{happy friday!}

We're off to L.A for our annual anniversary trip to the beach. First stop - Disneyland - Ruby can't wait, and we're pretty excited too. xoxo amber image via this is glamorous

{pretty} ring bling

I'm in love with the summery (and super affordable) rings & necklaces over at Stella & Dot. This dogwood ring is calling my name...

scouting {the right spot}

A while back I worked as a catalog stylist for Smith & Hawken - think manual labor and super long hours, rather than glamour and livin' the high life. The best part of the job was location scouting. They'd send me off to photograph a row of tattered mailboxes, a well-loved garden shed, or to find the most amazing wisteria covered arch, it was always somewhere far off and always an adventure. Wouldn't it be fun to scout locations for a living?? image: light locations UK

fabric lanterns

These would look mighty fine swinging from the trees or indoors - India Rose has so many beautiful things!

wrist whimsy

The perfectly whimsical hand lettering of Jill Calder makes me want to learn how to write all over again.

{happy friday!}

Have a lovely weekend, all of you beautiful creative creatures! xo, amber insane image: max wanger

pretty {plum} palette

Can you imagine a late summer or autumn wedding in this color palette - j'adore!! via 101 layer cake

{homemade} suds

In high school I worked at a corner shop filled with soaps, soy candles and plants, that kind of thing. The soap loaves were by far the most popular item, we'd cut a fat slice to order and bag it up. These images brought me back, and now I kind of want to make my own soap loaves - ginger, coconut, lime...oh the possibilities! textured soaps & soap loaves

just the classics, please

Since none of my clothes fit...I've been more focused on simple summer accessories rather than clothes lately. These totally classic aviator's might just be my summer '09 can't-live-without item. You like?

summer reading list

I'm happy to admit that I've been spending a good part of my summer poolside, equipped with a good book, minty ice tea, and lots of sunblock. Sarah Jane was sweet enough to compile blogger-gal favorites (mine included!) in this collection. Enjoy!

{happy friday!}

have a wonderful weekend! I'm going to check out the renegade craft fair, how about you? xo, amber
pretty image via weheartit

{pretty} summer table

So pretty! You can't go wrong with using glass jars, they seem to bring down-home comfort to any table setting, and the fresh green & white color combo looks so fresh at a brunch or wedding table. image via this is glamorous + duet weddings

sweet & saucy shop

My mouth is officially watering. You really need to check out the beautiful creations made by pastry-goddess Melody, at her Sweet & Saucy Shop. I wish I lived closer to take some classes, or better yet, just to pop in for a quick mini-key lime pie!

{a little bit} genius

I stumbled across these fantastic envelopes the other day made of menus from a French restaurant, and can't get them out of my mind. I've sewn invitations before, but I love this idea for envelopes - especially for wedding invites - imagine the possibilities!

Kate's {insane} pad

I'd love to go shopping with Kate Hudson, all flirty bohemian dresses and tousled locks, we'd have a ball romping around LA with bags full of peasant tops and vintage Levi's. Her home is elegant & funky & unique &...kind of just right, check out that bathroom! images via w magazine

{happy friday!}

A very happy weekend to you all! How much do you love this sparkly fairy dust image?? xo
image via bigcitydreams.com

the right blue

We're giving our bedroom a bit of a makeover - fresh paint and a new bed. I'm in love with this relaxing blue in Tori & Dean's bedroom (hey, it's summer, there's not much on the tube), but I can't find out what the color is. Does anyone have the perfect bedroom blue?

so. not. fair.

I'm a fan of Lucky magazine, but sometimes that beauty editor really chaps me. Each month she waxes poetic, gushing like a schoolgirl over a single beauty product. Seeing as she's an editor, her writing is nothing if not convincing, which is why spending $140 on shampoo actually sounds sane after reading her review. I'll admit, I'm somewhat of a product addict, so when she says this shampoo 'grants wishes', I want it! I want to rub it like a genie lamp and make all my frizzies disappear forever. But, not for that price, which is just really a bummer.

pool heaven

Isn't this a little slice of outdoor heaven? It looks ready for entertaining or just relaxing, and I love those turquoise cushions and walk-up bar. image via home magazine

the swap soiree!

Years ago I hosted an annual gathering, usually in the super-blah winter months, that I called the Swap Soiree. It was a ladies-only evening, with finger foods and plenty of wine and best of all - presents! Each soiree had a theme, but mainly the concept was to bring a wrapped gift to swap/steal/and leave happy with. These parties rocked, my friends always went out on a limb, while some brought pretty soaps from Anthropolgie, others made decoupaged toilet seats and some brought vintage sex-ed text books. All in all, a rad evening.

