Instant Inspiration

I was feeling a little uninspired this morning. Actually really uninspired. I didn't get much sleep because of some major back pain so 8am was feeling more like 2pm. Everything was a struggle...washing my hair, getting dressed, getting my body on the bus. No fun at all.

As I was sitting quietly on the bus I looked down at my nails and started obsessing over the fact that I need a manicure. Like pronto. It's been 5 long days that I've been walking around without anything on my nails and that's a lifetime for me. I don't mind going nail naturale when I'm at the beach and my hands are all tan but now that I'm back in the cold city everything's starting to look a little nasty so the time has come to paint those babies and whip them back into shape. Nasty nails. See when I'm tired, cranky and in pain I tend to obsess over things to focus my mind on something. So as I walked by the nail salon on my way to work I vowed to make a mad dash back to the salon at lunch to get them taken care of. Goals help on days like today and I figured that might help perk me up a little.

And since I was feeling uninspired this morning, I had no idea what to post about. I hate days like that. Gloom, doom and nothing pretty. Put me back to bed. But then, much to my delight, I just happened upon this layout from the March 2010 issue of UK Harper's Bazaar. And things instantly started to turn around because:

a.) it features my favorite model of all time Yasmin le Bon (I was a huuuuge Duranie back in the day and she's been my idol since I was 12 years old).

b.) YLB is getting a manicure in the first pix so I thought GREAT! I have something to write about!!!

and c.) as I was looking at the rest of the photos I immediately started drooling over the gorgeous gems. Hello lover, come to mama! Instant delight!

Emeralds, sapphires, diamonds and OMG that multigem floral necklace!!!. I can't pick a fave, although if I haaad to I guess I'd lean towards the tanzanite and diamond dancer ring on her left hand in this photo...


or the white and black diamond choker or white and black pave diamond ring in this one...


Which one would you choose? Hard choice, right?

Ah and now I have something new to obsess about. Goals and obsessions will help me through this. It's gonna be a good day after all :)

Images: Yasmin le Bon Haper's Bazaar UK March 2010 found here

Pure Perfection!

I just came across these over at dress, design & decor. I nearly had a heart attack because they are just too amazing. My close friend is getting married in Feb. and these would be absolutely perfect for her!

I made an inspiration board for her way back when but I never showed you guys the final product. Here's where we ended up....

So what do you think? Absolute perfection, right?!?!

Good news is she actually already has a to-die-for!!!! pair of shoes that are amazing. I can't share them with you just yet though because I'm sure she'd kill me for spoiling her big secret. I'll leave you these to swoon over in the meantime :)

Something's In The Water

Over the past few months, 2 of my co-workers got engaged. That might not seem like a big deal to some, but I work in a very small company and the two girls who got engaged are the only two other people in my department so it's a little unusual. I'm loving it because I get to continue on the wedding high and help them out/give my advice wherever I can.

One of the girls (a close friend of mine who came to my wedding and got engaged the day after!) asked my help in putting together inspiration boards for her upcoming wedding next March. She's between two venues, one very modern South Beachy brand new hotel on the beach, and the other more rustic, warm, elegant venue on Long Island. Her colors are a range of blues from dark navy to lighter washed seaglass shades mixed with pewter & metal accents.

I put together three boards, one for each of the possible venues and another for her attire.

South Beach Swank

Rustic Romance

I had so much fun putting these boards together! It's something I love to do but I had to take some time off from doing them over the past few months. My friends are telling me that I should start a little side business creating inspiration boards for people and I'm seriously considering it. If you or anyone you know is interested in a custom inspiration board for an event, just let me know!

We're leaning towards the first board, the South Beachy hotel, but the second board for her other venue is a strong contender. She's visting the venues over the next few weekends so a decision should be made by mid October. Can't wait to see what she chooses so I can continue to help with the planning!

Image credits: coming soon!

