It's Fashionably Friday!

TGIF!!  Hope you and yours had a very happy and spooky Halloween!  I had a wedding rehearsal last night, so I went as a wedding planner.  Ha.

I may have mentioned before that I spend quite a bit of time in yoga pants and other workout related attire.  Is that because I'm a maniac with my fitness routine.  Noooooo.  It's because they are comfy. And easy.  But it's fall, my favorite time of year to shop, and I'm obsessed with this look seen on the enviously fashionable Olivia Palermo:

Seriously cute, and oh-so-fashionable.  And don't they look a teeny tiny bit like workout pants?  :D

What's on your fall fashion wish list?

Have a great weekend!
xo
d.

Keeping it Real - November to-do List

Hi Folks!  Wedding season is almost over (it's been a good one!) and I feel like I'm emerging from a cocoon only to see my home lying in shambles around me.  The piles of papers are mammoth, and my hubby has been more than patient with the amount of wedding detritus that gets loaded in and out of my office on a weekly basis.

There are multiple home-improvement projects on my to-do list for the wedding off-season, so in an effort to motivate myself and keep me on track, I'm posting my November to-do list with before pictures (gasp!) to keep me honest.

We always host Thanksgiving at our home for various friends.  Neither of us savors the idea of traveling to our respective home states for turkey day, so the party planner in me can't help but want to throw a little get-together here in LA.  This Thanksgiving celebration will be doubly good because it happens to be hubby's 41st birthday that day (he'll die when he sees that I've outed him age-wise).

That was a long way of saying there are a few things I want to finish before Thanksgiving, so without further ado, here is my short list:

First project:  Finish Gallery Wall - just a few things left to do:  Print out last few photos for empty frames, decide definitively which wall to use (there are 2 walls under consideration), and finally, hang the darn things!  Doesn't seem daunting at all, until you consider that the frames and photos have been laying in various stacks and piles (and sometimes moved from one pile to another) for months.  No, really, months.  See exhibit A-  Gallery Wall Before Photo:

Exhibit A - Gallery wall in the making

Project 2 is a little more daunting:  re-finish and re-cover kitchen dining chairs.  In the vein of keeping it real, I've had these chairs for at least 4 years...and they've been in this condition that whole time. I'm sure if you know me in real life you've seen these chairs and wondered what's up with the gross chairs.

Well, I love 'em.  Except for the bad seat and back covers.  I have no idea what this style of chair is called, but I got them for $7 each at a thrift shop, and I loved the curved back and classic style.  To spruce them up, I'm planning to sand and re-stain them all in a pecan finish, recover the seat and back rest covers in a charcoal grey velvet-like material, and clean up the existing nail heads (they look like brass) to re-use.  Wish me luck!

Seems do-able, right?  I've got exactly one month to get everything done.  Wish me luck!  I'll report back as I progress with more photos.

Do you have fall projects you'd like to share?

xoxo
d.

Currently obsessed with....

The sputnik/urchin lamp by Arteriors.  I'm in love, and dream about this lovely hanging above the Saarinen  oval dining table.  My only dilemma - marble topped or wood-topped table? Which one do you like?

images:  arteriors chandelier via; Saarinen tables wood via, marble top via 

Make it Work Monday...

Perfect outfit for a chilly, laid-back post wedding-weekend Monday.  Here's to another great week!

image via 

Dear Blog, I miss you.

my dream office

As you may have noticed, I have yet to master the ability to post fresh content every day.  Or even every week.  I want to!  I really do!  But life keeps getting in the way.  I wish I could profess to having so many adventures going on that I've been unable to blog.  In reality, it's work that is keeping me otherwise occupied.  But dear blog, oh how I miss you.

I assume the blog readers are, for the most part, also blog writers, so I'm sure you understand.  That said, I know how disappointed I am when I click on my favorite blogs and see something I've already read.  And if you're dissecting that sentence, yes, you read it correctly, I click on blogs rather than use a reader.  I have them bookmarked on my iPad and spend the first part of my day perusing my favorites.  It's just what I do...let it go.  I have been hearing rumors that Google reader is going away anyway, so see, what has really happened is that I've avoided the heartbreak of learning how to use it only to have it ripped out of my hands.  Point for me! Winner!

Anyhooo...back to my original thoughts on blogging:  Blogging is hard!  But I love it.  And, I decided early on that rather than deciding two weeks out what I'm going to write about, I write about what's on my mind or what is inspiring me that day.  This planner hasn't been a planner when it comes to blogging.  That may have to will change.

So tell me, how do you blog?  Are you a post planner, or a post winger like me?  I'd love to hear tips and tricks!

Until next time...
xo
d.

photo via

Sending Love Eastward Today

One Year Ago Today...

...was the happiest day of my life.  Thank you for a wonderful first year, Mr. Nice!  I look forward to many, many more.  I love you!

Have a great weekend!
xo
d.

Currently Reading...

I love to read.  It's escapism at it's best - I often feel a strong desire to visit the places I read about, that's how into the books I usually get.  Currently, I'm reading Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.  It's set in Ethiopia with jaunts to India and the U.S.  I had a bit of a hard time getting started, but now I'm in deep and addicted!  I could easily blow-off my work day and sit and read, that's how good it is.  I highly recommend it!

