happy {texas} weekend!

After a whirlwind week of World Series madness, I'm ready to board the Giants chartered flight to Dallas, Texas for the weekend. I'm excited to explore a place I've never been and also cheer on the Giants as they fight to win the World Series. It's an exciting time in our household. My husband's dream of being part of a team that is in the World Series is coming true before my eyes and I'll never forget these moments we share together.

Have a wonderful weekend lovies! Go Giants!

xo, Caitlin

love at first sight

Do you know the feeling of finding that perfect winter jacket? I've found two. I mean, a girl can never have too many coats. This camel colored cocoon coat is beautiful and would totally make an outfit complete.

The other coat I'm lusting over was just blogged about by my good friend Katie from the Neo Trad. We've both added the quilted duffle coat to our Christmas wish list because it's so darn gorgeous (PS - it has leopard lining)!

*photo: cm culture club

a perfect way to start the morning . . .

This cool, crisp weather makes me want to wake up a little earlier so that I can enjoy breakfast at home, instead of running out the door with my english muffin. Maybe this should be a November goal of mine. What do you guys think?

*photo: cm culture club via jjjjound

let's play ball

The stands are filling up and the crowd is chanting GO GIANTS! I'm giddy with excitement about the SF Giants being in the World Series. Not only because Eric works for them but because we've been fans for as long as I can remember.

I'll see all of you back here tomorrow. Go Giants!

*photo unknown

a pop of red

Not only am I loving Olivia Palermo's wardrobe lately - this all black outfit with the pop of red in her shoes is perfection. Le sigh, she's just too chic. The next time I find myself in all back (which is about every other day) I'm going to grab a bright pair of flats.

Oh, and I want that clutch in my closet!

*photo via RDujour

Custom de Gournay Wallpaper

I've dreamt about having de Gournay wallpaper in the first home that I own - I dream about it practically every night. Grant Gibson's custom de Gournay wallpaper is utter perfection. His sketches are gorgeous (they look like art for a home) and I cannot wait to see the end result next week. Grant, and ten other designers, are in charge of a different room in a lavish home in San Francisco for the Elle Decor Showcase.

Can next week come any sooner? Guess I'll just have to wait it out. I'm also excited for it to come because Grant and I can then meet up for a Nespresso - yes, we're neighbors!

If you live in San Francisco, be sure to buy a ticket here!

*photos via Elle Decor and Grant Gibson

autumn walks . . .

There is nothing more magical than the sun setting over the Golden Gate Bridge. Eric and I have been enjoying orange light when it is setting - before dinner walks around our neighborhood is something we cherish while overlooking the bay.

*photo via RDujour

Louis Vuitton: 100 Legendary Trunks

Louis Vuitton came out with this beautiful film that takes you on a journey through their breathtaking book that showcases their beautiful creations through more than eight hundred photographs. It's incredible!

*video via YouTube

fall biking . . .

Now that the days are getting shorter and the sun is further away, I have my eye set on a few items that will make the crisp autumn air be a welcome. I have wanted this bicycle for as long as I can remember, although SF isn't the best place to bicycle (too many steep hills!), but I adore it.

*outfit: madewell and bike: studine classic balloon ladies bicycle

10 Things That Make Me Happy: CasaSugar

HAPPY Monday lovelies!! This weekend will be one to remember for a long, long time. The San Francisco Giants made the World Series - I know there has been a lot of baseball talk going on, but when your husband works for the team, it's quite exciting. This week will be filled with parties, family coming into town to go to the World Series games and possibly catching a flight to Texas. Sadly, we had to cancel our trip to Washington D.C. but I think this is a good enough excuse.

I was up in Portland this weekend spending quality time with my mom. The weekend was filled with yummy meals, shopping, pedicures and going through my mom’s china for a freelance assignment this week. Let's just say I came home with lots of beautiful things that will make the tabletop I'm designing amazing. I even brought branches on the plane - my husband thought I was crazy, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do, right?

