Although I know many people hold on to things, and boast generous collections, I am now a "keeper" of things. Shoes and clothing flow in and out of my closet making way for new items over time. Furnishings evolve. With the exception of handbags and jewelry, I have a catch and release approach to my possessions. Enjoying a brief love affair with them before letting them go lead a new life without me. In short, I prefer to own my things rather than allowing them to own me.
Talk about a powerful quote. I think it ties in nicely to the message of this post. For over a year I've been quietly working on building my own online boutique. It began as an idea when I was expecting the arrival of my daughter. It was just a loosely formed thought, but I could not shake it from my mind. Instantly I knew the name of the shop, the vibe, the essential look it should have. I knew I would have to build this store and make it happen.
But until you put the hours in, an idea is really just that: a thought. How on earth was this going to happen? How could I fit this into my already packed schedule? And more importantly, what exactly was I going to have in the store? I've had many ideas on this and many attempts to see it come to fruition. In the end, I actually designed and built the boutique before my daughter was born.
The challenge: I hadn't quite nailed down what I would carry or how to handle the logistics of selling other people's creations. I spoke to many vendors, many talented people and danced with many (many, many) iterations of the original idea. And while I found many amazing products I could display in the shop, it seemed I was reinventing the wheel, as they were already for sale elsewhere. Why was I reinventing the wheel? It just wasn't adding up.
Many months later that initial seed of an idea has now bloomed into something much more meaningful and far more personal. In an odd way I'm happy it took so long to complete the project. It gave me time to distill the idea to a clear, elegant concept. So...what's the skinny? It's simple, actually. Occasionally, in lieu of buying art for our home or office I
end up creating pieces of my own. Sometimes it is the only way to get the desired result. Some of the designs offer bits of wisdom, some remind you to get out
and explore the most fabulous destinations this planet boasts, and
others are simply meant to be beautiful. (Hey, there's nothing wrong
with just sitting there looking pretty.) Each design is colorful, happy
and intended to inspire.
After assembling a
collection of work, it seemed only logical to share them with you. In short, I'm presenting to you a collection of modern prints I have personally designed. That's right, hipsters. I'm offering you some Venti Cup-style design for your own bad selves. After much delay, many long nights and much fussing over details, I proudly present to you...the Venti Cafe, my own little boutique!
And here's the best part: 10% of the proceeds from the Venti Cafe are going to a charity very near and dear to my heart. This has become the driving motivator for this project and I hope you feel the same compassion I do for this cause. It truly made an impact on my life and I feel a deep need to give back.
So I hope you'll pop over to the cafe just to see what the fuss is all about. I'm sure you'll love what you see!
{P.S...In the near future I'll be adding new collections, including several designs for nurseries. Stay tuned!}
Today I'm working on a personal project and feeling a certain Parisienne vibe. It seemed unfair to keep it to myself. Here's hoping your Sunday is as fabulous as mine.
{gorgeous image found on Garance Dore}
One of my best girlfriends went to medical school near Miami. It become a bit of habit to visit her once the weather in my state turned cold. Snow storm? Perfect. Just hop on a jet and escape for a few days like the other snowbirds.
There's nothing quite like visiting a Floridian mid-winter. The weather is absolutely perfect, poolside grilling is a regular affair, restaurant patios are brimming with people. It's Florida at its best. But locals think it's intolerably cold. I am no stranger to hot climates. (50s? 60s? It can seem chilly depending on how the sun hits. But mid-to-upper 70s is just not cold. Sorry.)
To my Miami friends it was the middle of winter. I saw people on the beach in parkas (I'm not kidding), couples bundled in sweaters and long pants, children in coats. Had I entered another world? An alternate universe? It was perfect outside. I made a mental note to myself one morning as I jogged along the beach: always fly south for the winter. Regardless of how offensive my open toed shoes seem to those in their fur coats.In the process of my trips, I developed a bit of a fascination with Miami. The beach culture, the nightlife, the Art Deco design, South Beach. And sadly I never made it down there as much as I should have. Funny how you long for something you never quite had. Miami certainly had that affect on me. I always wondered what it would have been like to live there and really dive into the culture that is South Beach. It's an entirely different world. Would I eventually pull out my fur jacket come January? Given enough time in the tropical heat, probably.
