Living For Pretty

runway reimagined with value village

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 02:33:00 +0000

If you know me at all, you know that some of my favorite haunts are thrift stores. So naturally when I hear of an event that elevates and shines a light on the amazingness of thrifted fashion, I'm there.

In Downtown Seattle’s Axis, Value Village laid out a runway to feature designers and stylists in collaboration with Eco Fashion Week. Creatives showed what you can do with recycled clothes, from reassembling and reimaginging to styling in new ways. The result was a ‘wow’ factor. I’m an avid thrift store junkie, and this even inspired me to take my game to a new level.

In addition to the unique items and affordable prices, you really do something great when you shop second-hand. Value Village reports that as the largest textile recyclers in the world, they are responsible for keeping more than 650 million pounds of goods from reaching landfills annually. Now that’s pretty cool!

gift guide: for the hostess

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 15:17:00 +0000

Tis the season for parties. As a girl who just can't help but put on parties, I can say they are a ton of fun but a lot of work! Cleaning, cooking, decorating then plus pre-party primping? It's a lot! While hostess gifts should never be expected, I think a small gift is the sweetest gesture and it will ensure you're invited back year after year. Here are some things I would be thrilled to receive (that tea towel says it all and is so cheap - I'd buy 10!)

Tea Towel | Dinner Diaries | Bottle Stopper | Cheese Knives | Blank Journals

Pedestal Dessert Tower | Plate Set

pantry renovation

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 20:45:00 +0000

I'm so excited to share our beadboard pantry, built from the ground up! It was a long process - we started the project in March (although it was a brain child for a year before then), and it is done, done, done. Not almost done, or just needs finishing touches. I mean done. And it feels good.

First, the pretty photos:

The Project:

One L-shaped, beadboard pantry. Size: 3'x4'

While small in appearance, this project was a beast. It had a lot of components that we faced straight on. We wired (this was a first), rewired, built studs, drywalled (not easy in a stairwell, people!), sanded that drywall, painted, put up beadboard, painted, cut shelves, painted said shelves, put up shelves, painted again, filled in nail holes and painted again. Oh and of course, then came the organizing, which let's face it, was what this whole project was about! I'm sure I'll rearrange and reorganize throughout the year - but for now, I'm so very happy with our pretty pantry.

The Process:

The ugly beginning: This space was used for a catch-all, including the dog's crate. A "temporary" barrier (that was up for more than a year) was in place to protect kiddos when they came over.

Already looking much better. Billy had to move the light fixture since the wall would have intersected with it where it was.

Now let's make something! Shopping for studs, with my stud.

Is that a pantry I see? I hope I don't have to drywall all those corners and edges....

Oh, I do? That's disappointing. But, what a nice door you have!

Even with drywall dust all over him, he still makes my heart pitter patter.

Now for the beadboard - the good stuff! We even repurposed some of our old picture railing for the corners. I love repurposed old materials for 'new' parts of the house, I feel like it blends everything together. The shelves become more narrow as they get higher to help with sight lines.

Now that this big project is checked off our list we can enjoy it and brainstorm more ways to put our DIY prowess to use. Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to share any pantry tips you have!

2015 holiday dresses

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 20:22:00 +0000

With so many parties and social engagements during the holidays I think it’s well worth it to buy a special dress to make your feel pretty all holiday long. To feel festive, you should look festive (and I’m not talking about ugly Christmas sweaters…) with a touch a bling, a swatch of red or green or a classic navy blue. Or go the super glitz route and recycle your Christmas look for New Years! With work parties, holiday dinners and events, you’ll get a lot of mileage out of it! Below are my picks for a festive holiday season.

spooky, black and white halloween party inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 14:30:00 +0000

Can you believe Halloween is almost here? You've seen my personal preference for black and white Halloween decorations - here's some of the pictures that inspired my decor and food for the party I threw last year. Unfortnatly I'm terrible at multi-tasking the blogger/photographer/and party planner that I am, so hope these help get your imagination going. Halloween parties are some of the most fun!

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wendy darling halloween costume

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 19:58:00 +0000

I am all about closet costumes, aka, costumes that could be sourced straight from your closet. But I like mine with a little twist - closet expansion costumes - ones that require the purchase of one piece that can be enjoyed year round - and I'm a sucker for pretty dresses. When I saw this blue ASOS dress, I knew it would be perfect for a Wendy Darling costume as well as weddings and events next summer. Now the only thing left to do is talk Billy into a Peter Pan or Captain Hook costume.....

