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Summer in San Francisco {Packing List}


I booked my flight to San Francisco this weekend (June 4 — so soon!) and I have been thinking of all the little things I want to pack ever since: notebooks to jot down ideas for blog posts and names of restaurants to try, my iPhone and monogrammed cover to share my adventures with you all, an eco-friendly bag for groceries, stationery for sending letters back east, sunglasses to stay safe in the sun, and of course a darling striped picnic blanket for my days off!

First Impressions {Graphic Design}

First impressions are everything — and not just in the "real world." Your blog is your online portfolio and should therefore reflect your style to a T. Content is key, but so is good design; an attractive header, a streamlined layout, clear pictures, and easy-to-read text are just as necessary as original content and properly cited images. Anything else is just selling yourself short. Here are a few of my favorite blog headers these days.


I love that Sally and Molly change out the images in their header depending on the season. The layout remains the same, but the subtle change feels fresh every time. 

Will is all about colorful interiors, so his subtitle is practically a personal manifesto. I love the simplicity and the easy-to-read font.

Like Sally and Molly, graphic designer Bri swaps out the patterns behind the word "LOVE" to keep up with her current inspirations. 


Kelly is a graphic designer so it makes sense that her header would wow! I love that she switches up the color palette every so often, though this navy and pink number is naturally my favorite.

In addition to the fact that I adore orange and pink together, I love the quirky combination of fonts in Bradley and Alison's header.

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What would you add to the list of must-haves for a blog design? What are some of your contenders for best designed blogs? By the way, if you're looking to hire a graphic designer for your own blog or website, I have a fantastic list of recommendations I would love to share!

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P.S. Notice something new? My dear friend Chassity taught me how to install the Facebook "like" button under each post. (HTML is not my strong suit!) If you like what you see, do let me know ;)

Home Tour {Shop Talk}

I was so happy when my daily stop by Full House led me to Shop Talk, a new-to-me blog about written by Erika, a brand stylist who also has a keen eye for fashion and interiors. Her home is so, so good. 
{A vintage concert poster, furry chair, and Jonathan Adler pillow create a glam 1970s-inspired workspace.}
{How chic is her dining room? I love the gold lamp against the slate gray walls.}
{The recently completed gallery wall in her office, complete with her daughter's artwork (right). Can you imagine a more inspiring place to buckle down and get it done? Love.}