These days I wouldn't dream of moving to Miami, but it's been too long since I vacationed there. As I did a bit of digging I stumbled upon a marvelous find: The Shore Club. Smack dab in the heart of Miami's pulsing nightlife district, it's a luxury hotel that doubles as the center of the strip come nightfall.
70 suites, 307 stunning rooms, a cluster of bungalows, villas, extravagant penthouses, famed NOBU restaurant, the iconic Skybar and standard 400 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets... Aye! It's no wonder this is often described as one of the best hotels in Miami. I'm tempted to pack my bags as I write this, but I realize this would be quite the treat come winter.But really, it's not the club scene pulling me this morning. It's the lure of the completely luxe spa. Get a load of this:
Bienvenido a Miami! I should tell you that rooftop pools are one of my longtime guilty pleasures. And Florida boasts some of the best rooftop swimming pools I've crashed. (Yes...I've been known to invite myself to a swanky pool or two with or without an invite. What? Who's going to tell a girl in a bikini no? The answer to that is simple: no one.)
Now that my longtime BFF is a full fledged doc, she's no longer living a quick drive from South Beach. My winter escape is now a thing of the past. This December, I suspect I'll feel that annual snowbird craving that can only be quenched by the beach. And when I do, you can bet the Shore Club (and that coveted rooftop pool) will hear me come knocking - even if the locals are all huddled inside by the fire in their UGGS and chinchillas.
Really? Is this where we are? Denim cutoffs? According to Nordstom and those Real Housewives of NJ, I'd say we're in the midst of a full-on denim cutoff explosion.
Honestly, I don't remember these ever being in style. I do recall people wearing them. But I have no memory of them ever being posh, cool, hip or desired. Do you? The bright side? If you're a slave to fashion and just can't wait to rock this look, at least you'll have something to do with those stovepipe jeans in the back of your closet.
But maybe...just maybe...let's don't and say we did.
If you missed yesterday's post, pop over and see what Ron Fiore, creative director for Hickory Chair, had to share with us about style, muses and the influence of fashion on the way we live in our homes.
Already up to speed? Enjoy part deux of the interview.
On collaboration:
Hickory Chair has teamed up with some amazing designers to create
collections. Suzanne Kasler, Thomas O'Brien, just to name a few. It
takes confidence to invite the disruptive force of outside ideas and
opinions. Is it challenging to ensure the capsule collections relate
the "whole" of the company's furnishings? How does the collaboration
process work? What is it about these designers that make them ideal for
collaboration?
On getting away from it all:
In my mind it would be a dream come true to design beautiful pieces of
furniture. The concept...the sketches, the revisions, the finished
work. It is an amazing profession. But we all need to get away once in
a while. Where do you go to relax and refuel? Do you love to travel?
What does Ron Fiore do to recharge his creativity?
On playing favorites:
I must know... what are some of your favorite pieces and why?
Ron's take on coffee pretty much sums up my view of him as a designer and by extension, the essence of the Hickory Chair brand. The focus is on top quality ingredients and authenticity. There are no shortcuts, no substitutes, no quick fixes. Start with the best and the results speak for themselves.
Thank you, Ron, for taking time out of your busy schedule. We look forward to seeing what your next muse inspires you to create!
Lately it seems that durable pieces of furniture look...well, durable. Not stylish. Not luxurious. Not achingly beautiful. And the pieces that I typically do pine for simply aren't designed to endure the challenges that my husband and tiny daughter are sure to put them through in years to come.
I've scoured catalogs, showrooms and web sites in search for pieces that look sensational and can hold up over time. I've spent the past few years convinced that these pieces existed. There must be furniture that gets better with age. Louis Vuitton luggage, a prized vintage bottle of Lafite Rothschild, George Clooney...some things simply improve with age.
So surely a settee, a sofa, an end table, a dining room chair could look as timeless and grand in 20, 30, 50 years as they do today. Well...they do. I've seen them. I've sat upon them, I've touched them, smelled the kiln dried wood that they are made from and - yes - met the man largely responsible for their beauty.
Ron Fiore, creative director for Hickory Chair, is a creative visionary with a "venti cup" outlook on design. Rather than ask why, he and the team at Hickory Chair ask "why not?" The result is a brand of furnishings unlike any I've ever seen. Handcrafted, made in the United States, allowing customization down to the most minute details. This, my friends, is the very furniture I've been seeking for years. Sophisticated, sexy, classic and timeless.
