The Dress

Read about Kate's Alexander McQueen dress on Beautylish

Fun Makeup Bags for Summer Travel

{1. Kate Spade - Dizzy Dot Small Henrietta   /   2. Trina Cosmetics - Barbados   /   3. Stephanie Johnson - Java   /   4. Anthropologie - Mountain Peaks Cosmetics Bag}

Corgi Love

There are many dogs who have a special place in my heart, including a trio of Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Calvin, Raef, and Willie were all such adorably smart and playful little guys, who always seemed to have a bit of a mischievous side.  

Willie 

Thanks to Her Majesty The Queen, if there's a dog that's synonymous with the royalty, it's the Corgi. 

Bird's Party via Rule Britannia High Tea Guest Feature on Sweet Designs by Amy Atlas  

Knit Your Own Corgi

To Dry For Corgi Royal Wedding tea towel

Luxury Monograms

These charming monogram pillows from Luxury Monograms would add a perfect pop of color to our new duvet cover. These would also be a fantastic wedding gift to give!

Post about LuxuryMonograms.com on your blog and be entered to win a $150 gift card to the site.

Here are few of my favorite blogs who also love these luxurious monograms:  Fabulous K, Ten Scenic Drive, luxe + lillies, Chic Geek - and of course, The Iconic Blog.

Like monogrammed stuff? Check out these darling monogram iPhone cases.

Glam Eggs

{Designer eggs featured on Vogue}

Tutti Frutti Stamp + Cards

USPS recently released a Latin Music Legends stamp collection. Although I'm most familiar with Selena (thanks, Jennifer Lopez), it's the Carmen Miranda stamp that I'm fruity for.

The only thing I really know about Brazilian entertainer Carmen Miranda is that she could dance in teetering high heels with a ton of fruit on her head. Clearly, she's awesome. This stamp would look fantastic adhered to these Citrus cards by Rifle Paper Co. 

Happy Earth Day!

I used to sit at my grandparents and spin their globe around endlessly. Wherever it stopped and my finger landed became a place where I thought I'd live when I grew up. Of course, I'd spin the globe around several times in one sitting until I landed on a place that I liked. 

My grandparents both recently passed away and I'm looking forward to having that magical globe in our home to remind me of them. I know I'll still spin it around daydreaming of far-off places in the world that I might live one day.

Here are some neat ways to incorporate a bit of the world in your home.

                

{Globes   /   World Bathroom   /   World Laundry Room    /   Map Shelf   /   Pull-Down Map}

Fit for a King

I've recently been searching for a new duvet cover. After exhausting my usual favorite options with no luck, my friend Amy suggested that I check out the fabulous Blissliving Home, an alluringly modern home interiors site.

The duvet cover that we chose, Trafalgar, is displayed so regally with the crown wall decal and the gorgeous rose colored sheets. Currently, the homepage of Blissliving Home even has this set branded with the royal wedding. Winner! I can't wait for it to arrive!

Thanks for the suggestion, Amy!

Bird's Nest Easter Sweets

Make some easy bird's nest sweets with mini eggs for your Easter celebration! 

{Birds Nest Cookies via Tip Junkie   /   Easter Cupcakes via Simplebites   /   Marshmallow Nests via Sophistimom} 

Guest Post: Squeeze the Most Out of Spring Party

Hi everyone! When Allison asked me to write a guest post, I knew I wanted to write about colors of the season. Inspired by fresh fruit, pink lemonade, and the natural colors of spring, I've put together an inspiration board of elements for the perfect spring soiree. Everything on this board is simple and inexpensive, making it easier than ever to host a backyard bash, complete with fruit, butterflies, and of course, plenty of lemonade. We'd love to help design your invitations!

From left to right: Katie Daisy print / Oh, You Pretty Thing Dress, Modcloth / Glitter Flower Earrings, Forever 21 / Free Lemonade Party Printables, J. Bartyn / Fruit Pops via Bakers Royale /
Martha Stewart Crafts Classic Punch-Butterfly / In Love Flower Pump, Payless / Underwire Retro Bikini, Delia*s / DIY Glittery Landscape, Apartment Therapy / Creative Spring Seating Cards, Martha Stewart

XO,
Jill from Stamped Paper Co.

