Bag, Tag, Bag!

catherine from the shiny pebble has dared me to share the contents of my bag with you all! i have to admit it's really nothing exciting, but i'm excited i get to tag five more bloggers! here goes...

- elliott lucca demi bag a christmas gift from my boyfriend, this can be worn as a cross-body bag (perfect for traveling), a handbag, or a clutch (ideal for nights out). it fits all my travel documents and the metallic basket-weave goes with everything.

- train tickets from tours to the airport in paris for our trip to italy in april. eleven days and counting!

- mechanical pencils primarily because i had a standardized test last week, but they're always good to have on hand!

- coach gramercy patent skinny wallet pretty in pink and just the right size for the following: 30.95€ in cash, two credit cards, two student ID cards, two "frequent flyer" cards to local restaurants (la croustille for paninis and francesca for pasta), four paris metro tickets, one unused french library card, and one untouched make-up sample from a magazine.

- american passport where would i be without this guy? i love opening up to all the newly acquired stamps. it's filling up pretty quickly!

- burt's bees replenishing lip balm with pomegranate oil as good as regular chapstick but leaves behind a dash of color.

- missing from photo (duh): panasonic lumix digital camera my dad and i spent a little too much time picking the perfect camera but at least we got it right in the end. i'm obsessed!

now for the fun part! not that i wouldn't love a sneak peek into all of your handbags (i'll fess up to being rather nosy) but here are the names of five lovely ladies i hope will be up for the challenge:

carissa from lowercase letters

emily from the girl in the pearl earrings

fallon from a lovely being

jamie from glam latté

katie from the neo-traditionalist

please don't disappoint, darlings! i'm looking forward to seeing what you've got.

catherine from the shiny pebble has dared me to share the contents of my bag with you all! i have to admit it's really nothing exciting, but i'm excited i get to tag five more bloggers! here goes...

- elliott lucca demi bag a christmas gift from my boyfriend, this can be worn as a cross-body bag (perfect for traveling), a handbag, or a clutch (ideal for nights out). it fits all my travel documents and the metallic basket-weave goes with everything.

- train tickets from tours to the airport in paris for our trip to italy in april. eleven days and counting!

- mechanical pencils primarily because i had a standardized test last week, but they're always good to have on hand!

- coach gramercy patent skinny wallet pretty in pink and just the right size for the following: 30.95€ in cash, two credit cards, two student ID cards, two "frequent flyer" cards to local restaurants (la croustille for paninis and francesca for pasta), four paris metro tickets, one unused french library card, and one untouched make-up sample from a magazine.

- american passport where would i be without this guy? i love opening up to all the newly acquired stamps. it's filling up pretty quickly!

- burt's bees replenishing lip balm with pomegranate oil as good as regular chapstick but leaves behind a dash of color.

- missing from photo (duh): panasonic lumix digital camera my dad and i spent a little too much time picking the perfect camera but at least we got it right in the end. i'm obsessed!

now for the fun part! not that i wouldn't love a sneak peek into all of your handbags (i'll fess up to being rather nosy) but here are the names of five lovely ladies i hope will be up for the challenge:

carissa from lowercase letters

emily from the girl in the pearl earrings

fallon from a lovely being

jamie from glam latté

katie from the neo-traditionalist

please don't disappoint, darlings! i'm looking forward to seeing what you've got.

stella mccartney

cheers from london town, everyone! i hope everyone had a lovely weekend. we're here for a quick pit stop before i head back to tours tomorrow. i'm so excited to show my brother the city and meet up with my beloved cousin! (by the way, if you haven't checked out her blog, you're missing out!) in the spirit of all things british, i loved every look that walked down the runway at stella mccartney's fall 2010 show. and you?

{style.com}

cheers from london town, everyone! i hope everyone had a lovely weekend. we're here for a quick pit stop before i head back to tours tomorrow. i'm so excited to show my brother the city and meet up with my beloved cousin! (by the way, if you haven't checked out her blog, you're missing out!) in the spirit of all things british, i loved every look that walked down the runway at stella mccartney's fall 2010 show. and you?

