A while back yours truly had the pleasure of working with an incredibly talented group on bridal editorial shoot. This spring, our efforts were featured in The L.A. Fashion Magazine for all the world to see, and I couldn’t be more excited about the finished product.

Our shoot took place at the beautiful Provence Bridal Boutique in Encinitas, California. The dresses worn in the images are owner Allyson Simone’s own designs. From the intricate beading, to unexpected hints of black, Simone’s dresses are timeless, whimsical, and utterly unique. Smoky make-up and gorgeous jewels created amazing visual tension; a juxtaposition between soft and hard.

Here’s a peek from inside the glossy pages…

And since all you readers are beyond special, here are some of my favorite shots not available in the mag….

With Spring cleaning in full swing, I’ve become utterly obsessed with clutter-blasting. Piles of old receipts…dingy, used-up linens…or the worst offender: junk mail. It’s all lurking in the nooks and crannies of my home, and quite frankly, I’m over it.

Since a big part of designing an interior space is to create one that combines form with function, I have been searching for aesthetically pleasing solutions to combat my clutter. Among them, tackling the mail situation proved to be one of the simplest. During a excursion to the flea market several months ago, I happened upon an accent table with chippy mint paint and some rusty brass hardware. With minimal investment ($10 for the table, and another $10 in supplies) I was able to give the little charmer a more sophisticated look, and cozy new home beneath my mail slot. Now all my bills and letters have a landing pad that does not include my coffee table, dining table, or kitchen counter!

To get the brass pieces back to their old shiny selves again, I turned to a reliable source: Barkeeper’s friend. It’s only a couple bucks, but when it comes to deep cleaning, Bar Keeper’s Friend works like nothing else. It even removed stains on the brass that I thought were permanent.

For the legs of my table, I first lightly sanded them. Then I brushed on a thick coat of primer before finishing it off with an ebony paint in a satin finish.

For an added dose of vintage whimsy, I fashioned an old silver toast rack into a letter sorter, and hung a perfectly patinaed antique letter sign just above my mail slot.

While having a spot for everything in your home certainly helps keep things organized, I also found three additional ways to control the chaos.

How to Stop the Dreaded Junk Mail Pileup

1. Visit the Direct Marketing Association website (www.dmaconsumers.org), and for one dollar, you can have your name removed from their mailing list. Make sure to register each name you go by.
2. Go to www.optoutprescreen.com to opt out of any credit card and insurance mailings.
3. Sign up to pay and receive bills online.

Tell me about your spring cleaning projects. Do you have any tips to share?

 via 2011 Making Things Happen

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A closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. Something tells me I’m preaching to the choir, am I right?

This morning, like almost every morning lately, I have realized nothing in my closet quite goes together. In particular, I am in dire need tops. Seeing as how I have zero time to go out to the stores to shop anymore, I turned to my most trusted alternative– online flash sales.

Today, Hautelook is featuring a vast assemblage of French Connection, so I filled my cart with a few goodies to tide me over until Spring Break when the hub’s nightmares will become realized I will be free to roam the wilds of brick and mortar retail, once again. Here’s what’s in my shopping cart:

Clearly I’ve got some orange crushing going on. Which is totally cool because apparently it’s back with a vengeance this spring.

According to the authorities on the subject, Emerald Green, Lemon Zest, and Poppy Red and also on-trend. From the looks of that forecast, I’ll be needing to invest in some new sunnies, as well.

What colors are you finding yourself drawn to this spring?

Nearly a month into the new year, and I’m finally settling into a new school routine. Part of my curriculum this quarter involves an incredible internship opportunity with Kelly Wearstler Interior Design!!!

I’m particularly excited to work with Kelly because her unique, fearless designs are pretty much considered a game changer in the industry. She’s well on her way to becoming an icon, and let’s be honest– is there really anyone better to learn from?

So, when I came across this gorgeous photo gallery on One Kings Lane of the utterly inspiring Kelly Wearstler office where I’m working, I thought it could be a great opportunity to give you all a peek into my new world, as of late.Okay, so I’ll be honest with you, Kelly usually isn’t swinging from chandeliers or dancing on table tops in the office…

But come on! You can’t blame a girl for wanting to, right? I mean, how fun is that chandelier?

Aaand, this is more like it. Yes, even in a space as magical as this, work must get done.

Much of the office furnishings are custom made in some of Kelly’s signature finishes.

When shopping for furniture and fixtures, Kelly will frequent auctions and websites like 1st Dibs. Sculpture is also a huge part of Kelly’s design concept, so she’s created her own line of sculpture that often makes appearances in her client projects.

And this, my friends, is where I spend much of my time. The materials library is constantly needing to be updated and organized. Kelly’s projects often use some of the most innovative and spectacular finishes on the market today. From stones and marbles, to Venetian plasters and even straw marquetry, the sample library is like a designer’s candy store.

Each project concept begins in a tray or drawer, where materials, drawings, samples and colors are all brought together to help with the visual inspiration.

And finally, a very realistic portrayal of life as an interior designer. With a million projects going on at once, this office is organized chaos. I’ve found it to be a great balance of necessary office functionality while still providing the inspirational surroundings that are essential in any designer’s world. I’ve even taken some notes to incorporate into my own home office.

What do you think? Does Kelly’s office space inspire you? How do you stay inspired in the workplace?

Looking to take on 2013 in style? Well, you’re in luck because today, Kokoon Boutique Without Borders is giving one lucky Fab Housewife a chance to pick any item of her choice (up to $100 retail value)!! If you aren’t familiar with Kokoon yet, take a peek at some of the previous posts I’ve written about them (here and here). I am personally a huge fan of the line’s easy, comfortable knits, and I also own several figure-flattering, throw-on-and-go dresses that I can’t live without. Best of all, Kokoon is about to roll out gorgeous pieces from their Spring 2013 line, so the winner of this giveaway could be one of the very first to own one of the sneak peek pieces below…

Another FYI, Kokoon has just launched their HUGE Twice Yearly Sale & Clearance.

New items are added weekly, so if you’re into snagging great deals, be sure to check it out.

The Kokoon $100 gift card giveaway closes at midnight, January 19, 2013. I winner will be announced at fabhousewife.com and via facebook on Saturday, January 19, 2013. The contest is open to U.S. and Canada residents. GOOD LUCK!!!

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There’s nothing more comforting on a cold winter day, than coming home to a hot meal. That’s exactly why I decided to try these sweet and spicy cranberry meatballs, and they’ve quickly become a favorite in my house– not just as a main meal, but also as an easy-to-share appetizer when entertaining. I first made them during the holidays, when the subtle cranberry essence was particularly festive, but I’ve found the recipe to be a great go-to any time you’re looking to serve something hot and hearty. Some recipes suggest using pre-made frozen meatballs, but I prefer to make my own from fresh ground beef or turkey, eggs, and a sprinkling of breadcrumbs.