After spotting this Alice + Olivia dress at Bergdorf’s, I was on a mission to find a more affordable alternative for sweet Anna. And as luck would have it, this Kensie Longsleeve Sequin Dress ($88) at Libby Story fit the bill. The long sleeves balance the mini and keep the look from being too… dare I say revealing?

A dress like this needs few accessories, and Anna’s not a flashy girl. Naturally, these tiny triangle rings ($20) at Stone&Honey are the perfect mini-accent for her gold and glittered nails. Throw in some black suede booties ($120) from Seychelles for a fun 90′s goth throw-back and you’ve got yourself the perfect Anna-Inspired Ensemble.

Happy Vegas-ing, Anna, dear!

until next time, xo erin, design for mankind.

my fantastically fun new logo was designed by the super talented artist shanna murray, and her beautiful creation set the tone for much of the design to follow. thank you so much, shanna, you designed exactly what i was envisioning without even having to say it out loud. shanna, you had me at hello.

and the overall concept and magically delicious design and development? yep, some of you may have guessed from my secretive tweets — that our very own much beloved anna dorfman of door sixteen made me the happiest blogger in the land, designing this brand new, bright and shiny blog for me. i literally cried with utter and complete joy when anna sent me the first comp — that someone could get me so well. we may be separated at birth after all — certainly by many miles — but not at heart. thank you anna, for everything i ever wanted (with the exception of the man of my dreams, and maybe much longer legs).

and now — the big reveal:

so, please do have a look around! you’ll now find the navigation bars on the right, so click and discover! everything is still there, but hopefully improved for you to easily find just what you may be so desperately seeking:

• there’s a little bit about me, and my awesome contributors — read about them — they’re talented people you wanna know.

• check out the categories – everything is there, just roll over the categories, click and browse by thumbnail!

• resources – still sharing the most up to dates finds around the web, and beyond.

• there’s a bit about my press, should you find that scintillating reading.

• you can contact me about sponsorship, including discounts for independent designers and mom&pop shops. i love those.

• and, lastly, a way to contact me — i always like to hear from you.

should you have any questions about the new site, or have any trouble (we may have some tiny glitches to work out), please comment below, and i’ll get back to you asap! i hope you like it! have fun and here we go – brand new and improved sfgirlbybay! happy, happy!

Maybe it’s because I eat nearly every lunch sitting under fluorescent lights and hunched over my keyboard, but lately I just cannot stop thinking about dining alfresco with a blanket beneath me. As I look out my office window over midtown Manhattan, I fantasize about heading over to Central Park with a picnic basket in hand and a friend at my side. Is there anything better than feeling the sun on your back while you eat, watching dogs run and play as you sip lemonade and smell the summer air? No way!

Since I can’t escape for lunch today, a gathering of my fantasy picnic supplies will have to suffice…

1. Equilateral Triangles quilt from CarsonToo;  2. Lorina French pink lemonade;  3. Woven picnic basket from Crate & Barrel;  4. Enamel mug and dish from Toast;  5. Indira bedspread from IKEA;  6. Melmac salad servers from Vintage Modern and More;  7. Bento bag from Zakka Nouveau;  8. Roll-up wooden utensil set from Chabatree.

“Now that the weather is starting to get just a tiny bit warmer here in New York, the number one want on my “it list” is definitely finding the time to get my outdoor space in usable order! Ever since I saw it in Domino years ago, Carin Goldberg’s Brooklyn garden has been my main source of inspiration. I can’t wait until my own row-house garden looks just as nice! When I’m out there, of course, I’ll be drinking plenty of iced coffee. I’ve been experimenting with cold-brew methods, and Bodum’s new cold press pot looks pretty handy-dandy. And where to store that iced coffee? Why, in a brand new SMEG refrigerator, that’s where! My kitchen has freestanding units, and I’d love to have a smaller fridge with sides that don’t need to be hidden. I dream about owning a SMEG.”

“I’ve been considering attempting to put more of an effort into my appearance lately, and this sweet Marimekko dress and a pair of earrings in my favorite raindrop shape would definitely help me to feel more ladylike. I’m sure I’d wear the dress over jeans and cover my ears with my hair, but it’s a start!”

“The little bathroom in my city apartment could use some freshening up. Jen Ray’s “Toro” print would look great framed in there, and a set of String shelves is exactly what I need to organize my toiletries and extra hand towels (I could actually see putting String shelves in every room. Oh, I love them so!). And speaking of towels, I reeeeally want to get my hands on some Turkish bath towels. Aside from looking beautiful, the thin fabric means they’re gentler on wet hair, and they dry very quickly even when it’s humid and warm out.”

