grateful: week 45

inspired by my reading of the happiness project by gretchen rubin, i am instituting monday "gratitude" posts (read here for more detail), where i will list "3 things i'm grateful for" from the previous week.

the 3 things i'm grateful for this week are:

1)  a shortened work-week is always a good thing!

2)  a joffrey ballet-filled week: meetings, ballet class, and attending a performance of the merry widow!  the joffrey makes me happy.  i think that's pretty obvious ;)

3)  a lovely little oscars party with a few good friends.  oh so fun (more pics coming your way later this week!)   

this week's blog love:

• oh, hello friend's collection of castles has me living in a fairy tale.
• i'm with you, alaina (of live creating yourself), i am loving touches of pink in decorating right now!
• a glimpse of glamour introduced me to feast of fancy in this post full of color and baubles!
• little girl, big world rounded up some of jamie beck's (of from me to you) best gifs from fashion week in one fabulous post.
• i am in love with serena's design rules and kitchen nook featured on caitlin wilson design.
• i'm loving brooke's of fabulous doodles fashion week sketches - gorgeous workj!

here's to another grateful week.

xo. di.

*image via my personal collection

legends: february.

the book legends by john miller catalogs "women who have changed the world."  given to me as a gift 8 years ago, it inspired me to dedicate the last friday of every month's post to a different legend (in my humble opinion).

this month's legend is the queen of domesticity: martha stewart.  love her or hate her (i happen to fall in the "love" category), you have to be impressed with martha's story, from a mother who started selling baked goods to neighbors to all that martha stewart omnimedia now encompasses.  it may not have always been a smooth ride, but at the end of the day she is a great strong female figure,  of which we could always use more.

we all know what martha looks like now, right?  so i'm shaking it up a little and showing you a side of her many have never seen: did you know martha modeled to put herself through college?!  here's the proof: 

"all the things i love is what my business is all about."

 "i think it's very important that whatever you're trying to make or sell, or teach has to be basically good.  
a bad product and you know what?  you won't be here in ten years."

 "when you're through changing, you're through."

 

"without an open-minded mind, you can never be a great success."

{original cover from "Entertaining," martha's first book, published in 1982}

martha.  she's "a good thing."

xo. di.

*images via stylite, found via stephmodo and dwellers without decorators

the IT list.

 Welcome Friday!  Here's to another weekend, the last one in February to be exact... spring is inching nearer!  Check out all the amazing blogs on this week's list - there is great inspiration here!

• undeniable style compiles her wishlist for a 'pretty in pink' living room.  I'm in love... she has such a great eye for style! (find undeniable style on twitter!)
• second street east diy's a simple and stylish monogramed throw pillow.  I love the sophisticated personal touch this adds to any room! (find second street east on twitter!)
• a delightful design features kitchens with cabinets that reach the ceiling... this is a great look that is easily recreated for a custom look.  These are some gorgeous kitchens! (find a delightful design on twitter!)
• a spot of whimsy gathers lots of lovely hair inspiration... my personal favorite are the soft and feminine braids. So pretty! (find a spot of whimsy on twitter!)
• holly in heels is chasing away winter blues with gorgeous wedges for spring. Ohh and ahh! I can't wait to buy some new spring shoes! (find holly in heels on twitter!)
• good clean fun shows us how to make a delicious Nutella Mousse, need I say more? Wow!  This would be a fun dessert to make for a girls night in or small dinner party! (find good clean fun on twitter!)
• elle sees dishes on her must have items for spring... including a really great trench coat, which just so happens to also be one of my must have items for spring, as well! (find elle sees on twitter!)
• yams designs rounds up oodles of gallery wall inspiration. I love a good gallery wall in any home, if you do too check out this great post! (find yams designs on twitter!)
• thought and musing completely rocks this pencil skirt. I adore this outfit and am still jealous that this gal from 'down under' is basking in summer right now!
• rosy + tart brings us this deliciously simple looking bacon and cheese frittata. I love the single serving sizes - very handy for a breakfast on the go! (find rosy + tart on twitter!)
• shen dove style brilliantly mixes polka dots and stripes. I just ADORE this look!  What fun pattern play! (find shen dove style on twitter!)
• rose a la mode gives us her spring clothing picks... and I am absolutely in love with this floral dress. It would be the perfect item to dress up or down! (find rose a la mode on twitter!)
• jewelscapes rocks this amazing boho-chic outfit including wide leg jeans and some fabulous jewelry. I am loving this look!
• mama loves papa is sporting super fun layers as she rounds out two-thirds of the 30/30 Challenge. I love this simple outfit formula! (find mama loves papa on twitter!)
• good life for less has the new TOMS Shoes styles for spring - there are so many fun new styles. It's hard to choose a favorite! (find good life for less on twitter!)
• good tots offers up an adorable pair of baby moccasins for a giveaway.  Make sure to check these out if you have a little one in your life!

