ivay

Fingers Crossed

2011-11-15T18:47:00.002+02:00

Hey, how's your week so far? Mine has been quite crazy but also productive. I've been meaning to share a few cool things with you and I hope to do it by the end of the week.

And for now, I need you all to wish me good luck because tomorrow is my final (8hr!!) exam before graduating as an architect. Fingers crossed?

xo

(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Shooting Stars

2011-11-11T14:08:00.003+02:00

Gisele Bundchen is one of my favourite models. I love her natural beauty and bubbly personality. But today I wanted to share a quote from an interview she gave about the meaning behind her tiny star tattoo, which I thought was really cute.

"It's a shooting star, for my grandmother. She died when I was young. When I first moved to New York, there were no stars in the sky, so to remind me of her I drew one on my wrist and kept it there for a month, and then had someone draw it in"

Do you have any tattoos and what's the meaning behind them?

Photo: vanishingtattoo)

Quote of the Day

2011-11-09T18:11:00.000+02:00

(Photo: gareth)

Italic

2011-11-09T09:34:00.002+02:00

I saw this on facebook this morning and I couldn't not share it with you. Isn't it cool?

(Photo: memecenter.com)

Movie Posters

2011-11-08T18:06:00.001+02:00

I was thinking about the movie Anonymous I told you about yesterday and how much I liked the poster. So I went online and found a great website where you can buy movie posters and the best news is they have ones from old movies as well. So here are some of my favourites:

I'm not a big fan of like teen-like rooms with posters all over the walls but I do like having a beautifully designed poster framed and left leaning on the wall. It could bring some colour and character to a place, don't you think?

If you could have any movie poster displayed as art which one would you choose?

(Photos: moviegoods.com)

"Dream Big or Go Home!"

2011-11-07T19:43:00.004+02:00

Yes, the quote is from my new favourite TV show "How to Make It in America". I saw all the episodes in just two days. Does anyone else watch it?

Movies I'm looking forward to this week are Anonymous (that one caused quite a disturb, didn't it) and Woody Allen's new movie Midnight in Paris. I've been a huge Woody Allen fan ever since I saw Vicky Cristina Barcelona and later my dear friend Lora introduced me to more of his lovely work.

This past week I was quite busy because it was Sofia Architecture Week once again. I was a volunteer and helped with one of the exhibitions - the one by photographer Nikola Mihov, which was absolutely amazing. You can see photos from the whole week on their facebook page.

I've also been quite into this song lately. I really dislike the lyrics but it's still good.

And don't forget to watch the asteroid tomorrow if you have proper equipment and if you are lucky enough to be on the right side of the Earth to see it.

Have a wonderful week! xo

p.s. I've been quite active on Twitter lately, so come join me if you please!

(Photo: Angie Nan)

DIY projects

2011-11-02T12:15:00.006+02:00

I have some pretty exciting DIY projects for you today. I myself would like to try all of them!

Friendship Bracelet. I used to make these when I was a kid and then I forgot how to. I think these are really cool to wear, the picture looks like it's been taken straight from Plumo's catalog.

Pom poms from old T-shirts. These are so beautiful! The perfect decoration for a party. Plus, you get extra points for recycling.

Peanut Butter Cups. Who would expect these perfect little things to be handmade? I am so trying this recipe!

Candle Holder. Very easy and oh-so-beautiful! I think it's the perfect DIY project for this time of the year when it's really dark outside and I find myself burning lots of candles.

And finally, something genius! Moss Graffiti! Need I say more?

For more amazing DIY projects, please visit craftgawker. You won't regret it, I promise!

Fairytales

2011-10-31T14:21:00.003+02:00

Come with me on a tour around Europe! I hope this article about European castles makes the oh-so-dreaded Monday a bit easier to go by.

Have a lovely week! xo

(Photos, top to bottom: shawn lenker; Hailey Rose Jones; shawn lenker; Rachael-Amanda)

Back from Banská Štiavnica

2011-10-26T17:46:00.003+03:00

The last time I told you I would be in Banská Štiavnica to meet other national contacts of MEDS and now that I'm back I wanted to share my experience with you along with some photos.

Banská Štiavnica is a magical place, seriously! It's under the protection of UNESCO and if you enjoy exploring new charming cities, then I totally recommend checking it out. I would love to spend New Year's Eve there - I think it would be amazing during the winter.

The meeting was very productive and I met so many nice people! It was so inspiring to be among young creative spirits, I can't possibly imagine how much fun our next meeting will be when we actually get to work together. I know there are quite a few designers/artists reading this blog who might be interested in this so don't worry - I have a blog post about MEDS (Meetings of Design Students) and the next big event coming.

One more thing you need to know about Banská Štiavnica is that the city is full of cozy little bars and cafes. It's totally normal to see jazz musicians walking around the streets, performing live in bars. And also the prices were really good (if I say so coming from Bulgaria!)

Next we went to Vienna because our flight was leaving from Vienna airport and decided since we're already there we might stay a couple of days. To be honest I was quite disappointed, not by the city, but by our stay because I didn't get to see almost anything. No museums, no architecture; I didn't even get to sit in a typical Viennese cafe. I'm really, really sad about that because it cost me quite a lot to get there and stay a couple of days and it was all for nothing. Oh, well, let's hope we learn from our mistakes.

You can see more photos in my flickr album. I'll be adding more when I have free time to edit and sort them out.

(Photos: Iva Yaneva)

On the road

2011-10-12T09:04:00.003+03:00

I'm leaving for Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia for a meeting of design students (MEDS). We'll be staying a couple of days after that in Vienna. I can't wait! Hope everyone has a lovely week and thank you so much for the sweet comments this few days! See you next week! xo

(Photo: sam i am)

Tea Time

2011-10-11T12:16:00.002+03:00

Earl Grey Tea with milk and honey. That's what keeps me warm these days.

(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Rain

2011-10-10T08:51:00.003+03:00

What happened to Fall? It was summer the other day and now it's freezing! I had to put on my winter coat yesterday, scarf and everything. Brr!

What's the weather like where you are? I hope you have a lovely week, no matter if it's cold or hot.

(Photo: aglayavladimirova)

Etsy Love

2011-10-06T11:24:00.004+03:00

A couple of months ago my iPhone stopped ringing after I've successfully dropped it a few times. It does vibrate but there's no sound coming from it at all. Which meant major oversleeping the first couple of days. I am finally used to waking up by the sound of my phone vibrating on the nightstand but still I think I would be better off if I got an old fashioned alarm clock. Yes, a vintage one.

Which one do you like most?

(Photos from top to bottom: Aloof Newf Whimsy; Clockwork Universe; oldoaks; Vintage Gal; Clockwork Universe; Jinxxy's Junk; A Vintage Obsession)

Facing Reality

2011-10-05T18:15:00.004+03:00

Every year when summer comes I promise myself I will keep blogging regularly and every year I break my promise. It's been a wonderful summer for me (and I hope you too) and I believe part of its beauty was me being able to get away from my computer and spend more time with my closest friends and family. I have missed you though. Each of your comments and emails made me smile and feel guilty about leaving you at the same time. And now that school is back on I once again feel the need to sit here and talk to you, share my thoughts and inspirations.

What I've been doing for the past few months.
I got a job at an architecture/interior design studio. It was a great for me to be doing something related to my profession and work on real projects. My colleagues were lovely, plus it was great not asking my parents for money and actually living on my own (even though I really had to cut on some expenses). I got my last paycheck yesterday, since school already begun and I really have to focus on my graduation work.

I also discovered crossfit. I've been working out a lot, eating healthy and feeling and looking better than ever. I met a lot of nice people at my crossfit workouts and we have even gone for a couple of trips together (last one in Greece a couple of weeks ago). I also tried out rock climbing, got back to playing tennis and started going to yoga classes.

What I'm doing now.
Worrying about the future mostly. It is my last semester at school and to be honest - I'm terrified. Things are not so good here - there are not much job offers and they are very low paid, since there are too many people unemployed and ready to work for less. A lot of my friends at uni are either already abroad or are in the process of leaving. Me? I'm not sure I can afford to go study abroad right now and postponing my graduation and finding a real job is not my best option. Plus I will be having a masters degree in less than a year, so there's really no point wasting time and money just to have another one from a different university.

It's really hard having a creative profession but I guess most of you already know that. I have been doing research on my graduation project (a student campus) and I am terrified to start. Based on my last project everyone expects me to think of some cool and interesting concept (including my teacher) and nothing really comes to me. My mind is totally empty and it scares me I won't be able to do anything good. I guess Elizabeth Gilbert's Ted talk explains all these feelings pretty well. Watch it if you have time, it is truly inspiring!

Well, that's all I have to say right now. I can't promise you I will be here again tomorrow and I can't promise what I might be writing about. But it's sure good to know I can always pour my thoughts here. And if you are reading these words, then thank you for listening!

(photo: kiss the groom)

Inspiration: Julian Bialowas

2011-04-13T09:28:00.003+03:00

My dear friend Lora showed me the work of Julian Bialowas yesterday. Of course I loved it! I know combining vintage-looking photographs with some clever quotes (preferably written in Helvetica) has become a bit of a cliche but even so his work is no less beautiful and inspiring. Julian is a photographer who also studies graphic design, which makes perfect sense looking at his work. You can see his 365 days project here and even buy some of his prints. I have to say I am very tempted to do so.