Pst. Check out my vintage witch costume from last year!

Dress | Shoes | Ribbon | Bow

black and white halloween decorations

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 14:04:00 +0000

Halloween is not a holiday I've ever decorated for, but last year we thought we'd throw a spooky get-together and I loved how our house turned out. We decided to stick to black and white for decor, keeping it simple and classic, and totally spooky. This year we were way too busy to decorate the whole house, so here's last year's never before seen decorations!

I'm actually pretty bummed we passed the Halloween party baton to a friend this year, because I really enjoyed decorating this way. Every time I pass a cool candelabra or a potion-like bottle, I want to snap it up!

I didn't want to put a lot of money into it, and luckily we didn't have to wait long for Halloween decor to go on sale. I found that Joann's started putting merchandise on clearance (80% off!!) two weeks before Halloween to make room for Christmas merchandise. After raiding our local Dollar Store for spooky details like ravens and skeleton garlands, we printed out some spooky images on simple printer paper and spent less than $30 on all of this! Stay tuned to a budget-friendly Haloween decor round-up!

two years of a lifetime

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 22:31:00 +0000

I don't know if there are enough words to describe how much I love my husband, how I love him so completely, so deeply. How he teaches me patience and perspective. How we encourage each other and tell the other that it's okay to be afraid, take risks and want more. I selfishly love this time - when it's just me and him (and the dog). I know we'll look back at these few years and reminisce about the weekend projects, the adventures and the Sundays spent cuddling, when time was just something to fill. I can't help but ask for more years just like this - two years is a scratch on the surface, and I want more.

interior inspiration - floral focus

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 14:16:00 +0000

This apartment with clean white walls and a bright flower pop on the back wall has my heart. I love a little (or a lot) of floral in my life, and this apartment does it so right. While the apartment is uncluttered and clean, the floral splash captures your attention in a way you can’t help but love it. Sometimes you just have to do a little, in a big way.

andy warhol print | radio | white bistro set (alternate) |

images via Bolaget

ribbons, flowers and tulle, oh my!

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 15:00:00 +0000

This wedding is everything. Vintage, quirky, sweet, and includes lovebirds that met in grade school. Can you think of a better love story? This bride and I must be soul sisters. Because, this wedding is what my soul is made of, old, true romance, vintage charm, ribbons in the trees and flowers in the hair.

photography LydiaJane via Style Me Pretty

beadboard butler's pantry

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 14:30:00 +0000

We are in the finishing phase of our pantry - it is looking so pretty, I can't stand it. Billy framed the walls awhile ago, and it took some time to get the drywall up and wiring in. There are so many steps to drywalling - it takes forever. Plus, we haven't done a lot of wiring, but figured this would be a good project to introduce ourselves to it. And now, the finishing details.

I've drooled over photos of pantries with subway tile, but it seemed like a lot of work and I didn't think I could sway Billy on it. Instead, we've decided on beadboard paneling. The detail will add texture and charm, while fitting with the era of the house.

strawberry smoothies

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Thu, 28 May 2015 14:50:00 +0000

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s spring. The days are getting warmer and brighter, which means my morning breakfast wants to get fruitier and lighter. Smoothies are plain awesome, but I don’t need to tell you that. Smoothies are something I will make a ton of for a month or two, burn out and then re-discover a couple months later. Here’s a quick, fresh, and filling strawberry smoothie I blended up the other day that had me thinking “where have you been all my winter?!” (I’d also like to take this moment to apologize to Billy for all the racket in the morning. But also, not. Because those smoothies in the fridge don’t come from nowhere.)

Recipe:

1lb fresh strawberries
1 banana
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1 tray of ice cubes

nordstrom half yearly sale - pretty picks

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Wed, 20 May 2015 19:06:00 +0000

Here in Seattle, Nordstrom's two huge yearly sales are pretty much holidays. Shoppers create game plans, reading the catalog from cover to cover, figuring out their wish list and purchase priorities. The beautiful thing - since Nordstrom offers free shipping and free returns (LOVE this), you can avoid the crowds and shop with ease. Check out my top picks - the sale goes 'til May 31, 2015, so shop while you can!!!

ginger martinis and our Indian dinner party

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Mon, 04 May 2015 14:30:00 +0000

Since we've been having monthly mini dinner parties, I've been getting more adept at planning complete dinner menus, which of course, includes a drink component! Last Friday, we had some dear friends over for a dinner of Indian food. This cuisine is great because it is naturally vegetarian and meat eaters don't even notice the absence of meat. It can be made vegan without a flick of the eye either!

