C Wonder

Apparently, as the holidays approach it seems that the hours in the day dwindle. Is anyone else having this problem? It seems as though all the hours are going to designing, creating, and Christmas shopping. I'm not complaining though since I enjoy all of these tasks. However, I do feel like I'm falling behind on the blogging and jewelry aspect. I've finally gone through all the Europe pictures (it took an hour and a half) but haven't for the life in me figured out how to blog about all the fun we had. On the more pressing topics I've put more necklaces up on the website and am completely open for Christmas shopping! Speaking of shopping, I'm getting close to finishing up our Christmas shopping. This is insanely early for me! But I can credit half of that to the new SoHo store C Wonder. I've been reading about it for about a month and finally went in yesterday. Oh my did I fall in love. It has preppy clothes (that reminded me slightly of Tory Burch's style) jewelry, and then loads of trinkets for your house. It is decorated fabulously and I can't wait to go back. Although, our bank account thinks I should wait a while.

I normally hate things on my kitchen counters but I think I could have made an exception for these nesting bowls!!

 Random Knick Knacks

 They had such cute dog plates - I almost bought the "Tucker" plate

 Even the store flag and door are cool and attractive. 

Housewives Style

Since we've signed a two year lease we decided to make this little loft our own. I painted our bedroom this week while Hubs and I painted our huge long wall a few weeks ago. We've rearranged some of our bedroom furniture and I'm trying to put a few finishing touches on the place since the paint renovation extravaganza. So I went out today in search of some fabric to either make some pillows or curtains, etc. I went in a few fun shops but the most fun was Zarin Fabrics. Zarin, as in Jill Zarin from the Real Housewives of NYC. I kept hoping I would hear her NYC accent behind one of the rolls of fabric but I never did. This place was 2 city blocks long and 2 stories. I was honestly a bit overwhelmed. However, I did find some fabric that I might just have to do something with, although I'm unsure of what that might be as of yet. Check out these photos and let me know what you think of the fabric. Too much? Just right? Thoughts on what I should make?

Does this count as seeing Mrs. Jill Zarin at her desk???

Overwhelming

So what do you think? Too housewives or more Bethenny style?

Anthro Decor

Big news today - Anthropologie is launching 12 "Decorator Concept Shops" within Anthropologie stores!!! They will have people in there to assist you in decorating your space, looking through sample books, or picking out wallpaper. How awesome is that?! I know I won't be able to afford anything in the shops but I know I'll have fun looking and getting ideas on how to recreate certain things in my price range! Here's the list of stores that will be launching the shops...

DECORATOR CONCEPT SHOPS OPENING MARCH 24th

• Atlanta, Georgia
• Beverly Hills, California
• Chicago, Illinois
• Corte Madera, California
• Denver, Colorado
• Houston, Texas
• London, United Kingdom
• Miami, Florida
• Nashville, Tennessee
• New York, New York
• Wayne, Pennsylvania
• Westport, Connecticut

Stencil Art

I can't believe I haven't found this site before now. I have Googled "wall stencils" countless times which actually doesn't make sense since we rent the apartment but of yet still I search. However, as of last night the search is over! I came upon this amazing site - Olive Leaf Stencils. They're so fancy and different than any of the other stencils I've found. Now if only I had a wall to attack. I would love to do this on the wall behind our bed or somewhere in a dining room. But since that won't be happening I might have to try and convince Sis and Bro-in-law that they need this somewhere. Maybe I can even plan another visit back to Florida around this make-believe project. Hmmm...

Which one is your favorite?

Second Home Makeover Edition

Well, here's another home edition post. Like I said, we've been busy. Sis and Bro-in-law renovated their "sun-porch room" after they first bought the house a few years ago. It had the fake green grass for carpet and other awesomely bad things. I wish I had a picture of this to show you all. I also wish I had a full picture of this wall with all the furniture coming out into the room but of course I forgot with all the other projects going on and babies/kiddos. So the only one I have is of the old entertainment system that was in the corner next to a side table and the huge comfy chair. Here it is, the process, and the finish product. It's so great!!!

Yep, we were watching Runaway Bride

We found this on Craigslist for $35! Imagine the possibilities and where we're going with this...

After a few coats of white paint, a clear finishing coat, and new knobs this is what we came up with...

Then after a trip to Ikea for 2 of the Expedit bookcases and baskets we have the awesome finished sunroom/boys playroom! All for about $200. Amazing, huh? This room feels so much bigger and more organized. We're not completely done with all the decorating details and hanging some pics of the boys but we have the basics. The boys have a place for all the toys and room to grow!

