reading tales

I finished these two books on my Atlanta>North Carolina>Chicago trip a week or so ago and have been meaning to post about them ever since. Seriously delicious reads, friends. I'm not usually lucky enough in my reading to get two awesome books in a row - probably because I get too attached to each story and character that it's hard to let another one in so quickly with whatever book happens to be number two in the sequence - but this time was different and I found myself completely wrapped up in both of these books. Fortune's Rocks got a big hug when I finished it poolside (so great was this book and Anita Shreve's storytelling that I'm now reading The Pilot's Wife, despite the fact that it's about a woman losing her husband in an airplane accident - a reading subject I try to avoid at all costs). I thank the amazing Brett for letting me borrow her copy. The second book, also so so so very good, was The Concubine's Daughter. A nice, thick, awesome story that I could dive into and not be finished with in one day. When it comes to my normal reading speed, that's considered a win.

weekend no. 080710

Oh, U.S. Airways, you've hurt my heart. The delays, the cancellations, the changes, the extended and additional delays...you kind of killed me this weekend. Cute Husband and I spent a bit too much time for anyone's happiness in various airports this weekend, friends. Waiting and waiting and waiting for things to go as they were planned to go. Man oh man. But said delays couldn't knock us down completely, that's for sure. There was too much fun to be had with such great friends in St. Louis! The wedding was great, held in one of the most beautiful churches I've ever seen, the couple was glowing and happy, the music was hoppin' and inspired much dancing (a small rendition of M.J's Thriller, anyone?), the wine was delicious and might have even inspired a head stand or two, and the friends are the kind that you can just jump right back into life with, as though you've seen each other everyday for years and years. Those are my most favorite kinds of friends. All in all, a fantastic weekend...could have done without the airport tours, but ah well...

what to wear no. 080610

Welp, the Cute Husband and I are off on another adventure this weekend. I'm sitting in a beautiful hotel room in downtown St. Louis right now assembling a little outfit post for today. We're here for a wedding of one of our favorites from JMU and after our adventures in travel last night, I couldn't be happier to be sitting in this comfy room. First flight out of C'ville? Canceled. Cab to Dulles in a rush? Oh, about $200. Second flight from Dulles to St. Louis? Oh, you know, just delayed about four hours or so. What a night, friends. But when you're heading to a wedding of great friends and have your Cute Husband by your side, it can't really get ya down.

dress | laurel denise heart cuff | anna beck earrings | shoes

I'm so not wearing anything like this dress (in fact, I've never attempted the one shoulder thing...ever), but I'm kind of loving it today.

studio tour no. 080510

So what happens when you put together two weeks away from the office with two wholesale shows and then two more coming up - one being your biggest and baddest that you have high expectations for, but are cautiously managing those expectations because you've been through bad shows before and when you're selling goods that you make with your very own hands and that come out of your very own head, it becomes personal and it's not supposed to be personal because it's just business, you know, and, oh, you just decided to build an entirely new booth along with two entirely new collections just a week ago??? [insert gasp for breath here] You get a stressed out designer, friends...and it ain't pretty. So I'm just going to leave you with photos this morning and call it a day.

Shopping loves out there, laurel denise has been shipped to the following places so, um, go shop your hearts out!

Veronica's Attic (Atlanta, GA)
The General Store of Minnetonka (Minnetonka, MN)
Theos Brothers Bakery (Alpharetta, GA)
Le Papier Studio (more adorable silhouette customs!)

must have bag

So, um, I'm sorry, but when did L.L. Bean start making super cool and fashionable and incredible everyday leather bags that I simply must have?? I must have missed the memo on the change from the traditional white canvas monogrammed bags.

soap & paper factory

I think I've written about Soap & Paper Factory before and their amazing products, but seriously, this warrants a re-visit. I got my recent shipment of goodness last week and, y'all, I can't even stand the amazing-ness. Can't. Even Stand. It. The Jasmine scent, my fave, is one of the best things that's ever happened. Period. It smells like the beach mixed with sunshine and flowers and happiness all into one. Even Cute Husband has remarked on its deliciousness. Also, the company of women who run the business are just the very best. You couldn't be supporting a better crew, cross my heart. And, I'm sorry, did I forget to mention the packaging?!

sleep, sleep, sleep

So, um, Cute Husband and I did something crazy last night...we fell asleep at 5:30pm to give true voice to the absolute rock stars that we are. 5:30pm, friends. That's a whopping 13 hours of sleep...like, in a row. I'm pretty sure there's something medically not okay about that. In honor of our glorious night 'o sleeping, I'm posting some beautiful bedding this morning (and also because I was a slacker and took not even a single picture this weekend to use in my Monday morning weekend photo strip).

one: Dwell Studio Azure Sheet Set
two: Dwell Studio Striped Sheet Set
three: West Elm Ikat Sheet Set
four: Anthropologie Dusky Blooms Sheet Set