Thrifted: Buffalo and Beads

I have been wanting a blue gingham shirt for a little while now; I just think they are so classic.  I had a smaller  gingham print in mind, but when I found this one for $2 at a thrift store, I couldn't pass it up.  Today was a day of helping move furniture (Rebecca, Ty, and the kids came to pick up my dresser to stain it!!!), buying paint, and picking up around the house before getting ready to head back to the theater to get ready for the play my daughter and I are in.  

cardigan- Forever 21
shirt- thrifted
jeans- Tommy Hilfiger
belt- thrifted
necklace- thrifted
shoes- Zara

 I threw this outfit on right before Ty and Rebecca stopped by.  (I figured pajamas would be inappropriate attire.)  I was happy enough with the jeans, shirt, cardigan, and belt, but I felt like it needed a little more oomph before I headed out the door to pick up paint for my bedroom ceiling (Rebecca has a vision for my room and I am all too happy to run with it!).

I added this necklace, another thrift store find.  It reminds me of the one from Two Broke Girls (a show on CBS), but kind of a more everyday version, since that one is pearls.  This necklace has white beads.  I seem to gravitate toward simple bead necklaces like this.  I am guessing it's because I have some that were my Gram's that were passed along to me.  I like that the style of this particular necklace is so formal, but the plastic-y beads give the piece a fun twist.  I also added my new navy blue clutch that I found at the Goodwill for $4 for a final touch.  Simple, but fun.

~Lori

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Valentine's Day via Doris Day

Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner I thought to myself, 'self, what reminds you of Valentine's Day; since the holiday is somewhat cheesy and contrived yet sweetly nostalgic?'  Well, that isn't exactly how it went but I immediately thought of all those great Doris Day movies from the 50's.  I am a big fan of Doris Day.  Everyone who worked with her raves about her intelligence and professionalism.  She often did scenes with only one take and these scenes, unlike today, often involved slapstick physicality and long scenes of dialogue.  She was a pro.
The movies she did were fluffy and light, entertaining and stylish.  I think we are in a perfect moment, based on current trends, to look back to these fabulous romantic comedies for some style inspiration!

A Little Bio:  I haven't done any research for this on Doris Day.  I know a few things about her though: She began her career as a dancer, not a singer.  She and her dance partner were lucky enough to get a contract and were to leave for Hollywood, but the night before she was in a serious car accident.  She broke her leg (I believe) and the doctors told her that she would never be able to dance professionally.  This was of course crushing news, but while she was bed ridden she listed to records and it became clear that a new career was ahead of her.  That's right, she began singing with a band and traveled for years as the lead singer until she got her first movie role "Romance on the High Seas" (1948).  It was evident that she had star quality.  She wasn't a trained actress but she had a natural, fresh quality.  She was called "the girl next door," but I disagree.  I know what they mean by that but I don't know anyone as talented, beautiful, and stylish as Doris Day!

A very young Dorris Day in her first film "Romance on the High Seas"

She is just so timeless. I love that dress.

Who could forget great scenes like these from the classic romantic comedy "Pillow Talk?"

There are few on-screen couples as famous as this one.

Gloves? check, matching dress and polka dot hat? check, incredibly adorable? check

Doris Day and David Niven in "Please Don't Eat the Daisies."

I love this movie.  Day plays a harried mom of 3 boys, has a large dog, and is the wife of an ambitious play critic.  She volunteers at her boys' school, attends her husband's boring work parties, redecorates their country house all while looking fabulous!  Now that is a WORKING mother!

I know it is just a movie, but I am so inspired by the thought of a mom who always looks pulled together.

I know, I know. This picture says it all; they are the epitome of what we love about these movies. Cary Grant and Doris Day in "That Touch of Mink."

Style with a capital "S"


Doris Day movies are the perfect link to Valentine's Day.  The movie "Down With Love" was made a few years back which captures the silly, cute qualities of the original Day/Hudson movies, filled with double entendre.  I love this song at the end of the movie.....so here's to love!

     

How to Ruin a Perfectly Good Weekend.

Close up of skirt.  See those little explorers?
 They are mocking me.  Little bastards.

I wake up, ready to start the day, coffee in hand, in a good mood.  Lots to get done, but I figure I will pop onto  the computer for a little bit.  Haven't checked my old email account in a while; let's go see what's up over there.  What is this?  Missed payment from ebay?  I didn't win any bids on ebay lately.  Open it up, and it says the transaction for the  Anna Sui for Anthropologie MAP OF THE WORLD SKIRT is over.  I have missed the opportunity to purchase it; transaction closed, mark on my record, goodbye.  WHAT?! First, I never officially bid on that skirt; I sent a payment suggestion to the seller, and according to the app on my phone, never heard back whether it was considered or not.  Then, again on my phone, when I checked ebay, it said the auction had ended and I had NOT won.  I was sad.  That was a missed opportunity for a skirt that I really wanted needed.  And now this?!  That skirt was once again in my cart and then taken from me.  Just like the real Anthropologie sale when the damn skirt was mine one second and then gone the next.  Universe, why are  you teasing me with this particular skirt?  What did I do to deserve this?  Sadness has pervaded my morning.  My coffee now reeks of it.  Thanks, ebay app for Android, for helping to keep my wardrobe from reaching its full potential.

~Lori

Red Pants and Chipmunk Ring

 I never thought to wear colored pants until Lori talked about them; and "why not?" I asked myself.

I think the key to wearing colored pants is to keep everything else in the outfit simple and pretty neutral.  I could add a blazer and scarf , or jean jacket with boots.  There are multiple ways to style these pants, so I am happy I tried them!

