frightfully eye opening

I'm a last-minute costume kind of gal and this year is no exception {I decided last week}. I'm not giving away my look, so you'll have to wait for photos next week.

But I will share a teaser - I'm incorporating these into my costume:

Who are you transforming into this Halloween?

Have a safe weekend, lovelies!

grazie, merci, danke!

I stopped by the bookstore on my way home from work the other night, just wandering around, and I stumbled upon the cutest selection of thank you cards.

I feel like I should send one to Friday, for finally rolling around!

~by graphique du france~

~found on roadside scholar~

~by jane hancock papers~

table for one, please

Two days after Mark asked me to marry him, he was off for a contract gig in Virginia and I have been alone ever since.

In honor of my semi-independence, I've compiled list of things to do when you're separated from your significant other for an extended period of time.

Hog the TV

Find a hobby

Learn more about yourself

Learn how to fix your car / house

Spend quality time with your family

Get rid of bugs {or in my case, scorpions} on your own

Spend oodles of time with your girlfriends

Redecorate your house

Volunteer your time

Hit the gym

But no matter what we do to entertain ourselves, Mark and I still miss each other terribly. We talk every day {thank goodness for unlimited minutes and texts, and bless you, inventors of Skype} and send each other care packages. He's scheduled to come home just after my birthday, which is the only present I could really ask for.

smitten kitten | anthropologie

I am completely obsessed with Anthropologie. I love everything about the store. They have the most amazing clothing and everything is styled with a touch of feminine whimsy - modern vintage, if you will. There's a location that's dangerously close to work and {I'm only slightly embarrassed to say} that the girls who work there know me by name.

Do you know what else fuels my obsession? Man Shops Globe. It's a series on the Sundance Channel that follows Keith Johnson, Anthropologie's buyer-at-large, as he travels the world in search of unique and inspiring peices to sell at and style Anthropologie stores. My favorites include Paris {of course} and Italy. Check it out for yourself on Wednesdays.

a little something extra : if you sign up for Anthropologie's free anthro card, they send you a little present for your birthday. My birthday is next month, so I'm looking forward to receiving a card with a special discount in the mail!

*images via here, here, here and here

adding sparkle to the spooky

I haven't decorated for Halloween since I was a little girl, but this year, I was inspired by these amazing sparkle skulls I found at Z Gallerie - perfect for the TV stand.

On one of my recent {frequent} trips to Target, I found a mini sparkle skull, perfect for the coffee table.

And these fun throw pillows.

And when Halloween is over, I even have a few pumpkins ready to spice the house up for fall, like this one.

outfitted | backyard bbq

I love a good backyard get-together. String up some bistro lights, cook something yummy on the grill, enjoy beers, wine or something equally as tasty with your nearest and dearest - it's pure perfection. So when Stacey asked me to create a look for a bbq she is attending at her aunt's house in Southern California, I was so excited.

It's casual and cool, comfy with a little bit of sparkle (you know, to play off the mood lighting).

Click for shopping info on Stacey's Backyard BBQ look.

And don't forget, if you have an upcoming event and are looking for some outfit inspiration, drop me a line at modernlovely@hotmail.com or leave me a comment with your event, location and time of year. I'd love to put something together for your fete.

a few of my favorite things

The long week is over, lovelies! Time to think lovely thoughts - and here are a few of my favorite things.

The falafel burger from Green

Being goofy with Mark

Rainy skies in the desert punctuated with a rainbow

Tell me your favorites!

outfitted | girls' night out

I love to help people create stunning ensembles, get them out of their style rut or jazz up their wardrobe with a  few key pieces.

But last weekend, I found I was the one who needed to get out of my style rut. I planned on meeting a couple of girlfriends for pizza and wine at our favorite downtown spot. I scoured my closet to find the perfect outfit and nothing was jumping out at me. I needed some inspiration.

And came up with this {via polyvore.com}

Do you want me to create a look for you? Let me know the occassion, location and where you live, and you could be feautred in a future Outfitted post! Leave me a comment or email me at modernlovely@hotmail.com.

Want to purchase any of these items? Dress: Catherine Malandrino, net-a-porter.com; Earrings: Suzanna Dai Copenhagen, maxandchloe.com; Clutch: Asos, asos.com; Sandals: Mui Mui Suede Platform, net-a-porter.com; Bangles: Amia, amritasingh.com.

smitten kitten | style icons

While my interior design aesthetic runs more toward a clean and modern look, my fashion aesthetic is definitely more pretty and feminine. I love ruffles, bows, appliqué, skirts and dresses, classic pieces that can be worn for years mixed with sweet, soft, sometimes trendy pieces (right now, I'm loving statement necklaces!).

