Mila's Daydreams

The only time I'm into cutesy stuff (á la puppies, kittens, babies, etc...) is when I'm cuddling with them in person. Maybe it's because I don't have one of my own, but to me, a photograph of newborn is about as exciting as a Kinkade. We all know it's nice, but... we've seen it before. However, when I saw Adele Enersen's photos of her newborn Mila, I knew I had to share with you. She gets creative with items laying around the house for a whimsical photoshoot.

Inspiration : Lake Tahoe Cabin

I just got back from the loveliest vacation with my family in Lake Tahoe, celebrating two events: my Grandfather's 89th birthday and my Mother's wedding! I couldn't have asked for a better place to be with everyone. The tranquility and magnificence of the forrest is exactly what I needed in a vacation. Nature really has a way of grounding a person. Waking up in the morning to frolicking deer in the yard and baby birds being born outside your window- theres nothing like it. Don't get me wrong, every moment of my time there was filled with early morning wake-up calls from Grandma and scurrying around to prepare for the ceremony- but doing it right next to the Lake in a big beautiful forrest surrounded by the people I love made it an immensely enjoyable experience.

While there I noticed a very specific cabin-inspired aesthetic unique to this region. Everything from the coffee shops to the luxury resorts coordinated- and I think that's the way the good folk of Tahoe like it. You really feel a sense of community being there as everyone truely embraces the mountain lifestyle. That's just something you don't find in Los Angeles (not to complain though, I love the diversity and culture we have out here) but it was really amazing thing to witness. I knew todays post had to be about the Tahoe cabin, so here are some lovely inspiring images I found on MountainLiving.com.

You can't get away from log cabins in Tahoe. Bringing in wood EVERYWHERE is the way to go. For someone in Los Angeles, however, it may be a bit much- and probably wouldn't match the architecture of our homes anyway. However, by using a few wooden beams in the corners of rooms, or perhaps lining a ceiling with wood could be a nice alternative to get that warm woodsy feel.

For those of us who aren't too keen on living in a cabin but still love the forrest and the moutain views- a great styling idea is to mix rustic accessories with contemporary pieces. See how great it can look?

Scenic Mesa Furnishings

The New Colors of IKEA

Just saw the new collaboration of sylist Lo Bjurulf and Ikea, an I think I may fall in love with Ikea all over again. The store is known for it's simple modern asthetic- with a hint of swedish flavored stylings. But now- you can see for yourselves... It's more playful and creative than I've ever seen before. Love it!

Ikea for Weddings?... oh yeaaaah

Watercolour My Heart

Have you ever seen something so beautiful it hurts your heart a little? It happens to me every so often with certain artist's- when their work is so simple and understated, yet it still manages to make me think "wow, how did they do that? It's amazing!" Thats what Stina Persson's work does for me. Taking a water coloring class in college has made me appreciate her work that much more. The control it takes blend the colors and conform the sophisticated images is tedious to say the least. I can't imagine how long it took her to define her technique, because it really has been perfected- wheatever it she's doing. Not to mention- the imagery is absolutely stunning. Her work has been used for huge brands like Target and Timberland- but she's still a fine artist at heart, continuing to create work for her personal portfolio. Alright, enough writing- I'm sure you're ready to see her work now! Enjoy.

And here's some of her commercial work...

DIY : Sailor's Knot Bracelet

Thanks to the wonderfully crafty team over at Etsy- we can now make our very own sailor's knot bracelets! I've always wanted to know how to do this- but as it was, my Mom signed me up for Brownies rather than Boy Scouts- thus I honed in on sewing patches rather than tying knots. But now with this easy tutorial, you too can be a master-knotter. Imagine the possiblilities! Hairbands, scarves, earrings- your creativity is the limit!

• 3.5 yards of twine
• 14 ounce can for a smaller bracelet or a 20 ounce can for a larger bracelet. Any other round object that has the appropriate circumference for your wrist will do.

1. Wrap one end of the twine around the can to shape an X. Leave about a 4" tail. You will need this tail at the end to finish the bracelet.

2. Wrap the long end of the twine around the can again and bring it up to the middle of the X. Then pass the long end of the twine under the right, upper leg of the X and pull the long end all the way through.

