laura marling

Laura Marling, via Ribbon Music

These past few months, I've been on a total Laura Marling kick. Her gritty, folky sound (the hipsters call it "nu-folk") is both captivating and pure. And she's such a natural talent - her debut album, Alas, I Cannot Swim, was released in 2008 when she was only 18. Which proves some people are just born with it. Right? I mean, what were you doing when you were 18?

Laura Marling is associated with Marcus Mumford in that he used to be her drummer and back-up vocals, and they dated for a couple of years (jealous). Take a listen and add her to your playlist. I recommend I Speak Because I Can, one of those few albums that gets you from beginning to end.

If you can't view the above on your mobile device, see the Devil's Spoke video here.

Laura Marling's new album, Once I Was An Eagle, officially hits May 28. And she just started a mini, North American spring tour. I'm praying to the nu-folk gods that she makes her way to Dallas.

baby lucas

All photos by Frances Moulin. Editing by Monsieur Moulin.

My friend David and I have been friends for more than 20 years. We grew up on the same street and spent a good majority of our childhoods together. So when he told us he and his wife Ashley were pregnant, it was an indescribable moment. And now they have a beautiful baby boy named Lucas. 

(Side note: They're high school sweethearts. Ridiculously cute, I know. Our other best friends are also high school sweethearts. And so are my sister and her husband. Is that uncommon?) 

Random thoughts aside, when David and Ashley asked me, a dabbling photographer, to take his baby pictures, it was an honor, indeed.  Here are just a few pics from our photo shoot.

He's such a cool baby - laid back and observant. The only time he cried was when they did an outfit change and he got cold. Or perhaps he's just modest.

paper flowers

In preparation for warm, spring weather, and in hopes that I can put up my long sleeves for good this season, I give you an inspiring collection of paper flowers across the web. And be sure to check out the tutorials from Green Wedding Shoes and Ms. Stewart so you can attempt to bring spring into your own home or event. They say April showers bring May flowers, but lucky for you, allergies are not included with these beauties.

Flower Construction #24 by Anne Ten Donkelaar

Elaborate paper creations by husband and wife due Thuss + Farrell. Check out their new book Paper to Petal.

DIY paper rose, as seen on Green Wedding Shoes. Really beautiful tutorial/photo shoot.

Tissue paper cake by Livia Cetti, thegreenvase.com, as seen on Martha Stewart. For a helpful, step-by-step paper flower how-to by flower type, see Martha's "How to Make Crepe Paper Flowers" tutorial. 

Handmade paper flowers by Frances & Francis on Etsy. Loves. 

bunny cake

What shall we name him? Monsieur Lapin? 

You know those little things that remind you of your childhood and family back during the days when life was just a bit simpler? Well, one of those little things for me is bunny cake. Every year on Easter my mother would make a bunny cake. Rain or shine. Vacation or not. We had a bunny cake. So this year, as I was hosting Easter brunch for the family, I decided to take on the challenge.

I used Funfetti cake mix (blasphemous for someone like me, who always bakes from scratch, but when you're cooking for eleven people, you make a few sacrifices). All you do is simply bake the cake in two round pans, cut the second into two ears and bow tie, arrange your bunny on a baking sheet, frost, cover in coconut (make sure to dye some pink and blue for the ears and bow tie), and decorate with candy. And voila - bunny cake.

BTW, did you know they have Starburst jelly beans in favorite reds? As in only reds. Genius. And super dangerous. I used one for the bunny nose, which leaves the rest of them to taunt me in the candy bowl.

Just for fun, here's a picture of the late Vincent Vega, my sweet bunny (or Bumby, as my nephew used to say).

Hoppy Easter, ya'll. xoxo

rustic winter wonderland party

One of the things I love about being an Etsy shop owner is working with such creative and inspiring buyers/party planning aficionados. One such person is Emily from LA who threw her daughter the most amazing and absolutely stunning first birthday parties ever. And she asked me to make her German glass glitter A that adorned their winter white wreath.

Rustic Shabby Winter Wonderland party as seen on Kara's Party Ideas

What's even better, Emily, a "retired" interior architect who spends her time these days planning events and designing homes and invitations, threw such an amazingly gorgeous event that it was featured on Kara's Party Ideas (not an easy feat, folks). So congrats, Emily. And mom - what the heck? Pretty sure my first birthday party included a party hat, homemade chocolate cake and wooden red high chair. A little burlap and glitter wouldn't have hurt...

See more of this lovely party at Kara's Party Ideas. Photos by Emily K Paperie.