Here's my question - what do you do to gather for an evening of all-out girly goodness?

image: me, looking uber excited, at a holiday photo-shoot for restoration hardware (about 5 years ago!)

{happy friday!}

Have an awesome holiday weekend everyone! We're having family over for a pre-fireworks bbq, what about you? xo, amber

{it's for real...} I'm pregnant!

Well friends, I have reached the 18th week of being preggers! I didn't want to mention it too soon, just to make sure all was ok, but I can't hold back any longer. It's been a wild ride - those first 3 months were almost unbearable, I was so. very. sick. Like 24/7 nausea with a bit of fatigue/the bloats/and headaches for good measure. Good times!

But, I'm happy to report that this second trimester has been lovely, I'm teaching yoga again and hiking almost daily. The nesting instinct is on complete overdrive, and I must organize something everyday. I must!

Yesterday we found out what the baby is - and it's a................

G I R L!

Will keep you posted throughout, but promise not to make the blog all about my belly,

xo amber

photo boxes {for crafties}

I went into serious office-organizing mode this weekend. Michael's sells these photo storage boxes for $1.99, I bought 12 and made simple labels for each. Now, all of the little do-dads that collect in my office have all found a happy new home. Some of the labels: Sparkle, Stick, Ribbons, From-the-Sea, and Vintage Flowers.

{happy friday!}

have a lovely, spontaneous weekend, my friends! xo amber image via loveology

through the forest {and into bed!}

Now this is what I call an enchanted bedroom - and it's on Etsy! How sweet is this for a little girl's room, she'd be a true woodland fairy.

daydream, anyone?

Can you just imagine the dreamy naps in this gorgeous, airy bedroom via style files?? 

a man works from sun to sun...

...but a womans work is never done. My grandma had this on a plaque in her kitchen for 40 years, it may sound old-school, but sometimes it's kind of true. I just cleaned out the office and my closet (yikes) - I'm worked!

sparkle + merengue

I'm pretty sure I've missed my calling as a wedding planner, so daydreaming and full time weding obsession will have to do. If I did it all over again - these 2 ultra-dreamy elements would set the scene. dress of my dreams + ring (??) via 100 layer cake

one pretty picnic

We live in an ideal picnic town, all vineyards and parks create a natural backdrop. These not-too-fancy picnic sets would be so fun for a summer picnic party! les petits sets

{happy friday!}

Isn't this image just plain sexy? Happy weekend to all! xo, amber

image via mary ruffle & design lovely

what's for dinner tonight...

I'm making this creamy summer sqaush soup from the always inspiring 101 cookbooks. It's not too hot out yet, so a fresh green summer soup seems like just the right kind of meal.

cherry, rose & coconut ice cream

Seriously? Could anything look more dreamy than this combination of milk, cream, cherries, coconut milk and rosebuds from the crazy talented Tartelette? And her images are something to behold - brace yourself for some serious food beauty.

Aloha! {the party}

As promised, pics from Ruby's 6th Aloha birthday party - a super fun day for the kiddos (and adults!). Everyone was greeted with a flower lei, we did the limbo, played pass-the-coconut (like hot potato), and made hibiscus necklaces in the self-made tiki hut. The favors (in the top photo) were hibiscus hair clips for girls, footballs for the boys and packaged up nicely in cello bags. The cupcakes were topped with hawaiian umbrellas and fresh flowers and the tables strewn with shells. What a fun day, oh to be 6 again...let me know if you want any tutorials and I'll put them together!

Topanga Canyon {wannabee}

I've had a secret obsession with Topanga Canyon ever since our friends took us to a delicious hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant there years ago. The location is prime - a blend of California arty bohemian nestled into a lush green canyon with hiking galore. This photo shoot from British Vogue is quite dreamy, don't you think??

I'm back..and with softer skin!

Our trip rocked (pics to come!), but I couldn't wait one more second to share this beauty product extraordinaire with you. In Carmel (a crazy-cute European style beach town) I stopped in to Lush to pick up something girlie and fresh after 3 nights of camping - enter BB Seaweed facial. OMG, my skin felt insane, all dewy and nourished - and no, Lush is not paying me in gobs of seaweed facial that I would gladly accept. It looks curiously like a spinach dip, but smells like the beach, and with ingredients like lime flower and violet leaf, you really can't go wrong.