Monday Blues // 10

Well, I'm still feeling a bit under the weather, so Monday Blues indeed. The coughing stage is always the worst, no? Total nuisance not only to you, but to everyone around you. Poor Eric is a trooper for both putting up with me and taking such good care of me. I'm so annoying when I'm sick.

I digress.

Let's just keep hanging on to the great time we had in San Francisco and Napa last weekend to keep my spirits up. We had so much fun attending illustrator Lisa Congdon's opening (remember when I mentioned her lettering project here?), catching up with friends, celebrating Victoria's I do's, shopping, touring the city, then heading to Napa with old friends for a little early birthday action.

Would you believe that those pics are totally unedited??! Gorgeous days, I tell ya.

I'll be talking more about the trip throughout the week.

Also, these happened over the weekend

I know.
God bless my mama's Craigslist search skills.

Type Tuesday // Happy Halloween!

I know it's a day early, but I have to show off one of my favorite collaborations to date . . . G and I on a greeting card together!

(That's her precious little face and my hand lettering.)

 I have the best job.

*Part of Hallmark's new(ish) Premium card offering at your nearest Gold Crown, Walmart or CVS.

Fashionista // Picked Up Recently

It's Friday!!! Are you guys as excited about that as I am? Big plans for the weekend? Me neither. Actually, we'll be painting the dining room which will be quite rewarding when we see the end results, so I'm feeling positive.

I can tell you what is exciting though. As someone that really doesn't love to shop (for clothes), I have had a little closet transformation going on lately. I'm fiiiinally giving in to the notion that sometimes it's appropriate to spend a little more to get more. Which is very hard for someone traditionally extremely frugal, I tell ya. It HURTS to hit that purchase button! However, since eliminating over half of my closet this summer, I'm intent on acquiring some well-made pieces that will last. (Yes, including those Kate Spade and J.Crew numbers I mentioned in the new Want in Every Color column. I don't lie, people.)

Kate Spade Karolina Pumps // Club Monaco Hunter Tee // J.Crew Tippi Sweater //

Marc Jacobs Classic Q Fran // Hive&Honey Animal Crew Sweater (RAWR!) // Kate Spade Lacey Wallet

Not all of my recent purchases are "high end," but some do feel pretty extravagant since I don't normally invest much in clothes. I prefer those dollas go to the house! (Like on the second Persian I'll be picking up this weekend . . .)

At Home // Dining Room Rug

The Persian is here! Phone pics aren't doing it justice, but I haven't been home during daylight hours since its arrival.

Will update when the walls get painted.

Enjoy the weekend!

Interiors // White on White on White

My friends, the obsession with white walls persists. I simply cannot help myself. 

 via desde my ventana

Here's the deal: I have to get this house in some semblance of order. Besides the fact that we've been in it for almost a year now, we are scheduled to host Thanksgiving dinner for both families in about a month (!!!!!) and shiz be in its original state. At this point, if it means painting everything a warm, delicious white and later coming back to apply color, so be it.

Joe Lucas and Parrish Chilcoat via Lonny Magazine

Let's just be honest; no one demonstrates the sheer power of white like those cats behind Lonny magazine. Patrick Cline's camera lenses are made of straight up magic glass.

 Estee Stanley via Lonny Magazine

I've been driving myself bananas trying to find just the right rug for the dining room, around which all other design decisions can be made. (This isn't a general truth. I've just made it mine.) And since I cannot be without color, I knew this is one place it would be inserted in a big way. Six Ebay fails later, I finally scored one, and I cannot WAIT for its arrival!

What say you? Will white walls suit?

(Ebay rug shot inserted into pre-move pic of the dining room....sort of ghetto, but you get the idea.)

I just have to keep reminding myself that there are a thousand other glorious ways to apply color...Challenge accepted!

the house // sunroom progress

So, let's talk about the house a little bit, shall we? As previously discussed, Eric and I nixed the idea of an eat-in dining area and went straight for a sit-and-watch-me-pour-your-drink zone off the kitchen. We're not the types to even use the dining room unless hosting anyway, so why have two? This meant finding just the right size seating to fit the small space. Mind you, not only is this part of the kitchen, but it houses our laundry closet, access to the backyard and door to the garage. Basically, we had to find ourselves some furniture that could float. When I came across this beauty on Craigslist, I jumped.

I love the piece, but I do not love the fabric. Animal print is up for consideration. I always love that look on vintage settees. I think it really brings them up to date with a little edge. Timeless edge, mind you. We do not be reupholstering on a whim 'round these parts. I would sell a kidney to get my hands on some delicious Scalamandre velvet. Or I do love the variation of color in this (affordable) Calico Corners option. Ooooor I'm pretty taken with this beauty, if anyone knows what it is:

 MMR Interiors

I can't afford it, can I? Maybe I should be open to a little Mei Ling? Of course, I have to take the neighboring dining room into account. Quite honestly, I've considered a color similar to the one in the photo above...and it looks to me like it would work juuuuuuust fine. Or maybe the same deliciously warm white with fabric wall panels?

