Be blown away

An incredibly smart friend of mine told me something one night, quite some time ago, that I’ve carried with me ever since. It was one of those moments, the kind just pleading for some profound commentary… for something beautiful to be said amidst the smoke and the music. And, she said it. In a little bar in Dubai as the live singer sang out, she took my hands and looked me in the eyes and said this…

“Be blown away… When you fall in love, never settle for anything less than being blown away…”

I wrote that down in 2008, but I return to it because the truth remains as relevant as it was years ago....

The weekend just went by was incredible. Kunal and I did not do anything out of the ordinary. We did some wedding related stuff, we had a drinking night with my brother-in-law .. introducing him here for the very first time (**drum roll**) Bijoy Shah (eligible Bachelor, soon to be 26 ) , we fought... or rather we argued, we made up... !!! and then all of a sudden, the whole weekend got tossed from being on ordinary weekend to a one worth remembering !! he did 2 things 

1. We got incredibly wasted on Thursday night and we hadnt fully recovered till about friday late evening. And as exhausted as he was too he drove my car from his house to mine and installed me back at my house and then took the rickshaw back home in the middle of night - all with a smile !!! 

2. Just when our Sunday had not even started, he waited all morning and then waited a little more while i picked up clothes for my uncle outside a store.. to come give me my 100,000 viewers present !!! Woooohhooooo. i had been eyeing this watch for a little over 6 months and just when I saw the box my heart skipped a beat. i knew what was inside the silver wrapping paper... but i just did not want to jump at it !!! Lest it didnt turn out that. But knowing "The Kunal Shah' that i am engaged too ... I just knew it what this man is upto. his over the top, out of the ordinary, king size gestures... makes ever living moment worth it !! Sometimes I ask myself - that it should always remain the gesture and not the gift that is important in our lives... and i hope that keeps me grounded for life !

So here i am... all sickly, in love with my new Guess collection watch !!! Just btw - I got a similar one in White as my engagement present... so I did get told that im making a guess collection show room at home !! But what the heck !!

"The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don't finally meet somewhere, they're in each other all along."

- Rumi

Isabelle Tuchband in Wonderland

 this week the selby features the amazingly colorful home of artist isabelle tuchband from são paulo, brazil. isabelle is the daughter of a french painter, and grew up among paints, canvas and paintbrushes from her father’s studio, learning since her early age how to see the world with the colors of art. her home is an eclectic and kitschy collection, almost a little bit madcap, but i like it that way! and the selby captures her colorful world perfectly.

In the dream of Louise Roe

 i recently discovered louise roe through the latest issue of llamas’ valley magazine. hanne louise roe andersen is a clothing designer from denmark who has also worked for many years in the home furnishing and interior design industry, so naturally, louise’s creative world of fashion and interiors have merged, becoming one beautiful lifestyle for her, and for us. louise’s website and inspirational styling and photography are as stunning as her product line. i think you’re going to swoon a little bit over louise roe. so, you may want to sit down for this one.

PUGLY PIXEL DIY : Envelopes

 i love pugly pixel. not only is katrina generous of spirit, sharing photoshop tutorials on her blog with fans like me who are dying to learn how she makes everything look so pretty, but she also posts some awesome diy ideas, too. this one is for custom envelopes made from upcycling fashion magazines (she used a jcrew catalog) using her kuretake handmade mini envelope template. how cool are these!?

for the entire diy how to, hop on over to puxly pixel, and here for part one of her envelope tutorial.

I quack BLACK

 i was inspired by these great color collage charts created by kontor kontur. this one, obviously honors the dark side of color – black. i’m pretty passionate about black in my home – i just like the way it pops in its own unique and bold way. here’s more about why i love black.

 bonjour celine’s amazing quilt (above and below).

 mokkasin polka-dotted blanket.

 photographer line thit klein.

 photographer jakob nyland.

 jenna lyons’ beautiful bedroom.

 lily’s wonderful workspace.

 skönahem.

le souk bedding via apartment therapy.