Cataog Living - Awesome Commentary on Catalog Photography

Catalog Living might look like your average interior design blog from a quick glance, but just make sure you read the captions. Hysterical! This might be one of the best blogs I've read in a long time.

For example...

"I’ve only set out personalized towels for Margaret and Patrick, but I see three people arriving on horseback…if they’re bringing a friend I wish they had told me ahead of time. The embroider is fast but not that fast."

or this?

"Hon, where’s my string of old-timey buoys? Oh wait, I found them. Hey, lobsters and limes for dinner AGAIN???"

okay, okay... just one more

"It broke through the wall during the last big storm and we decided just to leave it."

CATALOG LIVING

Words for Thought

How great is this quote?

Reblog and share with all of your friends.

Find this and other inspiring quotes at Quotable

Loving some Steven Alan

Um, why has no one ever introduced me to Steven Alan until now? Perhaps because the prices are just a tad bit out of my price range? And yet I might be inclined to purchase everything on the site? Is that why? Well, Unruly Things. I'm glad at least you had the decency to forget my budgeting woes and tell me about this awesome designer anyway.

Steven Alan

find thanks to Unruly Things

In The Clouds

So I wanted to share this amazing short film with you. Why is it so amazing? Well besides being created by some of the most talented people I know, I'm in it! Well, I make about a .25 second cameo as an extra. Ha ha. But seriously, some of my coworkers came up with this short film called In the Clouds for the Greensboro 48 Hour Film Project. The plot revolves around a guy who is bored with his life. He lives in this fantasy world which soon consumes his interest as he falls for a beautiful girl on the billboard outside of his office window. I was really impressed with the end product. And apparently, so was the audience who voted it "Audience Award Winner" for its group at the premier. Not to mention is was all written, performed and edited in one weekend! Job well done to everyone who was involved!

Project Requirements: a clutter coach, a bandana & the line "you think you know everything"

The Brains Behind the Project:

Evan Pease

Bethany Novak

Mark Adler

Elizabeth Bragg

There were many other contributions so refer to the video to see all who helped out!

Chair? Table? You choose.

I love the idea of using a chair as a center piece, side table or night stand. So when I came across these photos, I couldn't help but share. It's such a resourceful and innovative idea. Especially if you're on a low budget. Add a flower vase or a stack of books and voila!

Photos via la.vie.en.mode

Online Sample Sales

What do girls love more than chocolate, cosmos and ripped abs?

Sample sales. Duh.

A friend recently invited me to join these three online sample sales. And I'm addicted. Click on the links before for an invite and check out the amazing deals on designer duds going on now.

Gilt

HauteLook

Rue La La

What's happening to me? I'm turning into a sports fanatic!

Yep, folks. It's true. I've become more of a sports fanatic lately. Besides my allegiance to SEC football during the fall and the occasional summer baseball game I'll attend (more so for the booze, hot dogs and cupid shuffle than the actual game), I rarely get into sports. However, this summer, I've turned a new leaf. Here are two highlights that have captured my attention in recent days.

USA 1, Algeria 0

Landon Donovan's Goal in the last 90 seconds.

John Isner (USA, UGA grad) defeats Nicolas Mahut (France) in the longest tennis match in history.

Wimbledon, 70 -68

iPhone 4

I don't really need a new iPhone, but the amazing new features and sleek design of the iPhone 4 are just too good to pass up!

Some great new features include:

• Face to Face Video Chat
• Increased Screen Resolution (960 x 640)
• Multitasking (Simultaneously Run Apps)
• HD Video Recording
• 5 Mega Pixel Camera with LED Flash

{Apple - iPhone}

Happy Father's Day!

Here's to you Dad! To the old memories. And the ones to come. Thanks for always being there for me! Much love!

Roads Farm Inn

RCC Pool

...gotta love the Bud Light in the foreground

Hilton Head circa late 1980s

My Dad & Me

Photos from Old Family Photo Albums : )

Nan Lawson Illustrations

I'm really digging these illustrations by Nan Lawson.

Not only because her talent and style is uber-hip, but because...

1) This looks like me (sans mustache tattoo).

2) This is one of my favorite sayings.

3) This pretty much sums up my style.

4) This reminds me of The Fan in Richmond.

I'd love to live in a house like this some day.

Nan's Etsy Shop

POD Goes to Alaska

I'm re-blogging this article from Agency Spy on behalf of some good old friends from the Circus. This is such a terrific idea and I'm so proud of you guys for developing such an innovative idea for such a great cause.

Ross, I know you've always dreamt of getting back to your fisherman roots.

