Sous la pluie (in the rain)...

This morning I woke up, put my hair in a low messy bun with a French braid framing my face, put a scarf around my neck, walked to school in the rain listening to the Amelie soundtrack, and pretended I was actually walking through Paris...

Something about the rain and brisk days like today make me long to be in the city of light, perhaps because of this photograph...

(photo via Math_ from flickr)

European men know best...

I love this promo for J. Crew and wish more men in the U.S. dressed like this.

Too many guys dress shabby and over casually, when really, all they need is a little wardrobe makeover and voila! they could be come pretty good looking guys.

Sometimes (ok, often) I just want to move to Switzerland like Signorina Svizzera. Let me just say: the men there know what they are doing!!! I've never seen so many beautiful males in my life! A good portion of their attractiveness, I believe, comes from the way they dress...

Dream Room

In my dreams, I sleep in a room like this...

Under this bedding...

On this canopy bed frame...

And in the morning, I pull out my designer clothes from this armoire...

And I step off my beautiful hardwood flooring onto this rug...

While these curtains wave in the warm breeze coming from the open windows...

(all via anthropologie. surprised?)

You can feel it in the air...

I wish I had someone special to take a stroll with where this photo was taken...

Nevertheless, happy first day of Autumn, my friends!

(photo via Le Love)

Jewels of India

I have always found Middle Eastern and Indian art and architecture to be incredibly beautiful and interesting. I love their use of jewel-toned colors, the intricacy of their mosaics and designs, and the unique structural elements (the arches, pillars and moldings).

How could you live in rooms like these and not feel like a Mughal princess?! So beautiful...

I love the archway and the mosaics

More beautiful arches, this time scalloped

Beautiful use of light


Peaceful

Love these headboards

I love the gemstone colors against the stark white on the left

(all photos via An Indian Summer - such a beautiful blog!)

Perfection

I would never really call myself a big sports girl, but when tennis Grand Slams are going, I become a fanatic. These past few weeks I have been glued to the TV, and unfortunately homework and sleep have taken a back seat.

I've seen some amazing tennis this Grand Slam, but this shot is perhaps the very best I've seen this entire year. For those of you who know anything about tennis, you probably won't be very surprised to hear that this shot was made by Swissman Roger Federer, who sports commentators and players alike are now calling the best player in the history of the sport.

Watch this, it's crazy!

PS - Isn't he cute?

Favorite things Friday...

This week, these have been a few of my favorite things...

• Nivea chapstick
• The sound of rain against your window as you fall asleep
• Long, cultured conversations with complete strangers
• New crushes
• Watching the U.S. Open (tennis) all day, all week
• Stepping on the scale to find out you've lost 5 pounds without even trying
• Finishing a painting
• The smell of D&G Light Blue perfume
• Frozen yogurt runs with roommates
  

Have a beautiful weekend!

(painting by Joan DaGradi)