I love everything about the looks of these women - my style icons.

Olivia Palermo
Sure, she's cast as the villian who drove Whitney and Erin crazy on The City, but love her or hate her, you cannot question her impecable style.  And did you know? She's also been rumored to have been the inspiration for Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf.

~via here~

~via here~

Gwyneth Paltrow
Another love her or loathe her kind of gal. I happen to love her - I mean, come on, she chronicled her travels through Spain with Mario Batali and Mark Bittman and even featured a restaurant from Almunecar, one of the cities I lived in while studying in Spain. She also has a fabulous lifestyle newsletter called Goop, which I highly recommend. 

~via here~

~via here~

Lauren Conrad
Can you tell that my old guilty pleasure may have been watching MTV on Tuesday nights? Lauren mixes laid-back California style with put-together pretty. And I love it.

~via here~

~via here~

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Saving the best for last. No list of style icons would be complete with without  reference to this woman. Style plus substance, she always looked flawless.

~via here~

~via here~

distinguished gentlemen

I have always had a thing for older men. Maybe it's because they are typically established in their careers. Maybe it's because they have a plethora of life experiences. Maybe it's because they age well. Whatever the reason, I appreciate a handsome, sometimes salt-and-pepper haired older man.

~john slattery~



~hugh jackman~



~anthony bourdain~



But my favorite older gentlemen is my fiance. Isn't he handsome?

~sipping a cocktail from a pineapple on a recent trip to hawaii~

a southern {arizona} fete

This weekend, I had the chance to head down to Tucson to celebrate Diamond Children's Medical Center at their inaugural gala. The Diamond Children's Medical Center is Southern Arizona's only children's health facility connected to an academic medical center and is a partnership between University Medical Center and UofA's Steele Children's Research Center.

The gala took place at JW Marriott Starr Pass, a vast resort and spa nestled in the Tucson Mountains, offering a sweeping, breathtaking view of the city.

~the city and the pool~

~the gorgeous mountain view from my room~

The gala itself was a wonderful event. It offered the requisite tear-jearking video montages mixed in with a rousing speech from Dr. Fayez Ghishan, the head of the medical center, and a delicious meal.



~that sparkly clutch got a lot of complements~

~gumball centerpiece and candy apple takeaways~

~my big fluffy bed {testing out a new camera setting. what do you think?}~

friday fantasy

I am so blessed in my life and I love where I'm at - struggles, triumphs and everything in between - but sometimes I think about the road I didn't take. You know, the alternate life I could be living if I'd chosen a different path.

So here's an ode to my dream life.

I would live here
{a few years ago, Christine and I spent my birthday in my favorite city and when we were walking to Mama's for breakfast, we passed this building. I told her I would live here one day}

~chestnut in north beach~

~an interior that is both modern and lovely~

I would brunch here with my dear friend Mari and her gorgeous baby girl

~mama's is delish~

I would row in these with this group

~pacific rowing club's boathouse~

I would ride around on this

~a sunny cruiser : nirve lahaina~

I would practice yoga here

~international orange. named after the color of paint used on the golden gate bridge~

Have a wonderful, dreamy weekend, lovelies! Make sure you take every opportunity afforded to you!

darkly dreaming...

I have a soft spot for a serial killer. It's true. He's murdered countless people; his family has, because of him, experiences tradegies like attempted murder, kidnapping, homicide. Only his father and his victims know the truth...

Ok, maybe millions of people know the truth.

Are you as obsessed with Dexter as I am? My best friend and her husband introduced me to Dexter over the summer and it was love at first sight. I quickly gobbled up the first four seasons - just in time for the season five premiere.

Don't have Showtime? Catch up with Dexter on Netflix; it's so worth it. And if you want to know where Dexter got his start, the series is based on novels by Jeff Lindsay.

* those awesome dexter season one and season two posters are the work of mattsoncreative.com

smitten kitten | scarves

After a brief reprieve, Arizona is again experiencing high temperatures. And while I'm grateful they are {just barely} under 100 degrees - I'm hoping it's just one last blast before gorgeous weather sets in.

In preparation, I've been digging out my collection of scarves. I swear, I have more cold-weather clothes than anyone living in the desert truly needs.

Lightweight, heavy and thick, cashmere, silk, cotton, wool - what's your favorite?

~i'm dying for one of these from warm me up on etsy~

~mark bought me this scarf in cream when we first started dating~

~a lovely piece from anthro~

~doesn't she look so cute and cozy~