WEEKEND EYE CANDY

What. A. Week. I definitely took my own advice and ran myself ragged with work, doctor's appointments, and evenings with friends. Suffice it to say I was blown away by all the love for my little studio tour that went live on Tuesday. You guys even crashed their servers for a little bit... Amazing. 

After skydiving last weekend, I made more progress on my 101 in 1001 list by finally getting my eyes checked and buying glasses I don't actually hate. Oh and I'm three days into my goal to drink the recommended amount of water every day for a week — is it lame that I'm pretty sure this is the hardest goal on my list?

Today I'm meeting up with Eddy to run a mile in Central Park and hopefully live to tell the tale. I was a gymnast through high school, a cheerleader my freshman year in college, and I make it to the gym three times a week but I am not, not, not a runner. That said, I am very much a list-maker and hopefully the motivation of crossing another goal off my list will keep me putting one foot in front of the other. If you see a redhead collapsing in Central Park this afternoon, do stop and say hello.

 One more thing: this 101 in 1001 list wraps up at the end of September and I'm hard at work drafting my next list. I have about 80 tasks written down but I'd really love your input! If you or someone you know has written a similar list (bucket list, 25 before 25, 30 before 30, etc.), please email me or leave a link below. I'll take all the inspiration I can get!

Oh and join me on Pinterest for tons more eye candy every day of the week. Have a good one! xx

*Photos 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 

What. A. Week. I definitely took my own advice and ran myself ragged with work, doctor's appointments, and evenings with friends. Suffice it to say I was blown away by all the love for my little studio tour that went live on Tuesday. You guys even crashed their servers for a little bit... Amazing. 

After skydiving last weekend, I made more progress on my 101 in 1001 list by finally getting my eyes checked and buying glasses I don't actually hate. Oh and I'm three days into my goal to drink the recommended amount of water every day for a week — is it lame that I'm pretty sure this is the hardest goal on my list?

Today I'm meeting up with Eddy to run a mile in Central Park and hopefully live to tell the tale. I was a gymnast through high school, a cheerleader my freshman year in college, and I make it to the gym three times a week but I am not, not, not a runner. That said, I am very much a list-maker and hopefully the motivation of crossing another goal off my list will keep me putting one foot in front of the other. If you see a redhead collapsing in Central Park this afternoon, do stop and say hello.

 One more thing: this 101 in 1001 list wraps up at the end of September and I'm hard at work drafting my next list. I have about 80 tasks written down but I'd really love your input! If you or someone you know has written a similar list (bucket list, 25 before 25, 30 before 30, etc.), please email me or leave a link below. I'll take all the inspiration I can get!

Oh and join me on Pinterest for tons more eye candy every day of the week. Have a good one! xx

*Photos 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 

LOTS OF LITTLE THINGS

Sometimes I think the big secret to a happy life is just creating lots of little things to look forward to.
— Mackenzie Horan (@mackenziehoran) August 8, 2013

 First of all, I have no idea how I survived long car trips or even coffee lines before the advent of Twitter. Lately I've been doing a better job remembering to tweet little tidbits of my day or random thoughts that pop into my head. I posted this a couple weeks ago and have been thinking about it a fair amount since. There are plenty of things on our calendars we all dread — deadlines, dentist appointments, etc. — but giving yourself lots of little things to look forward to can totally offset the nagging obligations. 

Around the same time, I stumbled upon this quote: "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." Gretchen Rubin's book (which I highly recommend!) repeats over and over, "The days are long, but the years are short." Both of these are such obvious sentiments that totally escape me in the day-to-day grind. Letting even one day pass by without fun or inspiration or progress is such a waste! Going a couple months without seeing friends turns way too quickly into "oh, I haven't seen her in years." Putting off goals on our bucket lists just makes it less likely that we'll ever cross everything off (hence my 101 in 1001 list!).

I'm trying to be more conscious about filling my days and weeks with lots of happy little moments: coffee with an old friend, dinner dates at new restaurants, happy hours with bloggers from out of town, meetings I'm actually excited about, and of course bigger goals and projects like those on my list. I miss so much when I decide I'm too busy or too tired to go out. It's way, way, way more rewarding to approach each day with energy and enthusiasm and collapse into bed each night exhausted but totally content. Now that I'm more aware of it, it's definitely something I'm going to make a concerted effort to improve about myself.

