Holiday Cheer

Stockings are hung, shopping is done, gifts are wrapped.... well, not really. I haven't really started wrapping anything yet.  But I think I am still pretty ahead of the game!  I am running to Michael's today to pick up some last minute decorations and saw these beautiful pictures.  Thought I would share :)

Some DIY projects:

Source: craftrookie.blogspot.com via SweetAdeline on Pinterest

Now, I just need a baby... or just baby feet!

Love these cupcakes.  And so easy!

Source: karaspartyideas.blogspot.com via Anna on Pinterest

Source: deckthehalls-christmas.blogspot.com via Anita on Pinterest

Source: instructables.com via Jane on Pinterest

And some not so DIY-friendly projects :)

Source: designindulgences.com via Kristi on Pinterest

Pottery Barn Star Mirrors can be used any time of year.

Source: potterybarn.com via CindyOrris on Pinterest

And now, for my own little Christmas tree and holiday cheer. Happy holidays all!

If you can't tell from the picture, she was not amused.

My Holiday Wishlist

With Christmas only a few days away, I thought I'd put together my holiday wishlist (hubby, hint hint!).

1. Fujifilm Instax Mini (Amazon)

2. Melissa Button boot by Frye (Nordstrom)

3. Michael Kors iPad case (Michael Kors)

4. Florence & The Machine, Cermonials (Amazon)

5. Bare Escentuals Putting on the Glitz set (Sephora)

6. Marc Jacobs Wallet (Polyvore)

75% there

As you may have noticed, I've been MIA lately.  We became homeowners and then went on vacation a week later (not really planned well!).  Then when we came back, it was time to unpack, paint, order new furniture, hang frames, and so on and so on and so on.  And I emphasize 'so on'!  It's been a lot of work over the past 4 weeks so blogging has fallen by the wayside.  But I happy to report that we are about 75% of the way there.  Yahoo!  I will be posting pictures soon.

Still on the list is a dining room table (which we have ordered but has not yet arrived), office desk and chair, rugs and a vanity for the bedroom (still debating this).  My main focus at this moment (and I mean today since apparently I have developed ADD) is getting a rug for the main living/dining area and a runner.  Here are some of the ones I have been eying.

This one is my favorite but it's almost $500 for 5'x8'.  Eek!

Allendale

Much less expensive but not as colorful.

Overstock.com

This one is a little too light, but still could work.

Allendale

Target

The Target rug is the most affordable, but I am not sure how I feel about it.  It's pretty busy.  I did buy the doormat version of this rug this weekend, and while it's a different pattern, it has the same coloring, so I will see if I want to take the plunge and buy the Big Guy.

Holiday Attire

So many holiday parties, no few outfits!  I have 2 parties this week/weekend, and I still don't know what to wear.  Well, I do know what I want to wear, but I don't think I can afford it all! A girl can dream.

Holiday Parties by decoranddior

Anthropologie Home

Oh, how I love Anthropologie. I never really took much notice to their home section until I was recently in the Rockefeller Center store and looked at some of their home goods. 

And my favorite (an of course the most expensive) item, this stunning art... costing $8,500. Yikes!

Instead, I will settle for this little $24 butter dish :(

Missing in Action

I have been MIA.  Things have been nuts.  I am busy at work, closed on our apartment, moved to our new apartment, attempted to unpack at least half the apartment, and... oh yea, dealt with having a new dog!  It's been wacky.  

Also, picking paint colors is tough!  I thought piecing everything together would be easier, but nope.  After a week+ of back and forth, I have picked some colors and the painters will be coming tomorrow.  Woohoo!

Now, next thing on the list, find a desk.  I love the DIY idea that I saw on Young House Love, but I need something with more storage.  I refuse to let my hubby put his techie books back on our bookshelves in the living room. No. Not happening. So they will be in the office.

Source: aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I would love to have something like this, but city living doesn't allow for monster desks :)

Source: anythingpretty.com via Rachel on Pinterest

A little too country livin' for my style, but definitely beautiful wood

Source: ohhappyday.com via Tracy on Pinterest

I think something like this will work. And I definitely can find inexpensive pieces at Ikea or a thrift store.  Easy enough, right?  Well, easier said than done ;)

Source: ikeahackers.net via Colleen on Pinterest

NewlyMaid

I was excited when I came across a site called NewlyMaid, where you are able to trade-in used bridesmaid and prom dresses for a "new" dress.   You mail your used dress in a bag to their NYC office, they inspect it and issue you a credit towards one of their dresses.  Sounds great, right?  Well, not so much.  I sent a $300 dress that I wore for a wedding a few years ago, and I realize that I wasn't going to get a $300 credit since it was 1) used, 2) somewhat dated and 3) I was willing to send it to some random company, which means it was about to go in the donation pile. 

So I sent it along and got an email from them a few weeks later saying I had a $60-$70 credit (depending on which dress I picked).  I was excited to start online shopping!  But when I got to their site, I was shocked to find out that my credit didn't get me far.  

Here are some of the options:

Cute, right?  Yea, they are cute.  And if my $70 credit paid for, let's say, 75% of the dress, then I probably would be stoked.  But have it pay for less than 50%?  Eh. 

I love this idea and if these were somehow designer (I used that term VERY loosely) dresses or something that I could fathom paying an additional $70 for, then I would be into it.  If the dress was really worth $140, I'd be shipping in old dresses every day.  

Great concept, in any case.  Are there other companies out there like this one that offer better value?

