Friday, June 29, 2012

happy friday


My weekend is going to be busy but great. I have a couple pieces to finish, friends to see, baby showers to attend and family to see.

Have a spectacular weekend, people!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

day of celebrating


The thing I love about birthdays is celebrating with the people and friends I haven't seen in a while. (Well, I'm pretty partial to cake and ice cream too.) But my birthday is tomorrow and I'm excited to go to a mexican dinner and just relax.

Whether or not, it's your birthday (and if it is, Happy Birthday!) take the next couple days to sit around or dance around and enjoy the company of those around you.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

more coffee


Meg, my sister, has really ultra-modern taste. The way I love mixing interesting colors and patterns, she loves black-on-black.

However, there are many many things we have in common. Starbucks is at the top of the list. When she asked me to create a painting for her room, she requested two things - that it involved a Starbucks cup and that it was in black-and-white. I'm more than happy to do some "research".

Monday, June 25, 2012

summer accessories



My summer clothes can get really boring, really quick. The same shorts, with the same tops, with the same sandals. Sure I love to mismatch (or not match at all), but by July I need some variety.

Have you ever heard of the company {ban.do}? Their accessories are quirky and fun. These three things have been in my cart forever, and with my next pay day - I'm finally taking the plunge!

Friday, June 22, 2012

let's go to the beach! beach!



I'm house sitting for the next week about a minute away from one of the most beautiful parks in the area. I'm leaving work early today so I can get out and enjoy the weather. I suggest you do the same :)

Have a great weekend, guys!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

a sunny afternoon

There is an area where I live that I feel like people forget about but it's my favorite. It's really quiet and the perfect place to walk around for an hour on a Saturday afternoon. Such a hidden gem.







P.S. Have you guys "liked" {my facebook page} yet? I'm going to be posting all of the custom made work there and keep my blog to more inspiration type stuff. Be sure to check it out if you want to keep updated!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

red floor



I'm in love with a painted red floor, covered in neutral rugs. Add that to the endless lists of things I would love to have one day. {image source}

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

making macarons | Jeff Snow Photography



A long time ago, Sara Snow and I discovered our shared, not-so-secret, obsession with french macarons. I think her fascination comes from the intricate flavors and technique. Mine, however, comes from all the cute fashion girls that eat them.

It's been about a five year love affair for me, and finally Sara came over one night to show me how to make them. Thankfully, her talented husband (and my friend) Jeff Snow, of {Jeff Snow Photography} was there to snap a few pictures.



It helps for one person to stir in the ingredients while another one pours.



Granulating the sugar assures for a better meringue-like texture.





Follow the directions carefully! Precision is the key to making a good macaron.



Things could get a little messy.



Dispensing the batter using a plastic bag makes controlling the flow and shape a lot easier.






Making macarons are time-consuming and a bit stressful - but the results are always worth the effort.

De-fricking-licious.

Monday, June 18, 2012

you don't have to be cool

 

"You do not have to be cool 
You don't have to be slender, be quick, or be silent 
You don't have to be loud 
You don't have to be seperate or be edgy 
You don't have to hold on 
You don't have to agree 
You don't have to cover up and you don't have to remember 
You don't have to be better 
You don't have to grasp and you don't have to prepare 
You don't have to look away 
You don't have to have the answer 
You do not have to be cool." 

(Author unknown) 

Friday, June 15, 2012

friday favorite | Branding


I don't fancy myself a graphic designer, so coming up with a logo has proven to be quite a challenge. I wanted something colorful but not childish, fun but still sophisticated.

I came up with this design and I'm really happy with it. I love the modern & playful feel. I used neon pink duck tape to brand paintings I had wrapped with simple brown paper. What do you think?

Thursday, June 14, 2012

thursday is a fun day


 {girl} | {bunny}

This post is just because I've saved these two images on my desktop for the last two weeks - trying to find something to do with them. Turns out the have a lot in common - they're both cute!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

style | Going Out

It's a rare occasion nowadays when I pull an outfit together that doesn't have paint on it or isn't from the heap of laundry on my bedroom floor. I've been busy (which is good for business, but bad for my overall appearance).

