Inspire: August 2013

Every month I pull together a list of some of my favorite things from around the web. Here is what I'm diggin' this month!

Live: I love this video about the Proudy family and their very big adventure.

Share: This is my favorite Pinerest board ever!

Listen: I can't get enough of this song lately (like I listen to it 7 times in a row), perfect mix of happy and sad and love and lost and well, a little bit of everything.

Find: Do you want to go thrifting today? Start here.

Read: My, my introverts are so popular right now, read about a few introvert myths here. 

Inspire: May

Find: With yard sale season upon us these hints for vintage/thrift shopping might come in handy.

Dress: Check out these stylish ladies, they were way ahead on the Emerald trend.

Watch: Are you going to watch The Office finale this week? Get ready for the end with this list of 20 things the show taught us.

Decorate: This office makeover has me so inspired to make May "finish the office" month.

Travel: I am totally obsessed with vintage camper trailers right now (okay all the time), can't get enough!

Read: Have you checked out the new online mag Emma Magazine? I'm diggin' it.

Live: I'm not there yet, but I'm really hoping to put a get up early plan into place and these getting up early tips for night owls are going to play a big part in getting me ready to do it. 

Inspire: April

Decorate: TV show apartment floor plans - I realized that my #1 style influence is Monica's apartment.

Make: DIY Swan Lamp - I just can't with this one, so-so much goodness here.

Wear: Julia Roberts' costumes from Mona Lisa Smile - I want to dress like a professor from 1953.

Find: Red Autumn Prints - Wise words in pretty writing.

Crochet: Dahlia In A Square - Great pattern for stash busting.

Give: My Christmas Wishlist

Have you finished your Christmas shopping? No. Yeah, neither have I. So I thought I'd pull together a few gift lists to share with you. And why not start with my own wishlist.

1. My camera died a few weeks ago, so I am in the market for a new one, I'm thinking something like the Nikon 1 J1.

2. I've also been wanted a more grown-up watch. I have been rocking a Fossil watch for most of my twenties, so I know they are great watches, but I think the time has come for me to more past the pink watch face. So I'm hoping to up grade to this The Stella Watch in Rose.

3. I do not wear much jewelry, I very rarely wear necklaces or rings and from time to time I will put on a bracelet, but wear a lot of earrings. So if someone is going to give me jewelry as a gift I'd like to get something like these beautiful pink drops.

4. Every few years I ask for perfume for Christmas, I think I am always in search of "THE" scent. You know the one that you will wear forever. Well this year is a perfume year and I'm asking for Coach Poppy (fingers crossed this is the one!).

5. Slippers are such a traditional Christmas gift, I even think someone gets slippers in Little Woman. If I'm going to be given slippers, I'd like cute Cowboy Slippers from Cath Kidston.

6. Finally in the fun and never gonna happen category. Who wouldn't love to find a vintage camper under the Christmas tree? I know I sure would!

What are you hoping for this year? 

Find: Unraveled Design

Last week I shared a print by Unraveled Design as part of my end of summer Pinterest faves. Well let me tell you that print was just the tip of the iceberg. I am now crushin' hardcore on these bright and encouraging prints and you bet I'm saving my pennies so I can have one hanging in my little house.

I'd put this in a bathroom, it would be a great reminder to be positive as you start your day.

How sweet for a nursery or a college dorm room.

I'm picturing this one in a little girls room or a ballet studio changing room.

 

And this could really go anywhere. But I think I'd put it by my back door. 

Which one would you take home if you could? Have you stumbled upon any great inspirational art recently?

Share: End of Summer Pinterest Finds

wise words illustration

We can tell by the cool nights and the return of the school buses that summer is coming to an end. So before Labor Day weekend comes and we unofficially say so long to long days and hot nights, I wanted to share my current summer-y Pinterest faves. Clearly I have been inspired by the bright and happy colors of late summer. So think of these as an expression of the Dalia garden I wish I had blooming right about now!

 colorful paper lanterns

 bright colors on bookcase

pop of color on white walls

 

root veggie fries

This last one might actually be a sneak peek to fall, but I thought the beautiful colors of the veggies just fit perfectly with my bright and bold colors of summer theme. 

As always I'd love to know what you are digging right now. You can find more of my pinnings right here on pinterest.

Find: Vintage Sari Quilts

To say that I love these quilts made from vintage Saris is an understatement. I'm kinda obsessed with them right now. I first saw them last winter at one of those weird knock-off Homegoods or TJ Maxx kind of places (do you know what I'm talking about - they are like independently owned overstock sellers), but baulked at what I thought was kinda a high price ($69 I think). Ahhh if I only knew then what I know now.