What are you currently reading?

And, question:  do you like to read actual books, or do you use an e-reader?  Personally, I fought the e-reader for years until Mr. Nice gave me an iPad, and now I'm sold!  Since I often have my iPad with me wherever I go, that also means I have a book with me wherever I go.  Love it so much that when we have gift-giving opportunities, I always ask for gift cards to load-up my account so I can buy books to my hearts content.

Lucky me, tomorrow just happens to be one of those gift-giving opportunities for us!  Stay tuned!

xo
d.

Inspired by...DVF

xo
d.

via pinterest.

White Denim Duds

I am SO ready for spring and the change of wardrobe that comes with it.  More specifically, I'm ready to pull my white jeans out of the closet.  I love my white jeans, and I feel dramatically more pulled-together wearing white than when sporting regular ol denim.

Some looks I'm planning to rock over the next few months:

Because spring is so transitional in Los Angeles, I can still pull off sweaters, but pairing them with white jeans makes them feel fresh.

Classically chic (and I would do almost anything to have her hair!).

Another Classic Look - chambray button-down with white jeans.  So crisp!

This feels a little more dressed-up to me - good for client meetings or drinks out.

This feels like dinner with my honey - and I may just wear this look Friday night as we celebrate our one-year anniversary!

Happy Monday!
xo
d.

all photos via my Pinterest page.

A Little Extra Something

A little extra something has recently started following me around.  It's annoying.  It's unwelcome.  It's name is five extra pounds.  Oh how I wish it would just leave me alone!

I blame myself (I mean really, who else could I blame?).  Since the holidays I've become a real slave to my desk.  I've convinced myself that if I'm away for an hour the world will blow up.  It's my excuse to forgo working out during the day, and in the evenings I'm worn out from sitting at my desk all day (and from NOT exercising) so I veg on the couch.

So today, I decided that my five new little frenemies need to be banished.  I started the day right - 45 minutes of cardio and 2 large glasses of water (because it's good for you, and because it's the other thing I've stopped doing since working from home).  Lunch will be a salad, and dinner something light. That's the other thing I'm horrible at - planning meals (ironic, since I'm an event planner!).  So in addition to taking time away from the desk for exercise today, I also plan to take a trip to the market for groceries (gasp!).

(the inspiration photo - healthy!)  via

I'd love to hear how you deal with those extra pounds that seemingly come out of nowhere!

Have a great (healthy) day!
xo
d.

Motivation, Where art Thou?

I'm struggling today.  Struggling to find the motivation to tackle my to-do list, when I'd rather be tackling my wish list.  I think I might have a case of spring fever - very apropos on this first day of spring!

Here is where I'd like to be:

via

Instead, I'm here....

via

(except my mess is not quite so pretty!)

Le sigh....

The good news is that I love what I do, so I can handle a little spring fever.  And tomorrow, I might just be able to carve out a little balcony time!

Happy Spring!

xo

d.

Pillow Paralysis

Dear blogosphere,
Help!  I am a long-time sufferer of pillow paralysis.  That's right, that's a real bona-fide disease (in my mind at least).  The symptoms:  pillow envy, pillow planning, pillow shopping, followed by acute inability to commit to said pillows.  Argh!!

via

See, I love the idea of mixing and matching different colors, patterns, textures of pillows on my sofa.  I've pinned dozens of beautiful images on my Pinterest page.  Every blog article I read that provides links to the source of their pillows is clicked by me.  I even go so far as to place loads of pillows in various online shopping carts.  Almost immediately, though, I have second thoughts and doubts begin to creep in.  Is this the right pillow for me.  Will I love it once I have it in my hands.  Will it love me back (wait, different post...).  Will Mr. Nice love it (ok, I'll admit he probably won't notice until I prompt him).  Ahhhhhh I drive myself crazy over pillows.

via

Why oh why can't I just choose a few and live with them?!

via

I think I know what the problem is....there are too many lovely shades, shapes and colors out there, and I don't know who I am, pillow-wise.

via

Am I cool and chic as shown above?  Or do I want that elusive mix of patterns that don't match, but go with each other.  What a dilemma!

Can anyone recommend a good pillow therapist?

xo
d.

You've "goat" to see this!

Happy Friday!  It's been a crazy week, and I'm happy to see the hands of the clock moving swiftly toward 5 p.m.

I came across this video yesterday and am still laughing.  Mr. Nice almost fell off his chair laughing last night when I showed this to him.  I hope you enjoy it as much as he did!

What can I say...it's been a tough week....

Happy Friday!
xo
d.

Lately....

A few shots of where I've been lately...
1.  Selfie head-shot after getting my hairs did for the real head-shot photoshoot.
2.  Site visits for weddings.
3.  My love Mister Teddy Bear.
4.  Mr. Nice and I have been burning the fireplace regularly this winter - so cozy.
5.  One of my new head-shots by the fabulous Nicole Greenberg.
6.  Site visits for corporate events.
7.  My sleep angel Zoey.
8.  Valentine's flowers from my love.
9.  Lady Gaga with my bestie, Kendy.

I PROMISE to be back more often.  Lots to talk about!

xoxox
d.

all photos property of me! (with the exception of number 5).