Fur

Faux, of course!  I just bought my first fur vest (although I have a couple of vests with fur trim).  Now, I just have to figure out how to wear it.  I am going to a casual bridal shower this weekend, one that said "jeans only" on the invite.  So I think I will wear a chiffon long-sleeve blouse, jeans, fur vest and some boots.  

Fur Vest // Day to Night

Almost makes me want to cook. Almost.

These kitchens are uh-maz-ing! Drooling.

I need a farmhouse sink!

Source: isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com via Decor & Dior on Pinterest

white on white

Source: interiorgroupie.blogspot.com via Renee on Pinterest

rustic charm

Source: houseofturquoise.com via Decor & Dior on Pinterest

subway tiles and warm wood give a vintage feel, yet white adds a chic and modern look

Source: houseofturquoise.com via Decor & Dior on Pinterest

Modern, dark, sleek, sexy, masculine

Source: youngfolksociety.tumblr.com via Christina on Pinterest

And now, for my own (soon-to-be) kitchen.

So it may not be magazine worthy, but it will suit us just fiiiiine!

Mustard and Burgundy and Gray... oh my.

Fall is here! And I better take advantage of it before it's gone (it's supposed to snow in NYC today, ick).  Nothing says Fall to me like mustard & maroon colors.  Dreaming of this outfit, complete with a gorgeous dress by Mulberry.

Mustard, Gray & Burgundy 

Oh my dog!

Look how adorable this video is.

Ok, it's adorable for about 30 seconds and then I just want to pick that dog up!  Speaking of adorable dogs, look who I am picking up tomorrow!

This is our new dog!  She is yet to be named.  More pics to come soon :)

Secret Storage

After living in NYC for 3 years, I know the value of storage.  I am hunting for a new bed and have come across with some unique storage options.  Many storage beds are platform beds with drawers underneath, but these beds offer storage in the headboard.  

Macys.com

Macys.com

 Ikea offers a double-whammy!  Storage underneath and in the headboard.  And less than $500 for the set.

Ikea.com

PotteryBarn.com

No headboard storage in this Pottery Barn bed, but the baskets are just so cute!

Wayfair.com

Everything Goes Wrong

I don't know how much more of this I can take!  This weekend was jammed packed with errands and (attempted) DIY projects.  On Saturday hubby and I went bedroom furniture shopping, which seemed like an all-day event.  On Sunday, I went to Home Depot to buy the Martha Stewart faux bois kit that I posted about on Friday and some paint.  I got home and took the power sander to the bookcase.  And thennnn I went to take a photo and I realized that I had lost my phone.... at Home Depot.  I rushed back but they hadn't found it. I left my hubby's cell number and a few hours later they called to tell me that they had found it.  Wooohooo, thanks Home Depot!

So since I wasted about an hour driving back and forth to Home Depot and it got really chilly in the 'burbs while the sun was setting (I was using my parent's home for my projects), I didn't get around to finishing the faux bois bookcase.  Well, really, I didn't even start it besides sanding.  So I will table that project for now and maybe get it to next week.

I did spray paint a few candles holders (pics soon) and 2 mirrors.  Here are the before pics:

all taped up and ready to go

The gold color is nice, but a little old fashion looking.  The silver looks more modern, and I am pleased with the final results.  I will take some photos of the new, silver frames just as soon as I recover from the insanity that was this weekend :)

Discount Codes for the Weekend

Happy Shopping!

ASOS 

10% off sale items with code BONUS10

20% off women’s coats and men’s boots with code BONUS20

ends 10/23

Banana Republic 

25% off your entire purchase with code BRSAVE25

ends 10/23 

Gap

30% off entire purchase with code GAPWOW

ends 10/22

 J.Crew 

 25% off and free shipping on all orders of $150 or more with code LOVEFALL 

ends 10/23

Sephora.com 

Deluxe Urban Decay Lip Junkie Lipgloss sample in Midnight Cowboy with code UDGLOSS 

Deluxe Sephora Collection Full Action Mascara sample with code FULLACTION 

ends 10/31

Faux Bois

I have a small bookcase that will be going in our guest room/office, and I have been thinking about what I want to do with it.  It's currently painted white and has a bunch of stains on it.  I know I have to redo it somehow.  I came across the faux bois technique on Martha Stewart's site, and for $15.99 at Home Depot you can buy the entire kit.  Definitely a DIY weekend!  I will post the finish product next week :)

Martha Stewart

Hirshfield's Color Club

Birds and Branch

Headboards

Oh the joys of moving.  Not only am I packing up my life, but I am also trying to sell a ton of things that I don't need/want (including furniture which is never easy) and shop for new furniture.  It's been a slow process.  I am the kind of person that wants it all taken care of and buttoned up, while my husband wants to wait until we move in to start decorating.  Driving.me.crazy.  I am too OCD/type A to allow that! 

My next purchase is going to be a bed.  I'd love a platform bed with some storage underneath, but they are few and far between.  While that is still my goal, I have been looking at some beautiful and creative headboard ideas.

DIY projects:

Source: vosgesparis.blogspot.com via Brittany on Pinterest

Source: lh3.ggpht.com via Charlotte on Pinterest

Source: tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com via Kara on Pinterest

Traditional wood options:

Source: None via Allison on Pinterest

Source: ballarddesigns.com via Decor & Dior on Pinterest

No headboard?

Tufted headboards:

Source: potterybarn.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Source: brickcitylove.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: thedecorista.tumblr.com via Decor & Dior on Pinterest

Nailhead headboards:

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: lowescreativeideas.com via Joyce on Pinterest

Too many options! At least we have the linens picked out (Anthropologie duvet). Is that half the battle? Not sure, but I like to tell myself so.