{style.com}

neutral territory

{pieces via life in a venti cup}

i think it's only appropriate to preface our weekend trip to switzerland with a few of my favorite neutral spaces. i am quite certain that our whirlwind trip, which is to include hang gliding in the swiss alps, will be anything but neutral, but it seems only fair to honor the country's historically unbiased stance with a hearty helping of simple and pretty.

rug: good. chairs: great. worn metal table (look close!): sheer brilliance.

i spy with my little eye... one of my favorite materials, lucite.

i love the range of seating options here: leather wingback, white sofas, modern occasional chair. the antler chandelier is a perfect finishing touch and i love the wire pendants too. wow, is there anything i don't love about his portfolio?

{above three rooms, gunkelman flesher via desire to inspire}

{marie claire maison}

i'm not sure what that little wooden cubby is for but, thanks to the exposed brick and the cool light fixture, i think we can agree to let it slide.

{via plush palate}

i would love to cozy up with a good book on one of these chaises longues.

{leibowitz and mclachlan via desire to inspire}

pendant lamps for freeing up space on your bedside table = genius.

{via design*sponge}

i love the hexagonal floor tiles in this otherwise ordinary bathroom.

{via i suwannee}

like the gallery walls, like the hat on the bust, like the funky silhouette of the chairs, like it all.

{canadian house & home via slumber designs}

white walls, dark floors, and a whole lot of pretty in between.

before we leave, i wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your lovely comments and emails this week. your creativity and kindness never cease to amaze me. i'll be catching up on my blog reading when i return from my weekend away so i'll be returning the favor soon enough! thank you again and have yourselves a fantastic weekend!

{pieces via life in a venti cup}

i think it's only appropriate to preface our weekend trip to switzerland with a few of my favorite neutral spaces. i am quite certain that our whirlwind trip, which is to include hang gliding in the swiss alps, will be anything but neutral, but it seems only fair to honor the country's historically unbiased stance with a hearty helping of simple and pretty.

rug: good. chairs: great. worn metal table (look close!): sheer brilliance.

i spy with my little eye... one of my favorite materials, lucite.

i love the range of seating options here: leather wingback, white sofas, modern occasional chair. the antler chandelier is a perfect finishing touch and i love the wire pendants too. wow, is there anything i don't love about his portfolio?

{above three rooms, gunkelman flesher via desire to inspire}

{marie claire maison}

i'm not sure what that little wooden cubby is for but, thanks to the exposed brick and the cool light fixture, i think we can agree to let it slide.

{via plush palate}

i would love to cozy up with a good book on one of these chaises longues.

{leibowitz and mclachlan via desire to inspire}

pendant lamps for freeing up space on your bedside table = genius.

{via design*sponge}

i love the hexagonal floor tiles in this otherwise ordinary bathroom.

{via i suwannee}

like the gallery walls, like the hat on the bust, like the funky silhouette of the chairs, like it all.

{canadian house & home via slumber designs}

white walls, dark floors, and a whole lot of pretty in between.

before we leave, i wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your lovely comments and emails this week. your creativity and kindness never cease to amaze me. i'll be catching up on my blog reading when i return from my weekend away so i'll be returning the favor soon enough! thank you again and have yourselves a fantastic weekend!

bicycle rides and desk du jour

my brother, grayson, and i just got back from a 26 mile bike ride from tours to villandry! those who have been reading for a while may remember how tough this ride was for me the first time around (read about it here and here) — but this time we one-upped ourselves by making it there and back! that's 42 kilometers, ladies and gents.

{allister ann via a cup of jo}

i didn't want to leave you hanging, though, so i thought i'd include this handsome space for your viewing pleasure. i don't know that it's exactly what you'd call a desk but there's a chair and books and lots of pretty, so why not?

