MIMI+MEG

VALENTINE'S GIVE & RECEIVE: HEIDI

2012-01-29T11:15:00.000-05:00

Writer, Heidi, of While My ~~Boyfriend~~ Husband & Baby Were Sleeping, shares her Valentine's Day wishlist with us today. I love her low key approach toward the holiday, and how does that wedding photo not make you laugh?!? Love it!

RECEIVE: 1. Fiddle Ring (Because I love to fiddle with my rings and I love the inscription.) / 2. Swagman Yakart Kayak Cart / 3. Camera Strap / 4. Reese's Cups (Forget Godiva chocolates, I'm obsessed with Reese's.)

See her gift ideas for her husband after the jump!

GIVE: 1. Laptop Messenger Bag / 2. Aveda Grooming Clay / 3. Spaceman T (A little something in honor of Joe's favorite front man.)/ 4. Apple TV (Despite my aversion to television, I know he really wants it.)

Photo of Heidi and Joe by Wendy Mitchell

SHOP TO KNOW: LEIGH VINER

2012-01-28T14:48:00.000-05:00

If you haven't heard of Denver artist, Leigh Viner, you might be living under a rock. She has a stunning shop on Etsy with her affordable prints, and has added some photography prints that I am quite fond of.

Above: Well Read — Photography Print

Below: Lanvin2 SS/10 — Fashion Illustration Art Print

Images via Leigh Viner

ALT SUMMIT: INFORMATION RE-CAP + PERMALINKS

2012-01-27T11:00:00.000-05:00

In my fuschia blouse at the Legal Concerns for Bloggers Roundtable // Photo by Justin Hackworth

Since there were so many panels at ALT, to glean the most information from all of the different panels, you can go through all of the blog posts about ALT Summit on their blog (I'm sure this post list will continue to grow over the next week). I didn't take tons of notes but here are some of the tidbits of information from the panels I attended after the jump.

Day 1 Keynote: Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan / Apartment Therapy, Deborah Needleman / EIC Wall Street Journal,
Pilar Guzman / EIC Martha Stewart Living // Photo by Justin Hackworth

The Business of Blogging // @ManMadeDIY @curbly @RetroRenovation @amiatEAD

1. Have a comment policy
2. Name your images something specific (makes them more searchable)
3. Set up a posting schedule & post at high reader times
4. Make an editorial calendar, by week, month and year (good for when you are trying to get advertising and sponsors
5. Make a Style Guide & Writing Guide
6. Have regularly-scheduled original content
7. Design your blog to the sizes on IAB.net for the main ad sizes (Sidebar of 300 in width is good!)
8. Have a Sponsorship/Media/Advertising Kit: get data from sites like Google Analytics and Quantcast
9. Show where the ads will go in your media kit
10. Talk about the direction of your site in your media kit

Building Relationships with Ad Networks and Sponsors // @erinloechner @SwayGroup @PracticalWed @saymediainc

1. Provide a service to your community
2. Know your brand and know your value
3. YOU go get your perfect sponsors
4. If you get approached by a company that doesn't seem to fit with your brand, see if you can come up with a creative way for a collaboration to work that is mutually beneficial
5. Define mutual objectives
6. Get everything in writing and be specific
7. After a collaboration, send an email with results
8. Don't make it about YOU, make it about THEM and THEIR brand
9. Make sure the brands you work with compliment your content

Kickstarting Your Next Project // @citysage @lisacongdon @yestohoboken @rena_tom

1. Separate a new project from what you already do day-to-day
2. You must be passionate and excited about it
3. It should have rules and/or be constrained to make it manageable
4. Share it on the Internet regularly
5. Do a project with someone else

Day 2 Keynote: Ben from Pinterest // Photo by Justin Hackworth

Legal Concerns for Bloggers

1. Ask for permission and always give credit
2. Have a Privacy Policy
3. Disclose sponsored posts and when you have received and item or compensation
4. Follow the FTC guidelines for bloggers
5. When reviewing something, you must be honest. You can't say you like it if you didn't.
6. Make sure to have contracts with sponsors and contributors. Be specific about what you expect from them and what they should expect from you.
7. Giveaways (this gets messy). This is one of the biggest concerns for bloggers! By doing giveaways you risk violating state laws. You must have official rules and language. Yes, you can still do them, but you need to look into the laws of your state and have it all in writing. NO, it doesn't matter if what you are giving away is YOUR PRODUCT, it's about the relationship between YOU and the PEOPLE that enter and how it is all handled. I'm not an expert and every state is different. Look into it.
*Update: I found this very specific blog post on Giveaways via Kirsten.
8. Sweepstakes are random winners, and a contest is based on skill. Refer to No. 7. Still need legal wording and must know the laws of your state.
9. Make sure to communicate in detail with everyone you work with
10. Trademarking is important if you have something to trademark. If you register something you will have more protection with the federal government.