Julian Bialowas' website / shop / flickr
(Photos: Julian Bialowas)

Lovely Weekend and Take a Cake

2011-04-12T10:48:00.002+03:00

Hello, dear friends! How was your week? I finally finished my project and got an A (yay!) I've been trying to catch up on sleeping this past weekend hence the lack of posts over here.

Last weekend we went to Take a Cake. It's a very tiny (but oh, so cute!) bakery for nothing but cupcakes! Dream come true, right? You absolutely have to see the interior by studio Funkt, it so pretty! They also made most of the furniture and the lights made of empty jars are so my next DIY project! I feel like a happy little girl walking inside this place!

Our favourite cupcakes were without a doubt the carrot and raisin ones.

On my way home I bought some tiny flowers from an old lady. I can't stop looking at them, they make me so happy! I prefer pretty spring flowers to the big expensive rose bouquets. They just have so much more character, don't you agree?

Take a Cake's website / blog / facebook.
(Photos: Iva Yaneva)

Spring Colours Week: Pink!

2011-04-06T16:38:00.003+03:00

Hello, everyone! I hope you are having a lovely week! Mine has been quite busy as I already mentioned but it has also been very productive. My project is due tomorrow (wish me luck!) and I still have a few things to fix before I can say I'm ready, but after I met my teacher today I am quite calm and confident.

This photo was a bit easier to shoot probably because I had more pink objects to choose from. The book is the Bulgarian translation of "Little Women" (my favourite book as a kid!). I got it for my 10 years old niece, I hope she reads it and likes it as much as I did. I got it from an open-air book market in the park this weekend. I know - books and parks go so well together! I don't really like the cover though, but it was the only one I could find in months! The previous edition (the one that I've read) had beautiful pictures on the cover and it only made me like the book even more. I remember I was trying to guess which girl from the book is which one from the cover. If this is not a proof how powerful a book cover could be then I don't know what is :)

For more info on the objects and to see bigger visit my flickr.
And of course to join Spring Colours Week visit poppytalk.

(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Spring Colours Week: Yellow!

2011-04-05T16:25:00.003+03:00

Even though I took a "yellow" photo last week (silly me!) I still wanted to play along and take another one. I hope you like it.

The agenda on this photo I got last weekend. I know, it's a bit late for shopping for agendas and callendars but it was on sale plus I didn't have one. I usually buy notebooks and diaries in cold colours, mostly blue, but I thought I should try something fun and new. So I got it in bright, bright yellow and it makes me smile whenever I look at it.

Have you noticed any preferences you have for one colour over another? It's funny because I had never really thought about it until now.

Please, visit poppytalk for more info about Spring Colours Week.
(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Spring Colours Week: Green!

2011-04-04T22:11:00.002+03:00

This time there's no mistake. Spring Colours Week is here! I hope you join the fun.

My project for uni is due on Thursday so I might not be blogging so much until then. I would love to take a photo each day for Spring Colours Week though, so be sure to check here for my photos if you like. I am also on twitter for any quick updates. Hope you have a wonderful week, dear friends! See you soon :)

(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Stamp Carving Week!

2011-03-30T19:27:00.002+03:00

I have always loved stamps and how much fun they are both to make and use. But to be honest, I always found it very hard to make them. I have tried so many times. I thought the carving tools I had weren't good or the eraser was too soft, something was just not working.

So when I saw that Ishtar Olivera was having a whole week of stamp carving tutorials I just had to try one last time. You can see the result for yourself but I am really happy how it all turned out. I was having so much fun I even stamped on some of my architectural drawings and made wrapping paper. Isn't it pretty? Plus it's great for the environment!

If you have ever had any trouble making stamps I suggest you go take a look at Ishtar's blog. She has explained everything in details and if you follow the instructions you might end up with some really cute stamps by the end of the day. And it's so much fun!

Oh, and don't forget to show us the results! Have a great day, dear friends! xo

(Photos: Ishtar Olivera; Iva Yaneva)

Spring Colours Week: Yellow!

2011-03-29T10:40:00.004+03:00

Spring Colours Week is here! Come join, it's so much fun :)

Organized by poppytalk. Please visit their website and flickr group for more details.

Update: Okay, my mistake. Spring Colours Week actually starts next week. Sorry for the wrong information everyone!

(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Happy Monday?!

2011-03-28T10:32:00.003+03:00

Monday. The beginning of a new week. My goodness, I am so glad the weekend is over! Is that a strange thing to say or what?

The truth is I had a pretty intense weekend. No, nothing bad or crazy has happened (thank God!) I just had to work. A lot. I got a call on Thursday afternoon that I might have to travel the next day to check out a new construction site and take some measurements. The site was on the opposite side of the country which meant I had to get up at 5 am, travel by car for the next 5 hours, do the work as quickly as possible and get back by the end of the day. Needless to say I was tired and stressed as hell because I was the only person they sent, which meant I would be the only one responsible if something goes wrong. I also had to do all the technical drawings and send them the next day. So in short, I am really glad the couple of days of no sleep, no food (when I'm stressed I usually forget to eat) and 1000km in one day are behind me.

On the other hand though I had a pretty lovely, relaxing Sunday. Got some ice-cream, walk in the park and a couple of movies. We went to see Limitless which we really liked, so I definitely recommend it.

"The best things in life aren't things." - I love seeing this quote on my purse every time I am about to take some money out of it.

Oh, and because of all the lovely comments on my previous photos and my outfit I thought I'd share some more from this weekend. I was thinking I could do something like a regular post once a week, would anyone be interested in that?

(Photos: taken by my boyfriend)

Inspiration: Packaging

2011-03-23T11:02:00.000+02:00

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I am working on opening my very first Etsy shop and I have to say it is finally coming together. I have just a few things left to take care of, one of which is find envelopes to fit in my bigger prints. So I figured it was time to gather some inspiration for my favourite thing - packaging.

a tea leaf

packagery

somethings hiding in here

packagery

Ishtar Olivera

Things I would love to use: natural and recycled materials, craft paper, masking tape, doilies, ribbons, bakers twine. I do have a few ideas in my head including my huge amount of architectural drawings and blueprints that I no longer need. I would love to reuse them, maybe stamp on them?

Prettie.Parties

every*g*and*p

Lockette

packagery

3GIRLS + a goat

Cara-Mia

(Photos credited above. Photo at the top: aDm (FaciliSencillo))

Spring is here!

2011-03-21T16:14:00.003+02:00

Spring is finally here! Well, at least according to the calendar but that's still something, right? It's pretty cold here but I know that it will soon start to get warmer and more and more flowers will start blooming. I cannot wait to see the beautiful morello-trees in bloom! What is your favourite thing about spring?

(Photo: Yves Schiepek)

For Japan With Love

2011-03-18T08:25:00.003+02:00

Please, visit www.forjapanwithlove.com to learn more.

Books Inspiration

2011-03-17T10:41:00.003+02:00

People say "Don't judge a book by its cover!" Well, I totally do. Of course what's inside those pages is most important but I am one of those people willing to buy a book only because its cover looks pretty.

I was at the bookstore last week when I found a rather huge collection of Agatha Christie's books and I was very impressed with the design as they all had the same style but at the same time were very different from one another. My decision not to buy any more books until I've read the ones that I have on my nightstand kept me from buying (at least) one.

Deisgner of the covers is David Wardle and he had to come up with 40 (!) covers. Now that I call productivity! You might want to check out his other work because apparently his creativity is endless. I think my favourites would have to be "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Sparkling Cyanide". I haven't read any of Christie's books but I am guessing this will soon change thanks to Mr. Wardle. The books are published by HarperCollins.

(Photos: David Wardle via HarperCollins)

Waiting for Spring

2011-03-15T08:35:00.000+02:00

We finally got a little sunshine this weekend. It was so warm and lovely, true heaven after the insane snow we've had last week. I was really starting to get impatient waiting for spring. I am one of those people who loves each season but I get bored with it so quickly I am always waiting for the next one to come. I am so lucky to be living in a place where I can experience all four seasons though, I cannot imagine not having snow for Christmas or not being able to sunbathe in the summer.

So while I was getting tired of wearing my warm sweaters all of the stores filled up with pretty floral dresses and bright colors. I had to figure out a way to deal with this. What I did was put on a pair of black tights, a warm cardigan, boots and throw on one of those cute dresses just to give me that spring feeling. You can see the result at the top (and a few more photos on my flickr) and let me know what you think.

So, if you are still waiting for spring to come I hope this post is the inspiration you need to at least bring a little colour to your everyday life.

(Photos: top: Iva Yaneva. the rest of the photos are mostly from lookbook.nu. please click on each one to be taken to its original source)

Help Japan

2011-03-14T14:08:00.004+02:00

by James White (via Radostina)

Happy Friday!

