Decor: Giant Key

I adore this house tour recently posted over on The Design Files. My favorite part of the home? Why, the giant key of course! You must check out the full home tour here. It's worth the click, I promise. 

Interiors: Fall palette for the bedroom

A warm and soothing color palette for the the bedroom. Perfect for the fall. Inspired by this blogger's photograph.

images: 1) late afternoon 2) armelle harbib 3) aura by tracie ellis 4) apartment therapy 4) think decor 5) jordi canosa

Industry Style, Dressing for Work

Ruche's latest lookbook, The Industry: A Professional Fall Wardrobe, couldn't have come at a better time seeing as how my mind is on dressing for work this week. 

My favorite pieces from the lookbook:

1) andrassey avonlea chrochet blouse $43.99 2) annaleigh pleated skirt $36.99 3) palais royal scarlet peep toe heels $34.99 4)  leonella pendant ring $9.99 5) merry mint bow top $35.99 6) changing seasons corduroy pants $38.99

Check out all of Ruche's affordable options here. 

Art: Ping Zhu

Various portraits by illustrator Ping Zhu. The first illustration initially caught my attention but as I dug a little further, I realized Ping's handle on all sorts of subjects is truly amazing (love these tigers). Check out Ping Zhu's website and shop. 

Shopping: Interview Time

first row: pinstripe ponte dress $158; glowing grids full skirt dress $79.50; herringbone sheath dress $29.99 second row: pussy bow contrast shirt $70; asos pussybow blouse $54.89 third row: ruffled dot blouse $79.50; posh professional ruffle skirt $35.99 fourth row: scuba elongated pencil skirt $69.50; pencil skirt in double surge wool $120

first row:  h&m bag $24.95; zip base handheld bag $54.98 second row: seychelles code pump $49.47;  floris color block lady bag $126.24 third row: kimchi blue linen double buckle heel $59; NW Rocha Pumps $79 fourth row: perceived reader glasses $15;  pearl street drop earrings $68;  fifth row: oyster pearl sterling silver earrings $41; refined leather belt $48 sixth row: hinged belt $48; all wrapped up pearls short necklace $128

Happy Monday! I'm preparing for a couple of interviews this week so I have dressed-to-impress interview kind of clothing on my mind. Aside from three semi-splurge items, the items above are under $100. I'm most comfortable in dresses and skirts and a suit is not currently an option so I'm trying to make do with budget friendly pieces that I'm hoping I'll feel confident in.  I'm actually going to be wearing a couple of these items to my own interview so let's hope I've planned well.
Do you have a go-to outfit you like to wear for interviews? Perhaps a lucky scarf or strand of pearls?

Happy Weekend

Moving illustration by the wonderfully talented, Lilli Carre

It's the weekend! Do a little dance, make a little love. Whatever you do, make it a good one. xoxo

Art: Sophie Blackall

Sophie Blackall is Brooklyn based Australian artist who has illustrated numerous children's books. Prints are available in her Etsy shop ($40). You can also find more of her work on her blog or website. I'd love to have one of her whimsical prints on my wall, my favorite being this one. Endearing work, isn't it?

Interiors: Nice Art

The elusive art wall: thoughtful, balanced, rich. Full of light and color and texture and life. Easier said then done, no doubt about it. 

if you like interiors, you'll love D&OC II. Fresh interiors are posted every day!

images: 1) via mochatini 2) D&OC II (source anyone?) 3) lauraheathercarol 4)yatzer 5) decor8

Decor: Nicely Neutral

 teramo curtain panel $79.95-99.95 via crate&barrel / simplehuman® bamboo frame dish rack $79.95 via crate&barrel / alvine rand rug $179 via ikea / unison sailor square pillow $48 via 2modern / ohay pillow case $40 via fine little shop / formosa white tray table $49.95 via CB2 / scribble hanging planter $58 via branch

Every. Single. One. of these items is on my wish list. I'm more attracted to neutrals than ever because our home is seeking a balance I've long ignored. I love color which we have on the walls aplenty and I adore pattern, which we also have in abundance so I'm hoping to bring some balance to the space and soon. 

Paper Goods: Tiny Prints

Tiny Prints is a unique paper goods shop in that gives a customer personalization over wording, design, and shipping. I recently had the opportunity to pick some cards of my very own and here's what I chose:

cards c/o Tiny prints. photographed by D&OC

My favorite design is the sweet babushka card that I personalized to say "hello friend." Love it.