Chris, I can't picture you on an Alaskan fishing boat. However, I can picture you dressed in flannel with a wool scarf, drinking a beer while on shore.

For more on their Alaskan journey and to donate to the Greater New Orleans Foundation, see links below.

Hard to top the double-whammy of posts from Van Hoven (who is a good friend that I'll miss dearly), but the show must go on.

San Francisco shop Pereira & O'Dell is doing its part for the awful Gulf oil spill by sending a few of its crew to Naknek, Alaska--the salmon capital of the world we've been told--to launch a temporary satellite office on a fishing boat.

What does this have to do with the BP crisis, you ask? Well POD is raising awareness and funds for the Greater New Orleans Foundation Gulf Coast cleanup that primarily supports the local fishermen who along with their families have been greatly impacted by the spill.

The Pereira & O'Dell camp already launched a Facebook site last week to bring more "likes" to the cause. As for the crew on the half-advertising agency, half-32-foot commercial salmon fishing boat, which departs on June 19 for at least a 21-day stint, it will consist of POD copywriters Russell Dodson and Ross Cavin along with a captain, of course. Art direction for the Naknek office was handled meanwhile by landlocked Brett Beaty and Chris Adams.

But according to POD, this isn't just a nice fishing trip as the crew, which will also be blogging about their adventure, will have plenty of downtime to get work done since they'll only have one hour of darkness and the Alaska Fish & Game Dept has a strong conservation mandate to manage salmon fisheries for sustain yield.

The POD Alaska site (which rains or pours according to the weather in Naknek) is up and if you're down to support the Gulf fisherman, the agency even set up a merch site, with proceeds (as well as a portion of the crew's salaries) going to the GNOF. Bon voyage and keep plenty of dramamine, mates.

More: "Kash Sree Lands at Pereira & O'Dell"

article from Agency Spy

Every Girl Needs a Little Black Watch (or any other color for that matter)

Creature Comforts is sponsoring a Fossil Watch Giveaway. This generous contest has come at the most opportune time, as I was just eyeing this exact watch in their catalogue a few weeks ago. Visit Fossil and leave a post on Creature Comforts stating which watch you would like to win.

Good luck and fingers crossed!

image credits and contest found at Creature Comforts

Tracery

So a few weeks ago, I joined a few of my girl friends down in Seaside, Florida for a bachelorette weekend. Amidst the many cocktails, crazy stories, hours on the beach and the never-ending topic of "vajazzling," I managed to sneak away to check out Rosemary Beach with my friend Val. Dressed in my bikini, beach cover-up and flip-flops, let's just say I was, well, incredibly under dressed. This ritzy hot spot felt like something you'd see in Europe, certainly not something I would associate with a small beach town. However, while the atmosphere didn't necessarily tickle my cozy beach-cottage fancy, one store in particular caught my attention.

Tracery, is this amazing boutique filled with unique furnishing and inspiring design ideas. They even have there own blog! (Which I am now following.) All in all, their shabby chic furnishings and rustic antiques certainly satisfied my craving for something a little less glamorous. Now, do they rent this store out my the week? I'd like to stay here next time I visit.

Tracery

Quick, a flash mob dance.

This T-Mobile ad from last year, just makes me smile.

And I needed a smile today...

Bonnaroo 2010 Live Webcast

In case you missed it. Like I did. Tear.

Bonnaroo Music Fest on YouTube

I feel enlightened.

Check out Matthieu Challieres' fantastic light fixtures!

via oh Joy!

Putting a new spin on Mondays

Starting the week off with some optimism — Happy Monday!

Thanks Leah, via Daily Bits of Beauty

Home Sweet Ardmore House

Speaking of lovely home interiors...

I've been promising some photos of my new house in Ardmore. So here they are. Better late than never! My roommate and I really love our 1930s cottage. It's a quaint little house with a lot of character. Hope you like what we've done with the place.

9 by Design

Have y'all seen 9 by Design? It's Bravo's newest reality show about Bob and Cortney Novogratz, an uber-hip couple and owners of the design for Sixx Design, who flip houses, create funky, chic looks for various hotels, as well as take on several other fun interior design projects around the city. Oh, and did I mention they have seven kids? Well, they do – all complete with cool names like "Wolfie" and "Breaker." This show is amazingly inspiring as far as creativity goes as well as highly addicting. Basically, I want their life!

Check out just a few of their many unique design ideas.

Here are some photos of their current multi-level West Village townhouse.

& here are some photos of their design aesthetic in the New Jersey Shore Bungalow Hotel

Photos via Sixx Design