“My husband and I are turning an extra bedroom into a music room (for him!), and I’d love to see this bold, bright Sven Markelius fabric stretched and hanging on the wall. I think the Flentsted mobile would be a great addition to that room, too! Alas, it’s still chilly and rainy out a lot, so I want to make sure I can get my snuggle on in style. I’ve had my eye on Nightwood’s furniture for a while now, and this chair is kind of the seat of my dreams. I have a feeling my dogs would like it too, and I’d be willing to share it with them. For deeper snuggling (or summer naps), I’d really, really, REALLY like to have Pia Wallén’s crux blanket. There really is no material item that I covet as much as this blanket, and the fact that it now comes in eco/animal-friendly cotton makes me want it even more.”

get anna’s “it list”: 1. For my garden to be finished and nice, my main inspiration has been Foras Studio’s design for Carin Goldberg’s garden;  2. Bean Iced Coffee Maker from Bodum; 3. Black SMEG refrigerator;  4. Marimekko piia dress;  5. Raindrop earrings from The Angry Weather;  6. Toro print by Corduroy (Jen Ray); 7.String shelves in walnut/white;  8. Turkish towels from bathstyle; 9. Pythagoras fabric by Sven Markelius;  10. Flensted Futura mobile;  11. Nightwood Samurai chair; and 12. Pia Wallén’s cross blanket (now in cotton!).

okay, so i’ve got a mean blog-slash-girl crush on door sixteen. anna dorfman just oozes style, and really, really good taste. i knew she was a graphic designer, but, i did not really realize that she designs beautiful book covers.

i’m a sucker for a great book jacket, and when i saw these, i just had to share. oh anna, not only can you track down the best of the best white floors, you are a girl of a bazillion other talents! for more of anna’s eye candy, visit her blog door sixteen.

this is anna’s [talking picture]: “This is Sylvester. When my husband and I bought our house in Newburgh, New York, he was one among a number of homeless cats living on our block. Three and a half years later, Sylvester is the only cat who remains.

I’m not sure when we decided that his name is Sylvester, but we were shocked when we discovered that our neighbors had dubbed him “Blackjack”. I’m not even sure how we came to the conclusion the he is even a “he”, but this is what he is to us. He’s always seemed like a toughie, too — we’ve seen cars have to take alternate parking spaces because Sylvester didn’t want to give up his spot in the sun.

About a year ago, I held my hand out and crouched down on the sidewalk, about 20 feet from Sly. I expected him to take off; to do that thing that stray cats do when humans come too close. To my great surprise, he came running over! I pet his head tentatively, and he responded with a rub and a purr. For months, this was our routine. Days would pass when I wouldn’t see him, and I would worry. He always reappeared eventually, though. After a couple of winters, we never saw any of the other cats again. Just Sylvester.

A few months ago, a house across the street from us became vacant and went up for auction. The previous residents had made a practice of dumping cat food on their porch, which is where I’m assuming Sylvester got most of his sustenance. With them gone, he had nothing to eat. He lost his “tough” look, and started to get skinny. His fur became dull and dirty-looking.

At the end of September, I started doing that thing that everyone always says not to do: I put food and water out for a stray cat. Sylvester didn’t hesitate for the second! He gobbled down the entire dish, then let me pick him up and give him a cuddle. How could I deny this guy a meal? How could I let him starve?

My husband is severely allergic to cats, and we have two small dogs. Bringing Sylvester indoors is not an option. Regardless, I don’t think this guy would be very happy living inside after being an outdoor cat for so long. Fortunately, we live on a one-way street with very little traffic, and Sly spends most of his time napping in the sun on our porch. There is no wildlife here to hurt him. There isn’t a feral cat population here.

Next weekend, I’m going to make an insulated shelter to go under our porch so he has a place to go when it’s freezing cold.

I think he’ll be okay.

Sometimes you just need to do what feels right in your heart, and not worry about the shoulds and shouldn’ts too much.”

[ thanks again to guest blogger anna of Door Sixteen! ]

oh how i love this blog, door sixteen, and anna’s keen eye for style. her home, the images she posts on her blog make me want to have a giant crap-a-thon and get rid of all this mass of stuff i’ve accumulated. and don’t think i’m kidding, i’ve been considering a big old sfgirlbybay yard sale, so i’ll let you know if i do, and i may even put some smaller pieces  online for those of you not so near to san francisco.  but i digress (oh, how unusual for me?!).

i love anna’s style, and especially covet her white floors (she did them herself!). she and her husband bought an older hudson valley, New York home and are completely renovating it and sharing it with you as they do. i love this recent post she has up on other people’s  black and white interiors. you might think stark – just black & white, but no — they look warm and fantastic and i am utterly jealous. take a look over at anna’s door sixteen for more gorgeous interior ideas.

[ *please check door sixteen for photo credits. ]