Happy {Be Loved} Weekend

Phew, Friday has finally arrived. It's been a rather whirly-twirly week! And now the big V-day is upon. Tell me luvies, are you a fan?


image via ban.do

The husband and I are actually not big Valentine's Day celebrators. I eat dark chocolate year-round thank you very much. I should probably wear lingerie more often though. Note to self.

But I will admit it's fun to get in the romantically inclined giving spirit. If you're still looking for that perfect lovey-dovey gift, head over to Mimi + Meg to check out some uber-stylish Valentine's Day shopping guides (including one by moi!).

I suspect much of my weekend will be spent enviously trailing th happenings of NYFW. Have you hopped over to see Jamie's adventures? You won't be disappointed.

However you end up spending your time ~ I hope it is marvelous luvies.

Till Monday,
*Mrs. E

Happy {Sit Back & Contemplate} Weekend

Moments of clarity are just that - moments. They go by in a flash. So when you have one, try to hold on tight and make the most of it.

I've been inspired by some amazing women recently. And then I read the article about Nancy Jarecki, who survived a brain aneurysm, in this month's issue of Vogue. If you need a kick in the butt, go read it.


images via simply grove & thirfty solutions for an urban gal

A wise man once re-quoted

"On your death bed all you have is memories and regrets. Make your memories amazing and have NO regrets!” (thanks Uncle Beefy!)

That brought about some of my own moments of clarity. Like the realization that I could actually really finally launch my creative styling services business. So I did. I do hope you'll check it out!

This weekend I plan to hit the pause button, sit still (in a comfy chair!) and truly savor the good moments happening in my life right now.

I hope you find moments to cherish this weekend luvies.

Till Monday!
*Mrs. E

Happy {Feelin' Fine} Weekend

image via inside the loop

Well my dears, this week has just flown by hasn't it? Maybe it feels like that because of all the little plots for Apartment 34 swirling in my head. Or the flurry of great chats I've had with so many of you this week. Or the continued after-glo from Alt Summit...

I suspect it's a combo of all three. I'm actually rather excited for the busy weekend ahead. I sense a spurt of creativity/productivity coming on!

If you're still looking for a dose of inspiration I thought I'd leave you with some final thoughts from Alt Summit. These were provided by the keynote speaker Tina, the brilliant designer behind swissmiss.

Regardless of what you fill your days with, I think these wise words apply.

1. NOBODY CAN TELL YOU WHAT’S BEST FOR YOU.

2. SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH SMART PEOPLE IS KEY.

3. DON’T JUST TALK; DO IT. (IF IT FAILS, MOVE ON.)

4. BE KIND AND GENEROUS. IT COMES BACK TO YOU.

5. YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND INTEGRITY ARE YOUR BIGGEST ASSETS.

6. IT IS POSSIBLE.
~ Tina of SwissMiss via Erin Loechner, Design for Mankind
 
Till Monday luvies,
*Mrs. E

Happy {Lessons Learned} Weekend

In case you hadn't noticed, I'm super excited by the inspiration and great lessons I've been learning this week.Here a few quick cliffs notes:

~ Be authentic
~ Cultivate creativity
~ Size does matter (check my twitter feed to find out why!)

And most importantly,



Because when you do, you will find your bliss.


images via raina kattelson and aubrey road

I know, I know, easier said than done right? But I hope you have the opportunity to do something that fills you with sheer joy and satisfaction this weekend.

Because that is what life is really all about.

Till Monday luvies!
Mrs. E

What a Whirlwind

Luvies, for those of you who follow me on Twitter you certainly saw the Alt Summit frenzy going on today - I hope you're enjoying it. If you haven't heard, it's a gathernig of lifestyle and design bloggers happening in Salt Lake City this week.

I feel like I've been here for a week! But, the conversations have been divine. Now we're off to an Alt Summit hosted party and I cannot wait for more fun.



image via sacramento street - sorry I ddin't save the perma link but I will now after ethics session!

And if you weren't able to make it, a) we miss you! And b) feel free to follow the fun on Twitter. Just look for the  #altsummit hashtag!

Happy {Stylin'} Weekend

With the countdown to Alt Summit officially ON, the wardrobe planning is in full force. There will be closest assessment and reassessment going on this weekend.



It's time to get creative cuz this lady is on a budget!

There has been a lot of action on the blog this week so I thought I'd do a quick round up in case you missed any of it!

~ Our wedding photos made their grand debut on Style Me Pretty {thanks so much for all the sweet comments!}
~ I offered a little sneak peak into my purse
~ It's still winter, so you should still eat carbs

And if you're looking to snag some fabulous January deals be sure to check out my beloved Apartment 34 sponsors. For the fashionistas you Keri L. Designs, Promesse, Gorjana, Dressing on the Side, Wendy Mink and Dace. If you're looking to dress up your home don't miss Comfort & Samuel and Ralph's Grocery.

