friday free for all: love.

so how are we liking these friday free for alls where i just talk about whatever comes to mind along with some relevantish images?  i kinda stumbled into it a few weeks back but i'm enjoying it - hope you are too. 

this weekend we're traveling to connecticut for c's high school buddy's wedding, and so love is...all around (a little christmas in june for ya!).  last weekend, c and i were actually having a random conversation about people (mostly celebrities) who have either hinted at or come straight out and said they don't believe in being with one person for the rest of their lives, that monogamy is a myth.  i think johnny depp's recent break-up may have been the impetus.  later that day, we were watching an episode of the 3rd season of breaking bad (don't worry, no spoilers), where something pretty devastating happens to one of the characters.  his wife's reaction was to share, in that moment, the same reaction as her husband, to grieve his disappointment as utterly as he was, and it was a beautiful, heart-breaking moment.  i turned to c and said there - that's why you're with one person for the rest of your life.  to have someone share those lows as well as the highs, to feel with you, understand you.  pretty special.   

have a wonderful, love-filled weekend.

xo. di.

*image 1,2,3

marchesa resort.

of all the 2013 resort collections i've seen debut in the last month or so, marchesa has been the most fashion envy-inducing.  or maybe it's just that anglophilia kicking up again, as the inspiration for the collection is english garden parties (love). 

i hope to see the pretty people wearing some of these looks on the red carpet in the next year.

xo. di.

*images via vogue

much love monday.

i like to use monday as a way to reflect on the previous week, to start anew, and to send a little love into the world.  won't you join me?    

today i am grateful for: 

man that weekend went fast.  busy busy busy.  got lots of research done, relaxed some, and spent sunday evening at the movies seeing both moonrise kingdom and brave with c (i recommend both!).
 
pictures worth a thousand words:

 {current knitting project}

 {new coffee table book i'm digging into}

 {saturday morning coffee and inspiration}

 {sister's wedding invite arrived!}

 {divine crepes at the randolph street market}

 

this week's blog love:

• a huge omg, i'm obsessed to cathleen of the lifestyled's home tour on the glitter guide.  
• great tips for a nantucket getaway on inspired design.
• whitney port's the coveteur feature: almost as awesome as lc's.
• design*sponge is living in cruel intentions (i've seen this movie way too many times) and giving some darn good advice on keeping your cool in business.
• oh, hello friend has me falling in love with the carlsbad flower fields.

here's to another grateful and love-filled week.  

xo. di.
    
*images by me

friday free for all: weekend projects.

i have a weekend full of sister's wedding diy research/planning/testing planned.  our heads are spinning with all the options and directions we can go, but we're almost at the 2 month mark so it's high time to take some steps forward (duh) :)  have any online diy resources you've stumbled upon and don't mind sharing?  i'd love to hear them!  save-on-crafts, poppies & posies and ruffled have been interesting finds for me so far, but no orders have been placed so i can't vouch for them just yet.

i'm also trying to squeeze in a trip to the randolph street market and an afternoon at the movies with c to see either moonrise kingdom or brave.

what are you up to this weekend?  whatever it may be, have a wonderful one.

xo. di.

*image 1,2

stories.

anka zhuravleva's photography leaves me feeling trapped in a fairy tale.  not necessarily a bad thing.

"the trouble was, [she] didn't know what sort of story she was in.  was it a merry one or a serious one? ... of course, we would like to tell her which.  but no one may know the shape of the tale in which they move.  and, perhaps, we do not truly know what sort of beast it is, either.  stories have a way of changing faces.  they are unruly things, undisciplined, given to delinquency and the throwing of erasers.  this is why we must close them up into thick, solid books, so they cannot get out and cause trouble."

- the girl who circumnavigated fairyland in a ship of her own making, catherynne m. valente

(my current read)

xo. di.

*images via anka zhuravleva

city type.

2 things i heart very much: travel photography and well-designed typography.  so stumbling on gokhun guneyhan's work was a real delight: typography inspired by cities throughout the world.  textual and visual, combined.

 

due to budgetary constraints, my wanderlust has long been ignored.  but this project makes me smile.    

xo. di.

*images via

much love monday.

i like to use monday as a way to reflect on the previous week, to start anew, and to send a little love into the world.  won't you join me?    

today i am grateful for: 

a relaxing, rejuvenating chicago weekend filled with the farmers' market, wandering the neighborhood, dinner out and seeing second city.

pictures worth a thousand words:

 {mid-week cubs vs. tigers - detroit wins!}

 {friday night in with c trying new cocktails and marathoning breaking bad}

 {tried some new recipes}

{sunday morning blogging}

this week's blog love:

• loved learning these new facts about cary grant from small shop studio.  he's so dreamy.
• thinking about challenging myself with this scarf pattern from the purl bee.
• 2 great posts from elements of style this week: i fell in love with kennebunkport, and erin shares things about herself in such beautiful ways. 
• this scandinavian home on made by girl is a stunner.

here's to another grateful and love-filled week.  

xo. di.
    
