hotel du nord, paris, france.

a library; outdoor cafe-style seating; tiled walls; upright piano; gorgeous tiled flooring, tables and chairs--hotel du nord in paris. i'd love to visit. but when? and with whom?

images courtesy of remodelista.com

loft in brooklyn.

there some great features to this brooklyn loft: the light fixture; the brown tones; the leather sectional (wouldn't you love to cozy up on that on a snowy saturday with your dog and love?); the windows; the exposed brick; the bed frame.

images courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com

weekend, i need you.

hooray!
hurrah!
yippee!

the weekend has arrived. thank goodness. it is welcome and needed. needed for more sleep and reading. needed for fresh air and a long walk through rooted giants. needed for catching up with old friends and engaging in new ones. needed for writing and baking. needed for thinking and praying. needed for driving and singing aloud until i'm hoarse.

i hope you find what you need in the weekend. what are your plans?

love truly,
katie kate

abc prints.

aren't these abc prints the cutest ever? this first one with the critters is making my heart go pitter-patter and then the colour-blocked animal one, as well. i mean, they have a penguin for p and a reindeer for r and a vulture for v. how often do those little guys get recognized on such things like the alphabet? so fun.

images courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com

plenty of animals alphabet poster, $20.00  /  alphabet print, 59,00 €  /  abc alphabet patchwork print, $38.00  /  oklahoma animals abc print, $20.00  /  art deco woodgrain abc print, $15.00 59,00 €

sure, they'd add some pizzazz to a nursery or play room but i'd like to scatter them throughout or make a collection on the wall in the entryway or someplace. wherever they end up they're sure to make someone grin. who wouldn't grin at a zebra holding a red balloon? 

ever wonder how mexican drug lords live?

in large, expansive, ornate houses.

last week, the new york times published an article called inside the homes of mexico's alleged drug lords. in the article was a slideshow of the homes of presumed and confirmed mexican drug lords. check out some of these places and give the article a read. it's fascinating stuff.

images courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com

thursday things i love--

image courtesy of witanddelight.tumblr.com

big heart hoop earrings.

red tolix stools and patterned kitchen floor.

the box pleats in this dress--gorgeous--and this fun and colourful balloon bouquet.
planning trips on southwest.com.
taking photos with instagram.
heart-shaped cheese!
date night at in-n-out.
henry weinhard rootbeer.
this madewell sweatercoat.
fleetwood mac: landslide.

things i love.

happy thursday!

groom + bride + dog = cutest wedding day photo ever.

wedding wednesday
volume 3  |  chapter 9

sharon and daniel are super cute, there's no mistaking that. throw a big happy furry dog in the picture and you've got the super cutest wedding photo ever--a real winner and one for the ages. in all seriousness, sharon's dress and loosely pinned back hair are lovely and kissing under a giant tree with hanging globe lights--swoon.

images courtesy of onelovephoto.com

paper cut wedding arch installation to die for.

wedding wednesday
volume 3  |  chapter 8

the photos really make this wedding. not only do they tell the story of danielle and chris's magical wedding in seattle--is it just me or are they glowing in love?--and capture amazing shots--i can't take my eyes off the incredible paper cut wedding arch installation and the pleated underlay trim of danielle's dress--but they're also very artistic by way of the liberties the photographer took in the editing process--blurring, fuzzing, and changing the colouring of them. i'm a fan.

images courtesy of onelovephoto.com

danielle's distracted by the cake and chris is trying to get a kiss in. too cute!

forget flowers. i want a bouquet of balloons.

i've mentioned before my LOVE for balloons and those from geronimo keep floating into my line of sight. i mean, just feast your eyes on their heart (valentine's day) balloons! ohmigoodness, i would die if someone showed up with a balloon--or two or three or a whole bundle--of that magnitude at my door. i would giggle and blush and my eyes would water from the excitement. wouldn't you? that aside, isn't the video adorable with the french tune and the red tights and gold sequin dress? j'adore.

video courtesy of Geronimo Balloons Valentine’s Day from hak lonh on Vimeo; images courtesy of ohjoy.blogs.com

Jihan has the coolest job of anyone i know.

black and white decor.

while the richness of the black and white stripes and other matching pieces (zebra carpet running the stairs) is a tad much for me, i appreciate its grand appeal from an artistic and glamourous approach. it's such a simple concept--black and white--but always packs quite a punch--whether that punch is classic or strong or something else. having it in your entryway is making quite a statement and i'm curious about your thoughts. what do you think of the black and white decor pictured below: like it? hate it? love it? i think the decor style in the second photo is my preferred of the three. it's less intense, i'd dare say even casual, and the colour from the red bench and floral pillows keep it cute and light.

images courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com

i'm completely head over heels for the gray and white floor in the first photo. to have enough floor space in a room for such a large and subtle design is something to envy. not to mention how beautiful the design itself is.

anne hathaway.

anne hathaway. she's just absolutely beautiful. she has grace and class, beauty and spunk.

images courtesy of google images

and i can't wait to see her as catwoman in christopher nolan's the dark night rises.

snowy gardens.

some find walking on the beach to be perfectly romantic. and it absolutely can be. but for me, making tracks in the fresh white snow trumps any walk on the beach. the romance of winter scenes capture me in their flirtatious advances, poetry, and mystery. time is of no mind; moments are frozen; and there's a loud quiet in the stillness. feast your eyes on the english gardens of stourhead, wiltshire (1,2,3) and chatsworth, derbyshire (4,5,6,7) photographed below and i promise you'll understand exactly what i'm talking about:

images courtesy of citified.blogspot.com

i need someone to take me to these places. they're glorious.