2011-02-25T18:24:00.004+02:00

I've been working really hard this past week so I'm very happy it's Friday! Mainly I've been working on my project for uni but also I've been making prints, going back and forth photo labs and setting up an etsy shop. I have a few other things to figure out this weekend but I'm getting closer to finally having my little shop. So excited!

(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Envelop

2011-02-23T09:43:00.007+02:00

I've been looking for some cute colourful cushions to throw on my white couch. I think white couches look gorgeous with quite a few cushions on them, it just makes the sterile whiteness a lot cozier. Generally guests are "afraid" to sit on white furniture but when there are cushions - well, that's a whole other story.

Luckily I found a website called Envelop that has tons artwork printed on pillow covers (and not only). There are over a thousand pillow covers alone and you can search by pattern or by designer. Here are some of my favourites so far.

1. My Balloons by lelena
2. Malou by the lilipinsson company
3. Umbrella by blackhair
4. Swan by zosienka
5. Woolly Bear by julia pott
6. Vintage Camera Drawings by christine berrie

1. Abstract Owl by jocheungillustration
2. Carnival by charmaineolivia
3. Call it a Day by ulrike wilhelm
4. Heart Fur by lajla toullec
5. Cosmos by geninne

Which ones did you like best?

(Photos: Envelop.eu)

Girl Crush

2011-02-21T14:17:00.004+02:00

It's Monday again and as usual that means more work and less pleasure. Excuse my negativity but it's been snowing here all weekend and it still is and I really need some sunshine!

On the good side the weekend wasn't bad at all although spent mostly indoors. On Saturday we went to see "I am number four" with a couple of friends and went for drinks after that. The movie was surprisingly good, maybe that's due to my quite low expectations when it comes to the typical Hollywood blockbusters. But really, we all liked it, so I definitely recommend seeing it! The thing that I liked most about the movie though was Dianna Agron's character - Sarah and I suspect a lot of you will like her too. She was this lonely girl with the floral dress paired with a cute cardigan and a quite impressive collection of vintage film cameras. Like her already? I couldn't help but poke my boyfriend every now and then saying things like "Oh, look she has empty bird cages in her room like the one that I have! Oh, and paper cranes like the ones at home!" I still admire my boyfriend for not swithcing seats with someone else at the middle of the movie :D

Well, did anyone else see this movie/plan to see it? And how did your weekend go?

(Photo: IMDb)

Happy Friday!

2011-02-18T08:45:00.000+02:00

My, I have become obsessed with growing flowers! I am buying new pots this weekend to put the hyacinths and the tulips from last year and I am getting some more hyacinths for the pot that I have (the one that's in it looks pretty lonely). I am contemplating whether I should get some more herb seeds for the kitchen but I think they are not supposed to be planted just yet so I might wait.

I am also going to see "I am number four" (I hope it's worth it) on Saturday and then on Sunday I'm going to the theater (my boyfriend chose the play since he knows I love going to the theater I don't even remember what we'll be watching).

So that's pretty much all of my plans for the weekend. Anything this weekend you are excited about?

(Photo: leuntje)

My Home

2011-02-17T12:11:00.003+02:00

I've got some progress to show you on redecorating my apartment. I finally got a table! Yay! I don't think I've shown you the couch as well, so there you go. I had been using a small table from my patio furniture for ever and working on it with my laptop was a huge pain in the ass. So I really needed a little bigger table that can fit my laptop plus some drawings next to it and it also had to be a little taller. I went through so many catalogs and I found nothing I like. I wanted it to be white and shiny and white furniture is pretty hard to find in Bulgaria! (Thank God IKEA is opening a store this summer!)

I finally liked the set of tables shown above and thought I can keep my laptop on one of them and something else on the other. Plus they are very compact and save up a lot of space. But when we went to get them they looked terrible, very low quality of material (well, that I kinda suspected because they were really cheap) so I gave them up. On my way out of the store though I saw another table that looked so much better and decided to get it.

I wanted it to be white because my floors are wooden and I thought if I get a carpet it can be some bright color. Plus I really like the glossy finish and placing colorful items on top of it.

As you can see my space is really small - that on the right is my bed! It's quite hard for me to photograph the whole room because I have nowhere to stand and my 50mm lens isn't helping.

I also got these colorful coasters from Buttlers and I love how much cheer they bring.

And last but not least, I got some flowers. I planted this baby last weekend and I can't believe it's blooming already! I also found out yesterday that my tulips and hyacinths from last year are actually still alive, I was so happy! Turns out I may not be as terrible at gardening as I always thought!

I also got some seeds - basil for the kitchen and lavender for the balcony. I'll show them to you when (if) they grow. I also want to get some other herbs for the kitchen - thyme and rosemary perhaps?

Do you grow any herbs or flowers at home?

(Photos: Iva Yaneva)

Adi's Cook & Book

2011-02-16T23:28:00.000+02:00

You know those places where the moment you go trough the door you already feel at home? Well, Adi's Cook & Book is one of those places for me. If I had to explain it using just one word it'd have to be "magical". It is a small bistro/bookstore and is located in an old building with lots of white furniture and pretty little details everywhere. It even has one of those old food elevators that to my surprise is working and is used by the staff all the time (on the right at the top picture).

I've been contemplating whether I should buy separate bookcases for my living area or just install shelves like the ones above. The second option is definitely better if you have high ceilings and want to use the whole space.

Cutest kitchen window ever!

This sitting area is one of my favourite. I think it works for your home too. Especially if you don't have much space. Think how much fun it will be to have your kids eat their breakfast there while you cook?

Besides the obvious reasons (providing ridiculously tasty cappuccino and lots of books to read while you enjoy it), the most important thing there is probably the character. There are so many little details that you discover as time goes by and it really shows how much care and love was invested in this place. It makes perfect sense that the owner of this place, Adi Tzanova, is a quite famous wedding planner.

This is quite funny. The bathroom doors don't really have a sign which one is for men and which one for women. Instead they put these little doll angels on each door - one dressed in a male suit and the other one - in a dress.

Maybe this is where I should remind you we don't have IKEA in Bulgaria (the first store is opening this summer) and the fact that most of the furniture is from it doesn't really bother anyone, even the opposite. I think it is a smart move because you get a unique and beautiful interior that not many people here have seen without investing too much money in furniture.

The only thing left for me to say is in a perfect world I would be staying in this place for days. It just completely stole my heart!

p.s. You can see many more photos on their facebook page including making of the interior.

(Photos: Adi's Cook & Book)

79 ideas

2011-02-16T11:04:00.002+02:00

Valantine's day is over but the lovely Radostina (the blogger behind 79 ideas) started an e-magazine and there is a special St. Valantine's issue. I am a little late posting this but with all the traveling and with no internet access for a while I am just starting to catch up on your blogs. If you haven't already seen the magazine you can do so here. I promise you it is full of gorgeous photographs and inspiring ideas.

I am really happy this magazine is getting all this attention in the blogosphere because Radostina is such an inspiration and the fact that she's a Bulgarian only makes me like her and support her even more. So congrats, dear! Can't wait for the next issue.

p.s. You can also read the magazine in Bulgarian.

Love is...

2011-02-14T14:46:00.003+02:00

Yes, it's Valantine's day as you probably know if you watch TV, read any kind of newspapers, have internet access or have just walked outside of your home in the last few weeks. Hearts and flowers overload!

I am not the biggest fan of this holiday but I am a huge fan of love. And not just love for the person you are with, I'm talking about loving your family, friends and most of all loving life. Loving the random stranger you see on the street who gives you a smile or says "hello", the tiny heart-shaped cookie the waiter left next to your tea, the smell of your morning coffee, the insanely bright color of the car parked down the street, the very old piece of paper with your grandma's writing on it. To all those of you who know what I am talking about - Happy Valantine's day! To everyone else, enjoy this holiday nonetheless.

Much love to you all! xo

(Photo: .blue.algae. )

Happy Friday!

2011-02-04T18:11:00.002+02:00

My, time does travel fast! I had a pretty great week with my family though. My grandma was in the hospital but she came home and she's feeling better now. Spent some time with my parents and my lovely niece and nephew, ate lots of delicious homemade meals, went to a book signing and spoke in front of public (one of my biggest fears ever that I should really overcome soon!). Now I am ready for a lovely weekend and I hope that yours isn't any less lovely than mine! See you next week! xo

(Photo: m for marvellous)

Yay!

2011-02-03T22:40:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was great! I spent some time with my brother and my little niece and nephew (cutest kids ever!) and I also found out that I had won a photography competition (yay!). It was organized by two lovely ladies who published a cookbook (not quite sure if that's how I should call it because it's so much more - you guys will love it!) and the rules were to cook and photograph whatever you choose from their recipes. Nice and simple (and also healthy!). I took photos of the Himalayan tea (or Masala tea or Chai, whatever you guys call it - photo at the bottom) and of Ice cream sandwich that has zero ice-cream in it and still tastes lovely (photo at the top).

The price was a handmade wooden box to keep all their lovely books in (all 8 of them!). I will show you pictures as soon as I get it - it is so cute!

I hope that you are all having a wonderful week!

