bottega veneta . . .

Loving the movement of this FW 2010 campaign by bottega veneta ... such a beautiful photo for an ad!

*photo from bluepoolroad

New York: Launch Party + What's New What's Next Event

Talk about a magical night. I've never in my life felt more proud, loved and honored to be part of such an amazing team. Everyone that came to celebrate with us, welcomed us with open arms and were so supportive about our leap into the publishing world - it felt so good. I know you've seen countless blog posts about Rue Magazine's launch party (like here, here and here) but I just had to share one of my favorite photos from the night - it's of the team before the party got hopping.

Last Wednesday Rue was honored to be part of New York Design Center's - What's New What's Next event. Rue's amazing food columnist, Marissa Lippert, put together a mouth watering cooking demo with seasonal apple dishes - I can't even pick a favorite, they were all delicious. You can find the recipes in the premiere issue of Rue (page 62).

A huge thank you needs to go out to Jacqueline of Merci New York and Kathleen of Kat Flower for the beautiful tabletop display (it's my fall dinner party inspiration) and the gorgeous flower arrangements - we couldn't have done it without you ladies.

After a wonderful afternoon in the InHouse showroom, we headed up to the John Saladino showroom where Rue Magazine gave a wonderful toast to the end of a wonderful What's New What's Next event and the launch of Rue. It was fun catching up with new and old friends - I couldn't think of a better way to end a eventful trip to NYC.

If you want to find out more about the New York trip, Crystal covered the entire week. Plus, you'll get to see a lovely picture of me waving goodbye to her at 3am as Anne and I get into our black town car.

A big thank you goes out to the New York Design Center for welcoming the Rue team with open arms. I've never met such an amazing group of ladies. You made our launch party become a reality and it was truly amazing!

*first photo taken by the wonderful Kate Murphy and the rest of the photos taken by the lovely Rima Campbell

a touch of leopard

Do you ever see an outfit and you can't get it out of you head? Well, I've been obsessing over this outfit ever since Daniella posted about it on Monday. It's effortless, classic and so chic - which means it's totally me. I'm all about adding a pop of leopard into my wardrobe this fall. What about you?

*photos from dress, design, decor via Vanessa Jackson

blue sanctuary . . .

There is no place like home- after being away for a week I'm finally getting settled into my daily routine. I cherish every minute I spend in it and the light blue/gray walls add an extra layer of peaceful tranquility. With my crazy work schedule it's nice to know that I'm always coming home to a place I love because my home is my sanctuary.

*photos from this is glamorous

the perfect ensemble

Most of you know that I'm a lover of all things neutral. When I laid eyes on this outfit my jaw dropped - the beige crew-neck sweater, the navy & black skirt, the beautiful gold jewelry, the Charlotte Olympia heels and of course her carmel Hermes purse. This outfit has glamour written all over it. How does Olivia make every outfit she wears look so effortless?

*photos via RDuJour

New York: A Luxe Dinner Party

When you receive an invitation from the lovely Kelley Moore, be sure to hop in a cab or plane and go! Never in my life have I been to dinner party as luxuries as this one.

I arrived in New York and immediately had to run to the hotel to change into my party dress. Talk about no time for a cat nap, but who needs a nap with the energy New York gives you?

The Rue gals and I got out of our cab in our party attire, I looked up at the building we were about to be buzzed into and saw candelabras lit across a long table - my heart jump with excitement and I gasped for air. I turned to the rest of the ladies and said "that has to be where we are going - who else is having an ultra chic dinner party in the building?"

Talk about girl heaven - bright pink walls decorated with beautiful art and photos that take your breath away. Walking down the hallway all I could think about is "this night is going to be one I'm going to remember forever."

I literally had no words when I saw the tablescape - the colors, the place cards (I'm stealing that idea for my next dinner party), the table cloth, the candelabras (flown in from Seattle), the candles and the Lucite chairs. I mean come on, what else could a need party need?

Everything about this dinner was perfection. The farmers market fresh food, the fabulous guests and the mouth watering chocolate cake (yes, I'm still dreaming about it).

After dinner we decided to have a little dance party. All of us were singing . . .

New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of

There's nothin' you can't do

Now you're in New York

These streets will make you feel brand new

Big lights will inspire you

Let's hear it for New York, New York,

New York.

Dancing, signing and laughing with everyone was something I will remember forever. Thank you Kelley for having all of us over - I'll never forget that night!

*images by Cassandra of coco+kelley

10 Things That Make Me Happy: A Lovely Being

This weekend was filled with relaxation, walks around the city, mill valley shopping with Anne from City Sage and LOTS of sunshine - summer finally decided to come to SF! I couldn't have asked for a better weekend.

Today I'm very very excited to have the wonderfully inspiring Fallon from A Lovely Being. Her blog inspires me with the quotes she finds, her "this day in history" posts, and the ultra beautiful images she finds. It's one of my go-to blogs each and every morning, so if you haven't read it before, I highly suggest you pop over.

