While I’m still daydreaming about the three days I spent in Paris, I wanted to share the travel essentials that I loved having with me. When packing for Paris I always try to remember that everyone dresses a little more chic – even for a quick run to the grocery store. With that being said, I packed a few things that could easily dress up any outfit. For this leg of our journey I brought my trusty leather jacket, a fur scarf for the evenings and my pair of boots with a low enough heel that I could walk for miles in. Pair all of these items with a large tote that can carry most purchases and you are golden to hit the streets of Paris. Stay tuned for a guide to my favorite spots in Paris coming later today! 1.) Pattern-Trim Trouser Socks | 2.) Givenchy Nightingale Shopper Tote | 3.) Perfect Leather Motorcycle Jacket | 4.) Book: The Goldfinch | 5.) Clinique Nail Polish in Pajama Party | 6.) Otte NYC Finn Fur Collar | 7.) Otte NYC Sophie Top | 8.) J Brand 485 Luxe Sateen Mid-rise Skinny Jeans | 9.) Le Labo Fleur D’Oranger 27 Balm | 10.) The Charley Boot Map by Heather Day for Sacramento Street #travel

After a delightful weekend down in sunny and warm Scottsdale, it’s back to the daily grind here in SF. It was such a treat seeing Eric, going to lunches and dinners together, getting some quality time by the pool for some much needed vitamin D and just enjoying time to actually open up a book. Now, I’m ready for an action packed week working on some beautiful design projects and a few new campaigns coming up that I’m excited to unveil in a few short weeks! I hope all of you have a wonderful week ahead. Photo by Caitlin Flemming | Swimsuit by Madewell #lifestyle

Happy weekend everyone! I kicked off mine a bit early yesterday by diving into the pool and catching some much needed rays. My pale Northern California skin is in dire need of vitamin D. This weekend I’ll be spending some quality time visiting Eric down at Spring Training. I’ve been spending my days discovering new places to eat and hidden treasure troves thanks to the lovely Sara Kate. If you have any must-do’s here in that Scottsdale/Phoenix area I’d love to hear them! I’ll be back again in a week and a half for some more warm weather fun. If you’re staying cozy inside or enjoying a little sunshine, I highly recommend these weekend links. * I’ve suddenly decided that making a delicious breakfast is the perfect way to start my mornings. These next two recipes are a must – avocado toast with egg & frisee and a poached egg with wilted chard both sound delicious. * This collection shot by Nicole Franzen is simply stunning. * Looking for lighting inspiration? Check out my new post on modern wall sconces. * I’m still dreaming of Paris and this beautiful apartment has me wishing I could move right in. * Lastly, please welcome a new sponsor, b-spired. They specialize in beautiful wooden greeting cards. Each design is simple and rustic. The best part is founders Betsey and Charlottle make everything in San Francisco. Be sure to pop over to check out their amazing collection! Photo by Caitlin Flemming #lifestyle

Friday marks the start of the weekend! You can usually find me working in my comfy pair of jeans, a sweatshirt and tennis shoes. Just knowing that the weekend is a few hours away gives me a “let’s finish things up” attitude. That’s why I wanted to share my go-to look for casual Fridays – I’m a firm believer in casual Fridays, and weekends for that matter. I’m always trying to re-invent my Friday look so I want to know – do you have any favorite pieces that you love wearing on a casual day? The Basics: 1.) Toothpick Miller Wash Jeans 2.) Zip Front Sweatshirt The Layers: 3.) Vince ‘Blair’ Slip on Sneakers 4.) Laura Mercer Sequin Eye Color 5.) Laura Mercer Moisturizer SPF 20 6.) Rebecca Minkoff Cross Body Bag 7.) Kate Spade Gramercy Grand Watch 8.) American Vintage Massachusetts Vest Check out our other casual Friday favorites! #style

