Trick or treat

First of all, Happy Halloween! And I hope you are all out having fun, unlike your loyal blogger who is sitting at home studying for her online midterm that must be completed by tomorrow. This week has been stressful and it all began when I got sick on Monday. The highlight of my week was going on a walk with my parents tonight and watching all the little kids dressed up in costumes with their parents. I swear, the parents enjoy it just as much as the kids. I can't wait to move to Franklin, Tennessee and live in a victorian house and pass out candy to all the children. I think I'll dress up like the Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz. I'll make a mental note of that. Anyway, here are a few pictures of my Masquerade Dinner Party that was held last Saturday. I personally dig my owl mask.

November already?!

There are approximately three hours left in October 2008. November already?! How can it be? Here in Arizona it still feels like September with the temperatures still in the high 80s. It's dreadful. But on a more positive note, I received my Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine in the mail today. I instantly fell in love with the pictures featuring brightly-colored Christmas decorations. Is it too soon to be dreaming about Christmas when Thanksgiving has yet to arrive? I think not. My favorite article was definitely Joy to the Girls, which features sparkling pink and blue decorations. I'm loving the ornaments.

Letters from friends

I love receiving letters from my friend Gwenie and writing letters as well. The above pictures are shots I took of my bulletin board. The first shows an envelope Gwenie decorated for me with Gossip Girl quotes. The second picture, in the top left corner, is a pink letter she wrote. I loved the lettering! I've always been a fan of art and creating. And I think writing a letter is a perfect way to create art for your friends.

P.S. I just love this Gossip Girl quote that was written on the envelope.

Chuck: If I knew his name, I'd kill him.

Nate: Because you kill people now? What, you gonna hunt him down with your scarf?

Chuck: Don't mock the scarf, Nathaniel. It's my signature.

Antique makeover

This was a project I was working on over summer break. I found an antique photo album at an antique shop. And I decided to redesign it with gems, scrapbook paper and stickers. The cover is a faded blue, but the back of the album still has its original, beautiful color. I am in love with the novelesque (yes i know this isn't a word) design of antique photo albums and wish I could find a modern album with a similar design.

Twilight coming soon!

November 21st is less than a month away! Yes, I am a fan of the Twilight series. I'm not too obsessed like most loyal fans, although I do understand their obsession. I don't have any Twilight posters and I haven't read the fifth book online. But I do love the books. The first and last were my favorite. And I'm thinking that there's no way the movie will ever compare to the books. After all the Edward I imagined is much more attractive than Robert Pattinson. No offense to him. Also, I came across this site for Twilight fans and I love it and would also like to credit the site for the pictures above!

Nicholas Sparks movies = Tear-jerkers

Why are Nicholas Sparks movies so sad? I have returned from seeing the movie Nights in Rodanthe with my aunt. And of course we were both bawling throughout the movie. Some audience members actually had to gasp for breath in between sobs. A Walk To Remember, Message in a Bottle, The Notebook, and now this. I'll admit it. I've cried through them all. Maybe that's because the movies are realistic with no cheesy chick flick ending. So if you're wanting to see a Nicholas Sparks movie, I would highly advise you to keep a box of tissues nearby. Trust me, you'll need them.

Masquerade preparation

I'm waiting to go grocery shopping for my dinner party that I am hosting tomorrow night. Throughout the year I host several dinner parties for my close friends. The last one was an unbirthday party with a Maddhatter theme. For tomorrow's party, I'm looking forward to seeing the nifty masks my friends have selected to wear. Lots of decorating left to do. White netting is soaking in black dye at the moment, and I still have my velvet pumpkins to finish putting together. Oy.

Razmataz

One of my favorite stores is Arizona's very own Razmataz. My mom and I first discovered this store about four or five years ago. And now our house is full of its castle-like furniture. An entertainment center, dining room table, iron bedframe and a ridiculously large bookcase are some of the purchases my parents have made over the years. In fact, I am now sitting at the dining room table pictured above. Also, be sure to check out the website that is finally up and running! But I also highly recommend all Arizona residents to visit this unique store that has several locations around the Valley.

Short and sweet

I decided today's entry would be short and sweet. Someone I don't even know by name gave me this advice: Just be yourself. And I thank her for these simple words. So here's to being me. And I'd like to send along these simple words to you as well.

An all day project

I've been running about all day completing errands. Internship interviews on Friday! So this means putting together portfolios all day and editing my Web site. I must say it turned out lovely. I believe in professional, quality work and like things put together nicely and neatly. Anyway, I've been printing, editing, and typing all day long while humming Cinderella songs (the one where the mice are singing while they complete her dress). A bit appropriate, since I am also trying to get things done. Believe it or not, this is what I enjoy doing. I like these types of projects- the ones that are simple, but require me to run around like a chicken with its head cut off.