I'm also accepting sponsorship requests for February. Apartment 34 sponsorship options and rates are set with small creative businesses in mind so please let me know if you're interested!


Till Monday luvies,
*Mrs. E


image via patterson maker

Happy {Fiening for Fun} Weekend

Do you ever wake up just feeling a little punchy?

For some reason I'm in the mood to do a little rabble-rousing and not take things so seriously this weekend. Because what's the point of having two whole days to yourself if you're not going to enjoy them?

I hope you have a chance to crack up this weekend luvies. Cheers to an irreverent start to 2011!

Till Monday,

*Mrs. E

images 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

On the Run

Do you remember the last time we had a full five-day week? Maybe I'm just lucky. But all this time off  actually has me scrambling to keep up!


image via patterson maker

The full week next week is going to be quite the rude awakening. Hopefully I'll be back on top of my game by then! In the meantime, I wanted to be to check out my guest posts this week.

You'll now be able to catch up with me regularly on the Rue blog. You can see my inaugural post and the great finds of the entire team here.

You can also find out more about what's on my mind these days over at Sterling Style. Taylor's new series is going to be divine. I can't wait to see who is up next!

Happy Friday luvies!
*Mrs. E

Over the River and Through the Woods

Well my dears we are off ~ the presents are wrapped, the car is packed and we're ready to hit the road.

via blue pool road

We'll be making the rounds over the next few days, popping in and out of the homes of our nearest and dearest, hopefully leaving joy in our wake!

I wish you heaps and mounds of holiday cheer my dears. May your days be merry, your nights be bright and your celebrations be oh so joyful and light!

Till next week luvies,

*Mrs. E

Happy {8 Days Till Christmas} Weekend

Is anyone else incredibly nervous/freaked out/overwhelmed by the fact that Christmas is only 1 week away? That this is the last shopping weekend? That there are probably only 1-2 days left to get online orders placed and still get on-time delivery???

Can you tell I'm a little behind on my Christmas....well everything! Despite that, all I really want to do is curl up in warm, cozy spaces to fight off a lingering cold and do a little hibernating of my own this weekend.



images via dressing on the side, designlovefest & stars masquerading

Alas that is just a fantasty. In reality, we are headed to Las Vegas(!) for a whirlwind weekend wedding. I hope I can pull of a Vegas-worthy look despite my current mental state.

Do enjoy your weekend ~ find a moment of respite even if it's just over your morning cappuccino! I know I will.

Till Monday luvies,
*Mrs. E

Happy {Golden Glow} Weekend

December presents endless opportunities to get your glow on and really, why not grab every single one?




1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

This weekend we're celebrating the hubby's birthday with nights on the town, a sumptuous dinner, and I suspect of bit of debauchery, as every good birthday should include.

What are you up to this weekend my dears? I hope you grab the chance to enjoy a little sparkle!

Till Monday luvies,
Mrs. E

Happy {Twinkle & Glow} Weekend

December is coming on with a vengeance. What's on your dance card this weekend luvies? A bit of shopping? Trimming of trees? A good dose of holiday cheer?



Tonight is the annual ladies only Christmas party and gift exchange. The hostess~with~the~mostess always turns out a gorgeous a spread and fun, cheer and a good dose of silliness abound.



images via pretty stuff, everything fabulous and haute design

I hope you have the chance to don something sparkly and bright this weekend luvies. Tis the season!

Till Monday,
*Mrs. E

Happy {Give Thanks} Weekend

Well my loves, this is it. The holiday season has officially arrived. Did it catch you by surprise as much as it did me?!

Life seems to have been roaring by so fast and furious lately that I'm definitely looking forward to the break, and to bread with our nearest and dearest.






I'm also planning to use the extra time to put the finishing touches on some new projects of my own. You may have caught my newest endeavour - styling, which was just featured in the latest issue of Rue Magazine. Here's a peak of my suggestions for dressing for your family Thanksgiving dinner.

(Spoiler alert!) I plan to bring those services to you, dear readers (and mass general public who have yet to hear of me), very very soon. So do let me know if you have a problem closet because I am your fashion fairy god mother.

You can check out my tips for your office holiday party and New Year's Eve looks in Rue here, but I can't wait to start offering solutions to your styling dilemmas!

Finally, I have to reiterate how thankful I am for Apartment 34 and the world of blogging. I want to thank our latest blog sponsors, fab fashion line Lesley Evers, favorite Seattle-area boutique Promesse, gorgeous jewelry designer Wendy Mink and Canadian style setter Dace. I love featuring great design and looks I love and these are all at the top of my list.