3. Next, move the upper left leg of the X over the right leg of the X to create an oval shape.

4. Pull the long end of the twine through the oval shaped opening you just set up.

5. Turn the can a bit and you will see that the oval shape has created another X shape. Again, pass the long end of the twine under the right upper leg of the X and pull the end through. Repeat steps 3 through 5 until you get to the beginning of your project.

6. You will now find a three-stranded braid. Follow the twine you initially laid out and create a parallel second line.

7/8. Continue around the can. If you find that it's getting too tight to pass the twine through the openings, you may want to take the bracelet off the can and continue with the knotting in your hand. If you take it off, be careful not to pull the twine too tight, otherwise your bracelet will shrink on your wrist.

9. Continue knotting the rope around the bracelet until each strand of the braid has one parallel line — a total of three passes. At this point you can stop or add another three passes to create the traditional pattern of three parallel lines, like the bracelet in the third picture in this step.

10-11. To finish, just knot the ends together and weave them into the inside of the bracelet.

A few cute nautical finds from Renee Loughlin

Travel with MDP

I've always wanted to travel. If I had the time and funds to take off and fly somewhere I think I would go to Thailand. The country, the food, the culture, the weather- it gives me this warm tingly feeling on the inside.  Alas, I won't be going there anytime soon with my hefty schedule and thin budget. But a girl can dream, right? I will, however, be traveling to a far away land called Reno (a.k.a. "The biggest little city in the world") to watch my beautiful Mother exchange vows with her fiance. It's not exactly Thailand- might actually be the exact opposite if we're comparing the two, but it still involves traveling- which I'm always excited about. I've found some items that may bring a little pizaz to your traveling adventures...

1. Sacs, 2. Seen Recycled Bags, 3. The Leather Store

Make sure you bring that large purse or backpack with you (it's like getting an extra carry-on for free!)

1. Cest Superb Labels 2. Recycled Tags

It's imporatnt to label your luggage even if it's a carry-on item. You never know what can happen at a busy airport...

Products from Urban Outfitters

1. Doodle Bug Sleeping Mask , 2. "101 Places Not to See" (so you dont waste your time!) , 3. Oragnizer Padfolio , 4. Travel Neck Pillow

Clothing from Anthropologie

Dress comfortably! Try snoozing in tight jeans- it's not fun...

1. Comfy Slipper Shoes, 2. Babooshka Hair Wrap, 3. Maytreeark Hip Bag

Easy and comfortable accessories will make traveling a much more enjoyable experience!

Mixing It Up : Home Decor

Love these images from photgrapher/stylist Trine Thorson. Unfortunatley everything on the site is in another language- so I can't tell you much about her except that she has a great eye for pairing beautiful found objects. It just shows how everything you own doesn't have to match in order to look beautiful...

Silhouette Masterepiece Theater

By now we've all been exposed to the silhouette craze- be it in magazines or on t-shirts, decor or fashion- silhouettes are a very popular design element right now. Usually once a trend has become, just that, a "trend," I try to avoid writing about it. However, I couldn't pass up this work up, and you'll see why. Allow me to introduce you to the whimsical works of Wilhelm Staehle. His amusing collection of silhouettes are dark and lovely. I've chosen a few for you to look at on my blog, but please stop by his site to see the full collection.

Inspiration: Friday

Hello hello and hooray for Friday! I wish everyone a beautiful and inspired weekend. I've collected some photos from the blog Turn Back, Reverse, Return for you. I thought these might ignite some creativity and a bit of adventure in your souls! Enjoy :)

Photography Gear from Photojojo

Who doesn't love photography? Whether you're behind the camera or infront of it, we all can appreciate a beautiful photograph. Capturing a sweet moment in time or an artistic snapshot? Whatever your motivation is, Photojojo will be along with you on your photo-taking journeys. The site is packed with photography goodies- they've got everything from the newest polaroid cameras to bottlecap tripods! And once your shoot is finshed, they've got the cutest frames and displays you can find! It's not only a store, but a community for photographers to exchange thoughts and ideas. Learn how to print your friends face on a cupcake or how to turn your photo into a mural in 5 minutes! I'm all about this site right now... check out what I found on there today!

The Impossible Project is bringing back polaroid film to those of us who still love these classic cameras.