Growing a Readership // @maggie @jordanferney @designcrush @makingitlovely

1. ORIGINAL CONTENT
2. Consistency in posting
3. Professional look
4. Treat your blog like a job
5. Show your expertise or experience
6. Have a compelling story
7. Whatever your URL is, you masthead (blog header) should be the same!
8. Make goals for the month and check your growth
9. Link to other posts and other people
10. Speak to the audience you are talking to (your twitter followers are different than your facebook followers)

I wish I could have doubled myself and went to more panels, but well, that is impossible. However, I thought I'd add more information and some links below. And if after reading all of this, you are still overwhelmed with your blog or business, I provide consulting services and would love to talk to you.

Justin happened to snap a photo of my wedges c/o kate spade. Wore these for 2 days straight! // Photo by Justin Hackworth

Photo Crediting & Permalinks // From Me
*This is really important, especially for new bloggers and the Pinterest/Tumblr-obsessed

1. Pinterest, WeHeartIt, Tumblr, etc. are NOT photo credits. Find the ORIGINAL source, or don't post the photos. Search on tineye.com or Google Images for the original source. An original source is not just the blog you found it on, it's WHO created it. (No, I'm not perfect. I've been blogging for almost five years, and am currently going through my old old archives and checking every single post for proper credits. This is time-consuming, yet necessary and important!)
2. Find as many credits for the photo as you can: the photographer, the store, the designer, the publication it was published in, the stylist, you get the idea. Credit them all! Wouldn't you want to be credited if it were your work?
3. Check out Link With Love
4. When pinning (to Pinterest) and tumbling, use PERMALINKS. What's a permalink? It's the PERMANENT link to that post. For example, if you were pinning an image from a post on MIMI+MEG, let's just say you wanted to pin this Fashiongasm: http://www.mimiandmegblog.com/2012/01/fashiongasm-pink-red.html. You would need to click on the title of that post: FASHIONGASM: PINK + RED to get to the page where that is the only post on that page. The URL would then be the permanent link to that post. SO if that image gets tumbled and pinned hundreds of times, people can click on it and it will take them directly to that exact post, and not just to MIMI+MEG http://www.mimiandmegblog.com/ where they would then have to search and sift through all the posts if you didn't use the permalink.
5. If you create original content, make crediting you easy. Put your link or logo on your images or work so even if it gets pinned without the proper links, or not credited (which it probably will), the link to your site right there on the image.

*Update: Ways to find where images came from (make sure you find the original source, not just someone else that posted it)
1. http://jarred.github.com/src-img/
2. tineye.com

Please note that using ANY image without permission is a copyright violation. You have to determine the risk you are willing to take. Companies that have affiliate programs obviously want you to share their items and link back to the sites. Many people don't mind if you share their work as long as it is credited and linked properly to their site, but unless they have stated otherwise, they have the copyright to the image, as far as I am aware. I personally don't mind if images I've taken or images from my art shop are used on other blogs, as long as they are obviously linked and credited to the proper permanent link.

Here are some other great posts about image crediting you should also read (link list thanks to Danni):
Chelsea of Frolic!
Erin of Design for Mankind
Grace of Design*Sponge: Online Etiquette Part One, Two, & Three

*All photos by Justin Hackworth, aren't they gorgeous!!!

VALENTINE'S GIVE & RECEIVE: HITHA

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

Always-on-the-go, Hitha, shares her Valentine's Day wishlist today!

RECEIVE: 1. Vintage fur stole / 2. DSLR camera strap (Hitha loves all things peacock) / 3. Zara heels / 4. Canon EOS 60D / 5. Louis Vuitton scarf (perfect for her frequent traveling)

See her gift ideas for her husband after the jump!

GIVE: 1. Lo & Sons Cambridge bag / 2. Burberry check cashmere scarf / 3. iCADE iPad arcade cabinet / 4. Tiffany & Co money clip / 5. Star Wars – The Complete Saga on blu-ray

ALT SUMMIT: LINK LIST

2012-01-26T15:38:00.003-05:00

I mentioned on twitter that I was going to put together a mega list of everyone that was at ALT Summit this year (speakers, sponsors, attendees, and anyone that tweeted me that they were there or I met while there). And if you didn't have enough bookmarking madness from my Up & Coming Blogs list, your head will spin with this list of talented ladies (and a few guys). Above is a photo of a small portion of the cards I received this year.

Get the list after the jump!

THE LIST! (alphabetically random)
If you were there and aren't on the list please leave a comment on this post
*Denotes a speaker, sponsor, or teacher at ALT 2012