The sunroom still needs a rug (cowhide?), a pair of ghost stools and a modest pedestal table. I looove my Jenny original in this space, and I think I'd like to play off that palette to give the garage door a pop of color (try not to judge the trim that be old and busted).

Big shoutout to Jacquelyn for her paint recommendation! I am deeply taken with Benjamin Moore's White Dove. It's clean and crisp, but still very warm. Naomi tells me that I need to paint the trim the same color...which is clearly still on the to-do list. And, dear God, I know how bad that orange floor burns your eyes. I really wish we'd stained them before move-in, but the 3-week closing period didn't allow for much prep. Maybe someday...you know, when the house is full and it's totally convenient.

Help me find a fabric, party people! I neeeeed you.

madewell + KC

hey, local peeps! just wanted to drop in to let you know about a little kansas city madewell event going on this weekend.

if you'd like to attend, shoot megan an email at the address above asap. hope to see you there!

guest post // my kansas city

super honored to be hanging out with megan of mimi+meg today as part of her faboosh my city column.

come check out some of my favorite places in kc!

things i'm afraid to tell you

so it all started when jess wrote this post on letting down the walls and talking about real life. no pretty pictures, no styled shoots depicting the glamorous aspects of one's day, no inspiration for the sake of inspiration. just real facts about the girl behind the blog. then ez was good enough to organize a movement of sorts, which i actually attempted to write a post for, but missed the deadline. mostly because i was a bit too afraid to hit publish. was i saying too much? was i (as usual) just being self-critical vs sharing things that others (you) could relate to? would i alienate all of these people that come to BIA everyday simply to find inspiration? so i never posted, but the idea festered. by the time megan initiated another wave, i knew exactly what i was really afraid to tell you (and myself).

i'm afraid to tell you that i need some time away from blogging. over the last few months, i've been able to identify some dreams that i'd like to chase. they're big, lofty, gutsy dreams and i want to make them come true. however, what i'm spending my days doing and talking about aren't things that entirely complement those dreams, and they need to if i want a chance at making them real. i think it will take stepping away to be thoughtful about a new direction and intentional in my content to get that shiz rolling. i'm not talking about a complete departure from what BIA has always been - in fact, this little space was instrumental in figuring out what my true talents are and how i can best leverage them. i.e. with your help, i've learned that i'm hella good at some things, and everyone knows that you should play to your strengths. so that's what i intend to do. i just haven't had the time or energy to get my bearings and start spinning things to best reflect my vision the way that i'd hoped to be doing by now.

i have no idea how long i'll be gone. i'll probably still have to stop in from time to time, because i don't know if i can completely be without this space (according to my mom, i won't last long. i've cried wolf to her before). plus, there are things like girls dinner and guest columns to share. i do know that i'm not the only one that will love what's going on around here when i get back, so don't go giving up on me. there's way more awesome to come. ox



other participating bloggers for wave #2 of things i'm afraid to tell you:
Coco + Kelley / Court & Hudson / Sacramento Street / My Cup of Te / Blog / MIMI+MEG / The Decorista / Modern Eve / Apartment 34 / Design Blahg / Vmac & Cheese / Miles to Style / Life in a Venti Cup  / The Zhush / Radiant Republic / Savvy Home / The Doctor's Closet / Design Manifest / {extra}ordinary wonders / Sparkling Footsteps / Hitha On The Go / Note To Self / So Much To Smile About / Blogstar / The Goods Design / Style & Pepper / Small Shop Studio  / Long Distance Loving / Maggie Rose Blog / The City Girl In Me / The Best Laid Plans / Concrete Jungle DC / Food Fashion Fitness / East Coast Chic

thanks again to jess for her initial post, and to ez for starting the movement. this is so refreshing!

bloggers that participated in ez's wave #1 of things i'm afraid to tell you:
Design for Mankind | Little Brown Pen | Beautiful Hello | Curating Style | Sweet Fine Day | The Jealous Curator | Happy Days | Sage & Berries | Really Handmade | Peck Life | Satsuma Press | Rena Tom | For the Easily Distracted | The Hemborg Wife | Vitamini Handmade | Courtney Khail Stationery and Design | Meg in Progress | Dando Photography Blog | Widdershins22 | Alison Citron | Pink Moon Daily | Just Pretty Things | From China Village | Tea with Me | The Darling Ewe | Not Your Average Ordinary | The Electric Typewriter | Elleby Design | Parsimonia {Secondhand With Style} | Life as an Artistpreneur | Hello Cupcake | Dellie | The A & B Stories | Pretty Little Things | Feistyelle | Nib & Zed | Well and Cheaply | I Ripple. I Dance. | Whitfield Awesome Blog | Foxtrot Press | Dry As Toast | The List of Now | Apple Blue | For the Love of | Four Flights of Fancy | Miss Modish | Snapshots & Secrets | Dirty Laundry | Bubby & Bean | Penelope's Press | Little Nostalgia | Vale Design | Pikaland | Fleurishing | Print Pretty | Vespa Tales | Hazel & Agnes | Amanda's Musings | Mo' Funk Designs | Ordinary Mommy | Camp 1899 | In Honor of Design | Liberty's Yarn | Love, Life & Pictures | Stacey Winters | Owl in the Rain | Living Life Creatively | Emma Elizabeth Clease | I Live in Vacouver Now | British Cream Tea

the house // monday sneak peek

g's room is coming right along . . .

