{travel inspiration: tahitian dreams}

. . . once there was the grandest cruise ship and sunny, exotic islands far away -- barbados & st.lucia and other such magical places of white sand and swaying palm trees, champagne and oysters at midnight and the moon reflected in the night waters . . . but since, a city-adoring and wanderlust heart has only traipsed narrow cobblestone streets and gilded opera houses, preferring museums and galleries and sidewalk cafés . . . but every once in a while, when the whether begins to change, the enchantment of the islands beckon . . .

{images: pia miller by darren mcdonald on location in bora bora pearl beach resort & spa, styling by karissa fanning; via studded hearts, originally from the lane}

{have a magical weekend + links}

. . . with these blustery days and tousled hair, it is very possible that dreams may fall out . . . early sunday morning and the golden september sun has filled the air with a million possibilities and it is in these quiet moments, between sleep and awake, that dreams and thoughts intermingle and a new adventure is about to begin . . .

hope you're having a wonderfully magical weekend and that it's beautiful where you are,
xo

{a few lovely links:}
* tabletop: pretty, pretty plates
* design: custom for your bicycle
* at home: gilt mirrors & chandeliers
* fashion inspiration: trench coats & polka dots
* perfectly lovely: striped awnings
* more to come after brunch . . .

{as always, a few things you may have missed:}
* décor inspiration: seashells & leopard print
* fashion inspiration: a little romance
* two lovely things: luxurious textures
* hello: queen anne's lace & marigold capelets
* runway: sophisticated seventies
* colour inspiration: gold & lilac
* fashion inspiration: let's go out tonight
* interior designer: tom scheerer
* for autumn: gold lamé & black velvet
* travel: paris, london, italy, new york

{& new for the weekend:}
* artist: carly waito, oil on masonite
* runway inspiration: j. mendel
* at home with: fashion designer jennifer nicholson
* two lovely things: mirrors & chandeliers

{image: a glamorous little side project & a previous post}

{have an enchanting summer weekend + links}

. . . the weekend is off to a perfect start, with friday night's late dinner reservations on a candle-lit terrace -- oysters to start, and wild pacific halibut with sugar snap pea, fava bean, succhini, potato & housemade country ham hash with citrus braised endive & chanterelle mushroom relish & lobster broth -- and for dessert, a bittersweet chocolate tart with peanut butter mousse and summer peaches . . . and still so many wonderfully exciting things to look forward to -- perhaps a last-minute flight to nyc for a rooftop cocktail party, late-august travel plans and don't summer weekends always feel so full of endless possibilities?

hope you're having an impossibly beautiful weekend,
xo

{p.s.} photographs of our countryside picnic next week . . .

{a few lovely links:}
* summer inspiration: screened porches
* recipe: tarte aux figues
* fashion inspiration: giovanna
* how to: stripping furniture
* silver screen: sweet sunday mornings
* recipe: nectarine & fennel salad
* travel: barcelona
* download: summer floral gift tags
* photography: in the kitchen

{as always, a few things you may have missed:}
* hello & glamorous gold velvet
* fashion inspiration: always chloé
* inspiration: greek islands
* monday, monday & a new week
* beautiful details: paint-dipped baskets
* room inspiration: vintage wallpaper

{& new for the weekend:}
* hello & late summer sunshine
* interior designer: miles redd

{nika lauraitis by max abadian for flare may 2010 via oh & the side project}

{late-summer sunshine}

. . . one of those mornings where a million things are happening at once and the week has gotten away a little . . . a few lovely things planned for the day as well as weekend wishes & links later on, and before we know it, another summer weekend . . .

{anja rubik by carter smith via studded hearts, also here}

{have a sundrenched weekend + links}

. . . hello! hope you are well, and had meant send along a few lovely links on friday, but sometimes even the best-made plans can fall by the wayside, and now, away, away for a perfectly wonderful few days, but a quick hello to send along fondest weekend wishes . . .

hope it's beautiful where you are,
xo

{a few lovely links:}
* travel: to sleep in the open air
* recipe: nutella doughnuts
* fascinating: historic russian homes
* diy: photo wall {via creature comforts}
* summertime inspiration: going on a picnic & sunday in the park
* perfectly pretty: french nurseries
* design: maps that fit your style
* home inspiration: mirror, mirror
* celebrate: a summertime party
* just in time for wimbledon: love all
* fond farewell: last of the peonies {via prettygood}

{as always, some things this week you may have missed:}
* hello: out the door & thursday thoughts
* hazy summer days: play of light & shadow
* lace bangle set give-away: and the winner is . . .
* blog inspiration: linen & lavender
* a new week: happy monday!
* first day of summer: italian silk & manicured gardens
* at home with: freunde von freunden
* hello: & a few things

{& new for the weekend:}
* pure romance: a tiny victorian cottage

{images: laura ponte, laura hayden & oriol elcacho by manuel outumuro for marie claire spain, june 2010}

{colour inspiration: olive & dusky taupe}

. . . summertime always reminds me of warm & woodsy earth tones, shades of chardonnay and riverside moss, mediterranean olive and dusky taupe, and the colour of early morning mist, lush and languid and perfect complements for crashing waves and sunkissed skin . . .

{images: 1 - greige; 2 - photography by chris benton via aubrey road; 3 - photography by peo eriksson for world of interiors via natural history; 4 - definitely golden}

{a charming mix of things - three}

. . . oftentimes things come together perfectly and there is endless inspiration at every turn, but sometimes, and especially during exceptionally busy weeks, inspiration is elusive . . . happily, one thing that fell beautifully into place was this collection of fluttering thoughts -- and so, on this early friday morning: a charming mix of things . . .

. . . cozy reading corners



. . . raindrops on the ocean


. . . smokey eyes & windswept hair


. . . seaside inspiration


. . . pretty underthings {from agent provacateur}


. . . skylights



. . . white blouses & summer sandals


. . . perfectly ornate


. . . eiffel tower pillow cover {via ephemerette}


. . . topknots & lacy summer dresses


. . . fires in the springtime {via ephemerette}


. . . pretty packaging


. . . elegantly hidden



. . . gracefully gilded {via aubrey road}


. . . chandeliers in entryways


. . . palest pink seashells


. . . palest pink lace {via definitely golden}


. . . grand ballrooms



. . . masquerade balls


. . . settes & staircases


. . . sea & sky


. . . secret doorways


. . . always & forever, butterflies


. . . and these french words -- il n'est jamais trop tard pour être ce que tu veux être: it is never too late to be what you want to be . . .

*****************

{p.s.} past collections > original | one | two


{top image via [design] relevant], masquerade ball photographed by steven meisel, natalia vodianova photographed by michael thompson for w magazine march 2005, french print discovered via madebygirl}