Abbie // Girl Friday Events + Design
Adelle* // Tinder
Adrienne* // Adrienne Cardon
Adrienne // Adrienne Rehm
Aimee // The Stylish Nest
Alisa // Modern Palm
Alix* // Modern Kiddo
Alison* // Petit Elefant
Alison // The Alison Show
Allison // Allison Barta Bailey, ShopCrawlr
Allison* // Igloo Letterpress
Alma & Mike* // Ollibird
Alyssa* // I Like Nice Things
Amanda // Simple Street
Amber // The Girl is Craftee
Ami* // Elizabeth Anne Designs
Amy // Parker Etc
Amy* // Amy Butler
Amy // Old Sweet Song
Amy* // Amy Turn Sharp
Amy // Amy Wing Designs
Angie* // Biggest Little
Ania // The New Diplomat's Wife
Anna // Tulip Louise
Annabel // Little Pin Cushion Studio
Anne* // City Sage, Rue Magazine
Anne // Signature Style
Annie* // Annilygreen
Anya* // Anya Ayoung Chee (Project Runway winner!)
Arianne* // Aeolidia
Ashlea // Scissors, Stitches & Seams
Becca* // Cake
Becky // Vintage Mixer
Ben* // Pinterest (no big deal, just the founder of Pinterest)
Brandi // Not Your Average Ordinary
Bri // {collected}
Bri* // Design Love Fest, Rue Magazine
Brianna // Collected Blog
Brianne // Ravenna Girls
Brittany* // One Charming Party
Brittany // Lipstick and Leopard Print
Brittni // papernstitch
Brooke* // Inchmark
Caitlin* // Sacramento Street
Caitlin // Caitlin Creer Interiors
Camille* // Camille Styles (see our feature together in Rue this month!)
Capree // MAIYA
Caroline* // Armelle Jewelry
Caroline* // jcaroline
Caroline* // Greedy Girl
Caryl // Hey Caryl
Cassie* // Coco + Kelley
Chelsea // Buckets and Bunches
Chelsea // Lovely Indeed
Chelsey // The Paper Mama
Chris* // ManMade DIY, Curbly
Christina // Full House
Christine* // Darling Studio
Christine // Big Pink Cookie
Christine* // Small Magazine
Christine // Plan SXSW
Chrysula* // Chrysula Winegar
CJ & Leigh // Moss & Isaac
Colleen // Inspired to Share (you might mistake her for Michelle Williams)
Colleen // There Comes A Yes
Courtney* // Courtney Khail Stationery
Dana* // MADE
Danielle* // The Jealous Curator
Danielle* // Sway Group
Danni* // Oh, Hello Friend
Danyelle* // dandee
Dariela // Mami Talks
Dayle // Handmade by Sodapop
Dayna // Your Yoko Ono
Deb* // Dose of Happy
Deborah* // Wall Street Journal (founding EIC of Domino, i.e. kindof a big deal)
Diana // May June & July
Elizabeth // The Whole Pretty
Emily* // Secrets from a Stylist (HGTV winner/show host)
Emily // Emmarie Designs
Emily // The Blog Fairy
Erin* // Apartment 34
Erin // My Thirty Spot
Erin // Such Small Steps
Erin* // Design for Mankind
Estelle // Under A Pink Moon
Eva* // Sycamore Street Press
Ez* // Creature Comforts
Gabriel // The Artful Desperado
Gabrielle* // Design Mom (the founder of ALT and Kirtsy)
Gala Darling* // Gala Darling
Garrett* // Scan
Ginny // ginnybranch
Grace* // Design*Sponge
Gretchen* // The Happiness Project
Heather // Viva la Violette
Heather* // Dooce
Heidi // Foodie Crush
Helena // Bye, Bye, Bitters
Hillary // Hillary Schuster
Holly* // Nothing But Bonfires
Hunter* // Dyvergent
Jaimee* // Jaimee Rose
Jane // See Jane Blog
Janine* // Uppercase
Jasmine* // Jasmine Star
Jason* // Jason Hudson
Jeanne // Shop Sweet Things
Jeanine // Love & Lemons
Jen* // Delightful Delicacies
Jen // Classic Play
Jen // Rambling Renovators
Jennifer* // Tatertots and Jello
Jennifer // Dec-a-Porter
Jennifer // Jennifer Klementti Photography
Jenny* // Little Green Notebook
Jenny // Frecklewonder
Jensie // Take Two They're Small
Jess* // Sunset Magazine
Jessica // Shimmer Kai
Jessica // How About Orange
Jessica // Dahlia Lynn
Jessica* // What I Wore
Jessie* // Style & Pepper
Jill // Modern Cupcake
Jill // Stamped Paper Company
Jill // Terra Savvy
Jill // Mom it Forward
Joanna // Turquoise Ink
Joie // Gallery Direct, Joie Tamkin