I first started working with Stamped Paper Co. when Jill designed our wedding invitation suite. There were so many design elements from different invitations that inspired me so I knew that I needed someone to make a custom design for us. I couldn't have picked anyone to have done a better job! Among other things, Stamped Paper Co. created the really snazzy Guest Blogger header that you see above. I'm looking forward to working with you on our next project!

Clown Cones

I haven't been to Baskin-Robbins in years so I can only hope that they still make clown cones. They were always one of my favorite treats as a kid!

Photo via One More Salute 

Royal Wedding Commemoratives

There's certainly no shortage of tacky royal wedding commemoratives but the following are actually quite sweet. 

Royal Wedding Tea Towel     /     Royal Wedding Mug     /     Jonathan Adler Royal Wedding Plate     /     Royal Wedding Tea Towel

Happy Fountain Day!

Although I've never lived in Kansas City, it'll always have a special place in my heart. I have lots of family and friends who live there, and growing up, it was the nearest "big city" to my hometown. Today the city turned on it's hundreds of fountains for the season. Kansas City has the second most fountains in the world after Rome.

Below are a few sweet fountains: champagne, chocolate, and soda! 

Fountain in Spain   /   Champagne Fountain via Martha Stewart Weddings   /   World's Biggest Chocolate Fountain by Jean-Phillipe Maury at the Bellagio in Las Vegas   /   Modern Soda Fountain 

Dress for Success Makeup by Bobbi Brown

I can't even remember the last time I wore a suit so I recently donated the few I had to Dress for Success, a non-profit organization that aims to help empower low-income women who are interviewing for jobs.

Makeup artist Bobbi Brown is a longtime supporter of the cause and released a Dress for Success makeup set that includes an eye shadow palette, lipstick, two lip glosses, and a mascara. All of the proceeds from the $60 set sold at Macy's will go directly to Dress for Success. 

If you're like me and have an old suit or two that's collecting dust in the back of your closet, consider donating it to Dress for Success. Or if you need new makeup, you can't go wrong with Bobbi Brown!

Bag Tags

Airline luggage tags aren't as fun as they used to be...

{via Surlybirdstudio on Flickr}

Eat, Drink, and Be Graduated!

My friend Katy of Floor to Ceiling recently sent out a "brasserie meets vintage whiskey label" graduation announcement and party invite for her boyfriend, Ryan. 

The Kansas BBQ fare theme reminded me of this fun food spread designed by Frilly Milly Events. I love the corn on the cob on a stick, baked beans in a bowl, and of course the french fry cones! 

Just add a Jayhawk Beer! (Whiskey or a Free State brew will do, too.) 

Congrats Ryan! 

Malls of America

For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by shopping malls. Aside from actual shopping, what's interesting to me the most about shopping malls is the retail history of the interior design. One of the first blogs I ever frequented, Malls of America, hasn't been updated in years but it's definitely worth checking out if you're into what malls have looked like throughout the years.

Westland Mall - Westland, Michigan 

1960s

NorthPark Center - Dallas, TX 

1970s

Food Court at Westridge Mall - Topeka, KS 

1980s

On a related note, if you haven't checked out scenes from 1990s malls, you're, like, totally missing out on an awesome piece of the early 90s. Thanks Refinery29 for the find! 

Motivation Monday — Katie Daisy

With a name like Katie Daisy, there's no doubt that her artwork will be able to brighten anyone's day! 

Illustrations by Katie Daisy

Happy Sundae from Google

Today's Google Doodle logo sure is sweet in honor of the 119th anniversary of the ice cream sundae.

Dolce & Gabbana Loves Britney

You can't deny that Britney Spears looks amazing in Dolce & Gabbana in these promo pics for her latest album, Femme Fatale. You can, however, hold it against her. Okay, y'all?

Images from Dolce & Gabbana 

What's your most memorable Britney fashion moment? 

The Shoes Appreciation Society

{print by Niege Borges}

How many different types of shoes do you have? 

Spring Fling Link Party

You may have noticed that Cirque du Sweet recently received a blog makeover last week. Fabulous K Creative did a custom design and I'm so happy with what she came up with!

If you enjoy Cirque du Sweet, you might be interested in the Fabulous K Spring Fling Link Party. The link party is meant connect bloggers with other bloggers, but even if you don't have a blog, it's a great resource to find some really fantastic design, fashion, lifestyle, and photography blogs. Check it out!