June 16, 2010

I'M BUSY: GETTING A TAN



Hello Pretty Chic friends! I feel like it's been a while since I've been able to dedicate time posting here. Hope you're enjoying your summer! After some much needed soul searching I have decided to solely pursue my graphic design consulting business and Pretty Chic SF and quit my day job!!! I'm feeling a little excited, a little nervous and so darn happy right now. The last few weeks have been busy preparing and closing out a chapter of my life at Williams-Sonoma, Inc. after almost 7 years. As a good friend put it, "it was a good run"...And now I'm trading it all in for freedom and the pursuit of other creative passions, spending some time in the sun this summer and maybe even a little love if I'm lucky! –I'm so excited to see what unfolds!

May 29, 2010

Summertime Treats

This weekend kicks off summer and what better way to celebrate then to get outside and enjoy some sunshine!! Summer is my absolute favorite time of the year and here's a few fun ideas to get you in the mood...

Create the perfect getaway with a Tipi and camp out in your backyard! You can fill it with blankets and pillows to make a cozy reading retreat.



Share a tasty orange-ginger margarita with friends. Made with orange concentrate, tequila, ginger liqueur, grated ginger and margarita salt. So refreshing!!




Bake a pie!! I LOVE pie!! Cherry, apple, cream cheese, boysenberry, sweet potato, pumpkin.... I don't discriminate, I will eat them all!! These cherry beauties are perfectly festive for the summer holidays with the star shaped dough cut-outs.


Have a picnic and dine outside. Who says you can't eat every meal outside? There's something wonderful about waking up in the morning and enjoying a little fresh air while you take in the sights over your coffee and a paper. Eating outside is casual and relaxed and opens up a whole new outlook.


And last, fly a flag in appreciation for our freedom and to honor those who have sacrificed. My favorite holiday is the 4th of July. It's my week to spend with family down in Newport Beach, barbecuing, playing games and heading to the beach everyday, closing with a firework show.


My grandparents created a tradition of camping at Newport Dunes each summer, and the tradition still continues almost 40 years later. Part of my family camps while others stay in the comforts of a hotel next door but I love this photo because it reminds it remind of my grandparents original camper where I spent nights up on the top bunk staring at the stars out a tiny window.


Hope you have a Happy Memorial Day weekend and get outside and enjoy!!
XOXO

May 27, 2010

I See Sea Shells

If you saw the collections in my apartment– you'd know, it's no surprise that I love shells. These lovely little soaps by Tresors des Mers are shaped like an assortment of shells and packaged in pretty boxes and apothecary jars.


The soaps and other goodies can be found at
Citrus, online store and retailer in Tiburon, California.

May 26, 2010

Rikshaw Designs:: KURTA'S

One of my favorite local designers, Rikshaw Designs has just introduced her new line of beautiful women's kurta's and I'm in love, love, love!! They are just long enough to wear as a beach cover up and have hand-whipstitching details. Made with love in India with adorable names like, 'booti udaipur' and 'taj paisley' ...I'm so getting myself one of these for summer!!








May 25, 2010

Hello Again...


I feel like it's been a while since I've posted! Meanwhile I took a solo road trip to LA for a graduation and stayed for a wonderful visit with my family. I love long drives... it gives me time to think (maybe too much) and listen to all of my favorite music. And lately, I've been taking care of business and doing some updating in my life. Stay tuned, I'm excited to share some new posts with you this week. XOXO

May 11, 2010

Graphic Designer Love:: LOUISE FILI

Over the years I've studied and admired other talented designers in my field. One of my all-time favorite graphic designers is Louise Fili. Her graphic design work is effortlessly timeless. She specializes in logo, package, restaurant, and book design. Louise has worked under Herb Lubalin (one of the most one of the most influential graphic designers of the 20th century) and designed over 2000 book jackets for Pantheon Books. Her work is recognized in the permanent collections of the Library of Congress. 

These are a few of my favorite designs:



Tiffany & Co. logomark.



Restaurant logo created for Roseville located in San Diego.



Restaurant logo created for Mermaid Inn located in the East Village.



Book design with French and Italian typographic reference.



Restaurant logo created for a Texas salumeria.


Visit her site to see more of her collection of work Louise Fili.com.

May 10, 2010

Mellow Yellow

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend! Since it's rather gray and gloomy in San Francisco today, I thought I'd brighten it up by sharing some yellow interiors I'm loving....







April 29, 2010

Bungalow Retreats:: THE PERFECT ESCAPE

I'm slightly challenged with this concept since I don't have a backyard. But don't these cozy little bungalows look like the perfect retreat from our everyday nests?

This old ivy covered garden shed turned beautiful bath spa was cleaned and painted, with new terra-cotta tile floor and bathtub.



A tiny home office, housed in a converted potting shed in Santa Cruz.


Summer retreat home in a tent cabin from Sweetwater Bungalows.



