The Lovely Side

Good morning, lovelies! Changes are coming to The Lovely Side. But first, I'd like your lovely insight. Take the easy-peasy survey below ( or access it here ) to tell me more about yourself and what you want to see more (or less) of on The Lovely Side. Include your email address to be included in a random drawing for a special giveaway in about a month. (Giveaway open to address in the 48 contiguous states.) Thank you for your insight! And as always, have a lovely day!

If there's one thing my workday outfits must do, it's transition from the office hours to after hours. Whether I'm meeting a girlfriend for dinner and drinks, browsing antique and vintage shops, or blogging by myself at a coffee shop, I like to look pulled together while still showing off my unique style. So when ModCloth challenged me to create a Polyvore board showcasing how I'd rock the Twirl Next Door dress , I couldn't resist playing virtual dress-up.

Lovely news today! My lovely little Victorian charmer made its way into Apartment Therapy's Small Cool 2014 Contest . I'm soooo excited! I'm a bit late to the game since 'favoriting' ends on Friday. But I'd be so delighted and grateful if you'd head over to my entry , take a look at my space , and give it a 'favorite' if you like what you see. :) P.S. This also means that I took photos of my entire apartment and that a complete non-Instagrammed photo tour is coming very soonly! Thanks ahead of time! Happy decorating! The Lovely Side is on: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

sfgirlbybay I love the radiators in my apartment. They're antique, ornate, and original to the house. They heat my apartment well in the winter and they add a nice grounding splash of black. It can be a bit tricky to decorate around them. They're sorta like permanent pieces of furniture that can't be moved around when I rearrange. I want to incorporate them into my decor as much as possible. Putting a shelf on the top of a radiator not only makes it part of the room, but also adds extra storage space for books, plants, and other items. 

Summer is finally upon us, which means: more time for reading! Summer vacation is the perfect time to dive into a book series. Will you be reading poolside, on vacation, or in the air conditioned comfort of your home? To get you started, The Lovely Side is hosting a giveaway to celebrate Cassandra Clare's #1 bestselling The Mortal Instruments series and the newest and final release City of Heavenly Fire . Who: The Lovely Side readers with US addresses. When: Now until next Friday, June 13th at noon (Central time). What: Win a complete set of The Mortal Instruments series and a Mortal Instruments hoodie How: Comment, like, follow, and tweet your way to get up to 15 entries! (Details below.) Follow The Mortal Instruments on Facebook | Follow Cassandra Clare on Facebook and @cassieclare Check out a little bit about the book and the author – then scroll down to enter.  About the Book Shadowhunters and demons square off for the final showdown in the epic

Add some class to your cubicle or dorm desk with crisp  white, bold dashes of black, and a few shades of gray. Products:  Anglepoise reading lamp / Coffee mug  / Crystal Cluster Paperweight / Akto Notepaper Holder By Blomus / Motivational poster / Motivational poster / Palaset Document tray  / IKEA Sy / The Container Store > Baroque Letter-Size Interior File Folders / Wall art / Starter Set, White The Lovely Side is on: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

My favorite summertime activity? Beer festivals. There's nothing better than a gorgeous, sunny day hanging out, sampling brews, and talking beer with fest friends. With so many beer festivals under my belt, I decided to share my tried and true essentials to ensure that you, too, survive summer beer fest season in style. 1. An Easy, Breezy Dress A dress is an entire outfit in one easy swoop. Since Iowa summertime involves sweltering sunshine and horrendously high humidity, I reach for lightweight fabrics and a comfortable cut. I like sleeveless because I have enough Iowa showing without a farmer's tan.  And pretty patterns make me feel pulled together even when dripping with sweat and slightly tipsy.

Since moving into my apartment a year ago, my tiny sliver of a kitchen has desperately been begging for some decoration attention. Since the kitchen shares the space with my living room and dining area, it always fell to the wayside... until this past weekend. Cozy Wall Art extended a helping hand  – by sending me a complimentary wall decal of my choice. Removable wall decals are an easy, inexpensive DIY art solution for renters and dorm dwellers to add some ooomph to the beige abysses that are our walls. Cozy Wall Art is a boutique creative studio located in Texas. A family owned and operated business, they launched in August and have been designing decals and transforming apartment walls ever since.