Fashionably Feminine Rooms

I going through a pretty big transition right now, a break-up, and soon I'll be living alone for the first time in my life!  I'm not sure how that's going to feel exactly, but one thing that cheers me up a bit is the thought of getting to decorate a new apartment/home!  And for the first time ever, I won't be sharing my bedroom, or any room, with a man so I could go as girly as I want!  ...But I'm not a teenager any more so bubblegum pinks & unicorns don't exactly appeal to me these days.  I've spent so many years decorating in a gender neutral style that I'm not even sure how to do a feminine room that also looks like a, ya know, grown-up lives there! 

Once again the internet comes to my rescue!  Here are my picks for chic, lady-like spaces.

First and foremost, fresh flowers at the breakfast table are a must! :)

And also flowers on her nightstand.

pretty pattern play

deep cranberry pinks are more adult

Just a touch of animal print is fun!

Balance pastels with neutrals like grey or cream

I'd never buy a pink sofa, but how great is this room? It's like Barbie, grown up.

I like this room although I think the lavender lamp is just too much pastel.

And of course any single gal should have a fabulous dressing room!  I mean, if you actually have an extra room to spare! 

Swanky Holiday Party Food!

Saturday we are hosting out "Friends (not family) Christmas Party" and this year instead of a sit-down dinner we're doing a cocktail party with lots of yummy horderves.  I'm trying to keep things somewhat simple so I can still enjoy the party and not be in the kitchen.  I've asked people to bring something to share, be it food or booze, and I'm working on a menu of items that can mostly be prepared ahead of time.  There will of course be the standard cheese platter but I'm still trying to keep the food more interesting and the presentation attractive.  Thankyou Pinterest for once again providing some inspiration on that front!

Beachy Keen!

Oh Joy!  We've had a little taste of summer this week!  My husband and I finally were able to bring our cute-as-a-button 1963 Mercury Comet home to Minneapolis from my brother's shop and we spent all day Tuesday enjoying it!  The weather was HOT even reaching 90 degrees!  I know, only in MN could you go from 34 degrees to 90 degrees in just 10 days!   But even as our butts stuck to the vinyl car seats we were loving every minute of it because it really felt like summer!  

Summer always makes me think of the ocean and beaches.  It's been almost 5 years since I've seen the ocean and I'm craving it bad here in land-locked Minnesota.  Dylan knows this & asked me "I' know you think you want to live in MN forever but what if I got a sweet, high paying job on a coast somewhere and we could have a beach house?"  I would have a hard time resisting that move!  I love those hypotheticals because they get me thinking, "Hmmm... what would my dream beach house look like?"   The following are my inspirations images and I'd love to use them to bring a little "beachy-ness" to my house here in MN!

I've had this kitchen in my inspiration folder for a few years now!  

I adore the sea glass subway tiles!!!

I would seriously leave my whole life behind if I could live here!

Nicely Nautical

On Tuesday I saw the first sail boats back on Lake Calhoune.  They were there again yesterday too!  It's a lovely sign that the lake is thawed and no matter what the weather man says spring is here to stay.   I absolutely love watching the sailboats all summer on our little city lake.   It makes me feel like I'm living on the coast!  A few people close to me could tell you that I hate only seeing the ocean every few years (I'm over-due!  It's been like 5 years now!) and that's why I've got a soft spot for beachy and nautical decor.  I'm not talking cheesy, light house motif or sea shell themes.  I think when it's done right, you walk in a room and think, "oh, this room reminds me of the sea side." without any obvious symbols jumping out at you.  Here are a few nautical interiors I think got it right.

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This is really similar to the look of my room, very calm with cool neutrals.  Source

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Garden Wedding Mood Board

It's about 8 degrees outside this morning in Minneapolis with a -7 degree wind chill.  Needless to say, I'm glad to work from home today and not have to go out into it!   Still I'm starting to get really bogged down by all the snow and cold so I thought today I'd give myself a tiny break and do a inspiration board for a summer garden wedding!  Until I can get myself over to the Como Conservatory to be surrounded by lush green tropical plants, this will have to do!

New Trend: Old Romance

Okay so it's been a while since I've given you a wedding related post.  Sorry! Hopefully this will make it up to you!
 
For a while now I've been noticing old fashioned themes emerging in wedding trends.  From the invitation styling to the off-tinted photography there is a clear trend emerging!  While the sleek retro 1960's style is still prevalent I'm seeing brides and grooms moving away from retro kitch and seeing more movement towards styling of the 1930's and 1920's often with a southern country angle. Fashion-wise, I'm seeing a lot more bow ties & suspenders on the men and, while birdcage veils still reign supreme (like!), the ball-gown silhouette is losing momentum and slender lace sheaths worn with finger-waved hair is becoming more prevalent.  Extravagant luxury is out and simplistic homespun beauty is in.  Perhaps this is an indication of our lean economic times making us feel more relatable to the difficulties faced during the great depression.  Perhaps Boardwalk Empire is trumping Mad Men in tv ratings.   Whatever the reason, the results are a unique and very beautiful!  Here is what I consider the best of old fashioned themed weddings.  Enjoy!

{above images from 100 Layer Cake}

{above image from snippet & ink}

{above image via green wedding shoes}

{above image via ELIZAblog}

{above images via green wedding shoes}