fashion || wild horses

you know what i realized when i put together that outfit post for erika last week? it was actually kind of fun! while i don't consider myself particularly fashionable (i tend to think that my strengths are in graphics and decor), i think most of us can put together a great outfit these days. mostly because there don't seem to be any rules anymore! woo hoo!

enter my wild horses homage.....a perfectly playful transition to fall, if you ask me.

dress  ||  earrings  ||  wrap bracelet  ||  clutch  ||  watch  ||  booties

type tuesday || blocked

apologies for the late post today, kids. i had some photos lined up for my personal type tuesday journey, but this trumped them big time. kind of obsessed with this woodblock table.

total. typenerd.

images via mike smith

FREE Shingles Offer!

Are you in need of a new roof? A building product manufacturer that we work with is offering our clients, fans and followers a sweet deal for FREE SHINGLES! They are testing two new roofing products and are looking for homes that are French Country, Craftsman or Mediterranean styles as candidates for free shingles to be installed in mid- to late-October! If you would like to be considered for this great opportunity, please email a picture of your home to info@visbeen.biz or post it to our facebook page (www.facebook.com/visbeenassociates) and we would be happy to connect you with the company!

interiors || rocking some spanish elle decor

i've seen this shot several times

but until this weekend, i hadn't seen the rest of this gorgeous spanish abode

please prepare your eyes for said gorgeousness

images via spanish elle decor

am i right or am i right?

the i am project :: an open heart

The I Am Project on Facebook || Etsy Shop

The I Am Project :: Our wish is to affirm and inspire the beauty in every woman, to celebrate the uniqueness in each of us, as well as the commonalities that unite us as women. We want to create a space to confront the dark places that come with growth; to witness women being valued for more than their bodies, clothes, or societal projections; to feel inspired by stories and images; and to become more deeply rooted in who we are as women. We want to become a net of resources that will nurture and fortify each other's confidence, and fill women with awareness of the extraordinary beauty that each of us uniquely brings to the world.

Questions, thoughts or feedback about The I Am Series? Send them to iamproject.us@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you!

We welcome you to repost and/or share these images if you wish! We also respectfully request that you credit and, preferably, link back to Because It's Awesome as you do so. It's easy to do, and it's good blogger practice. Many thanks!

follow The I Am Project on Facebook

tickled pink

 image via flickr

have i mentioned how awesome you guys are? really. cheers to each and every one of you. i won't pour one out for you because i don't believe in wasting good social beverages, but i will drink one in your honor. actually, i'll drink two, i like you so much!

sometimes i think i post things subconsciously knowing that this amazing blog community will get me through it. thank you for your uplifting words yesterday; they really mean so much! promise i'm not actually suicidal. just occasionally overdramatic (my real life friends are amening right now, aren't you?).

plus, now i have someone to wow when we DO find that place. because i'm pretty sure my husband isn't going to be jumping up and down with me. mostly because he'll be busy thanking God that the search is finally over  :)

here's to a beautiful weekend and beautiful friends. east coasters, please stay safe!

Thinking Outside the Box

We received an email forward (they DO still exist!) with some quirky photo examples of architectural, interior design and other design elements that think outside the box, so we thought we would pass it along.

How do you think outside the box?

house hunting || kill me now

i am massively uninspired today.

lonny magazine

frankly, looking at amazing spaces lately just makes me want to kill myself.

heidi claire

why do none of them exist in my city?

(in our price range, in the right parts of town, with our qualifications)

lonny magazine

i really don't feel like we're asking for that much.

what were builders and architects smoking in the 70s and 80s?

nothing that made them better at their jobs, let me tell you.

via design manifest

but it's out there. i know it.

meanwhile, dreaming of finding a place with giant black windows seems

as likely as dreaming of finding the right place.

help. me.

perfect package || valverde 1859

thank you guys for your sweet support of my entry yesterday! it's always a bit scary to put my own home out there when i post so many that blow it away. believe you me, the next one will be something to brag about! if i could just find it already . . .

i'm celebrating you virtually with one of the most beautiful bottles of wine ever designed.

bottle design by julian yeo || spotted via the dieline

siiiiiiiiiiiiic.

paper play || furze chan

these gold-laden envelopes by furze chan took my breath away when i first laid eyes on them!

spotted via mint design blog

type tuesday || love, jenna

i have long been a fan of jenna hein's gorgeous calligraphy. her look is fancifully casual, making it look soooo easy to be sooo amazing at her craft. after a peek at these wedding embellishments with her gorgeous handwork on every last detail, i think you'll be a fan as well . . .

images via love, jenna || photography by trent bailey

Type Tuesday || street girls

  images by moi

 this, my friends, is a snippet of my entryway. just about everything in my front hall is sentimental, and these three pieces of art are no exception. the map is of tokyo, japan, which i was lucky enough to visit about five years ago. the street girls sign was a housewarming gift from a good friend when i bought my loft. we shared an apartment at one time, and she knew how much i loved it, so she very generously donated it to me. the hammerpress poster (bottom) was a gift from several of my girlfriends when i got married, and i cherish it dearly.

* nope, i did not style this space for you. you get it like it really looks. lo siento.

Great Lake Story: Chapter Two

Chapter Two of this year's Great Lake Story is out in Michigan Blue Magazine's fall issue! Joan and Scott Willet's journey to The Fairways at Harbor Shores continues as we hear a little more about the location and their possible new home, designed by Visbeen Associates, built by Falcon Custom Homes with interiors by Gallery Interiors.

If you missed Chapter One, click here to catch up on how Joan and Scott's journey began.

For ease of reading, click here to view the full article.

guest posting || small shop

good morning, party people! i slept half of the weekend, just like i said i would, and i'm feeling fully rested and back in action. however, i am without an I Am post. a girl can only do so much. promise those will be back next week.

in the meantime, i have a very fashionable guest post for you this morning. when erika of small shop asked me to stand in for her during her relaxing birthday week off, i was flattered beyond belief. i think so much of erika's style, taste and talent. combine that with shopbop's formal collection falling into my inbox, and you have one inspired blogger (that's me). i would love for you to hop over and see what i picked out for her to try on for her upcoming celebration-worthy days!

if you need some extra prompting (shame on you!), i couldn't help but put an extra look together featuring the most amazing convertible dresses you ever did see. i know i've come across these babies before, but their versatility is really speaking to me now. has anyone tried these two birds dresses? verdict? because i'm considering one in every color . . .

two birds convertible dress  ||  christian louboutin clutch  ||  j.crew bracelet  ||  lulu frost drop earrings  ||  jimmy choo suede pumps

okay, now go check out my looks for erika!

a party for me, myself and i

photo via pia ulin photography

this is where i'll be this weekend if anyone needs me.

except no one is actually allowed to interrupt the slumber that is about to ensue.

this girl is tired, and i cut people for lesser offenses.