heath ceramics: at dinner sunday night--

after they returned from a couple weeks vacationing in bali, our chic neighbours invited us over for dinner sunday night. (finally! i'd longed for an invitation into their apartment for ages.) upon entering, the apartment smelled like fall -- a favourite season amongst the group, and one we all agreed was too short in the bay area. on the stovetop, simmering in a le creuset pot, was a mixture of sausage, butternut squash, and mushrooms. the aroma made my mouth water. looking about the apartment, my eyes moved to the table -- decorated and set with heath plates and bowls. my heart jumped out of jealousy and envy and then landed on swoon. everything was so beautiful, and i was suddenly very self-conscious. the flowery plate i presented my homemade almond tangelo cake on suddenly seemed overdressed. this was a table made gorgeous from simplicity. 

and then the most amazing thing happened. 

the large heath serving bowl in moonstone blue emerged from the refrigerator with this apple chicory brown butter dressed salad. i nearly gasped but contained my composure. barely.

when it came time to eat, i enjoyed dinner like an adult and refrained from spilling my accolades all over myself like a toddler gripping a fork for the first time with clumsy, fat fingers. i appropriately complimented the meal and graciously asked for seconds, and then offered to finish the salad if no one else planned to. 

it was then, during and after the evening, that i decided i needed to build out my cupboard of simple dishes. i'm all for the overdressed and over-designed and the fun that can add to the table. but there's true beauty in simplicity and i want to dip into that. i mean, look at the products of heath ceramics. incredible. the red carpet of simple dishware. 

maybe i'll have a cupboard of heath ceramics in my [someday] farmhouse. 

images courtesy of heathceramics.com

it would be easy, after seeing their amazing apartment, enjoying the incredible meal, and swooning over their kitchen and kitchen stuff, to walk back into our apartment and feel inferior. they're the kind of couple that has everything -- cool jobs, good looks, a rad apartment, and all the household tools and stuff that i want. AND they're nice. the nicest. but i walked through our apartment door, nodded at the gorgeous wreath, greeted suzy, and felt home. our apartment may be older and in need of upgrades, but it's home and it's where we belong together as a family. that's more important than anything else. 

anthropologie windows done by bramble workshop.

anthropologie always has incredible window displays. incredible. and the ones shown below, from the creative minds of bramble workshop, are no less the exception than they are the remarkable standard.

images courtesy of brambleworkshop.com

bramble workshop is fantastic. their giant paper flower, book sculptures, rope garlands, and knotted backdrop is very cool stuff. almost makes me want to throw a party. 

dreamland decor for my next birthday party--

images courtesy of allthemountains.blogspot.com

the giant illuminated crown. the larger-than-life llama. streamers from a plane stuck in a tree. so fantastical. absolutely magical. and i think i know just the spot...

invitations will be limited so speak up now if you want to come in august.

polka-dot tea!

today on swirl, dailycandy's flash sale site, a housewares (i love housewares!) company that caters to both tea and coffee drinkers called classic coffee and tea was featured. i was instantly drawn to the polka-dot tea sets--the teapots are too cute!--even though i prefer stripes in just about everything else. nonetheless, they'd be super fun to build a tea party around, especially with the cooler months knocking on our doors. if i had a place to keep the whimsical sets in my tiny kitchen in my cozy apartment, i'd snatch up a set, or two, without hesitation.

images courtesy of swirl.com

geronimo!

i love balloons, and when i say love, i mean, L-O-V-E. they're cheerful, fun, expressive, magical, playful, sometimes silly, magnificent, and even beautiful, especially those by balloonatic and master balloon-trooper, jihan, known fondly as "jihanimo." as i unfolded more pictures and details behind her blissful project, geronimo!, my heart burst with glee and happiness expelling confetti as if it was a party balloon. 

images courtesy of geronimoballoons.com

check out her site for more fun pictures and to determine what level of balloon-trooper you are. i'm an ambassador balloon-trooper aspiring to a certified balloon-trooper and then on to party party balloon-trooper. 

mugs and cups.

fun mugs and cups over in the bailey doesn't bark etsy shop. dots are cute and fun and how awesome would it be to send a postcard mug--postcup? super great gift. the four seasons cup collection is sweet and perfect for someone like me who loves every season of the year the most. then there's the beautiful gold mug and plate. lovely. a whole set would be wonderful for an elegant bridal shower or brunch.

images courtesy of etsy.com

bubblegum mug no.5, $26.00  /  the four seasons cup set, $144.00  /  postcup, $52.00  /  dotted 23k gold plate, $32.00 (the mug doesn't appear available)

in a waverly world...

...it seems that rhinos are patterned in blues and purples, row houses appear to be decorated in wallpaper, and mailboxes are flirty and fun. how do i make a waverly world a reality? 

i am in love with hefty's colourful and flirty waverly collection. i first saw the ad for the collection while flipping through may's real simple and stopped, let out an audible gush, and ripped the page. the advertisement is now hanging on my cubicle wall: two rhinos decorated in blue designs and kissing with the heading "in a waverly world..." in that instant i knew i wanted to live in that waverly world so violet--my purple rhino--could come to life.

 images courtesy of waverly.com

i'd also adore a lineup of mailboxes decorated so pretty. what a joy it would be collecting mail from such a pretty mailbox, even if it was only bills.

"second star to the right."

a peter pan party. what a great idea backed up by even better decorations! jordan, of oh happy day!, really outdid herself here and demonstrated her incredible talent and creativity. the design is classic and simple and bursting with character and personality. it looks magical. the silhouettes are my fave; i want them on my own wall.

 images by brittany via jordanferney.blogspot.com

read more about jordan's decorating thoughts and design execution here.

fun question: what disney movie would you select to theme a party around?

a system of confetti and fringe.

my head nearly exploded from sheer excitement and the grandeur of the incredible projects by confetti system. i mean, come on, a wall of confetti fringe? um, yes, please. today, please. or how about a glistening gold backdrop for, ya know, any night of the week just because? yeah, i thought you'd like that.

confetti system transported party decorations into a whole new world, heck, into a whole new galaxy.

images courtesy of confettisystem.com

lemons and leaves.

love love love this lemon leaf garland from jordan at oh happy day! if you're a diy-er, you can watch the tutorial here.

images courtesy of jordanferney.blogspot.com and projectwedding.com

wonderful for the winter season--cool weather and crisp citrus flavours and scents.

fancy tableware.

when it comes to tabletop dishes, i'm generally very traditional--plain white, standard shapes, porcelain. but when i saw the taste collection by paola navone for reichanbach, i began to daydream about dinner parties and dessert sampling and corner cabinets. i fell in love. these dishes are gorgeous and i would like a full set, please. thank you.

image courtesy of tabulatua.com

things to do in the summertime.

you could spend your time at the beach or poolside working on your tan (lather on the sunblock and reapply!) or you could have some real fun this summer.

find an empty field and after your picnic lunch on an old cozy blanket with peanut butter and homemade peach raspberry jam, set up the hoops, pick a mallet and tap your way to win at croquet. or maybe you'd rather toss something in which case you should try pentanque or bocce ball.

image courtesy of dwr.com

a delightful way to spend a sunny summer afternoon.