Can you believe it’s the first week of March? I certainly can’t. This year is going quickly! While working on a bunch of projects over the weekend I had a burst of inspiration to re-arrange our entire living room – oh yes, I moved our sofa by myself because no one was around help. I was in one of those “this has to happen now” moments. Since I’m constantly working on clients homes, sometimes I don’t remember to look at my own space to see what I can do to make it feel updated and new. It feels like a completely different room and I’m in love with the new layout. Now that I’ve tackled my own home I’m ready to start the work week in a whole new light. Are you getting a little itch to do some re-decorating around your house in preparation for spring to hopefully arrive? If you’re looking for some inspiration definitely check out our Room Anatomy and On the Hunt features for inspiration. Then pop into your local magazine shop to pick up the latest issue of Domino Magazine – it’s filled with endless inspiration that will have you re-arranging your own house. Have a wonderfully productive week everyone! Photo by Caitlin Flemming #lifestyle

When I return from a trip I’m always inspired to get back to work. That was especially true after the overwhelming amount of inspiration from both Istanbul and Paris. I came back refreshed and ready to jump right back into my current projects. This weekend I’m immersing myself in those projects pairing together fabrics, sourcing furniture and getting presentations ready – with rain in the forecast it sounds like perfection. If you are looking to get lost in some beautiful posts from around the web I highly suggest these: – Since I’m missing Paris, I’ve been getting lost in Garance’s images of Paris Fashion Week. – I’ll be making this breakfast tomorrow morning thanks to Camille. – Looking for new blogs to follow? Don’t fear, Erin’s monthly list is out and I’m loving every single one! – Cassandra just moved into a stunning loft and I’m totally jealous of her lofted nook she’s designing. – I love seeing fellow bloggers flourish and get incredible opportunities – Oh Joy is coming out with a collaboration with Target. Friends, it has me so excited to host a garden party this spring! – And lastly, have you seen Kate Arends home tour? It’s not to be missed. I hope all of you have a splendid first weekend of March! xx, Caitlin Photo by Grant Gibson in Paris #lifestyle

When you see a piece of Ashley Morgan’s jewelry your heart might skip a beat. I first had this experience when I was working at Erica Tanov in college. We got a handful of her pieces into the shop and like any shopgirl I was in awe of the beauty and details that went into her pieces. They are handcrafted here in San Francisco. When I reached out to Ashley about showcasing her beautiful work here on Sacramento Street she was excited to give us a glimpse into her jewelry box. Let me just say, I walked out of this shoot with a wish list of pieces that I want to add to my very own jewelry collection. Ashley’s creative eye for creating unique pieces for her clients is what sets her apart from other designers. Read on for a peek into Ashley Morgans stunning workspace. 1. What sparked you to begin Ashley Morgan Designs? From a very young age, creating jewelry was a passion and something I knew I always wanted to pursue. However, I’d say that the catalyst and inspiration behind creating AMD, honestly started on the playground making personalized friendship bracelets for friends and family as a child. Jewelry has allowed me the path and forum to live out my dreams and explore through the creation of jewelry- it’s truly intertwined with who I am. 2. We love your passion for design and can see it shine through in your collections. What keeps you inspired? Embracing the beauty of Nature and all of her magical moments is a strong source of inspiration; capturing a flower in all its glory as the sun casts a warm embrace, or the whimsical patterns neatly tucked inside an intricate spider’s web. My passion is to seek out the beauty found in the everyday; mindfully accepting the stunning images that dance before our eyes. It’s for this reason, my designs hold such honesty and vibrance. I chose each stone specifically because of the emotional response that I have seeing their raw nature and beauty. They are amulets that constantly reflect the beauty found in truth and the humbleness of strength. 3. You have two adorable girls! How do you seem to balance your work and personal life? On the days that I think I finally have it figured out, something happens that bring me back to the drawing board to try again. My priorities at this stage are very concrete: Family, Friends and Work. I am not one that strives to do it all [all the time], but the singular things that I do get involved in, I dedicate my entire self to. Being a mom is the most exciting gift. And while it’s true that my little ones might not have their hair perfectly brushed at every moment or in an outfit void of paint from an afternoon of drawing, they are happy. They are experiencing an innocence and sweetness of childhood that I consider most important and that makes me happy as a mom. Work is my time to experience what it is that excites and inspires me, and in turn, it’s what I’m teaching my children and channeling in our home! 4. For your custom pieces, does the inspiration for their jewelry come from the client or do you find unique stones and bring ideas to the client? (Or maybe it’s a mix of both!) It's a mixture of both. By the time a project comes to fruition, it typically reflects a strong, personalized aesthetic of the individual client, highlighting those specific components that they conveyed were important to them in the design. Fine jewelry has an heirloom-like quality about them, so it is important that each client have a design that reflects their own story. 5. What is your all-time favorite stone to work with? Hands down: TOURMALINE… I love the varietial flavoring of colors, textures, and imagery that’s distinct to each piece. Tourmalines are harder to control and therefore require that you come to know the stone inside and out before knowing what context they can be a part of. 6. When you’re not at work or at home with the kids, where can we find you? I like staying active and taking advantage of all that the area has to offer. To relax the mind and body, you can typically find me engaging in any one of the amazing yoga classes from my favorite, inspiring instructors, or hiking the vast mountainous trails nearby. A family favorite also involves a trip to Chinatown or a fun day at any one of the incredible museums San Francisco so graciously offers up! A huge thank you to Ashley for letting us into her beautiful workspace – I’ll be dreaming of jewels tonight! Photos by Caitlin Flemming #interiors #lifestyle