(Photos: Iva Yaneva)

Bulgar USA

2011-02-02T13:12:00.000+02:00

Most people don't know much about Bulgaria, which is understandable - our country is small and not that important for the world economy. Our neighbors get a lot more attention than us - Greece is a well-known destination for tourists and Turkey has this exotic culture.

Well, imagine my surprise when I found out that there is a company in the US called Bulgar USA that sells traditional Bulgarian pottery and textiles. And what is more, it has been featured in magazines like VOGUE, ELLE Decor, Domino and many more. Apparently, the owner of the company is a Bulgarian who escaped in the US at the age of 17 and with his American wife years later they decided to support the Bulgarian culture by selling traditional items there. Their story is quite fascinating so I recommend reading it here. They also have a few traditional Bulgarian recipes on their website, including one for the famous Bulgarian yogurt: "Bulgarian yogurt contains Lactobacillus bulgaricus which lives only under the climatic conditions of this mountainous nation, thus the yogurt you'll eat in Bulgaria has its own very distinct flavor and nutritional properties."

p.s. This is not the first time I find Bulgarian items that get so much attention abroad. Going through my favourite company Plumo's website I found these Bulgarian Folk Chests.

(Photo: Bulgar USA)
via ViewSofia

Inspiration: Bernini

2011-02-01T10:54:00.003+02:00

A detail from The Rape of Proserpina by Bernini. This is my all time favourite sculpture. Ever. I went to see it a few years ago in Galleria Borghese in Rome and it took my breath away. It is hard to believe Bernini made this stunning piece at the age of 23. If that is not talent I don't know what is.

The sculpture shows "Proserpina being seized and taken to the underworld by Pluto, depicting "rape" in its archaic definition of kidnapping". The detail shown above is my favourite - the flesh looks so real that you can almost mistake the statue for real people.

The beautiful photograph is by printed and can be bought on Etsy for just $15.

Happy Friday!

2011-01-28T12:04:00.002+02:00

I wish you all a wonderful weekend and I leave you with the gorgeous photograph of Natural History Museum by niknkim. See you next week!

Interior Favourites

2011-01-26T17:47:00.004+02:00

If you've been following my blog for a while then you probably know about my obsession with beautiful, small and cozy apartments with white walls, lots of wood and splashes of color. Here are some photos of different places that I have recently found and because they are all very similar I think a separate post for each of them might be way too much for you. (You can see more of each apartment if you click on the photos).

I love the idea of having a chair instead of a bedside table. Especially an old wooden one or one that's been painted in a bright color. The seat has to be completely flat though, otherwise it won't be very comfortable for this purpose.

This is just so cute and unique! I am not sure how I would feel in such small space but I love the shelves on the wall. Reminds me a little of the fortresses I "built" as a kid using my mom's sheets, lol.

I can't even begin to tell you how much I want a brick wall like the one above (or one painted in white). I am pretty sure they didn't use bricks like these when they built my apartment though. But I absolutely love it in combination with white furniture.

Did you notice the cute metal basket on the floor? I love this idea for keeping my favourite books and blanket close to the sofa.

Ah, those doors!

Is it just me or the comic drawing looks so cool in this kitchen? I love mixing different styles when it comes to art.

The tiny flowers by the window make all the difference, don't they?

(Photos: Please, click on the photos to be taken to their original source and view more. Thanks.)

Hello, everyone!

2011-01-25T11:55:00.004+02:00

I guess I should start with "Happy New Year!" I hope everyone had a kick-ass start of 2011 and I wish you all to have the most amazing year, filled with beautiful moments. I can't even begin to tell you how much I missed you all and how many times I started writing this post and left it unfinished and then started again from the beginning. It's hard writing again after this long pause, kind of like talking to an old friend you haven't seen in ages. But oh, well, it was about time, wasn't it?

I am having time off the uni right now because I finished my project (only one this semester, yay!) and took all my exams. It's the first time in years that I've had some time off, except for the summer break and I won't be back at the uni until mid February, so this feels quite wonderful.

Perhaps one of the things worth mentioning that has happened in the past few months is that I started eating healthy. I met this lovely nutritionist/trainer and she started helping me eat better and exercise more. It feels wonderful and the results are quite shocking! Plus she is such a sweetheart. I mean who would even expect that they would get beautifully packaged homemade cookies for Christmas from their trainer? I know a lot of you try to eat healthy and cook healthy meals for your families, so here's a link to her blog where she has amazing recipes (don't worry, all of them are in English).

I saw a ted talk a while ago, saying that you shouldn't share your New Years resolutions with others because you may not end up keeping them after that. But if I had to list a few things I wouldn't mind doing in 2011 it will probably be eat healthy, exercise more, be more organized and meet with people more. I must say that I've been going out much more lately and I'd like to keep it that way. I've spent way too much time at home working on projects and writing blogs instead of just going out and living life. I really hope I'll find a way to fit all of these things in 24hrs this year.

Any resolutions you would like to share?

(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Ma Baker

2010-11-10T14:17:00.000+02:00

I have mentioned before that every weekend I go out for brunch and therefore I am always on the lookout for new cool places to visit. vezira-putuva wrote about a small cafe/bakery called Ma Baker and after seeing the photos I just knew I had to go there.

First of all - congrats to the designer! The place looks very cozy and sunny. I really like how the "kitchen" is open and you can witness how your coffee or fresh juice is being made, feels as if you are visiting a friend and chatting while they make you homemade lemonade. The shelves are filled with pretty boxes and jars that add color and character.

We tried so many things - sandwiches, muffins, cakes, drinks. The prices are really good, so if you are a student (like me) I say this is a great place to meet friends for a cup of coffee. I recommend the mappuccino (on the pictures below) even though it's not the cheapest thing on their menu. It's cappuccino with chocolate and mint and it tastes delicious!

And last, but definitely not least, the service was great. The girl who made us coffee and lemonade was really helpful and gave us extra macaroons since she noticed how quickly they disappeared from our plate.

For those in Sofia here's the address. I was wondering if there are people who would like to see these posts in Bulgarian, if so - let me know. I think English is kind of a universal language and most Bulgarians probably speak it, plus you can always use translator (I have added one with the most popular languages at the bottom of this page too). But I am always open to suggestions and I value your opinion, so feel free to share :)

I hope you are all having a wonderful day - with or without mappuccino!

(Photos: Iva Yaneva)

Deer Friend,

2010-10-28T11:09:00.008+03:00

I woke up this morning to find out it was snowing. I felt like a little kid under the warm blanket, watching the snow fall quietly outside. It made me dream of Christmas, of warm cookies and hot chocolate, of soft scarves and sweaters. I know, it's way too early for Christmas, but at least I can get inside a warm cozy sweater. One with a picture of a deer on the front.

joythestore.com

cz.ioffer.com

yesstyle.com

coxandcox.com

yesstyle.com

potterybarn.com

I am now off to make some hot chocolate - you are all invited, just bring your cute sweaters! Have a lovely day, everyone!! xo

(Photos: sodahead.com; lillesarahaugan.blogg.se)

Brr.. it's cold!

2010-10-08T18:22:00.003+03:00

I love having Friday off. I can stay in bed all day, watch movies, read, make yummy things in the kitchen or go out - I can do whatever I want. No place I need to be, nothing I need to do. I once read an article about Leos (that's right - I'm a Leo) according to which Leos' favourite day of the Week is Sunday. That is so not true! On Sunday the weekend is slipping away, everything you should do on Monday is already in your head and it's just hard to relax. But on Friday the weekend is just about to start and all you can think of are the endless possibilities. I got a little carried away but all I really wanted to say is "Happy Friday!" :)

(Photo: viewsofia)

Socks Obsession

2010-09-28T11:08:00.004+03:00

Remember the post where I was in love with Sarah Jessica Parker's outfit? Well, I think this love evolved into an over the knee socks obsession. People say the first step is to admit you have a problem. So here it is - I'm sharing it with you.

Aren't all these insanely cute? I already picked up a couple of pairs. My, I love autumn!

(please, click on each photo to be taken to the original source. thanks.)

Brownie & Anthro

2010-09-24T12:09:00.005+03:00

I ordered an Anthropologie catalog a while ago and I had forgotten all about it when I found it on my doorstep last week. Needless to say it got me in the mood for a lovely late summer afternoon. All I needed was dessert. So I made brownie. Here's the recipe if you are into making Friday afternoon even more wonderful.

Ingredients (click on the photo to see it bigger):

First thing you need to do is melt the butter and then mix it with the sugar and the eggs. The sugar needs to be completely melted before you add all of the other ingredients except the chocolate and the nuts. Mix it all using a mixer and then add the chocolate and nuts cut into small pieces. Put it in an oiled baking dish and bake in a preheated at 150 degrees oven.

It's really easy and so delicious! Everyone at home loved it and I made it two more times that week. My advice is to keep it in the fridge and eat it the next day if you can resist.

I got the recipe from here (it's in Bulgarian, so those of you from here might want to check it out). The only thing I changed was that I used 1 tea cup of brown sugar instead of 2 cups of white sugar. And I also used Nequik cocoa because it made it taste sweeter and I liked it much better. I hope you like it and let me know if anyone tries it! xo

(Photos: Iva Yaneva)

Summer's over.

