Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Palettes of the Master Painters

Hello lovelies,


I'll admit there is a huge gaping hole in my education. I chose a liberal arts University for the breadth of education it offered. I knew I ultimately wanted a career in medicine, but as long as I was paying $100's per credit hour I wanted to get as much education as I possibly could. I took classes on Philosophy, Theology, Literature, Psychology, Mathematics, Economics, Technology, Film, Sociology, American History, Mexican History... and so, so many more... yet, somehow I managed to make it through a relatively intense College Prep Curriculum in high school, and four years of undergraduate study at a liberal arts university without ever having taken an art course. That's right... not a single art course... of course I appreciate fabulous art, and looking back now I regret that gaping hole in my education...


So, I've set out to be self educated on all things wonderfully artful... imagine my surprise and delight when finding this wonderful article on the palettes of the master painters. I'm not sure why... but before reading this article I would have never thought that the way a master kept their palette was so interwoven with their style of painting. The article is worth a full read... but in the meantime I wanted to share some of the images of the master's palettes with you.
Auguste Renoir
Georges Seurat
Edgar Degas
Eugene Delacroix
Gustave Moreau
Paul Gauguin
Vincent Van Gogh

Monday, August 30, 2010

Magnolia Wall Paper Revisited....

Hello lovelies,


Apparently I am not the only one swooning over this magnolia wall paper that I featured on my Pink and Green Thursday Decor edition. I was browsing June's house beautiful and what did I find but a full page spread on the fantastic magnolia wallpaper's available... Love it!





Sunday, August 29, 2010

The things you learn along the way....

Hello lovelies,


I've been thinking about this exercise we did in my Capstone of the Christian Life class at University. At the end of the semester, we were asked to write a note or make a collage for ourselves reminding ourselves of all of the things we had learned and wanted to remember from the course. The lessons that we wanted to shape our lives. On the final day of class, we took our notes and placed them in envelopes that our instructor mailed to us six month's later. My life was so drastically different six months after the course was over that when I received my letter to myself... I had to sit down with tears rolling down my cheeks and remind myself of all those wonderful things I had forgotten. I've realized lately that this blog has become a journal of sorts... most the time it's a journal of light hearted flippant ideas that flitter into and out of mind as quickly as I can put them on paper... but occasionally, I post something really, deeply true. Something that matters and is part of this fabulous learning experience called life. So, today I thought it might be fun to remind myself of some of the things I've learned along the way! 


**In other words... I bring you an entire post where I speak to myself in cliche... aren't you lucky dear readers :)


A moment of reflection can inspire your dreams... and such moments are necessary to remind us that life is worth dreaming about!
Sometimes rest is all that's needed to set the world back to right again... and it's okay to indulge in restfulness!
All the good things in life are worth working for. Though the work may be hard, and tiring. Though you may be bruised at the end of the day, that work, those underlying aches and pains are what make the majestic moments possible!
Sometimes you'll have to stretch yourself further than you'd like, and sometimes just a little stretching feels awfully good!
It's okay to follow the path that leads you to accomplishing your dreams...
and with some work...
and the benefit of friendships along the way...



one day, you just might achieve those dreams... and then you quite simply feel as though you have taken flight!






Sometimes you're a mess, your hair is sloppy, your clothes are dirty, and nothing is buttoned up and packaged neatly. You've lost your temper, you've thrown a fit, you've made a mistake. At times like this... bows are nowhere in sight, and that's okay.


Then there are times, when everything is positively charming. Every hair on your head is in place, every area of your life is tied with a bow, the angels are singing, the flowers are blooming, and the sun is shining. This is okay too!



It only takes a change of perspective to create enchanted hours from mundane moments.



As a child it always felt so wonderfully fabulous to perceive oneself as almost quite grown up... being an actual grown up feels far less fabulous sometimes... and as with most things, this too is okay.



Don't forget to dance and celebrate and be joyful... merely just because!

Friday, August 27, 2010

365 Giveaway....

Hello Lovelies,

Not only is my birthday week celebration in about to begin in full form, but we're also nearing the publication of my 365th post. My blog has been around for almost two years and I'm proud to say I now have a 365 posts under my belt!