As many of you might know there is no traditional alcoholic drink to pair with Indian food, which had me scratching my head for a few days. But thinking of the flavors we use in cooking, I thought a ginger martini would be a natural addition!

Ginger Martini

1.5 oz ginger liqueur
1.5 oz gin
juice of half a lime
garnish with crystallized ginger
rim the glass with the excess sugar from the crystallized ginger.

For those of you wanting to host your own Indian dinner, here's what our menu consisted of...

Vegetable Samosas (from Trader Joes)
Vegetable Pakoras (also from Trader Joes)
Billy's Chana Masala
Raspberry Tort (also from trader joes)

As you can see, I like to mix a few homemade items (our masala and martini) with ready to go products. Trader Joe's is great for this! (and no they did not sponsor this post).

5 things i learned from my wedding day

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 14:14:00 +0000

Since I was one of the first in my friend group to get married, I often get called on for advice when a friend begins planning his or her wedding. Here are the top five things I tell my friends again and again. As advice goes, you don't always have to agree with it or take it, but these are my personal lessons learned.

1. It's not about you.

You might think a wedding is for the bride and groom, but you'd be wrong. Just like a funeral isn't for the deceased, it's for the grieving. This is for those celebrating, those uniting because of the two of you. This may be the only time in your life where your entire family is together. In the future it will be about what holiday is spent at what in-law's - enjoy being with everyone you love in one place.

2. Hire a day of planner.

I can't recommend this enough. I've been to a lot of weddings of DIY brides, where they plan to do everything themselves and hang their families with to-do lists. There is nothing wrong with this, unless it interferes with their enjoyment of the wedding day itself.

Sure, have your dad build you a dance floor, have your aunt do your alterations, emboss the hell out of those invites, but do not have Cousin Shirley pass out toasting drinks. If she's important enough to be there, she's important enough to toast right along with everyone else. And you know all those decorations you made by hand and put up? Someone has to take those down. The same people who got up at the crack of dawn to help put them up. The people who care about you the most are the ones willing to put in the work. Don't let them. These people deserve to be 100% present on your wedding day, let someone else carry the burden of the details and the schedule.

3. You're not wearing this dress for one day

You're wearing it for the rest of your life. If you're spending any money on photos, I bet it's because you're going to be printing these off, gifting them to friends and hanging them in your home. This dress will be on your walls, your kids will ask to see them, your aunt will pull them out when her friends come over. These pictures will immortalize your gown and you'll be haunted by it. Pick a damn good one.

4. Take pictures of your dress

When shopping take photos of you wearing the dress before you decide. You may love the idea of one, but the subtle lace might not show up in pictures and instead be a little blah. I was split between two dresses but when looking at cell phone photos, there was a clear winner. Again, these photos will be around forever, so make sure it photographs just as pretty as you remember it.

5. Photos take longer than you think they will

Schedule a ton of time for photos - a ton. Also, write down in detail who you want your photos with, do this for your family photos and everyone else. I got a lot of group bridesmaid shots, but missed out on getting them one-on-one, this was a big bummer when I got them back (in defense, I didn't know I wanted this until after the fact). If you can manage, schedule a day after photo shoot with your husband, it makes it so you can spend all the time you want capturing great shots, with that handsome fella, in that gorgeous dress.

I'm sure I could come up with many many more do's and don't's, but I'll leave it with these five for now. Do you have any wedding advice you feel like you give over and over again? Please share!

(psst, if you're in the midst of planning your wedding, check Seattle BHLDN's wedding fair this Thursday, April 23, 2015 it's bound to give great ideas and serve as great eye candy!)

get the look: ikea rast hack

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 14:30:00 +0000

ikea rast dresser | knobs | paint

After searching high and low for affordable bedside table options we finally landed on this DIY version of the Ikea Rast drawers. It may not be the most original idea, but it is tried and true, and sure is a good one. The dimensions were spot on; the small dresser took advantage of the remaining space on the side of our bed and gave us extra storage all at the low, low price of $35.

There are many, many of these ikea hacks out there so this isn’t a new DIY, but I’d thought I’d share what went into ours and tips for success.