{nate berkus via elle decor}

seriously, how good are those black floors and that yellow chair? i hope you are all having a wonderful week — the weekend is just around the corner!

my brother, grayson, and i just got back from a 26 mile bike ride from tours to villandry! those who have been reading for a while may remember how tough this ride was for me the first time around (read about it here and here) — but this time we one-upped ourselves by making it there and back! that's 42 kilometers, ladies and gents.

{allister ann via a cup of jo}

i didn't want to leave you hanging, though, so i thought i'd include this handsome space for your viewing pleasure. i don't know that it's exactly what you'd call a desk but there's a chair and books and lots of pretty, so why not?

{nate berkus via elle decor}

seriously, how good are those black floors and that yellow chair? i hope you are all having a wonderful week — the weekend is just around the corner!

dinner party

my brother, grayson, arrives in tours today and my host mom is busy preparing a big family dinner. there are few things i love more than a lively family gathering and i really can't wait to have him here and show him where i've been living for the last few months. in anticipation of his arrival and our evening soirée, here are a smattering of my favorite dining rooms. they're all a bit different but there's something in each of them that speaks to me. my style is constantly changing!

{tobi fairley via house of turquoise}

that turquoise chandelier is perfection, isn't it? it's like jewelry for the home. i wonder if that's a DIY project in the making... anyone? those striped floors are gorgeous too.

{marie claire maison}

i love the combination of natural wood, fresh white, and primary yellow in this space. the unexpected juxtaposition of organic elements and modern furniture is so clever.

{pottery barn}

everyone has her own opinion about stores like pottery barn, renovation hardware, etc., but i find some of their spaces truly inspiring. i love the curves of these chairs and i think i stand to learn a thing or two from their styling.

{james tse via desire to inspire}

i love the round dark table, modern seating, and industrial light fixture. and don't even get me started on the floor-to-ceiling windows!

{canadian house & home via odi et amo}

i'm quite certain this is the same space spruced up for a magazine feature. wow, what a bouquet of yellow flowers can do!

{style at home via two ellie}

an unconventional seating arrangement, gorgeous madeline weinrib rug, gallery-like walls, and glass light fixture... what's not to love?

{frank roop}

one of my favorite interior designers jazzes up a traditional dining room with architectural detailing, splashy lampshades, and a fun silver star. check out the rest of his portfolio if you have a moment — you won't regret it.

what is your favorite of these spaces? i love them all for very different reasons. sometimes it annoys me that my tastes are all over the place but other days i just embrace it. could you describe your style in just a few words or do you feel like yours is constantly evolving too?

my brother, grayson, arrives in tours today and my host mom is busy preparing a big family dinner. there are few things i love more than a lively family gathering and i really can't wait to have him here and show him where i've been living for the last few months. in anticipation of his arrival and our evening soirée, here are a smattering of my favorite dining rooms. they're all a bit different but there's something in each of them that speaks to me. my style is constantly changing!

{tobi fairley via house of turquoise}

that turquoise chandelier is perfection, isn't it? it's like jewelry for the home. i wonder if that's a DIY project in the making... anyone? those striped floors are gorgeous too.

{marie claire maison}

i love the combination of natural wood, fresh white, and primary yellow in this space. the unexpected juxtaposition of organic elements and modern furniture is so clever.

{pottery barn}

everyone has her own opinion about stores like pottery barn, renovation hardware, etc., but i find some of their spaces truly inspiring. i love the curves of these chairs and i think i stand to learn a thing or two from their styling.

{james tse via desire to inspire}

i love the round dark table, modern seating, and industrial light fixture. and don't even get me started on the floor-to-ceiling windows!

{canadian house & home via odi et amo}

i'm quite certain this is the same space spruced up for a magazine feature. wow, what a bouquet of yellow flowers can do!

{style at home via two ellie}

an unconventional seating arrangement, gorgeous madeline weinrib rug, gallery-like walls, and glass light fixture... what's not to love?

