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Tuesday
02Jun

Novel Needlepoint

Needlepoint has been popping up on my radar as of lately. I keep seeing it in the most unexpected places - from fonts in wedding invitations to creative accents on clothing, it's not just reserved for your pillowcases anymore.

Most recently, I happened upon this gorgeous gable box made from laminated vintage cross stich tapestry. It would make the most amazing lunchbox, don't you think? Too bad it's so pricey!


Frederique Morrel Tapestry Lunchbox $75 via Kirk.

I've had my eye on several of these chic embroidered tops for months. They come in fabulous cuts and colors with unexpected salutations in delicate embroidery. Some are more crass than others, but I prefer the classy sounding French phrases that make you smirk once you hear their translation.


Casee - Toi Cherie "Get Lost - Darling" teal top $73 via Lochers.


A close up of the embroidery on the Boys top (with tick marks) on Sringtime Special for $49 via Locher's.

Hello Lucky puts their spin on a letterpress wedding invitation suite - amazing! I had the pleasure of seeing this in person and I can tell you that it's a textural delight for the senses. I love the cozy feeling it conveys to their wedding guests.


Cross Stitch Invitation Suite via Hello Lucky.

This vase is preferated to allow one to stitch their own pattern or phrase right around the outside. Obviously, you couldn't eat your morning cereal out of it, but place a smaller bowl of flowers in the middle and you have a fully-customizable vase. Imagine the sentiments you could convey with different thread colors for each Holiday!


Panier Percé $195 via Industreal.

Lastly, Johnathan Adler never fails to put the twist on the trivial with his housewares. These needlepoint pillows aren't the type you'd find in your G-Ma's sitting room. I love these two as a pair - they certainly make a conversation piece. Wouldn't they be hilariously perfect on the couch of a therapist's office?

Joy and Anger Needlepoint Pillows $165 each via Johnathan Adler.

Okay, I'll be the first to admit I'm not normally so keen on cross stitch, but this makes me want to bust out my embroidery thread and needles and go to town on everything I own!

Monday
01Jun

Latest Obsession: Campaign Desks

I have a dear, dear place in my heart for IKEA, but when it came time to re-design our spare room into Kate Miller Events headquarters, I just couldn't commit to a melamine desk. As functional as they may be, I wanted something a bit more chic with stylish staying power.

Of course, with our tight budet, the first place I decided to look for my desk was an antique store. There are a few in Sacramento that I love - and I've discovered a new swoon-worthy storefront: Fringe. They house the holy trinity of shopping - fashion, decor and vintage antiques - all in one location.


The lovely Fringe boutique on 21st and X Street in Sacramento.

I spent a few minutes perusing the fashion and decor pieces before getting down to business, literally. I wanted a desk with character, but that also functioned well for my laptop driven workflow. Now, take a quick peek at that photo above and look at the lovely on the left, underneath all the beautifully packaged lotions. Not to wide, not too deep, with drawers, a built-in filing cabinet and sooo very shiny! My heart skipped a beat.


A closer look at a beautifully polished Aluminum Military WWII Folding Campaign Desk from Mantiques Modern. Call for price.

I asked the friendly sales lady, Audrey, what it was called - and she waxed poetically over the Aluminum Campaign Desk while showing me it's secret charms. It was built in WWII for Army nurses so that it could easily be moved from camp to camp. As it's made from aluminum, it's rather light - and get this - it FOLDS DOWN! Laurie had previously used it, folded-down, under a sheath of glass, as a coffee table.


The same lovely Aluminum Military WWII Folding Campaign Desk from Mantiques Modern, folded down into it's compact form. Call for price.

I loved this idea! The KME offices will be housed in our spare bedroom slash guest bedroom - so on occasion we will have guests and I love the idea that I could easily break this down into a smaller piece of furniture and pop it in the corner or garage. I began to research and found a plethora of other similar campaign desks.


The same WWII Campaign Desk in the traditional army green via eBay. Buy it Now Price $750.

A beautifully restored authentic Campaign Desk via Orange at 1stdibs, but for WAY more than my entire office decor budget! $3,800.

Pre-WWII they had been made of wood and housed on sawhorse-like legs that could easily be folded and carried. Popular in mid-century households, I've found them in finished wood pieces as well as colored lacquers. I'm still partial to my aluminum knight in shining armor, but some of these others are gorgeous as well!

A hunter green painted 1960's- 1970's Campaign desk by Morris via PCH Modern. Sold.


Milo Baughman's take on the classic Campaign Desk in white lacquer via 1stdibs. Sold.

A burlwood take on the same Milo desk via 1stdibs. Sold.


Bamboo Campaign Desk via Flair Home at 1stdibs. $2,100.

Most are beyond my inital budget (I've searched aimlessly on eBay as well), therefore I will be saving my pennies while shopping around to find one for the best price. So far, this Etsy "original in box" desk would be a fantastic deal and I could get the bottom re-finished to the shining glow at a later date.

Vintage Aluminum Folding Desk via fusionfurniture on Etsy. $720.

I'll probably hold out until I find a REALLY good bargain!

Sunday
10May

My Glass is Half-full... of Jamba Juice

Image via CuisineCuisine

The best part of being sick is getting to induldge in treats. You know, the treats that will somehow manage to get some calories in your aching system while still tasting good. Even fro-yo has it's nutritional benefits if the most you've digested in 48 hours was an A to Zinc Lemonade flavored VitaminWater or two.

Since my mom decided to forego our normal Mother's Day festivities due to my contracting of the chicken pox, Hubs offered to grab me something to eat at Jamba Juice. Easy to digest, yet still nutritious - it was a fabulous option. I seized the opportunity to request one of my favorite off-the-menu flavors: the Chocolate-Covered Strawberry.