A few of the things I'm looking forward to right now? A Red Sox game with my dad, New York Fashion Week, a fall jaunt to Nantucket, a weekend trip to New Orleans, and — at the end of September — the start of my next list (wooohooo!).

Does any of this ring true for you? What's one thing you're looking forward to this week or this month? P.S. You can follow me on Twitter here if you're interested in more daily musings! 

Sometimes I think the big secret to a happy life is just creating lots of little things to look forward to.
— Mackenzie Horan (@mackenziehoran) August 8, 2013

 First of all, I have no idea how I survived long car trips or even coffee lines before the advent of Twitter. Lately I've been doing a better job remembering to tweet little tidbits of my day or random thoughts that pop into my head. I posted this a couple weeks ago and have been thinking about it a fair amount since. There are plenty of things on our calendars we all dread — deadlines, dentist appointments, etc. — but giving yourself lots of little things to look forward to can totally offset the nagging obligations. 

Around the same time, I stumbled upon this quote: "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." Gretchen Rubin's book (which I highly recommend!) repeats over and over, "The days are long, but the years are short." Both of these are such obvious sentiments that totally escape me in the day-to-day grind. Letting even one day pass by without fun or inspiration or progress is such a waste! Going a couple months without seeing friends turns way too quickly into "oh, I haven't seen her in years." Putting off goals on our bucket lists just makes it less likely that we'll ever cross everything off (hence my 101 in 1001 list!).

I'm trying to be more conscious about filling my days and weeks with lots of happy little moments: coffee with an old friend, dinner dates at new restaurants, happy hours with bloggers from out of town, meetings I'm actually excited about, and of course bigger goals and projects like those on my list. I miss so much when I decide I'm too busy or too tired to go out. It's way, way, way more rewarding to approach each day with energy and enthusiasm and collapse into bed each night exhausted but totally content. Now that I'm more aware of it, it's definitely something I'm going to make a concerted effort to improve about myself.

A few of the things I'm looking forward to right now? A Red Sox game with my dad, New York Fashion Week, a fall jaunt to Nantucket, a weekend trip to New Orleans, and — at the end of September — the start of my next list (wooohooo!).

Does any of this ring true for you? What's one thing you're looking forward to this week or this month? P.S. You can follow me on Twitter here if you're interested in more daily musings! 

SAILING NANTUCKET

One of the highlights of my last trip to Nantucket was a sailboat ride around the sound with thirteen of my siblings, cousins, and friends (recognize Amy, Carly, Emily, and Grayson?). Not only did I get to check off #39 on my 101 in 1001 list but we spent the most delightful hour and a half dangling our feet off the sides of the boat, sipping Prosecco and snacking on picnic foods, and trying not to let our cameras and phones fall overboard. I couldn't have asked for a better group and I'm so happy to have these photos to remember it by.

P.S. I wore this sweater (now on sale) and these jeans!

P.P.S. All photos by my friend F.E. Castleberry. See more sailing shots on his blog here!

One of the highlights of my last trip to Nantucket was a sailboat ride around the sound with thirteen of my siblings, cousins, and friends (recognize Amy, Carly, Emily, and Grayson?). Not only did I get to check off #39 on my 101 in 1001 list but we spent the most delightful hour and a half dangling our feet off the sides of the boat, sipping Prosecco and snacking on picnic foods, and trying not to let our cameras and phones fall overboard. I couldn't have asked for a better group and I'm so happy to have these photos to remember it by.

P.S. I wore this sweater (now on sale) and these jeans!

P.P.S. All photos by my friend F.E. Castleberry. See more sailing shots on his blog here!

DESIGN DARLING BIRTHDAY PROMO

{Tortoiseshell highball and rope bowl}

{Emily necklace}

{Wood toothbrushes, hand soap, bow cuff, and tortoiseshell highball}

{Pearl starfish earrings}

{To do list, periwinkle Le Pens, and monogrammed pencil cup}

I turn 24 today which means it's time for the second annual birthday sale in the boutique! Use code BIRTHDAY for 24% off every single item on designdarling.com now through Sunday at midnight EST. Stock up on apartment goodies, monogrammed gifts, pretty baubles... The sky's the limit! Thank you all for another incredible year and here's to many, many more! xx

{Tortoiseshell highball and rope bowl}

{Emily necklace}

{Wood toothbrushes, hand soap, bow cuff, and tortoiseshell highball}

{Pearl starfish earrings}

{To do list, periwinkle Le Pens, and monogrammed pencil cup}

I turn 24 today which means it's time for the second annual birthday sale in the boutique! Use code BIRTHDAY for 24% off every single item on designdarling.com now through Sunday at midnight EST. Stock up on apartment goodies, monogrammed gifts, pretty baubles... The sky's the limit! Thank you all for another incredible year and here's to many, many more! xx