I had the privilege of asking this creative genius pressing questions about style, today's clientele and even what lies beneath the lid of that Venti Cup. Ron shared so much insight that I've decided to break this into two posts. Pour yourself a fresh cup and settle in to see what he has to say today...
Continue reading "Ron Fiore: Creative Genius With a Venti Cup" »
Saint Pete Paul just tipped me off to a wildly talented designer. He's not in Milan, or the garment district of any typical fashion metropolis....he's in Aspen. Listen, if these are the sketches that living a mile high inspires, we should all be headed west with our box of sharpened colored pencils.
The designer is Gabriel Conroy, and his actual translation of these illustrations into reality is every bit as marvelous as the artistic expressions themselves. Have a looksie. (Nice work, Paul, on discovering a rising star!)
By the way...Paul has just informed me that I'll be guest blogging for him next week as he jets off to the Bahamas. Do swing by and visit me as I perform my very best Giada de Laurentiis impersonation and indulge you in some of my thoughts on the ideal kitchen.
It's been hovering near 100 degrees for days on end. In order to play outside you'd need to do so before 8am or after 8pm. That is if you hope to feel comfortable. I'm not exaggerating. And this isn't the blissfully dry heat of the desert. No. This comes brimming with oppressive humidity. I liken it to being wrapped in a wet wool blanket each time I step outside.
Instead of frolicking in the sunshine of the season I find myself hiding indoors for hours at a time. After just a week I'm beginning to feel like a caged animal. I want to run. I want to play. I want t swim. I want to feel the wind on my face and the cool breeze of the surf blowing my hair. I want to rebel against the weather itself. Futile? Yes. But my feelings are no less genuine.
What do I want? Well if I must be in the heat, at least let me be lounging in this scenic location. But ideally I'd be overlooking the ocean.
Tell me, dear weather gods. When will you relent?
Don't you love it when you discover remarkable gems online? I've found a few such wonderful blogs lately. All of them were discovered either by a great little email or comment from the editors or just happy accident of web surfing. Saying thank you simply doesn't cover how I feel. It's happy and inspiring sites like these that make me smile every day. I hope that you'll enjoy them too...
Where the Sidewalk Begins is the latest discovery. Authored by Sarah, who has an eye for charming details, a passion for stylish spaces and clearly an eye for stylish footwear. I particularly love the images she chooses for her Happy Friday posts. She has a way of reaching out and touching the most delicate of imagery and pulls me into her magical tales and descriptions of beautiful things I'd have overlooked without her.
Next up...Ramblings of a Fab Brunette. Wow. Where do I begin. Here's a girl who pours her culinary-loving soul into every post. Take on look at her list of things she's learned and you'll feel an instant connection. Or if you've got a few moments, read this post on boredom and you'll be sure to cure yours.
I often feel like a hit and run blogger. My post are often riddled with typos, I don't often cite sources for images. Rarely will you see a well-researched, lengthy post from me where I've culled information from many sources and outlined that data for you to read. It just isn't what I do. But it is what you'll find at Blueprint Bliss. Here's a design observer who will lead you on a well documented tour of whatever her latest obsession happens to be. Witness her post on wheeled serving carts and you'll agree. I admire her commitment to the blog and what appears to be painstaking effort to create each thoughtful post. (She and Joni make me wonder if I shouldn't just stop and slow down.)
I hope you'll enjoy this select group of recent discoveries - and possibly share a few of your own hidden gems.
Okay...this isn't your typical post on Brazil. But there seems to be nothing normal about this fellow, Dr. Mike. As a girl who wouldn't be caught dead eating egg salad (eww!), it baffles me that a man would spend his days eating (or at least greeting) things the rest of us strive to avoid.
And yet, here we are. Tonight the Travel Channel will air an episode of this culinary Braveheart deep in the forests of Brazil meeting all things disgusting and vile. Honestly, a getting a Brazilian might just be more fun than encountering the nasty things this guy is sure to uncover in this episode alone. It certainly yeilds more...um....attractive results.
Meanwhile, I'm working on a post that will actually be a treat for your senses and will extol the many adventurous virtues of the land that is Brazil (see the tie in, now?). Now, there's something to wax on about.
Until then, indulge in my behind-the-scenes look at Little Passports on Sippy Cup. This month they take us on a virtual tour of amethyst mines, Carnival and other exciting (and might I add insect free) adventures in this South American country.
