well dressed kiddos

I am mentally jotting down fashion ideas from the Zara 2010 fall preview. The styling is fabulous! September 2 Zara will launch their online store! CAN'T WAIT!

socks and boots? yes please!

As I browse fall fashions, I've spotted a consistent trend: boots paired with knee high socks and sometimes even tights underneath! Talk about layers layers layers!! I've read a few articles about whether this trend is "hippie or hooker" inspired. Hm. Well, it completely depends on how you wear it, if you ask me! I think if you make sure your socks don't go any higher than mid knee, you'll be rockin' the hippie inspired style. The way way-over-the-knee boots are what kinda reminds me of hooker boots. Like on Pretty Woman. Her boots were tall and she was a hooker.

All that to say that I did purchase a pair of knee high socks to wear with my boots this fall. I am so excited. I can't wait to start shopping for skirts and cute winter dresses to rock with my socks+boots! The photo below shows so neat ways to layer your bottom half this fall and winter! :)

cutest engagement photo prop

Red 

Paper 

Hearts! 

gotta love a playful prop thrown into a lovely engagement photo session!

If you're planning a wedding...

A wedding planner app for your iphone! I don't know how well it works but it could be a nice way to stay organized on the go with all of your vendors phone numbers at hand. image via oncewed.

Shrimp Boil

My mom made a shrimp boil a few weeks ago and it was probably the best meal I have ever had. I made it while nathan was in china and I loved it just as much. 


Here is the recipe! (serves 4)
1/2 gallon of water

1 tb. old bay seasoning

1 tb. salt

1 small garlic clove

6 new potatoes

3/4 lb. johnsonville (brand that I used) andouille sausage

1 1/2 lb. of large raw shrimp (make sure the shrimp hasn't been cooked or peeled. It's fine if they're frozen.

white rice (bag or box)

corn on the cobb 

in a large pot add water, old bay, salt and garlic and bring to boil

then add potatoes and boil for 15-20 minutes

then add cut sausage and boil for 5 minutes

add corn and boil for another 5 minutes

then add add shrimp and boil for 3 minutes  

Yum yum yum! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

CFT business cards!

Just got Chemical Flooding Technologies business cards back from the printer!! 

Logos, invitations or other graphic design needs? Please contact me at hello@taylorharwelldesign.com

and I love this bedding by dwell.  the colors and the peacocks!

coolest dessert table

I LOVE this dessert table. It's fun, edgy and not too serious.  I really like the layering of the party flags and paper poofs. Yep, it's a bit of a chaotic backdrop but you can tell a big celebration is about to happen. (or has it already happened?) I kinda love that you can't tell.

still loving ribbon...

Loving this casual and more artsy approach to playing with ribbon...

i am going to stop biting my nails.

I have a nervous habit of biting my nails. bad bad bad. But, every once in a while I am motivated to over come by habit...and seeing this polish by deborah lippman is one of those times. This polish possibly reminds me of third grade and maybe thats why I love it.  Its fun so fun.

ribbons and flowers

I can't get enough of colorful ribbons swaying in the wind and an arbor made from plastic water bottles! What a great reminder that using even the simplest materials can result in such fabulous design!


images via oncewed

obsessed with these shoes

I am loving these shoes. Too bad they only have a 9.5 left...

do you wear a 9.5 shoe size? Go buy these shoes at anthro! They're on sale! Go go go!

true love

My heart skipped a beat when I saw these shades in the current issue of Living Etc.

I am really loving the beauty of the lampshades in contrast to the worn industrial brick wall in the background.

custom stamp love

My sweet hubs left this morning for China for two weeks. I know, it's only two weeks. I'll live. But, when it's your bff whom you laugh with daily and plan to watch the bachelor pad with...(he's going to miss the first two episodes! watch party anybody?)  :) it's a bit more difficult. sigh.

So, to lift my spirits...I shop. I bought a lovely I have had my eye on for a while. Yep, I bought an address stamp. But not just any stamp. This is a handwritten calligraphy stamp from Primele on Etsy. Her calligraphy is to die for. I bought this one below for nathan + i! 

If I knew about her when I was getting married I would have totally used her...how amazing are these?!

oh and those vintage stamps are uh-mazing! love love love

Beautiful wedding backdrop

Though this was designed for a wedding I can think of several ways to apply this design even if you're not planning a wedding. This would be beautiful hanging from a dinning room chandelier (on a smaller scale of course) or if you're having a an outdoor party, it would be fun to hang something like this from trees. 

Prop Styling for Brag Book Magazine

A few months back, I was asked by the wonderfully talented Shannon Ho to do prop styling for a new magazine to Oklahoma called Brag Book. Brag Book is a family lifestyle magazine catering to the OKC metro. From photographers and orthodontists to local candy stores...this magazine has references for just about anything family and child related.

The shoot took place at the Harn Homestead in OKC. It's a museum with property from the early 1900's in Oklahoma. It is set up like a small community with a house, barn and school house. We went for a vintage back to school theme since the magazine was being published in late July (in OKC area bookstores!) Just in time for school! 

We brainstormed and came up/ made lots of fun props to enhance the vintage theme. Pin wheels, chalk boards, vintage inspired fabric backdrops, lunch sacks, and LOTS of vintage books from my grandparents garage were used. I really enjoyed working on this creative shoot!

one of my favorites!

Taylor's Color Picks for Fall

It happens every year. In the winter I am dreaming of a summer wardrobe and in the summer I dream of upcoming winter fashions.  I haven't read anywhere what the "in" colors are for the fall season so I decided to make my own based on my interpretations and style. I love big sweaters, solid ts (always with gold chains of some sort) and of course boots..gotta love a good pair of boots. I am loving that sequins are in right now. They are too fun and I can't wait to get a cardi, skirt or clutch adorned with a little glitter! Gray of course is a hot neutral right now....and I am pretty sold that gray looks fabulous on just about everyone. So, below is a self made fall fashion color guide to the colors I'll be drawn to this season. What colors are you looking forward to wearing this fall and winter?

I love work parties!

Last week, we threw a pretty awesome coffee party...check it out on the English Paper Blog