WISH YOU WERE HERE

Club Monaco sweater  //  Lilly Pulitzer jeans  //  C. Wonder sunglasses

Sankaty Head Light

Marysia bikini  //  Brooks Brothers shirt  //  Soft Surroundings bag

The prettiest hydrangeas you ever did see

Group skinnydip... Shhh! ;)

Popping in from Nantucket to say a quick hello and share a few pictures from the past couple days! We had Amy, Carly, Emily, and Fred out to our house and have been filling our days with beach naps, coffee runs, ice cream cones, and even a little sailboat ride (crossing it off my 101 in 1001 list as we speak!). I'm trying to unplug as much as possible but you know I couldn't resist Instagram and Pinterest for a whole week ;)

Keep up with Design Darling

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Club Monaco sweater  //  Lilly Pulitzer jeans  //  C. Wonder sunglasses

Sankaty Head Light

Marysia bikini  //  Brooks Brothers shirt  //  Soft Surroundings bag

The prettiest hydrangeas you ever did see

Group skinnydip... Shhh! ;)

Popping in from Nantucket to say a quick hello and share a few pictures from the past couple days! We had Amy, Carly, Emily, and Fred out to our house and have been filling our days with beach naps, coffee runs, ice cream cones, and even a little sailboat ride (crossing it off my 101 in 1001 list as we speak!). I'm trying to unplug as much as possible but you know I couldn't resist Instagram and Pinterest for a whole week ;)

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter

"THINKING IS SCARY, BUT IT'S WORTH IT."

"Do you ever go for a walk just to think?" an old friend asked over drinks the other night. I thought about it. I walk everywhere — to the coffee shop, the gym, the library. I walk my dog three times a day. But walking just to think? No, I guess it's been a while. Too long, in fact.

Do you ever catch yourself just going through the motions? Like you're out of energy and ideas? It's easy to keep on down that path, isn't it? It's way harder to acknowledge it and take time to really think about why that might be the case. 

I'm grateful for the people in my life who can tell me when I'm not my best self and who can give me a bit of a reality check. I don't have it all figured out right now so I guess today we'll call it food for thought. As my friend said, "Thinking is scary, but it's worth it."

On a happier note, I could not be more ready for a little vacation next week. I think a couple days on Nantucket with my cousins and siblings is just what the doctor ordered.

*image

"Do you ever go for a walk just to think?" an old friend asked over drinks the other night. I thought about it. I walk everywhere — to the coffee shop, the gym, the library. I walk my dog three times a day. But walking just to think? No, I guess it's been a while. Too long, in fact.

Do you ever catch yourself just going through the motions? Like you're out of energy and ideas? It's easy to keep on down that path, isn't it? It's way harder to acknowledge it and take time to really think about why that might be the case. 

I'm grateful for the people in my life who can tell me when I'm not my best self and who can give me a bit of a reality check. I don't have it all figured out right now so I guess today we'll call it food for thought. As my friend said, "Thinking is scary, but it's worth it."

On a happier note, I could not be more ready for a little vacation next week. I think a couple days on Nantucket with my cousins and siblings is just what the doctor ordered.

*image

WORK IN PROGRESS.

I went on a date a couple weeks ago and the guy (boy? date? kid? man? none of these sound right...) asked me the one trait I'd most like to improve about myself. I thought it was a great question, especially for someone you don't know very well. He said he's trying to be less judgmental before getting to know people. I thought about it for a moment and decided on...

Patience. I might be the least patient person in the world. Waiting in line at Starbucks is a daily exercise in restraint. Walking behind an elderly person/woman on a cell phone with a stroller and two small dogs/person with zero body awareness (aren't those the worst?) gets me more worked up than I care to admit. I'm not proud of it... but there are times I've actually had to stop myself from hitting my computer because my Internet connection was so infuriatingly slow. I'm impatient with myself, with others, and with inanimate objects... Not good.

What do you do to try to be patient? Sometimes I think it's just a question of stepping back, taking a deep breath, and realizing it's not really worth getting worked up over... Easier said than done, of course. If you have any tips or tricks, you know I'm all ears.

