[DREAM LIVING ROOM]

The Mr. and I have sort of been on a long-term hunt for the perfect sofa. When we bought our current one, we were newly married, on a tight budget, had the smallest imaginable apartment, and I will admit that I've never loved it. Since then, we've seen a few that we liked here and there, but then not long ago, we found THE sofa. A bright light poured down from heaven and angels sang. (That might sound like a lot of drama for a sofa, but I really dislike ours.) And now of course, I've started picking out all new pieces to go with this sofa that we will make ours. A few of the recent things we've bought have been purchased with this sofa in mind, and I'm really excited to start finally putting together a living room that is more "us".

I'm really trying to learn how to mix finishes, patterns and textures to put together a room that complements our style... something comfortable but simple, and rustic but modern. And I love bold and eye-catching pieces, like the striped curtains. These are some of my favorite things right now, and I'm excited to see how the room keeps coming together.

(sofa|curtains|coffee table|lamp|pillows|candles|chair|tray|side table)

[DOMINO: MY FAVES FROM THE BOOK]

So I know that I am quite possibly the last person to jump on this train, but I recently picked up a copy of Domino: The Book of Decorating, and I have already spent hours poring over the pages and getting big ideas for what I want to do to our home. I've had a fresh wave of inspiration for decorating our little rented abode. As I've been going through the book, a few spaces have jumped out at me for various reasons, and I thought I'd share a few of my favorites.

I love this dominant combination of green and pale blue, combined with other pops of color.

Black and white is a reliable classic, and against a punch of yellow? Please. It doesn't get any better.

I love how they've taken a small, old, and arguably outdated kitchen, and made the absolute best use of color to make it interesting and inviting.

Bright whites with gold accents and vibrant colors is what has inspired me to create the perfect home office, and this makes my heart pitter patter.

I can't stop staring at those herringbone floors and the liberally used deep gray hues. I want to make it mine.

The book has so many how-to's, ideas and tips, it gives even design amateurs like me enough inspiration to turn a space into something great and make it your own. Do any of you have favorites from the book? Do share!

(images mine)

[LOVE IT, GET IT]

I saw this look on Pinterest a few weeks ago, and I keep coming back to it as the quintessential Fall outfit. This poor headless girl has put together a sophisticated and interesting look, so I started looking for the perfect pieces to recreate it.

 Add a pair of black tights and you are in business, my friends. I threw in the nail polish for fun, because I love that deep blue hue for fall. I love all of these budget-friendly pieces, and I'm really into studded details right now, so that's how I'd put my spin on it. My advice? Invest in a good black blazer. You don't have to break the bank, but take the time to find a beautifully structured blazer that fits you perfectly. It will be worth it, and it's a piece that you will go to over and over.

Hope you're all having a great week!

(blazer|dress|clutch|bracelet|nail polish|shoes)

[DESSERT VIA PINTEREST]

I'm going to confess something. I love sweets. I know that 90% of people would probably say the same thing, so that sounded pretty anti-climactic, but when I say I love sweets... I don't mean I enjoy the occasional bowl of ice-cream, or that I like cupcakes more than the average person... I mean I love sweets. I'm a cookie enthusiast, my love of chocolate milk has followed me well into adulthood, I have on at least one occasion made a cake for no reason and proceeded to eat half of it, and I have paid attention to how malts are made at ice cream shops so frequently that I could make malts at a professional level. That's the kind of love we're talking about. So... after my post a few weeks ago about how many great ideas Pinterest is giving me for dinner, I thought it only fitting to also share how many great ideas I've been getting for yummy desserts.

These are just a few of my favorites, and you can check out this Pinterest board for these and more recipes.

By the way, I have made those dark chocolate cookies several times now, and I personally endorse their deliciousness.

[NATE BERKUS FOR TARGET]

It's October, friends! And October means lots of wonderful things that make my heart get all fluttery. Cooler weather (or so I've been promised), pumpkin bread (but let's be honest, I eat that year round), celebrating the birthdays of some of my absolute favorite people, more time spent catching up with dear people that we have missed oh so much... AND it means the release of Nate Berkus for Target. Target is on top of their game these days. A lot of you lovely bloggers have covered their new Fall collections, and I just love seeing all of the things that will be hitting stores soon. But my absolute favorite is Nate Berkus for Target.

These are a few of my favorites, but the entire collection is worth checking out later this month when it arrives. He has such a talent for mixing textures, creating eye-catching finishes, and staying on-trend while keeping true to his classic style. Love.

Happy Fall!