Circa Eye Candy

An array of Circa chandeliers

Last weekend, I paid a visit to Circa Lighting. Each time I set foot in the store, I fall more and more in love with my old favorites and discover new loves as well. I've compiled several pieces that are new this season and a few older pieces that I just love.

The classic Manhattan chandelier would be right at home in an equally grand space.

Barbara Barry's new Carousel lamp in soft silver. I've been eyeing this one for my formal living room.

The white lamps are Lotus lamps also by Barbara Barry. I love that they are both feminine and funky. The Carousel lamp is seen in the bronze finish here.

The Simple Scallop design is available in several incarnations and is wildly popular with designers and bloggers alike.

The Simple Scallop sconce in soft silver

The Chandler chandelier is seen without shades here. It is absolutely gorgeous in person and pictures really don't do the finish justice. It is burnished silver leaf with polished silver accents.

These industrial-inspired designs are super popular right now, but I honestly think it is a style that will withstand the test of time. Here, we have the Small Country Industrial Stage Light on the left (it might as well be a custom piece as it is available in 18 possible finishes/shade combinations) and the Noho torchere in brushed steel on the right.

The Ziyi chandelier looks equally fabulous without shades as it does with them.

We just purchased this Cornice ceiling fixture for our home office. The picture truly does not do this art deco inspired piece justice. It is larger than you would imagine and makes quite a statement.

A bevy of beautiful table lamps in varying styles by designers such as Thomas O'Brien and Alexa Hampton

The Westmeath Obelisk lamp- Its lines remind me of The Empire State Building.

Various small table and desk lamps {If you'd like to know the name of a particular lamp, just let me know.}

Just as in life, one pretty lady always steals the show. In this case, it is the stunning Crescent table lamp by Michael Smith made of quartz on antique gold leaf (far left).

Houston. It's Worth It.

This fabulous little book is a love song to our wonderful city of Houston. It features the good, the bad, and the ugly (like flying cockroaches), but so much of it is oh-so-good.

Learn more here.

Image via Houston. It's Worth It.

The Hills: Salary Breakdown

Lauren is shocked and thrilled, Lo is well, Lo and Stephanie is thrilled that they stopped making her pay to be on the show.

Perez Hilton recently posted a salary breakdown for the cast of Mtv's The Hills. So that's how little Miss Lauren can afford to live in her gorgeous house and Heidi is able to buy all of those fabulous handbags!

Here is what the L.A. kids make per episode:

Lauren Conrad: $75,000
Heidi Montag: $65,000
Spencer Pratt: $65,000
Audrina Patridge: $35,000
Whitney Port: $20,000
Brody Jenner: $10,000
Lo Bosworth: $10,000
Stephanie Pratt: $8,000

Any ideas on how to get me my own reality show? It's nuts that Spencer makes $20,000 more per episode than teachers do in an entire year!

Image via Mtv

This Week's Quote

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

If you haven't gone to see Vicky Cristina Barcelona, you definitely should. It's smart, sexy, and completely hilarious. The scenery is gorgeous and the actors delivered excellent performances. It's made its way to the top of my list of my favorite Woody Allen movies.

Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Germophobes...

because their fingerprints will disappear and get rejected by the state not once, but twice! I'm going for round three on September 2nd. Wish me luck!

Lauren Conrad: Hair Icon

On Monday night, I did what many of other women in my age group did: I watched the premiere of the fourth season of The Hills on Mtv. Like you, I tune in for the ups and downs in Lauren Conrad's relationships, the drama that is like oxygen for Heidi and Spencer, the clothes, Los Angeles scenery, and that other cast member that is hardly ever mentioned (much like Lo)... Lauren's gorgeous hair! It seems no matter how she styles it, it always looks so pretty. Truth be told, as much as I love her hair, I have never actually tried to style mine like hers because it looks like it takes forever to do and my hair is so fine that it doesn't hold curls very well.

You may recall the Style Icons series I did this spring (I have a new entry in the works). While Lauren's style is very cute, the thing that stands out the most about her is her hair (her nails come in at a close second) so instead of giving her the title of Style Icon, she will be a Hair Icon. She is not the first celebrity whom I've considered a hair icon in my time, but she may be the most versatile.

The Original Hair Icon: Jennifer Aniston was a long time hair icon of mine. Back in the 7th grade, I got "The Rachel", though mine sucked. Eventually, she grew her hair out and like me, has worn it in long layers ever since.