This particular flavor was wiped from the menu several years ago - and I still cannot figure out why. It's dependant on the seasonal blueberry, but they've still yet to bring it back come springtime. Sure, with the Chocolate Moo'd in it, it's not the most low in sugar - but it's totally delicious (and high in protein)!

Good news! You can still order it - you just have to know what's in it. If you want to try out the Chocolate-Covered Strawberry, this is the way I like it:

Jamba Juice Chocolate-Covered Strawberry

  1. Order a Chocolate Moo'd in the size of your choice (I chose a 16oz today).
  2. Add Raspberry Sorbet.
  3. Add Strawberries.
  4. Add Blueberries.
  5. Add the Boost of your choice (I chose both the Vitamin and Immunity Boosts today).

Enjoy!

Monday
20Apr

KME's Premiere Event!

Well, my feet are not quite as happy as my heart - but I would have to say that Kate Miller Events' very first Wedding was a success! I am so incredibly happy for Stevie and Blake and hope that they are having an amazing Honeymoon along the coast of California.

This wedding came with many challenges, namely a Recessionista Budget and a 3.5 month Timeline for planning. At first I thought it was four months - but really, we started this endeavor at the beginning of January 2009. 3.5 months it is! Of course, that didn't halt Airen and I from pulling out all the stops.

Per the guests' feedback, it truly was magical! The emotional ceremony, romantic candlelight, the pops of gold, cream, taupe, and mustard yellow, the food and the dancing - it was all fabulous and I feel honored to have played a part in this very special wedding day.

I have a few small sneak peeks - some non-pro photos taken by guests during various times of the day:

Whirly Globes filled with tealights and fresh flowers, ready to glow above the Capitol Building come nightfall.

Father of the Bride and Stevie travel down the aisle in style - check out that fabulous mustard velvet bouquet-wrap, complete with black & white beaded cameo garnish!

A menu sits afront one of the candlelight centerpieces, surrounded by a sprinkling of mustard yellow pom pons and Stevie and Blake's custom-made Photo Cards.

The wedding was held on the 7th Floor Terrace of the The Citizen Hotel, a boutique Joie de Vivre hotel amidst the tree-lined streets of midtown Sacramento, CA. As soon as I get the official professional photos from Sarah Maren Photography, I will be blogging it up. Until then, I think I may just finish my own wedding recaps. I'm so glad we've completed our first big event - now I'm just looking forward to the next!

Anyone need a wedding coordinator? *wink wink*

Friday
06Mar

Print-tastic!

I've been meaning to take little outfit shots of myself - but to be honest, after the wedding I've gotten a little "fat and happy" because that's what I do when I'm happy. When I'm sad, I starve. When I'm happy, I cook and eat. It's a vicious cycle, but in the end I guess it makes me love my curves more - after all, they were founded on love!

However, it does make me a teensy bit self-concious when taking full body shots of myself to post on the internet. Most of my favorite fashion bloggers, like Tiffany and Diabolina, are skinny little lovelies who look adorable in their shoots. This just goes to show that we are our worst critics!

With that said, I took one anyway - and no I am not preggers, this top just makes it seem so. Either way, I felt pretty cute in this outfit. I tend to stick to greys and blacks, so this was a nice easy introduction of color to my work and after-work wardrobe (I wore this with black skinny trousers to work and changed into the jeans pre-dinner).

Outfit:

  • Martin & Osa Blazer (on sale for 80% off)
  • Thakoon for Target Top (on sale for 80% off)
  • Rich & Skinny Jeans (Gilt Groupe purchase)

Accessories:

  • Olivia Harris Black Top-grain Leather Satchel (Gilt Groupe purchase)
  • Kate Spade Camellia Black Patent Croc-stamped Leather d'Orsay Heels (Gilt Groupe purchase)
  • Marc by Marc Jacobs Gold Zipper Earrings (on sale for 40% off)
  • Gold Baby Necklace
  • Gold Necklace with Amethyst Cross and Heart Charms (purchased when working at JCP)

Please excuze the blotchy chest - I get like that after a glass of wine. I choped my head out of the first photo as I was giving the Hubs my best, "you are taking my picture wrong," face. He was, actually, taking my picture right - but with lots of sarcastic comments like, "Work it, girl! Give me that sexy face!" Geez.

I was chaneling Fall/Winter 2008 (and a little bit of F/W 2009) with that color combo - mostly because I had snagged that Thakoon top on MAY-JAH clearance early this week. I hadn't really paid attention to the collection until I realized that this cute top was only $7. SEVEN DOLLARS PEOPLE! A deal - and I like those.

Runway Inspiration (left to right, top to bottom): F/W '08 Aquascutum, F/W '08 Chloe, F/W '08 Colette Dinnigan, F/W '08 Emilio Pucci, F/W '08 Iceberg, F/W '08 Just Cavalli, F/W '08 Lela Rose, F/W '08 Luisa Beccaria, F/W '08 Michael Kors, F/W '09 Thakoon, F/W '09 Tibi, F/W '09 Tracy Reese.

Speaking of Designer Collaborations for Target - Alexander McQueen was a disappointment. Luckily, I just heard word of a Tracy Feith collab this morning by way of FabSugar - with a sneak peek at the collection itself. This jacket is a must have, as is the skirt. I love the prints - but I hope they are well-constructed. Crossing my fingers!

Tracy Feith for Target

Aren't they lovely? Such pretty versatile colors and in some great cuts too. They should hit stores later this year in May. Prints are here to stay, baby!

Have you found any fabulous prints lately?