This isn't a pity party but I do think it's important to acknowledge that we're all works in progress and that there's always room for improvement. What's one trait you'd like to work on? I'd love to hear!

*more images here

Keep up with Design Darling

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I went on a date a couple weeks ago and the guy (boy? date? kid? man? none of these sound right...) asked me the one trait I'd most like to improve about myself. I thought it was a great question, especially for someone you don't know very well. He said he's trying to be less judgmental before getting to know people. I thought about it for a moment and decided on...

Patience. I might be the least patient person in the world. Waiting in line at Starbucks is a daily exercise in restraint. Walking behind an elderly person/woman on a cell phone with a stroller and two small dogs/person with zero body awareness (aren't those the worst?) gets me more worked up than I care to admit. I'm not proud of it... but there are times I've actually had to stop myself from hitting my computer because my Internet connection was so infuriatingly slow. I'm impatient with myself, with others, and with inanimate objects... Not good.

What do you do to try to be patient? Sometimes I think it's just a question of stepping back, taking a deep breath, and realizing it's not really worth getting worked up over... Easier said than done, of course. If you have any tips or tricks, you know I'm all ears.

This isn't a pity party but I do think it's important to acknowledge that we're all works in progress and that there's always room for improvement. What's one trait you'd like to work on? I'd love to hear!

*more images here

Keep up with Design Darling

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HAMPTONS WEEKEND!

I had the best time in the Hamptons with Alex and Sarah for Sarah's wedding. Here are a few snapshots from our weekend (as always, lots more on Instagram!).

First we stopped by Serena & Lily's summer pop-up shop in Wainscott. How fun is their striped awning?

I fell in love with these patterned dog beds. If only I had more floor space in my apartment! 

Of course their selection of pillows and throws was totally on point.

With Sarah and Alex en route to dinner. I've been living in this Rachel Pally dress!

We had the yummiest dinner at Ruschmeyer's in Montauk.

Totally coveting Sarah's Tory Burch 797 satchel. Isn't it perfect?

A morning stroll in Bridgehampton before brunch at Pierre's. In a funny turn of events, I wound up getting home from the Hamptons and then hopping back in the car to head up to Nantucket to pick up my mom. Two days in my favorite place on earth? Don't mind if I do! I'll be sharing my brief little trip on Instagram if the weather manages to clear up. Stop back in tomorrow to see what I wore to the wedding!

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter

I had the best time in the Hamptons with Alex and Sarah for Sarah's wedding. Here are a few snapshots from our weekend (as always, lots more on Instagram!).

First we stopped by Serena & Lily's summer pop-up shop in Wainscott. How fun is their striped awning?

I fell in love with these patterned dog beds. If only I had more floor space in my apartment! 

Of course their selection of pillows and throws was totally on point.

With Sarah and Alex en route to dinner. I've been living in this Rachel Pally dress!

We had the yummiest dinner at Ruschmeyer's in Montauk.

Totally coveting Sarah's Tory Burch 797 satchel. Isn't it perfect?

A morning stroll in Bridgehampton before brunch at Pierre's. In a funny turn of events, I wound up getting home from the Hamptons and then hopping back in the car to head up to Nantucket to pick up my mom. Two days in my favorite place on earth? Don't mind if I do! I'll be sharing my brief little trip on Instagram if the weather manages to clear up. Stop back in tomorrow to see what I wore to the wedding!

Keep up with Design Darling

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BEST WEEKEND EVER.

On Friday, Rory and I took the train out to Connecticut and then drove up to New Hampshire with my parents to surprise my sister Reilly at her last Amherst softball game. It was a close game and her team had an 8-run rally in the last inning to win it 15-10. Reilly broke the school record for career hits and RBIs and finished the season batting .377! I'm so proud of her.

On Saturday, I procrastinated heading back into the city and hung out with my dad and my brother Camden all afternoon. We took a little road trip to Southport, Connecticut, to run around with the dogs and admire all the pretty houses. What a pretty town — it definitely has a Nantucket/Rowayton feel to it.

On Sunday (after a night on the town with Carly), I met up with my friend Amy and my cousin Emily for brunch at Friend of a Farmer. I laughed to the point that I had tears rolling down my face which is really how every meal should end. After brunch we headed to Eataly for gelato and a spin through Madison Square Park. I wore my favorite Rachel Pally maxi dress and my new scalloped oxford from Kiel James Patrick.

Next we headed back uptown and collected supplies for a picnic in Central Park. These blankets are coming soon to designdarling.com! (Photo from Amy's gorgeous Instagram.)