Jordan* // Oh Happy Day!
Jordan // Shiny Paper
Joslyn* // Simple Lovely
Joy // How Joyful
Julee // Warm Hot Chocolate
Julie // Cartoules Press
Julia* // ALSO
Justin* // Justin Hackworth
Kait // Yuppie Love
Kal* // Link With Love
Kamille & Laura // The Knotty Knitters
Kasey // Turntable Kitchen
Karina // Cluster
Kate // Art Hound
Kate* // Kate Woodrow, Chronicle Books
Kathleen* // Jeremy & Kathleen
Kathryn* // Snippet & Ink
Katie // Modern Eve
Katie // Petal and Print
Katie // The KB Files
Kelley // Divine Style DC
Kelly // Studio DIY
Kelly* // Biblio-Files, Better Homes & Gardens
Kelly* // Design Crush
Kelly* // Make Grow Gather
Kimberly // Kimberly Taylor Images
Kimberly* // Nottene
Kirsten // 6th Street Design Studio
Kirsten* // Simply Grove
Kohli // K Flick Studio
Kris // Young Married Chic
Kristen // Ahoy Graphics
Kristin // The Cuisinerd
Kristin // Real Simple, Kristin Appenbrink
Laura // Girl Who Makes
Laura* // Blog con Queso
Laurie* // LEAP
Leslie* // Modern Kiddo
Leslie // Lights and Letters
Lia* // Artisan Books
Lili* // HGTV
Lilian // Unstitched
Lindsay // M Stetson
Lindsey* // Cafe Johnsonia
Lindsey // The Mod Chick
Lindsey // Recreated
Lisa // With Style & Grace
Lisa* // Lisa Congdon
Liz* // Say Yes to Hoboken
Lyndsey // The Stationery Place
Mae // Here In This House
Mara // A Blog About Love
Margot* // Pitch Design Union
Marie* // Makes and Takes
Marie // Food Nouveau
Marisa* // Creative Thursday
Mary Beth // Art. Fashion. Furniture.
Maxwell* // Apartment Therapy
Meg // Bringing Design Home
Meg* // MIMI+MEG, Stella & Henry
Meg // Ghostly Ferns
Meg* // A Practical Wedding
Megan // Green Couch Design
Megan* // Not Martha
Melanie // Inward Facing Girl
Melanie* // You Are My Fave
Mélanie // Mélanie Saucier
Melissa // Melissa Paul
Melissa* // The Lil Bee
Melissa // Reverie Daydream
Melissa // Savvy in San Francisco
Melissa* // ISLY
Merrilee // mer mag
Michelle // Michelle Smith
Michelle // Second Street East
Miranda // Swoon
Miya & Elisabeth // You + Me*
Molly // The Nesting Game
Morgan & Carrie // Ampersand Studio
Morgan* // The Brick House
Natalie // The SoHo
Natalie* // Nat The Fat Rat
Nathan* // Kinfolk Magazine
Nicholas* // Wells IP Law
Nicole* // Making it Lovely
Nora* // BurdaStyle
Paige // The Texan Wife
Pam // outsidevoice
Pam* // Retro Renovation
Patricia* // A Little Hut
Paul // Cargoh
Pilar* // Martha Stewart Living
Piper* // One Sydney Road
Phoebe // beefylittlebird
Rachel // Pencil Shavings
Rachel* // Black*Eiffel
Rachel // Lupa and Pepi
Rachel* // Handmade Charlotte
Rachel // Rachel & The City
Rachel // raenovate
Regan // Regan Baker Design
Rena* // Rena Tom
Rima // Rima Takes Photos
Robin // Robin, with an I
Romina* // Les Madeleines
Ruby* // She Lets Her Hair Down
Ryan // VII Designs
Ryan* // Pacing the Panic Room
Samantha // Noteify
Sally & Molly // A Piece of Toast
Sandra // Raincoast Cottage
Sarah* // Blogstar
Sarah* // SAY Media
Sarah* // Sarah Flotard Food Photography
Sarah* // Modern Kids Co
Sarah // Red Line Design
Sarah Jane* // Sarah Jane Studios
Shannon // Shannon Darrough
Sharon // guruuve
Shayna // Pattern Pulp
Shelley* // House of Smiths
Stacy // Hello Cupcake
Stephanie* // Stephmodo
Summer & Brooke* // Girls With Glasses
Susan* // Freshly Picked
Susan & William* // House of Brinson
Tabitha // Glitter & Ganache
Tammie // tam.me
Tara // Cracked Designs
Tara // Tara Wilson
Taylor // Totally Tay
Timothy* // Charles & Hudson
Tobe // Because It's Awesome
Tracey // Shutter Sisters
Tracy // Shutterbean
Trina // la la Lovely
Trohv // Trohv
Uncle Beefy // The Bedlam of Beefy
Victoria* // SF Girl By Bay
Victoria // Vmac and Cheese
Victoria* // A Subtle Revelry
Wendy & Tyler* // Blue Lily Photo
BO.LT

