LINKS TO ENJOY...

...while I'm in New York City. I thought I would be able to blog, but I have had the most minimal Internet connection. So, until I'm officially back home on Monday, here are some lovely links. Enjoy!

• There are few things prettier (and spookier) than old cemeteries.
  
• Since I have been here, these NYC guides have been mighty helpful.
  
• Goodbye August.
  
• For my next party, I will definitely be making these hanging fabric ribbon hoops.
  
• The cutest Instagram yet? I think so.
  
• I can't wait for the Target + Curiosity Shoppe collection.
  
• Make your kids (or yourself!) an awesome A-frame tent.
  
• Watercolor stationery is the prettiest.
  
• New York vs. Paris - the engagement ring.
  
• 6 DIY office/dorm updates.
  
• Joy of Oh Joy posed for some lovely photographs for Anthropologie.
  
• Birthday party idea: neon tween.
  
• New York in the eighties.
  
• Andrea really does make the best lists.
  
• Bon Appetit suggests where to eat and drink in Portland.
  
• Dace, you kill me with your beautiful collections.
  
• A stunning sneak peek.
  
• 90 Days, 90 Reasons is one of my favorite sites right now. Read it.
  
• Make yourself this simple modern wall clock.
  
• There are so many fabulous details in this Anaheim wedding.
  
• This girl is crazy cute.
  
• Four styles for short hair.
  
• I'm always in need of time management tips.
  
• Total style eye candy of working hard & partying hard.
  
• Print your kids out the cutest bookplates around just in time for school.
  
• I'm a sucker for a good county fair.
  
• It's still hot out there- let's drink more iced tea and lemonade.
  
• How to pitch your dream project.

(above artwork by petit collage)

THOUGHT OF THE DAY : HELLO & GOODBYE.

"HELLO/GOODBYE," by Satsuki Shibuya-Thoeng. (See also: shop)

Goodbye Portland, Hello New York! I'll be smiling on the east coast come tomorrow afternoon- any fabulous NYC recommendations? It's been awhile and I can't wait!

ENAMORED WITH...

...the work of Moriah Hemed, a.k.a. Mona, a clothing designer from Tel Aviv. Such delicate, feminine pieces.

FLICKR PHOTO OF THE DAY : A BLUR.

"I live my life but I don't live in it. The hoarding instinct in human relations." by amysgster. (See also: portfolio)

INTERIOR INSPIRATION : A RANDOM THURSDAY.

Some mighty pretty homes for this mighty lovely Thursday morning. I'm just lying here in bed under polka dot sheets, sipping coffee, and doing some interior dreaming.

Sources (from top to bottom): Diane Bergeron, Torafu Architects, Design*Sponge: Post 27, Fridas fina, Magnus Anesund, The Apartment, Marie Claire Maison, Joseph De Leo, Russell Smith, Dwell, and thrills.

SPONSOR POST : LITTLE WOODS.

(The following is a sponsor article. Read and support those who help keep this blog running!)

Beautiful home designs – the laundry room

Let’s face it, the laundry room isn’t the first place you want to show your guests. In reality, however, we do tend to spend a lot of our time in there.

Between scrubbing dirty football boots, getting stains out of clothes, and impromptu tasks like last-minute school craft projects, the laundry room is a vital place for keeping a home running smoothly. If we spend so much time in it, the question is why don’t we spend more time on it?

From a design perspective, we can spend hours agonising over bathroom tiles and worrying over the right shade of paint for the kitchen cupboards. If you think it’s time you channelled more effort into creating a beautiful laundry room in your home, here are some killer design and style tips to make it the envy of the neighbors.


Design

The laundry room is, above all, a workspace, so make your life easier with a user-friendly and efficient design. Make sure the room features clearly defined work regions – the wash and dry centre, an area or counter for folding, and a separate section for those extra bits and pieces. Great storage space is also a must. It will keep the boot polish well away from the whites soaking in the tub.

Keep your back in mind when deciding which item goes where. Keeping the washer close to the dryer will save a lot of unnecessary bending over in the long run. Placing the washer and dryer off the ground is even better.

The right appliances

Owning a washer and a dryer doesn’t have to be such a strain on your electricity bill anymore. There’s a wide range of power-efficient brands available on the market that will always get the clothes clean and dry – even at times when the trusty clothes-horse never could. If you are thinking of purchasing a new dryer, a Littlewoods Indesit tumble dryer comes in a range of sizes and styles to suit the design and colour scheme of any laundry room.

