Wedding Wednesday: 10 Days and Counting!

With only 10 days left until the BIG day, I'm running around San Francisco like a chicken with my head cut off. Finalizing the last minute details has been so much fun. For now, the most important things are done . . .

. . . my wedding dress is hanging, waiting to be worn

. . . the earrings my aunt gave me as an early wedding gift are sparkling

. . . flowers and decor are done

. . . our amazingly delicious cake is going to be beautiful

. . . and next week I'll be making my way through the Napa Valley hills with friends and family to celebrate our wedding day!

This will be my last Wednesday Wedding Update. It's a sad day! I've loved sharing every detail with all of you. I PROMISE to come back from the honeymoon with details I wasn't able to share yet (invitation details, wedding photos and honeymoon stories).

I want to thank all of you for your love and support throughout the past 15 months of our engagement. You've been amazing and I really couldn't have done all of this without you.

I'm not leaving you yet. I'll be blogging until Monday but Tuesday I've got something very special lined up while I'm gone. I can't wait for all of you to see what it is.

{photo's courtesy of this is glamorous and douglas friedman}

Happy Birthday Honey!

Today is my sweetie's birthday. I've been so wrapped up in our wedding festivities and planning that it's been hard to plan anything this year for his birthday dinner. But the grocery shopping is done, the presents are wrapped and . . .

. . . a little sweet treat with candles shinning bright will be present. Wish his twin brother could celebrate with us. Luckily, we'll see him next week.

Happy happy birthday my love!

xoxo

{photo courtesy of apartment 34}

Stunning Simplicity

. . . soft neutrals, the mix of antiques and modern touches, and bare walls all add up to this perfectly put together livingroom where you could spend your afternoons dreaming . . .

{photo's courtesy of nuevo estilo}

10 Things That Make Me Happy: Design for Mankind

HAPPY MONDAY! I want to apologize for not posting a lot last week. I've been in engulfed in my wedding to-do list. With twelve days left until the BIG day, I'm going to try and post as much as I can. If I miss a day, just know I'm a busy bride (to be).

Enough about that. Today, I'm VERY excited to have Erin posting here today. She's such an inspiration and the 10 things that make her happy are very much like my own.

Thank you Erin for guest posting here today!

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Hi Sacramento Street e-residents and neighbors! I'm Erin from Design for Mankind, BAKERY and well... all sorts of other places. You may see me blogging for AOL's ShelterPop, Holidash, DIY Life or even AOL Shopping. Or, perhaps, you've seen my weekly column at ReadyMade. Either way, I'm thrilled to be here guest blogging for sweet Caitlin and am so excited to share with you 10 things I love!

1. Rain
This one's a no-brainer for me, as I loooove rainy days. I find them inspiring and really creatively-stimulating, for some odd reason. [image: here]

2. Stationery
I love a good hand-written letter, either to send or receive, and have a serious weakness for stationery. [image: here]

3. Freshly laundered sheets
Is there anything better? [image: here]

4. Bonfires
I love autumn, and there's something so magical about curling up in a flannel blanket and roasting marshmallows. [image: here]

5. Coffee
I may never kick my caffeine addiction, and I think that's OK with me. A good cup of coffee seems to put [almost!] everything into perspective. [image: here]

6. A good book
Again, I don't think anyone can argue the happiness a good book brings. [image: here]

7. Scarves
I probably own 20+ scarves --- for all seasons. They're my go-to accessory when jewelry seems too formal. [image: here]

8. Surprises
An element of surprise (whether in art, design or life) is always a plus. [image: here]

9. Snacks
I looooove to eat, and anything from the gas station is comfort food for me. Snacks are perfection! [image: here]

10. Collections

I haven't started my favorite collection yet, but I'll know it when I see it. ;) [image: here]

Wedding Wednesday: French Inspiration

With seventeen days until the wedding both Eric and I are working around the clock to get everything done. Because we are in seating chart land right now, I thought I'd leave you with a wedding I've been in love with since Abby over at Style Me Pretty posted it. Every detail that went into this wedding is beautiful and very well thought out.

My favorite detail is the papel picado. It reminds me of growing up in Mexico. We're actually planning on using it for our rehearsal dinner.

What do you love about this wedding?

To see the entire wedding head over to Style Me Pretty.

Brights!

