Guilty Pleasures - Wedded Details

If you're a regular reader you are probably aware that 1) I am currently living a lovely life abroad, backpacking through Europe, and 2) have a dirty little habit of reading wedding magazines whenever I travel, regardless the distance. 

Now, thanks to the internet and Pinterest, I don't need to wait for a flight to peruse gorgeous wedding photos and today I'm going to share a few of my recent favorites. 

1. Photos in a Nursery - I think this is such a creative and less expensive alternative for beautiful wedding photos bursting with colourful blooms.

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2. Lace, Lace, and More Lace - Delicate shawls, layered over incredibly feminine white lace bridesmaid dresses, make this entire look incredibly soft and romantic

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3. Props to the Rescue -  I'm a sucker for a good photo booth and the fabulous, somewhat candid photos they can produce. These photos are even more fun, and spontaneous, with some fabulous props. I really love the superhero props below, as well as the bright sunglasses further down to add a touch of fun to photos and pull double duty during a shade-less ceremony.

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4. Everlasting Favors - I adore the idea of a gift that isn't wasteful, after putting all of our belongings in storage we quickly realized how much "stuff" we accumulated over two short years. These tree saplings are not only good for the environment but are long lasting and a cool alternative to Jordan Almonds.

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Sometimes I get strange looks when people find out I'm perusing a wedding magazine without any desire to plan a wedding in the near future - for me it's more about admiring the lovely little ideas and gorgeous DIY ideas than the fact that they are for a wedding. If there were event planning magazines full of the same ideas for birthday parties, graduations, and anniversaries I'd be reading those too.

And by the way, you can always check in on our travel progress over here.

Enjoy!

Calli

Thanksgiving Blues

Family and friends back in Canada celebrated Thanksgiving this past weekend - well I guess the whole country actually celebrated, but they weren't mocking me via facebook with delicious pictures of turkey and pie. It's ok though because I had a wonderfully cheap ham and cheese bunwich* here in Lisbon, and I didn't have to deal with pangs of regret that always accompany the return to work after a long weekend. 

However now pumpkin pie cravings have set in - along with daydreams of crisp fall days, snuggling under a blanket, and the eventual stress of deciding on and making a Halloween costume at the last minute. My mind is all confused, it's October and thirty degrees outside, what's going on? I feel the need to bake up a pie, grab a warm cup of tea, and dig in until everything in the world is right again (eating pie solves everything am I right?). Although I can't really make a pie right now, all of you can indulge in an extra piece for me and also enjoy a bit of fall inspiration...

The perfect fall picnic via

Love the orange and blue together via

Almost too pretty to eat via

Happy Thanksgiving!

*It's a sandwich made with a bun instead of two pieces of bread, obviously. I shouldn't have to explain but my boyfriend claims it isn't a real word and I'm crazy.

A Bit of Brilliance - Glorious Santorini

Our tour of Europe made a stop over in Santorini last week and although far too short in duration, the little island has made a lasting impact and can't wait to return. 

I also can't seem to shake the gorgeous white and blue hues that dot the cliffside from my mind, and the way the whites change as the sun moves throughout the day, especially leading up to sunset. White and blue is a classic palette that can often feel overly nautical, however in Santorini everything feels crisp, modern, and at times very glamorous.

See what I mean? Get my point? Do you catch what I'm laying down? Lots of clean lines, minimal embellishments, and the perfect amount of sea-inpired blue and white striped fabric (none, at all).  We actually passed quite a few lovely restaurants with mid-century inspired tables and seating, one even had the fabulous Louis Ghost Chairs I've been lusting after for years.

I can't think of a place on the island that portrays this minimalist mid-century mix better than Grace Santorini Hotel. No we didn't stay there, we didn't even seek our the lobby to have a peek inside - I admire better from afar (online stalking) - however I'd give up an appendage without a second thought , for just one night in their private Villa Room. 

All photos via Santorini Boutique Hotels

What a glorious gem, inside and out, in one of the most beautiful places I've ever had the chance to visit. Fair warning to the rest of Europe, this will be hard to match but I'm ready if you are.

Take care,

Calli

Kicked Up Classic - Photo Wall

You're probably quite familiar with the classic photo wall - they seem to be everywhere lately, even I couldn't resist installing a little ledge to display all my favorite frames and photos (with a little help from my dad). 

It's easy to understand the popularity of the tried and true photo wall, they're eye-catching and create a great focal point in a room, they also make use of multiple photos in a small chunk of wall space. However the common photo wall seems to be becoming a bit, well, common for my liking.

If you're looking for something refreshing and new, why not borrow some inspiration from some of the creative photo walls below?

My absolute favorite way to display photos at the moment, wrapping your photo wall around a corner is a modern approach that takes advantage of an awkward space and helps connect and transition between two rooms. If you're looking for an eclectic look mix and match frames; more modern? stick to black and white images and keep frames similar in style, shape, and size.

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If a frame-wrapped corner isn't for you, why not amplify things a bit? These gorgeous photo walls (on steroids) are a more modern take on the classic and are certainly attention grabbing. Too keep the look from becoming overpowering skip colour and opt for black and white photos in neutral frames. 

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And after all that, there's always the classic photo wall if you prefer to play it a bit safe. However you decide to showcase your family photos, they are sure to add a personal touch to your home that can't be found anywhere else. 