Lighting and colour

Steer clear of a plain white colour scheme in your laundry room, and instead opt for colours that are warm and soothing. To create a space you really won’t begrudge spending time in, keep some wall space free to hang your favourite artwork, and consider different lighting styles for different tasks. Find an extra bit of space for a radio, to make even the most boring tasks into something to sing about.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY : YES, LET'S.

"Lost," an art print from Vapor.Qualquer. ($15, see also: website)

COLLECTIONS : CITY BOUND...

...to New York City, come Friday. I'm plenty excited. It's been quite a few years since I last walked your lovely streets, baby.

1. New York print ($30), 2. NYC CUP AND SAUCER SET (£39.95), 3. The New Brooklyn Cookbook ($40), 4. skyscraper sculptures - chrysler building ($38), 5. Vintage Dobbs Fifth Avenue Oval Hat Box ($69), 6. Make City: London, New York, Paris - Souvenir Postcards Make City Icons ($5.99), 7. New York City - 8x10 photograph - "Balloons over the City" ($25), and 8. At Piece with the World Puzzle in New York ($13.99)

FLICKR PHOTO OF THE DAY : VA VA VOOM.

"Snapshot: My Sister Judith, The Sixties" from mrwaterslide.

ANOTHER WEEK...

• These sound like such a delicious party treat: cinnamon toast crunch coffee cake bites.
  
• Make your own sparkly string lights.
  
• A basil lavender martini sounds grand (only with vodka instead of gin for me.)
  
• A beautiful mansion Texas wedding. The bride's dress? Fabulous.
  
• A do love me a good collection.
  
• Holy cow- a pie or a giant Reeses Peanut Butter cup? A dream come true.
  
• Her hair is pretty awesome (I'm a sucker for a good messy up-do.)
  
• Get crafty and put together some DIY geometric lanterns.
  
• This is truly fantastic: The Royal Tenenbaums and Co. in print.
  
• Beautiful backstage shots.
  
• Download and print yourself an adorable postcard.
  
• Kaylah's style is always totally inspiring.
  
• My next purchase will be the Bill Murray coloring book. Can you get any more rad?
  
• These photographs show summer so beautifully.

Happy weekend- enjoy sunshine and fruity cocktails, please? (above artwork by Emily Martin)

TEN IMAGES OF INSPIRATION : 'ROID WEEK 2012.

I really love it when 'Roid Week rolls around each year. The amount of truly stunning instant photographs never fails to greatly inspire me. I ended up not contributing my own photos this year (Polaroid film = $$$), but I checked continuously to see each and every lovely shot. Check it out for yourself.

Flickr users (from top to bottom): girlhula, daveotuttle, Kim // Capt. Mouffette, mokochen, moxiee, H a n n a h_, milkysoldier, moucri, katlightner, and revivify.

TRUE PREP.

Check out: House of Maryanne's newest lookbook, True Prep, featuring lovely ladies and stylin' vintage frocks. House of Maryanne always seems to hit it out of the ballpark. (photography by Laura Bamford)

THOUGHT OF THE DAY : HAPPINESS.

"I Feel So Happy," from the Flickr stream of artist Gianluigi Rivasi. (See also: portfolio & tumblr)

INTERIOR INSPIRATION : BOHEMIAN.

Just some pretty art-filled, flowery, worldly bohemian spaces to share tonight. It's too hot to think straight, so I shall keep to very few words (I'm ready for fall.)

Sources (from top to bottom): The Selby: Gerard Decock, Sanderson, rue, unknown, Lonny, Free People, Bloom Magazine, unknown, and World of Interiors.

BE STILL MY HEART...

...the queen of beautiful lettering Jessica Hische now has iPhone cases featuring her stunning "2nd Alphabet." Oh, I want I want. ($39.95 each)

FLICKR PHOTO OF THE DAY : GLAMOUR.

Untitled by valerie chiang. (See also: portfolio)

COLLECTIONS : COLOR ME NEON.

I've recently had a realization: I think I need a little more neon in my life. Why? Because, in small amounts, it's kind of awesome.

1. Neon Diamond Print ($15), 2. Horizontal Rubber Coin Purse ($6.80), 3. X-Ray Passport Cover ($16), 4. Geometric Necklace from Boo & Boo Factory (no longer available), 5. Baggu Daypack ($24), 6. Lomography Fisheye 2 in Lime Punch ($89.99), 7. OBLONG COLOR CHIP BOX ($84), 8. WOODEN BLOCK COLOUR BEADS - BLUE & YELLOW (AU $79.95), and 9. GREEN AND BLUE HEART PRINT IPHONE CASE, MARC BY MARC JACOBS (£30)