{frank roop}

one of my favorite interior designers jazzes up a traditional dining room with architectural detailing, splashy lampshades, and a fun silver star. check out the rest of his portfolio if you have a moment — you won't regret it.

what is your favorite of these spaces? i love them all for very different reasons. sometimes it annoys me that my tastes are all over the place but other days i just embrace it. could you describe your style in just a few words or do you feel like yours is constantly evolving too?

style icon {lauren conrad}

i find lauren conrad's style is always fresh and age-appropriate. she often sticks with what she knows works for her — long blond hair, sun-kissed skin, and fitted silhouettes — but plays around with make-up and color. she's got the l.a. casual look down pat, but lately her more professional looks have been catching my eye. hitting the road to promote her new book, sweet little lies, she has given fans quite the fashion eyeful.

the california cool look she mastered during her laguna beach upbringing...

...and a more polished look by madewell 1937.

a monochromatic khaki look sets off blond tresses and tan skin.

dewy skin and a classic LBD.

promoting her new book in a plastic island jacket.

red hot in hervé léger.

{instyle and people}

i find lauren conrad's style is always fresh and age-appropriate. she often sticks with what she knows works for her — long blond hair, sun-kissed skin, and fitted silhouettes — but plays around with make-up and color. she's got the l.a. casual look down pat, but lately her more professional looks have been catching my eye. hitting the road to promote her new book, sweet little lies, she has given fans quite the fashion eyeful.

the california cool look she mastered during her laguna beach upbringing...

...and a more polished look by madewell 1937.

a monochromatic khaki look sets off blond tresses and tan skin.

dewy skin and a classic LBD.

promoting her new book in a plastic island jacket.

red hot in hervé léger.

{instyle and people}

desk du jour

{laura resen}

{laura resen}

the farmhouse table

there are so many features that i love about this space, featured last week on design*sponge. the beamed ceiling? perfection. the wooden ladder? fun and functional. the floor-to-ceiling built-ins? to die for. the white floors? love 'em.

but how about the unexpected combination of the farmhouse table and modern dining chairs? it's a look that i've noticed has graced the portfolios of the best interior designers and the pages of the most popular shelter magazines. i'll go out on a limb and say that this playful juxtaposition of rustic and modern is here to stay.

{victoria pearson via desire to inspire}

{metropolitan home}

{marie claire maison via from the right bank}

{nathan turner via desire to inspire}

{frank delledonne in house beautiful}

{darryl carter in elle decor}

{vicente wolf via coco+kelley}

there are so many features that i love about this space, featured last week on design*sponge. the beamed ceiling? perfection. the wooden ladder? fun and functional. the floor-to-ceiling built-ins? to die for. the white floors? love 'em.

but how about the unexpected combination of the farmhouse table and modern dining chairs? it's a look that i've noticed has graced the portfolios of the best interior designers and the pages of the most popular shelter magazines. i'll go out on a limb and say that this playful juxtaposition of rustic and modern is here to stay.

{victoria pearson via desire to inspire}

{metropolitan home}

{marie claire maison via from the right bank}

{nathan turner via desire to inspire}

{frank delledonne in house beautiful}

{darryl carter in elle decor}

{vicente wolf via coco+kelley}

desk du jour / signing off

i have a long weekend excursion to normandy and therefore will be signing off a day earlier than usual this week. i have to wake up bright and early tomorrow morning but i imagine the experience will be well worth the travel! but before i go, i'll leave you with your daily dose of office eye candy...

{pieces via life in a venti cup}

how are floor-to-ceiling windows, an x-shaped desk, and an acrylic chair for tiding you over? just stunning. i'll see you all on monday. have a happy weekend, everyone!

i have a long weekend excursion to normandy and therefore will be signing off a day earlier than usual this week. i have to wake up bright and early tomorrow morning but i imagine the experience will be well worth the travel! but before i go, i'll leave you with your daily dose of office eye candy...

{pieces via life in a venti cup}

how are floor-to-ceiling windows, an x-shaped desk, and an acrylic chair for tiding you over? just stunning. i'll see you all on monday. have a happy weekend, everyone!