2010-09-22T13:25:00.003+03:00

Hello. Anyone out there? Blogging right now feels like walking into an attic no one has gone to in a long, long time.

Anyway, I'm back at my apartment and I'm back to school. Which means that I am also back to my old schedule. Well, not exactly because it's my 5th year at the uni and I only have one project (you can say that I'm doing my master, I guess), hence more free time. I was trying my best to stay away from my laptop this summer and you can see that I did a pretty good job at it! I am still trying to figure out my best blogging schedule though, so please, be patient with me until I get back on track. I'll try to post 2-3 times a week for now and we'll see how it goes.

Well, that's about it. I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and I'll see you soon! xo

(Photo: .the great pretender.)

Who broke the summer?

2010-09-03T12:09:00.004+03:00

That's what I wanna know. The weather has gone from insanely hot to insanely cold in just a few days. I love the time of year when you can walk outside with just a soft cardigan and wear cute scarves and booties. But it's just a little too early, isn't it?

I hope you're getting lots of sunshine, wherever you are.

(Photo: Holly Stanton)

Inspiration: Nato Welton

2010-08-25T15:06:00.004+03:00

Visiting the construction sites before lunch and then spending the rest of the day at the office makes my energy go from top to bottom. I know most people drink their coffee in the morning to wake up, but I definitely need it more in the early afternoon. Stopped to get a quick break I came across this beautiful photo by Nato Welton.

I want to paint my doors in this color. Hope you are having a lovely week! xo

(Photo: Nato Welton via Tea For Joy)

Lovely: Cath Kidston

2010-08-24T17:07:00.004+03:00

Cath Kidston is probably one of the cutest companies ever! All of their products are in vintage-inspired patterns which makes them so pretty and girly. I guess I am the last person who hasn't already blogged about them but here are some of my favourites:

I especially love the iphone and laptop cases and also their messenger bag ( <3 ). The make up cases would look so pretty in a bathroom too, don't you think?

(Photos: Cath Kidston)

Lovely: Melissa

2010-08-23T16:21:00.004+03:00

Am I completely insane for loving these shoes? Perhaps, but my, are they the cutest!

My only concern, besides the price, is that they look terribly uncomfortable. And comfortable shoes is a must for me. Believe me, I would walk everywhere in my slippers if I could.

I just love how they look with tights in a contrasting colour! Perfect for autumn.

Yes, they are made of plastic. But a recycled one.

(Photos via heartshapedsky and Melissa.com)

Life

2010-08-10T17:53:00.003+03:00

Hello, lovelies! I have a reason why I haven't been very active lately and it is because I got hired to work on an interior design project that has to be done in just a couple of weeks. I hope you guys understand and I really miss you all.

The good news is I got twitter on my iphone and I am updating it quite regularly, plus I am now able to upload photos as well. So, if you are on twitter, you can find me there in the next couple of weeks and if you are not - I will still try to post here every now and then when I have time. I hope to see you there because I really miss you guys!

I hope you are having a wonderful summer so far! xo

(Photo: oh/so/sweet)

Lovely: Crates

2010-08-06T09:20:00.001+03:00

I love books! And I love looking at books, apart from reading them of course. I love looking at other people's collection of books because it says so much about them, about what they love and who they are.

Since my books collection is growing (now that I have my own apartment I can call it "my" collection, not my family's) I've been looking for an inexpensive bookcase I can either buy or make myself. And now that I've seen the beautiful things people do with crates, yes - crates!, I think I've found my future bookcase. Aren't these inspiring?

I also love the idea of using crates as bedside tables. How simple and wonderful is that?

(Photos: 1.Recyclart 2.interiorama; 3.David Schalliol via Dolan Geiman; 4.Nashville Cream 5. houzz; 6.Apartment Therapy; 7.Vintage Indie; 8.Ayos: Living ReArrangements )

Life is Beautiful!

2010-08-05T14:41:00.002+03:00

I highly doubt there is anything better for breakfast than birthday cake leftovers. With Turkish coffee, which my grandma taught me how to make, organic milk and a wonderful book. Especially if you have a small garden to complete the picture. Ah, isn't life beautiful?

Thanks everyone for the kind birthday wishes, you are all so sweet!! I hope that your week is as lovely as mine.

(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Taking it easy

2010-08-04T10:50:00.003+03:00

It's my birthday today, yay! I don't like making big plans for my birthday (anymore) so instead I am taking today off work and I am simply going to enjoy it with my favourite people. I made homemade birthday cake yesterday with my mom, just how we used to do it when I was a kid (it's all white and pink cream, hehe). We have some yummy things in the oven and the photo shows how my lovely day started - breakfast and coffee on the swing in our garden.

I wish you all a wonderful day!! I will save you a piece of my cake, I promise :)

(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Lovely: Organizers

2010-08-02T11:00:00.002+03:00

Do you remember this post where I was looking for the perfect recipe book? Well, I think I found a whole lot of them on the kikki.K website! There are all kinds of organizers in white: for baking, recipes, even take aways. I love the cute little drawings of utensils in different colors at the front of each one. Another good thing, apart from the design, is that your recipes are protected inside the organizer so they won't get grease all over them while cooking.

I also think that My Manuals & Warranties and My Receipts organizers would be very helpful at every home. I have tons of these in boxes, folders and I never find what I need at the moment. So it would be really nice to organize them once and for all.

Other things that I love from this website are the Birthday & Anniversary Calendar (I always forget important dates, so this one would be really useful for me); 2011 Cute Diary (could I get away with this one at the uni or at work?); this cute luggage tag and canvas pencil case. If you still haven't noticed, there is an 8-year old inside of me :) I wish I could dress and behave like one, ha!

(Photos: kikki.K)

p.s. I found these via a lovely blog but I forgot to bookmark it and now I can't remember its name. If you have featured these about a couple of weeks ago, let me know, because I want to credit the website I found them on.

The lovely Rosa contacted me and I can now leave you a link where I found these lovely organizers. It was on ChicDeco and if you haven't been there, you totally should (and also bookmark it before your browser crashes, lol). Thanks, Rosa once again! xo

Happy Friday!

2010-07-30T11:32:00.003+03:00

It's Friday again, yay! I am going away for the weekend to a lovely place in the mountain where I can (hopefully) take a lot of pictures. It was a good week, wasn't it? I did pretty much all I had planned plus managed to finish part 2 of Atlas Shrugged in spite of all the work. My boyfriend even got me one of these book lights (in white) since the light near my bed is pretty bad. Isn't he sweet?

Also, it is my birthday on Wednesday (I just realized that yesterday!) I don't have anything planned but I decided I just have to make a cake with my mom just like we used to when I was a little kid. I got so inspired by the photo at the top by the wonderful Haust! Isn't that the best birthday cake one can ever wish for?

I can't even begin to tell you how much I like this DIY bookshelf!

If you haven't been to her flickr or blog, you totally should! Lots of inspiration and eye-candy there.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone and see you Monday!

(Photos: Haust)

Etsy Love

2010-07-30T11:18:00.001+03:00

I think I have a new obsession - floral deco tape. It is so cute and romantic and the vintage patterns are so pretty! They remind me of these skirts and dresses that are so in style right now.

You can find some at WonderlandRoom, Cinderellagiftshop and also nothingelegant and lycheebag.

(Photos: sempre skinny via Lovely Clusters; Etsy)

Today I love...

2010-07-28T15:56:00.004+03:00

This outfit. The one on the right to be exact. The socks, the gloves, the cardigan, the shoes.. It all looks wonderful together. And it's moments like this I dream of autumn and its cute outfits.

(Photo: Penny Lane)

Lovely: Breakfast

2010-07-28T10:34:00.000+03:00

I wasn't feeling very well yesterday so I got today off work and stayed at home. I got up early, made some breakfast and got out in the yard to eat it on the swing and get some fresh air. I thought my toast with creme cheese and cucumbers looked really fresh and pretty and thought I'd take some photos but silly me forgot to recharge the camera's battery. And then I remembered that lovely blog, called simply breakfast, and thought I'd share this one with you instead.

If this lovely blog doesn't inspire you to start a healthy morning routine and eat breakfast regularly, then I don't know what will.

I am guessing Jennifer Causey, the talented lady behind this blog, has an impressive collection of tablecloths, napkins, cups, plates etc. And even though the photos simply show the same thing every single day - breakfast, they couldn't look more different and interesting thanks to Jen's amazing styling skills.

(Photos: simply breakfast)

The Forest - my true love!

2010-07-27T19:02:00.000+03:00

It's just Tuesday and I already feel exhausted! But at least I managed to do quite some work and edit some photos from my weekend away on top of that.

I used my prize from this competition, which was weekend for two at a spa hotel in Bansko. Bansko used to be a lovely place, one of my favourite ski resorts but so many people began going there that it just wasn't the same quiet town in the mountain any more. The second highest peak in Bulgaria is nearby and also the oldest tree (1,300 years old), which is fascinating. The old buildings are wonderful, made of stone and wood and the cuisine is just amazing!

An old woman selling handmade things on the street (above).

Got some coffee and dessert at the hotel above. They also had the best homemade ice cream ever!