Tips:

Painting: Use oil based paint and make sure to let cure for a week or two. Don’t place anything heavy on it for about a month. The oil base paint will provide a harder surface that is less likely to be damaged by rings from forgotten about water glasses, etc.

Knobs: We got our knobs from Hobby Lobby, who has a fun selection. Be sure you go on a 50% week (knobs go on sale about every few weeks) and pick through for the goods ones. I found many with missing rhinestones- hold out for the best. If they don’t have as many as you need the store will give you a voucher to get the sale price on your next trip.

pantry planning

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 14:30:00 +0000

We have one very ugly spot in our house. When we rebuilt this portion of our house two years ago Billy and I disagreed on what we should do with the space. I wanted a pantry, and he wanted to keep it open and filled with airy, natural light. I let him have his way, knowing come around to the pantry idea soon enough, and my friends, that day has come!

The space is just under 3'x4' and will fit a small, walk-in, L-shaped pantry perfectly. Of course, it will be white and filled with glass jars brimming with flour, rice and sugar and will always be clean and organized (ha!).

The dream:

The Space: (you were warned, I said it was ugly)

We built the half wall for safety's sake when my brother + little kids stayed with us (which doubles the ugliness). You can see in my amateur sketch the location and depth of the shelves. The space will be tight, but 100% effective. Oh and it will be pretty.

Here’s what we have planned

Move the current light fixture
Frame the walls
Add in electrical outlets
Put up drywall (mud, tape, and sand it)
Install door (we found this narrow door at a local salvage store and are smitten)
Install beadboard
Calk and paint
Install shelves
Load with food and bask in its glory!

london calling - artist residence hotel

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 14:30:00 +0000

When I first stumbled upon Artist Residence - London, a boutique hotel, I immediately started daydreaming about a trip to London just to step into this space. The hotel’s name speaks to the aesthetics of the interior, in fact, it was co-designed with artists. The result is something of perfection. A sort of lived in, collected, but still clean and simple vibe.

I often joke with my friends and husband that Anthropologie is my happy place. If I could live in that store, I just might. I have the same feeling about this hotel, and not surprisingly they use many products from Anthropologie.

So, Artist Residence, you are officially on my bucket list of places to experience in my life. I look forward to meeting you. Until then, thank you for the lovely interiors and inspiration.

(images by Vanessa Jackman & Artist Residence)

spring look - ballerina style

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 14:30:00 +0000

We've had an unusually delightful end of winter. The cherry blossoms are already blooming and the sun shining. Out come the dresses and away go the sweaters and heavy jackets. The countdown to spring has begun! I'm tempted to say spring is my favorite, but truth be told, the changing of seasons is my favorite.

With that. Here is an outfit that I crave to throw on and run to the nearest farmers market. I must admit that I was slightly influenced by the new Cinderella movie. Guilty. But more so than that, my ballerina roots are always a strong influence. I hope you are celebrating the changing of seasons in your small ways.

Necklace: Pair with anything, any season, but the flowers make is especially appropriate for spring.

Sunglasses: I've had few pairs of 'expensive' sunglasses, and I have no idea where they ended up. Cheap, stylish, and in some ways, loseable sunglasses are my go-to. These are just a few dollars.

Market Bag: On the pricier end, but it is lovely, durable and shows Seattle spirit. A worthy splurge.

Shoes: These really put the 'ballet' into ballet flat.

Shirt: A graphic tee pairs with a tulle skirt perfectly. This tee speaks to the indulgent nature of weekends.

Essie: One can never go wrong with a pink mani, especially in spring.

Skirt: Can we talk about this skirt? I would be happy if a tulle skirt was the last thing I ever wore. It comes in a couple colors and I want to buy them all.

making time

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 23:58:00 +0000

quote via

Happy Monday. Can I just say life has been a little crazy? We are down a person at work, which means I've had to put in a little bit of extra time daily to get everything done. Then I come home to an empty house (save Zooey) since Billy is back on night shifts. It's been tiring, and a little depressing. I've felt like I haven't had the time or energy to do anything important. So here's to a creative, productive, happy week.

blushing - home decor with a touch of pink

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 15:25:00 +0000

With it being the month of love I thought it’d be fun to ‘think pink’ for the home! I love pops of pink in the interior, it makes a space instantly colorful, playful and feminine. On top of that, pink is a such a flattering color. When light bounces off it, it can give a soft light and rosy hue. Here are a few of my favorite spaces that do the hue justice.

