happy friday!

Good morning! The sun is shining bright this morning, which instantly made me smile when I woke up. This weekend will be spent relaxing at home, dressing up to celebrate a BIG May birthday bash with friends, brunch + catching up with girlfriends, running a few household errands and getting paint samples (gray or white? I can't decide - what do you think?).

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for being so lovely and I hope all of you have a beautiful weekend where ever you may be.

xoxo, Caitlin

p.s. I'll be announcing the winner on the Hammocks & High Tea giveaway on Tuesday.

{photo's courtesy of 1 & 4. Dress, Design, Decor 2. Beautiful Things to Share 3. ephemerette}

refreshing sunlight . . .

I love this time of year. When the sun is shining, temperatures are rising (only happening outside SF), birds are chirping and everyone you pass on the street has a smile on their face. We're been getting a few sun filled days, but I'm waiting with baited breath until this rain leaves for good. I can handle the fog, but rain is NOT ok. Bring on the sun gods - we need a little ray of sunshine and some vitamin D!

Don't you just love how the sun beams into every photo? It's what I love about each one of these images.

Also, thank you everyone for the birthday wishes!

{Simple Seductive, Lovely Clusters, Bottom of the Ironing Basket, Dress Design Decor}

balloons + celebration

Today, I'm happy to share that it's my birthday! I'll be celebrating tonight with my hubby and best friends at one of my favorite little restaurants in San Francisco. I can't wait for yummy food, wine and hopefully some delicious dessert! This weekend I'll be celebrating in style at a party a friend put together for May birthdays . . . we'll be dancing the night away celebrating four birthdays. Needless to say, I'm one happy, happy girl!

{photo courtesy of Erin Ever After}

Guest Blogging @ La Dolce Vita

Today I'm guest blogging over on Paloma's fabulous blog, La Dolce Vita. I had so much fun putting together my list of “Ten Things I Can’t Live Without”, which is inspired by an ELLE DECOR's feature (one of my favorite reads every month).

Hope you enjoy my little list - it could have been a list of 100!

down and out . . .

Unfortunately, the little bug I've been trying to fight has finally caught up to me and I'm feeling totally under the weather today. I'm hoping to kick the cold and be back tomorrow morning with some lovely inspiration.

In the meantime, don't forget to enter the Hammocks & High Tea giveaway!

{photo courtesy of dress, design, decor}

Giveaway: Hammocks and High Tea

This line of eco-friendly products is one of my new favorite lines. You can see that designer Karen Young embraces her childhood of growing up in South America through her designs. Throw pillows, bedding, napkins, tea towels, stationary, and drawer paper (my favorite), are all made from hemp, soy and organic cotton, and each has a unique printed pattern.

Every morning I open my drawers and I instantly smile, the waif of Rose Tea and Jasmine I get is divine. The napkins and sachets are equally as lovely.

With all of the patterns available you’re bound to find something you’ll love and it’s a guaranteed smile purchase.

Sacramento Street has teamed up with Hammocks and High Tea for a wonderful 1^st Anniversary giveaway! One lucky winner will win:

1 set of sachets (ikat chevron)

2 surama napkins

rose garden drawer liners

1. To enter the giveaway, simply visit Hammocks and High Tea and leave a comment on this blog post telling me what you love most about their designs. In order to officially enter the contest, you must follow Sacramento Street on Blogger or Twitter. Please include your e-mail address, so that I can contact you if you are the winner.

2. Leave ONE comment on this post between today, Friday, May 21st 2010 and Friday, May 28th at Midnight PST. A winner will be announced June 1^st.

Please note: Anonymous entries will be ignored, so please include your e-mail in your comment. I will never use your e-mail address for anything other than notifying the winner.

{images courtesy of Hammocks and High Tea}

Sacramento Street's Anniversary!

Today is a very special day on Sacramento Street. One year ago I began writing my first post – I was scared, intimidated and nervous about joining the blog community I had grown to admire. This past year has been incredible and I wouldn’t change anything about it. I’ve grown so much – all of you have shown me what a tight and close knit lifestyle community this is, and I cherish that.

I want to thank everyone; readers, fellow bloggers and my friends for all of the time you not only spend reading my blog, but also supporting me and commenting on how much you love what I write about. Your kind and encouraging words are what keep me going day in and day out. Most of all, I’ve enjoyed becoming connected to all of the fabulous and wonderful bloggers out there that support each other – connecting with you through your blogs has given me inspiration for years to come and becoming friends with all of you has filled my heart with pure joy. All of you are incredible; you’ve made me smile and laugh on days I’ve needed it most – especially planning our wedding.