And these photos I took through the windshield while driving (harder than it sounds!) I love traveling through the woods. I wish I could have a house with a view like this.

And this little door was so tiny it could barely reach my waist! I have no idea who uses it but as I said on flickr I like to think it's elves or some other magical creatures of the forest hehe.

All photos by me, except the ones of me - those were taken by my boyfriend and he wanted me to note that specifically (he's really proud of them). Have a wonderful week, dear friends! xo

Still in Bed

2010-07-26T11:03:00.000+03:00

welcome, ghosts

It's a rainy morning but I love it! I would love it even more if I were in bed at home and reading a book while listening to the rain outside, but being at the office is not too bad either. I already have Internet access over here and I hope it would be easier for me to blog more often.

welcome, ghosts

I had a pretty great weekend. We baptized my baby nephew yesterday and it was lovely. I have a ton of photos, he was so cute! On Saturday we went to see Inception and that was great as well. If you haven't seen it already, I recommend it. I am not the biggest fan of Leonardo DiCaprio but he sure knows how to choose his movies. I really can't think of a movie with him that wasn't worth watching.

hello bum

The weekend was pretty great when it comes to books too. While traveling with my dad on the highway we stopped to get coffee and to my surprise they were selling all kinds of things there, including books on a huge sale! I was happier than a kid in a candy shop! I got The Hours for just $2 and Indian Textile Prints for inspiration for just $3. How cool is that!? I am definitely going back there as they constantly add new stuff to their sale.

hello bum

I also discovered that they have the insanely gorgeous Penguin Classics collection at my local bookstore for a really good price too - $15 (I even think it's cheaper than Anthro!). The bad thing is they only have like 5-6 of them and I have read them all so I couldn't bring myself to buy a book I have already read or already have, no matter how pretty the cover is. But I would be checking more often to see if they get the other books too.

Oh, and I also really liked this book. Has anyone got it? Any reviews?

How did you guys spend your weekend? I hope it was lovely as well!

Lina Scheynius

Well,

2010-07-21T21:31:00.005+03:00

It's 9 pm and I am already in bed. This 13 hrs workday is really exhausting! I wish I could make my day 36 hrs long and then I'll have time for everything. Or would I?

Anyway, I really need to find more time for my blog as it is suffering the most right now. And I wouldn't want to just leave it on its own, I refuse! I'll figure it out and if I don't I guess I'll just have to create a time machine, right? If you have any tips (on scheduling and balancing between a full time job and blogging, not creating a time machine, lol) sharing them would be very much appreciated!

p.s. Thank you for all the positive thoughts on yesterday's post! Unfortunately, the baby bird died this morning :(

(Photo: ghostlings)

A new friend

2010-07-20T21:38:00.002+03:00

I got home from work today and my mom said we had a new friend - a baby bird! It is so tiny and cute and I am so scared it may not survive long because I know it's really hard to take care of baby birds. It has feathers and it is actually not the smallest baby bird I've seen but it definitely cannot fly. We put it in a box and I hope it's not cold because it shivers from time to time and it is breaking my heart! Has any of you taken care of a baby bird? I would very much appreciate any tips you have. I read some suggestions on the internet but it's always best to hear someone who's had an experience with this. Thank you so much!

Also, can you recognize what bird it is? We think it might be a baby swallow as my mom saw a few flying around but we're not sure.

Happy Friday!

2010-07-16T23:38:00.005+03:00

What do you do when it's insanely hot outside? That's right - you go somewhere cool, ha! :) It's the weekend already (yay!) and all I can think of is vacation. I've had so much work done this week but it's good - I love being productive! I just hope I can find time for all of my projects.

We are leaving for Bansko tomorrow. It's a ski resort and it's very close to the mountains, which I love! I think of the seaside as more of a "fun" vacation, while going at the mountains is more about piece and serenity. I am curious which one you prefer? We are actually very lucky to have both in our small country and they are only a couple of hours apart, so it's pretty much the best of both worlds. But if you had to choose where do you prefer to spend your vacation? I think I'll have to say the mountains.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend, no matter if you are on vacation or staying at home. 'I just hope it's not too hot wherever you are. See you Monday!

(Photo: violetjulia)

New drawing

2010-07-14T15:23:00.000+03:00

Got inspired by an old issue of Vogue. I am trying my best to keep drawing after my classes are over even if it's just a quick sketch. I really hope to have enough time to do this in the future because it's so easy to just forget you could ever draw. Mixing different techniques turned out to be a lot of fun for me and I really, really love it.

I couldn't get my scanner to work so I had to take a photo instead. But anyways, have a wonderful, full of inspiration day! xo

Etsy Love

2010-07-13T22:40:00.002+03:00

Yesterday a dear flickr friend told me she had opened the Etsy shop we've all been waiting for for a while. Those of you who are on flickr might know her as ivy style33 and in case you don't - I highly recommend taking a look at her photostream as it is not only filled with beautiful sunny photos but it is also updated daily.

And while you're there don't forget to check out her beautiful home! It was featured on the Etsy Storque and it is just lovely. In fact I am pretty sure there is some kind of magic involved in it because it is just not possible for a place to have that beautiful light all the time!

The photo above must be my favourite! Isn't it cute?

And while we are on the subject, I highly recommend trying out her cake recipe. I made it for my boyfriend's birthday and it was sooo good! Yum!

Ivy's flickr / blog / etsy shop

(Photos: ivy style33)

Lovely: Loewe fall ad campaign

2010-07-13T16:55:00.004+03:00

You may not know this but I am a huge fan of Victoria's Secret angels. So huge that I stay up late to watch their show every year because of the time difference. So imagine my thrill when I saw Loewe's fall/winter campaign shot by photographer Nigel Shafran and featuring not one but three of the girls - Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

I really love the different approach - we are used to seeing them in their underwear (and no doubt they are stunning) but I believe there is something beautiful and sophisticated about a gorgeous woman wearing formal clothes. The ponytails, the knee-high skirts, the trench coats, the gloves, it all speaks almost of "royalty" to me. Do you like them in this new light?

(Photos: fashionising.com)

Inspiration: Ditte Isager

2010-07-12T21:18:00.001+03:00

Waking up early for work is hard. I am helping my dad at the office this summer and I get up at 6 o'clock Monday to Friday (and sometimes the weekend too). Usually till noon I am all quiet and I feel like having a huge cup of tea or carrying a soft blanket with me. These photos by Ditte Isager portray this feeling so well. I would love, love, love to sleep in the bed above, maybe not every night, but yeah. The forest is my dream place to live.

How do you manage to wake up for work every day?

p.s. Thank you, dear Silvia for the sweet surprise! xo

(Photos: Ditte Isager)

Beautiful Afternoon

2010-07-07T23:02:00.002+03:00

Don't you just love those lazy afternoons when all you can think of is how wonderful the hot sun is; read a good book or flip through a magazine and not care about anything that happens around you.. Oh, these are the best!

My dad got this beautiful book (on the photo above) for my mom. It has reproductions of Pierre-Joseph Redouté's rose paintings and I believe you can easily frame each page and hang it on the wall. Definitely a wonderful find!

I wish you all a beautiful day! xo

(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Books + Desserts

2010-07-07T12:45:00.004+03:00

This one is for all the bookworms who read this blog. I recently found a place in Sofia that offers not only deliciously looking desserts, but also a book to flip through while you enjoy your cake. It's called PaperCake and I absolutely love the idea! I haven't visited it yet but I hope to do so this weekend, so expect more info (+ photos hopefully) next week.

Well, this place reminded me of a coffee shop I came across while doing my research for the interior design project I had. It's called McNally Jackson Cafe (on all the photos), the design is by Front Studio and it's located in Manhattan. The walls are covered with book pages, there are books hanging from the ceiling, it's gorgeousness all around!

Have you been to any of these places or a different one but with the same vibe? I'd love to hear what you think about mixing books and desserts , because I don't know about you but I'm crazy about this concept!

(Photos: Modresdes)

Style

2010-07-06T12:44:00.000+03:00

There's a website for Street style in Sofia where the guys behind it pretty much walk around the city and when they see someone with a great personal style they take a photo and later upload it. It's gotten quite popular already and I must say I saw some great stuff over there. But this look must be my favourite! It kinda reminds me of Carrie from Sex and the City, when she fell with Big in a lake or something and later came home wearing a male shirt fastened with a belt.

(Photos: Sofia Street Style)

What I've been up to

2010-07-05T15:05:00.002+03:00

Now that the projects are all done I really need something to keep me busy (not that the exams ever left me with too much spare time). I thought I'd rather use the vacation to learn more about the software I use, as well as learn some new ones that might be useful. With that in mind I found two really great websites with lots of tutorials (adbuzeedo and blog.spoongraphics) and I gave it a try. These are all done in Photoshop by simply following the tutorials with not much designing from my part, but they are great for practice and learning. I use the one at the top as a wallpaper on my laptop and my boyfriend liked the second one. If you want to use any of these - go ahead!