I’ll be honest, I’m all about an all black wardrobe. It’s classic, elegant and easy to pair with just about anything. If you look inside my closet the majority of my wardrobe is all black with a few pops of grey, white, and camel. Honestly, I love having everything in neutral colors because it all mix and matches without me ever having to think about whether it goes together or not. I personally love it in the mornings when I don’t have to over think my outfit. That’s why today I’m bringing you an all black ensemble that I love – you can go from work to cocktails in the outfit. I hope this inspires you to bring a little more black into your wardrobe. The Basics: 1.) Helmut Lang Contrast Panel Seamless Top 2.) MaxMara Pianoforte Athos Skirt The Layers: 3.) Quincy Open Toe Shoes 4.) 57 MM Sunglasses 5.) 5 Station Black Necklace with Black Resin 6.) Kate Spade Metro Grand Quilted Watch 7.) Cuyana Leather Tote More all black favorites! #style

After an amazing trip to both Istanbul and Paris (details coming soon), yesterday’s travel day home was exhausting so I’m getting a little late start to this week. There are beautiful memories floating around in my head – both cities brought inspiration for both life and work. There is a lot in store this week, including a new workspace feature. I’m glad to be back home – let the unpacking of the treasures I picked up begin! Photo by Caitlin Flemming #lifestyle

Since we’ve been having such a mild winter it feels like Spring has graced us early here in San Francisco, especially in the flower department. I swear the cherry blossom trees are freaking out wondering why they are blooming two months early. Usually the flower market is only foliage in February but because of this weather the flower market is bursting with a colorful bounty of flowers. That’s why we’re bringing you more of a spring-time arrangement – I’m truly in love with this one. It has me giddy for all of the flowers that are already here and arriving to put in my home. Read on to see what inspired Natalie for this arrangement. What made you choose these flowers? I feel as if Spring is in the air at the flower market. We are getting some beautiful Spring blooms and the tulips are starting to really look beautiful. What makes Daphne special? Daphne is in my all time top three flowers, if not my very favorite. The scent is the most wonderful, soft, sweet aromatic nose with a touch of citrus. Daphne blooms for only a couple of weeks a year and is not available to be shipped or grown in greenhouses, so it is truly only available for those couple of weeks, which makes it extra unique. The plant can be finicky and is not easy to grow, which lends further to its hard to get qualities. I have had trouble with Hellebores but love it. What can you tell me about them? Hellebores is another plant that is not easy to care for, but so lovely. It is sensitive to getting enough water and can wilt easily. Whenever I see an especially pretty plant, I have to buy it and use it. I just cannot let a hardy hellebores pass me up. Are there any tips as to what flowers are best for this time of year? As we move out of winter and into spring, some of the plants are still a little bare. I suggest not being afraid to use a lot of foliage, especially if you find something as beautiful as this jasmine. Since there isn’t the variety available that we find later in the Spring or Summer, I suggest finding inspiration from the best looking blooms and letting them stand out. Then, fill in with foliage or anything you can find. A huge thank you to Natalie for bringing us a little dose of spring. If you want to check out past Bloom in Season features pop over here. Until next month! Flowers by Natalie Bowen Designs | Photos by Caitlin Flemming #lifestyle