Weather Inspiration

i; ii; iii; iv; v.

I woke up this morning without a post ready for today. As a blogger, that's like a really sucky feeling...  I laid in bed wondering what to write about and my husband told me it's raining outside.  All of a sudden, I was annoyed that I didn't have a rain coat...and then I was instantly inspired by the rain to come up with this outfit. Thus the title - "Weather Inspiration".  I'm sure this happens to all of us more often than not.  We do different things depending on the weather, right? I also want to just stay home and stay in bed.  Preferably listening to this...

J. Mendel - That's All

(J. Mendel dresses from here)

I've been a long time and huge admirer of designer J. Mendel. If I were ever invited to a black/white tie event of my life time (like to the White House or the Met Gala), I'd cash out my 401k to purchase a J. Mendel dress. (Ok, maybe not my 401k but perhaps use up a couple of credit cards!)  A girl can dream, right?!  (Btw, I love the play on words, "Meet PRINTS Charming"). 

Monday E-Design - Wish List for My Living Room

Good Monday, friends! Hope you all had a great weekend. I had a lot of fun celebrating my friend Nancy's birthday in NYC and Bedford, NY.

Some of you may have noticed that I've changed my "Monday Wake-Up Call" to "Monday E-Design".  I made the change because I started to feel limited in coming up with bedroom designs on a weekly basis. So, I decided to switch it up a bit - hope ya'll don't mind :)

Ever since we purchased our grey sectional, I've been dying to spruce up our living room.  These are on my wish list right now (although I don't really have room for the bookshelves...). 

a.   Aravali Mineral Curtain Panels from Crate and Barrel (close up of the pattern shows you how pretty the curtain is)
b.   Hand Blocked Silk Stone Trellis Pillow Cover from West Elm
c.   Aston Grid Pillow from Crate and Barrel
d.   Augustus Library Shelf from World Market
e.   Arion Table Lamp from Dwell Studio
f.   Diptyque Paris Candles

TGIF Whatcha Up To - NYC Bound

image via here

TGIF!!!  Since the holidays, Fridays feel so precious to me!  Perhaps it's knowing that we don't have all those days off from work lined up for several months... or perhaps it's waking up to darkness day in and day out... (but winter is my favorite season next to fall).    

I'm really excited about this weekend. On Sunday, I will be in NYC with my friend Nancy for her birthday. I hear the weather is going to be really warm, so that will make it easier for us to pain the town red! (haha - far from!) After a bit of cruising around the city, we'll be driving out to Bedford, NY for Nancy's birthday dinner at the Farm House of Bedford Post Inn. This is Richard Gere's Inn and restaurant~  I've always wanted to visit not just for that reason but I've passed by Bedford in the past driving and the little that I saw while driving appeared so quaint and beautiful.  It also has a well visited yoga studio (pretty zen, huh?).  Yeah, we won't be doing any yoga pre or post dinner :) Hopefully, I'll come back with some decent pictures to share with you guys (maybe with Mr. RG in the picture? :))  

Have a great weekend~~

Busy Bee

I will be a busy bee today with a full day at work (court, phone calls, meetings, etc.) while thinking about being a "busy bee", I recalled seeing this on Design Sponge.

At first, I thought it was some fancy schmancy wall paper.  But upon reading the post, I found out that the home owners had just used a stamp. So, I went on a little search and found this perfect little bee stamp from an an Etsy Shop called 'Blossom Stamps'.  The stamp costs a whopping $5.50 (yes, I'm being sarcastic).  

Wouldn't it be really fun to decorate a small section of your place with this stamp?  And so easy and cost friendly?!  I can't wait to get all busy bee'd! 

Project No. 1 of 2013 - Declutter Entryway

*Clarification:  Project no. 1 of 2013 does NOT meant project no. 1 out of 2013 projects.  It just means my first home project of this year, 2013.  Man, grammar is so tricky sometimes!

I love my loft but I have a HUGE problem with the entryway.  This is where we keep our shoes somewhat organized on a shoe rack similar to this.  While it does the job, I can't stand looking at all the shoes just sittin' out there.  The type A in me wants everything put away in neat rows of baskets, tucked away in drawers, or under the bed.  I've been complaining about this for some time now and am searching for a way to organize the entry way.  I'd LOVE to have my entryway look like these two homes. 

Via 'I Heart Organizing' - I love this but this is slightly too big to fit into our entryway....

Via 'Bungalow at Home' - Ikea's Expedit at one of its finest moments! 

This is also nice and at a reasonable price from Target.

I think I'll end up with something involving baskets (again, the hiding factor) with a labeling system so as to keep his and her shoes separate...  I can't wait.  This is my project number 1 of 2013 - just planning makes me feel good!! 

Fashionably Cold

It's been pret-ty cold out here in Philly.  I took the puppies out last night and felt so cold, even in my trusty down comforter-like puffer coat.  I thought, hmm, if I'm going to be cold, I'd love to be fashionably cold, like this (ok, maybe minus the shoes and the clutch when taking the puppies out). 

a. Citizens of Humanity Ava (jeans)
b. Maiyet Stripe Trim Scarf
c. Sandro Malice Puffer Coat
d. Étoile Isabel Marant
e. Proenza Schouler PS11 Wristlet Clutch Bag Saddle

The prices on these are not so friendly BUT I know we've all seen comparable items at lower prices else where.  It's all about inspiration, right?!