Girl About Town: Rockwood Bakery

With three projects on the table and a flurry of Summer events approaching, now is not a good time for a lapse in inspiration- but I'm feeling drained and dull nevertheless. I need a change of scenery. I need a slice of pie and a cappuccino from Rockwood Bakery. I wish I was back in Spokane!

The warm raspberry walls and sunlight filtering through ivy-covered windows, the pleasant ambiance of kitchen sounds and hushed chatter, the aromas of espresso and baked goods... it is my perfect place.

Do you have a favorite retreat?

In Bloom: Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are blooming around my neighborhood now, in white, chartreuse, periwinkle, and icy blue. But up the hill, just around the corner from People's Park, and planted outside an odd little cottage that makes me think of Alice in Wonderland, are these orbs of deeply saturated pink.

Apparently the coloration of hydrangeas is dependent upon the acidity of the soil. So now I have a half-joking explanation for this psychedelic color: they're high on acid. That's Berkeley for you.

I've been taking pictures of the hydrangeas in all of their hues (whether trippy or subdued), which I'll be  sharing on the Shock the Bourgeois facebook page today...

Dare to Dream: Jacques Adnet

About my apartment are scattered humble odes to Jacques Adnet: dark leather, gold trimmings, leggy tables, faux bamboo. His designs, however, are beyond my imitation. Gracefully functional and classically handsome, these are pieces I dare to dream about...

All Images Courtesy of 1st Dibs: 1 - Bottle Carrier, 2 - Side Table, 3 - Coat Stand, 4 - Daybed, 5 - Leather Tray Table, 6 - Magazine Rack, 7 - Magazine Table, 8 - Cabinet

Still Seeking Guest Posts!

My suitcases are getting quite a work out this summer... seems that just as soon as I unpack, it's time to start packing all over again. In just a couple weeks my suitcases and I will be jetting off to Washington (and, officially speaking, I'll be a married woman when I return). Beyond that, parties, planning, and then THE BIG WEDDING.

Vintage Image via Pinterest

So friends, I am in need of some guest posts! I received a stunning submission from the lovely Andrea, so you'll be in good company. For more information, click on over to my original post!

Happy Friday

A pink peony, a bowl of berries, some summer fashion inspiration... I'm ready for the weekend!

 

I so want to be that girl... crisp and lady-like, with no-fuss hair and chic black & white adornments. Forget bright colors and barely there bikinis, this is my idea of classic summer beauty.

xoxo

Elizabeth

Chain Linking it All Together

Junkyard toughness with a sultry drape. Masculine metal with feminine curve. Chain link is a trend I could trim my whole house in...

Chain Link Floor Lamp from Bermingham & Co. on 1st Dibs, Boyfriend Chain Bracelet from Bing Bang, Chain Link Cake Plate by Magenta, Industrial Bar Table from Greenwich Living on 1st Dibs

Here & Now: Right Outside my Door

Yesterday we took a stroll through my parents' lush garden in Edmonds, Washington. I'd love to be able to follow up with a tour of my own Edenic landscape, but I don't have one! Alas, we have exactly the kind of outdoor space you'd expect from an unkempt and ugly four-plex: like the apartment, the yard has gone to seed. It is, on the whole, scraggly, weedy, and uninspiring... save for one thing, just outside our front door.

This treehouse in my neighbor's backyard lends a little charm and imagination to our outdoor space. There aren't any kids next door, so the treehouse is a bit overgrown, and mainly enjoyed by squirrels. I entertain amusing notions of hosting club meetings up there, Calvin & Hobbes style, but I'm fairly certain my neighbors (and their dog) might take issue with that!

The Summer Garden

Did everyone have a happy 4th (and hopefully, a long weekend)? Adam and I tried to put a three-day break to good use. On Saturday we hiked 5 miles through a redwood forest, on Sunday we walked the rows at Alameda in 80º heat, and on Monday we could hardly get our exhausted, aching selves off of the couch! 

If you stopped by Maggie Rose to see my tablescape last week, you probably noticed (and perhaps oohed/ahhed over) the bunch of freshly cut flowers decorating my Mom's table. Gorgeous- and merely a sampling of what's blooming in the back yard. Now that I'm back to my weedy plot in Berkeley, I thought we might all enjoy a walk through my family's garden.

Ah, if only there was one more day in the weekend. I could use a relaxing afternoon in the shade to recuperate!

Today my Facebook and Twitter followers will get pictures of my favorites from the Alameda Flea... are you following?