Detailed Interiors

I have always been drawn to detailed interiors. I contribute this attraction to my mom, who filled the home I grew up in with vintage treasures, tea candles, and glittered figurines. I think having a mother, who was an interior designer before a mom, made me appreciate the details.

1  Custom Orange Pendant Pieces Inc.  2  Details by Lili Dialo  3  Claw Bottle Opener Jayson H+G

4   Gold Bud Vases Jonathan Adler  5  Brazilian Agate Bookend The Evolution Store  6  Knot Door Stop Jayson H+G  7  Open Arm Dining Chair Pieces Inc.   8  Hydrangea Pillow John Robshaw   

9  Brief Print Jayson H+G  10  Chevron Frame Furbish Studio  11  The Domino Book of Decorating  12  Vintage Black Canister Jayson H+G  13  Kate Spade Confetti Plate  14  Calla Lamp Furbish Studio  15  Greek Key Rug Furbish Studio

Happy shopping! 

{images via Lonny Mag, Elle Decor, Matchbook}

Essentials

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I noticed this weekend that there are numerous summer essentials missing from my closet and beauty routine. Whether it be the perfect white dress, a flattering string bikini, day and night sandals, or fun accessories - all of these items would be gladly accepted into my warm weather wardrobe. 

I think you should buy these.

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...because what better way to indulge than a few bold accessories {and a cute dress} to spruce up your wardrobe. Go on, you deserve it.

xo

Headed North

 

This weekend I am headed to Mackinac Island for another wedding. I am super excited because I hear this place is absolutely dreamy. They do not allow cars on the island which makes for a very peaceful little town and I can't wait to escape city life and enjoy some time on the water. I plan to take in this special spot and enjoy all of the beauty it has to offer, plus celebrate the marriage of two more friends! 

I plan to wake up early, enjoy coffee in an adirondack chair, rent some bicycles, explore, eat yummy food, celebrate, sip champagne, and take lots of photos.

The lakeside always transforms my style into extremely preppy, nautical, boating attire so I plan to pack lots of stripes, daytime dresses, florals, boat shoes, color, a party dress, and a fun bathing suit. 

Dave is the best man, so I am tagging along for the majority of the wedding festivities. We are stopping at our friends house on Thursday night for a fun day on the water Friday, before driving the extra hour north to Mackinac. I can't wait!

Have you ever been to Mackinac? Any recommendations? I'd love to hear!

{images via}

Summertime Hunt

This warm weather has me itching for a summer overhaul and some serious shopping. I am longing for a bright wallet, a party dress for warm weather weddings, a new work tote, chunky turquoise and aqua stone baubles, and a daily dose of summer beauty supplies! Here are a few items I am eyeing...

A Bright Wallet: 1 2 3 4 5 6 

A Party Dress: 1 2 3

A Carryall: 1 2

Chunky Stones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Beauty Supplies: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

{highly recommend 3 + 4}

What are you currently coveting? Any summertime recommendations? I'd LOVE to hear! xo

Summer Fashion

To kick start June and the lovely summer season headed our way, I am joining Danielle in her Week of Summer series by sharing my warm weather wish list! I can't wait to bop around the city in airy dresses, sky high wedges, striped tees, shorty shorts and colorful accessories.

I am inspired by navy and white paired with soft pastels and pops of red and I am craving a closet filled with silky tops, stripes, chiffon, cotton dresses, sequins and denim shorts.

My Summer Wish List:

A pretty fedora to pair with my bikini and day dresses.

The perfect stiped tee.

A camel carryall for all of my day & night necessities.

A flirty pair of pastel shorts, easy to dress up or down.

An eyelit top.

Summertime earrings.

A pretty pendant necklace.

A fabulous lace detailed neon clutch.

An airy maxi skirt.

The perfect wedge.

A flirty white dress, a summer necessity.

What's on your summer wish list?

My Favorites.

Beauty Products:

1. Kiehl's Amino Acid Shampoo and Conditioner. When I tell you that this is the most magical shampoo + conditioner ever created, trust me. My hair has never felt so squeaky clean, soft, shiny, and this is after washing and drying it everyday. This stuff is like holy water for your hair. 

2. Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom + Honey Cologne. Refreshing and light and perfect.

3. Nars Blush in Orgasm. Enough said.

4. Bare Escentuals bareEyes Makeup Remover. I can't live without eye makeup remover. Mornings when I wake up and have forgotten to wash away my mascara, I feel swollen and instant anxiety ensues. This stuff is heavenly. It feels like a hot shower for my eyes, except it is cold.

5. Dior 'Diorshow' Waterproof Mascara. My eyelashes are super long but flat as a board, this stuff works wonders on my lashes and curls them to all sorts of heights. Plus, it makes my eyes pop. What one piece of makeup would you take with you on a desert island? Mascara, no question.

6. Laura Mercier Nectar Lip Glace. Slightly tinted peachy summer shade loaded with shiny goodness. This and Diorshow...all you need.