Sunny Day Sorbet

Mood: happy, lighthearted, girlie, spring outdoor wedding
Color Palette: juicy tangerines & lemons mixed with soft pastel sorbets

Images: Top row from left: girl, candy Rebecca Thuss & roses Martha Stewart Living, girl
Second row: cupcakes, girl
Third row: candy
Fourth row: shoes, flower votives , petal path, sorbet Martha Stewart, flowers

Inspiration Board - Visions of Violet

Mood: romantic, girlish charm, lighthearted elegance
Color Palette: violet & plum, touches of raspberry and eggplant

Images: Top row from left: bridesmaid dress Jim Hjelm, chair Jamie Hammond , bouquet by Robert Evans
Second row: sink by Sandra Lane, napkin by Jen Bierman, bowls by Patrina Tinslay, setting by Jo Tyler, wedding cake by Todd Rafalovich, flowers
Third row: flowers Karen Tran, fragrance by Sandra Lane, table setting, bridesmaid dress by Jim Hjelm

Inspiration Board - Vintage Vixen

Mood: retro glam, femme fatale, screen siren
Color Palette: red, black, pink

Images: Top row from left - Fendi dress, flowers Brides magazine, table setting by Kevin Chin, red shoes by Petrina Tinslay, girl with red bag for Furla Middle row- girl British Elle, window by Richard Powers , couple by Andy Jackson via The Bride's Cafe
Third row - girl by Corrie Bond, Scarlett Johanssen for D&G, table setting styled by Rose Hammick

Inspiration Board - Retro Romance

Mood: romantic, elegant, feminine, retro glam
Color Palette: soft blush, pink and wine


Images: Top rowfrom left: Atelier Aimee dress, southern gothic (unknown),church at theknot.com, Jenny Yoo bridesmaid dress
Second row: bridesmaids at theknot.com, flowers at theknot.com
Middle row: rose bouquet by Nancy Cohn at WeddingChannel.com, cake at theknot.com, ring by Jose Villa
Bottom row: desk at alkemie, bowl at Green with Glamour, flowers at theknot.com, table at martha stewart weddings, room at alkemie

Inspiration Board - Peach Dreams

Mood: sweet, girlish, charming

Color Palette: warm glowing range of peaches & pinks

Images: Top row from left: London sunset (unknown), cake from Modern Bride
April/May '09, girl from Glamour April '09
Middle row from left: votives from Luna Bazaar, table from Martha Stewart Weddings
Bottom row from left: place cards from Martha Stewart Weddings, dress from British Vogue, place setting from Modern Bride April/May '09

Inspiration Board - Naughty but Nice

I love tones of pink mixed with black. Not quite naughty but not too nice.

Mood: flirtatious, sexy yet girlish, romantic boudoir
Color Palette: blush & black

Images: Top row from left: Solve Sundsbo for Harper's Bazaar, etched candle from bestowboutique.com, chandelier at moodboard, bedroom from HGTV.com
Middle row from left: macaroons unknown, MOR Lip Delights from bestowboutique.com, Marie Antoinette boudoir print, lace pump by Georgina Goodman, betty panty from bestowboutique.com
Botton row from left: annemone bouquet by Artfool, champagne by Joel Flory from snippet & ink, Pink Diamond Candle from bestow.com, cake from marthastewartweddings.com, girl from polyvore.com

Inspiration Board - Sweet Sophisticate

I know I declared Wednesdays as my Inspiration day but this week I was in Washington DC for some exciting family business so I was unable to post.

I didn't want the week to go by without sharing this board. Have a great weekend!

Mood: elegant, sophisticated sweet

Color Palette: bluish greens, champagne & gold

Images: Top row from left: setting from theknot.com, farewell wands from brides.com, lazaro bridesmaid dress at jlmcouture.com
Middle row from left: chandelier from brides.com, gold place setting from theknot.com, cake from theknot.com
Bottom row from left: bridesmaid dresses by Kim Shokouhi Photography, lazaro bridesmaid dress from jlmcouture.com, mini cakes from theknot.com, gold shoes by Betsey Holley

Inspiration Wednesday - Wistful Romance

by Alternative Dawn on Polyvore.com

I'll never tire of looking at or creating inspiration boards so I've decided to use Wednesdays as Inspiration day to spark the imaginations and get you through the rest of the week. Hope you enjoy!

Mood: romantic, girlish, yearning desire
Color Palette: blushing rose, eggshell and champagne

Inspiration Board

As I mentioned in my first post, I am constantly analyzing trends and putting together trend boards for my job. I jumped at the thought of putting together an inspiration boards as soon as we got engaged.

We are getting married in NYC and our theme is glamorous, playfully elegant urban chic and the colors are burgundy and aquamarine with warm gold and champagne accents. This is what I came up with.