My bachelorette party in Palm Springs was amazing. It was so nice to have all of my bestfriends and a few family members in one place. The weather was spectacular, laying by the pool every day was relaxing, drinking wine and tequila by the fire pit was a blast and saying good bye to Palm Springs was hard.

One thing that got me in the mood for Spring was all of the BRIGHT colors Palm Springs had. Our hotel was beyond colorful, Trina Turk was fantastic (I got my rehearsal dinner dress there) and the weather was inspiring. I want to add a splash of color into my apartment asap!

{photo courtesy of apartment #34 via skona hem}

10 Things That Make Me Happy: The Love List

Happy Monday! I hope all of you had a fabulous weekend. My trip to Palm Springs was amazing. It really couldn't have gone better. I'll be sharing how the weekend went in tomorrow's post.

For now, I'd like to welcome Jessica from The Love List. She works her magic on transforming blogs that most people read on a daily basis, like coco+kelley and La Dolce Vita. Jessica has done a phenomenal job giving blogs a little facelift. Her company, Front Porch Studio, is a full service graphic design company. She's able to create beautiful banners, headers, business cards and even websites.

I was thrilled when Jessica agreed to be part of this series and list the 10 things that make her happy (the list made me smile as I read them). It's an inspiring post. Thanks Jess for guest blogging here today!

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Hi! My name is Jess Graves and I write a Southern Lifestyle blog called The Love List. I spend my days designing all kinds of lovely brands, blogs, shop windows, signage, and more for my creative services company, Front Porch Studio. Its a real joy to wake up every day and do what I love, and today I'm sharing a little slice of that love with you!

[A pair of simple, rustic arrangements I did for my Step Father's 60th birthday this past December, all the flowers came straight from my parent's gardens!]

10. Fresh flowers.
They provide a lot of life, a touch of cheer, and a happy pop of color in any space. I usually favor hydrangeas and peonies, but fuchsia roses (see my rainy days picture, #8) are my go-to flower when my seasonal favorites aren't available.

[A trio of books and a beautiful birthday card that my talented sister gifted me on my 24th birthday]

9. Birthdays.

I recently rang in my 24th, and while having all of my friends in town to celebrate with me was really special, the best gift I got was a trio of Penguin classics and an amazing hand-illustrated birthday card from my sister, who lives far away in Austin, TX.

[My Hunter wellies have seen their fair share of beatings and muddy puddles]

8. Rainy days.
I have a Lacoste cropped trench and Hunter wellies that I only get to break out during drizzly spring days like the ones we are having recently here in Florida. I love wearing them and splashing in puddles like an overgrown kid.

[A few shots of my closet, aka The Graves Boutique as my friends crack. I just love clothes!]

7. My closet.
I am a huge clothes horse, a trait I've found I share with many of my blogging buddies, and I set up my closet so that opening it is like stepping into a little boutique where everything fits! I am always editing, purging, and perfecting so that I don't have too much (well, except for maybe my arsenal of ballet flats), but what I do have is high-quality, fits well, and will see me through multiple seasons. Wooden hangers are a must for me, I even wax the bar so the hangers glide easier!

[My desk! I've since added an imac to the repertoire, as doing my design work from a touch pad was getting really old...]

6. My studio.
I practically live in here, as do my interns, so you better believe that it is a pretty, comfy, and inspirational space that we all love hanging out in! We always have music playing and candles lit (our current favorites are by Low Country Luxe) while we dream up ideas for the blog and for the clients of Front Porch Studio. (PS, there's a full tour here)

[A vignette on my desk. Here I have my favorite mint julep cup, of course with a pineapple (the sign of southern hospitality and of my company, Front Porch Studio), a sweet love note my boyfriend wrote me when we first began dating, and one of the aforementioned Low Country Luxe candles]

5. Little vignettes.
While I love a big beautiful room, I have just as much appreciation for the little arrangements of sentimental things that take the room from simply decorated to personal and sentimental. These are the things that remind you, outside of a pretty picture, that people actually live here, and I find that they are the most telling little spots in any room.