Today, I'm ecstatic to have the one and only Julia, who is the editor for CasaSugar, the PopSugar Network's home and decorating site. She also writes PopSugar daily, the network's daily pop culture newsletter. Julia lives in San Francisco and over the past year we have become good friends. We only work two blocks from each other - frozen yogurt and coffee dates happen often. Thank you Julia for guest blogging here today!

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Hi all! I'm so happy to be included in this lovely feature. What could be better than celebrating things that make you happy!? Thank you Caitlin for including me! These are a few of my favorite things . . .

Linnea's Lights Forest Fir Candle ($28)

I am obsessed with this limited-edition candle, which I discovered last year when I received it for review. The warm and fuzzy Fraiser fir scent skyrocketed to the top of my favorite candles list (oh there is a long one), knocking my beloved Diptyque candles out of the way — quite a difficult feat. It smells like a freshly-cut Christmas tree and makes me feel nostalgic for the holidays. It becomes available again this year on Nov. 1 (through Dec. 15), and I am literally counting the days until I can order one!

India Rose Freedonia Shower Curtain ($97)

This is my shower curtain, and absolutely enthralled with it! I've had it for about two years and I'm as much in love with it now as when I first saw it. The soft, apple green hues lend a cool, refreshing element to the bathroom, and it's feminine but not overly girlish.


Ava With Owl and Bears


I bought this photograph of Ava Hawk, the daughter of Carmen Hawk, from my seriously talented artist friend Samantha West and I find it absolutely stunning I simply had to own it when I saw it, and it was one of my first original art purchases. The composition and contrast are flawless, and I love Ava's bravado and her goldilocks hair.


New Orleans!


I lived in New Orleans for four years and I miss it everyday. There's no other place in this country where you'll find such magnificent people, music, food, art, and architecture all in one place. I'm headed to New Orleans this weekend for Halloween and am counting the minutes!


Some of my favorite artists there are Amanda Talley, Hayley Gaberlavage, and lighting designer Julie Neill. I also can't make a trip without visiting my favorite accessories shop Hazelnut, which is co-owned by Bryan Batt from Mad Men.


Ferragamo Vara Shoes ($395)


My Ferragamo bowtie shoes are an all-time fave. I have them in a few colors and wear them with both dresses and skinny pants. I love how granny they are!


Fresh flowers!


A bouquet of fresh flowers turns my whole week right-side up! I love strolling down to the florist on sunny Saturday mornings to put together my own arrangement or to the farmer's market for bunches of wild flowers, dahlias, and cockscomb.

Painted Glassware


I have a few sets of painted glassware which make me utterly happy, regardless of what I fill them with! My favorite is a set of this George Briard double Old Fashioned owl glasses, which was a gift from a dear friend. I picked up a great set of high balls painted with a blue horse hitch post motif at a thrift store, and I also took over some dainty floral demitasse cups from my mom, which are great for serving puddings and other treats.


7x7 Magazine


I love San Francisco's 7x7 magazine! I love to zone out with music on and read it cover to cover in one sitting each month. I love city pubs in general, like New York magazine, and I'm fascinated by all of the things that can happen in a few square miles — one of the reasons I started Polk Sheet, my blog about Russian Hill in SF.


MUNI Fast Passes


My monthly MUNI bus passes make me happy, so I collect them! The colors are phenomenal and the wormish logo designed by Walter Landor is one of the greatest designs of the 20th century.


Dior J'adore Eau de Parfum ($95)


J'adore this perfume! It's my signature scent, and I wear it night and day. I once tested every single other fragrance in Bloomingdale's in search of some I'd like more, and I came up empty-handed.


happy {portland} weekend!

Tonight I'm hoping on a plane to Portland. The thought of spending time with family and friends makes me giddy - although I will miss Eric. Treasure hunting, delicious meals, dodging the rain and watching the SF Giants prevail over the Phillies is what my weekend will entail. What about you?

Have a wonderful weekend lovelies, I'm excited for you to find out the person I'm featuring for my 10 Things That Make Me Happy series - it's a good one!

xoxo, Caitlin

*photo: Wildfox

longing for a lazy day . . .