Without all of you, Sacramento Street wouldn’t be the possible. Thank you for all the support and love you’ve given me this past year – let’s toast too many years to come!

xoxo, Caitlin

p.s. Stay tuned for a little birthday giveaway coming in a little bit. It’s a good one!

craving nautical

You can tell when I'm ready for Summer - I pull all of my navy blue and white clothes out from the back of my closet. There is something about nautical that screams Summer. And to tell you the truth - I never get tired of navy and white paired together. Whether it's a print or a stripe - it's always been classic in my eyes. This year I added a new striped shirt to my collection (you can never have too many) . . . do you have any additions? Or a favorite nautical look?

{photo's courtesy of Erica Tanov}

kitchen: black + white

You know when you’re fed up with something in your house and you can't get it out of your mind? We'll that's how I've been lately - first the color of our walls (changing soon!) and now our kitchen floors. That's the problem with living in a rented apartment. Our current kitchen would look phenomenal with black and white floors. If only our landlord would let us update our apartment . . . but I can dream of what I'll do when we own our own little home.

Is there anything you ’re dreaming about updating in your home?

{photo courtesy of dress, design, decor}

dreaming of sunshine . . .

Yesterday, if felt as though it was January - rain pouring down in every direction, umbrellas turning inside out and layers of clothing needed. Usually May isn't too bad, but this is beyond acceptable. I’m longing for sun filled days, light pouring in my windows, and days reserved for reading. Ahh . . . wouldn’t that be nice. For now, I’ll be waiting patiently for the sun to peak out from under the gloomy clouds.

{photos courtesy of skona hem, this is glamorous and We Heart It}

10 Things That Make Me Happy: Poetic & Chic

This Monday morning I'm very pleased to have Annie from Poetic & Chic guest blogging about her "10 things." I first met Annie at a Ruby Press event, we ran into each other sipping champagne and quickly found out we had many things in common and were also next door neighbors. Now we run into each other in our tiny neighborhood all the time.

Annie not only started her blog Poetic & Chic, but also two other businesses. Sourdough is a line of jackets and accessories crafted from vintage barkcloth fabric and Pointed Letters Creative is her freelance company.

Thanks for guest blogging her today lovely neighbor. See you around our hood!

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I am so honored to become a part of the Sacramento Street “Ten Things” club! It’s been a delightful list to make, but I do wish we weren’t limited to ten things! I have so many things to love that I should do a different list of ten for each day of the week. Since most of my readers already know my obsession for classic film and museum exhibits, I decided to make a departure and get down to some practical, useful, beautiful things that I enjoy all the time (which most of you may not know about)!

Red Shoes

True, I do love The Red Shoes as a film, but my love for red shoes goes beyond the silver screen. I’m just drawn to them and find it difficult to say no. I think I have four or five pairs of red shoes of different types and I’m always on the hunt for more. I love red anything really, but I find red shoes are one of the best ways to wear the color; it’s the perfect way to add a splashy accent to a neutral look and it reveals a certain intrepid character streak too! (Christian Louboutin Metallic Patent Pumps $585 at Saks Fifth Avenue.)

Scented Candles

I’m obsessed with scented candles. I don’t know where this comes from, but I think it comes from the thrill of the hunt; scented candles are not made equal, so finding an excellent one is a true find! The Diptyque candles are always amazing – I love Figuier, Muguet, and Feuille de Lavande. Williams-Sonoma Home’s Safari candle is fantastic, and I was pleasantly surprised by the Liberty of London for Target candles as well! Next, I’m eager to try candles from Astier de Villatte ($75 at Sue Fisher King).

Statement Rings

I’m always on the hunt for my next favorite ring. I love big, fun, statement-making rings. Kenneth Jay Lane is always the first brand I look at when thinking about rings. I love this one with the bird – I can already imagine how much I’d wear it! ($120 at Max & Chloe.)