[John Currin's "The Cripple", Amanda Stone Talley's "Celedonia", Michael Sowa's "Fowl with Pearls"]

4. Art.
I think Cher Horowitz said it best when she asserted "you see how picky I am about my shoes, and they only go on my feet!" I feel the same way about art. While I am really picky about it, when I find something I love, I really love it. Right now I'm really into the big sweeping circles that are New Orleans-based Amanda Talley's signature, so much that she's doing a large piece for my dining room. I also have a little weakness for animals, so Michael Sowa is a favorite not only for his subjects, but for his use of classic technique in a contemporary way. However, I think my first love will always be portraits - I especially love the off-kilter ones, where there is character, feeling, emotion, a message... not just some posed beauty sitting there so she can be immortalized. John Currin is far and away my favorite artist, but I also love the photo-realistic portraits of Victor Rodriguez.

3. Prints and patterns.
I am a graphic designer, after all! My work is inspired by many of my favorite shelter trends and travel destinations. I find I'm always drawn to colorful geometrics and block-print textiles that reflect the surroundings of places like Palm Beach and India. While clean lines, practiced restraint, good use of white space, and a polished look are important, it is my philosophy that the best designs can employ only pattern, type, and color and not need many additional trimmings to be gorgeous.

[A header I designed for a blog that is still under construct. This font is called 'Compendium']

2. Type.
Going on that, I love type! Font shopping is without a doubt one of my favorite ways to kill some time online when I need a little inspiration. Veer is my favorite source, but I also love MyFonts. Some of my current type obsessions? Compendium, Ecyuer Dax, and Fling.

1. Blogs and bloggers!
When I started my blog three years ago, I never imagined the world that would open up to me. I've made so many wonderful friends through this powerful little land, and I'm forever grateful to bloggers who celebrate each other and engage in our community of sharing. I've had hilarious and inspirational conversations with so many great gals that make me so glad I ventured into this little endeavor all that time ago. Ideas run amok here in blogland, and I often think of it as a real-life version of Lewis Carrol's Wonderland, where anything can happen and you never know who you are going to meet just around the bend.

Happy {Bachelorette Party} Weekend!

By the time you read this I'll be en-route to Palm Springs for my bachelorette party weekend.

My bags have been packed for days . . .

I'll be basking in the sun . . .

Putting my dancing shoes on . . .

And if Saturday night goes according to plan, I'll be fine just sleeping in a big comfy chair.

I'll be back on Monday, hopefully with a tan and some good tales to tell.

Have a fabulous weekend luvies!

xo, Caitlin

{images 1. and 2. This is Glamorous, 3. Definitely Golden and 4. julia}

A Pop of Color: Light + Neutrals

Warm weather is spreading across the country, putting smiles on everyone's face. There is nothing like natural light mixed with soft textures.

To me, there is nothing more perfect than this cozy bedroom.

{photo's courtesy of FGR and InStyle via coco+kelley}

Wedding Wednesday: Napa Inspiration

With my wedding right around the corner (only three more weeks) I'm a busy bee. When I came across this beautiful Napa wedding it made my jaw drop. I fell in love with the rustic, raw beauty of the entire wedding. The venue, Durham Ranch in particular, is amazing on its own. Sit back and enjoy this spectacular DIY wedding.

What was your favorite part about this wedding? Mine, are the chandeliers they made for the barn.

For all the information on the wedding, please visit Style Me Pretty.

Palm Springs California Circa 1960s

Since my Palm Springs trip is three days away, I thought I'd feature a vacation home that Melissa from Ruby Press introduced to me.

This Palm Springs rental is like walking into a magazine. When you find a gem like this, I feel that you should share it with everyone so they can enjoy it. The bold colors, fresh white walls and the Jonathan Adler style are incredibly chic.

Wouldn't this be the perfect house to rent for a group of girlfriends? I think so. When I plan my next trip to Palm Springs, I'll definitely be staying here.

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. It got me in the Palm Springs spirit. If only I was leaving tomorrow!

{photo's courtesy of Vacation Palm Springs}

Happy Happy BIRTHDAY Claire!

My cousin (more like a sister) is turning SEVENTEEN today! I've seen her grow up over the years into a beautiful lady. She resembles me in so many ways, sometimes I can't believe we aren't sisters, but we're definitely built out of the same genes (minus the fact that she's a blonde and I'm a brunette). It feels like yesterday she was a four year old looking up at me with a big ice cream cone in her hands.

Happy Birthday Miss Claire. I can't wait to celebrate with you this weekend in Palm Springs!

{image courtesy of sarah kaye}