solid chunk of time. In any case, I'm hoping to "find the zone" this weekend.






Here's some things I fancied this week...

Some great around-the-house uses for vodka, if you're not drinking it that is.

Peach and mint never seemed so good together. I've been obsessing ever since I saw this pairing.

I made this pretty garland today and I love the way it turned out. Simple but sweet.

Thank goodness for Google Translate! Now I can read Annaleena's Hem without dragging Carl in the room to translate. Her home is beautiful and chic and her DIYs are perfection.

This Pantone magnet DIY is fun and cheery. Perfect for spring's colorblocking madness.

A fun ode to brown-baggin' it for lunch.

Is anyone else as obsessed with Pinterest as I am? Find me here.

Besides my get-creative plans for this weekend, I'm also excited for Spring Cleaning! Is that weird - that I look forward to cleaning? It's calming for me and always makes me feel like it's easier to get through the week with an organized (if not full to the brim) home. Plus, spring is time for changing things up around the house and making things feel shiny and new!

What are you up to?

XO,

Chelsea

fancy friday

Its hard to believe that Labor Day is actually here already! It definitely feels as though summer has breezed in and out way too quickly this year. In my neck of the woods, summer was a mild affair. I think we were all hoping for some more heat, but the last few days have proved to be plenty warm once the morning fog burns off. I love Indian Summers and although everyone seems abuzz with talk of Fall, I'm still hoping for warm days spent basking in sunshine. 

I'm definitely pumped to work on lots of projects in the long weekend ahead. A little family time, some time in the great outdoors and going to see David Gray and Ray Lamontagne are topping my list! 

Here's a little roundup of what I fancied this week:

Dreaming of this peanut butter tart ever since I saw the post. Does anyone else obsess about certain foods? Recently a friend told me about some salted caramel ice cream and I couldn't stop thinking about it until I got some. 

This adorable idea for gifting money. So much more creative than an envelope. 

Drooling over Hilda's $4 thrift find. Her photography is also amazing. Check out her color vignettes. 

These beautiful key-print blouses from Snoozer Loser's F/W Collection. 

Playing this song over and over. And over. 

Here's to hoping you all have a fantastic loooong Labor Day weekend!

Do you have any traditional ways of saying goodbye to summer? 

XO,

Chelsea

fancy friday - inspirational stalking

This was a week that couldn't end fast enough. I'm lacking inspiration and perhaps I've already mentally packed and left for next week's vacation. Its times like these that I'm incredibly thrilled to know that any needed inspirational boost can be achieved just by peeking into my Google Reader.

Here's what I fancied this week:

Finding this gorgeous blog full of beautiful photos and this pretty lady: http://songoftheexile.blogspot.com/

This fun, springy project to brighten up my sandals: http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2010/4/22/whits-knits-fishnet-anklets.html

More obsessing over pretty macarons: http://cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com/2010/04/cherry-blossom-macarons-for-martha.html

Staying on the lookout for fallen trees so I can make these: http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/entertaining/speakers-made-from-a-fallen-tree-113922

I'm hoping this weekend's jam-packed celebrating will bring me even more inspiration. 

I'm looking forward to:

1) a very merry un-Birthday for one little girl turning 3 1/2

2) a private little celebration of "us"

3) laughing, a whole lot. It is, after all, the best medicine

4) some private time crafting, creating, re-making, re-using

5) writing a short letter to the weather in the hopes that it will cooperate for our vacation plans next week

This time next week, I plan to be gazing at this:

(image found at flickr)

What are you looking forward to this weekend? 

XO,

Chelsea

fancy fridays - filling in the blanks

I decided that I would play along with Lauren's FITB. Strangely, enough, I realized that I would probably just copy most of her answers since they are pretty much EXACTLY what my answers would be, minus the reality TV. Then I realized that I would probably sound like a crazy person, so I had better think up my own answers. So, without much ado, I'm filling it in...

1.  The first thing I do in the morning is  hit the snooze button....three times   . This is Lauren's answer, but seriously DITTO. Really.

2.  Every night before bed  I   set my alarm on my phone and kiss my honey goodnight. Provided of course, that he's not on the road .

3.  My favorite thing to do when I'm having a bad day is  well, run. I guess its not my favorite thing since I have a love/hate relationship with it, but its like instant gratification-therapy for me. I always come back with a clear head and happy heart.

4.  Something that makes me cringe is people that try to hard to be something they are not. I wish they would just realize that they are beautiful and need to let their freak-flag fly, whatever that may be.

5.  Social situations   are when I'm at my best. I love playing hostess, entertaining and bringing people together.

6.  I like to collect  pretty much everything. I seem to have a random collection of chairs at the moment. Three of which are living in the garage. Sorry, honey.

7.  Weekends are for   getting outdoors, enjoying the awesome town we live in, crafting and spending time with the ones you love. 

If you want to play along, head on over to the little things we do and link up. Or feel free to post yours in my comments. 

 

 

Happy Friday to all!!

 

I can't wait to enjoy this weekend. Even though I'm working tomorrow, I get to wake up to two little snuggle bunnies, have a lazy breakfast with my loves and even adventure out to the Farmer's Market beforehand. Sunday has been deemed craft day and I can't be more excited to get stitching, sewing, crocheting and creating. We might even sneak in a bike ride or a hike.

What will your weekend be filled with?