Recent Hair Icon: Last August, I was so inspired by Reese Witherspoon's new look that I took the plunge and got bangs!

After graduating from Laguna Beach and landing in The Hills, Lauren went from straight hair to loose waves, long bangs, and a side part.

Lauren, looking very polished at an event for InStyle

Here, Lauren wears one of her famous braids along with a side ponytail.

Who knew a pony tail could look so chic? I love the saffron colored top!

Last season, Lauren cut quite a bit of length from her mane.

The angled look frames her face.

I suspect that Lauren felt her new shorter do made her look much younger (it did), so she either started shampooing with Miracle Gro or had extensions put in. This season, we'll see Lauren wearing a center part and loose waves.

Lauren's blousy top, shades, and little braids give off a relaxed 70's vibe.

Lauren looking lovely with her new signature: center part, loose waves, and braids

Lauren's look is both fresh and sophisticated.

I Want To Work Here

The chairman's office features panoramic windows overlooking beautiful live oaks on a residential street

How gorgeous and glamorous are the offices for Randall Davis? Randall Davis is a real estate development company specializing in upscale condominiums in Houston. By the looks of it, this company understands the importance image plays in real estate, as well as in most other industries. The mood of the space as a whole is kind of dark and moody, yet fun and very stylish. The Hollywood look is alluring and intriguing. It makes me want to know more about the company and most likely makes prospective clients want in on a piece of the lifestyle they are selling. Me? I want the adorable office in the last picture.

Another look at the chairman's office

Board room

Hallway looking into an office

Stylish, feminine office fit for a show like The Hills or a movie like The Devil Wears Prada

Images via Laura U

Spain...On The Road Again

Unfortunately for me, this post isn't about me hitting the road and flying off to Spain again any time soon. However, I think I will enjoy this quite a bit. Last year, Chef Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow traveled throughout Spain to find the best it had to offer in food and culture. I am so excited for this show to air in September! I absolutely fell in love in Spain when I visited in June and I am a big fan of Gwyneth's. Did you know that she speaks impeccable Spanish? She studied abroad in Spain as a teenager and has maintained her knowledge of the language.

Check your local PBS listings for an exact air date and time or sign up for updates on the show's official website. In the meantime, make sure to watch the delightful preview I posted above!

This Week's Quote

Memorial Antiques and Interiors

Last week, I read about Memorial Antiques and Interiors on Material Girls. I had driven by there a million times, but never actually made it into the store. I was so impressed by Lauren's finds, that I had to go see for myself.

It's a fabulous place to shop for antiques... if you have a lot of money to spend. Unfortunately, I didn't find any of the great deals that were present during Lauren's visit. Naturally, everything that caught my eye was pretty pricey. Be that as it may, MAI is a wonderful space. Unlike most of the antique malls or stores I have been to, it seems very edited. There isn't a whole bunch of junk to sort through. You can tell that the people who have booths here love design (they don't just find old junk and mark it up for others to buy) and most have beautiful and unique merchandise that is displayed in interesting ways. Most of the booths are painted taupe or grey and have seagrass rugs. I spent a good while in there admiring everything. I noticed that they have a lot of gorgeous mirrors, cool lamps, a lot of shells and coral and some beautiful, carved salvaged doors. If you've never been, it's definitely worth a visit.

This booth had so many cool pieces. I love the hanging clock, white mirror, and tripod lamp.

Another shot of the same booth

Pretty crystal and alabaster lamp bases

I'm not a big fan of toile, so I'd rather see these chairs covered in a more modern fabric, but I do love the Venetian mirror.

Did Fabian have them put this sign up especially for my visit? This booth had a ton of these signs made from vintage flashcards. I though they were cheeky and clever.

Same booth- cool chair and some sea shells

MAI has so many beautiful mirrors! I love this starburst.

Antique French bottles

Vignette in another booth

Courtney, this antique Bingo set reminded me of you! It was probably the cheapest thing in there at $75.

I love these antique religious articles, especially the Spanish Santos. You see a lot of this in Spain and in San Miguel. I have to go back!

A set of gorgeous, beat up doors waiting for their new home

I really liked this booth...lots of good stuff

A close-up of the coral lamps

I'm just gonna put it out there. If anyone would like to finance a career in antique scouting for me, holla at your girl as the one and only Tim Gunn would say. Your responsibilities would include sending me to France, Belgium, England, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Buenos Aires, and other fabulous destinations on a regular basis in order for me to return with some amazing finds. What a life! Can you imagine?