It's been a while since we've done a giveaway in these parts, so let me explain the rules. If you like my blog become a follower, if you like it a lot tell your friends to follow. If you like my post leave a comment... every new comment on a new post from now until the magical day when we hit 365 posts will be entered into the giveaway!

Hurray for Birthdays! Hurray for Giveaways! Lets Celebrate!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Elle Loves Magnolia Walls

Hello Lovelies,


One of my many favorite things about the south are Magnolia trees with blossoms as big as your head. I know you can grow Magnolia's in other areas of the country, but to me the biggest and best Magnolia's are always the Southern Magnolia's. 






Therefore, it's no surprise that I fell head over heels in love with this staircase and it's walls covered in sculptured Magnolia blossoms. It was featured in the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse in 2009. As much as I adore these sculptured Magnolia's my practical side screams no, no, no... I mean they would be a pain to dust... and I have no doubt my darling 6'6" preppy boyfriend would frequently impale his shoulders on them as he was hustling up or down the stairs... the man doesn't do anything slowly. But for now... lets just hush the practical side, and dream of starting our days everyday by walking down this incredible staircase!








 If you don't know the Kips Bay Showhouse is a charity event, where each living space in a house is decorated by a different highly esteemed decorator. This event has been going on for over 30 years.

Monday, August 23, 2010

C'est Chic Tank

Hello Lovelies,


Not much grand and exciting happening around here... mostly just unpacking boxes and arranging the new house so it feels like a home! 


Speaking of packing and unpacking since I've had to pack up and unpack all of my clothing in the last month, I've realized the last thing I need is more clothes (well, at least more summer clothes, the bay area is significantly colder than TX in winter so I may need to add a few sweaters and slacks to the rotation)... However, when I saw this graphic tank I just couldn't help but smile... 

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Santa's on the 6

Hello Lovelies,


I stumbled across this picture while browsing the wonderful web... and immediately I fell headlong into a fabulous memory of my time in New York. 


It's a random Saturday in December, and we're heading back towards Grand Central Station after spending time exploring Manhattan. The subway train makes one of its many stops on the way to Grand Central, and all of a sudden our relatively empty train car, is crammed to the point of standing room only with no room to wiggle. We've been overrun by dozens of people dressed up as Santa Clause. we were at the back of our car and could see the car behind us was also being overran by an influx of Santa's, and the platform outside the window held still more Santa's hoping to catch the 6. The doors close and our car full of Santa's begins chanting "Santa's on the 6, Santa's on the 6, Santa's on the 6...." then just as quickly as they all appeared they all got off at the same stop and headed along their merry and drunken way. I would learn years later, that there is an annual nationwide Santa Clause pub crawl that happens in many cities, and those of us on the 6 train that day, happened to see part of Manhattan's version.




Those my friends are the things I miss about New York... that sense that at any moment an ordinary afternoon could become extraordinary and you might just get swept up in it, and find yourself chanting "Santa's on the 6" for no reason that's apparent to you! Or in this case, find yourself face to face with the cast of "Where The Wild Things Are."



Friday, August 20, 2010

Gowns in Unexpected Places

Hello Lovelies,

I am consistently drawn to images of stunning gowns in unexpected places... there's something so mysterious and off about it to me. Why on earth are you dressed like a million dollars and climbing the side of a mountain, or running down the train tracks? I find editorials featuring such images to linger far longer than others in the recesses of my mind.

























Right along with this idea is the newish wedding photography trend of trashing the gown. Meaning that the bride and groom after all the traditional photos and after the ceremony do a brief shoot in which the wedding gown is completely destroyed. I've seen examples of this trend appear as brides and grooms jump in mud puddles, play in the ocean, and splatter paint all over each other.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Pink and Green Thursday Nature Edition

Do ya'll groupon? today's groupon deal in the bay area is for $50 gift certificate to Gap for $25.... and it can be used at any gap store anywhere! be sure to follow the link if you are interested.

http://www.groupon.com/r/uu1763055