Inspiration 8.31(Camp Living)

Some more early fall eye candy from Twig Hutchinson.

Craving September

Seriously guys, how much longer will we have to wait for fall? I cannot deal with another 90 degree day. I just CAN'T.

Right now, I'm so inspired by this perfect transition outfit captured by Garance and this gorgeous wool pendleton blanket. I mean how badly do you want to picnic on it? This blanket needs a good picnic and I think you should give it one. (Available at Terrain.)

P.S. If you're craving a tooled leather bag like the one shown above, I highly recommend snapping up this one from Santoki Vintage, and quickly.

Inspiration 8.30

Thanks to everyone for being so patient with my lack of posts in the past week. Unfortunately, I suddenly lost someone very important to me and to my extended family, and much too soon.

I'll probably be posting less frequently than usual, but hope to get back into the swing of things shortly.

Image via Wet Behind the Ears

Want: Jewelry from Glamorai

ED NOTE: Due to a family emergency, I won't be blogging for the remainder of the week. Thanks for understanding during this difficult time.

I know I was the girl who, a mere two weeks ago, claimed clunky jewelry was over...but these amazing designs seem well worth the neck pain. So. Freaking. Gorgeous. Shop here.

Yet another discovery from Kiki Reichert's blog. Thank God it's in Portuguese, otherwise you all just might never come back here again!

Proof life's not fair: The impossibly chic AND talented woman behind Glamorai, Kelly Framel.

Inspiration 8.23

I love how the architect carved out this little enclosed space in such an airy bathroom. Something about applying liquid eyeliner or using a heated eyelash curler brings out that primordial cave-dwelling need for tight quarters, doesn't it?

via Kika Reichert

Canopy of Streamers

Love the canopy of streamers at this wedding, in fact the whole wedding was darn right adorable. You can see the rest here on Once Wed. Event design by Ashley Meaders.

Inspiration 8.19

A deliriously happy little room, via Tabletonic...

A Poem for Thursday

Inspiration 8.18

Magnificent skylights and beams.

via Sweet Home Style

Love: West Elm Pom Pom Throw

I've been looking for this blanket for what seems like years -- warm and cuddly, basic enough not to conflict with my patterned couch, but with a special detail that adds texture. I cannot wait to snuggle up with this as the months get cooler! Available here.

Inspiration 8.17

Why, yes, don't mind if I do...

via White Trash Beautiful

Want: Olatz Schnabel's Bedroom

Interrupting this supposedly unplugged beach weekend to swoon over Olatz Schnabel's bedroom featured in this month's House Beautiful. I know there's a good chance you've seen it already (on ten different blogs), and it's probably so last week, but I'm just dying over this.

It takes a lot for something to break me out of my preference for pure white sheets and calming sandy neutrals in a bedroom, but Olatz has done it. I'm trying to refrain from just tossing everything out of my bedroom and starting again.

By the way, pick up the magazine -- the pictures here, lovely as they are, don't even do it justice.

Images via The Decorista and La Dolce Vita Blog

Long Weekend

Alright lovelies, I'm heading out for a long weekend at a family member's place in Cape May, New Jersey -- it's absolutely one of my favorite places to be. An uncrowded beach, chaise lounge, umbrella, and feet in the sand. Historic hotels, roadside stand tomatoes, mini-golf and ice cream.

Maybe it's something having to do with post-birthday reflection, but it's a much-needed break from the craziness of the past few weeks. I was on the (non-metaphorical) stairmaster yesterday when Strawberry Fields came on my iPod, and I found myself thinking "heck, yeah," when the line "It's getting hard to be someone" was sung. Challenges are definitely getting harder, but I think I'm ready for a little kick in the butt.

All of this makes me even more grateful for the chance to recharge and think about all of the things I want to work on this year -- professionally, blog-wise and life-wise. I hope you get some much needed R&R as well -- c'mon, I know you need it!

I leave you with....
Images via Vogue, Unicornology

Inspiration 8.13

So this is what a quiet summer night should look like. The hunter green chairs and lanterns, chopped wood ready for a bonfire, strings of basic Christmas lights dotting the darkness...

Via Apartment Therapy LA

Inspiration 8.12

One of my favorites from the August Martha Stewart Living

Inspiration 8.11 and a Slow Home Manifesto

There was an interesting piece in the most recent New York Times Magazine about how the recession has impacted our boom-era lifestyles, particularly our home and family life. In the article, Judith Warner analyzed recent research which suggests the silver lining of the economic fallout has been a moral re-centering of sorts -- a move away from thoughtless consumption.

And it must seem incredibly stupid that I'm talking about this subject in a post immediately following one about thousand-dollar wedding dresses -- and it probably is -- but even those dresses reflect something that speaks to my own experience as an early/mid-twenties yuppie watching the recession from a relatively sheltered place.

