What I Want: Plaid Scarf

Moorea Seal, $28

How perfect is this scarf?!  I think it would be great for fall.  I love the idea of adding just a little touch of plaid to an outfit.  For some reason, I equate a nice plaid like this with being all cozy and warm.  I can picture this scarf with a camel color coat and a great pair of brown boots.
Yum.
Happy Halloween to all of you!  Any fantastic weekend plans?   My plans include sleeping on my brand new down pillow top mattress pad cover.  Double yum
~Lori

Halloween Eve

Since this is my last post before Halloween, I had to share our Halloween with you.  Children just love to dress up and my kids had very definite ideas about what they wanted to be this year.  My son read the Lord of The Rings books and was set on a Black Rider costume.  I don't know if anyone will know what he is but that's beside the point.  My daughter had to be a wolf.  I had some convincing to do in order to make the costume acceptable to me.  There was just no way I was letting my 1st grader wear some scary wolf costume.  A friend gave me an idea and I designed a fur cape, skirt, leg warmers and gloves with claws.  We purchased a mask online (push the nose and it howls).  I think it is unique and a bit glam!  I also included a nod to Dr. Who with the "bad wolf" embroidered on her fur trick- or- treat bag.  A big thanks to my mom for sewing everything.

I included a few images from our Halloween party last weekend since I don't have the photos my friend took for me yet.  As you can see, there was a lot of sugar!  Again, thank you mom for the treats.

Happy Halloween Eve!

Fall Perfection

image via

Ahhh, the perfect fall outfit.  Basically, this woman can do no wrong.
~Lori

Autumn at Horchow

horchow.com

When I came upon Horchow's gorgeous blue and white Autumn table I had to share.  There are having a sale event right now and I see a few things I would love.  How gorgeous is this blue, white and orange scheme?  It is not the traditional fall color palette but blue and white together is very traditional, so I think it totally works.  If you already have a blue and white scheme in your home, these are the perfect images to inspire your fall home.

stonegable.blogspot.com

celebratingeverydaylife.com

My daughter and I are home with colds today...boo!  We had a busy and fun weekend with the Halloween party I gave Saturday (pictures to come) and I have started back to school to get my teaching credential as of last night.  Things are going warp speed!  Now I just have to lose these sniffles.

Monday, Monday

image via

I know it's Monday, and I am excited to start a new week, but it's Monday, and doesn't this picture make you want to crawl through your screen and just cuddle up in that bed all day long?!

I bit the bullet on Friday and ordered a pillow top down mattress pad cover thing (I don't know what to actually call it, apparently), and I am hoping that it will be like the one that we slept on when we went to Vegas.  It's not supposed to get here until Thursday, so I am really looking forward to Thursday!

Anyway, here's hoping that your Monday is a good one!

~Lori

Bangs and a Busy Weekend Ahead

As you can see, I got a new hairstyle!  I've been wanting to take the plunge with bangs again.  I have had them in the past and like them, although they are a bit of a pain.  Long hair girls like me need to shake things up sometimes and bangs are a good way to do that.

I hope you all have a great weekend.  I am throwing a Halloween party for my kids and their friends on Saturday.  I have a lot to do to get ready!

What are you up to this weekend?

What I Got: Loft Belt

Loft Belt, $20

This belt has been featured on various outfits on Loft forever.  Well, maybe not forever, but for a very long time.  But it was never available for sale.  Until now.  Now it is available, and it is only $20!  I picked one up in Sunday and wore it Tuesday, and I love it.
I hope your week is going well!
~Lori

Farewell Mr. De La Renta

walkinginprettyshoes.files.wordpress.com

fabsugar.com

fieldstonehilldesign.com

style.com

via

The world has just become a little less glamorous.  Rest in peace, Mr. Oscar De La Renta.

Electric Sticker Co.

I was looking around on Etsy the other day and I came across the cutest thing- electric outlet stickers.  I know these are nothing new, but I can barely stand how cute these are!  If I had a little kid, I would put these in my house.  I think they would also be cute for a classroom- especially the Dali and Vincent ones!

Electric Sticker Co.

Oh, and Heisenberg?!  I love it!
I hope your Tuesday is going well.  We are going to a pumpkin painting event at my school tonight.  They'd better have black paint!
~Lori

Lavender for Fall

I am a fan of lavender at any time of year but during fall, I think it can be so perfect.  It isn't as expected as all the warm toasty colors but I feel it is softer and still cozy looking.  A lavender coat is on the top of my list and I've wanted a lavender sofa for a long time.

Lavender for Fall by rebecca-iverson featuring a velvet couch

Well, I had a great weekend with my family and today I have lots of chores to do and errands to run.  My daughter wants a wolf costume for Halloween, so I'll be working on that with my mom today.  

I hope your day is great!

F21 Coats for Fall

Forever 21 coat / Forever 21 pea coat / Forever 21 coat / Forever 21 pea coat

I went into Forever 21 yesterday with the Cat.  She wanted flannels, and I wanted to check out our new H&M.  What I could not believe was the amount of great coats Forever 21 currently has stocked throughout the store.  There each about $50-$60, so really, you could stock up and have a different coat for every day of the week!
And now, the weekend!  I am so ready for a bit of a break.  Any plans?
~Lori

Inspired by Art: Sophisticated Rural

The massive online auction site invaluable.com is a great source for design inspiration.  A room inspired by a piece of their artwork is an excited idea.  I love to design but I especially love a creative challenge: I chose a piece I loved from their site and created a space around it.  Oh happy day!  