Jeweled + Floral Details

1. Isharya Cascade Earring. Perfect pop of color for summer, the only accessory you need when paired by itself. This coral color will probably be my go-to for summer accessories.

2. Tasha Chiffon Flower Clip. I don't think I will ever outgrow a good hairbow. This flower is the perfect finish to your everyday hair. 

3. Lizzie Fortunato Necklace. For those of you who have been here before, you know how much I love LFJ. Their designs rock. They combine so many amazing materials to create jewelry masterpieces that undoubtedly stand alone. LFJ designs for Chance {another fave}, which is just another reason why I love these ladies so dang much.

4. Topshop Anchor Stud Earring. A little nautical, perfect for everyday.

5. Furbish Studio Elephant Bracelet. Another piece that can be layered or stand alone. Plus, you get a classy little friend hanging on your wrist. I like him, a lot.

6. Anna Beck Saddle Ring. Not only is this ring both silver AND gold, I love its Moroccan details and circular shape. Easy to pair with everything. 

Pretty Pairings

1. Zara Raffia Shopper. I love this bag, the perfect carryall.

2. Topshop Cut Out Sun Top. A pretty white tank is my favorite summer basic, add gold buttons and this top is pretty much perfect.

3. Topshop Multi Stripe Full Skirt. Everything I have been buying lately is stripes. Skirts are usually my favorite article of clothing so this is a no-brainer - I love the colors, too! Wouldn't it be cute with the Topshop Sun Top tucked it - gold buttons, stripes and bows, perfection.

4. Sperry Top-Sider in Gold. What is better than Sperry Top-Siders? Gold Sperry Top-Siders. Duh.

5. Tucker Floral Print Silk Dress. Subtle print, uber feminine. Perfect transition from day to night!

These are a few of my favorite things!

Spring Essentials + a Thank You!

First of all, thank you, my dear readers, for your wonderful words of encouragement & sweet compliments about this blog. I can't tell you how excited I get to receive a comment from you or an email saying just how much you love A Happy Haven. Even though there are many of you that I've never met, I feel like every post I make is a conversation with each and every one of you. So thank you for your wonderful response, I look forward to chatting with you every single day.

Now, did I tell you that the high is 62 today?

The weather in Chicago is amazing right now and I can't kick this desire to go shopping and collect all of the Spring essentials I have been coveting in stores. Spring is one of my favorite seasons - everyone is in great spirits, sunglasses are worn with everything, color + patterns are appreciated, toes are exposed again and it comes at the perfect time to ditch your winter boots. I am craving color more than anything at the moment and although I don't feel ready to pull out my short dresses, patterned shorts, and spaghetti straps; there are a few necessities that will help make this transition a breeze.

1. Madewell Color Collage Ballad Dress $135 - a pretty patterned dress for Spring!

2. F21 Spring Flower Hairclip $1.50 - pretty addition to a plain outfit.

3. F21 Classic Stone Ring $4.80 - big chunky rings in coral or turquoise are my fave accessory!

4. Cutler + Gross D-Frames $450 - a neutral frame to lighten your look.

5. Madewell NE Stripe Belt $48 - a perfect & preppy cinch to your favorite dress.

6. Betsey Johnson Secret Garden Studs $30 - feminine and sweet, subtle color, easy to wear!

7. Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom + Honey $105 for 3.4 oz - light & sweet.

8. Cath Kidston Spray Flowers iPhone Case $40 - a great way to Spring up your accessories!

9. Tasha Wide Wood Bangle $28 - easy to pair with E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.

10. Tory Burch Mathilde Leather Satchel $495 - buttery navy leather, yellow stripes, gold emblem...duh.

11. Timex Leather Strap Watch $60 - my old faithful in fun new colors!

12. Madewell City Walk Fedora $48 - I think this needs to be a part of my wardrobe..

13. Aldo Connally Wedge $50 - Jennifer Aniston wore these last year and I was obsessed!

What are you dying for this Spring? I am also in the market for a great trench. Any ideas?

My Routine

While cleaning my bathroom last night, I realized that I use a lot of products. Lotion, hair stuff, chapstick, eye cream, foundation - the basics. I thought it would be fun to share my day-to-day necessities with you!

1. Burt's Bees Radiance Body Lotion with natural Mica for a hint of shimmer

2. Caudalie Radiance Facial Lotion. This smells like lemon, is light, and makes my face feel extremely refreshed from these dry winter days.

3. Bumble & Bumble Styling Creme. A little bit of moisture for my daily blowouts.

4. Laura Mercier Moisturizing Eye Cream. Gentle on my eyelids, I put on both morning and night.

5. Burt's Bees Radiance Serum. This stuff is amazing. A light oil that I put on before bed {after a quick face wash} and my skin looks so bright when I wake up. 

