Art :: Where I See Fashion

Well hello there!  I hope you all had a lovely weekend.  Since it looks like this past weekend is going to be my last quiet and relaxing one for quite some time I took full advantage of it by enjoying lazy mornings reading in bed, hitting the farmers market, walking Yoda outside, and visiting some local shops {I'm on the hunt for a new bicycle}.  All in all it was just what I needed.

One of my favorite online sources for inspiration is the Tumblr account Where I See Fashion.  Fashion student Bianca Luini perfectly matches fashion to photography, art, and architecture that share complimentary color palettes, concepts, and structures.  I have rounded up some of my favorite WISF pairings below, enjoy!

Guest Blogger :: The Way I Wanderlust in Corfu, Greece

Today I am excited to bring you a guest post by one of my favorite bloggers...Kayleigh of The Way I Wanderlust.  I have been following her blog for the past year and am constantly inspired by her love of travel, down to earth personality, and self-described "gypsy soul."  She dreamed about living in Australia, so in 2012 she and her husband picked up did just that.  She dreamed about backpacking through Europe solo, so she traveled for a year including spending five months volunteering at a horse ranch in Greece.  A traveler who follows her dreams and has a soft spot for animals?  Clearly a girl after my own heart.

Hi fellow Dreams in HD followers, my name is Kayleigh and I blog over at The Way I Wanderlust. My blog is mostly about fulfilling my wanderlust with endless adventure, my life and the way I like to live. When Molly asked me to take over her lovely blog for the day I was flattered. We seem to have a mutual love of travel, especially the lovely Tuscan region of Italy. I really love all her travel posts and it makes me reminisce about my time travelling through Italy. Today I would love to share with you my fabulous experience living on the island of Corfu, Greece.

I spent five months living on a horse ranch/riding centre. Originally I was only going to stay about one month before continuing on to the other islands but I just fell in love with everything about Corfu and I couldn't bare to leave so soon. I randomly found The Silva Riding Centre online when I was looking for places to volunteer at in exchange for room and board. The centre is located about 10 minutes outside of the town of Corfu sitting right on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Not only is the surrounding area picturesque but the actual property is so large that you feel like you are in your own little magical world.

I worked 6 days a week if you could even call it work. Basically I fed, rode and played with horses all day long. I also helped out in the lessons when I was needed, mostly leading around the younger children that were not yet old enough to ride completely by themselves. Apart from being a training centre the Silva Project also rescued unwanted and abused animals, usually horses and dogs. It was heartbreaking to see the condition that most of the animals were brought to us in but helping them recover and watching them transform as the months went on was heartwarming. I wanted to adopt every single one and bring them home with me.

In my free time I would wander around the island taking pictures, walk into town with the other volunteers to enjoy the outdoor markets and coffee shops. We had private beach access on the property so at night if it was warm enough we would head down and sit around a bonfire watching the stars. I loved getting to know all the other volunteers, everyone was there for a reason such as a much needed vacation, a break away from the world or where there to simply get to know themselves better and figure out what they wanted out of life. These fellow volunteers became my family over those months and dinner was always a large, loud event with wine and dancing continuing into the early hours of the morning.

I will forever cherish my time here and would love to go back one day. I honestly could of spent the rest of my life here content to forever be a volunteer but after five months I did start to feel that pull to move on and experience something else. I would recommend Corfu to anyone looking for a peaceful island getaway. The locals are so friendly and welcoming, we were always invited to festivals and special occasions. The few from the beach is worth the trip alone and the food is to die for.

Thanks so much for taking the time to learn a bit about me and my travels. If you would like to learn more or connect with me head on over to my blog. I recently just spent a year in Australia and am now back in Canada trying to adjust back into regular life but also planning my next escape.

{Top image via Wikimedia, all others via The Way I Wanderlust}

Guest Blogger :: Fresh Flowers from Happiness Is...

Today is a very special day here on Dreams in HD.  First, of all it's Valentine's Day.  I'm not sure what we are up to {Ryan likes to keep it a surprise} but personally I am just happy to be able to spend the day with him and Yoda, and hopefully eat a little chocolate :) Secondly, I am thrilled to tell you that today's post will feature the first official guest blog post in Dreams in HD's history.  And you guys, it's a good one.  

I "met" Shannon of Happiness Is... about eight months ago and since then have developed what you might call a *total* girl crush on her.  Shannon's blog, dedicated to all things happy, has become a source of creative and personal inspiration for me since first visiting it last year.  She is an incredibly talented songwriter, singer, ukulele player, illustrator, reiki healer, painter, and all-around amazing person.  Her nostalgic movie-inspired wedding {which you can read all about here...please take five minutes watch their video, it will melt your heart} was featured by none other than MARTHA STEWART herself!  If I ever get out to Seattle Shannon is the first person I will call.  Oh, and did I mention that instead of just providing me a photo to include in this post she sent me this watercolor that she painted herself?  Yup, I told you she is amazing!  If you like her work, be sure to follow her here because she will be starting an Etsy shop later this year :) So without further adieu...