the color is martha stewart kalamata olive, and it is pure gloriousness.
it looks sort of blue in the bottom picture; the first is more accurate.

remember my inspiration? we're still in need of many things
- four poster bedframe
- bedding (that she hasn't been using since she was 6)
- side table
- second suitable lamp
- seating
- dresser
- art
- possibly ceiling paint

you know, not much. just a few things...

type tuesday // P.A.R. ... and thoughts on simplifying

i am gravitating towards simplicity like crazy lately. i'm fairly certain it's an indication of what i'm craving in my life.

 after a couple weeks of trying hard to be plugged into social media less and focus on the world around me more, i'm starting to gain some clarity around what i want the next few years of my life to look like.

getting back into an exercise routine is tops on my list right now. it's been waaaaay longer than any human being should go without regular exercise, and i honestly believe it has changed my chemical makeup. (yes, that's possible.)

which should explain the sporatic posting of late, and probably a bit more in the coming weeks as i try to establish new routine that includes exercise, time away from my computer, decorating instead of speculating and, hopefully, a few weekend trips as spring sets in.

what say you about how to do it all? i suspect we all struggle from time to time with managing our schedules and achieving goals. is anyone else like me, constantly reassessing what's most important?

images via P.A.R.

i would love to hear how you guys attempt to keep things simple - or at least get back to center - in your own lives.

the ones that got away, part 2

i finally feel like i'm in a place to stop looking so much and start buying. furniture, that is. i have quite a talent for buying any and all unnecessary accessories that i come in contact with. what i need to be doing is saving for the wallet gaugers like rugs and furniture.

unfortunately, when i went back for some of these, they'd already been snatched up. c'est la vie.

**  warning: camera phone images  **

wants to be painted and be souped up with some new hardware.
wish we needed it because it was a good deal. would be cool to see it transform.

practically RAN over to this when i saw it, but was disappointed in the quality.

loved this painting (jenny could do this for you).
the vignette was kinda cute, i thought.

delicious french chairs.
can we please talk about the frog planter?

still thinking about this for G's room. i want a desk as one of her side tables. the gold leaf detail stole me heart.
would look good with a victoria ghost chair, wouldn't it?

cool bed. great price.
i don't think G likes the idea of a poster bed, though.

$40! i need to open an etsy shop.

surprisingly awesome in person. super deep and comfy.

mmmmmmmm.

aren't these popular? you could campaign that up in no time.

would you believe these are still there?!?!!
does that mean they want to come home with me?

already in a great fabric. score!
no pillow, please.

i measured this twice, i wanted it to work so badly. alas, it's too big for where i need it to go.

would make for a fun and pretty easy DIY. super cheap.

I DIE FOR THIS!!!! very KW, no?
i want it reeeeeeeally bad, but the only place i can think for it to go is the family room.
and mama doesn't need any more full upholstered anything in there.
i almost want to get it just to see eric's face. haha!

love these for our master bedside tables.

hellooooooo, lover.

this got my attention the first time, but i wasn't as impressed when i went back.
bistro tabletop turned wall art.

i can't seem to get into foo dogs, but couldn't overlook this display.

and because every household has one:

all images // tobe reed for because it's awesome

if you missed the first edition of things that got away, here you go.

also, you can find me over at buckets and bunches today, filling in for an almost-married Chelsea. i'm talking about one of my design home bases, modern earthy glam.

happy monday, peeps!

quiet sunday afternoon

playing around with the camera.

isn't she the sweetest thing you've ever seen?

hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

someone has an awesome husband

before the holiday gets too far gone, i have to give my mr. some serious props for how adorable he was last week. a certain (joking) demanding someone declared that she wanted an ombre layer cake for valentine's day instead of flowers or any kind of gift this year (we don't generally do gifts for v-day anyway).

i think we can all agree that was a solid request, no?

much to my surprise and total delight, the man came through in spades.

he made that shiz.

that's edible gold glitter in the glaze, friends.

seriously. if you guys knew my husband, you would know that this is confirmation that he can do absolutely anything.

unfortunately for him, this means his honey-do list just got longer.

gentlemen, that's what happens when you give in to your lady's whims.

and, yes, i'm dedicating an entire post to my sweet husband and his cake skillz.

what's not awesome? taxes.

honestly. i'd rather be contributing to a cig collection than dealing with this time of year.

artist jeremy zini's home via an afternoon with... (which is incredible, btdubs)

raise your hand if you get down with doing your taxes.

truth is, i used to do my own. and i took great joy in the challenge.

one year i even did my own and then took them somewhere to make sure i was as awesome as i thought.

i am was.

but then came along a husband (they complicate everything).

and a legitimized partnership (love you, jess).

and last year damn near gave me a permanent disorder.

more extreme hilarity

so this year i'm determined to maintain zen.

of course, i haven't had my appointment with my tax man, so my left eye isn't twitching yet.

i do tonight, though.

wish me luck.

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