We just finished watching Yes Man, the recent Jim Carrey release. I've got to admit, the message isn't lost on me. Saying yes to what life places before you is a very Zen approach to life, and one I've been encountering more and more these days. In many of the books on my nightstand I've noticed a recurring theme, that good things are trying to come your way if you'll oly let them. That it's often you stand in the way of your own success. And if you'll stop fighting the current and go with it you'll discover that your life experience is so much better than the one you were fighting to establish.
This doesn't sound very compatible with achievement and goal setting...but are they in fact diametrically opposed? I'm not so sure. What opportunities would life place your way if you just stopped resisting? If you didn't hesitate each time you received an invitation, where would that leg of the journey carry you? What if those invitations, chances and opportunities are the answers to your master plan? What if each time you said yes to what seems to be a random event, it was actually putting you closer to your goals?
Saying yes doesn't mean you're an agreeable flake that doesn't make their own decisions. It seems the secret is to consciously choose to try new things that seemed like roadblocks before. It means adding more adventure, more fun and more experimentation to your experience.
I'm going to add "yes" to my process right now. Yes to opportunities that seem like diversions. Yes to chances that seem anathema to my goals. Yes to life's opportunities. Things are going so swimmingly well right now, that it seems like the perfect time. I'm not fighting the current. I'm not forcing things. So let's see if this added bit of Eastern flair makes an impact in my Western approach to success.
What about you? Are you saying "no" to life?
The "venti challenge" was intended to take one week. I've come to recognize that I'll need two weeks to do the process justice. Over the past week I've done things I'd been putting off, braved new frontiers, knocked myriad things off my to-do list and boldly stepped in a new direction. But I found that I needed to organize my physical world before I focused on my future.
I anticipated a week of journaling and goal setting, but recognized that I wasn't going to be able to focus on anything until I deep cleaned my surroundings from top to bottom. Please, please... appreciate that this is a feature in my programming, not a bug. I've since organized every drawer in my home, decked out my closet like so that it shimmers like the interiors of a Tory Burch boutique, scrubbed my floors and rewashed nearly every item in my wardrobe. After all, once I cut out television I discovered I had quite a bit of time on my hands.
So this week is going to be the week where I get to the meat of the process. If you're playing along at home, feel free to join me in my continuation. Already done? Then you should be basking in the glow of your newly framed future. Drop me a note and let me know what your vision for life looks like. I'll certaily be sharing mine once I'm done.
It's official. I've abandoned eBay. The fees, the seedy practices, the restrictions, the auction formats. I'm done. Finito. Exit stage left.
And while I've sold most of the goodies I'd culled from my closet, I do have a few small gems left. Notably this Tory Burch Brewster tote. New with tags. It's sold out in this color on Tory's site and Bloomingdales.com.
If you're interested, make me an offer. :)
There are few actual possessions that I covet as much as the classic black quilted caviar Chanel 2.55. Timeless. Classic. Enduring. Um...Chanel.
I won't deny that I visit this bag at the petting zoo (the Chanel department at my Saks) as often as I can. The double strap, flap version with goldtone hardware is the one for me. She's lovely. Perfectly sized. Ideal. And eventually....she will be mine.
In case you're wondering, no, a vintage version won't do. I won't settle for the Forever 21 pleather version either. I won't buy a pre-loved bag. I won't lower my standards. Eventually I'll walk into Saks and slap down my Amex and she will be mine and I will love her forever. But for now, I covet.
And while I meditate on my future purchase and visualize it as mine, I wonder...what do you covet?
{image via garance doré}
A few years ago I received a pair of sterling silver earrings engraved with my initial. Those dangling F's on my ears might have been a wee bit ghetto, but I couldn't get enough of them. What is it about monogrammed pieces that we love so much? Are we really that vain? Do we need a reminder of who we are, lest we forget?
Fast forward to today. I find myself hot on the hunt for a big gold medallion necklace with (you guessed it) an "F" prominently displayed on the front. Am I secretly wishing I were one of the Real Housewives of New Jersey? Have I been watching too many of those late night reruns of Sex and the City? Carrie's necklace played such an important part of her character. Is a monogrammed necklace really that different from a tee shirt with a company's logo on the front? Isn't a personalized piece of jewelry just another version of personal branding. Or is this simply the modern girl's version of a dog tag. "If lost, please return to..."
