a closer look into what a classical education means in the usa

a time-tested way of learning, classical education is catching on more and more in the united states. here's a closer look into one yale university graduate and a san diego, california mom who took matters into her own hands when she couldn't find the right school for her children (read about her story here)

from country girl to "queen of paris" ~ mlle. chanel

a self-invented legend, gabrielle chanel is a lasting fashion icon. even though she came from humble beginnings, mlle. chanel had vision and conviction. her influences were modern and her actions bold. the woman famously said "her scent should be as important as her style of dress" knew how to be classy yet strong even from an early age. She could be found plucking birds and feathers from typically trendy hats to create something in her words, lighter and more chic.

she will always be remembered as the reigning queen of modern fashion, with red lips. xoxo coco!
© CHANEL, Inc.

do you just wonder how some people do it all? well this fabulous lady is just one of those people. sarah copeland of edible living manages to maintain a popular publication's food section—keeping it fresh and looking amazing. All this too while raising a family, having romantic dates nights with her hubby AND publishing her second cookbook, FEAST. If you've decided that this is the year to eat vegetarian at least 3 days a week, 1 day or just on occassion, you have to check out this amazing book! we will have it on our go to cookbook shelf gladly!!

green with delight

today was one of those days where i could go just about anywhere and do just about anything. i choose to start my day at one of the prettiest floral shops in san diego, green fresh florals. i wandered in blindly, but my eyes suddenly widen at the gorgeous window display and smart logo ~ it called to me.

i started at the wall of amazing letterpress cards ~ cards from all my favorite letterpress shops {smock, egg press, and sable & snow}. i then moved to the wall of golden urns, glass vases and knotted drift wood. next were the florals ~ blueish greens, pink peonies, seeded eucalyptus ~ all of my favorites.

finally i moved to the outdoor area that was full of beautiful pots and succulents ~ you felt like you were in tuscany! the square frame succulent garden hung with great beauty, which i loved the most and thought i could recreate at home.

after carefully studying every corner, i came out of there with a handful of cards, a few succulents to make my own potted garden and an armful of pink peonies. a delightful visit i should say.

feeling summer

this week we experienced the first days of summer. what were you wearing? we like the effortless and versatile looks ~ always a pop of color and a neutral to keep the right balance. to avoid being too prim, keep an element of surprise to your summer look. cheers! {jcrew}

the newlywed cookbook + martha stewart

ever dreamt about being on the martha stewart show live, baking with martha herself? well that dream has been realized by the very talented recipe developer and author of 'the newlywed cookbook', sarah copeland. be sure to stop by her lively blog for a behind the scenes look at her trip to the martha stewart studios and then watch her on the show!

life is a little sweeter...

you probably already know that sarah copeland of {edible living} is my favorite lifestyle expert & recipe developer, but did you know that she is sharing one of her rockstar recipes with martha stewart living tomorrow in their studios? i'm on pins and needles in anticipation! while waiting for this magic to air, come visit sarah at her book signing event at the fabulous {pink olive, nyc}! delicious!

pretty little things

there's something glorious about a white palette with wonderful textures and details. we love {olive manna} ~ check out their pretty tags, fun packaging and great home decor. 

colonial williamsburg, virginia

this week is a trip to historic colonial williamsburg, virginia one of the starting points or our country. i love the spirit of the south and was in love with this "exchange your tie for a bow tie" southern wedding {southern weddings and katie stoops photography}. so we are off and we'll be back in one week with more stories to tell!

pie in connecticut

this charming site {apt. B baking co} was something we stumbled upon and instantly wanted to make all these traditional desserts that were so beautifully photographed! this pie and rustic tin shot especially caught our eye. enjoy!

outdoor weddings

As my younger brother's wedding comes up this fall, I have become increasingly more obsessed with casual yet elegant outdoor weddings! This particular wedding seen on {once wed} has been my long- standing favorite. This bride casts an effortless beauty on the occasion, and the surroundings seem to fall into place with just the right amount of charm and softness!

Meeting Sarah...

Come one, come all to meet the author of the The NEWLYWED Cookbook!  Lifestyle expert & recipe developer, Sarah Copeland does not disappoint with this gorgeous book! Although I can't be there in person, I have had the privilege of tasting Sarah's "Deep Dark Secret Chocolate Cookies", and they are sinful! Not only do the recipes deliver, there's also a sweet story to go with them. Enjoy!

a few of my favorite things

happy weekend! a few shots of my favorite things to {peek at: photos by the wild fleur} and day dream for a little while!

creating a happy space!

whether you sew or shop well, {caitlin wilson textiles} has you covered with her delightful textiles shop, online. we were so thrilled with the great colors and prints found here ~ i see a sewing project coming right around the corner! note: when using different patterns together, remember to keep a constant color throughout for a cohesive look that looks designer inspired and picture perfect!

holga just for fun....

holga filter for your iphone... now that is just plain fun. happy holidays!  ~ scp

necklines, the high & low

when choosing a wedding dress, the neckline is golden—especially now as we live in a time where we've never had so many options! that being said, we were so delighted to spot this sweet, high collar wedding gown {partlet collar; reminiscent of the elizabethan era: shot by paige winn photography} and featured {here}. a neckline so unexpected it had us swooning! lovely!

scp holiday gifts!

after a fun trip to the local farmer's market, we've completed our holiday gift sets! here we've selected hand-carved artisan bowls paired with black truffle and himalayan salts.

salt, salt & more salt

the roman soldiers were once paid in salt and that is where the term "salary" comes from. why not raise an ancient tradition and give the gift of gourmet salts! pair a uniquely packaged truffle salt with a handmade, small, wooden bowl and you have not only a green present, but a useful one as well! {salt farm sd}

happy weekend!

while hunting to find the perfect wedding gown for my future sister-in-law,  i stumbled upon this great shot. i love how the textures, patterns and colors mix all together in such an elegant way—it's modern, yet classic. i found it to be inspiring, so i leave you with this imagine for the weekend. may your weekend be full of color and surprises; and dare we say, inspire you to do something completely different! ciao!

playful colors of fall

this fall we're seeing lots of bold, citrus colors in stately places such as skinny pants paired with pumps. bow tie blouses of the 80's get a breath of fresh air and are less serious sans shoulder pads and paired with jeans and casual jackets! {j.crew}