CITY OF SIN

The countdown has finally begun... Las Vegas bound in 12 hours. It's 1:30 in the morning - and I while I have my CLOTHES packed, I haven't even begun to pack my shoes. Busting out my sparkly dresses and accessories has left me exhausted. I think I shall sleep now, and dream of what peep toed Louboutins my feetsies will be dancing in for the next SIX days!

Viva Las Vegas my friends. Bet on black!

{image via tumblr}

FALLING IN LOVE WITH LAUNDRY

There is something particularly upsetting about washing clothes. I'm not sure if its because it has turned into an everyday chore in my life - because we all constantly are wearing and dirtying our garments - or the fact that after the washing and the tumbling comes the folding and ironing and dear lord, hanging and putting away that makes me want to cry. Its my least favorite activity to do on my day off; I would much rather be cleaning the kitchen or dusting the blinds than bending over and over again in spin cycles.

However, after finding these little gems I think I could get used to the idea of washing clothes in a spaces like these.

{LOVE the stripped runner in this room}

{Stainless steel backsplash anyone? Love the way it gleams!}

There is something about they way everything is organized and clean that makes me {gasp!} yearn for a larger space to do my laundry in.

{images via pinterest}

SOMETIMES SPARKLY

Finding that perfect accessory to complete your space such as window treatments, objects d'art and throw pillows can be hard work. You want all of the elements of the room to play off one another to enhance the overall feeling of beauty. I like to do the same with my outfits: pick my larger neutral pieces and then build upon them with accessories for balance. This chair is the perfect example of such juxtaposition. The raw burlap upholstery mixed with the crisp white of the painted wood could go perfectly unnoticed in any room, however with the help of mr. sequins over there, she dazzles!

The same can be said with this outfit ms. Jessica Alba is modeling here. She pairs beautiful, understated - but sexy - black heels with the zigzag Balmain so that the look is quintessential chic but rocker at the same time.

We can't see the shoes on this sweet little number but I can only imagine with the swept up hair how fabulous a pair of nude peep toe pumps would look for an evening out.

This golden girl is my favorite look of these three dresses. She pairs her stunning gold sequin ensemble with nude fishnet tights and a khaki army bag for balance. The fishtail braids in her hair add that extra 'oomph' that is necessary to pull off such a show stopper.

Now if only I could get ALL three of these looks into my arsenal for Las Vegas next week to glitter as bright as the strip!

{images via pinterest)

IN THE MIX

I am planning a business AND pleasure trip out to Las Vegas in two weeks and have been online DEVOURING menus of restaurants where I want to eat, and can't seem to narrow it down because not only does the food sound amazing, but the INTERIORS are killing me! As of now, just based on decor alone I am begging - whom I'm begging I don't know - to visit The Mix inside The Hotel, Mandalay Bay.

While breathtaking views of the city from up on the 60th floor sounds nice, I do believe my eyes will be feasting on the 14,000 hand blown glass bubbles dangling over my head. They look so dreamy! I could picture installing a much smaller version over my imaginary claw foot bath tub sometime in the future for that same effect.

As I dine on Tender Potato Gnocchi with Asparagus, Parmegiano, and Summer Truffle, and sip St. Germain cocktails, I'll be planning my next escape later in the evening over to the darker side of The Mix: The Bar.

CAN I BORROW YOUR FIREPLACE?

On certain evenings when it's raining outside, I happily sit at my desk to work because I get to listen to the sound of rain as it hits my windows. There is something so soothing about that sound. I love the way the wind blows the rain against the cold glass and it lightly sprinkles the surface every now and then. Even the overflowing rain gutter has a nice ring to it as it pours out its contents to the concrete below.

The only thing missing is a nice warm fireplace to sit next to. And maybe a lavender + honey latte....

PIN:TEREST

Happy 2011 EVERYONE!

There is something special to be said about waking up to a new year full of possibilities and new insights. The date of 1.1.11 is ultimately a new beginning in itself. This is the beginning to my year of OPTIMISM.

Anyone who knows me can tell you that 2010 was my year for CHANGE. I changed everything in my personal life. I moved back home with my parents. I graduated college. I changed my eating habits. I went back to my natural hair color. I changed my waistline. I motivated myself to become a happier more fulfilled person. I finally fell in love with someone who was just like me. I learned to pay attention to the small details in conversation. I traveled and changed my language barriers. I allowed myself to have fun. I walked 60 miles in 3 days for Susan G. Komen even though I despise exercise. I got on the treadmill and verified that I still hate exercise even after the fact. I changed my overall outlook on life. Hell, I even changed my style of under garments.

The point I am trying to make is that I DECIDED with every ounce of my being that I wanted a better life. I was too serious, too stuck on negativity with daily life. Nothing was good enough for what I wanted - and I didn't even know what I wanted really anyways. It took 365 days of changing to get to where I am today: an optimist in training.

Realize when I write 'in training' that I am allowing myself to work on what I want to become. My attitude is positive at best but its not always optimistic. I live a 'strategic' life where I like to weigh all possible outcomes. I love that and hate that about myself most of the time because I ask EVERYONES advice about everything before I make a decision... even though my gut instinct is always the same as their recommendations. Even so, its a challenge for me to be optimistic and jump heart first without weighing my options. So this is my newest endeavor as of today - to be the best possible ME I can be.

My girlfriend Lindsay turned me on to a new website: Pinterest (sounds like pin-terest). Pinterest is an online place to catalog the things you love. Its a social avenue full of things that others - tastemakers and friends alike - follow to collect and share the things they love and share within a community of other like-minded people. I figured since my resolution is to be an OPTIMIST why not join something where others are posting things they LOVE too? As of now they are only allowing members who have received invitations to join their site, so I went ahead and invited myself. I encourage all of you creative design oriented peeps to do the same so we can create an image library based on what inspires us to be the best possible ME's.