How cute are these two? We had the most picture perfect afternoon chit chatting, people watching, and snacking on bread and fruit. Can every weekend be this good?!

P.S. Follow me on Instagram here!

P.P.S. My friend Fred photographed me for his blog Unabashedly Prep. Please check it out and tell me I don't look as silly as I felt ;)

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter  

On Friday, Rory and I took the train out to Connecticut and then drove up to New Hampshire with my parents to surprise my sister Reilly at her last Amherst softball game. It was a close game and her team had an 8-run rally in the last inning to win it 15-10. Reilly broke the school record for career hits and RBIs and finished the season batting .377! I'm so proud of her.

On Saturday, I procrastinated heading back into the city and hung out with my dad and my brother Camden all afternoon. We took a little road trip to Southport, Connecticut, to run around with the dogs and admire all the pretty houses. What a pretty town — it definitely has a Nantucket/Rowayton feel to it.

On Sunday (after a night on the town with Carly), I met up with my friend Amy and my cousin Emily for brunch at Friend of a Farmer. I laughed to the point that I had tears rolling down my face which is really how every meal should end. After brunch we headed to Eataly for gelato and a spin through Madison Square Park. I wore my favorite Rachel Pally maxi dress and my new scalloped oxford from Kiel James Patrick.

Next we headed back uptown and collected supplies for a picnic in Central Park. These blankets are coming soon to designdarling.com! (Photo from Amy's gorgeous Instagram.)

How cute are these two? We had the most picture perfect afternoon chit chatting, people watching, and snacking on bread and fruit. Can every weekend be this good?!

P.S. Follow me on Instagram here!

P.P.S. My friend Fred photographed me for his blog Unabashedly Prep. Please check it out and tell me I don't look as silly as I felt ;)

Keep up with Design Darling

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KEEPING IT REAL

I can't believe I've been living in New York for six weeks! The time has truly flown by and yet it feels like so much has happened in a brief period of time. I've realized my friends and I keep having variations of the same conversation: how crazy it is to be 23, living in this incredible city, feeling like the world is your oyster, and yet having so many things up in the air. Apartments, careers, friendships, relationships... There are so many moving parts and so little real stability.

The past month has brought a lot of unexpected changes. Move in a week after Christmas? Why not! Head to Salt Lake for a few days? Let's do it! Time for fashion week? RSVP yes! And for all the happy moments I've shared on Instagram and Twitter, truthfully I've been in a bit of a funk. As some of you noticed, my boyfriend and I decided to part ways after three years together. Trying to maintain a happy demeanor while nursing a broken heart is exhausting. Running my business out of my little apartment has been a huge adjustment. Heck, even raising a puppy in the city has been more challenging than I'd anticipated.

I don't say any of this to complain but simply to keep it real. As someone who craves routine, I struggle with the feeling that nothing is really on solid ground right now. But there's always a silver lining, especially in New York. Every walk around the block is reenergizing. For every sadness and stress, there's a bright spot — a funny text message, a new favorite coffee shop, a night out with girlfriends, a tried-and-true T.Swift dance party. My friend Eddy has been helping me pack orders a few days a week, which has pretty much rocked my world. There have been bad days, yes, but on the good days I get the sense that something amazing could happen the very next moment. And I'll be here, right where I'm supposed to be, when it does.

I know this hybrid of confusion and excitement isn't unique to being 23 or to living in New York. I imagine lots of you are in the same boat – embracing adventure, making mistakes, realizing that maybe there's no such thing as having it all figured out (or maybe that it's more fun not to). As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. And thank you all for being part of this crazy, exciting, weird time in my life. It wouldn't be the same without you. :)

*Images 1 / 2 / 3 and more New York favorites here

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

I can't believe I've been living in New York for six weeks! The time has truly flown by and yet it feels like so much has happened in a brief period of time. I've realized my friends and I keep having variations of the same conversation: how crazy it is to be 23, living in this incredible city, feeling like the world is your oyster, and yet having so many things up in the air. Apartments, careers, friendships, relationships... There are so many moving parts and so little real stability.

The past month has brought a lot of unexpected changes. Move in a week after Christmas? Why not! Head to Salt Lake for a few days? Let's do it! Time for fashion week? RSVP yes! And for all the happy moments I've shared on Instagram and Twitter, truthfully I've been in a bit of a funk. As some of you noticed, my boyfriend and I decided to part ways after three years together. Trying to maintain a happy demeanor while nursing a broken heart is exhausting. Running my business out of my little apartment has been a huge adjustment. Heck, even raising a puppy in the city has been more challenging than I'd anticipated.