Honestly, I can't say what the reason is behind the urge. What I can tell you is I want one. I want it big, gold and fabulous. And yes...on some level I'm hoping Caroline Manzo wants to adopt me or at least take me in as part of the Manzo clan. I can assure you there will be no quarrels over our jewelry After all, the pieces that belong to me will all be very clearly marked.
Can't get enough of these images. I've actually posted this image before. Yet it took angel-Arabella's comment from the Jordi Labanda post to lead me to the source of such beauty. I want a large print of this one my closet wall. I adore everything about this image. The frames, the lips, the lashes, the hat. It's dreamy.
And here is an illustration inspired by Lanvin. Delicious in lavender.
I want notebooks with the left and right images on the cover. Actually....I want a print of the poster on the left and I want to live the life of the girl on the right. Dreamy, dreamy, dreamy. I do believe we can order these via the fashion illustration gallery.
Last night I felt inspired to ask a random question on twitter: "Wondering: do you have goals or just wishes?" It seemed to have struck a chord with people. There's a wide gulf between wishes and goals, my friends. A very wide gulf indeed.
This week I'm working on fine tuning my future plans. I journal out my vision of my "ideal life" in as detailed a manner as possible. Where I'd like to live, what it will be like to entertain, what I'll feel like, what I'll wear, where we'll vacation, what we'll do for fun, what we'll do for fulfillment. Details. Tiny details. These aren't wishes. These are plans.
How sad to have a book of wishes? You're tapping into vastly different emotions when you conjure up these images and categorize them as wishes. Think about it for a moment. Close your eyes and "hope" you get to work safely this morning. Hope traffic is easy. Hope your engine runs smoothly. Now....what did hope feel like? Did you feel an undercurrent of anxiety? Stress? Did you also see yourself getting to your destination in a less than positive mood?
With "hope" we are leaving the possibility in our minds that this thing we want might not happen. That doesn't feel good. Hope leaves the option of failure.
Let's try it again. Only this time "expect" to get to work just fine. Imagine the sun shining, you're listening to something great on the radio, traffic may be busy but things are going fine. Imagine yourself walking in and being greeted by your coworkers.
Now that's a much better day. Was the traffic, the weather or your office any different? No. But you were. You expected a good day, a great drive and a positive experience. And guess what? You gave yourself one. You're in control of much more than you realize, just use that noggin of yours correctly.
There's a physiology that accompanies stress and one that is present when we expect good things. When you're anxious or "down" about something you use your body differently. But when we are confident and sure of ourselves we stand straight. We feel good inside. We carry our bodies in a way that tells our minds to feel good.
{Don't believe any of this? Have you ever been to a party or a friends house and observed how confidently someone entered the room? They didn't speak a word to you yet, but you were drawn to their body language. They seemed at ease. There is absolutely a mind/body connection going on there.}
And the results are vastly different when we tell our minds to "expect" things. What if you were headed in for surgery. No one wants the surgeon who "hopes" things go well. That guy is nervous inside. I want the surgeon who expects the procedure to go well. He walks taller, comes off more confidently and has steadier hands. You might say this is a subtle difference in language and you'd be right. But just pay attention to how you talk to yourself. If you're wishing or hoping for a lot rather than planning or expecting, you might need a little adjustment.
Stay tuned for an up close and personal interview with Hickory Chair's creative director Ron Fiore later this week. We'll even find out what's under the lid of his venti cup...
Ummm..... yeah. Time for a confession. Remember those pretty notebooks I mentioned that I use for my to-do lists? I deftly omitted the fact that they are Jordi Labanda illustrated notebooks. Yeah. This may seem a week bit tweenager of me, but they are one of my private obsessions. I've loved them since about 2001, way before they were picked up by certain mass market retailers. I knew about them before they were common and I have a stash of spiral bound Jordi books hidden in my cabinets. I love the covers so much that I actually don't throw my old journals away. Okay. I said it. Now you know. Now the world knows. Let's move on with this post.