Tiny prints also has a huge selection of Christmas, holiday, and New Year's cards. I'm thinking about getting some personalized with Bella and Kya's furry faces. I always say we're going to send out personalized cards, but I never do. Maybe this will be the year! Check out the full selection here. 

Tiny Prints is a sponsor of D&OC. If you'd like to sponsor the blog, please email me at downandoutchic@gmail.com.

Leather Rings (by boe)

By Boe carries a number of leather and metal combination rings in a wide variety of gorgeous shades. The leather rings range from $16-$53 and with each purchase, by boe donates 5% of the proceeds to Women for Women. The leather reminder bow ring is definitely going on my wish list. See a style you like?

Vintage: Navy & White (Nautical Love)

1) 80's blue and white knit sailor top $35 via flour

2) Navy Striped Dress $46 via the cha cha girls

3) Nautical sailor blouse $28 via smoking saints

Loving these nautical vintage pieces in navy and white. I'll take all of the above please. 

Speaking of cute clothes, the winner of the Shabby Apple dress giveaway is #111, shala_darkstone! 

A trip to the flea market

A little disheveled, a little wrinkled, we made our way to the local flea market on Sunday morning.

Fresh food, giant fake ice cream cones, dogs in strollers, and a plethora of junk and treasure. What more could one ask for out of a Sunday morning stroll?

We give the Raleigh flea market two thumbs up and hope to go back and purchase a few things (handmade leather belts, I'm talking to you). I am a little sad we didn't see any taxidermy squirrel soldiers, but maybe next time. How was your weekend? 

Great Hair + Happy Weekend

top knot with pom poms (found via miss moss tumblr)

Are you still rocking the top knot? I know I am and I'm loving this little edition of a bright pom pom. Aside from dealing with my long hair in hot weather, B and I have had an interesting week settling into our new home. We've gone from excited, to worried, to discouraged, to excited, to doubtful, to restless, to excited and the cycle goes on and on. We knew we took a chance moving to a new place sans jobs and we prepared as much as we could, but honestly, I'm not sure anything could have prepared us fully for this little adventure. I'm still thinking of it as an adventure, by the way, because who knows where we'll land when it's all said and done? That's life for you. One big adventure.  

Do you have any fun plans this weekend? Besides a trip to the flea market, I think it'll be pretty low key for us. Hope yours is great! xo

p.s. don't forget to enter the Shabby Apple giveaway where you could win any dress of your choice!

6 things

1) the cooper necklace $45 by trees with knees

2) green patterned nylon dress $48 via my love dove 

3) card poor thing $4.35 by kim's little monsters

4) vintage whiskey oxfords $51via the bag basement

5) herringbone plate $60 by forest clearing

6) sugar body scrub bloom $10 by little batch botanicals

Interiors: Beachy Cool

House Beautiful was the only magazine that that miraculously found its way to my new home in Raleigh thanks to the forwarding power of the post office. I'm thankful it did too because I adore the 60's style beach house featured in the Sept 2011 issue. The aqua, yellow and peach hues are invigorating yet clean. Perfect spot to relax after a dip in the ocean, don't you think? 

Gift Giving: Camera Cookies

camera gift box $42; blue diana $5; bird camera $5

If these camera cookies by Manjar aren't enough of a gift for your photography loving friend, you can actually get photos printed on edible cookies to go along with your gift!

Edible printing. Who knew?! 

images: manjar (found via oh joy!)

Around the House

Cameras + Books = two of my favorite things.

An old camera case, given to us by B's grandmother.

Remember this DIY project from forever ago? 

We decided to hang the fabric pieces over our new/old bed. We'll probably re-do the bedframe, but for now, we like how beat up it is.

A little self portrait action.

A little dog portrait action.

Our new home is slowly begin to feel like our space. There are so many things we'd like to do and my wish list for the space feels never ending, but until we've found gainful employment, we're going to make do with what we have. Being forced to not buy anything new (this includes flea market and vintage finds) reminds me that what we already have is enough. Sometimes it takes a fresh perspective or a fresh coat of paint to see an item in a new way. Other times it take a healthy dose of gratitude and a spoonful of humility to make you realize that everything you need is already in front of you.