I don't say any of this to complain but simply to keep it real. As someone who craves routine, I struggle with the feeling that nothing is really on solid ground right now. But there's always a silver lining, especially in New York. Every walk around the block is reenergizing. For every sadness and stress, there's a bright spot — a funny text message, a new favorite coffee shop, a night out with girlfriends, a tried-and-true T.Swift dance party. My friend Eddy has been helping me pack orders a few days a week, which has pretty much rocked my world. There have been bad days, yes, but on the good days I get the sense that something amazing could happen the very next moment. And I'll be here, right where I'm supposed to be, when it does.

I know this hybrid of confusion and excitement isn't unique to being 23 or to living in New York. I imagine lots of you are in the same boat – embracing adventure, making mistakes, realizing that maybe there's no such thing as having it all figured out (or maybe that it's more fun not to). As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. And thank you all for being part of this crazy, exciting, weird time in my life. It wouldn't be the same without you. :)

*Images 1 / 2 / 3 and more New York favorites here

Keep up with Design Darling

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WEEK IN REVIEW

Wooohoooo! We've survived the first week of 2013. Who's ready for the weekend? I'm gearing up for another trek into the city to hopefully settle into my studio for good. Eeek! Here's what I've been up to this week:

- Absolutely blown away by the number of people who have been inspired to write their own 101 in 1001 lists. If you have one, please tweet me the link so I can add you to #2 on my list!

- Assembled furniture in my new studio! Why didn't anyone tell me that moving is such a process?!

- Booked my flight for Alt Summit. I can't believe it's less than three weeks away! I'm already getting butterflies about my panel :)

- Contemplated countless combinations of Society Social furniture for my new abode. I can't wait to show you what I wind up with!

- Couldn't stop wearing my favorite Christmas present. Find it on sale right here!

- Created a beverages board on Pinterest. Cheers!

- Delighted in new posts on The Neo-Traditionalist! Katie's blog is an all-time favorite.

- Discovered the perfect pair of crystal studs for under $100.

- Made not one but two trips to Ikea. I'm obsessed with my new table!

What was the highlight of your week? Do tell and have a marvelous weekend! xx

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

Wooohoooo! We've survived the first week of 2013. Who's ready for the weekend? I'm gearing up for another trek into the city to hopefully settle into my studio for good. Eeek! Here's what I've been up to this week:

- Absolutely blown away by the number of people who have been inspired to write their own 101 in 1001 lists. If you have one, please tweet me the link so I can add you to #2 on my list!

- Assembled furniture in my new studio! Why didn't anyone tell me that moving is such a process?!

- Booked my flight for Alt Summit. I can't believe it's less than three weeks away! I'm already getting butterflies about my panel :)

- Contemplated countless combinations of Society Social furniture for my new abode. I can't wait to show you what I wind up with!

- Couldn't stop wearing my favorite Christmas present. Find it on sale right here!

- Created a beverages board on Pinterest. Cheers!

- Delighted in new posts on The Neo-Traditionalist! Katie's blog is an all-time favorite.

- Discovered the perfect pair of crystal studs for under $100.

- Made not one but two trips to Ikea. I'm obsessed with my new table!

What was the highlight of your week? Do tell and have a marvelous weekend! xx

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

ON THE MOVE...

Do pardon the light activity around these parts this week as I move into my own little piece of New York! I've been saving my pennies and counting down the days for quite some time — it's hard to believe that it's actually happening! Yesterday my dad and boyfriend got most of the big pieces in place, which means my mom and I can get to the fun part: decorating! It's teeny tiny — 375 square feet, eek! — but I'm smitten with the natural light and eager to create a space that works for me, my business, and my puppy :) I have lots of fun projects I'm planning to tackle and I can't wait to share them all with you! And in the meantime, if you have any brilliant tips for making moving a little less stressful, I'm all ears...

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

Do pardon the light activity around these parts this week as I move into my own little piece of New York! I've been saving my pennies and counting down the days for quite some time — it's hard to believe that it's actually happening! Yesterday my dad and boyfriend got most of the big pieces in place, which means my mom and I can get to the fun part: decorating! It's teeny tiny — 375 square feet, eek! — but I'm smitten with the natural light and eager to create a space that works for me, my business, and my puppy :) I have lots of fun projects I'm planning to tackle and I can't wait to share them all with you! And in the meantime, if you have any brilliant tips for making moving a little less stressful, I'm all ears...