Jordi is an impossibly talented illustrator from Barcelona who creates these ridiculously indulgent collections of stationery, paper products and other (often silly but mostly just pretty) products. Very few people know about my addiction to the notebooks. My husband and my girlfriend (who prefers I not call her out on my blog, so I'll call her Sasha) are my two secret enablers. And while clients and friends have seen me carry these to meetings, coffeehouses and other affairs, I'm always a week bit embarrassed when they catch a glimpse of the glamorous blonde on the cover. I have to say it feels good to finally come clean and confess my Labanda obsession.
My big week is all about reassessing priorities and making sure I'm not spinning my wheels on the trivial details of this thing we call life.To me the secret to success is organization. I am definitely a list girl. Write a fresh list. Cross things out as you knock them out. And keep going. In fact...I keep a physical notebook for those action items and create a fresh "to-do" list almost daily. Without the list I tend to flail about like a fish without a current. I enjoy the physical act of writing the list (in blue ink, no less) and crossing things off one by one. And since I have a penchant for neatness, once the list becomes too cluttered (with all that crossing off) it looks messy and I begin anew. And again we begin the process.
But I find that lately I'm using my iPhone more and more for life organization. I don't get the tactile thrill of crossing things off my list, but it does a lovely job of allowing me to sync my digital world with my "real" one. And let's face it, I refuse to ever place an ink pen in a handbag again.
There are no shortage of apps out there for keeping track of your life, but a cult favorite with the designerati seems to be Things from Cultured Code. I've been getting along just fine without it, but I'm starting to see how this little investment might be an elegant way to integrate the on and offline worlds.
{Although I am very, very, very emotionally attached to my pretty notebooks and special blue ink pens. So I will probably use Things for business tasks and shopping lists...not my personal priorities and lists. I'd miss seeing my handwriting and crossing those items off the list so very much!}
If you're playing along this week and are knocking trivial or unpleasant things off of your to-do list, realize that once those are completed you can start LIVING that life of yours. You'll no longer be held back by the minor tasks in life. You can focus on what's really important. Start writing that novel, building that online boutique, starting that master's degree program, opening that bakery.
My commitment to myself is to stop majoring in minor things. And if it takes a cool app from the Apple store to do it or just a simple pen and paper solution, then let's get on with it. The big things in your life are waiting.
In my experience, the difference between good days and bad is your attitude. Those days you wake up ready to grab life by the Manolos and celebrate living are host to the more memorable moments of your life. So decide today that this day you will squeeze every bit of goodness out of the 24 hours you've been given. This is the only version of today you'll ever be given. Tomorrow is an entirely new book of opportunities.
So do what it takes to make sure it doesn't blend in with the others. Decide to be happy. Decide to take charge. Decide to love being you. Be bold. be brave. Be fearless. Be fabulous.
{Image courtesy of the delicious A Life More Fabulous}
I yearn for my first trip to Argentina. The flamenco dancing, the polo, Buenos Aires, the impossibly delicious seasoned steak, the architecture, the world class beaches (the world class shopping, while we're at it). Ahhhh.....it's going to be an amazing time.
And while I assumed South America (or at least a trip on the scale of what I am envisioning) was out of the question now that we've added a Bugaboo to our stable of vehicles, apparently I was wrong. Turns out, Argentina makes for a wonderful trip, whether or not you've got a little one in tow.
Sounds like we may try to plan a trip that coincides with the Triple Crown Cup of Polo in Palermo Buenos Aires this November. That buys me enough time to plan the trip. My new secret weapon? My Little Swans. It’s a site for families who travel the world with little ones in tow. The site helps us plan our next global adventure, itineraries, recommendation, trip planning and all. Read my full review of the site and the high-end service on Life in a Sippy Cup.
Which leads me to say one thing...Bailemos Tango!
Mr. Trump, if you're reading my blog I thought I'd save you some time. Just go ahead and award me one of those 10 grand prizes. I'm the perfect candidate to receive a copy of your latest book.
Don't believe it? If you have a moment to browse the site I'm sure you'll agree I have vision, ambition and enough moxie to be a worthy recipient. A signed copy of Think Like a Champion is what I'm after. Because I do, in fact, think like a champion and I'd be honored to have a copy in my possession.
You, fine sir, are one of my absolute favorite capitalists (and I do love me some capitalists!). Your irreverence, your absolute refusal to quit, your drive, your vision. You are truly a Don. But you can keep that key chain. I really just want a signed copy of what is sure to be an inspiring book.