Thank you Fallon for an amazing post - I'm off to go buy the CD you recommended!

ps. Be sure to stop by later today. I'll be sharing the first (of many) posts about New York.

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Hello! I am elated to be guest blogging today on Sacramento Street. Caitlin’s “10 Things That Make Me Happy” series is one of my favorites, and I am so honored that she asked me to contribute. Shall we begin?

1. When I was in 5th grade, I dressed up as Marilyn Monroe for Halloween. My mom spent hours putting together a fabulous costume for me made up of vintage finds. The cream fur stole that was a originally part of this ensemble is now a staple in my wardrobe. I find that hilarious! But really, is there anything better than vintage fur?

2 My favorite CD at the moment is She & Him, Volume 2. I’m not afraid to say that I have the biggest girl crush on Zooey Deschanel (my boyfriend has a big crush on her, too!). She is absolutely adorable. And what talent! I love the retro sound of this album-- I could listen to it for days on end.

3. I printed out this photo of Elizabeth Bauer’s home (originally published in Lonny’s June/July issue) and tacked it to my bedroom wall. There isn’t anything that I don’t LOVE about this room. From the D. Porthault bed linens to the Rose Cumming “Zebrine” wallpaper-- I’m obsessed.

4. My favorite little luxury is Kiehl’s “Ultimate Man” Body Scrub Soap. Normally, I would never purchase products marketed towards men-- I’m far too swayed by girly packaging and presentation. But on a whim I decided to purchase this bar of soap... by golly, I’m hooked! Because it is an exfoliator, it leaves my skin feeling so very soft. At $12, it’s a bit pricey for a bar of soap but I simply can’t live without it.

5. My secret celebrity crush, you ask? None other than Mr. Ira Glass (don’t laugh!). My Sunday night ritual involves making myself a cup of herbal tea, snuggling up in my bed with my computer and listening to the newest episode of This American Life. Nothing in this world makes me quite so happy :)

6. Confession: I have the most unruly hair! When I was seventeen, my dad couldn’t stand to look at my tangled “rat’s nest” (those are his words, not mine) anymore. So, he broke down and bought me a Mason Pearson brush for my birthday. I’ve had silky smooth strands every since (thanks, Dad!). The fantastic thing about a Mason Pearson brush is that it lasts forever so long as you take care of it. Five years later, mine is still going strong.

7. Although his clothing will never be more than eye candy to me (for now), I’m thrilled that Tom Ford is designing womenswear again. I am just DYING to see his latest collection! Though the line won’t be unveiled until December, headshots of the models in his top-secret runway show (the likes of which included Beyonce and Daphne Guinness) somehow leaked to the press. I encourage you to read more about his reentry into women’s fashion-- it’s fascinating!

8. My classic go-to bag is this vintage Louis Vuitton Mini Looping tote. Maybe Louis Vuitton is passé, but I adore this bag. It’s the perfect day-to-night accessory, and it is unbelievably durable (trust-- it has been stepped on and thrown about more times than you’d believe!).

9. I love love love vintage design books and magazines. Someday, I hope to have an entire library of Vogue’s and Harper’s Bazaar’s from the ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s. I’d also love to have every issue of Flair (as there are only a dozen issues, I’m hoping to achieve this task by the time I turn 25...). There is so much to learn from the great tastemakers of the past.

10. I’m in the process of moving back to Kansas City, and I couldn’t be more excited. Kansas City is a lovely little town. My siblings are my best friends (I’m the oldest of four-- two of them are still living at home)... I’m thrilled to be able to hang out with them whenever I should so choose : )

it's friday!

After a whirlwind week, I'm ready to kick off my heels, get into my sweats and enjoy some time at home.

My trip to New York was magical. It was filled with photo shoots, events, luxe dinner parties and, of course, running around Manhattan, but the best part of this fabulous week was making new friends and seeing old friends.

Next week, I'll be sharing a few special moments from my fabulous trip.

I hope all of you have a wonderfully relaxing weekend.

xo, Caitlin

*photo via Simply Seductive

10 Things That Make Me Happy: Simply Seductive

Happy Monday from New York City! I've had an amazing weekend in NY with the entire Rue Magazine team. We went to the most fabulous dinner party I have EVER been to hosted by the lovely Kelley Moore. We wondered around Chelsea and stumbled into an enormous flea market (jewelry and a cute clutch purchased) and had delicious meals - my favorite being Pastis, it was magical.

Today we'll be lunching at HGTV with a group of design bloggers and tonight is the Rue launch party! It's going to be an amazing event and a night I will never forget. The fact that the entire team is together makes it even more special.

Anyway, I'm so excited to have Linda from Simply Seductive. Her blog inspires me each and everyday. She also manages to find images I've never laid eyes on, which makes it even more special. Linda is one of the sweetest bloggers I've formed a friendship with, she's has always been great.

