1. I ♥ cooking for other people & having a fully stocked fridge {doesn’t happen too often!}
   1a. Only a handful of the things I make are stellar,
   1b. Most are on the good side of mediocre,
   1c. But there are some I will NEVER make again.
2. Sometimes, the days where you do nothing with a special person are the best ones.
3. Candlelight makes things seem better.
4. Try not to be critical about small things.
5. Concerned about dress length {too short?} for a wedding, but I think I’m going to wear it anyway. {followed my one year of experience wearing a uniform to school: skirt length must be longer than your fingertips with your hands at your sides, yeah?}
6. Everything is better when my parents are around.
7. Best advice in awhile: Sometimes it’s better to not say anything at all. The real justice is in standing up for yourself. You don’t like the way he treats you? Then don’t let him.
8. Time to flex on that spending habit. I let it get a little out of control again.
9. If people are allowed to have babies in apartments, I should be allowed to have a cat.
10. I am probably not home enough to have a cat. I don’t even have plants.

Image via

I haven’t dyed my hair in 5 years. 5. Can you believe it!? Probably saved sooooo much money. I love being all natural, but if there’s ever a time to make a change, it is now. I have an appointment booked for July 31st. And I’m pretty excited. My stylist says it’s going to be edgy. I’m down for that! Here’s kind of the color I am going for…basically the same as it is now on top, but lighter at the ends:

YES!

image via

Wedding season is upon us, and has been for awhile now, I guess. I have 3 weddings {3, eek!} in July alone, so I kind of have weddings on the brain. It’s a nice distraction! I find it insightful that after dresses, the wedding imagery I am most interested in is the cake! Yum. Some of my faves, below.

via made by girl (Yvonne Wong Photography)

via Once Wed

via Eat Drink Chic

 via Amy Atlas

Martha Stewart via Walking Around Where the Sidewalk Begins

To wear this dress.

pretty please?

 k. thanks.

1. I often misspell cupcake, cupkate. I have to think about typing it. every. time.
2. Elizabeth makes a bomb egg bake!
3. Even though I haven’t worked out in awhile, I still feel hotter in summer clothes than winter ones.
4. Good girls are hard to find…we are so lucky.
5. Art journaling is so not my thing. But I’m trying it in order to jump start my creativity.
6. I have the best siblings!
7. Little Milo is just the cutest {Beth and Phil are just the luckiest!}
8. I wouldn’t mind a pair of these, so that I could channel my inner-carrie.
9. Avon is not just for old ladies. 2 words: Meet Mark. {and try hookups, such a clever little customizable invention. ♥.}
    9a. I give for goodness face an A for brightening. Not sure how well it actually moisturizes…I’ll keep you posted but so far so good.
10. Beer: the reason I stick to cocktails.

image via

 I have had the distinct pleasure of being friends with Lauren for 5+ years. A creative, down-for-whatever spirit, she never fails to boost my mood/outlook on life. Her studio in San Francisco is one of the most relaxing places, and such a fun place to hang out; various other artistic people are always stopping by to say what’s up. I just like to sit in the corner and chill!

 Her jewelry has such an organic.urban feel that I fell in love with it immediately. And I am so proud to write the product copy for her website! Thank you for stopping by Lauren

Where do you live?
San Francisco, California

Where are your favorite places to go in your city?
Saturday farmers market at the ferry building, Four Barrel Coffee, Conservatory of Flowers, and The Moma.

What can’t you leave home without?
My little red moleskin, and my iphone (sad but true).

What’s one thing about you that would surprise people?
I am a classically trained dancer.

Who are your favorite artists?
Alexander Calder, Jeremy Fish, Joseph Cornell, and Robert Frank

Favorite film?
Fantastic Planet

Fill in the Blank: I feel my best when I’m wearing _____:
My uniform- blue jeans, brushed cotton tees, colorful scarves, and wallabees.

Any guilty pleasures we should know about?
Antipast socks, dark chocolate, and handcrafted denim.

What’s sitting on your coffee table right now?
The Oxford Project, by Peter Feldstein

If you could choose any celebrity to wear your designs, who would it be?
Steven Patrick Morrissey

What motivates you?
Short deadlines, a desire for travel, and my coffee habit.

just a few smiles to brighten your day!

1. The pain is worth it; get your eyebrows threaded.
2. Use Kiehl’s lip balm for severely chapped lips, much better than anything I’ve tried.
3. Short hair is better. {you know who you are!}
4. Such a special thing to see two families melding together.
5. I can drive, but I still suck at parking.
6. Everyone deserves someone who will fight for them. {listen to: kate nash, nicest thing. It might sound kind of depressing, but I really like the idea, not the heartbreak in her voice.}
7. Tattooed faces = a little scary.
8. Honesty is refreshing, and also sometimes funny. I need some people to keep me in check. {just not everyone at once, please.}
9. I love Justin and Collin! We should hang out more.
10. It’s so crazy to watch kids grow up.

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4

So last April I saw this featured in DIY magazine {borrowed from my cousin at her family’s beach house…I remember clearly sitting on the patio and reading it} and I haven’t been able to get the image out of my head. I keep imagining THIS headboard as my perfect headboard. And guess what?! I found the fabric! Also seen in red, here. What do you guys think?

image via

1. I love summer! {Actually got to wear shorts in SF on Saturday.}
2. Brittany, from the “petite” season of ANTM goes to Santa Clara, holla!
3. I like lists, organization, and following instructions. I am really bad at all of these in my personal life, but am GREAT at them in the professional realm.
4. Macbook Pros are heavier than regular Macbooks…not so great for the walk to work. {but three cheers for a more efficient work computer!}
5. I desperately need new flats! {any suggestions? send me links!}
6. Nightmares are scary!
7. I’ve been having nightmares where something bad is happening and I can’t scream or talk because I have no voice {any thoughts on what that means?}
8. I enjoy day drinking on a Saturday when I have all of Sunday to recover.
9. I don’t like drinking so much that I cry.
10. Buster Posey is supercute. {I can’t believe he’s 23. eek.}

Hi Guys! I know this was supposed to go up 48 hours ago, but I’ve been working 13 hours a day, leaving not much time for the fun things.

The good news is that I did pick the winners on Friday night.

Drumroll please….

The winner of the bracelets is…..Katie!

And in the BONUS Giveaway, the winner is Gina! Gina, you get a custom cross stitch pillow, made by yours truly. Pick any phrase, color, and font from my book of fonts, and we’ll be on our way.

Winners, please contact me: katemfranc0 {at} gmail {dot} com for more info.

Thanks everyone for playing!