Dilemma: Birthday Self-Gifting

My birthday is looming and I need to decide on a gift. Traditionally, I allow myself one gift, specifically a splurge. Not that the belt's all that tight the rest of the year. Flights to Paris are really expensive nowadays, so I'm looking at objects on my covet list. Feel free to weigh in: 

image courtesy of greenyourdecor.com

Color Story: Chic, Sleek & Saturated

Here's an ad that fairly blows my mind. The image is arresting: simple, spare and yet full of so much movement. The colors are complimentary: yellows to reds to purples. Everything - from upper right down and across - is round and flowing: the hairstyle, the ruffled color, the lines of the dress, the legs, the variations in the wall stain, until the eye arrives at the bottom left corner with the spike of the stilletto and the flower petals. 

And the richness of the colors is offset by the paleness of the model's skin and the depth of the shadow behind her.

West Elm: A Riad Grows in Brooklyn

authentic berber rugs, poufs, pillows with west elm seating and side tables

Heaven knows how West Elm continues to do it! They've debuted a "Found Morocco" collection of one-of-a-kind imports. Sure, lots of companies do this. But they've taken authentic Moroccan goods and styled them up in their own casual/modern style. And everything looks fantastic!

Mix Tape Eternal

There are no words. I was shocked and surprised. The Bodyguard came out when I was a freshman in college. Some of the people who saw that movie with me still choose to believe they get together in the end... We all wanted to be Rachel Marron. Somehow both of my copies of the soundtrack (cassettes) have disappeared over the years.

Rooms on Film: Think Like A Man

based on steve harvey's #1 bestselling book

This movie hasn't even opened yet. I just saw the trailer in front of the sci-fi flick, Chronicle (which rocked out 100%!). A few cool sets were shown in the...2.5 minutes, a gorgeous global bedroom among them. So, of course, I had to find a few shots while it was still on the brain. Think I'll go see this one just to see the rest of this girl's home:

her clothes fit with her decor: ethnic prints and chic colors

Color Story: Natural Harmony

Just a little image that represents my sensibility when it comes to color. This image went into my Style Tray because the harmonious combination of color and objects. The whole scene is simply perfect: blue smoke, deep green trees and pink blossoms above a rich floor of light brown soil and dark fluid wood. Then there's the player dressed in natural dyes of purples and fig, holding her black and red instrument. The pipa should be striking with it's bold colors against all those natural shades, but somehow the red/black draws attention to it subtly. The music is the focus without the pipa being jarring. 

screencap from the movie "the forbidden kingdom"

Retail Odyssey: DVF Studio at BB&B

summer paisley: go ahead, scream down deep in your soul

So I swung by Bed Bath & Beyond in search of a certain moisturizer. (They tend to have the best prices on drugstore items.) Since I hadn't been there in a while, I decided to browse the entire store. ...And discovered that Diane Von Furstenburg is doing a dedicated homewares line (bed and bath) just for them called DVF Studio. And it be pretty as hell: 

Cozy Under Foot: Anthro + Argentina

huari: stunning. subtly pops a little earth tone in amongst the searing brights

By now, we've pretty much all seen "Man Shops Globe," right? The owner of Anthropologie travels to different countries to find new and interesting artisans and merchandise for his stores? Even after watching marathons of that show, I am still blown away by many of the home goods they offer. How do they do it?! Their new Argentinian rugs are...there are no words. I've fallen for their rugs before and it looks like I'm falling again: 

Fuschia + Aubergine: Edgy Bathrooms

 rock star glam: bright, shiny, chic, cool, a little modern and a little messy 

This bathroom looks like the exact right 'mission control' for a girl who'd rock a flowing goddess gown in deepest purple and fuschia edged in shiny metals:

And a couple more options perfect mix of sparkle and glam for an edgy goddess to handle her ablutions...

Color Story: Four-Part Fave

We're all familiar with the perennial summer combo of hot pink, bright orange, turquoise and acid green. It's a combo that never gets old, and the permutations are always exciting. So, even though I'm not at all ready for spring yet, it is pretty nice seeing the new retail offerings in this colorway. 

anthropologie's delightfully feminine ranunculus swirl shade