To my five male readers, I’m sorry I don’t post things for you more often. But today is for you and anyone giving you a Christmas gift this year. My good friend Natalie and her husband just opened Minimalist Tees, a shop stocked with these simple day of the week tees which are pretty much every man’s dream (except Tom Haverford). Ryan would be all over these but I can see myself getting annoyed when he wore Tuesday on a Saturday.

YAMF elsewhere this week:
My first public bump photo
White kitchens!
Best of the week (the light-up letters are super cool)
Bring on the pattern
This had me sobbing on my couch (those babies!)
I like these neutral nurseries but the commenters don’t think they’re cheery enough

Have a happy weekend.

Thanksgiving is one of my most favorite holidays. It usually means a trip to my grandmas cozy house with an overload of family and even more pies (there’s usually at least 35!). I’ve never actually had to do much besides be in the pie assembly line but here’s a simple table idea that I put together that can be easily replicated. Just grab a nice patterned linen, spray paint some pumpkins and use tags as place cards. If you love giving favors like I do, stamp a few gratitude notebooks or thank you cards to send home with your guests.

Oh, now I can’t wait another two weeks for pie! Hooray for the holidays.

photos by my friend Katie  (taken last year!) 

Finnish textiles spotted on Bloesem

Rad plaid spotted on A Pair of Pears

Triangle love spotted on Annily Green

This sweet birth announcement made me blurry eyed spotted by Ali

Gold addiction spotted on Weekday Carnival

I really like this chandelier from Anthropologie. Ever since I first saw it I’ve been trying to figure out a get rich quick scheme to justify buying it. Unfortunately nobody bought my, “I’m in a different country and my credit cards were stolen.” So I did what any blogger would do and attempted to make my own.


Paper lantern from IKEA + small white cupcake liners (flattened and twisted) + hot glue.

Is it as cool as the original? No. But is it worth the $888 I saved? You betcha. I think it would look pretty to do a series of these and hang them for a party.

Update: I should mention since I’ve already had questions about it, this was surprisingly not as time consuming as you might think. I was originally going to cut my own circles out of paper and accordion fold them and I’m so happy I didn’t. I took about 2 hours to prep the cupcake liners (about 400 of them – $1.50/100) and about 2 1/2 to glue them on. Split that up into two movie watching nights and you’re golden. Of course it wouldn’t take as long for a smaller lantern.

The half wall has been neglected lately so I whipped up a pom pom garland to make it happy. I have yet to break the news that we’re moving soon and it will no longer get pampered.

In other news, things have gotten increasingly busy around here and I’m looking for a little help. You would basically be my craft buddy a couple days a week so I don’t have to turn the TV on for company. I’m not sure if any of you readers are available and in Denver but I’m throwing it out there. Email me at melanie@youaremyfave.com and we’ll discuss.

And before I go, here are some extra posts from me this week that I think you just might like:
Gorgeous built-in bookcases (I want mine with a ladder please)
Wow! I’m so amazed at what people create
Cute ready to print birth announcements
Cool kids art displays (because the fridge is looking cluttered)
Best of the week
And I’m happy to be part of this party project slideshow (I did this in July so it’s not season appropriate unless you’re Australian)

Have a good one!

These mini pies pull double duty – place cards + dessert/appetizer/cause-for-excitement. Or am I the only one who gets visibly excited over pie?

To make your own simply cut squares of pie dough, fill, fold, dust and bake. I freehanded the letters and baked separately.




As much as I dislike the weather right now, I’m happy it’s baking season.

My kind of art installation spotted on Hello Sandwich

Gold stripes spotted by Kate

Uba-cool party in a box spotted on Amanda Jane Jones

Brownie cookies with peanut butter frosting, hot dang! spotted by Kathryn

How to dress a tree spotted on Merriment Events

I’ve found that shopping for clothes isn’t quite as fun when you don’t know what the size of your belly will be within a week’s time. I’ve also found there are a lot of frumpy maternity clothes out there. My solution? Stick with basics and pile on the baubles. Currently, everything in Kim Dulaney’s shop Fortune is on my I deserve a prize list.

via fleurlux