the it list is brought to you by jill from good life for less, for info on how you can be involved... click here!

happy friday!

xo. di.

p.s. come back this afternoon for my february "legends" post!

this & that: february

my "this and that"  monthly series is a place for me to share all of those miscellaneous pictures i've collected over the past month, both mine and others i've found around the interwebs.

discovered. 

 {the coolest way to display a map, via pretty things}

 {think spring! via dream. plan. act.}

 {mr. redford: oh so dreamy! via unabashedly prep}

 {a snowy night, via lero's flickr}

 {valentine tea, via design*sponge}

 {too cute: bellatrix and hermione, via a little bit of elphie and glinda}

 {pretty in pink, via lox papers}

{the sound of music, via kate spade new york}

taken.

  {chicago blizzard 2011}

 {valentine's things}

 {THE best cookies in the world, courtesy of my lovely mama}

 {wilmington, vermont}

 {skiing at mount snow, vermont}

xo. di.

*all images from my personal collection unless otherwise noted above

a hair affair.

{via strikes our fancy}

i have hair on the brain today...or perhaps i'm just hair-brained (harhar).  i'm starting to get a little giddy about the oscars on sunday, and while the dress gets all the attention, hair can make-or-break a red carpet look.  actually, it can make-or-break any look!  i've always spent an obnoxious amount of my getting ready routine on my hair (oh the days of my kelly kapowski bangs...), but i just think it makes all the difference.  so here's some hair eye candy (what?  that could be a thing!) for you all:

braided bliss

 {1, 2, 3, 4}

romantic waves

 {1, 2}

sweet and soft up-dos

{1, 2, 3, 4}

side-swept lovelies

{1, 2, 3, 4}

red carpet beauties

{1, 2}

xo. di.

*all images as noted above.  a little help was given by the following pinterest boards: 1, 2, 3, 4

lift.

anyone in need of a lift on this late february tuesday?! how about literally?

xo. di.

*images via maia flore's "sleep elevation" series, check out more of her work here

grateful: week 44.

inspired by my reading of the happiness project by gretchen rubin, i am instituting monday "gratitude" posts (read here for more detail), where i will list "3 things i'm grateful for" from the previous week.

the 3 things i'm grateful for this week are:

1)  very special heart+birth-days.  i find myself to be a lucky girl. 

2)  thoughtful people in my life who teach me by example how to be a good friend.

3)  a 3-day weekend: no work today!  

 {flowers from the boy}

 {dinner at chicagoq}

 {dinner at perennial}

 {mount snow, vermont}

 {the boy and me}

 {from the summit}

 {vermont beer, to finish up the day}

this week's blog love:

• i am obsessed with alaina's of live creating yourself self-guided you've got mail tour in nyc.  LOVE!
• rue mag blog featured pairings of grammy red carpet looks + rooms.
• by now many of you have likely heard about anthropologie's BHLDN bridal line.  i love the dress twig & thistle featured this week.
• don't you love these glamorous custom-made tarot cards featured on a glimpse of glamour?!
• lanalou style featured the k home's spring/summer 2011 home line, which i fell for instantly - inspired by clean linens and fresh spring days.
• ashley of ashley nicole catherine made her picks for what she'd love to see on the oscars red carpet this coming sunday.  it seems we have similar taste in this department! 

here's to another grateful week.

xo. di.

*images via my personal collection