**This list took a looooooong time to put together. Please do not copy & paste it into your blog or website, but feel free to share the link.

VALENTINE'S GIVE & RECEIVE: AMBER

2012-01-25T21:55:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Amber of Amber Interiors for sharing her wish list with us!

RECEIVE: 1. 3.1 Phillip Lim Tulle-trimmed silk-blend bra / 2. kate spade new york Idiom Heart of Gold Bangle / 3. Wildfox Silver Sparkle Heart Baggy Beach Sweatshirt / 4. love in the coconut bag / 5. Hermés Avalon blanket

See her gift ideas for her husband after the jump!

GIVE: 1. Zwilling J.A. Henckels Damascus 5-Piece Knife Block Set / 2. Striped Wooden Cutting Boards / 3. Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking by Nathan Myhrvold / 4. Lodge Logic Cast Iron 5-Piece Cookware Set / 5. Stainless-Steel Bar Tools Set with Stand

ALT SUMMIT: SNAPSHOTS & OUTFITS

2012-01-25T14:54:00.000-05:00

Thought I would share some of my photos from ALT Summit (recap and link list coming up later!). You can also find a ton of photos on the ALT 2012 Flickr. It was an exhausting few days full of information, having fun with old friends, delicious food, meeting new people, and preparing for my panel. See my photos from last year here. Some of the panels only had standing room left, hence the first photo of me sitting on the floor. I also went to a delicious dinner at Martine with some other bloggers and the lovely ladies from Electrolux. If you are visiting Salt Lake, put Martine on your list!

I roomed with my fashion blogger friend Jessie of Style & Pepper, so naturally we took a lot of outfit shots (which aren't necessarily my forte) but I gave it a shot. The lighting and courtyard at The Grand America was beautiful!

Friday Outfit
Blouse: Aryn K (not available anymore)
Pants: ZARA (I'm obsessed with these.)
Necklace: Gorjana (Friendship necklace I wear all the time!)

As much as I tried to pack lightly (that's a good one) and wrinkle free (by wrapping some of my clothes in tissue paper) which usually works, but didn't as well this time. So I hung my wrinkled clothes up in the bathroom hoping the steam from my extremely hot showers would help. The color in this image is somewhat shocking to me. I usually travel with mostly black and neutrals, but hello, color blocking!

See more photos after the jump!

ALT Summit is full of parties (yay for champagne!). One I was a little skeptical of was the Diner en Blanc or Winter Wonderland Party, where you were to wear mostly white. When I learned this, I was thinking, Who wears all white in the winter??? Everyone is pasty pale. Who has all white anyway!? But once I arrived I got it you could say. It was just beautiful to see everyone in white. An ambiance thing. Friday night you hop around to a bunch of mini parties held by the sponsors of ALT. These are always fun, and keep getting better every year.

It was so fun that my friends from Kansas City came this year! I got to spend a lot of time with them and other friends in from all over the country. Left to Right: Laura (has a kickass new blog/biz, check it out), Tobe, Morgan, me. Carrie is missing from this photo because, well, let's just say she has a baby at home. Most of you know what that means.

When I'm at events like this I just can't go to sleep. My mind is racing with ideas and I'm usually up really late every night. No exception this time. I came home and slept for 12 hours straight, and have had lots of sleep since I got back! Lots of stimulation and people all at once wears a sister out! BUT relaxing in the bath at The Grand America would be a great way to take the edge off. The bathrooms are legit.

Me and Jessie before the White Party. You will probably die when you find out her top is vintage (so no, you can't find it anywhere) and she got it for SIX DOLLARS. I know, tear. That girl can find a deal anywhere!

White Party
Dress: BGBG Deanne slip dress (Which I am so obsessed with and it's on sale now. Don't think, just buy. I looks like leather but it's so light and comfortable.)
Blouse over dress: BCBG blouse (It's short in the front and longer in the back. It's beautiful!)

Thursday Day (Inspired by this Red+Rust post)
Jacket: XXI Cutaway Jacket (I know!)
Tank: Gap Pure Body ribbed tank (long and comfortable)
Pants: c/o J Brand 811 Mid Rise Skinny Pants in terra cotta
Necklaces: Gorjana (short), XXI old (long)
Laptop Bag: Rebecca Minkoff (not available anymore but here is another cool one from her)

When I travel I keep it simple with all comfy black and gold. On the way to ALT my bag was 49.5 pounds, on the way back it was exactly 50! Whew!

ART INSPIRED: LULIE WALLACE

2012-01-24T08:09:00.000-05:00

Flowers for Claira by Lulie Wallace / Tassels image by Meg Fairfax Fielding

Check out Lulie's tumblr and art shop!

VALENTINE'S GIVE & RECEIVE: ABBE

2012-01-23T15:59:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Abbe of Studio Ten 25 for sharing her Valentine's Day wish live and gift ideas with us.

RECEIVE: 1. Balenciaga Arena Giant Day / 2. DVF Valencia Scarf / 3. Princess-cut solitaire earrings in platinum ("if he really wants to rock it out...") / 4. Flowers from Village Garden and Gallery / 5. Thandie Pendant Necklace in Rose / 6. Ultra Fine Point Permanent Marker

See her gift ideas for her husband after the jump!

GIVE: 1. Texas Cowboy Cooking by Tom Perini / 2. Men's Double-H Casual West / 3. Bourbon from Buffalo Trace / 4. Large Camp Grill / 5. SOG Twitch I knife

Photo of Abbe and her husband Dru by Melanie Johnson Photography

ALT SUMMIT: UP & COMING BLOGS

2012-01-20T17:33:00.000-05:00

Today I'm speaking on the Up & Coming Blogs panel at ALT Summit. If you weren't able to make it, all of the four panelists are publishing the list of the blogs we've chosen for you to have a bookmarking-fest. It's fun to see the personality of each panelist come out in their picks. Mine has a lot of art, fashion, and interiors going on (shocker).

My picks are:

1. Art Hound
2. Life’s Little Jems
3. Kelly Market
4. Court & Hudson
5. Pattern Pulp
6. The Artful Desperado
7. My Vibe My Life
8. You’re Welcome

See the full list after the jump!