The Design Co. / the office stylist / House Beautiful / Jeffer's Design Group / Apartment Therapy / Lonny / Elle Decoration UK, September '12 Issue / Live Love DIY / Target

Shop the Look......

our ikea bar cart

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 16:03:00 +0000

I've had my eye on this little minty-green cart from Ikea ever since it first premiered. During trips to Ikea to take in it's beautiful practicalness and unique, yet on-trend color. In the end it always felt like I didn't really need it, and thus shouldn't buy it. Thankfully, my mother-in-law got the tip this Christmas and I can now call it mine. (I suggest Pinterest board Christmas lists for everyone!)

I initially kind of needed it to store all my baking supplies on the cart and stash it in the pantry, but seeing as our pantry is non-existent at this point (that's our next project!), it is perfectly filling my bar-cart void. With our entertaining supplies so handy we fill the need to entertain, and a 5 o'clock cocktail is a rarity no more! I'm sure its styling will evolve in the coming months as I get used to our first bar cart, but here's our first attempt! (By the way, I think I have a stem-glass issue, this is only like a 1/5 of our collection, anyone else in the same boat? I think I have a problem.....)

mint cart, Ikea // cocktail shaker, ice bucket and pitcher from Threshold from T arget (no longer available) // chalkboard, DIY

bedroom update: styling nightstands

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:59:00 +0000

A long time ago I shared some photos of our bedroom. We had finished our headboard and the room was 'good enough' to take you all through, but still missing many finishing touches and a few essential items - like nightstands. Today I share with your our bedroom update, complete with good lighting (you're welcome) and our DIY Ikea Rast Nightstands.

I had searched tirelessly for nightstands that would maximize the space on either side of the bed. These fit like a glove and had the storage we were craving. They were also cheap, which meant that some money could be spent fixing them up and buying hardware.

Is the room still a work in project? Always. But it is finally a much prettier, happier and functional work in project. I hope you enjoy.

nightstands, ikea // lamp shades, target // headboard, project here // duvet cover, macys (old) // clock, vintage // fitzgerald print, etsy // lamps, vintage // candle, antrhopologie // curtain tie backs, urban outfitters // trinket dish, anthropologie (old) // brass tray, vintage // box, target (old)

budgets, messes and vegan diets

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 16:00:00 +0000

I feel like this year is the first year I've been truly inspired and refreshed by the turning of the calendar. Our house has been a wreck for weeks. Our house is small and the work on the kitchen floors meant a constant mess we had to live in. dust, tools, appliances in the dining room. We decorated for holidays and I think that this year we probably shouldn't have. Our home was constantly in flux, a temporary state of chaos that stretched into eternity. With the move-in and out of decor it added a lot to our stress list. But save for a few finishing touches our floor is done, holiday decor is stored for another year and we have finally stabilized. Whew! As much as I love the holidays, I have never been more happy to be back to normal life.

With the new year we've taken the chance to sit down, evaluate and make some changes.

We decided to go vegan again, at least for a few months. When we were on a vegan diet, we ate more at home, were more inspired to cook and didn't have to think too hard about what was 'good' and what was 'bad'. I'm excited to feel the energy, loose the pounds and lethargy.
Second, we have been lucky that we've been able to pay for Billy's flight education out of pocket thus far. But we never budgeted for it and just made it work; we've restructured our budget to add in an official aviation education line, I feel so much more confidant in the future now that there's a plan and goal in mind.

What changes are you making for the new year?

aviation themed 30th birthday

noreply@blogger.com (mandi brady) — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 15:40:00 +0000

I've spent the last six months or so planning my husband's surprise 30th birthday party. His birthday is a week before Christmas and some years it is difficult to find time to celebrate. We’ve actually had a few Christmas parties on his birthday since I’ve known him! Not this year.

Because he is about an inch away from getting his private pilots license I decided to make the theme aviation inspired with navy, blue and white. If you've ever looked for party inspiration online there is a ton for females and kids, but adult guy parties are something else. I found a lot of inspiration via weddings and kid's birthday parties (I guess kids want to grow up to be pilots?).

Sadly, between setting up, keeping it a surprise and socializing with 50 close friends, there was never a moment for me to take pictures - a true shame. So, as a consolation prize, here's some of the ideas we incorporated. Enjoy.

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