How lovely are these illustrations? I hope to acquire a collection of fashion illustrations one day. Sketches for designs, or even advertisements such as these. Preferably Dior or Chanel. These are lovely. I found them on ffffound, but they clearly came from this Flickr pool.
Just got word that BH&G is lending the services of "master decorator" Stephen Saint-Onge if you can demonstrate that you in fact have the most heinous room of all. Yes, you heard that right. Show us your ugliest, most unattractive, "please don't go in there!" space and Stephen may just pluck your entry from the bowl and give your space a much needed nip/tuck. Learn more about the master of ugly duckling to swan transformations while you're twiddling your thumbs waiting for your much needed spacelift.
I could (and probably should) keep this to myself....but Traditional Home is offering $20K to make over your bedroom. That's right. $20,000. But you've got to hurry, you've only got until June 21 to enter. Oh...and you can enter again, and again, and again for the next few days.
What will you receive if you win? Here's the scoop: a professionally designed bedroom plan plus furniture, flooring, mattress set and bedding from the likes of Darryl Carter Design, Thomasville, Scandia Down, Armstrong Floors and Vera Wang by Serta. So if your bedroom needs a little lovin' I advise you to get on with it and enter. :)
Ever since launching Life in a Sippy Cup I've been joking that I'll need to think up a new variety of cup to round out my collection of web properties. "Life in a Travel Mug" just doesn't quite have the necessary chic factor I was going for, if you know what I mean. And so I sit...and wait for the moment of inspiration to strike.
While surfing today I did think up one more...a demi cup. I'm kidding of course, but certainly there's an audience for that. Especially with glamorous blogs like the Frou Frou Fashionista running at top speed. Lingerie is simply part of what makes girls girls, don't you think?
So while I don't believe I'll actually purchase the domain, I did decide to share some adorbale things I found today as I surfed...
I can't help it. I saw "hierbas de ibiza bath salt" on the Bliss site and can't get the idea of a bubble bath out of my head. Well, a bubble bath AND a trip to Ibiza if you're really being specific. But here's how those yummy salts were described...
Yowza! If that description doesn't do it for you...maybe this will: it's on sale for $29 smackeroos. Forget that sad, powdered Calgon. I think the scents of Ibiza are going to carry me away. It's Friday, people. Get your weekend on! :)
Once a year I do what I call a life tune-up. I reassess my goals, my plan and make sure I'm on course to achieve that. It's also a good time to give myself an honest once-over and make sure I like what I see. Am I excelling professionally but not calling my mom enough? How is my fitness? Do I like what I see in the mirror? What do I REALLY want to do with my life? Has it changed since last year? Am I getting enough time with my spouse? Are there any bad habits I've let creep into my life? How about my friends? Am I making enough time for them? Too much time?
I genuinely believe you have to design the life you want. Great stories don't just happen. Do you want to be a venture capitalist? (I do.) So where's that money going to come from? What am I going to do with that success? Travel? Develop new businesses? Where will I live? What kind of friends will we have? What do I want that to feel like on a daily basis? Am I doing things RIGHT NOW, every single day to work towards that goal?
I'm telling you this because it's time again. I can feel it. Time to shake things up and make sure I'm on pace to win in life. If you've never thought this way or done such a thing, I'm inviting you to take a look at my process and inviting you to play along. But I'll warn you, it is absolutely life changing. So be prepared to enjoy life better in just seven days.
Here goes...
Although we cook on the grill year-round, there's something about summer that ratchets up my enthusiasm for outdoor cooking. I suddenly begin to study the pages of each issue of Williams-Sonoma's catalog looking for ways to transform our next meal into magazine spread worthy affair. And that's when I saw them. Steak brands.
There's only one problem...I can't find a single brand that offers more than three letters on the monogram. Sure, it'd be wonderful to have my initials on a steak. But what I really want it to say is "MINE" on top. Not my initials. I just want the letters M-I-N-E on top of my fillet.
If I can't have that maybe I'll just take a brand in the shape of the great state of Texas. But pay special attention to the steak brands I uncovered above. Adidas, Apple and Nike? This may have just been a promotional image for a magazine. I find it unlikely that even Steve Jobs would put the company logo on his sirloin. But then again, who am I to judge how a man likes his steak.
Which begs the question...how do you like yours?