I'm ready to wrap myself up in cozy knits to keep myself warm in San Francisco's chilly fog. So, I think it's time to retire my sandals and sundresses and bring out my favorite chunky knit sweaters.

With the stress the SF Giants are causing my household, all I want to do is hunker down at home and relax by spending endless hours in bed, cooking homemade meals and sipping cups of tea. Well, I'm dreaming - a day like this isn't coming my way for awhile, but a girl can dream, right?

What are you dreaming of? Sleeping in? Relaxing in front of a fire with your favorite magazine? Having a few hours to yourself to do whatever you want?

*photos: 1. Simply Seductive 2. Julia 3. Flor_

falling leaves

Walking into work this morning I couldn't help myself from gazing at the leaves that are turning abeautiful hue. The crisp cool weather makes it even more special. Ahhh, I love autumn.

*photos From Me To You and dress, design, decor

Brilliant Quote

*photo found by destined to design via the color plaid

Vespa, I Need You . . .

Back in college Eric and I had a Vespa to get around the city. Lately, I've been missing it entirely too much. We have so many memories, both good and bad. The best thing about it was finding parking in any part of San Francisco and going on romantic dates. The bad, but also funny memories were trying to see if we could make it up the steepest hill in San Francisco, let's just say I had to get off half way up and walk the rest of the way. Driving it in the rain wasn't pleasant either. But the good times outweighed the bad and I want one in my life again.

*photo: The Sartorialist

"Recipe for Happiness" Monthly Diary

I came across this all-in-one calendar, diary, and address book by NoteMaker. What more could a busy lady ask for? Not much. This needs to be purchased and put in my purse as soon as possible. The only question is, what color should I get?

*photos via NoteMaker

A View Inside the Kate Spade Pop-Up Store

If only I was the one that got to go to the brand new Kate Spade pop-up store across the pond. I enlisted my best friend, Amy, to go check it out for me - yes I made her go on a shopping field trip. Let me just tell you, I wish I could blink my eyes and be in this space, because it's gorgeous. Every single thing is eye-catching, bright and beautiful. Check out Amy's wonderful photos and what she has to say about the space. Enjoy!

Situated in London's Covent Garden burough, Kate Spade's Pop-Up shop was a bright pop of color from down the block with bunches of big red balloons and a charming bicycle tied up out front. Created to show visitors what Kate Spade's own personal flat would look like if she lived in London, the two stories of a historic white townhouse were a whimsical and stylish invitation to sneak a peak into a day in the life of Kate Spade (and view her latest collection). While her entire collection was for sale in the Pop-Shop, it was the bright colors and design details that really stole the show. From phone numbers written on napkins by the phone to goldfish on the mantle and knick-knacks from around the world, one truly expected to turn the corner and run into Kate Spade herself! Hours spent adoring every detail would not suffice; it was truly a cheery site on a grey London day. So glad that Kate Spade decided to take a hop across the pond!

UPDATE . . . I just came across this fabulous video on the pop-up store and had to add it into this post:

*photos taken by Amy and video by kate spade

Print Is Not Dead . . .

How did I miss this? I completely missed this utter cute stop motion trailer for the launch of Anthology Magazine, and wouldn't you know, my friend Robin is the stunning red head. Congrats Robin on being in such a lovely film!

* Print Is Not Dead from Anthology Magazine on Vimeo

Trunk Show: Janezic Spring 2011

What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than at my best friends Spring 2011 trunk show. Most of my wardrobe staples are from her past collections. I'm thrilled she's re-launching her line with beautiful fabrics, a stunning color palette and designs that I could wear every single day. Here is a peek inside the trunk show . . .

Isn't everything beautiful? The hard part for me is narrowing down what I'm ordering - decisions, decisions! I'll be posting more about Michele's line (Janezic) in the next few weeks when her website re-launches.

Also, be sure to check out my guest blog post over on Destined to Design!

*photos taken by me