Thank you so much Linda for guest blogging here today!

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{Hello, Linda here from Simply Seductive. I am so honoured to be guest blogging at the ever-inspiring Sacramento Street and to take part in Caitlin's wonderful series, 10 Things that Make Me Happy. Here they are... Thank you Caitlin for inviting me and for your friendship... Also, congratulations on the excellent premiere issue of Rue!}

{Shoes... love them! Can't get enough of them! These are from the talented Reed Krakoff.}

{Warmth. I'm happiest when I'm not cold. During cold weather, I love to read a book with a cashmere throw, travel to some exotic place to sunbath on a white sand beach, take luxurious bubble baths or sit before a roaring fireplace.}

{My 2006 John Cooper Works Mini, 210 HP. I have always coveted the Mini Copper and as soon as a dealer opened in my area, I was first in line to purchase. My first was a gorgeous camel and black colour combination that resembled the classic Chanel flat... I since upgraded to the gray with the white stripes shown in this photograph, so that my husband could also drive it with equal admiration. Love how it goes from 0 to 100km in 6.5 seconds!}

{Gilded furniture. Not to be overdone, a few gilded pieces adds intense interest to any decor.}

{Daydreaming. Daydreaming has always been a favorite past time that instantly picks me up. Image from here.}

{Mauviel 1830 cookware. Recently have taken to cooking since becoming a vegan and have always adored copper cookware. Happily received my first Mauviel 1830 frying pan yesterday in celebration of my recent birthday and can't wait to begin using it!}

{Family. This young man entered my life six years ago and without a doubt brings me the greatest joy and makes me incredibly and deeply happy. Also love that he even adores brussel sprouts! Photograph taken by me}

{Treasure hunting. Finding wonderful unique items, whether jewelry as in this case, delicate jade earrings found in a wonderful antique shop located in Provincetown, Cape Cod, that matched perfectly with a lovely gold and jade bracelet purchased in Oahu, Hawaii, or a lovely antique beaded clutch... these unexpected little treasures bring me the most happiness. Photograph taken by me.}

{Chanel. All things Chanel makes me EXTREMELY happy. Recently added Gardénia to my Chanel perfume collection. Photograph taken from here. p.s. This perfume can only be purchased from a Chanel boutique.}

{Traveling. Last but not least, traveling brings me immense happiness. I love everything about it. Fortunately, I have traveled to Morocco, Africa, Hawaii, Australia, Cuba, Chili, France (Paris), UK (London), Northwest Territories, Canada and many, many cities in both Canada and the United States of America, such as Boston, Miami, Washington, Vermont, Provincetown, Quebec City, St. John's, Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto, but not yet New York... hopefully this fall! Photograph taken by me at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort in Miami.}

{p.s. all images were edited via Poladroid}

happy {new york} weekend!

It's Friday! This has been an incredibly busy week, but a dream came true with Rue. It's time to organize my stuff, check my to-do lists and pack my bags. Because tomorrow I'll be New York City bound to join the entire Rue team. Have a fabulous weekend luvies. I'll be posting regularly during my trip so be sure to check in.

xo, Caitlin

ps. Just have to tell ya'll again - thank you all of the outpouring support!

*photo via garance dore

The Moment You've All Been Waiting For . . .

After months and months of photo shoots, emails, meetings, designing and editing (and more editing) - I'm jumping up and down with excitement that I finally get to present to you the premiere issue of Rue. It’s been a labor of love, our pride and joy and we worked our tushies off to get the best of the best into this first issue. I hope you devour each and every page we’ve put together.

Just have to say a few words . . .

To my team, each and every one of you has been amazing throughout this endeavor. We’re each others cheerleaders, supporters and most of all we’ve formed a bond faster than any other group I’ve worked with. We conquered our dreams and turned them into reality. Love you guys!

To my readers, thank you for being there cheering all of us on. You are the reason we keep going and going and going. Staying up all night to bring you this issue, all I could think about was all of you waiting with baited breath for the premiere issue. Here it is luvies - pull up a chair, get a glass of tea or wine and stay for awhile.

To my husband, what can I say – you are my rock. You’ve put up with my late nights, endless hours on the computer, an iPhone that doesn’t leave my hand and meals that suddenly went to strictly quesadillas. You support every single dream I have and were by my side this entire way. I love you honey!

To my family and friends, I promise that I will now return all of your phone calls, I'll be able to go out to dinners, and be at every softball game – that is until we start issue two. Just kidding. Thank you for being there for me every step of the way. I think some of you thought I was crazy – day job, blog, and launching a magazine, but one of my dreams has come true. All of your texts, voicemails, and emails throughout these past few weeks have meant the world to me and kept me going. xo

All of you are the best! I hope you have as much fun pouring over the pages of Rue as we did creating this premiere issue. Enjoy!

xoxo, Caitlin

*photos via Rue Magazine taken by Jamie Beck