A lakeside retreat complete with wooden deck and ivy canopy.


A white one-room vintage log cabin in the woods of Wisconsin.


These bungalows are the perfect backyard escape during the summer!

Images via Sunset Magazine, Sweetwater Bungalows and Chicago Home + Garden Magazine.

April 27, 2010

take me away





Nothing says summer's here like these breezy dresses and bandeau bikini's by Melissa Obadesh. Her 2010 collection is inspired by vintage fabrics and prints from Italy – and reflects simplicity and elegance. The collection includes beachy kaftans, dresses and swimwear all in matching tonal colours. I've barely been back 3 weeks and I'm already dreaming up my next warm escape!!

**Images via Melissa Obadesh

April 26, 2010

sunny monday


Hope you enjoyed a beautiful weekend!
Yesterday I divided my time between shopping the locals farmers market in Marin and trying very graciously to hit a tiny white ball into 9 holes of golf. The course we played in Novato had the most scenic landscaping with rolling green hills and wild geese roaming all around. It was truly amazing! I came home last night with feet ((very)) tired, and bags full of fresh eggs, cilantro, snap peas, snow peas, shallots, leafy greens, blood oranges, tangerines and meyer lemons. It was the ideal day!!

**Image from Country Living

April 23, 2010

happy weekend!




Wishing you a beachy weekend.... I'm boot scootin' south to a country concert tomorrow evening and a little golf on Sunday! If I'm really lucky, I'll have my toes in the sand and treasure hunting on a beach too. 

The weather should be perfect in San Francisco!
Enjoy!!

***Images from JCrew

April 22, 2010

I heart fridays


Happy Friday!!
I can't remember where I came across this photo (sorry!!), but I love this idea and wanted to share. Isn't this fun– a heart shaped collage of photos. I think it could work well framed too and would make a thoughtful gift for an 'anniversary', 'I love you' or, 'just because you're fabulous to me'!!

Casual Living

Hope you are having a Happy Thursday!! In my blog browsing I came across this lovely nest on Mi Casa Revista. This home reminds me of the some of the house interiors in Nancy Myers movies. I always love the mix of natural and white, it's perfectly casual with a little of the relaxed California charm I like. Enjoy!!






**Images found at Mi Casa Revista

April 19, 2010

alex marshall nesting bowls


I'm in love with these oversized ceramic nesting bowls by Alex Marshall. I've had a similar bowl on my kitchen counter for years now and I use it to store rolled hand towels, fresh fruit and seasonal vegetables from the farmers market. Because of the size and depth, it also doubles for the perfect salad and pasta serving bowl.

Marshall's work is described as organic and beautifully functional sculpture, each piece feels handcrafted and unique.
She received her MFA in conceptual art from the San Francisco Art Institute and takes a skilled and deliberate approach to her art. She encourages the philosophy, "Longevity is Green" and one aspect of "green" that's true for everything her studio produces: longevity, believing that when something is made to last, you don't have to buy it again, which decreases the impact on natural resources and keeps waste out of landfills. All ceramics and glazes are made in Northern California, which means less fuel consumption and production consumption.

This month marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Along with the fun interiors and fashion, I plan to continue to highlight some of my favorite sustainable products and companies that are dedicated to making a difference.

**Image and bowls found at Colcha Home in Venice Beach, California.

weekly wish: enjoy life


This is my weekly inspiration for this week of April.


Hope you had a fantastic weekend! The weather is San Francisco was sunny and hot and just the way I like it!
I took a little time for some R&R and a couple of long days in the sunshine with friends. I'm happy to get caught up on some blogging and new ideas this week! Let's enjoy it!

April 16, 2010

thank you, neo-traditionalist!


I woke up this (TGIF) morning and found a wonderful little surprise when I scrolled down my facebook news feed.... and I just wanted to send Katie, from Neo-Traditionalist a special *thank you* for the sweet feature she wrote about Pretty Chic SF journals this morning!! I'm a fan of Katie's on facebook and I love her blog. What a great compliment!

You can see our feature here.

Thanks for the love, Katie!
xoxo,
Pretty Chic SF


April 14, 2010

I heart the caribbean!

I'm back!! And happy to be home sweet home again after an amazing cruise in the Caribbean with 30 family members celebrating my grandmother's 80th birthday. I still can't believe how fast the time went by. It was my first cruise experience and I had such a great week visiting Haiti, Jamaica, the Grand Cayman Island, and Cozumel. We sailed the islands, climbed rivers, and snorkeled in some of the most amazing waters. It was quite an adventure! I'm already looking forward to going back soon and spending more time on the islands.

Here's some photos from my fabulous adventures, hope you enjoy!!

**Labadee, Haiti

**Ochos Rios, Jamaica

**Grand Cayman Island

**Cozumel, Mexico

**Cozumel, Mexico

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