I hope you have the opportunity to say thank you to someone special in your life this weekend. I got the chance to do that in a guest post at Create Girl today. We shouldn't need a holiday to force us to pay attention to the people that matter to us, but hey, we could all use the reminder now and again!

Happy feasting - till next Monday luvies!
*Mrs. E

Credits: Thanksgiving montage pics via eddie ross, studio patro, and dress design decor. Rue Magazine spread shot by Kim Bamberg, styling by me!

Happy {Rue Sneak Peak} Weekend

My dears, I've had a little secret I've been keeping from you. Well actually, it's a ginormous secret, but now the cat can be let out of the bag.

You may have already caught wind that Rue, Issue 2 is coming on November 21st. I am particuclarly over the moon excited to see the next round of gorgeousness because...the Rue girls so thoughtfully asked me to contribute!

I won't tip my hand entirely but I just couldn't wait any longer to share a tiny peek of what you'll see! Let's just put it this way - if you're worried about your wardrobe this holiday season be sure to check out Issue 2.



images by la vie photography, styled by me!

Thank you so much to Rue for including me in the fun ~ I know what I'll be pouring over this Sunday! And I can't wait to hear what you all think.

Till Monday luvies!
*Mrs. E

Happy {Shiny} Weekend!

Ahhhh, Friday. It feels oh so good. The temperatures have dropped, the nights have gotten shorter and I'm a little bit older! But that doesn't mean I can't still have through a little glitz and glam into my weekend wardrobe, does it? I've been slow to come around to the sequin trend but I could see myself lounging in this look, and actually feel like I'm getting away with it!



via late afternoon

The lovely Wendy Mink hammered gold pendant necklace would jazz up any look too. I'm so appreciative to them to help mark my birthday with this great giveaway!



And without further adothe winner is......Leslie! Leslie, congrats and email apt34blog@gmail.com to claim you prize.

My dears, I hope you're able to find something bright, shiny and fun yourself this weekend.

Till Monday luvies!
*Mrs. E

Happy {It's My Party} Weekend

Well my dears, I haven't wanted to make much of a to-do this year but it is, in fact, my birthday weekend. We're keeping things nice and low key this time around though.




image {1} amy claire images {2},{3} by elizabeth messina, {4} rue magazine

I will take advantage of the excuse for toasts with bestest of friends, spa dates and general birthday-girl laziness with the huz. Oh and as an added birthday bonus I'll be working on a special little project involving a certain online pub...more on that soon, I promise!

And of course I can't resist sharing the birthday joy with you, so be sure to check back first thing Monday - the party will still be going strong!

Till Monday luvies,
*Mrs.E

Happy {Haunting} Weekend

Will you be handing out treats or tricks this weekend my dears?


via beauty file

Going incognito? Or perhaps throwing a more sophisticated Halloween fete? Regardless I hope you have a smashing weekend.

Happy Halloween!

Till Monday luvies,
*Mrs. E

And the {Shopbop} Winner Is...

I was so thrilled to see everyone get so excited about the Shopbop giveaway. (Trust me I was too!)

What better way to kick off a Friday night then to announce who will get to add a frock this fabulous to their wardrobe?!


via blueproof road

So without further ado, the very lucky winner is.... Mackenzie of Design Darling! Congratulations Mackenzie. I know you're going to get something fabulous and blog all about it, right?!

Thanks again to everyone who entered, tweeted, Facebook-followed and just left nice comments all week long. It's what keeps a blogger going when the world starts gettin' her down.

Luckily, I get to help a certain someone celebrate a fabulous birthday this weekend. That is just the pick me up I need right now.

Till Monday luvies,
*Mrs. E

When Life Has You by the Ankles

Sometimes you just have to grin and bare it.


via bravo claudia

At least that's been the story of my life this week. I'm so sorry to leave you hanging yesterday -  things have been more nutty than usual these days!

Has your week been that way too? I can't imagine I'm the only one. But since there wasn't a new post yesterday I hope you  made some good use of your 30 secs - 1 min  30 secs of free time!

I would highly recommend taking another 30 seconds to  enter the $100 Shopbop giveaway. It's not too late! You have until 9:00 am PST today!

Happy Friday,
*Mrs. E

Happy {Fall-Fun} Weekend!

Don't you just love this time of year dearies? The foggy mornings, the softly slanted sunlight, the crunch of fallen leaves...

via nast and hanneli

And the opportunity to wear some luscious leather.Oh SJP - you do no wrong in my book.

I hope you bundle up in your favorite coat and head out and about in the fall fresh air this weekend. It's just so good for the soul!

Don't have a favorite coat these days? Don't fret - enter the Shopbop giveaway and your autumn fashion dreams just might come true!

Till Monday luvies.
*Mrs. E