baloonatic

i don't know if you know this about me, but i'm kind of super into balloons. i'd even go so far as to say that balloons are one of my top five fave inanimate, unnatural, non-food items. they're awesome.

balloons are fun, balloons make me smile and balloons are appropriate at basically every sort of event.

birthday parties? absolutely.

new years eve? of course.

weddings? why the hell not!?!

any given saturday? bring. it. on.

it's true.

once upon a time, balloons were only for babies and, but now balloons are for everyone! and that's mostly due to Geronimo!

founded in Seattle in 2010, Geronimo!'s amazing spherical masterpieces, coupled with signature fancy ribbons, have become a huge trend, but i'm sure i'm not the only one who believes this trend is nowhere even close to going out of style. this is one for the books, people.

i'm so obsessed with these balloons. so this post is basically just an excuse to be happy.

i mean, can you even imagine what it would feel like to be given one of these babies? and check out the valentine's day edition below! i. would. just. die.

insta-gallery

how about this for an idea? you hang a piece of children's art, (or some doodle of your own if you're that kind of talented, which i am... not) to your wall(s), and hand-paint and sharpie detailed frames around the pieces. the result? instant gallery space. beautiful and original!

(sparkling here)

kate spade bug

how fabulous is this video?! i want a car this colorful, fun and cute! kate spade, will you make one for me too?

living room love

i'm loving the palette and understated elegance of this open living and dining room. the balance of the overall romantic details with the more severe table makes the room look so unique. and that candle display hanging over the dining table doesn't hurt either. i'd love to relax and entertain in a room like this, wouldn't you?

(sparkling here)

child's play

i'm mesmerized by Yusuke Suzuki's "childscape" series. they look like an amalgamation of childhood dreams and fantasies, a terrific alice in wonderland tea party and a scene from where the wild things are. a total escape.

(sparkling here)

(sparkling here)

(sparkling here)

(sparkling here)

map it out

i have some sort of odd fascination with maps... though on second thought it might just be an extension of my constant wanderlust.

around every corner in amsterdam, for instance, i would walk into an adorable dutch shop and find (and subsequently fall in love with,) several dozen beautiful map prints. while those prints mostly depicted the romantic, dutch golden age of yore, there's definitely something to be said about more modern, "design-y" maps like these colorful silkscreens from These Are Things.



while i love the bold color of the "statement map" above, i think something more understated, with only a flash of optical excitement, like the central compass rose below, would be a perfect, mature choice for an office or den.


i also couldn't ignore the San Francisco neighborhood map, (don't worry, These Are Things also has prints of LA, DC, NYC, Chicago, and even Columbus!) partly because of my love for my city by the bay, and partly because it makes the visual thinker in me very happy. don't you think this could make a wonderful gift?? a print of the city a friend was born in for her birthday, or a print of the city a couple met in for their wedding??

dylan's candy bar bridal shower

today i'd like to share photos from an event i've been ooh-ing and aah-ing over for some months now. (and after you see them, i'm sure you'll understand why.) this bridal shower, (which comes from the truly unbeatable martha stewart weddings,) is that of Dylan Lauren, owner of the world famous nyc-based store, Dylan's Candy Bar, and daughter of designer, Ralph Lauren.

keeping with what i can only assume is the theme of her life, style and sweets, Dylan's shower oozes with whimsy, color, femininity and overall delight. the party seems like it matches the bride-to-be's personality and lifestyle... and how could anything be wrong with that!?

strawberry chocolate bars (personalized with the couple's initials) served as the invitations to this sweet affair.

this pink, white and yellow candy tableau welcomed guests to the party.
and that mosaic heart backdrop is made completely out of gum!

spectacular candy (i know, right?) rings from Barcelona-based bakery, Escriba were displayed (alongside oversize ring pops!)

Dylan (second from the left) and her guests enjoyed an impressive pink D ♥ P candy display...

... and made their own individual "I ♥ Candy" favor bags.

lemon drops were served with candy swivel-sticks on a pink jelly bean-lined tray.
there was also a bubblegum martini option!

salty, savory fries lended a gastronomic balance to all that candy...

... but for the more refined palate there were caviar ring-shaped snacks.

guests wrote well wishes for the couple... with awesome personalized, gold pencils.

and as a finishing and cheeky touch Dylan gave each of her guests a jewelery box with a candy necklace inside

(all photos sparkling here)

wedding wednesday: best palm springs wedding ever

in life, is there really a better strategy than aiming for the best? i don't think so. being the best, doing the best, and having the best time is crucial. so what better way to approach your wedding, just like lilia and ryan did here, literally calling their wedding the Best Day Ever. genius.

that dress is perfect. she looks adorable. and a personalized tote is an awesome favor.

what gets me about these photos? it's the hanging poms, obviously.

i think this might be the best day ever, personified.

yummy-looking appetizers and super smart bud vase place settings.

best day ever: mission accomplished.

(all photos sparkling here. and mad props to photographer, sean flanigan)

business as usual.

hello! i'm back from my trip home to the bay area. it was such a great weekend, but ultimately bittersweet in that having such a fantastic time makes leaving again that much harder. fortunately, i am not too far away from home and will only be up in washington for another month before making the (at least semi-) permanent move back.

because my camera was sort of out of commission, i was only able to take pictures on my super high-quality blackberry camera, so while i won't be able to post any photos from the trip, i'll just let you know that i:

• sat through the worst baseball game ever. (3 runs walked-in, giants? really??) but still had a really great time.
• had some seriously quality bonding time with my mom. she's the best.
• got to see my wonderful boyfriend and have a relaxing night out with him.
• met my family's new (and first) dog, rowley, the cutest, sweetest papillon-long haired chihuahua mix ever. i am obsessed.

so yeah, pretty awesome. much like this shot:

(sparkling here via here)

be back tomorrow for Wedding Wednesday!!

namibia

(namib-naukluft park sparkling here)

isn't this painting photo amazing! yeah that's right--it's a photograph! isn't it insane?!? it looks like it could be a children's book illustration. but no, it's just this namibian sand dune and some photographic play with light and perspective. and did i mention the colors?! awesome.

this is how the nat geo photographer, Frans Lanting, explained the painting-like appearance:

"[the photo was taken] at dawn when the warm light of the morning sun was illuminating a huge red sand dune dotted with white grasses while the white floor of the clay pan was still in shade. It looks blue because it reflects the color of the sky above. ... The perfect moment came when the sun reached all the way down to the bottom of the sand dune just before it reached the desert floor. I used a long telephoto lens and stopped it all the way down to compress the perspective."

i don't completely understand it, but i do completely like it. i wish i was capable of doing something, or anything like this.

peach, ecru & coral

nothing makes you yearn for the sun like peach, coral and white. add a cool drink and a good book, and summer's almost here...

(peach-colored flowers sparkling here via here)

(off-white smoky alice skirt sparkling here)

(coral and gold necklace sparkling here)