Wall Flower

Oh, how I love these hanging wall vases...

Images found via Old New Again (Etsy), Reading My Tea Leaves, That's Happy and Apartment Therapy

I made my own with a few vases from Michael's, thin jewelry wire and two hooped screws (what are those technically called?).

I think that's a fly on the wall - ha!

Craft Central

I suppose my husband, family members and close friends would use 'shop-a-holic' as one of the words to describe me. I shop to relax, I consider it to be a hobby (I really don't care how sad that seems) and I don't discriminate - online, catalogue, yard sale, sidewalk, big box, outlet - all kinds of shopping makes my heart go 'pitter-pat' and offers the possibility of finding a deal, inspiration or an unexpected gem.

One of my favorite shopping trips is to the craft store. However, a huge pet-peeve of mine is the lack of selection and trend-driven items at most chain craft stores. They always have a plethora of cheesy scrap booking accessories, but it's hard to find anything unique.

Enter the website, Save on Crafts. I discovered it when I was wedding planning and instantly fell in love. The selection is fantastic, as are the prices. If something is trendy or you want a vintage, rustic craft item, you're bound to find it here. I hadn't shopped there in a while, so it was a very pleasant surprise to find:

What I love most about Save on Crafts is that they offer everything a DIY-er could need, PLUS lots of insta-decor items (aren't the French-inspired pillow cushions to die for?). Happy shopping!

King for a Day

I've been searching for a fun accent chair for our recently redecorated bedroom. I narrowed it down to the following French/King VX-style choices...

 My true love (and fabric soul mate): Crate and Barrel, $899

LOVE the stud details: The Bella Cottage, $795

The frame had me at hello, but hate the fabric: Horchow, $1749

I hated to spend a lot of dough on something that I was convinced I could find elsewhere or re-do myself and then I discovered this lovely: 

A bargain at just $160, my new favorite piece of furniture was sitting all by her lonesome at a vintage co-op I stop in frequently. If you're ever in/around/kind of near Townsend, MA, make sure to stop by the Spaulding Cooperage - you won't regret it. The color, style and fabric all fit perfectly with the rest of the room AND it's comfy. I'm contemplating stenciling something on the seat...thoughts?

The Best Ever Target Collaboration

MISSONI! September 13th...over 400 items...clothes...luggage...housewares...this has to be the biggest designer/Target launch to date, right?

Check out Margherita Missoni modeling in the first ad to be released:

  Image via StyleCaster

Image via Vogue

Bye Bye Beach

We're back from a very relaxing and much needed vacation. It was great to hang out on the beach, spend time with friends, take naps, play games and just be together.

 Our amazing view from the kitchen and outdoor deck. 

 Pure heaven in the backyard.

 Our little beach babe.

 Fresh seafood - caught AND prepared by friends (thanks, guys!)

Happiness at the beach. 

So, it's back to normal. The difficult re-entry into real life has been softened by some shallow forms of entertainment: the return of Project Runway, the finale of The Bachelorette, the RHNY reunion shows and reading the second part of The Hunger Games (have you read it? If not, I HIGHLY recommend.). 

Have a wonderful week!

To the Beach!

We leave for the beach in just two days - YIPPEE!

Photo courtesy of Dubtastic.

Hope everyone is surviving the heat!

DIY Photo Frame

On a recent trip home from my parent's house, G and I stopped at this fun consignment store and found a beautiful - but empty - ivory frame. I knew the perfect place to hang it but I had no idea what to put inside. The same day, we made our usual weekend Home Depot stop and the rolls of chicken wire were calling my name. Some staples, clothespins and Instamatic photos later, I had this:

It's a work in progress...I'll add some of my favorite inspirational images, some dried flowers and a few other sentimental things. This is, literally, the first thing I see when I get out of bed - perfect!

Some of my inspiration came from the following:

All images found via Pinterest: 

fig. 1 from taliachristine.blogspot.com

fig. 2 from craftjr.com 

fig. 3 from alovelyescape.blogspot.com

fig. 4 from blog.stylizimo.com

fig. 5 from diymaven.com

fig. 6  from stampington.com