Home Makeover Edition

First off, I'm excited for the weekend just to see who the winner will be for the giveaway! Keep those followers/comments coming! However, on to the real post for the day...

Like I mentioned on Monday, we've been busy down here in Florida. The good kind of busy. Getting things done and seeing the result. Kind of like vaccuming. Instant satisfaction. We started with the nursery. We had to make a room that for the last 2 years has been 1 little man's room and has now become a room for 2 little boys. It is pretty darn cute! When the room was just for little man, Sis splurged and bought those really cute metal Anthropologie letters and spelled out his name over the crib. Well we decided to save the $$$ and make our own letters for Baby O. We got a cool leather mirror made out of a saddle on Etsy. And we're making new curtains for the window. Here's the before,process, and after...

Now for two little guys

Here is the before picture of the letters. They are just paper/cardboard craft letters from JoAnn fabric.

There were more complicated tutorials out there on the internet on how to copy the Anthro letters but we went with our own easy fast method. It's called match the color with spray paint. We used RustOleum's Silver Hammered Spray paint. It worked perfectly and matched better than we could have hoped.

Here is the final product. The letters look a bit off but that's only due to the sun hitting that side of the room.

Romance is in the Air

Since it is Valentine's week I decided to take a chance on red. Red is the color of the moment which is appropriate since I have always wanted to paint a room a deep red. Of course I have always chickened out and therefore I just have lots of red accents in various rooms. I once had a red couch that I absolutely loved! Here is a lovely simple room accented with reds. It just looks like a awesome country getaway.

I don't even know why I like this???

I love this table setting! If only hubby and I were having a Vday party- this would be perfect!

Clean lines with the red

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and finally - I love the purple accent through the flowers...

Lite Brite

Well I must admit that I have a huge love for chandeliers! HUGE! I can't wait until we have a house so I can go the flea market and find the perfect one. However, we might not have a house for years if we move to NYC and therefore I will just have to talk my mom into getting a new one...which of course is even better since I don't have to pay for it. hehe sneaky sneaky Anyway, I'm also hoping that at some point someone in the family will have a girl and will let me create a cute little-girl chandelier for them. I've always wanted to do this and have fantasized about what I would do if hubs and I had a little girl nursery. Although, my sister has an awesome light in little boy Spencer's room, so either way the lighting will be awesome! Here are some chandeliers I have taken pics of over the last couple of months...

Aren't they just gorgeous?!?

I would love to buy this and paint it for a little girl's room. Although, it's so cheap ($13) I kind of want to buy it and just figure out what to do with it in our apartment... Check out etsy for this deal.

I've never seen one like this before... etsy

House Love

I'm sure there will be many more posts similar to this one since we'll hopefully be moving into a house and a new city in the next 6 months. And after the move comes the decorating, etc! So there will be many more decorating posts to come...

Lovely serene bedroom from Taylor Howes Designs

I love the light wall color and all the wonderful details in the accent pieces.

Photo courtesy of Mark Olsen Photography

I just love this deep rich velvet couch from Windsor Smith.

I love how bright and open this one is...I can actually imagine cooking here!

Photo from House Beautiful

Countdown continues

Only one more day until we stuff our bellies with all that Thanksgiving food. However, my mom and I are off to figure out what the table decorations will be and go through all our options. Which have actually become more options than I thought. However, we do know that our centerpiece will be the lovely flower arrangement that my in-laws sent us yesterday! After the table setup, I am going to lunch with 2 of my best friends from back in high school! I haven't seen them since I got married!! Well, have a wonderful day on this Thanksgiving Eve! (Also, merry month away Christmas!)

Photo from A Field Journal

Images from Jenifer Altman

A day of thanks! (images from Rachel Grace)

Day Dreaming

So lately I've been doing a lot of dreaming about the future! Decorating our non-existent house, my chic little jewelry store and finally having everything organized (since hopefully we'll live somewhere where 1/2 of our belongings aren't in storage due to our tiny living space.) I am a bit obsessed with chandeliers (Ben can attest to that) and would love to have one in my future little jewelry shop. I'm thinking a vintage crystal chandelier with light gray walls, some chic paintings on the wall, hardwood floor, lovely round rugs, a velvet chair behind my desk, and then fun little vintage findings I pick up along the way that display the jewelry! Like I said, I'm having fun dreaming! But here are some items that could fit my dreams... (in the beginning stages.)

Wrong color and no sides but love the damask chair!

Ok, so probably not white chandelier :) but like the design

Love this color, elegant and simple