Rachel from Black*Eiffel's picks:

1. Angela Hardison
2. Jane Reaction
3. Note to Self
4. Odessa May Society
5. Dandee Designs
6. The House that Lars Built
7. Simple Village Girl
8. Cubicle Refugee

Alix from Modern Kiddo

1. Draw! Pilgrim
2. Frecklewonder
3. Honey Kennedy
4. Katie’s Pencil Box
5. Make Something Happy
6. Midcentury Living
7. Nubby Twiglet
8. Whorange
9. The Red Thread

Natalie from Nat The Fat Rat

1. Field Guided
2. Ruffling Feathers
3. A Merry Mishap
4. She Blogs She Blogs (The Alison Show)
5. An Apple A Day
6. The Homebook
7. Le Dans La
8. Posie Gets Cozy
9. Darling Dexter

I hope you found a few new blogs you love that you hadn't seen before! What are some of your favorite newer or not-super-well-known blogs?

Hello!

2012-01-19T10:46:00.004-05:00

Just saying a quick hello from ALT Summit! This week I'm in Salt Lake City for the ALT Summit conference! Remember last year... Can't wait to share this year with you!

I also told you about the photo shoots I was in recently, and one was published yesterday in the Washington Post (comes out in print today)! And if you are a rue reader, you might have seen my fun Blogger Side-By-Side with Camille Styles (page 26-27).

Hello notecard from Quill and Fox

HOT HUES: RED + LIME

2012-01-17T10:07:00.001-05:00

This is an unexpected combo to me, but I'm actually really liking it!
Necklace: Adia Kibur Silver & Neon Chain Link Necklace (comes in 4 colors!)
Top: Yigal Azrouel Spotted Tee
Skirt: Yigal Azrouel Side Slit Maxi Skirt
Jeans: Victoria Beckham Powerskinny Jeans

RENT HUNT: WHITE + HARDWOODS

2012-01-16T11:59:00.000-05:00

Today we are headed out to "rent hunt." I'm so excited! Hoping for an older place with some character, hardwoods, and white walls. That's also close to a metro, yoga studio, and grocery store. Not too much to ask, right? (Ya right.)

Love the art and color in these images from Interior Magasinet.

See more photos after the jump and here.

Photos by Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer/Sisters Agency

WEEK IN REVIEW: 1.14.12

2012-01-14T09:45:00.002-05:00

I'm usually on the other side of photo shoots, styling or even taking the photos myself, so it was a little funny to be actually in a few shoots over the past few weeks. I'll definitely share the links to what they were for with you once they are out! (I'm excited!). More pics after the jump.

NEW BOOTS: I love after Christmas/clear-out-merchandise-for-spring sales. I'm not the type to go right after the holidays, but wait a week or so and just calmly enjoy anything good I can get my hands on for next to nothing, like these boots.
BAGEL: I took a pic of my bagel the other day because I thought you might think it was funny. Why is the cream cheese like that you ask? Cause I'm totally normal. No, because the orange is pumpkin cream cheese, but it's too sweet so I like to have regular too.
PRETTY POLISH: I'm also rather particular about my nail polish. This polish, Deborah Lippmann's Good Girl Gone Bad, is actually a matte glitter polish, and then I put a topcoat on that makes it glossy. I like the subtle glitter, because I'm not a big on glitter (I know, gasp!). But when it catches the light it's really beautiful.
SNOW! The other day it snowed like crazy, the next day it rained, the next day it was 60 degrees, and now it's freezing. For the love.

I've been playing with my new colored pencils I got at the MoMA last weekend. Aren't they fun!?!

Top photo by Megan Buerger; the rest by Meg Biram

STATE OF THE MEG: PLANNING 2012

2012-01-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

My 2012 Cayman Leather Planner c/o Graphic Image; ZARA top (not available anymore)

The new year is typically when people sit down and really take a look at their life and think about it. I know I do. I definitely look at things by year. The past two years didn't go how I thought they were going to... lots of great life and personal lessons learned though. Still sorting out all the details of all the challenges that faced my husband and I in the past two years. But I like to look forward and this year, I've mentioned that I named it The Year of Getting Shit Done. Mostly due to annoyance at myself because I think I could have accomplished a lot more last year, and I don't want to look back at 2012 and feel the same way. So this year, I'm going to get some shit done.

So some of my missions for 2012 are:

1. Paint a lot lot lot. Develop several series I've been thinking about and sketching for a long time.
2. Launch a new business venture I'm working on
3. Get my shit together, in general (including an e-mail purge & major office organization)
4. Overhaul of possessions. This has already started with my closet with help from my Wardrobe Pare Down Guide & Clean Out Checklist. I also like MML's idea of 100 things.
5. Read magazines within the month I get them, then recycle.
6. Plan meals + cook with a smiling face. Basically try to enjoy it. Going to be lots of gluten-free recipes going on in our house, so I started a Pinterest board called Gluten Free.
7. Read more books (thanks to the Kindle my mom got me for Xmas, I'm already on book #3!)
8. Visit lots of art museums (starting off the year strong with this one, went to the Phillips Collection and the MoMA in NYC already!)
9. Get mats and put the photos in frames that I've wanted to for, oh, ever.
10. Be more thoughtful
11. Do a lot more yoga
12. Travel with purpose. Plan out trips and seek out new places so I don't waste a moment.