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

YEAR IN REVIEW...

I can hardly believe that 2012 is coming to a close. What. A. Year!

In January, I started writing for my favorite digital magazine, Matchbook. In February, I attended New York Fashion Week for the first time and made a little street style cameo on Unabashedly Prep. In March, I launched Design Darling {The Boutique} (definitely the highlight of my year!). In May, I cohosted a Jack Rogers party (hello, dream collaboration!). In August, I attended Alt Summit NYC. In September, I hosted Fashion's Night Out at Alice & Trixie. In October, I found out I'd be speaking at Alt Summit Salt Lake City. In November, I hosted a holiday event with Elle Magazine at Kate Spade New York (pinch me please!). In December, I filmed a segment on holiday gifting for NBC Connecticut. And last week I stumbled upon the teeny tiniest NYC studio and yesterday — eeek! — signed a one-year lease.

All the while, I made steady progress on my 101 in 1001 list: buying my first grown-up bag, buying my parents an Apple computer, working out with a personal trainer, seeing a new Cirque du Soleil performance, trying acupuncture, taking a cooking lesson, seeing a comedy show, going to the top of the Empire State Building, going zip lining, upgrading to a DSLR camera, taking a self-defense class, and even participating in a flash mob.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this amazing year. I truly cannot wait to see what 2013 has in store!

xx

Mackenzie

Keep up with Design Darling

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I can hardly believe that 2012 is coming to a close. What. A. Year!

In January, I started writing for my favorite digital magazine, Matchbook. In February, I attended New York Fashion Week for the first time and made a little street style cameo on Unabashedly Prep. In March, I launched Design Darling {The Boutique} (definitely the highlight of my year!). In May, I cohosted a Jack Rogers party (hello, dream collaboration!). In August, I attended Alt Summit NYC. In September, I hosted Fashion's Night Out at Alice & Trixie. In October, I found out I'd be speaking at Alt Summit Salt Lake City. In November, I hosted a holiday event with Elle Magazine at Kate Spade New York (pinch me please!). In December, I filmed a segment on holiday gifting for NBC Connecticut. And last week I stumbled upon the teeny tiniest NYC studio and yesterday — eeek! — signed a one-year lease.

All the while, I made steady progress on my 101 in 1001 list: buying my first grown-up bag, buying my parents an Apple computer, working out with a personal trainer, seeing a new Cirque du Soleil performance, trying acupuncture, taking a cooking lesson, seeing a comedy show, going to the top of the Empire State Building, going zip lining, upgrading to a DSLR camera, taking a self-defense class, and even participating in a flash mob.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this amazing year. I truly cannot wait to see what 2013 has in store!

xx

Mackenzie

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

5 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

I've never really been big on resolutions (besides, I already have this list) but I love the feeling of a fresh start, whether it's flipping to a new page in my planner or sending out the last order for the day. Lately I've been thinking about a few things I'd like to improve upon and the start of a new year seems as good a time as any to get going!

Name tag // Watch // Heart print // Tape dispenser

1. Be better about remembering people's names.

I'm not naturally good at this and it doesn't help that I'm constantly "meeting" new people online. Whenever I attend blogging conferences (like Alt Summit, coming up in January) I get overwhelmed trying to put names to faces and always wish I could remember everyone I meet from one conference to the next. I mentioned this on Twitter and my girl Courtney says she tries to mention the person's name three times in conversation to get it to stick. I'm always so impressed when people I've met in passing recall my name so I'm definitely going to give this a try!

2. Learn to be on time.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm almost perennially late and if not I'm at least panicked because I've cut it too close and I'm down to the wire to get somewhere in time... Not a good look. If it's just a question of leaving five or ten minutes earlier — even if it means being the one waiting for a change! — it's something I plan to work on this year.

3. Only buy things I absolutely love.

Maybe this means instituting a "one in, one out" policy for my closet because seriously, things are getting out of control. Especially as I think about settling into a tiny apartment, I want to strategize on making quality purchases I love rather than shopping to fill every nook and cranny at once. This is something I've gotten better at over time but there are always more ways to pare down and save up for something special.

