Hi there! You are probably wondering why my blogging has been so sporadic. Well there is a good reason behind it…I’m rebranding and cleaning house from top to bottom. New look, new name, new site, new fonts, new colors {no more black!} ,and a new lifestyle blog. I thought by now it’s only fair that give you a peek at the my beautiful new logo!

{by Meant to Be Creative}

I am in love with it and so happy that Robyn of Meant to Be Creative was able to create a logo that is perfectly me! Robyn even found fonts that I just love! The colors and the playful allure of the new logo are just perfect for the new brand. The colors for the brand are bright, flirty, sophisticated, and fun! They range from blush to sunset, whisper to charcoal with an unexpected yet perfect touch of grape!

As many of you know, launching a new site is a ton of work for all involved {I don’t want to do this again for awhile!}. So whilst  the pros are finishing the coding and tweaking to bring you my beautiful new site and blog {OMG the new blog is GORGEOUS!} I am going on a little break to work on bringing the best to share with you. I won’t commit to a specific launch date just yet, however when all is done you will be the first to know. I promise!

Thank you for all of your support and your kind and sweet words. I cannot wait to share with you all that I have in store. Oh and do not forget to go like the new Facebook page right here!

Take care and I will see you very soon Inside the Lovely! XO

The La Perla lingerie and swimwear collection for 2012 is simply beautiful. However, you don’t need a wedding night or a honeymoon on the Amalfi coast {Scratch that… everyone needs a trip to Italy!} to treat yourself, or him, to something decadently indulgent. I have said once before and I’ll say it again…it’s more than OK to wear something underneath just for you…especially the kind that makes you blissfully happy that you are a woman. Regardless, you should be happy you are because you are gorgeous! Now go out and treat yourself to something beautiful!

{La Perla}

I would love to see these cool paper weights, by West Elm and Dana Tanamachi, used at a wedding. Perhaps on an escort card table to group guests names alphabetically or even as wedding favors at a typography themed wedding. Each letter is designed differently and is under nine dollars.

West Elm collaborated with chalk letterer, Dana Tanamachi, to create these amazing paperweights inspired by her chalk work. It always impresses me when I see beautiful art made with chalk. The precision and detail can be amazing.

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Spring is such a magical time of the year… all that lies dormant begins to awake and slowly the earth is awash in a beautiful canvas of countless colors. Flowers push their way up through the soil and surprise us with their colorful delight. Bees bumble their way through the fields unable to resist the intoxicating perfume of a single bloom and birds know the time has come to journey home. Spring is a time of renewal, a time of  moving forward, and a time to delight, in the beauty of Mother Nature.

As long as I can remember, pink in any hue has always reminded me of the prettiness of  spring and it still does…

I believe in chance encounters and missed opportunities. I believe in love at first sight and I believe that there are times when people come into our lives, no matter how brief the encounter, that can leave a deep and indelible impression, stronger than anything we have ever felt. I believe in second chances. I believe in loving from afar and secret compartments of the heart…and I also believe that this illustrator, Sophie Blackall, understands all of these things…and maybe more.

From the Brookline Booksmith:

"Australian artist and kids’ book illustrator Sophie Blackall breathes new and wondrous life into the Missed Connections section of Craigslist.com with whimsical, funny, and achingly beautiful paintings based on the short descriptions of strangers who would be more. This book is the perfect gift for the one you love (whether they know it or not).”

To purchase these beautiful illustrations check out Ms. Blackall’s Etsy store here {these would make for gorgeous art on any wall}. You can also see a lot more in her book “Missed Connections”  which can be purchased at Brookline Booksmith.

There are many things that you immediately think of when someone mentions Paris, France. Immediately comes to mind the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur , Laduree…and Cartier.

To celebrate its rich one hundred and sixty five year old history, Cartier spared no expense in this beautifully directed three minutes and thirty seconds film. Travel with the panther to the snowy city of St. Petersburg, then to China where the panther to encounters a golden dragon, then to India where a palace sits on the back of an elephant. All of these “jeweled” animals, iconic to the renowned French jeweler and watchmaker, are part of the Cartier archive.

I promise you are in for a visual feast after watching this mini epic…

Happy Monday lovelies! Hope your weekend was a lot less hectic than mine was. It was so beautiful this weekend in San Diego! We could not stand to stay indoors…and we certainly did not!I I hate wasting beautiful days. No matter how busy I get, I make sure to take a break and enjoy the reasons why we moved here in the first place!

I have always been a fan of still life art so there is no surprise, to me, that I equally adore still life designed flower arrangements. They evoke an old world feel and remind me of the great still life artist who lived once upon a time and perfected the art. Now uber talented floral stylist like Sarah of Saipua and Amy Merrick recreate this art form with flowers. So different from an ordinary arrangement these still life creations, combine texture, color, and symmetry to create enchanting centerpieces, romantic wedding bouquets, and have even inspired gorgeous cake designs. I cannot get enough of this floral style! Sometimes a little old world is good for the new…

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As I prepare to launch my new site and blog – in due time – I’ll slowly let you know what’s next to come. “Lovely Living № 1 – A View in Black & White” is the first in the “Lovely Living” series. This series will feature beautifully appointed homes and decor from around the world. “Inside the Lovely”– the name of my new blog – will not only be a wedding blog, it will also be a lifestyle blog. Whether married or not, the one thing in life we all strive for is to live well and I do not mean monetarily although that’s splendid, too! Enough of that…for now. Let’s get back to this seaside lovely!