Inspiration: Macaroons

2010-07-05T10:53:00.004+03:00

What better way to start the week than with some (eye) candy! I found a place that makes macaroons a few weeks ago and they were so pretty and colorful, how can they not make someone happy? We actually have something similar to macaroons over here, we call them "kisses" and they look like this. I remember eating a lot of those when I was a kid.

I am still having my morning coffee even though it's noon. Last night was a night out celebrating the last exam that we all passed yesterday. We are all officially starting our master degree in the fall! How did you spend your weekend?

p.s. I created a Pinterest account and you can check out more macaroon (and other) photos there. I like it more than Tumblr because it has folders and it's so much easier to organize your finds. Thanks Rachel for introducing me to this website! Come join the fun, everyone!

(Photos from top to bottom: Melissa. Tse / dailymail / channel4 / AngelicBabyShowerGifts / Daemon's food / Amanda Gilligan / chachahavana / Chloe Smith )

Summer Colors Week: Blue

2010-07-02T11:58:00.004+03:00

Happy last day of Summer Colours week! It was a lot of fun, wasn't it? It definitely got me dreaming of a beautiful, hot summer with lots of sun and endless beaches. We'll probably be starting the season off with a weekend in the mountains next week. I still haven't used the voucher I won in the architectural competition a few months ago and it expires in August, so this is the time! Some of you asked me which project I entered the competition with, it was my Residential Building and I also wanted to thank you so much for being so supportive! You are the best! xo

Last night we went to see Eclipse at midnight. Did you guys get to see it already? I'm curious what you think. I have read the books and my opinion is that it wasn't as good as the book. I think New Moon was better made, even though it was the most boring of all parts, but the feeling from reading and watching it was pretty much the same. So, any opinions? Oh, and at some point at my theater people actually threw bottles at Bella, lol.

I hope you have a really wonderful Friday and an even better weekend! My last exam is on Sunday and after that we have a night out with the friends from the uni planned. I'm excited because everyone is doing their master in different departments next year and this is the last time we get together, sigh.

(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Lovely Home

2010-07-01T12:20:00.004+03:00

Balconies are very cool, especially this time of the year when all you want is to be outside all the time. You want to lay there in the afternoon reading a book with soft music coming from inside, or drink cocktails with your friends on a breezy night. Yes, balconies are our getaway, our small oasis in the crazy city.

This stunningly beautiful and charming home reminded me of an apartment we visited while looking for my place. It had a terrace just like this one and even though it was a lot smaller (it was a studio and it was pretty much the size of the kitchen + the dining area) we fell in love. I could imagine it all furnished and decorated and wonderful. It was in very poor condition though - all the floors had to be changed, the windows, the whole bathroom, even the roof had to be fixed and we had to invest a whole lot before it became the place I imagined. So we gave it up and continued our search. But every now and then I remember how much potential it had and wish I could afford to live in a place like that some day.

The living area is very charming. Seriously, I love everything about this place! (Except for the TV - you have to be standing up to see it there!? But you could easily move it to the wall next to the desk.)

I love the hydrangea in the bucket. Do you see it? I have two at home waiting for some flowers, no, not some flowers - hydrangeas!

What a beautiful view! I leave you with this cute and charming place and wish you a lovely afternoon on your balcony! xo

(Photos: DigsDigs)

Etsy Love

2010-07-01T11:04:00.003+03:00

The Ardent Sparrow's new collection of Sunny greeting cards just screams Summer! And yes, I am thinking of sunny days, joy and happiness. Aren't you? :)

(Photo: The Ardent Sparrow)

Summer Colors Week: Red and White

2010-07-01T08:32:00.001+03:00

(Photo: .natasha. )

Summer Colors Week: Green

2010-06-30T09:55:00.002+03:00

Today is Green day over at Poppytalk. Each year they organize Summer Colors Week and even though I missed the first couple of days (thanks to my economics exam!) I decided to join for the rest of the week. If you want to take part as well, you can add photos to the Summer Colors Week flickr group and of course - have fun with it!

Speaking of flickr, did you guys check out the new version? It's fabulous! I love how big the images are and how easy it is to see the photo on black background. Scrolling through the images with just your keyboard arrows comes in handy too. Did you try it out?

(Photo: Amalia Chimera)

Lovely: Willow Rose Boutique

2010-06-30T08:45:00.004+03:00

Yesterday I was going through an old issue of Vogue and I happened to come across a small boutique company called Willow Rose. The talented lady behind it Willow Corbett-Winder makes the most beautiful notebooks using antique fabric. I really like them because they are unique and there is a whole range of fabrics to choose from, including lots and lots of flowers. What better than a notebook, covered with vintage fabric with gorgeous flowers on it? Sounds like a dream.

they look really well made. lovely detail.

They also make bracelets and beautiful pompom baskets. Check them out here. I hope you love this as much as I did. It's been a while since I came across such beautiful, romantic notebooks.

(Photos: Willow Rose)

Inspiration: Florian Nicolle

2010-06-29T13:00:00.003+03:00

On this particular rainy afternoon I found a French artist that made me fall in love with his drawings. They are so bold, dramatic and breathtaking. No more words, just here they are:

this one reminds me of the Afghan girl from National Geographic cover. such an intense look.

Florian Nicolle's website.
(Photos: Abuzeedo)

Mango

2010-06-25T15:22:00.000+03:00

Mango is one of my favourite places to stop by when I'm shopping. To me it's very similar but more affordable (?) than Zara. I'm not sure if it is available worldwide but I know it's all over Europe, plus they have an online shop (and a pretty good website!) so you might want to check it out. I really love the vintage-inspired style, the cute but also very elegant dresses and I absolutely love their wallets! I think the last 5 wallets that I got are from their store. They also have some limited edition clothes that are oh, so gorgeous. I got a dress for my graduation a few years ago that was so beautiful with amazing details and is definitely my most favourite dress to date.

some favourites of mine. last week I got the gray dress at the top.

I love, love, love the floral maxi dress!

and wearing this dress I believe every woman will look like a goddess!

I am curious if you know this brand, especially those of you who live out of Europe. I would love to know if you got something lovely lately that you want to share! I will be back tomorrow and until then I am leaving you with the last photo that makes me dream of lots of sun, blue seas and relaxation.

(All photos are from Mango's blog and website)

Coffee and French Croissants.. in Bed!

2010-06-25T09:56:00.004+03:00

Good morning, dearest friends! I have a question for you: Is there anything better than having coffee and french croissants in bed? It has been so cold here, it almost feels like winter and I am wearing my boyfriend's sweater and my fuzzy socks and I have no intention of leaving the bed today!

I had a pretty intense week. I had exams on Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Yeah, and there are three more to go! I also attended a three-days festival which was quite great. It turned out there is a new park right next to the airport and that is the perfect location for loud music all day and all night long, three days in a row. We listened to Morcheeba (personal favourites), Gotan Project and Groove Armada. If you are not familiar with any of these, I recommend that you check them out - they are all pretty awesome.

Ok, now seriously, what is wrong with the weather? Not that my favourite type of weather isn't rainy and gray but it just feels so.. wrong! It's the end of June! Last week the temperatures were almost 40 C (100 F) and the other day it was 14 C (57 F). I was wearing a sweater AND a jacket in the middle of the day. Is it like this where you are too?

I went to see Sex and the City 2 with a friend of mine yesterday and I thought it was so much better than the first one. Did you see it already? I was very pleasantly surprised because I expected it to be a disaster like the first one. I am a huge fan of the series and one thing I hated most about the movie is that they changed Carrie's apartment. I loved it so much before! It was my dream place to live! What do you think - old apartment or the redecorated one?

Well, this is it for now. I have a bit of a fashion post coming up, so check back later if you want to see which is one of my favourite places to shop. I am off to take out my warm blanket again.

Cuteness overload

2010-06-17T13:23:00.003+03:00

I went to see my baby nephew yesterday and I managed to take quite some photos. He is so adorable and was in such a good mood - he didn't stop laughing for hours! He is 6 months old and has the prettiest green eyes ever!

I bet he knows just how cute he is! I can see him using it to get out of trouble already :)

in his towel

aunt Iva got him this Superman outfit

taking a bath

Etsy Love

2010-06-16T12:27:00.000+03:00

While looking for some inspiration for my interior design assignment I came across a wonderful artist on Etsy. The shop is called Lucile's kitchen and the drawings are so cute and full of French handwriting. I fell in love with the recipes, especially the French cake one! Wouldn't that look oh so pretty on a kitchen wall?

Visit Lucile's kitchen here. And don't forget to bring your oven mitts!

(Photos: Lucile's kitchen)

The perfect Recipe Book?

2010-06-15T17:32:00.000+03:00

Ok, something huge today. And by huge I mean Moleskine huge!
I've been searching for the perfect recipe book, since I missed getting the awesome one they had at Anthro, and surprise - it turns out Moleskine makes them! (am I the only one who didn't know that?) It looks nice and the pages seem to be well designed for the purpose. I think I'd like to have a bigger one, a real big recipe book actually, that is filled with scraps and handwriting and my grandma's recipes that I could put on the shelf, but I guess this one is more practical.

They also make journals for wine, books, movies, music and wellness. The last one sounds nice too.