4. Support more small businesses.

You get back what you give out, right? I'm fortunate to get to work with some amazing fellow small business owners both through my blog and the boutique and I have some seriously awesome sponsors here on Design Darling. Whether we're buying art or clothes or furniture, let's all show small business some love this year!

5. Work smarter, not harder.

I put a lot of pressure on myself to constantly strive for more. While this drive has its perks, it also makes me more likely to burn out from taking on too much at one time. This year I want to focus on working smarter — hiring interns, minimizing distractions at my desk, unplugging as much as possible at night — instead of burning myself into the ground by saying yes to every project that comes my way. This is something I imagine I will always struggle with as an entrepreneurial type but, hey, baby steps!

What's one thing you'd like to work on this year? Do you believe in setting (and keeping!) New Year's resolutions? 

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

I've never really been big on resolutions (besides, I already have this list) but I love the feeling of a fresh start, whether it's flipping to a new page in my planner or sending out the last order for the day. Lately I've been thinking about a few things I'd like to improve upon and the start of a new year seems as good a time as any to get going!

Name tag // Watch // Heart print // Tape dispenser

1. Be better about remembering people's names.

I'm not naturally good at this and it doesn't help that I'm constantly "meeting" new people online. Whenever I attend blogging conferences (like Alt Summit, coming up in January) I get overwhelmed trying to put names to faces and always wish I could remember everyone I meet from one conference to the next. I mentioned this on Twitter and my girl Courtney says she tries to mention the person's name three times in conversation to get it to stick. I'm always so impressed when people I've met in passing recall my name so I'm definitely going to give this a try!

2. Learn to be on time.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm almost perennially late and if not I'm at least panicked because I've cut it too close and I'm down to the wire to get somewhere in time... Not a good look. If it's just a question of leaving five or ten minutes earlier — even if it means being the one waiting for a change! — it's something I plan to work on this year.

3. Only buy things I absolutely love.

Maybe this means instituting a "one in, one out" policy for my closet because seriously, things are getting out of control. Especially as I think about settling into a tiny apartment, I want to strategize on making quality purchases I love rather than shopping to fill every nook and cranny at once. This is something I've gotten better at over time but there are always more ways to pare down and save up for something special.

4. Support more small businesses.

You get back what you give out, right? I'm fortunate to get to work with some amazing fellow small business owners both through my blog and the boutique and I have some seriously awesome sponsors here on Design Darling. Whether we're buying art or clothes or furniture, let's all show small business some love this year!

5. Work smarter, not harder.

I put a lot of pressure on myself to constantly strive for more. While this drive has its perks, it also makes me more likely to burn out from taking on too much at one time. This year I want to focus on working smarter — hiring interns, minimizing distractions at my desk, unplugging as much as possible at night — instead of burning myself into the ground by saying yes to every project that comes my way. This is something I imagine I will always struggle with as an entrepreneurial type but, hey, baby steps!

What's one thing you'd like to work on this year? Do you believe in setting (and keeping!) New Year's resolutions? 

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

LOOKING FOR AN APARTMENT...

Who decides to wrap up holiday orders and embark on her apartment search the same week? This girl. The past few weeks have been insane — in an awesome, overwhelming, what-did-I-get-myself-into, thank-goodness-I-love-my-job, pinch-me! kind of way — so I'm not really sure why now felt like the right time to tack this onto my to do list. But my parents and I spent the weekend looking at places and goodness gracious, I am so excited to finally live in New York. Granted I will be living in the teensiest, tiniest studio with a hyperactive 10-month-old puppy and boxes on boxes of inventory... but I'm 100% up for the challenge. Eeek! Lots more to come on this I hope. In the mean time, tell me: 1) Where was the tiniest place you've ever lived? and 2) What's one thing you did to make it feel like home?

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter

Who decides to wrap up holiday orders and embark on her apartment search the same week? This girl. The past few weeks have been insane — in an awesome, overwhelming, what-did-I-get-myself-into, thank-goodness-I-love-my-job, pinch-me! kind of way — so I'm not really sure why now felt like the right time to tack this onto my to do list. But my parents and I spent the weekend looking at places and goodness gracious, I am so excited to finally live in New York. Granted I will be living in the teensiest, tiniest studio with a hyperactive 10-month-old puppy and boxes on boxes of inventory... but I'm 100% up for the challenge. Eeek! Lots more to come on this I hope. In the mean time, tell me: 1) Where was the tiniest place you've ever lived? and 2) What's one thing you did to make it feel like home?

Keep up with Design Darling

Boutique / Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter