HAPPINESS IS...

New York Street Style Circa 1944

It's so easy to lose yourself in the LIFE archives. Here's one of my favorite discoveries. In 1944, Alfred Eisenstaedt photographed a group of fashionable ladies in front of Rockefeller Center. Meet Iris, Beatrice, Delma, Ginger and Eileen. Might he be the pioneer of street style photography?


{Images via LIFE by Alfred Eisenstaedt}

The Cookie Splash

Photographer, Siebe Warmoeskerken, caused quite a Flickr stir when he posted his cookie splash photos a few years back. It looks complicated, but according to his 7-step tutorial, shooting liquid in motion is easier than you'd think!


{Images via Follow Follow}

Sand Struck

I feel exactly how the girl in these photos must feel. Carefree and sand struck. That's how magically talented Kelty is. Aren't her photos intoxicating?


{Images via The Weaver House}

Cinebarre

Do you have a Cinebarre where you live? Not to be confused with Cinnabon, it's a movie theater that serves meals and drinks. I frequent another Seattle cinema where they serve you beverages while you watch, but never meals. No more sneaking dinner into my oversized purse!

Hal and I went for the first time over the weekend, the Sunday brunch special. We ordered french toast, a breakfast burrito, and the mimosa duo: a bottle of bubby on ice with two half carafes of orange and grapefruit juice.

Tip: Select a movie that doesn't command your full attention. For instance, we saw John Carter. Eating and ordering in the dark while following a plot requires some multi-tasking. And by the end of the flick, I was blitzed. Which was fine by me, because I really only needed to concentrate on Taylor Kitsch with his shirt off.


{Image via From Me To You by Jamie Beck}

Little Big Bands

One of the bands we're looking to hire for our wedding is putting on a free concert, so we're going to see if they're any good. We want a small big band or brass band to play classic jazz and swing tunes during the cocktail hour. It's proving difficult with our limited budget, but live music is very important to us. Even if we end up with a lone trumpeter!

Have a fun weekend, friends. Amuse yourself with some links...

A waterfall island.

 

Sleep in a gigantic birds nest.

How to ride a bike in the snow.

Would you wear croissant earrings?

A carpet-pillow-chair-sofa-blanket!

The cutest patchwork swimsuit.

Keep pretty jewelry in pretty boxes.

A treehouse for cats.

Have you seen the new IKEA pre-fab home?

My kind of cruise ship.

And some posts of mine you may have missed...

• Visualizing Vivaldi
• Love Through The Lens
• $200 Relax Shacks

{Image via Style Me Pretty by Jose Villa}

Astronauts & Butterflies

Somehow, astronauts and butterflies go beautifully hand in hand.


{Images via The Fox Is Black by Stan Gaz}

Willard Suitcases

These old suitcases were recently discovered in the attic of the Willard Insane Asylum. They belonged to mentally ill patients from 1910-1960 who never left the facility. When it shut down in 1995, photographer, Jon Crispin, has been revealing the contents of approximately 400 suitcases one by one.

Ever since reading One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, I've been fascinated by mental institutions and this project gives me goose bumps. Doesn't it make you curious about the lives left behind?


{Images via Kickstarter}

Catching Up On Sleep

Do you have any big plans for the weekend? I'm super exhausted and haven't yet recuperated from my bachelorette trip. I hope to catch up on sleep, unpack, write thank-you cards, and just relax. Enjoy the weekend links, my loves...

The very first cupcake ATM machine.

What the 2012 Olympics will sound like.

Printable paper cameras.

Peach pit carvings.

13 cheeses everyone should know.

Yummy avocado boats.

Anyone attending Blog Brunch tomorrow?

A cute airplane doorstop.

Wedding photos inspired by Coldplay lyrics.

Mint as a neutral.

And some posts of mine you may have missed...

• Who Are You?
• The Last Unicorn
• Brides In Glasses

{Image by Jessica Silversaga}

Anonymous Holidays

Love this Anonymous Holidays series by German design student, Linus Lohoff. I've always been intrigued by vintage photographs of strangers and the colored dots just add to the mystery. Makes me wonder what their lives were like, who they were, and what they might have been thinking about during that very moment.


{Images by Linus Lohoff}

A Landscape Settee

Like landscape clothing, I'm also seeing a lot of photographic furniture, like this settee. It's covered in an englarged image of a beach in Brazil, printed on cotton-linen, and folded to create a textured pattern along the edge of the chair. Isn't it gorgeous?


{Images via Anthropologie}

Maddie On Things

Meet Maddie, the very brave Coonhound, and her owner's "super serious project about dogs and physics".


{Images via Swissmiss by Theron Humphrey}

Planning Our Engagement Photos

The original title of this post was called "Taking Our Engagement Photos". As you may recall, my brother is a fabulous photographer. He graciously agreed to shoot us tomorrow, but the rain gods are not playing nice. It's supposed to be stormy all weekend so we might have to reschedule. Oh, Seattle.

Are you up to anything special over the holiday weekend? See you again on Tuesday, sweeties. Until then, do enjoy the links...

Hovering amusement rides in Buenos Aires.

Would you ever paint your sofa?

Just one more reason to love Chipotle.

A Volkswagon bed and playhouse.

What dogs look like underwater.

Printable action sheets.

Cool 3D curtains.

Wake up with the morning mug.

Darling vintage inspired refrigerators.

Pizza in a jar.

And some posts of mine you may have missed...

• Controlling Clutter
• Girls In Green Dresses
• A Bali Beach Wedding

{Image via The Wedding Row by Giving Weddings}

My Animated Gif

My favorite thing we learned at Blogshop was how to make an animated gif using photos taken of us during class. Here's mine!

And since Hal's been texting me sweet nothings all day... this one's for him.


{Images by Angela Kohler}

The Glow

Over at The Glow, there are some achingly beautiful photos and interviews of well-known creative and stylish working mothers. And if I wasn't already, now I'm officially inspired to be a mama myself.


{Images of: 1. Meredish Kahn; 2. Rebecca Minkoff; 3. Jemima Kirke; by Kelly Stuart}

Colors, Lines, Shapes & Designs

My head is spinning with all sorts of new Photoshop tips and tricks! Blogshop was incredible. 


{Images by Coramantic by Yvonne Stewart}

Blogshop In Seattle

Yippee, Blogshop is coming to Seattle tomorrow! If you're unfamiliar, it's a weekend-long Photoshop boot-camp specifically designed for bloggers, held by the enormously creative talents, Bri of Design Love Fest and Angela of Angela + Ithyle.

I'm so excited to learn some new fancy skills to make my blog the prettiest it can possibly be. Oh, and I hear their goodie bags are to die for! Will I be seeing any of you there?  :)


{Image via Design Love Fest by Angela Kohler}

Where The Sea Goes Up To The Sky

"And there I would rest, and lie,
My chin in my hands, and gaze
At the dazzle of the sand below,
And the green waves curling slow
And the grey-blue distant haze
Where the sea goes up to the sky."

-A.A Milne, "The Island", from When We Were Very Young

{Images via Seascapes After Sugimoto}

The End of a Meal

Everyone photographs the beginning of a meal. The mouth watering display of food. The anticipation. Never the dirty dishes or mess to clean.

So I love how Ines' photographs focus on the aftermath. Instead of an ending, I see good company, fine conversation and full bellies. The part of the meal we normally want to forget is turned into a beautiful and memorable event.


{Images via Kinfolk by Ines Nepomuceno}

Photographic Fashion

I used to have an ocean landscape printed bathing suit. Where did that thing go? Maybe I still have it, but it's probably in storage since my bikinis rarely see the light of day now that I'm in Washington. I always loved it and I'm excited to see the trend popping up in every day clothing. These are from the latest Marios collection. Would you wear photographic fashion?


{Images via Design for Mankind by Kuba Dabrowski}

Carousels In The Round

Photographer, Pep Ventosa, has this playful series, In The Round, where he walks around carousels taking multiple shots, then blending the images together in post production. The effect is beautiful, don't you think? They look like watercolor paintings.


{Images via Lumas}

January Poppies

I know we're in the middle of January, but let's pretend it's May for a moment and brighten things up with some poppies and sunshine!


{Images by Dittei Sager}

The Girl With Seven Horses

I admire the imagination of photographer, Ulrika Kestere. She makes "photographic essays". This one is about a girl who claims to have 7 invisible horses. No one believes her until she finds her clothing scattered about the country after losing her laundry in a wind storm :)


{Images via My Love For You}

Potatoes

Second on my list of all-time favorite comfort foods, underneath mac n' cheese, are potatoes. In any shape or form. Scalloped, mashed, roasted, you name it. I crave warm starchy foods when it's cold outside.

Hal makes the best baked potatoes with crispy salty skin. I think I'm going to request them for dinner tonight. I top mine with broccoli, minced garlic, grilled onions, sour cream on one side, cheese on the other, and a whole lot of fresh ground black pepper. How do you eat yours?  :)


{Images via 79 Ideas by Dietlind Wolf}

Snow Days

This is what I want to do today. Play outside with my honey. Have us a little cold weather date.

Seattle is experiencing a full on blizzard and I love knowing that most of the city is staying home, cozy indoors, taking a breather from life, and enjoying quality time with their families.

Snow days are the best.


{Images via Style Me Pretty by Sloan Photographers}

Vintage Camera Nightlights

I've never needed a nightlight. I walk around my house in pitch black. But if my nightlights were made out of vintage cameras, I think I could be afraid of the dark.


{Images via My Modern Met by Jason Hull}

Tree, Line.

When I initially spotted these images, I thought... trees wrapped in white fabric. Great. But with a closer look, I got it. As part of the ongoing series, Tree, Line, Welsh photographer, Zander Olsen, wraps material around trees to emphasize the line of the horizon. Something I normally wouldn't pay attention to otherwise. Pretty cool, no?


{Images via Trend Land}

Snow Hearts

It happened! The weather predictions were right on. We had our first flakes of the season over the weekend. And as soon as the ground was covered in white, I ran outside and left my heart in the snow  :)

A Russian Mermaid

I'm enamoured with these images of a Rusalka, the tragic mermaid-like water spirit from Slavic folklore.

Ever since Ariel became a part of my world, mermaids have played a recurring role. In college, my a cappella group was called, Sirens, after Greek mythology. I then named my band, Lorelei, the German equivalent. Is it possible to have been a mermaid in a past life? :)


{Images via The Wide Eyed Legless by Veronica Kurnosova}

Gifts From Wedding Photographers

Wedding photographers sending gifts to their clients? Granted, I'm not married yet, but I never knew this was common practice. Maybe it isn't. But photographer, Jasmine Star, who also happens to be my good friend's bestie, knew of other photographers who who gave their clients Dom Perignon, a framed 8x10, and cookies upon the couple's return from their honeymoon. So she started sending out boxes of personalized chocolates to her clients, packaged up sweetly with custom photo paper. What a thoughtful thing to do.


{Images by Jasmine Star}

Bjork In Her Element

Oh Bjork. You never fail to amaze and delight me.


{Images via Steep Street by Sam Falls}

The Polaboy Frame Light

How cool is this giant polaroid frame light? It's called the Polaboy.


{Image via Handmade Charlotte by Polaboy}

A Wood Camera iPhone Case

I've finally found my perfect iPhone case. This puppy came in the mail yesterday and I'm smitten. It's made out of sustainable wood by the folks at Photojojo and laser engraved to look like an old-school camera. I've had it on for less than 24 hours and have already been approached by curious strangers asking me where I got it. Isn't it fun?


{Images by Photojojo}

A Forest Picnic

I adore these shots from the 2nd volume of Kinfolk Magazine. Maybe because it looks like something I'd do. Venture off on my bike into the forest for a pleasant solo picnic by the river. In a gorgeous green plaid cape, of course. Would you too?


{Images via Frolic! by Lisa Warninger}

Digital Collages

I'm enamored by Matt's digital collages. He does such a good job combining images of women and nature to create the most hauntingly beautiful works of art.


{Images by Matt Wisniewski}

Clothesline Fun

How brilliant is this concept photo shoot? Stylist, Tiffany Lowry, and photographer, Sarah Rhoads, shot it together in Tiffany's 4x7 basement laundry room.

At first glance, I thought they were engagement photos, but they're not. They should be, right? If you're daring enough to strip down!


{Images by Sarah & Chris Rhoads}

The Fog

On my walk this morning, I couldn't see beyond two steps in front of me. And the fog still remains. But it's not the ominous kind. It's the calm, dreamy, walk-in-the-clouds type of fog. Where you lose yourself in your thoughts and all the world is silent.


{Images by Jose Villa}

An Ice Rink Proposal

As I've mentioned before, I think ice skating is the most romantic winter adventure. Mike took Glenna to their local park ice rink and surprised her with a ring as the snow began to fall. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  


{Images by Chris Emeot Photography}

Becoming An Auntie!

Not only am I getting married in 2012. I'm becoming an Auntie!!! It's going to be a big year for our family.

My only brother and his wife are expecting their very first child in May. They revealed their secret to us on Halloween as trick-or-treaters. Christopher was dressed as a baker and Akiko dressed as an oven. He opened her oven door to reveal... a bun.

I cannot wait to buy the baby adorable little bear suits!


{Images by Caroline Tran}

Pretty iPhone Protection

I need to protect my new iPhone with prettiness. Have you seen Cassia Beck's cases? They also come as laptop skins. In addition to these, there are a bajillion more, which makes selecting just one extremely difficult. Which ones are your favorite?


{Images via A Simple Life Afloat by Society6}

Reserving Our Wedding Photographer

Guess who we chose? Yes, my friends, we booked Heather and Jon of One Love Photo. As you may recall, I've been stalking them ever since starting my blog. I featured this wedding they shot. And this one. And the simple dock ceremony shown above might be my favorite set yet. It was just featured on Design*Sponge!

Here's why we chose them. I'm absolutely smitten with their vintage style. In additional to digital, they somehow juggle a plethora of film cameras and homemade lenses. And get this. To my complete surprise, I discovered that they both went to the same middle school and high school as me! Crazy small world, especially knowing where I grew up. It feels kismet. I know we've made the right choice, and I cannot wait for them to document our special day.


{Image via One Love Photo}

Splashes

How amazing are these liquid-in-motion splash images by German photographer, Heinz Maier? Each organic droplet is completely unique since they're captured at such a high speed. Check out his studio set-up to see how he does it.


{Images via Design Collector by Cymaii}

A Composite of 500 Self-Portraits

If you've ever wondered what a composite of 500 self-portraits looks like, this is it. The beauty behind Clickflashwhir has taken an image of herself every day for 4.5 years. So photographer, Tiemen Rapati, decided to merge her photos into one by finding the average RGB value for each pixel and dividing it by the total number of portraits. Fascinating!


{Images via Colossal}

Clémence Floris, Image Maker

I love these dream state photos by French "image maker", Clémence Floris. They're from her series, Mes nuits sont plus belles que tes jours. My nights are more beautiful than your days.

Don't they remind you of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind? One of my all-time favorite movies.


{Images via Behance}

Before We Begin

Moments of reflection between thought and action.


{Images by Christopher Jonassen}

Playing With Food

I've spent the whole morning chuckling over this series, Disparity, by Seattle-based photographer, Christopher Boffoli. He creates everyday scenes with tiny model train figures and admits that "there is in some part a god-like feeling to having command of an entire world, which you can rearrange at any capricious whim."

I used to play with my food as a wee one, but never to the extent of this. I really admire people who are able to maintain their childlike creativity, don't you?


{Images via The Telegraph}

Loud Silence

I'm strangely attracted to Filippo Minelli's ongoing colored smoke bomb series, Silence/Shapes. Beautiful, no? I think he captured 'loud silence' to perfection.


{Images via I Do Art}

Rainy Love

Chicago-based husband and wife photography team, Steve and Anne, celebrated their first anniversary in a downpour. They made the right decision in choosing Carl Zoch to document the special occasion, who says, "reflections are the new textures".

His work is so artistic and thoughtful, don't you think? Makes me want to grab my love by the hand, run outside in the rain, and splash around in puddles. 


{Images by Carl Zoch}

Fabulous Food Styling

I don't know about you, but this is the best food styling I've ever seen. German designer and prop stylist, Dietlind Wolfe, conceptualized and illustrated these colorful meals for Brigitte Magazine. They're almost too pretty to eat.


{Images via Seesaw by Thomas Neckermann}

Petit Paris

Emmy-winning stop motion animator turned photographer, Sarah de Gaudemar, creates minuscule Parisian scenes and captures them on film with a handmade tilt-shift camera lens. She travels to Paris often with her French husband and the city has become her "favorite place to view from a tiny person's perspective."

Can you believe the scenes aren't real? I'm so impressed. She recently compiled all her images into a book, Vintage Minature Paris.


{Images by Swedotorp}

Mood Boards

I'm giving Maritza a silent blue ribbon for her stunning mood boards. They do just what they're supposed to do. Put you in a mood. In this post alone, I've gone from mourning to wistful to calm to hopeful to inspired to nostalgic. Which makes me happy.


{Images via A Thing For...}