Vintage Postcards

I’ve been collecting vintage postcards for years now. I love to group them together to create wall art with Ikea’s Clips Frames. There’s a set of Parisian postcards in my hallway, and a set of Waikiki postcards in my bathroom. It’s like I get a glimpse of Diamond Head every time I go in there. My favorite kinds of vintage postcards have a scalloped edge and some kind of cheesy, vacation-y greeting like “Wish You Were Here”…

Bath Products

Bath products are the last bastion of everyday luxuries. Some of my favorites include Sabon New York’s Lavender Patchouli Vanilla salt scrub, Molton Brown’s Heavenly Gingerlily bath gel, and even Boot’s Bergamot and Clary Sage bubble bath which can be found at Target! (Sabon Salt - $30)

The Metropolitan Opera in HD

I know this is an odd thing to put on this list, but it really does make me happy. I’m a big fan of opera and ticket prices are simply outrageous! So why not indulge in a luxurious habit on public television? Like all of the performing arts, it makes all the difference in the world to see the production acted and sung the way it was meant to be seen. Opera is becoming a dying art unfortunately, and I love that The Met is sharing its performances with the larger world to garner new interest. Backstage insights, cast and crew interviews, and amazing costumes – the whole thing is incredibly inspiring.

Artisan Pottery

I’ve been collecting pieces of vintage pottery here and there for a long time. Someday I’ll have enough shelves to display all of it together! While I love McCoy and Hull pieces, I also have a fondness for modern artists too. Ceramicist Whitney Smith is based in the Bay Area and makes lovely collectible pieces. I’m in love with her bird and dogwood cake plates, but this pomegranate vase took my breath away. Maybe because it’s red? ($78 at Whitney Smith Pottery.)

Pajamas

I love crisp cotton pajamas – BedHead is one of my favorite brands. Sometimes I do get overwhelmed by the girlie prints in shades of pink and green, so I’m driven to the men’s section for the more classic looks that I like best. I loved this Glen Plaid set in gray and black – it’s masculine, understated, and very sexy (for girls)! ($147 at BedHead.)

Bird Light Fixture

I saw this light fixture just the other day and now I cannot stop thinking about it. I love small birds and I’ve been thinking of getting some finches for my apartment. This light is so whimsical, colorful, airy, and playful that it just makes you smile. ($950 at Conran Shop.)

Studio Spaces

My apartment currently does triple duty, as an apartment space of course, but also as an office and as a studio for my design work and creative projects. Therefore when I see someone’s studio space I’m overcome with envy and imagination. This studio space from “The Brain” by Tom Kundig was designed for a filmmaker as a space for creativity. The books, windows, piano, floor…and space. To me, it’s pretty close to heaven.

Happy {Carmel Getaway} Weekend

This weekend I'll be driving down the 101 with a friend to my family’s house in Carmel. I can smell the salty air already. The days will be filled with lots of wonderful food, laughter, relaxing, trips to the beach and sunshine. I'm hoping we get a chance to dip our toes in the ocean - weather permitting.

Going to my Aunt’s and Uncle's is a home away from home because it reminds me so much of going home to my mom's house in Portland. My Mom, Aunt and I are all 100 percent the same in each and every way - from our design aesthetic, favorite tea, clothing, purses (I can't count how many we have that are the same) to our love for one another. I'm excited for this trip!

I hope all of you have something fun planned this weekend! See you all back here on Monday.

xoxo, Mrs. C

Help: What Color Gray is This?

Since the wedding planning is over, I had to find a new project to keep me busy – although life does that already. I've been looking for the perfect gray to paint our apartment. Last week, while reading through some of my favorite blogs, I came across the very perfect gray on Greige, but there is one problem - I don't know what color gray it is. So, I'm coming to all of you to see if any of you know what color this is? If not, I'll be off to Benjamin Moore with this photo in hand.

{photo courtesy of Greige}

Bring on the Light

Lately, I've been embracing my light filled windows. When the sun is pouring into my apartment it seems to bring life in as well. Ah, don't you just love Spring? I don't think anyone in the design world opposes good natural light, and if they do - well that's nuts!

Personally, I love the sophistication and elegance big windows and French doors bring to a room. These three images show exactly the windows I'm always drawn towards. I feel lucky enough to have French doors in my apartment that separate our dining room and kitchen from the rest of our apartment. It's a luxury to have them , and every time I even think about moving - I know I'll never find French doors again.

{photos courtesy of 1. Simply Seductive 2 & 3. Greige}

I’m Loving . . . May Must Haves

Although it’s almost mid-May (time is flying by), there are a few things I’ve been lusting over the past few weeks. With the sun making a regular appearance, I’m getting in the summer spirit.

With May being National Bike Month, I’ve been longing for a bike! There are so many fabulous brands out there. One in particular caught my eye a few weeks ago at the Farmers Market. Rob Forbes, the founder of Design Within Reach, has created an urban bike so chic people will stop you on the street to ask where you bought it. Public Bikes are modeled after classic European silhouettes with unisex frames and eye-catching colors (my favorite is the white). The Public Bikes online shop launches May 15th, but until then, you can preorder yours.

Lately, I’ve been dreaming of Paris and since it’s coming up on the year mark of when I last visited – I’m getting the itch to go back. This Original Flea Market bag is calling my name in more ways than one. Each tote is charmingly signed and numbered, how unique is that? But wait there’s more that make these totes special. Each piece is handmade from organic cotton/hemp canvas and the leather is vegetable tanned in colors that range from white, sienna, saddle and more. One last detail, it’s lined with seersucker – this is just the cherry on top of a priceless bag. Hopefully, I’ll be opening a package on my birthday with this tote in it (hint, hint, wink, wink).

10 Things That Make Me Happy: Global Atelier

Happy Monday lovelies. I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend filled with some R & R. The hubby and I spent the weekend enjoying San Francisco. We took a cooking class by the lead chef at Gary Danko, watched a lot of baseball games (not ideal, but fun) and made a few batches of homemade ice cream (YUM!).

Yesterday, was Mother's Day and I unfortunately couldn't spend the day with my loving mom. She's my best friend, travel companion and my role model. Since I didn't get to see her this weekend, I asked her to be my guest blogger today telling us about the 10 things that make her happy. Her list doesn't disappoint, which doesn't surprise me one bit.

I'm thrilled to have my mom here today and be sure to head over to her lovely blog when you are done!

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I'm pleased to be a guest on Sacramento Street for Mrs. Caitlin today. I'm Julie at Global Atelier. I feel that I could have a list of hundreds of things I love but here are ten I've been thinking about lately. I hope you enjoy my latest obsessions.

My first favorite thing would have to be travel. I love to plan, research, and of course, travel as often as possible. Lately my trips have frequently been to San Francisco but I am dreaming of Morocco and India right now. I think this year will be filled with many fun adventures. I was especially inspired by the photographs that From the Right Bank had on her latest trip to India.

The second favorite thing would have to be nesting. I know this is at polar opposite to travel but for me they go hand in hand. I love my home and while I am always thinking about the next place I would like to visit, I also love to enjoy time at home. I prefer a home with a few nice things than a cluttered home. Recently I have been particularly attracted to both Skona Hem in Sweden and Nuevo Estilo in Spain.

Now that it's finally beginning to be nice outside, I'm concentrating my design efforts to the patio. I live in a three story brownstone and my only outdoor area other than the front porch is a patio off of my kitchen. In the summer it's an inferno as it gets full sun all day. But I spend as much time as possible out there to take in the rays!

The next recent interest has been anything made of nickel. I have two lamps with the shades made out of nickel. I adore this tub and its shiny patina. After a long day at work, I would love to take a soak in this.

To get inspiration, I use an inspiration board. Mine is about four feet high and three feet wide. Plenty of room to visualize my latest ideas. I find that visualizing is an important step to accomplish what I see in my head.

Next on my list that is in the same category of helping me with inspiration are my journals. I have some journals that are primarily visual ideas mixed with my ideas. Others are just my writing. It really helps me think more clearly when I write down my ideas.

Next would be books. I especially love old books. Maybe its because I'm a history teacher. I love the smell of the old pages of books - and their secrets are revealed one page at a time.

I have always been attracted to black and white photographs and I'm trying to figure out the best place in my home to create a wall of photographs. I hope to get this done this summer.

I also adore fresh flowers. Yesterday I took a drive to visit my Mom and on the way home I actually pulled over in a huge field and picked white lilacs. They smell amazing and bring a smile to my face. I still can't believe I did it!!! Excuse the photo - it was taken on my phone.

Finally, last but definitely not least, I would have to say family and friends are the most important thing to me. My daughter (yes, Mrs. Caitlin is my daughter) was recently married and it was so amazing to have our family and friends gathered all together to celebrate. I feel blessed to have such amazing people in my life.

Thanks again momma for guest blogging here today! xoxo

Photo credits: 1) from the right bank , 2) the style files 3) haute design 4) decor 8 5) the style files 6) skona hem 7) automatism 8) the style files 9) global atelier 10) department of interiors