Chipmunk ring that I got for $5.  I think it is the perfect, waiting for Spring, accessory.  A bit cutesy  for someone my age, but I think as long as everything else in the outfit is simple and sophisticated, it is still okay.

pants: TJ Maxx

top: Old Navy

shoes: Old Navy

ring: On the Blvd. Antiques

Let The Decorating Begin!

So, Rebecca is being an angel and acting as my own personal interior designer and helping me redecorate my bedroom.  For some reason, when I moved in to this house, I managed to get all the rooms decorated (or at least semi-decorated), except for the master bedroom.  The walls in there were white, unlike the rest of the house, where the previous owners experimented with wall colors like fuschia and blue-blue-blue.  Not pretty shades of those colors.  Horrible ones.  Especially the blue.  It was bad.  And in the living room, it was even splattered on the ceiling.  So we painted and took care of those rooms, but never got around to the master, which was, as I was saying before I so rudely interrupted myself, white, except for one wall, which was green.  It wasn't the best green, but it was okay, kind of a shabby chic shade that actually matched a color in my bedspread.  I was done with it, but scared to move on, and not sure where to start.  Thankfully, Rebecca has been here to help me.  She knows my taste (Pinterest has been a huge help here), and found me a gorgeous shade of gray for the walls.  She came over one weekend and painted my room for me.  I could say she helped me paint, but the more accurate  way to say it is that she painted, and I tried to help and not get in her way.  And now she texted me and asked if she could pick up my dresser this weekend so she and her super handy husband could take it home and stain it for me.  Have I won some kind of contest here?!  So my job is to pick out knobs for my soon-to-be-updated dresser.  Honestly, I would really rather just let Rebecca pick, because I don't want to screw anything that she does up, but I think I can handle (ha ha) picking out some new knobs.  Ultimately I want her approval on the knobs, because she can do what so many of us can't (or are at least are afraid to try to)- she can see the final project in her head.  Anyway, here are some gorgeous knobs that I have found while browsing the internet for ideas.  Some are possibilities, others are just pretty. We will definitely have to show off the dresser when it is complete, and before it is stained.  I know I can't wait!

Bauble Knob, Anthropologie

Mother-Of-Pearl Knob, Anthropologie

Spanish Moss Knob, Anthropologie

Edwardian Knob in Aqua, Anthropologie

Oh, and just for the heck of it, here are a couple of before pictures of the house when we bought it.

It took lots of Killz to cover this up.

.

The office,before we painted it and filled that
whole back wall with book cases

One of the bedrooms- that blue was on a wall in the living room
and eating area- and the ceiling!

~Lori

Kid's Rooms: AKA Another Room In The House

Since I have recently finished a few children's rooms, I am in the mood to show you some amazingly beautiful little tyke spaces.  I think the perfect child's room is one that isn't ever too juvenile; kids go through phases, and what they are "into" changes rapidly.  Accents are easily changed, upholstery is not.  Please don't decorate for your child's interests, but absolutely consider their personality.  My daughter is outgoing, so I didn't give her a demure space.  I also believe that the parents are the ones that pay for everything, so why shouldn't the children's rooms match the feel of the rest of the house?  I don't mean to sound domineering on this point, but mom and dad work hard to create a beautiful home and the kids' rooms are a part of the home as a whole.

Here are my kids' rooms as they look now:
Gwenna's Room: 

Britton's Room:

Kids' rooms can, and should, be special and timeless.

Change out the accents and this room would do for a 3 year old or an 18 year old.

jarrodis.tumblr.com via pinterest

hissugarplum via pinterest

cotedetexas via pinterest

Talk about smart! This nursery is perfectly appropriate for a baby (I love the colorful modern art). Add a full size bed later and there ya go.

decorpad.com via pinterest

There is nothing overdone about this little space. It could easily be changed out later.

A sweet shared bedroom. Simple and feminine.

thingsthatinspire via pinterest

image via pinterest

I would love to get my son this bed.

I might have to feature this whole house sometime, but this little girl's room matches it.

Longevity doesn't have to mean neutral.

Kate Spade's Spring Accessories- All Aboard!

So I just wrote a post stating that I'm not quite ready for winter to be over.  Well, after looking around at some of the stuff that is coming out for spring, I decided to change my mind.  I still want to wear my new vintage wool sailor pants, but I also want to wear some of these other new nautical pieces that just scream spring.  I see a striped shirt in navy and white and I want to show it off, not hide it under a winter coat.  So all of the following goodies are from Kate Spade, and I must add them to my Need for Spring list.  The more appropriate name would actually be Wishlist for Spring, since Kate Spade accessories are not exactly in my teacher's salary budget.  But it is always fun to look!

All Aboard Ship Clutch- Kate Spade

here is the open view- how cute is this?!

This purse by Kate Spade really got my heart pumping.  I adore it.  I want it even if I never actually take it out and use it.  I want it sitting in my closet, on the shelf, so that I can look at it and admire it every. single. day.

Kate Spade Sailor Stripe Yellow Scarf

I love this scarf.  It comes in red, too, but I am really drawn to the yellow.  I think it is a bit more unexpected, but gorgeous.

Kate Spade Sailor's Knot Ring
I LOVE this- it is so simple and classic;
 I would wear this ALL the time.

I love the simplicity of this little gold ring.  I went through a period where I really only wore silver jewelry.  For some reason, I didn't care for gold.  I don't know what I was thinking; I'm all about gold these days.  I found a really cute vintage gold necklace at the thrift store (the Antique Asylum- that place is a gold mine! ha ha, I couldn't resist) that has a sailor knot at the end.

Kate Spade All Aboard studs

I haven't really been a big earring person, but these are so timeless and chic that I am willing to change my policy for them.  These would add just a tiny touch of the nautical trend to any outfit.

So, I'm on board with Kate Spade's spring accessories- how about you?!

~Lori