DULY NOTED :: 10.24

This was a big huge busy week. And this Sunday is a big day … my birthday. 34. Holy shit. (Sorry. But, seriously… 34!?) To some of you that might seem young. To some, old. To me, it’s somewhere right in the middle. Not quite where I thought I’d be and in some ways so much further than I thought I’d be too. And it’s going to be a fantastic weekend because it’s not really about me. Instead it’s going to be about good friends, brunches, a wedding (congratulations Mr. Beefy!) and spending time with my family… and the people who have become family. And it all starts this afternoon.

But more on that later. For now… some thoughts and links for the weekend, my friends!

1 // I’ve been on the hunt for perfect side tables for a client and was happy that I reminded myself to pop over to my friend Erin’s shop, Grandiflora, where I discovered this beauty. The shop is small, but well curated. If you’re not familiar, then familiarize.

2 // It seems we’re not the only one with bugs on the brain. Our Swamp Spice Flip cocktail recipe has a new friend in this Swamp Swill Martini. A match made in Halloween heaven.

3 // Funny enough, I blogged about the living room in this home by Pablo Paniagua over two years ago. But then I came across the image of the dining room and was smitten all over again. Why? Because black navy, that’s why. Also, high shine nickel over brass and gold. And the trim on the wallpaper. Fabulous.

4 // I’ve been working on a little partnership with eBay lately that includes me curating some collections from my favorite finds there. On the top of that list are all the designers in the Martha Stewart American Made collection. We’ve also been posting guides with fun exclusive content, so head over and follow me if you like what you see! In the meantime, that black metallic twine is on the top of my ‘must purchase’ list.

5 // This week, the world lost a fashion icon. But he wasn’t just a name, or a brand. He was a man who many have paid tribute to, including this brief but heartfelt moment from Anna Wintour describing her last days with Oscar de la Renta. Me? Well, if there was one person I would have liked to dress me going down the red carpet or aisle, it would have been him. This will sound cheesy, but the first time I really noticed how incredible he was at making a woman feel like a woman was when he started dressing Jessica Simpson more. I don’t think she’s ever looked so classy in her life. And as a fellow curvy girl, I appreciated the cut and the style. But it was this dress that I briefly posted about years ago that convinced me he understood what it was to dress a woman – any woman – to make her feel the best possible version of herself. Because while that dress is one I would certainly never wear myself (it would be horrible on me!) it was perfect for her. Plus, its simplicity as a wedding dress is beyond. So, here’s to a legend whose name, I’m sure, will live on for a very long time.

6 // And finally – a little sparkle to end the week with. If you’re familiar with BaubleBar then you know about their guest ‘bartender’ series they do where they partner with some very cool chickadees to create unique jewelry pieces to add to their lineup. Well, they’ve just announced their very first partnership with a BaubleBar customer for a very special cause. Meet Megan Runser, who is battling cancer, and seems to be – by the way – also a super inspiring woman in her own right outside of her fight against this disease. Together, they created a beautiful collection – including these earrings which might be my favorite – where all proceeds will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. So if you were looking for a reason to treatyourself to something this weekend… I think you just found it.

The post DULY NOTED :: 10.24 appeared first on coco kelley.