When I was in Chicago a couple of weeks ago, I had no choice but to class it up a bit. Here are the results

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

coffee cup



Sometimes, I find inspiration in the strangest of places. For instance - the bottom of my coffee cup.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Scott Wohlfeill Designs



My friend, Scott is one of those people that designs something that always leaves me scratching my head, thinking "How did he do that?".

I asked him to design a concert poster for my boyfriend for his birthday, and the results were so great that I just had to have one for myself. I wanted something vintage-inspired but still using a modern band, so I picked one of my favorites (She & Him) and let Scott take over in terms of design.

As you can see, he picked up on the vibe I was after, adding some of my favorite colors (and my birthday) in order to make it super personal.

I highly suggest you visit {Scott Wohlfeill Designs} to check out more of his work, and "Like" him on {his facebook page} if you are interested in having a custom-made concert poster of your own!

Friday, June 8, 2012

friday favorite | The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies


My sister, Katie, is very adventurous when it comes to trying new recipes. She brought these cookies to a family birthday party recently - and these little cookies outshined the delicious cake, the ice cream, even the alcohol!

 They take 48 hours to make, but trust me - there really are the BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES ... ever.

{photo and recipe credit: Cupcakes & Cashmere}

Thursday, June 7, 2012

hot tea


 {"hot tea"

 
{one} {two} {three}

I've been getting Earl Grey Tea Lattes (and Green Tea Lattes) all week during my lunch break. It's been a nice reprieve from the jolt of espresso my system gets at least once a day.

Although the weather has turned warm, I am vowing to drink more tea. Using the color palette of tea, I found some great summer dresses with a perfect mix of  comfort and sophistication. (Perfect for a tea party, eh?)

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

feeling blue


How great do these colors look together? I snapped this shot at the lake by my house while I was going for a run. Sometime the simplest ideas give the most inspiration.

Monday, June 4, 2012

inspiration | The Olsen Twins



I feel like I've done a pretty good job at hiding my obsession with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen on this blog. Those of you who know me very well (or have talked to me for more than 10 minutes) know about this fascination all too well.

I've loved the Olsen Twins for a very very long time. I love that you can't tell if that t-shirt they are wearing costs $2 or a million dollars. I love that they dated artists and hung around with such an interesting and eclectic group of people. I love that they keep pushing the boundaries of fashion and creativity as a whole.

What inspires me most about them is not only their incredible work ethic, but the originality and fearlessness in the way that they lead their lives. The quotes they have said I have copied into so many notebooks and journals, they could write a novel at this point.

They are avant garde human beings - always keeping my attention, always making me wonder, "Where are they going next?"

I've said before and I'll keep saying it - From our generation, the Olsens are the ones to watch and apparently the CDFA thinks so too (as of last night!).

our trip to chicago


My sisters and I got the opportunity to do something we never do - get out of town! Luckily, our hometown is just a easy car ride to Chicago - a city full of great shopping, even better food, and plenty of places to relax, hang out, and enjoy the company of family and friends.





Like I mentioned above we did a lot of shopping - the H&M by the Water Tower is amazing! And the Tory Burch store is totally worth the trip just to see the 14-caret gold plated ceilings! I got a pair of shoes there that I've had my eye on for a while now (on sale, of course!).



We went to brunch at Meli's on Saturday and Dunlay's on Clark on Sunday and both were delish.

Friday night, Katie made us reservations at RPM, Guiliana and Bill Rancic's new restaurant. Sadly, there were not there.. which is clearly why we went there in the first place. We also went to the Paris Club which I highly recommend if you ever find yourself in Chicago.



We went to Molly's Cupcakes in Lincoln Park before we left to get some cupcakes for the ride home. Pretty much the greatest idea ever.

It was a great trip!

Friday, June 1, 2012

Molly Alone on Etsy


After months and months of going back-and-forth, I've finally decided to put some of my work up on Etsy!

{Click Here} to see the eight paintings I have for sale as of right now, but new ones will be going up all the time!

It's been a really nerve-racking and stressful process, putting out the pieces I create, and choosing the ones to share (and the ones best not to share) but I hope you like what you see!

Any and all feedback would be much appreciated!

I'm off to Chicago! Have a good weekend everyone!