*Love my new planner c/o Graphic Image! Love that my initials are on it.

INTERIOR INSPIRED: COLLECTED ECLECTIC

2012-01-12T16:51:00.005-05:00

How have I never seen this image before!?! Of course this stunning office belongs to Jenna Lyons. Her Brooklyn home was published in British Vogue. Image via A Lovely Being, photography by Todd Selby.

My picks inspired by Jenna's office:
Chair: Mantis Chair / Rug: Souk Rug / Art: ny.10.#38 by Jennifer Sanchez / Table/Desk: Strut Medium Table

TECH CHIC: EYES iPHONE COVER + RHINO SPEAKERS

2012-01-12T11:59:00.002-05:00

kate spade new york is always putting out amazing iPhone covers (So pissed that I don't have one yet! Sprint, I think we need to work a deal out here... I can't wait until May for my upgrade!). And how cool are these speakers by Edifier!?! Probably the coolest speakers I've ever seen.

all eyes iphone cover at kate spade new york / spinnaker speaker set by edifier via gizmodo

*Also, check out my Gadget Roundup over on Glitter Guide today!

MoMA SNAPSHOTS

2012-01-11T15:00:00.000-05:00

The main reason I went to New York last weekend was because I had to see the de Kooning exhibit at the MoMA before it came down. And the rest of the MoMA as well. It was magical. The first thing I did was head straight up to the de Kooning exhibit, and I must say, I almost cried. I know, sounds dumb but I'm not even kidding. Willem de Kooning is one of my very favorite artists, and being in the presence of that many of his amazing works was moving. You aren't supposed to take photos in special exhibitions, and trust me I reeeeeally wanted to sneak some like many others were, but I chose to respect the exhibit and just enjoy it. I was just staring at his paintings with a lump in my throat. Being so close to such greatness gave me the chills. It was beyond inspiring, and hands down the absolute best exhibit I've ever seen. If you weren't able to make it, you really missed out.

The rest of the MoMA is chalk full of all the pieces you study in art class. I mean the f*cking real Starry Night people. And every corner you turned was another amazing piece great artists are known for. I can't wait to go back once they've changed out the collection with other works that weren't up at the time. Lots of Joan Mitchell and Robert Motherwell I'd like to see.

I'm excited to start sketching with my new neon colored pencils I bought there (above). Of course I couldn't leave without buying the de Kooning book. In the near future I'll be taking an afternoon to read that sucker. Consider me uber-inspired after that museum visit.

More pics after the jump.

Photos by Meg Biram

KELLY WEARSTLER — LA BOUTIQUE

2012-01-11T09:38:00.000-05:00

If you've been reading M+M for a while now, you probably have picked up that Kelly Wearstler is one of my faves. She finally opened up a shop in LA and trust me, the second I take a trip to LA it's the first thing on my list. Architectural Digest published these photos of the shop, and wooooweeee is it a stunner. I probably shouldn't take my wallet with me when I go in there because I can't be held responsible for any damage I would do.

Architectural Digest / Photography by Grey Crawford

More photos after the jump.

Is that table for sale!?! I want it!

KINDLE CANDY

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

My mom gave me a Kindle for the holidays and it's one of those things that you didn't know you "needed" until you have one. I freaking love the thing, and am already on my third book in two weeks! Reading helps me fall asleep waaaaaay better than watching dumb shows on my DVR. Typically I go through reading cycles where I'll read constantly for three months, then I stop for three months. I have no idea why, but that tends to happen.

First I read Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back because my dad's wife was talking about it over the holidays, and I honestly was not impressed, nor did I really believe the book. I won't get into religion, but let's just say I could have gone without reading it.

Then I read Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls, who wrote The Glass Castle, which was one of my favorite books. Great book. Highly recommend it.

Now I'm reading Home by Morning by Alexis Harrington. So far it's good. I bought it because it was $2.99 on the Kindle, and am pleasantly surprised.

The Kindle I have is so tiny, it fit in this kate spade pouch (on sale in stores now, but not online anymore). I wanted a zipper on mine and wanted it as slim as possible so this was perfect for throwing in my bag with all of my other stuff so I won't scratch my Kindle. For more Kindle covers, check out this post I did on them. And the west elm white lacquer tray above you can get here.

Photo by Meg Biram

MY HEART BELONGS IN NYC

2012-01-09T12:36:00.002-05:00

Last week I took a quick trip up to NYC. I had to see the de Kooning exhibit at the MoMA before it came down (today). Post on that later. But every time I go to NYC I just feel like I'm home. I love the energy, the feeling of opportunity, the people watching, the food, that around every corner is a cool shop or understated cafe. I recently featured Glassybaby, and as I was just walking along, there it was! They were closing so I didn't go in, but next time I will. My lovely friend Jessie let me stay with her in her new place in Hoboken, which, hello view! Thanks again Jessie!