XO,

Chelsea

designer crush - built by wendy

Its been out a while now, but I just got a chance to peek at the Built by Wendy Spring 2010 lookbook and whoa!! Rarely do I love EVERY piece in a collection, but this one is fabulous. Gamine, fresh yet familiar and totally wearable. Now how often can you say that about a designer's entire line? I also love that Wendy is all about DIY with her Sew U books and patterns for sale. The line is not outrageously expensive but still out of my everyday wardrobe price range, so I love the thought of nabbing some of Wendy's style and making it my own.

Some favorites:

Happy Weekend to all!!


XO,


Chelsea

fancy fridays - lets go to camp!!

As I mentioned yesterday, we planned a very quick, impromptu camping trip to Big Sur for tomorrow.

I love that we have all our gear fairly well organized now so its pretty easy to grab and go. Carl even started us a Google Wave with our "template" camping list so we always know what we need. Then we create new replies for each trip so we can add supplies based on where/how long. Nerdy??? Maybe just a wee bit, but we are both such planners and organizers. Its something we like to do together and both get very excited over. Its our bonding time to geek out over things like that.

I'm really looking forward to taking in the California coastline, the awesome size of trees in Big Sur and share the experience with our International guests. Its also super fun to share with the kiddos and to see the great big world through their little eyes.

Its hard to imagine any place more magical than this

our first camping adventure together

our Thanksgiving trip to Big Sur last year

 So, on that note, today I'm fancying all things camping inspired. Take a peek and see if you feel inspired to just get out there!!

I would love to have this tent and this little spot in the woods.

lovely little tent colony

take shelter

what a sweet little chubby hand. I love sharing the experience of the outdoors with my littles.

  

everything tastes better over a campfire

starry skies for gazing

pretty towels by Jeanne Graeff for cleanup

sweetest little picnic print by paper sparrow

love this photoshoot with couture campers

(images: flickr, weheartit and my own where not linked)

Do you like camping? What's your favorite part??

XO,

Chelsea

fancy fridays numero dos

well, its definitely a TGIF sort of week!
I'm tired from staying up way too late and trying to put my house away.
I'm still dying to get to some crafting, but for now decorating has been satisfying my crafty urges.

I just love to decorate. And re-decorate.
I like to call my current state deja-vu decorating! I'm finding all my treasures that I was separated from for quite some time and falling back in love with all of them. I promised myself I would do some serious housecleaning and go for a very spacious, minimal aesthetic. But then the little ole bohemian in me snuck out and I find myself creating little vignettes in all the nooks and crannies of our new place.

All this decorating and nesting definitely has me thinking of spring! There's nothing like clearing out the clutter and making way for color!!

I'm definitely fancying the saturated pastels I've been seeing. They're making my heart go pitter-patter and have me dreaming of springy picnics:

 

speaking of vignettes, this is absolutely dreamy

 

I cannot get enough of books

these brighten even a snow day

love love love

seeing these two pastel minis together totally made me happy

 I've always wanted to do this

but I'm sort of chicken...

I can't wait to paint my nails some fun pastel shades

 

 and do this

planning to use bakerella's recipe and try my hand at making these this weekend

And on a completely unrelated note:
I blogged yesterday about being totally in love with Andrew Bannecker's work. I was all set to pop into his shop and purchase the Barney & Friend print I featured yesterday

 

but then I saw these sweeties

 

and now I can't decide! HELP PLEASE! 

Any thoughts/comments would be helpful. I love them all so much!

What are your plans for the weekend?

XO,

Chelsea

fill it in and fancy fridays

Its Friday again, so time to link up to lauren at the little things we do. Two weeks in a row, yippee!

And speaking of Fridays, today is the first installment of Fancy Fridays where I'll show you what I have a fancy for currently!

1. If I could medal in an olympic event it would be table tennis. Seriously, I can't believe that's an olympic event. Awesome!

2. If I was stranded on a deserted island I'd take my little family, books & coffee. Carl better build us a boat and sail us outta there!

3. Driving on high roads is my most irrational fear.

4. I'd rather drink tea everyday, than drink bad coffee everyday. I refuse to drink the warm brown water at work, so I drink green tea except on the days when I treat myself to some 'bucks.

5. I am so excited to spend the weekend in my new little home.

6. I should really be working instead of blogging.

7. One of my favorite things in all the world is the sound of my children laughing.

After reading the above statements, it would sound as though I have a wee bit of a caffeine addiction. Guilty as charged.

And now, a little Fancy Fridays...

I really can't wait for this weekend to get here. I'm dying to get started on some fun home crafting projects. While perusing the blogging world at some of my favorite home sites like Decor8, Bloesem and DosFamily, I came across Bohemian Vintage which is sure to be one of my new favorite reads.

Their post on Suzani Fabric had me salivating. I'm dying to sew up some new pillowcases for what has been dubbed the "space couch" and daydreaming of scrumptious couches with tons of pillows.

do you dream in color?

marimekko's prints are among my absolute favorites

love these pillows in the living room of madebygirl owner jen ramos

or do you dream in black and white?

i love Hello Tiger - must have Carl teach me Swedish so I don't have to constantly use google translate!

daydreaming of boho fabulousness

loving this disco ball addition found on apartment therapy

After all, who doesn't want to just curl up on the couch with a good book?

XO,

Chelsea

images from weheartit and flickr