So, do you have a recipe book? And if you know some great place I could find the perfect one, let me know - I'd love you forever!

Thanks, Frau Haselmayer for the info!

(Photo: Moleskine)

Project: Cafe interior design

2010-06-15T07:40:00.003+03:00

Hello again! I was afraid that it might be a bit difficult to get back on the blogging schedule, but turns out I really missed doing this! So, today I want to show you one of my projects I did for uni.

It is the interior design of a small cafe. We did design the whole space and then decorated it. I decided to use simple furniture contrasting the rich and full of character brick walls. Most of the cafes in Sofia are on the ground floor of really old buildings, so I thought saving the atmosphere and not making it too modern was the key here. I hope you like it!

I am back!

2010-06-14T14:11:00.004+03:00

Hello, lovely people! I am finally done with my projects for uni and today I am applying for continuing my education in the Residential Buildings department (or your equivalent of applying for a master degree) so hooray for that! I have a few exams till the end of the month, but that's the easy part, right?

I'm not going to share anything too exciting today (I'll be blogging regularly from tomorrow on), it's just a bit of an off-topic post to talk about the things I plan on doing this summer and asking you guys what your plans are.

I feel I have so much energy that I am not quite sure what to do with it, but it's the best feeling, isn't it? I think I'll need some kind of a fun project that hasn't quite emerged in my mind, so if anyone wants to do something awesome or is looking for some help with a project or anything really, just let me know :) I feel I need to get to know a bit more the lovely people that inspire me every single day with their blogs and art and talents and it would be so wonderful to actually do something together, no?

I am visiting my parents today and going to see my insanely awesome baby nephew (who is turning 1/2 year today!) and I'll hopefully get to take lots and lots of photos! I am thinking of joining the FGR group on flickr this summer again. If you haven't heard of it, check it out - it is sooo much fun! I have tennis lessons (I used to play for a couple of years and I so need to refresh my skills and play again), learning more about a few programs that might be useful (like 3ds max, archicad, illustrator...), working on my Italian, taking some kind of a sport is all on my list. One of my teachers told me I could go paint during the summer if I had nothing better to do and I think I might do that as well. That reminds me they took all of my paintings (for an exhibition as far as we know) but I hope I'd be able to get them back after that, because there are quite a few that I didn't get the chance to scan and show them to you. On top of all that I'd be helping my dad with his work and of course, the awesome "secret" project I am working on (he-he).

I think this is officially the longest post I've written so just one last thing. Thanks to everyone for the support even when I wasn't able to communicate with you! You are all so awesome and I am really lucky to have met you guys! I'll be having a giveaway next week to celebrate it :)

Oh, and so that you know, this is officially the most awesome video ever!

p.s. If I haven't responded to an email or message you've sent me - I apologize! I'm not ignoring you, I'm just slowly catching up.

Hope your list of things to do this summer is even more exciting than mine! I'll see you tomorrow and until then - have an awesome day! xo

I'm alive!

2010-05-20T14:55:00.003+03:00

Hello, dear friends! I am waiting for my picture to render and I thought I'd use the spare time to stop by and see how everyone is doing. I noticed that my followers are now over 100 which is so awesome! You guys are so wonderful and your comments always make me smile through my busy day. I apologize for not being around lately, I literally have to restrain myself from opening blogger because if I do then I'd come across your interesting posts and I'd spend hours reading before I get any work done.

Well, this is it for now. Keep your fingers crossed because my deadline is getting closer and closer. I also want to organize a small giveaway when I get back to blogging regularly, to celebrate the 100 followers. Sound good?

I miss you guys! Hope everything is going great with you! xo

(Photo: such pretty things)

Life and some news

2010-04-28T12:34:00.003+03:00

How is everyone? We are having a lovely weather over here but I've been quite busy with projects. I do have some exciting news though. Last month I sent one of my projects to enter a competition organized by The Home magazine and I came second! (Actually the email said second but from their website it looked like I'm third, so I'm not quite sure) I went to their office yesterday to pick up my prize and everyone was so sweet! I'm happy and now I need to concentrate on my projects even more because I am still behind thanks to my stupid allergy. But oh well, good and bad things come hand in hand don't they?

The photo above is of the most beautiful Japanese trees I've seen! There is a whole bunch of them and I walk by them every day. Spring, I love you!

I apologize in advance if I don't get to post as often as I'd like to but I am doing my best, I hope you forgive me hehe.

(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Etsy Love

2010-04-22T11:44:00.000+03:00

Hand assembled detailed replica of the Eiffel tower made of cardboard for just $50? I so want this, no - I so need this! Wouldn't it be nice to have it at your desk, or perhaps you'd prefer a meter long handmade Brooklyn bridge? I guess my love for architecture has just spoken. If you share my love though, be sure to check Paperlandmarks' Etsy shop.

(Photos: Paperlandmarks)

Beautiful Morning

2010-04-21T08:50:00.004+03:00

It's my first day at the uni today since Easter so I decided to make my morning more wonderful. Luckily the weather is on my side and after a few days of rain and cold it is now lovely outside. I am having milk and Truffles au Chocolat that I made yesterday following this recipe (remember yesterday's post?) These turned out lovely and they weren't too hard to make too.

This weekend I found a lovely store over here called Home decoration & gifts and I am just in love with it! It offers things in the style of Anthropologie only way, way cheaper. I got this mug and the bowl for just 10 leva (€5 or $7)! I had such a big smile on my face going out of it. You can find it in Serdika Center and there is another one on Vasil Levski Str. Unfortunately they don't have a website but it is worth taking the time to go there.

Have a wonderful day, dear friends! xo

(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Inspiration: Tartelette

2010-04-20T13:56:00.001+03:00

I have quite a few contacts on flickr who take the best food styling photos. And since they inspired me so much to even try it myself I thought if I share them with you they might inspire you as well. Here is tartelette. Enjoy and prepare your napkins because my, will these photos make you hungry!

Aren't these gorgeous? And I can bet - delicious too! The best part is tartelette also has a blog where you can find all the recipes for these wonderful meals. She was also featured on Top 50 Food Blogs according to Times and is also teaching food photography.

p.s. Here are a few tips and behind the scenes from this talented lady. I highly recommend taking a look if you are into styling your own photos.

(Photos: tartelette)

Recipe

2010-04-19T14:51:00.006+03:00

It is Monday again. I figured I'd share a recipe today to start off the week with something easy and delicious to keep you going through the whole week. I've been on a diet recently because of my allergy and because of it I am spending a lot of time in the kitchen making up recipes, some of them successful, others not so much but this one is my favourite so far. I hope you like it too!

Let me know if you try it and have a lovely week! xo

(Photos: Iva Yaneva)

Happy Friday!

2010-04-16T18:36:00.005+03:00

Happy Friday, dear friends! What are you planning to do this weekend? It is pretty cold over here but I hope that I'd be able to get out for the first time in over a week and also go see a movie (this one).

I got some lovely packaging goods that I ordered today and I can't wait to play with them! I'm not showing them to you because it's part of my secret project (hehe) but I promise you I'll let you know once I work out all the details. Deal?

And because it's Friday and we should be all relaxing or having fun instead of spending hours in front of the computer, I figured the best post for today is some quick eye-candy!

(Photos: 1. candlemomo 2. Lorajean G. 3. simple tess 4. The Design Cove 5. Cabinet of Curiosities 6. Daydream Lily 7. me Catherine 8. Design Sponge 9. FacilySencillo 10. Peonies and Polaroids 11. candlemomo)

A few more on my tumblr. Have a lovely weekend, friends! xo

Lovely Home

2010-04-15T12:22:00.000+03:00

We're having such gray weather today. I feel like it's fall all over again. But oh, well, at least the internet never fails to cheer me up.

I came across this beautiful home the other day. I was looking for apartments approximately as big as mine and trying to find some inspiration and well, mission accomplished! I really love how bright and cozy this place is, it is not hard to feel at home here.

The kitchen is just the cutest! I can eat breakfast there all day long, no seriously - I can!

(Photos from here)

Lovely

2010-04-14T20:29:00.004+03:00

Hello, friends! How is everyone? I am doing a lot better, I even managed to make dinner today. Apart from that I had a pretty lazy day, I didn't have electricity for a few hours so I spent the day in bed with a book and a pile of magazines that my boyfriend was sweet enough to bring me yesterday.

My mom was staying with me last week to help with my allergy and she brought this beautiful clock one day to cheer me up. It was so sweet, it reminded me of when I was little and I was sick (and I was sick all the time as a kid!) and she would bring me something small but pretty when she came back from work. My dad brought me the lilacs. They grow right outside my window at my parents' garden. Lilacs are my absolute favourite of all plants! They remind me of spring and my old room.

Do you have favourite plants/flowers? Something unusual perhaps?

More photos on my flickr.

(Photo: Iva Yaneva)

Inspiration: Kate Mathis

2010-04-14T18:40:00.000+03:00

I love the photography of Kate Mathis. Her photos are so beautifully styled and I really like the dark, rich colors. The photos I usually come across are bright and colorful but there is something deep about Kate's portfolio, don't you think?

(Photos: Kate Mathis)