I was curious about the interior of this stunning seaside home the moment I saw the front doors. When I began to look at the photos of this home, my curiosity turned into full-blown lust. The fact that it’s coastal and the décor is neither feminine nor masculine could have a lot to do with it. I don’t care much for over the top manly or girly décor and this home has a nice, neutral mix. The double front doors, studded with what appears to be nailheads, lets the visitor know that beyond this beautiful welcome, more beauty awaits.

Once you are in the foyer and take notice of the rich, and darkly stained wood floors you will have little time to take in its beauty. A floor to ceiling window with a never-ending view of the sea lies a few feet away from the foyer, beckoning you to take a closer look. A perfectly placed crystal chandelier lights the way to the second floor where a master bath awaits you with a view that will leave you breathless. The rooms in this home, decorated in beautiful neutrals, flow seamlessly and perfectly into each other. The natural light and the multitude of windows that face the sea allows you to be a part of the outdoors even on the coldest of days. If ever there were a perfect home by the sea, this home just might be it.

by Boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

contemporary entry design by Boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

contemporary staircase design by Boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

contemporary living room design by Boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

contemporary living room design by Boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

contemporary dining room design by Boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

contemporary dining room design by Boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

by Boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

by Boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

by Boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

by Boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

by Boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

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Last week was a first for me since I decided that I wanted to make my mark in the wedding industry. Whatever could have gone wrong did, and at times, even though I felt  defeated, I had to remember that with every disappointment there is a lesson to learn. Now, whether or not you choose to “see” or “hear” the lesson is up to each individual. I chose to be open to the lesson and I am glad I did because it has made me realize that no matter how far you go in your career the best way to continue to grow is to learn, accept the challenges before you, and see them as a way to become better at your craft.

It is always easier to give up than to go through the fire. Much like any precious metal before we can really shine, we need to be put through the fire to be refined. Gold does not naturally shine when removed from the earth; it has to go through a process of refinement, which involves fire, sometimes several times before it begins to shine. See where I am going with this? If you have taken away a lesson from the times you have been put through the “fire,” the next time a challenge arises, you will know how to handle with grace and tact. Others will take note. Remember in this great big world we live in we are always being watched by peers, competitors, and most of all potential clients.

In life, there will be many situations that we cannot control. How you choose to handle those disappointments or setbacks, is what differentiates you from others. Now do not get me wrong, last week the no bullshit Naomi would have thrown years of lessons learned down the drain but what would that have accomplished? Nothing but more frustrations and self-disappointment. If I lost control due to a situation I cannot control, that would have been stupid. More so, I would not be able to reverse my actions or erase what I said. Words have power. They are seldom forgotten, and can hurt deeply. No matter how many apologies we offer after losing our cool, it does not change that at that moment we have thrown composure, grace, and professionalism out the door.

Every day and every moment there is an opportunity for us to better ourselves and in doing so we become examples to those around us and to those who may be admiring or watching us from afar. It is so easy to become incensed by a comment made on Twitter or Facebook. Trust me, I have have fallen prey to that. Remember the old adage, “Think before you speak.” Think before you tweet {or Facebook} should also be the adage for our times. I now have way to prevent myself from acting on impulse and it works brilliantly. When I am tempted to respond to something that gets under my skin, I imagine that my dream client or a company, that wants to offer me an amazing once in a lifetime opportunity, is  watching my actions from afar. Nothing puts my hard work and reputation back into perspective than that.

I am no guru and I am not perfect but sometimes when I read posts similar to the one you are reading now, it always comes right on time…as if it were written just for me. I hope what I posted today, does the same for someone. Maybe that someone is you.

The image below is a beautiful reminder of how life should be lived and is a free download you can print and frame. What a lovely reminder to keep close by. You can find it here on Ellinée a wonderfully charming blog with lots of amazing ideas and DIYs. Their online shop is filled with printable goodies for your personal events. Check out it here. Have a wonderful day and I’ll soon see you Inside the Lovely…

To download this print click here.

A few months back I had s consult with a bride and her theme was a challenge to me. With so many design elements coming to play, I thought to myself, “If I suggest bright jewel toned floral arrangements and décor, this is going to look like Cirque de Soleil”. The obvious did not come to me until I went to the farmers market and so a lady with a bunch of white flowers of every kind you can imagine. Sometimes pure and simple is the way to go. I am so inspired by these lovely tables that I suggested to the bride that we use all white flowers. “Brilliant” is what she replied. “Yes,” I replied, “in more ways than one.” A few simple white wedding day tips follow the images below.

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1.The best way to lighten up a dark reception space is with light colors and, of course, candlelight. White décor and candlelight instantly opens up a room at the same time giving it a cozy warm feeling.

2. Don’t be afraid to mix whites some can be creamy, bright white and even a bit beige. This will make the design more interesting.

3. Mix textures. I’m big on texture and it’s a key part to my wedding designs. In the winter think of faux white fur and in the warmer months think of linen, bleached cotton, and lace.

4. Don’t just think of texture for you linen and décor. Your wedding cake should not be left out. Think of coconut flakes {a favorite of mine}, shaved white chocolate, or little white pearls to add to your white cake.

5. Food as well can add to the all white experience. Clam chowder in the winter served as one of the dinner courses not only warms the tummy but is great when served in fancy bowls. Tall glasses filled with vanilla milk shake  not only delish but can be sweet alternative for ice cream. for a warm weather wedding. 

6. To add a bit of contrast to an all white decor use metal colored accents such as gold, platinum, or silver. These colors play quite nicely with white and do not distract from the all white theme like black, red, or yellow might. If no color at all is for you. Use acrylic chiavari chairs or ghost chairs to really have an all white look.