I've recently ordered the business cards featured above from Etsy. I wanted something professional that still had personality. Although Avie designed new cards just today, so I'm a bit disappointed I didn't wait to order her newest designs instead. But oh well. Some day I'll get around to making my own, but I'm too busy at the moment to dive into all that fun.

Country Couture

Am I the only one envious of Taylor Swift? She wears dresses that look like they are straight out of a fairytale. In her music video Teardrops On My Guitar and Love Story (my favorite song at the moment btw!) she is wearing two of the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen. Simply glamorous. Taylor Swift's fashion attire makes her appear as if she were the princess of country music. I'm sure many would agree that she is, indeed, just that.

xoxo, Lorick

Abigail Lorick is the fashion mastermind behind some of the clothing featured in Gossip Girl. Her pieces are reminiscent of old Hollywood. A modernized Audrey Hepburn comes to mind or, really, Blair Waldorf herself. But while Blair frolics about wearing these designs, it is Lorick's story that reminds me a bit of the little Jenny Humphrey. At 18, Lorick was a model in Milan and later studied fashion in New York. At the same time she was designing T.S. Dixin's entire collection. Sounds a bit like Jenny designing for Eleanor Waldorf's fashion line, no?

Victorian delicacy

Marie Antoinette takes the cake for most eloquent film set. The victorian outfits and furniture were enough reason for me to watch the movie. The plot isn't wonderful. But the scenery, fashion, food, and palace are to die for. My favorite scene is performed as I Want Candy plays in the background. A perfect song for this scene since the clothing and jewelry, and not just the food, looks simply delicious and exquisite. And the hair, complete with feathers and bird ornaments, is extremely glamourous.

A Blissfest event

I have piles of homework to do, but nonetheless I took a break for a few hours today to attend the Blissfest, an event hosted by Domestic Bliss that my mother and I have planned on attending for the past few weeks or so. And a blissfest it was. Each booth offered the most charming and unique designs. I fell in love with much of the jewelry, headbands, paintings, and antiques. Some favorites were Mosaic Cottage, Olive Annie, Beth Quinn Designs, Arranging Elegance, and Persnicketies. We left the event with a headband, three pieces of jewelry, an adorable pin board, and a lamp. I loved much more. But I defintely got some new design ideas myself.

Adventures in Franklin

Oh Franklin, Tennessee. One of my favorite places in the world, I must say. I hope to live there one day. I love the indie shops that align the antique square. Not to mention the brightly colored, lucious Ben & Jerry's. My mother and I have made it our tradition to stop by this lovely town every time we visit the wonderful state of Tennessee. One of my favorite stores I visited this past summer was Rock Paper Scissors. I was able to snap some pictures of this modern shop (see first two photos above!) The victorian houses with the iron-rod fences are also magnificent. It's no wonder this place is a home for several country singers who wish to escape the busy-ness of Nashville. No doubt that the whole city is a delight.

A delicate masterpiece

These delicate masterpieces are simply fascinating. The talented Su Blackwell is the creator of these beautiful pieces of art- Alice in Wonderland's Maddhatter Tea Party and Wildflowers. Blackwell's creations bring the reader's imagination to life. In the artist statement she wrote, "It is the delicacy, the slight feeling of claustrophobia, as if these characters, the landscape have been trapped inside the book all this time and are now suddenly released."

I am Eloise. I am six. I live at the Plaza.

It was just a few years ago that I found myself walking about Barnes and Noble in search of any book that might catch my interest. That's when I stumbled upon the adorable six-year-old Eloise. It was the pink and black shiny book cover that caught my attention, but it was the gramatically-challenged (after all, she's only six!) child that invites you into a world full of fun and giggles who is the real treasure. While Kay Thompson may have wrote the book for children, adults will find Eloise to be an absolute joy. I have fallen in love love love with the books and now own the complete series. Not to mention, in my bedroom I have a framed Eloise poster hung over my fireplace. And if one day I have a daughter, there is no doubt that her room will have an Eloise theme.

Bright tights, big city

So there are a few things I'm loving this season. First of all, bright tights make a bold statement, which is perhaps why I haven't worn them. Nonetheless, I think they are rad. Also rad are leather jackets, which I think is a must for the fall and winter season. I'm in love with this jacket that can be purchased at Express. Sadly, it's much too pricey. And finally, I'm loving heels that look like they could be mistaken for a weapon. I must say, Jessica Simpson pumps and booties make a killer fashion statement. Perhaps if I would stop caring about how freakishly tall I look in heels, I might just find myself wearing them one day. If anything else, I could use a pair to defend myself (if needed) while walking to my car in downtown.