Hello lovely Dreams in HD readers! I'm Shannon of Happiness Is and I'm extremely honored to guest post on Molly's delightful blog today. Especially since it's Valentine's Day. A day you either love or hate. I'm one of those girls who milks it for what it's worth. I'm an unapologetic romantic, so bring me a dozen red roses and I'll be yours for the taking. Any extra reason to celebrate LOVE is good in my book.

I have a regular series on my blog called Get Happy, where I share some tips and tricks to boost your mood, create a positive thoughts and raise your vibration. For today's installment, I have a fun fact about those cliche dozen red roses. Flowers are beautiful, sure. But did you know they've been scientifically proven to make you happy? 

A recent study at Rutgers University found evidence that flowers induce long-term powerful positive emotion. Half of the participants were given flowers and half were given other gifts. When the two groups were compared, here's what they found...

1. Women given a mixed floral bouquet reported more positive moods 3 days later.
2. Daisies offered to both men and women in an elevator elicited greater social interaction.
3. Flowers presented to elderly individuals showed improved memory.
4. And my favorite discovery has to do with smell: Students who were asked to write an essay in a floral-scneted room, compared with those in a  neutral-scented room, wrote happier stories.

The researchers speculate it may have something to do with the co-evolution of plants and people, which can happen when two species evolve in response to changes in the other. Fascinating, right?

So if you didn't get flowers for Valentine's Day, stop by the florist on your way home from work and treat yourself to some sweet-smelling blooms. Or gift them to someone you live with and reap the benefits. I'm making a promise to myself, starting now, to swing by the local farmer's market once a week for a fresh $5 bouquet. I owe it to myself and my happiness.

Do you keep flowers in the home? Do you find that they elevate your mood?

Fashion :: Miroslava Duma

Inspired by yesterday's post about Russia, the first thing that came that came to my mind when thinking about Russian fashion was former Harpers Bazaar Editor and all-around It Girl Miroslava Duma.  I love how her style effortlessly fuses the feminine with the edgy and that she is not afraid of color.  She is known for statement coats, killer heels, and an undying love of all things Chanel {a girl after my own heart}.  My favorite look is the sequined Burberry skirt above, but you can easily replicate the look with a much more budget friendly version from Top Shop.  I pulled together some pieces {including some steals and some major splurges} to help you channel your inner Russian It-Girl.  More Mira inspiration below!

Images via {1} {2} {3} {4} {5} {6} {7} {8} {9} {10} {11} {12} {13}

Blog Crush :: Mimi Thorisson's Manger

Well hello there!  I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving.  Are you waking up early to brave the crowds and find some Black Friday deals?  Or are you doing your holiday shopping from the comfort of your bed?  I have never been much of a Black Friday kind of gal, but may stop by a few local boutiques in my hometown today {two of my favorites being Whispers and Preen}.

Since I am still dreaming about our fantastic meal yesterday, I'd like to share with you one of my favorite food/lifestyle bloggers -- Mimi Thorisson.  Her blog, Manger, follows her and her family's life in their gorgeous French farmhouse.  Looking through her posts, I absolutely fell in love with her effortlessly chic style, family, recipes, home, love of nature, and the fact that she has 14 dogs {I mean, could you imagine?!} She spends her days exploring the beautiful French countryside with her six children, antiquing, visiting winemakers and food artisans, and creating delicious recipes inspired by her time in France and Hong Kong.  And not to mention the fact that she is absolutely stunning, has a photographer husband who captures each moment and dish just perfectly, has an American book deal, and a French TV show.  Did I mention that she has 14 dogs?! 

Ok, so suffice it to say I am a little envious, but she seems so down to earth that it's impossible not to love her.  And after you look at the photos of her beautiful family, home, food, and life, I'm sure you will too!

Images via Manger and Bon Appetit

Wanderlust :: Jamie Beck's Paris

Inspired by yesterday's post on a beautiful New York City hotel, today I want to tell you about one of {in my humble opinion} it's most creative residents -- photographer extraordinaire Jamie Beck.  Jamie and her husband Kevin are the dream team behind Ann Street Studio, in which they travel the world shooting fashion, travel, and lifestyle photography as well as are the creators of the cinemagraph.  Jamie's photos consistently ooze emotion and style.

If you aren't already jealous of their jet setter lifestyle, they also have a unadulterated love for Paris {my favorite city in the world} and take it upon themselves to visit quite a few times each year.  She captures the city with such elegance and grace, and I love seeing it through her lens.  Oh, and did I mention she is constantly going to the chicest galas and parties thrown by tastemakers such as Ralph Lauren and Carrie Roitfeld {the editor of Vogue Paris}?  I love the escapist quality of her photographs and could spend hours with a cup of tea sifting through her archives.  Here are a few of my favorite photos she has taken of my favorite city, je t'aime!

Images via Ann Street Studio