wow!

all you lovely bloggers have probably had the pleasure of viewing emersonmade's amazing designs and creations. today, my #1 blog source, my sister, came across this blog post by WonderLust featuring their home.

although there are dozens of beautiful photographs of their home, this image appealed most to me because of the sheet pan holding the boots!!! what a fantastic idea! personally, i would have never imagined doing such a thing, but look how much character that small piece of stainless steel adds to the room!

after reading this post, i wandered over to emersonmade and wanted to share these images with you guys. she's doing some fabulous necklaces nowadays, so go buy one to spruce up your next outfit!

 * all images via emersonmade

simply A-MAZING!

inspired.

i hope y'all had a great weekend!

a couple weeks ago, i was introduced to thecupcakeblog.com. this fabulous site features whimsical cupcakes decorated by true artists. i came across a "the very hungry caterpillar" themed cupcake-cake and knew i had to try to recreate it! it just so happened to be my baby cousin's 1st  birthday the following weekend and i was responsible for the cake, so that is exactly what i did.

not bad, if i do say so myself. at first, i wasn't sure how i felt about it, but it grew on me like leaves on a tree. the most challenging part was getting the right shade of green.

it feels good to get so much accomplished with the new business. =)

also, yesterday i was surprised with a package from pennsylvania.  i didn't recognize the handwriting or the address, but my sister in the uk had been asking me if i had received a ups package all week! i figured it was just another item for her that she couldn't get delivered overseas, but i was wrong. thinking that i would have to open the package up to put it in another box anyway, i lifted the flap and there it was...a beautiful, white and grey, buffalo check, gauze scarf from j.crew! i immediately tracked down my sister online and she surprised me with an "it's yours"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my readers, you will soon find that i have an extensive scarf collection of all different shapes, sizes, colors, prints, and fabrics. my new one is extremely versatile and i will be wearing it as often as possible. it's light enough to wear in the spring and summer and long enough to wrap around my neck in the fall and winter. i'm actually wearing it to work today paired with a black cardigan and red patent skinny belt =) thank you, sissy! xoxo

Dost thou love life?
Then do not squander time,
for that is the stuff life is made of.
- Benjamin Franklin

christmas in july

dear santa,

i hope you are doing well. it's hot, humid, and muggy in houston and i wish i were in the north pole.

since you get so swamped in december, i've decided that i will gladly take one for the team and accept my gifts in july. i have many outfits being worn in the near future that need the appropriate accessories, so this would work for the both of us! i've decided to make things a lot less complicated for you by selecting items from only ONE store!!! everything i want is from my 2nd favorite store in the whole wide world, j.crew. i've been a really good girl all year and it's already may! here is my list, in no particular order:

a few necklaces

some fabulous bracelets...

and earrings i don't think i can live without

*all images via jcrew.com

please feel free to contact me should you have any questions. a gift card for the total amount of these items would be fabulous, as well! thank you, santa!

xoxo,
thuy

i love ina.

ina garten has always been my second favorite food network personality, only behind giada. the blend of simplicity and elegance behind her meals inspires me to cook and entertain whenever i can, and i do.

i also love her relationship with her husband, jeffrey. my brother in-law always says good ole jeffrey is the luckiest man alive. they seem so in love, which is sickening, but i guess when a man has a wife that cooks her way into his soul, who can blame them?

ina films barefoot contessa out of her fabulous hamptons barn she renovated especially for the show and it was featured in housebeautiful magazine in january 2009. i've had these images saved on my computer for a while, so i thought now was as good a time as any to share it with you all...or share it again for those who have already seen it.

this is the "barn". yes...the barn. i would happily live in this barn. wouldn't you?

her AMAZING kitchen, which is what you all see on the tele

i could definitely see myself "working" at this rustic desk!

 a bed and bath filled with light. how darling is that bathtub?! i want! i need!

and last, but not least, an amazing patio out back. cocktail hour never looked so cozy.

*all photographs by simon upton via housebeautiful.com

now, if only i could find me a jeffrey to give me this kind of life. lol. jk. happy cinco de mayo, everyone! xoxo

sit. feast on your life.

-Derek Walcott

textiles and paper goods, oh my!

one of my lovely sisters lives in the UK and is one of my fabulous blog sources. she finds things i would never find on my own. i once asked her to be a contributor on my blog, but she replied with an "i don't blog".  =P

this morning, she introduced me to Olive Manna. how cute is that name? i've always been somewhat obsessed with paper goods and school supplies so you all can imagine my excitement =D

this is their homepage image. love at first sight! how cute are those red clothespins?!

a peak at some of the goods. too cute for words!

now, hop on over to olive manna to add a little bit of happiness to your tuesday morning. yay!


...and this is totally out of the scope of this blog, but i am so proud of my friend, phuc nguyen. if any of y'all are into cars, read this article featuring phuc's new and improved, award-winning civic. congratulations, sweetie!



Who cares what you are? Just enjoy it!
- Samantha Jones, Sex & the City

walls of endless knowledge

one reason why i have not and will not purchase a kindle or any other e-reader is because i love the look of books. in elementary school, i used to get so excited when it was book fair time. i would spend the designated 15 minutes there with my classmates but would then come back after hours with my sister or mom.  i was begging for books instead of barbies. go figure!

when i was 12 years old, my parents moved us into a new house and my favorite piece of furniture from my then-new bedroom set was my bookshelf. it sat like a hutch on top of my light oak desk. my books were organized by height, followed by author, then title. had i known i'd still love bookshelves to this day, i would've taken a picture of it for you guys...or more for me. these days, not much has changed. i can spend hours on end in libraries and bookstores...and i do!

i'm so happy that bookshelves are getting the recognition they deserve nowadays! this one is simply inspiring and i hope to recreate it in my next home:

i found this bookcase last thursday night in the latest issue of my favorite design magazine, livingetc. isn't it lovely?  i love how the books are organized by color on plain white shelves. shoot... i love the entire room, minus the coffee table and light fixture that are a little too modern for my taste.



books to the ceiling,
books to the sky,
my pile of books is a mile high
how i love them! how i need them!
i'll have a long beard by the time i read them!
- arnold lobel