*images by me

friday free for all: checking in.

hi readers, i want to start out by saying thank you for sticking with me after last friday's post, and i really appreciate the kind thoughts left there.  i dipped to four posts this week and it was really helpful.

i want to share this beautiful quote by zooey deschanel with you today: 

being tender and open is beautiful.  as a woman, i feel continually shhh’ed.  too sensitive.  too mushy.  too wishy washy.  blah blah.  don’t let someone steal your tenderness.  don’t allow the coldness and fear of others to tarnish your perfectly vulnerable beating heart.  nothing is more powerful than allowing yourself to truly be affected by things.  whether it’s a song, a stranger, a mountain, a rain drop, a tea kettle, an article, a sentence, a footstep…feel it all – look around you.  all of this is for you.  take it and have gratitude.  give it and feel love. 

 — Zooey Deschanel 

these words have meant a lot to me this week as i went through some ups and downs, heard some very sad news, and had some very fun moments.  i've been a little overly emotional, and it feels good to say i'm not trying to hide it right now.  i'm just being me, emotions and all  :)  looking forward to recharging this weekend.

have a wonderful weekend.

xo. di.

*image 1,2,3,4

white as snow.

charlize theron and kristen stewart for interview magazine; it's all very by the pricking of my thumbs.

they both look stunning and fierce as anything here; yes, i'm even giving props to kstew.  and now for my mini snow white & the huntsman review, which c and i went to see last friday: it was good, not great.  a lot of that unfortunately had to do with my general dislike for kstew and her inability to convey any emotion other than sullen or heartburn sufferer (i speak the truth!).  the romances (yes, plural - could you tell there was a bit of a love triangle coming from the previews?  me either.) were severely underdeveloped and kstew's lack of chemistry with anyone certainly didn't help.  chris hemsworth, on the other hand, was fantastic.  did everything he could with the material (and partner) he was given.  the special effects were quite incredible, as were charlize's make-up, hair and costuming.  i've never seen old age make-up that realistic.  moral of the story: it's a cool movie, with intermittent rolling-of-the-eyes-moments.  definitely a rental, but if you really have a thing for re-imagined fairy tales (lord knows i do, and can't keep away from them no matter how bad!), go have a night at the theater!

what summer movies are you most looking forward to?  my top picks are brave, the amazing spiderman, seeking a friend at the end of the world, and the dark knight rises, and i need to see moonrise kingdom asap.  magic mike also looks HILARIOUSLY ridiculous and man-candy filled (what?  they're the ones in a male stripper movie!).

xo. di.

*images via tom & lorenzo

a couch hunt.

last week, my mom and i were discussing what kind of couch to put in the new family cottage's living room.  backstory for newer readers: the fam has had a cottage on burt lake, mi for about 15 years or so, while also owning some acreage on a different part of the lake.  we decided to build on that land about 2 years ago, and we're finally in it.  a good thing too, cause that's where my sis is getting married this august ;)  so back to the couch.  the wall colors are a camel color, and the kitchen, which connects, has blacks and browns.  the room is a fairly substantial size, and so needs a pretty substantial piece of furniture.  we were thinking a brown leather couch may be the right answer: comfortable, easy stain-removal, long lasting, etc., and we can pair it with fabric chairs that can be a little more stylish.

which brings me to today's post: i thought i'd gather images of beautiful rooms featuring brown couches, to get a feel for how it might look. 

what do you think of the look? 

xo. di.

*image 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11

much love monday.

i like to use monday as a way to reflect on the previous week, to start anew, and to send a little love into the world.  won't you join me?    

today i am grateful for:
 

a hot summer weekend in chicago with lots of friend time and a quiet, relaxing sunday evening with c, watching a certain tv finale and binging on breaking bad season 2.

pictures worth a thousand words:

{don't laugh, but i put out my queen elizabeth's 80th birthday teacup and a diamond jubilee tea towel 

by claudia pearson to celebrate hrh this week}

{a well-deserved beer for my lovely ladies who completed ragnar chicago.  i just served as their volunteer; 

mad respect for their 200 miles in 2 days!}

{i seem to have started collecting matchbooks.  guess i'm officially a matchbook girl!}

 {sunday brunch at a friend's; drinks provided by her boy, who just so happens to be a professional bartender - lucky us!}

{tried (and LOVED!) martha's grilled-peach old fashioned for the mad men finale}

this week's blog love:

• ashley nicole catherine introduced me to interior designer ana antunes' work, and it is gorgeous!
• adore this "shoe diary" created by live creating yourself. 
• 33 shades of green put together a fabulous and detailed tissue paper flower tutorial. 
• things that sparkle introduced me to the beautiful and moving tutu project.
• the perfect match: a great engagement present idea by papery & cakery. 
• love the glitter guide's style icon profile on her royal highness. 

here's to another grateful and love-filled week.  

xo. di.
    
*images by me