Sophisticated Rural by rebecca-iverson 

I chose a beautiful oil painting entitled Karouev/Dan Farm (auctioned October 21st here).  I had a difficult time choosing a favorite work of art because, let me tell you, there are so many.  I didn't choose this particular piece because it was expensive.  The starting bid is only $70 but what do I care, it's gorgeous and makes me happy to look at it.  Also, I knew it would be the starting point for one gorgeous room.  

The first element I chose to go along with my painting is the rug.  I love that the geometric design mimics the roof-lines in the painting.  I also like the high contrast and almost quilt-like design.  The painting pre-determined that the space would involve contemporary country design elements and this rug looks a bit like a quilt.  I believe a simple blue sofa is perfect on this rug and in this space.

I next envisioned grass-cloth wallpaper that would cover the bottom portion of the wall divided by a chair rail.  Above the chair rail would be painted a soft gray-blue that would be a continuation of sky from the painting.  I love the combination of the earthy and warm grass-cloth and the soft airy blue above.  Just like the painting.  

The curtain fabric is a soft tonal silk check.  I like the traditional country pattern for this space but the silk fabric is a sophisticated juxtaposition to the textural grass cloth.  Also, the soft colors help the pattern keep out of competition with the rug.  

I brought in a touch of green with the beautiful lamps.  I wanted a hit of green but not too much.  

The Chippendale chairs would face the couch and they reinforce the natural and casual theme but keep it up to date with their strong line.  Because the grass-cloth has multiple shades of brown I was able to use a few different wood tones:  The chairs and the side tables are different wood tones but they are both in the grass-cloth and the painting.  

To finish off the space, a white branchy chandelier would hang over an ottoman or coffee table.  I like that it is light in effect and wouldn't compete with the other elements, but it is still a strong statement.

I hope you love this painting and the room it inspired as much as I do! There are so many paintings over on Invaluable.com's site available here. There are literally hundreds of fantastic pieces ranging greatly in price. Let me know what you think and be sure to go bid on this painting if you are interested.

What I Want: Loft

Loft

This is an outfit that I would ideally wear in a heartbeat, if it weren't for the fact that me and turtlenecks don't do that well together. But the pants and the shoes?  Love!  And I have some just like the ones pictured, though my shoes do not have tassels.  And, sadly, I noticed the other day when I was wearing them that one of them is a little scuffed.
That's a good reason to get a new pair, right?!
I hope your week is going well.  Mine has been super busy, but good.  Last night I went to a crock pot party and made ten make ahead meals in about an hour.  I am looking forward to trying them out in the next few weeks.  I'll have to let you know how they are!
~Lori

Favorite Thing: White Pumpkins

mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com

One thing about being a mom is that kids have definite ideas about how to decorate for it.  They like slightly scary things like spiders and fake blood.  I, on the other hand, prefer elegant or warm fall decorating.  Just an abundance of light colored pumpkins and beautiful greenery- thank you very much.  Luckily, I only have to do the cheesy Halloween thing for a few weeks to make the little ones happy and then it's all mine, baby!

mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com

yummymummykitchen.com

sandandsisal.com

eventup.com

pinterest.com

ritzybee.typepad.com

blog.blinds.com

piecefulwedding.com

So pretty, right!

I am thrilled today because my husband and I are playing hooky and leaving town to go shopping and visit the Getty museum.  I have needed a day like this for a long time!

Flannel Time

H M long sleeve shirt, $32 / H M green shirt, $24 / H M dark blue shirt, $24 / H M white top, $24

Office Space Inspiration Board

Now that our garage is organized I figured it was time to sweetly ask my dear husband if he would make a frame for my cork board in my part of the office.  I wanted a stained wood frame and this is something you don't often see in a store so I knew it would have to be custom.  I love a revolving inspiration board in a work space!

I'm going back to school to get my secondary teaching credential starting at the end of this month.  I will be spending a lot of time in this space so it's a good thing I love it so much.

Have a fantastic weekend and for those of you in Canada, Happy Thanksgiving!

What I Want: Shoes

Anthropologie

I saw these shoes in the new Anthropologie catalog, and I have to say that I love them.  I love them, and I want them, and that is all!
Hope your Thursday is going well.

Simple Fall Decor

acountryfarmhouse.blogspot.com

What is it about fall and Halloween that bring out the overly creative side of many.  I think when we have children that kitchy and whimsical Halloween decor is appropriate.  I do it myself for my children and parties I give for them and their friends.  When I do fall for myself, it is all about simple, tasteful and elegant.  A few pumpkins and some pretty flora are all I really want but there is an art to the simple.

hawkvalleygarden.shutterfly.com

fleaingfrance.tumblr.com

sandandsisal.com

commonground-do.comay

bhg.com

frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com

realsimple.com

I'm really loving white and green striped pumpkins lately.  I don't deny that traditional orange pumpkins are charming as well.  What do you think?