All I can think about right now is getting away. I grew up not far from the coast in the Carolinas, so for me a "vacation" means three things: palm trees, sunshine & sand. Those are my elements. Balmy breezes, dinners overlooking water, listening to the surf. Fresh seafood. Really fresh. Ahhhh.... I can smell the salt in the air already. This year we're staying domestic and headed south and west for fun in the sun.
What about you? What are you in the mood to do this summer? Are you more of a hiking/camping/mountains adventurist? Or do you vacation by heading deep into the concrete jungle for shopping expeditions? Are you braving the currency exchange rate and heading overseas (that would be my first choice this year... okay, any year)? Do you jet off to exotic locales to play in the snow? Or do you play it close to home.
Where are you going? What are you doing? When are you leaving? Who's going with you?
After that last post, I needed a palette cleanser. Think of this as sorbet for your aesthetically sensitive eyes. Just a touch of Hollywood Regency and I'm ready to go on with my day. I can only hope it helps you as much.
Somehow my worldly and wise husband survived the 80's without ever seeing or owning a pair of louvered sunglasses. I'm fairly certain he had no clue what I was talking about when I brought it up. Maybe his school called them slit-lens glasses or something. Where I grew up we called them louvered, since putting louvers on the rear window of low-riding sports cars with tinted windows was also en vogue at the time. Yeah...somehow we sent man (and woman) to the moon and back, cured numerous diseases, boast world class cities... and yet this is the best we can contribute to the fashion historian archives.
It started with the asymmetrical tops, the leggings, skinny jeans, and the pleated pants. I knew we were doomed to see repeats of the dreaded fashion from my high school years. I have to say, I didn't know what options I had back then, and yet I still knew we'd regret our sartorial choices one day. Big hair. Aqua Net hairspray. Polo Cologne. If you went graduated anywhere near the time I did, you're nodding your head right now.
But we're definitely in the midst of full on epidemic here. Yesterday I saw them. The louvered sunglasses. An entire display full of them at Target. My theory on Target is that by the time you see a trend there, it's "over" and no longer "on trend." Knowing this, I can only assume we've hit the top of the 80s revival cycle and we'll begin to see it fade. (Fingers crossed!)
I have a theory on all of this, by the way. Or should I say a philosophy? If you rocked this look the first time out of the gate, you are not permitted to participate again. This explains why I love platform shoes & flare leg (ahem, bootcut) pants. It's all new to me. It was not a part of my youth. Tunics? New to me. But the torn leggings, louvered glasses and paint splattered jeans? You can keep them. I've seen them (and rejected them) before.
Meanwhile, I'll be rocking my modern prepster look and hoping the boys at high school these days haven't rediscovered Polo cologne and Drakkar. One can only hope they've at the very least moved on to new cologne.
Everything about this image is beautiful. The suede booties. The tiered tulle skirt. The perfectly tinted sunglasses. The arresting colors of the Chloe bag. And, do I see a pair of socks pushed down about the ankles? I do. I do indeed. This woman is wearing what appears to be no less than three layers on top and three on the bottom - yet still has air about her that this isn't any more special than any other day's ultra-glamorous look. Honey, I want to see your closet. I'm dying to know what you'd wear after dark. And I've got to see the rest of this bag collection. You were channeling your inner Carrie Bradshaw in this photo, my dear. Seriously.
And let's give props where props are due. The photo is by Vanessa Jackman taken on the streets of Paris. Note how she catches the pops of red in the windowsill flowerbeds? Maybe it was just timing, but I'm guessing she masterfully designed the composition to be just right. Vanessa, it's working darling. keep up the great work.
Love,
your newest fan.
If the papers and media are to be believed, there are legions out there looking for work. But curiously, the few that I know who are "between engagements" seem to be racking up the frequent flier miles and having what looks to me to be a pretty good time.
It seems most of the funemployed are spending time on the plane writing business plans and networking with others before they launch their own business. On the surface I'd assume they've been waiting for this moment to be freed from cubicle nation. It's the kick in the pants they've needed to go their own way, be their own boss and write their own paycheck. That is... once they've tired of the golf courses and parasailing.
So...what gives? Are you funemployed? Are those new flashy government checks that fat? Did you get a sweet settlement out of the deal? Are you a trustafarian? Is daddy (or sugardaddy) paying the bills? Tell me. I've got to know.
As a business card...
As a bedroom...
As a luxury ride...
As an evening gown.
Sometimes less really is more.