I was one of the lucky ones -- my job always was secure (or maybe just seemed like it was thanks to strong leadership at my company), I suffered almost no professional repercussions, and am fortunately unburdened by debts or the worry of having to support anyone other than myself.

So now you all probably hate me! And yet, I think a good chunk of my generation has actually found themselves in my comfortable spot. Old enough to have missed a soul-crushing job search, but young enough not to worry about mortgages, kids and retirement accounts.

I have yet to see any articles about this experience -- probably because it gives off the sense that we're the people living it up in the stands of the Roman Coliseum while the less fortunate are fighting tigers below -- but I still don't think its an invalid story. Just because I haven't been personally affected by the recession doesn't mean there's been zero impact on my perspective.

I've noticed a change in my priorities that represents a real shift from where I was at 21. Some recent mentions of a burgeoning Slow Home movement from folks like Leslie Carrothers and Amy Beth from ABCD Designs have really captured my imagination and I wonder if this inkling of a movement is where my generation will take things home-wise.

I'm not silly enough to think this is an original concept -- lots of nesters before now have prized craftsmanship, locally-sourced goods and sustainable design. But after years of thinking -- no, expecting -- I would someday own a suburban McMansion, filled with luxury items and rooms you never even walk in, I am happy (happy!) to report that I now recoil at the thought.

I want a house with a history before me and a future after me. I want to fill it with treasures from my travels or handmade by people who inspire me. I want to salvage a home's remnants and give them a second life as something else beautiful. I want to snack on homegrown tomatoes and strawberries and wash my dishes next to simple glass jars filled with flowers cut from a hedge in the front yard, instead of a weekly, delivered floral arrangement.

So, I'm curious -- what does Slow Home mean to you? A lot of people think it means buying less, but I interpret it as buying more of what resonates with you, and less of what doesn't.

Have you been leaning in this direction, and, if so, do you think it's inspired by the recession or just by getting a little bit older and wiser?

P.S. If you made it this far, thank you. I know most of you come here to see cute things and not for "deep thoughts with Jenn". So...thank you. :)

Image from Lonny Mag

Love: Handmade Wedding Dresses

Attention handmade brides -- I think you should really get to know Katie Jean Walker (KT Jean Designs) whose custom-made wedding dresses rival (maybe even surpass) those at any fancy bridal boutique. Simply adoring the cascading tulle and lace details (I mean that T-strap back! Swoon.)

Inspiration 8.10

From photographer Virginia MacDonald, via Decor8

Etsy Fave: Pigeon Toe Ceramics

Things I'm a sucker for: Mason jars and white pottery. Pigeon Toe Ceramics combines them into one beautiful package, and thus have earned my undying support. Check out their lovely selection of hand-crafted bowls, planters and votives here.

Inspiration 8.9 (local edition)

Love this restrained, but charming conversation nook from DC-based designer Barbara Franceski (from the DC design house.)

P.S. Had the loveliest birthday weekend -- can't wait to share in a little bit.

Inspiration 8.6

Rough meets Delicate.

Want: Hand-Crocheted Shawl

Just spotted this shawl on Etsy. Adore it, but just don't think it will work on 5 foot twoers like me. Hope one of you snaps it up!

Inspiration 8.5

In case you can't tell, I'm on a bit of a greenery kick (think being in the country on a rainy day), and I'm in love with the window sill in this kitchen, especially how the green pops against the texture of the exposed brick.

Discovered on Bright Bazaar (which you should go on and check out!)

Terrain Weck Succulent Collection

As a card-carrying member of the black-thumb club, succulents have always carried a sort of promise in my mind. They require very little attention, and generally seem pretty hard to kill. The same goes for terrariums.

So, of course, I got super excited when I saw this collection of succulents planted in Weck canning jars -- until I realized that Terrain only delivers them within 30-miles of their Pennsylvania location.

I still couldn't resist posting for those of you who are more ambitious than me -- Weck canning jars are cheap, and Trader Joe's usually sells succulents at a price that makes a little experimenting seem worth it.

A Poem for Wednesday

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Excerpt from Mary Oliver's The Summer Day; Photo via Audrey Hepburn Complex

Inspiration 8.4

via Marie Claire Maison

Inspiration 8.3

via This is Glamorous

Etsy Fave: White Owl

After several seasons of heavy costume jewelry, my neck is really, really tired of being weighed down with 2-pounds of fake pearls and beads. While, a little birdie (cough, mom) told me I will be receiving a sweet (and mericifully lightweight) gold Peretti bean necklace for my birthday this week, I'm also loving these lace necklaces from White Owl. The pieces are as dramatic as costume pieces but, happily, lacking the resulting neck and back pain.

Inspiration 8.2

I'm not usually a fan of modern architecture, but the skylight here is just gorgeous. I would love to see a smaller scale version of this room off of a more traditional country house.