Happy Friday!

It's been a busy week and I'm ready to unwind. Tomorrow we're headed north for a little impromptu weekend camping trip. Looking forward to breathing the fresh air, hiking in the green trails, visting the spot at the lake where we got engaged, relaxing on a hammock, admiring the starry sky at night, and enjoying yummy smores and hot chocolate by the fire.

Hope you have a beautiful weekend, wherever you chose to spend it :)

image credits: 1-from me to you, 2-photographed by corrie bond, 3-from the toast house&home catalouge, 4-layka's photostream

Chandeliers and Rustic Tables

Two examples showcasing a beautiful combination of things I love: a rustic kitchen table, a crystal chandelier, and large windows allowing in abundant sunlight. Perfect for evoking a sense of relaxed glamour.

These are going in my dream home inspiration file :)

image credits: 1-house and home via mira belleza; 2-via french by design

Chevron Bath Floors

For all you chevron fans out there, check out the fabulous floors in these luxurious bathrooms:

Do you think the black and white make it classic or do you think the pattern is trendy and will soon make it look out of style?

image credit: interior design by greg natale

To Do Lists

Good morning! A brand new week and a fresh to-do list.

Are you a lists person? If yes, do you like writing them on paper or typing them on a digital device? I personally like a mix of both. For the day's to-do's I like writing things out in my Kate Spade planner {seen above} -it appeals to my tactile sense :) For long term to-do's I use the To Do List gadget on iGoogle and use multiple lists to separate out tasks by category. I love it's simplicity and ease of use, and have been using it for a while now. The only con for me is not being able to access it easily from my smartphone.

I'm currently trying out Springpad {which has an accompanying android and iphone app} to see if that might be a better alternative. So far, I like that I can create different notebooks (for separating things into categories: Personal, Business, etc.) and that I can access it from both my computer and through the phone app. What I don't like though is that I can't {or at least haven't figured out how to} sort tasks by high, medium or low priority. Have you tried it? What's your preferred method of managing your lists?

P.S. for tips on how to write a better to-do list, check out this post which reminds us not to confuse goals with tasks.

image credit: photography by me

Happy Friday!

Tomorrow is my little sister's bridal shower. She gets married in 3 weeks! I can't believe the big day is so quickly approaching! We are all very excited and prepping all the decor and other little details for the ceremony and reception, as well as finalizing decisions on wedding hairstyles, makeup, accessories, etc. Needless to say, it's bridal central over here.

Have a great weekend! See ya next week!

P.S. Check out this cool blog featuring pictures of a picture from the past in the present. A photograph like that could make a cool Father's Day gift :)

image credit: photgraphy by jamie beck for a cup of jo

Organized Drawers - Clear Dividers

When it comes to organizing drawers, dividers are key for keeping like items together and neatly contained {so they don't spill over}. My favorite are clear organizer sets, like this one, this one, and this one, that can be arranged whichever way fit best in the drawer. Since they're transparent, they're also great for showing off a pretty drawer liner.

image credits: 1- from the June 2009 issue of Instyle Magazine; 2-Better Homes and Gardens

Accessories Organizer

Loving this little organizer for its versatility. You can hang not just necklaces (tangle-free yay!), but also earrings, scarves, sunglasses, handbags (there's a hook on each side), etc. Plus the shelf on top offers a place to keep other items like perfume, a pretty box, picture frames etc.

From OrgJunkie's curated collection on OpenSky ($35)

Small Space Solution: Bookcases as Dividers

Using a bookcase as a room divider is a great solution for those of us who don't have an entire room to dedicate as an office, but still want to carve out a little dedicated space.

image credits: 1-living etc., 2-domino

Photograph Labeled Shoe Boxes

If you like to store your shoes in boxes, it's a good idea to label them to allow for easy identification. Photograph labels are my favorite. Simple snapshots adhered onto the boxes will do, but if you want to step it up a notch, how about taking up-close detail shots of the shoes and sticking them onto pretty kraft paper tags, like this:

If photography isn't your strong suit, you can try searching online for your shoes. Companies usually include high quality photographs in their product pages and you can print those out to use for your labels.

image credit: via house to home

Beautifully Organized Kitchen Drawers

Most of us may not have as many kitchen drawers as Martha to dedicate one to each and every category of items, but we can use these as inspiration and 1) group like things together and 2) use containers and dividers to keep things neat.