It was a quick 48-hour trip, but jam packed full of fun times! Boy did I luck out on the weather! The east coast has had such a mild winter so far, and I got so lucky, both days got up to 50, almost 60! People were eating outside!!! I had some delicious meals in the West Village, oh if only I could live in the West Village... Drinks at Café Minerva, brunch at Café Cluny, dinner at a delicious Spanish place in Hoboken, shopping on 5th, and the MoMA pretty much sums up my trip. I loved the art throughout the J.Crew on 5th Ave. And these boots at Cole Haan were staring me down whispering buy me, buy me.

The city was alive and beautiful. I had so much fun, and can't wait to tell you about my experience at the MoMA!

Photos by Meg Biram

FASHIONGASM: PINK + RED

2012-01-08T21:13:00.001-05:00

Such a hot combo right now! Juicy Couture Ponte Dress / DSQUARED2 Menage A Trois Trench Coat / Equipment Daddy Blouse With Poppy Collar

GALLERY M — January: Animal Instinct

2012-01-05T09:29:00.002-05:00

You might have read a few posts ago where I said I had a few things starting in 2012 that you could be a part of... well here is the first one!

After watching one of my favorite shows, Work of Art, I came up with the idea (late at night and sent an email to myself from my phone as I tend to do frequently) to do a version of an art challenge show on MIMI+MEG, for anyone that wants to participate. I'm calling it GALLERY M, and it will evolve as the months go along, but the current plan is to do 12 challenges during the 12 months of 2012.

This is open to all types of artists. Please honestly follow the guidelines of each challenge (obviously there aren't cameras following you around), because there will be a prize each month for the winner or winners! What I love about shows like Work of Art or Project Runway, is that the contestants are put into situations they would never be in, and have to work with strange materials to create something. It takes them outside of their creative comfort zones and can open up entirely new avenues of media they may have never used before in their work, so that is what I want to accomplish though these challenges. I want to challenge myself as an artist, and challenge you! (My own work will not be able to win these contests, but will still be voted on by the public.)

Background is Pearl Animal Prints fabric from Mood

January's GALLERY M challenge is called Animal Instinct. You guessed it, we're going to the pet store! To enter this challenge, please email me at mimiandmeg (at) gmail (dot) com with GALLERY M — January in the subject line. In the body, your name and email address. By emailing me, you are committing to creating a piece for this month. It's also because I will need to invite you to to be able to upload photos to the GALLERY M photo sharing site. The reason I want a commitment from you, is so that you have someone counting on you to do this, and hopefully you will challenge yourself and follow through. Now obviously if you don't finish your piece, I won't march over to your house an give you a slap on the hand, but you will have let yourself down. (How's that for motivation?)

CHALLENGE GUIDELINES

First you need to e-mail me your commitment (like I said above) by 11:59 p.m., EST January 25, 2012.

1. Go to your local pet store and get inspired! Spend no more than $50 on items to use in your piece.

2. Take 1 photo of everything you bought for the challenge.

3. Create your work inspired by whatever you saw at the pet store, and using at least part of one item in your final piece.

4. Photograph your final piece.
5. Upload ONE photo of your final piece to the January: Animal Instinct album on the GALLERY M Zang Zing (you will have had to already email me to have access to upload). Only put your name and the title of the work in the description. This must be done by 11:59 p.m. EST January 31, 2012.

More Rules

*Do not use previous work or add to previous work you have already done.

*Do not spend more than $50 at the pet store, what you spend on your other materials at the art store it up to you.

*Do not delete or alter anyone else's work in the gallery

*Please no negative commentary, this challenge is not to criticize others work in a negative way

*If your piece is picked for the finals, we will want to see the photo of what you bought at the pet store, so please make sure to keep it.

*If you are the winner you will have seven days from the winning announcement to claim your prize, then an alternate will be chosen.

*Sorry, no videos or music. Only work that can be captured in one photograph.

HOW THE WORK WILL BE JUDGED

Judging depends on the amount of entries and may change, but I will be assembling a panel of judges. There will also be a work from each month voted into the finals by the public. I will describe the judging in more detail at a later date. I will also announce the prize at a later date.

I'm so excited to see what you all do, how you challenge yourselves! Don't forget that you need to email me with GALLERY M — January in the subject line by January 25th if you want to participate this month.

Please help me spread the word about the GALLERY M and the challenges and feel free to post your work on your own blog, facebook or talk about it via social media.
On twitter I'm using the hashtag #gallerym

OFFICE: TEAL + BLACK + ZEBRA

2012-01-04T11:31:00.000-05:00

July/August 2011 / Lonny / Interior Design by Lauren Gold

Art to Fashion: Joan Saló + Matthew Williamson

2012-01-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

I am loving the work of Spanish artist Joan Saló! Can you believe that is pen!?! I know, amazing. I paired this Untitled pen on canvas work with a Matthew Williamson Peacock printed silk-chiffon scarf. Yes and yes.