Obama on love

In honor of today, a powerful quote from a powerful couple...

“Sometimes, when we’re lying together, I look at her and I feel dizzy with the realization that here is another distinct person from me, who has memories, origins, thoughts, feelings that are different from my own. That tension between familiarity and mystery meshes something strong between us. Even if one builds a life together based on trust, attentiveness and mutual support, I think that’s it’s important that a partner continues to surprise.” - Barack Obama

romantic weekend

Print by Etsy Seller, bomobob

D. and I have a date tonight - as in real, we-planned-it-more-than-five-minutes-in-advance DATE.  Dinner reservations, movie tickets; all planned ahead. What's more, we have another date on Monday. Who do we think we are? So many dates.

So everything has been very valentiney around here and a little extra lovey-dovey as we look back at our wedding - six months already, hard to believe.

In case you missed any gifty ideas for your sweetheart....
sweets for your sweet
sparkles for your sweet
flowers for you sweet
and more...

I've gone back in and added a few more treats for fun!

Here's wishing you a lovely love-filled weekend.

more for your sweet

It's Raining Love Print - by Etsy seller Jenni Penni

For those of you who aren't satisfied with chocolates, jewelry or flowers, here's one final round-up of love-themed goods for your love. Go get 'em. 

To brighten your day - pink jelly flats with red hearts by Mel available at Lord and Taylor.

To make it all about you - a phonekerchief for stashing his blackberry during romantic dinners - silver fibers in the cloth actually block service. From Uncommon Goods. 

To share, a venn diagram of love - by Etsy seller Satchel and Sage.

To wear on your sleeve, a sparkly heart, good for coats and coiffures from ban.do. 

To frame - a custom-portrait of your love - inspired by my super cool friend Paige. By Nan Lawson.

To flirt, a gorgeously soft chemises from Eberjay (my honeymoon favorite). 

To laugh, lovestruck pillow by Etsy seller Alexandra Ferguson.

To keep fingers warm while sending love texts, iPhone/Pad/Pod compatible gloves from Echo.

To tell your story, a collection of moments, beautifully framed. Frames from Pottery Barn.

To seal anything with a kiss. Lip stamp from Atypyk.

To celebrate! Coordinating flutes and a bottle of bubbly. From Etsy seller JackGlass. 

besos

Print available from the big harumph on Etsy

Looking for some inspiration this morning and this will have to do. We had a lovely dinner party that deserves its own write up later (complete with boeuf bourguignon).

More valentine's pressies to come later today - but for now, this sweet print and many others from The Big Harumph on Etsy.

Any heart-day plans my friends?

inspired

Pinned Via

Last night I had the surprise adventure of meeting up with a girlfriend from college who was in DC for a quick trip to take a look at a dress for her upcoming wedding this July. The interesting twist? The dress was coming from a woman who was about to wear it for her own wedding in March - my friend had spotted it on a wedding dress re-sale site and the two just happened to be the same size and height.

Bride number one had fallen in love and invested in the dress with the plan to re-sell it and off-set her costs. Bride two had fallen in love with the dress (after already putting a downpayment on another) and couldn't bear the full retail price. A match made in heaven?

Such an adventure has all the potential in the world to be high-stress, who knows what the dress will be like in person? Who knows what the person will be like in person? My friend is unphased by these things, however, and is in possession of the most 'say yes' attitude that is contagious to be around. The two ladies had already hit it off famously through email and telephone conversations, so much so that when we arrived at the dress-owner's doorstep, both had presents for the other. A martini glass for one and a bottle of prosecco (that we all shared) for the other.

The dress was gorgeous, but what moved me even more in the over two hours that we all spent chatting was the beautiful connection between two women who might have otherwise never known each other, but were here together sharing an incredible moment in their lives and an incredibly symbolic piece of that moment.

So I'm feeling a little inspired and have a project in mind. If you have a friend who has either bought or sold her dress online (from or to another bride) I would love to pick her brain! The same obviously goes for any readers that have done so themselves.

flowers for your sweet

From Flickr user BrianWFerry

I'm never one to turn down a bouquet of fresh flowers, in fact I love nothing more, but in case you're looking to expand on the floral theme of the day, here are some cute gifts that will still be bright and beautiful weeks after Valentines has passed.

A box of blooms to brighten her desk - pinwheel pushpins from Anthropologie

A big beautiful blossom that will never wilt, from EmersonMade - I'm also tempted by the Big Dandy and the Bouquet

A sculptural vase to keep on display long after the bouquet from Anthropologie.

Candy-colored carnations for her ears - from Etsy seller Nest Pretty Things who has loads of these sweetly kitschy plastic blooms in her shop. 

A fantastic floral fragrance in a whimsical bottle Happ & Stahns, available at Anthropologie

A digital bouquet for her desk. Kikkerland USB hub available on Amazon. 

A beautiful vintage botanical print of her favorite flower, or an assortment of several, from Studio Botanika.

A gorgeous wispy robe in the most beautiful painterly floral print - from Pretty Plum Sugar.

And for him - a scattering of white petals across a denim pocket square. From J. Crew.

A camellia paperweight to clear the clutter from John Derian

Or a vibrant custom necktie made from Liberty of London fabrics from Etsy seller Tux and Tulle - She does custom sets of coordinating fabrics for full bridal parties that are to die for. 

What if ad agencies...

planned kid's birthday parties? (the same could be said for PR firms)

Spotted on swissmiss

silhouette masterpiece theatre

Totally digging these irreverently old-timely prints by Wilhelm Staehle who describes himself as "a horribly disfigured gentleman who often frightens small children when he emerges from the seclusion of his sprawling estate on the Eastern coast of the Americas" 

I am rather fond of these "peculiar silhouettes"

And one of my very favorites...

Prints are available in an online store - as are cards and a variety of other treasures.

sparkles for your sweet

Pinned Via

Because everybody loves a little bling - and sometimes it's the smallest things that make the biggest impressions. Here are some tokens of love that embrace the cliché while still staying chic for him and her...

To count the minutes until you're together, a classic Timex choice from Need Supply.

Because your love is the real thing, an anatomically correct heart locket from Etsy seller heronadornment

Because you value his life? Survival Strap bracelet, up to 16' of military spec paracord to be deployed in an emergency situation. 

Because you're ready, a thrilling missive from Kate Spade

Because you love his style, a Mad Men-esque sterling silver tie clip from J. Crew

Because this love is one for the ages, incredible antique heart necklaces on vintage brass chains from Sheer Addiction

Because cupid references are ok, golden arrow earrings from the Curiosity Shoppe

Because you're better together, ampersand cufflinks from Veer

Because she holds the key...to your heart, mixable, matchable beautiful from Tiffany 

Because it works - the Kinect ring with fully functional gears.

Because you are so lucky - Little Lucky Clover necklace from EmersonMade.

Because it's a beautiful thing -Sundance Color Wheel Sapphire Ring

hello monday

Pinned from Sitting in a Tree

hello hello - how was your weekend? Our trip to NC was speedy, we were there and back before the end of the superbowl.

What did you get up to? I guess the bigger question is: which commercial was your favorite? Our house had a lot of love for the VW Vader and a new look at Detroit al la Chrysler.