Enjoy,

Calli

London You're a Firework

Good morning and happy Monday! - I am especially chipper today as it marks my last official week of work, and the final countdown to a fabulous trip through Europe! I am in such good spirits, a humiliating bake-off defeat (at last night's cake baking throw down) can't even affect me right now - more on that when I feel up to talking about it (and have time to edit the pictures). 

I was also able to catch some of the closing ceremonies for the 2012 Olympic Games; London put on a fabulous show, with their "British musical tour" theme turning out to be a real gem of an idea. I loved watching all the performers, the Spice Girls took me back to elementary school for a minute or two, and I was completely wowed by the firework display.

Naturally, within hours of the ceremony there were pictures up online and as a want-to-be photographer, I consider fireworks photos the pinnacle, or Everest, of great photography. The images coming out of the closing ceremonies blew me away so I thought I'd share, for everyone to enjoy...

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As in any competition, there were highs and lows at the 2012 Olympics, however it's going to be hard to beat London's fabulous concert style closing ceremonies.

Enjoy!

Calli

On My Mind - 26.02.2012

Right now I can't stop thinking about... 

Patterned Tights - Sexy and graphic, yet subtle enough to wear before the sun goes down... I really love this pattern and, although ornate, they'd probably find a way into my wardrobe every now and then, especially on those "brave" days.

via Obaz

Hilarious Dog Photography -The underwater element takes these "pet" photos to another level - the moments photographer Seth Casteel was able to capture are spectacular. The complete joy and absolute commitment these dogs have for simply chasing a ball makes me want to put more effort into my own free time. 

via msn

Any & All Lemon Desserts - My mouth is watering just thinking about this Meyer Lemon Pudding Cake but I wouldn't turn down a coffee cake, cupcake, or cheesecake either. Heck at this point a lemon-blueberry muffin could curb my craving - for a minute or two. 

via The Vintage Mixer

Charm Friendship Bracelets - The bright bold colours have me thinking of spring and the little charms are just - charming. These are simply braided although I remember making more intricate versions as a teenager. Wonder if it's still cool to pin them to your jeans while you knot away?

via Quiet Lion

Summer! - I know it's only the end of February and summer is a few months off but without a sunny vacation this winter I'm jonesing for some warm rays. Also, this above ground pool is just plain cool and super inviting. 

via Bonytt

Here's to warmer days right around the corner. 

Have a lovely Monday,

Calli

Pin Crazy

It felt like forever (I'm rather impatient) but I'm finally going pin crazy over at Pinterest!

The lovely people over at Pinterest sent me an invite about a week ago and since then I've been getting my pin on! I was super excited to get started - which only made the waiting process feel that much longer.

And guess what? It's even better than I thought! Oh the inspiration - A girl could get lost in the gorgeous images...

Here are a few brilliant images I've found lately.

Pinterest

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Pinterest

You can check out my boards (yes that's plural - told you I was going pin crazy!) over here.

Enjoy!

Calli

Art Attack!

Following up from my post last Thursday on DIY Butterfly Punch Art, this week I am going to focus my blogging efforts on an assortment of other great ideas for wall art (think of it as a dessert buffet of sorts - little samples of all kinds of delicious treats).  

I am in all kinds of love with DIY art projects right now because, for the most part, I can do them inside while the weather outside leaves much to be desired. Making your own art is also great because it can be relatively inexpensive and (contrary to popular belief) you do NOT have to be an artist*.

*For all you non-believers scoffing at me right now - I am proof that you can make art without an ounce of artistic ability

I'm going to kick things off with my favorite kind of art - using your very own photos.  

Oh how I love this idea...it is extremely personal, gets those creative juices flowing, and offers endless options for theme, colour, size, shape...

Your Decorating Hotline

Yeah, Yeah, I've heard all the excuses... camera equipment can be expensive, I don't know what to photograph, there are a lot of complex settings that you need to understand to properly compose a great picture... 

The truth is that now days almost everyone has a basic point and shoot camera or camera phone that can be a great jumping off point (if a more advanced camera is out of reach). There are a million different photo ops each and every day and the Internet has an overwhelming amount of tutorials and articles about getting the most out of your camera.

Impromptu photo of dinner last summer

I was lucky enough to receive a Nikon DSL camera a couple Christmas' back and LOVE it! I still don't completely understand aperture and sometimes shoot on the auto setting but I am learning with each new picture I take - slowly and steadily. I also use Photoshop software to refine the pictures I take. Although I'm not a huge fan of overly edited photos (especially for wall art), I like that photo editing software lets me make subtle changes that have a huge impact.

My favorite kind of photos are black, white and oh so dramatic! Here are some photos on display (or in the process of making their way to the walls) at my house right now...

 

 

So go out this weekend and start taking some pictures - or look through what you already have. Photos of special people or places that you treasure are great because they act as a constant reminder. I gave my Dad framed prints of our dogs in black and white (like the one above) and he loves them. After you find a picture you love all you need to do is find a frame, get a print made to fit, and hang it up.

As a guideline - I focus on surrounding myself with what I love, be it a picture of friends and family, a random photo I snapped on a gorgeous day, or a picture with great colour or composition that I just really like to look at.

Enjoy!

Calli