Black and White

This long weekend was a wonderful farewell to summer. We had sunny, crisp weather, which felt like the perfect melding of summer and fall, and we spent almost the entire time with family. 

Perhaps it's the shift of seasons on my mind, but I've noticed I'm gravitating toward black and white combinations in interior design as well as fashion. It's such a timeless combination that works all times of year, and I'm finding myself adding touches of it everywhere. That's one of the reasons I'm drawn to this home by Sydney designer Greg Natale. I love the crispness of black and white together, along with clean lines, graphic patterns and glamorous chandeliers. 

Photos from here via here. 

Weekend Wish

We're heading into a long holiday weekend, with plans to spend time with our families. I'm especially excited to see my nephew. He just turned six months old and I cannot believe how he's changed our lives in such a short amount of time. He's the most incredible little guy -- charming, smart, smiley, curious. He's known as the flirt of his daycare and the only time he seems to get crabby is when he's hungry and his food is taking too long. I pretty much want to spend the entire next three days cuddling and playing with him. Not a bad goal, I think.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Photo by me. 

Happy September!

No matter how old I get, I'll probably always be a little jittery with excitement when this month arrives. For so long, September meant the beginning of a school year, a time to start fresh with new notebooks and pencils, clothes and hairstyles, hopes and expectations. Though I'm not embarking on new scholarly pursuits, I want to play into the month's mood by wearing a cute blazer, digging into some classic books and taking walks in the crisp air.

* Blazer

* Classroom photo

* Apple

* Back to School print

* Globe

* Desk

* Bag

* Loafer

Now and Later

Lately, I'm finding it difficult to know what to wear in the morning. I want to hang on to summer as long as possible but it's also exciting to think about fall fashion. It's still warm out yet there's a bit of coolness in the air. I've decided my key piece for this time of transition is dresses, especially frocks like these from Need Supply. For now, I'll pair easy dresses with sandals and wedges and later I'll swap in pumps and boots. It's the best of both worlds, no?

Photos from here. 

Weekend in the City

My husband and I spent a long weekend in Chicago, and it was an absolutely wonderful trip. We stayed in cool hotels, ate some fantastic meals, strolled through parks, went on an architectural cruise, checked out a blues club, shopped and did a lot of walking through the city. That's one of our favorite things to do -- explore a place by walking it. And it's a great way to see this city and feel the energy of all its incredible buildings. Even though we visit Chicago quite often, this trip left us with a deeper appreciation for -- and connection with -- the fascinating city. 

Photos by me and my husband.

Summer Moments

Today we're headed to Chicago for a long weekend. A visit to the city is on my summer musts list, and I'm truly looking forward to the getaway. There are a few activities on the list that I still want to do, but I've had a great time accomplishing many of them so far this summer.

My husband and I sipped drinks at a downtown rooftop bar.

I had a completely relaxing pool day at my parents' house.

And I took a bike ride on a pretty trail through woods and farmland.

Here's to making the most of all of summer's great moments!

Photos by me. 

Grace

I think I will make this my new mantra. Love it!

Photo from here via here.