because I am feeling random...

This picture just made me laugh.

I know it is dumb. But just let me laugh. :]

{ I know this is horrible, but I saved this picture a long time ago and now I can't find my source. I know I found it on Flickr somewhere. So if you know who this belongs too, please let me know! }

ben & julia

I just love our these engagement pictures. They are two of Matt and I's friends, and they are getting married in August (and we are really excited for them!).

My favorites were the super artsy ones, but I had to throw in the last one to prove that they really are gorgeous people, and I wasn't trying to hide their faces :]

{ photos by Ali Lavin }

map love

{ via ohdeedoh }

Isn't this great? My mom would so love this. She is a map addict.

I love how the cabinets pull out the blue and green of the wall map. And I want those pillows!

Mostly I love the beautifully cool color scheme. I wish I was sitting in this room. It looks air conditioned. And I am not. And it's 84° at 9:30am... in this third floor classroom (that's right, I'm in class. ha!). Weather.com has "excessive heat warnings." No joke.

because good things come in threes...

1. You have to take a look at this carnival-themed, detail saturated, real wedding posted today at Snippet & Ink.

{ Photo by Jessica Peterson via Snippet & Ink }

2. I also discovered a fabulous new website this morning. It's an e-zine called Utterly Engaged. There are currently three issues available. Sign up so you can receive the next one (they're all free!).

{ via Utterly Engaged }

3. I know that this is an old post from My Sweet Savannah, but I love this. I am getting so anxious to decorate our apartment walls, and my grandma gave us these fabulous plates from Anthropolgie for our wedding, which have yet to come out of their box--which is such a shame.{ Plates by Anthropologie. Photos via happy mundane blog }

Our plates of course all have "V" on them. And every letter has different details, so ours actually have a cute little bird on them in addition to the lovely branches.

sidenote: I recently saw these plates still in the store, but they are no longer available online. So they may have been or are in the process of being discontinued.

I want to do something like this with them. I'd like to mix in some pictures, perhaps other objects, and I think I need to stop at a thrift store and find some more coordinating china. [That thrifting inspiration is thanks to my wonderful friend Lauren. We went a week or two ago, and I think I want her help again! Read her blog here.]

{ via My Sweet Savannah }

We will see if I have time to work on this little project this week. I will post pictures if I do.

designer of the month :: Simon Schubert

Who :: Simon Schubert

From :: Germany

Why I love :: Again, details at their finest. Check out his work with paper. All of the lines are done by folding and scouring. Nothing else. Amazing! And so unique.

...And I am oddly attracted to his eerily appealing sculptural work. (see bottom of post)

Favorite piece of the moment ::

{ "o.T." via http://www.simonschubert.de/papierarbeiten.html }

I love the preciseness. And there is even a chandelier in the scene!

Where to go (clickable) :: http://www.simonschubert.de/index.html

Favorite sculptural pieces... Super creepy, but I still love the element of illusion.

{ "Hannah" via http://www.simonschubert.de/skulpturen.html }

Something a little more practical....

{ "Kronleuchter" via http://www.simonschubert.de/skulpturen.html }

Look again. Yeah. They're arms.

from Mike Carpenter's blog...

Almost like we're famous. Only not :] But I'll take it. So sweet! And on our anniversary, too. Yay!

That's right, I have been married a whole YEAR. Yay again!

bold

{ click to enlarge }

Top left, clockwise: Wedding party photo from Luella's Boudoir, Entering the ceremony photo from Green Wedding Shoes blog, Table decor via Green Wedding Shoes blog, Cake topper from d. sharp, Mint leaves, Aisle runner from Project Wedding blog, Bride photo from theknot.com, Buttons, Black lace, Green candy sticks, Moss terrarium from Grey Likes Weddings blog, Boutenierre from tinarie21's shop on etsy, Bridesmaid dress from J. Crew via theknot.com, Cocktail from theknot.com, Shoes from theknot.com, Pebbles

Colors: white grape to clover greens, black, white

Mood: fun, traditional with a twist, formal, bold

I have been so excited to do this trend board! This is for one of my dear friends, Cristine, who is becoming a Mrs. this August! Her wedding is obviously already planned, and she doesn't need a trend board to help her plan, but I wanted to do one anyway. We will see in a month if I really portrayed her vision :]

if you can't make it to Paris...

So.

How amazing is this?

{ d. Sharp }

I know, right? Made entirely of paper. Absolutely incredible.

terrariums

Something I am seriously considering... but I haven't done it yet.

But! this video made me feel a little more competent about what the heck I would be doing if I ever do get around to in-home gardening.

{ via design*sponge }