6. Mentholatum Ointment. Doubles as chapstick, dry skin healer, and full of soothing menthol.

7. Lollia Bubble Bath in Wish. For days where a bath is really necessary.

8. Eucerin Daily Replenishing Body Lotion. The best.

9. Rusk Deep Shine Hair Lusterizer. Makes my hair so shiny!

10. Tocca Giulietta. Makes me feel feminine & fresh all day.

11. Benefits De-Puffing Eye Gel. Gives my eyes a zap of caffeine when they need it, a necessity at work. 

12. Smashbox Sheer Focus Foundation. So light, it doesn't feel like makeup at all.

13. Essie Status Symbol, Cute As A Button and Lacquered Up.

What is your favorite beauty product that you can't live without?

Snow Day Survival

Having a snow day in the middle of the week makes me want to take full advantage of this blizzard, despite the fact that the snow is falling at 2" per hour and the wind feels like a slap in the face. I think I need to bundle up and join the rest of my friends who are enjoying a mid week break - I will need these essentials to make sure my day off is well worth it!

1. A Warm Knit Scarf to protect me cheeks!

2. My iPhone to get emails & potentially "work."

3. Snowball mittens to play in the snow.

4. A warm hat.

5. My camera to capture some memories!

6. Tall waterproof boots for the 10' snow drifts!

7. A fisherman sweater to keep me warm.

8. A yummy candle. 

9. Socks for my toesies. 

10. Alcohol, for seriously warmth.

Cheery

I'm feeling happy today people, which is shocking for a Monday and the fact that I didn't sleep well last night. But I love going into a new week feeling like my life is going to be clean, I'm going to be organized, I'm going to workout, I'm going to feel put together at work, and shits going to get done.

I'm kinda feeling like my life is colorful today, and this outfit would be ideal if it weren't 27 degrees in Chicago and I didn't opt for an all black outfit today or work in a cubicle. Oh well!

I'm going to sleep with my window cracked this week, and refresh my ashy skin with some cold air and let my brain breathe - they say cold air enhances the mind.

I also purchased these two {here and here} beauty enhancers at Blue Mercury this weekend and I already feel prettier. Isn't it funny how these stupidly pricey facial serums can play with your mind and trick you into thinking they work wonders. These do though, trust me!

I'm going to organize my life and throw away everything that I am currently storing under my bed/my closet. I also need some ideas for this blank wall in my bedroom that desperately needs some lovin'. Ideas?

I need to get the ball rolling again with a vision board. January is a dark hole of a month and I don't want to fall into a rut, these always seem to help.

I also purchased one of my favorite scents which I plan on burning throughout my productive week. It fills your house with the most amazing blueberry muffin vanilla creamy scent and makes me feel like a baker.

Doesn't this sound fun? You should join me! What is inspiring you this week?

If you're feeling the Monday blues, here is a little inspiration to kick start your week...

Happy Monday!

{images via Pretty Stuff}

2011 Planners

The 5th grade notebook that I use to scribble down to-do lists on a day to day basis has got to go and I am in the market for a pretty bound planner for 2011. Paper Source has the prettiest options to keep me organized in the new year.

These all-in-one planners are perfect to tote around in my work bag and are made with recycled leather & recycled paper for you eco-friendly gals. They come in 4 pretty colors found here.

However, I love the gold leather of this little book and I think it has my name written all over it.

Also, this is the cheeriest montly calendar, the perfect addition to brighten my boring cubicle.

ps: pictures from my vacation will be up tonight, I promise!

I'm Back!

Hello my dear, dear readers! It seems like forever since I have visited my little blog and I am so glad to be back. I hope you all enjoyed the holidays and are looking ahead to 2011 with true ambition!

My vacation was amazing and long but way too short and I can't believe that tomorrow is back to reality. I planned on coming back with a million pictures from my trip but unfortunately misplaced my camera cord and will have to update you tomorrow. Anyways, I would love to hear about your plans for 2011!?

I intend on: running the Nashville marathon in April, utilizing my new planner, saving more money, writing letters to my grandmothers, drinking more water, making more jewelry, loving on my family & friends, and dedicating my time to A Happy Haven!

Here is to a new year and new beginnings! See you tomorrow.

Hey Santa

I have come to realize that when my family asks me for my Christmas list it no longer consists of things that I want but are more or less things that I believe are necessities in my everyday life {most of the time}. I need to utilize this holiday of giving as a chance to obtain the objects that I avoid buying myself - hence, my Christmas list:

1. Ugg gloves to brave Chicago winters.

2. The new iPod Nano to get me motivated.

3. A new camera lens for my Sony a330 to better enhance my photos & my blog.

4. A cutesy iPhone cover just because.

5. A calendar to plan 2011.

6. A new wallet to keep me organized. 

7. A cross-body bag for ease and cool status. 

8. A new Macbook case for stylish travel. 

9. Cold weather running gear to train for my marathon in April!

10. Sorel boots to play in the snow with my pups.

What's on your list?