I realize now that 70 bucks was a great price for a beautiful handmade bedspread and I have been dreaming about picking one up for my guest bedroom (and maybe another for my bedroom) ever since. It seems like a "normal" price for one of these beauty is between $150-$200, which is a little more than I usually shell out for, well anything that you can't sit or sleep on.

You can find them on etsy for $200ish dollars. I have also seen them on Joss & Main for $109, but word to the wise they sell out quick so if you see a sale pop up move fast (all the quilts pictured here are from Joss & Main, but were sold by the time I looked at the sale page).

Clearly I have a thing for the pink and blue mixes, but you can find them in a million veriations of bright and bold to soft and sweet colors.

I do not know about the history of blankets like this, but I like to imagine that this is a long standing art form that is just making it's way into the design world. I really hope they have been keeping folks warm for years and years.

Has anyone bought a Sari quilt? Do you think I was crazy to pass one buy for $70? Have you fallen head over heals for any design trends lately? I'd love to hear all about it!

Find: We go back to Homegoods!

 You guys know I love the Homegoods! I always walk out of the store with new ideas and new things to obsess over. Right off the bat, in love with these massive aqua vessels. I will be stalking them to see if they go on clearance ($19.99).

 Ooo, really liked these blue and white casserole dishes, they would be great house warming or bridal shower gifts. And you will die when you see the price ($9.99)

 I was also really into this wire covered lantern (large $12.99 and small $9.99).

 I had to take a snap of this giant wine glass because it reminded me of Cougar Town ($16.99).

 Okay here is the item that I came away from my trip thinking about, this faux paint can is ceramic, but I think you could DIY it easily with a coffee can ($9.00).

 You can't really tell in this picture, but this box is tin and painted sort of army green. I really love mixing beat up more industrial items in with my softer aesthetic and this would work perfectly in my office or something ($9.99).

 I want this lamp, super, super want ($79.99)!

 I really like both the table ($99.99) and the orange chair in this photo ($99.99). They actually had at least three of these chairs at my Homegoods, I think they would make crazy good dinning room chairs.

 I'm really into science class-ish decor items and I think this big butterfly would look amazing in a living room ($29.99).

 A big graphic printed headboard. What's not to like ($299.99).

 First I saw this chair, which is I think a recliner ($299.99).

 And then I saw his slightly larger and a little cooler fraternal twin brother ($349.99). Yes they are a little pricey for a girl who buys most things secondhand, but they are by Lane and I will tell you I own two Lane chairs that are at least 20 years old and they are for the most part going strong, so they do make high quality items. Oh and on that note, my Homegoods had a ton 'o Lane products, just an FYI.

 I've been thinking about designing a mood board around this green chair, or rather the pair that were in the store ($129.99) they are the perfect kelley green in real life.

 Okay when I go totally over board and redesign my whole house to look like Jeannie's Bottle I am going to need a lamp like this ($29.99).

 For now this lamp is a little more my speed ($49.99).

 Now these little fans are the one thing I left the store wishing I had bought. So much so that I think I might go back and pick up one in green ($29.99).

 Tucked in the very back of the store were these contemporary out door chairs ($59.00).

 Maybe the most amazing find, someone is going to totally score when they buy this sofa table ($399.99).

 I don't really do seashells, but I do think they can add a great organic feel to your space and you half to admit this is a kinda beautiful ($14.99).

 I do really love boxes. I have them scattered all about my house (white: $14.99, blue: $19.99).

I always like to finish my trip off with one of the crazy things in the store (see 3 legged lady mug), but here me out on this one. I was actually thinking that you could make a fairly awesome headboard or room divider out of driftwood inspired by this-well I'm not really sure what it is ($99.99).

P.S. I had a friend ask me if it weird to go around a store taking pictures. The answer is; kinda. People do sometimes give you funny looks, but I am never bugged by either shoppers or employees.

P.P.S. This post is just for fun Homegoods did not sponsor the post or anything.

Summer Camp: Take Note

A very important part of going to sleep away camp is writing letters home. When I was a camper I would carefully selected cards and walked to the post office to buy stamps so that I could fill in my family on all my fun camp adventures. So today for our Summer Camp post we have a selection of cute note cards for the kid away at summer camp or the adult who wishes they were at summer camp.

#1 Saying Hi is always better when you do it with a picture of a cute dog!

#2 Personalization and arrows-love it!

#3 What could be more perfect than a pack of Camp themed postcards.

#4 Hot colors always a winner in my book!

#5 I'd like this print on a chair or as a rug please.

#6 All my favorite colors in one card. Fantastic!

For more cards and where to buy all of these check out my Get Carded Pinterest Board.