music monday: almost lover

I've decided to re-share this 'music monday' in hopes of introducing more of you to one of my favorite artists, the lovely Alison Sudol of A Fine Frenzy. She has the most angelic red hair paired perfectly with a hauntingly beautiful voice. I have been deeply in love with this song since the first time I've heard it. The lyrics bring me back to the sleepless nights of heartbreaks gone by, falling in love with all the wrong boys. This song is the nostalgia of wounds that eventually heal and leave a bittersweet scar in its place.

 

 + via afinefrenzy +

We walked along a crowded street
You took my hand and danced with me in the shade
And when you left you kissed my lips
You told me you would never ever forget these images, no

Well, I'd never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?

So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do...

♥♥♥

bridal ideas: pretty paper invitations

One of my favorite things to do is to collect images of pretty paper goods and there's nothing quite as pretty as wedding invitations! I love traditional wedding invitations that have a unique twist or even better, DIY ones made by the bride and groom themselves! I can't wait to share my own invitations with you that I designed for my wedding last summer but in the meanwhile, here are some lovely inspirations that I've found.

and what a perfect little box to hold them in

+ via stylemepretty +

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packaging: lokum delight

The 'cute collector' in me just had to share these. These amazing little creations by equally amazing designer tamer koseli are the packages of turkish delights (also known as Lokum) targeted at children to encourage them to keep these boxes as paper toys. They're not only cute, but functional and eco-friendly as well!

 

I love how each of them has a distinct character and how lovable they'd be on any shelf or table. Or maybe I'm a just design junkie who's too fond of paper things. I'd love to print these out and have my own little turkish friends to brighten up my work space.

+ via behance +

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label love: project alabama

I'm so happy I stumbled across this amazing, young label. Born in 2006, Project Alabama's collection is free-spirited and mixes traditional and modern aesthetics. Their pieces look amazingly youthful, romantic and blends perfectly with the nature surrounding it. I imagine if I ever were lucky enough to wear any of these  country-inspired garments I would spend the day running around barefoot in a field or dipping my toes into a lake. These images are a daydreamer's perfection and have brightened up my day, I hope you like them too!

+ via projectalabama +

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artist ave: enchanting enchanted dolls

Oh my... I'm still trying to catch my breath. For anyone who's ever been a doll lover, forget every doll you've ever owned. Marina Bychkova's aptly named Enchanted Dolls are the only dolls you'll ever want after you've seen them. I don't even know where to begin... they're stunningly hand-crafted in porcelain, each with their own unique, often mysterious expressions and intricate accessories to boot. They're also incredibly realistic, from their positions to their hair and features, exuding a delicateness but also a haunting creepiness that makes them all the more mesmerizing. 

Her artwork has been featured all over in various magazines, and with each doll she tries to show us her interpretation of emotion and beauty that no other dolls have ever been able to evoke in the past. It's become a dream of mine to own one of her dolls, and though I probably never will, I definitely do not mind dreaming of such gorgeous things, isn't it? See more of her breath-taking work on her blog here.

+ via enchanteddoll +

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fav photographers: nirrimi hakanson

I have so much love and respect for this talented little wildchild from Melbourne, Australia. Nirrimi Hakanson is only 17 and already a renown fashion and artistic photographer, capturing her subjects raw and always stunning. She's filled to the brim with potential and I love the simplicity and naturalness of her photos. I know for a fact that I'll be posting more of her amazing work seeing how each of her photos manage to take my breath away.

 + via fashionising +

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PS: Thanks nirrimi for dropping by my post :) Please visit her amazing blog here!

etsy finds: amazing sculpted soaps

When I first came across Satin and Birch on etsy I was completely blown away. Her handmade soaps are so amazingly intricate, they look more like miniature sculptures than soap! I'm in awe of her attention to detail, color and what must be a huge amount of dedication to produce such gems as these. Looking at her sale record, it's no wonder people keep coming back for more of her delightful creations as they would make the perfect gift, whether it's for loved ones or to pamper yourselves. They would make such a lovely addition to any bathroom.

+ via satin&birch +

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dream hotels: scenic santorini

One of the destinations next on my travel list has definitely got to be Greece and it's beautiful islands. I've been meaning to visit a friend I have who lives there but I haven't managed to find the time or opportunity to go. Hopefully, this will become one of my new year's resolutions that I simply must not let slide. Santorini, their most gorgeous island is like some mythical, modern day Atlantis where the sky mirrors the ocean in an endless blue. By the looks of these photos, the Astarte Suites would be a perfect choice for an unforgettable romantic getaway.

+ astartesuites +

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eateries: an authentic taste of tokyo

If you've ever been to a Japanese Restaurant in Paris, you'll notice how most of them have the exact same menu: sushi, sashimi and brochettes. It's quite hard to find an authentic Japanese restaurant that serve the many other delicious delicacies that Japan has to offer. That's why I was so thrilled when I discovered Naniwa-Ya, located at number 11 on the famous Rue St Anne, this restaurant has such a wide variety of udons, sobas and donburis, with side dishes like edamame, takoyaki and fresh gyoza.

Everything is not only prepared in true Japanese fashion, but it's pretty affordable as well. A bowl of udon will run you 7-8 Euros and donburis from 8-9 Euros whereas side dishes like gyoza and takoyaki are around 4 Euros each. Hopefully these photos can give you an idea of what to expect from their amazing kitchen.
 

 + me +

 Naniwa-Ya, 11 Rue St Anne, 75001 Paris

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stylings of: eva lindh

I'm so glad I stumbled onto Swedish stylist Eva Lindh's portfolio. Not only does she style for fashion, her interiors are enough to consider her a master at what she does. I love her compositions and her attention to detail, not to mention how she incorporates colors into her rooms. There's always a hint of rustic and countryside when I look at her work, so inspirational.

+ via evalindh +

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flickr finds: sasha nikitin

These photos are from a very talented photographer from Moscow. His subjects are always beautiful and waif-like young things against the scenery of forests and grass. I love the emotions that he captures in his work and if I have to be honest, I have a bit of a girlcrush on his girlfriend, whom he photographs quite often. Her gorgeous features and natural poses makes her a wonderful muse. Check out more of his work here.

 + flickr nalilord +

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