all images via marthastewart.com

Currently on my desk

I love having fresh flowers. Especially on days when I'm in front of the computer for long hours, it's nice to look away from the screen and glance at something beautiful and mood lifting :) These are the ones my hubby got for me over the weekend and are currently on my desk:

Creative Photo Display Ideas

Love the idea of displaying small photos by pinning them on a lamp base made of cork....

or clipping to them to the top of lamp shade to allow them to shine in new light.

image credits: 1-photography by max kim-bee for domino, 2-photography by donna griffith for canadian house and home

Find me over at Marcus Design

This morning I'm over at Marcus Design talking about what my dream kitchen would look like. Check it out here!

photo via food and cook by trotamundos, edited by me

Card Catalog Organizer

Absolutely loving this card catalog from the home Rachel of Small Notebook. She uses it to organize, store, and make easily accessible, all the little random things that previously didn't have a home.

Beautifully Organized Space of the Week

A beautifully organized closet housing linens sorted by set, tied with a ribbon, and neatly placed atop eyelet detailed white shelves....

image credit: Martha Stewart Living via The City Sage

5 Things That Made a Difference to Reichel

This week I'm delighted to feature the lovely Reichel of Copy Cat Chic in the series 5 Things That Made a Difference. Reichel is a multi talented designer who shares with her readers, tons of great bargain finds every week. She takes high end home decor pieces and hunts down strikingly similar versions that are a fraction of the cost. Her blog is so awesome, it's been recognized by magazines such as Cosmo, Style at Home, Real Simple and Better Homes and Gardens. If you're on a budget, her blog is a must-follow.

Read on to find out what five things have positively influenced Reichel's life:

1. Horses - My love of horses started when I was 3yrs old and my Mom rented a pony for my birthday. I still remember my very first pony ride! My love of horses has been one of the constants in my life. I'll always love horses and riding has been a great way to keep myself grounded. Being at the barn is relaxing and healing. I can always count on a good ride to help clear my head and get rid of stress. And now my love of all things equestrian has carried over into my love of home design. I try to not get too carried away for my husband's sake ;) I'm looking forward to picking up riding again soon, and I have high hopes of Arden enjoying horses too(when she's a little older)!

2. Martha Stewart - Martha has served as such an inspiration to so many and I definitely am one of them. I remember recording her show every single morning. And those were the days of tapes and VCRs...such a hassle, but so worth it! She was such a pioneer and I wanted to be just like her. Imagine creating a career out of making your life beautiful, what a concept!

3. Online Friends - I owe much to my online friends and colleagues. The support and camaraderie I've had over the years has been awe-inspiring. I originally started my blog to share my finds with my internet friends and now people all over the world subscribe to it. I feel so lucky to have so many great & generous internet friends, I wouldn't have my blog with out them!

4. Pottery Barn - My job working on the Pottery Barn catalog taught me so much, I'll always be thankful of my time there. When I was laid off (2 years ago) I was at a loss of what I wanted from a job and career. I knew that working for "the man" was just not going to cut it anymore. I was tired of working 9-6 in an office where seeing the light of day was a rare thing. I was burnt out, but also a slave to the bills. I would have never had the courage to leave and branch out on my own. So I owe it to PB for kicking my butt in gear and forcing me to have the courage to try something new.

5. My Husband - Lastly (and the most important of all), my amazing husband. He has been so extremely supportive of my blog, even back in the days where it wasn't exactly lucrative ;) He has always been there to lift me when I was down or to give me a lil' push when I was flailing. He has believed in me and the blog from day one and has always encouraged me to take it one step further, even before I lost my job at PB. He's never once failed to give me the freedom I need to take the blog in the direction it needs to go. I couldn't ask for a better husband and partner.

Happy Earth Day

For a happy way to end the week and celebrate Earth Day, I thought I'd post this beautiful bedroom by Tobi Fairly, which most people wouldn't guess is an earth-friendly design. The cheerful tangerine and turquoise color palette really makes the room and dispells the idea that green decor is necessarily dull.

Most of the fabrics used throughout the room are organic cotton, many of the pieces are vintage or recycled, and the paint on the furntiure, accessories and walls are low-VOC. For detailed information on how the room is eco-friendly, click on over to Traditional Home.

all photography by Nancy Nolan