Patio Reveal

For the last few months we have been working on our back patio.  At the beginning of summer we didn't have any outdoor furniture.  For years I have been trying to find pieces that I like for a reasonable price but until recently I just hadn't been able to.  First I found the table at Target on clearance.  I also got the woven chairs at Target.  I didn't want a matched set.  Then, luck would have it, my brother wanted to get rid of the metal lounge furniture so he gave them to me.  Lucky me!  My parents bought me the cushion sets from homedepot.com (they are even cheaper right now). We extended the concrete patio to wrap around the back of the house all the way to the side where I have a door to the laundry room and powder room.  We then stained the old and new concrete so they would look more cohesive.  Phew!  I'm tired just writing about it!

There are a few things we still have planned:  We want to build a bench for seating to the right side of the table that can also provide storage.  I am thinking that the brick of the fireplace should be stained and I would like to find a few interesting pieces to bolt into the brick...ceramic animal heads or vintage platters.  I'm also thinking of adding a wall mounted fountain over the buffet/ serving table (which you can see to the left of the sliding glass doors).  The bigger project with be a structure over the patio.  I know what I want and am willing to wait for it.

At any rate, I am thrilled with the results and am enjoying mornings and evenings out here.  A big thank you to my family for their help and my husband for his hard work.

Sarah and Target: Good News and Bad News

facebook.com

I was super excited the other day when I saw that Sarah Richardson had posted to facebook that she will be collaborating with Target on a collection Fall 2015.  I did a major happy dance!  I am chomping at the bit to get my hands on Sarah's new book, Sarah Style, so when I heard this news I was over the moon.  Problem is...it will be a collaboration with Target CA not U.S.A.  Say what!!!  I am so very sad.  Come on U.S!  Get with it.  We want Sarah!

You lucky Canadians, you.

I am holding out hope that some miracle will happen and they will finally bring Sarah back to the U.S.  

I am so excited for the weekend!  It was a very busy week and I'm ready to relax with my family.

Hears hoping you all have a relaxing weekend too!

Love to you friends,

Office Space Spruce-Up

For my birthday my mom generously gave me all the office supplies I had been hoping for by Nate Berkus for Target shop online.  We are packing for our summer vacation to Montana right now but I wanted to show you the progress thus far and my new accumulation of lovelies.  

I will have more on this when I return home.

While I am in Montana (for the next two and a half weeks) I will get to share little lake-side wedding diy projects as I am rushing to complete them for a wedding July 19th.  I will do my best to post on a regular basis while I'm there!

Talk to you soon!

Palm Pretty Summer

One of my favorite bloggers Nancy Marcus over at marcus design inc put together this perfect litle inspiration board featuring a palm leaf bikini you can get right now over at Target.  Yes, Target!  I am on my way over today.  As you know from a few of my prior posts these past few months that I am obsessed with leaf print anything so this little number fits the bill perfectly.

marcusdesigninc.blogspot.com featuring target bikini

Today I'm on a job that doesn't make me too happy.  That's ok.  It's Wednesday!

Foxy DIY

I'm a big fan of foxes.  (This love predates the moment foxes are/were having, so the fact that they are everywhere is kind of bittersweet.  That might be a little hipster-esque of me, but I don't care!) The Cat is a fan too.  We have them kind of throughout the house... drawn in closets, pictures on the wall, etc., so it was only natural that I fell in a little bit of love with the line of bar ware and accent pieces that Target introduced last year.  You know the one... with the fox tray and little fox figurines?

Target tray
image via The White Buffalo Styling Co

 Well, I got two of the fox figurines.  (Then my sister got me three more for Christmas- she found them on clearance for less than $3 each!  And she got me the tray.)  I knew I wanted to do something to the figurines, to tweak them.  Now, don't get me wrong; I liked the little faux wood foxiness they had going on.

But I have so damn many of them now (I think my total of that little guy is at three!) that I knew I could take a chance and change him up.  I decided to go for the gold.

Liquid gold, that is.  (Har har.)

I was really surprised by how easily the liquid gold leaf went on.

So there you have it.  An easy way to glam up your Target fox.  I've got a few more of these guys to play around with, so I think they're pretty much all getting a makeover of some sort!

Feeling Foxy

Feeling Foxy

Threshold™ Fox and Floral Appetizer Plates Set of 8 : Target / Bar tool / Serveware / Fox home decor / Home decor / Office supply / Threshold Container Candle / Country home decor / Christopher Fischer cashmere sweater / Joules animal intarsia sweater, $110 / Three quarter length sleeve top / baby shower card - gold foil foxy mama letterpress card / Huge Running Fox Primitive Style Trade sign Kids room Decor, Bar,... / Festive Fox Cocktail Napkins in Sale SHOP Kitchen+Dining at Terrain / Threshold Fox Figural / Threshold™ Fox Figural : Target

Just thought I'd share some of my foxy loves.  I have a couple of the items above; my sister picked up the tan sweater for me (on the left) for a steal at jcp; the two wooden foxes I got the last time I was at Target.  I want that tray; I love it in person, and I am addicted to trays.  I also happen to love that wooden fox sign by Vintique & Co.  And I love the pillow.  Oh, that's right; I made this little collage, so I think it's safe to say that I pretty much love everything on it!

Organization is Key

I don't know about you, but I have a lot of clothes.  A lot.  I have a hard time getting rid of things.  It seems that almost every time I do, not too soon after, I need at least one of the things I threw out (or gave away, which is what I usually do with my stuff).  Oh, don't get me wrong; I still go through my things periodically and purge.  I am constantly running to the Salvation Army to drop off various donations.  But some stuff I don't want to let go, usually because I still like it, or I think it may come back in style.
I have always regretted that my Mom got rid of all her clothes from when she was younger; looking back at pictures of her, she had some pretty stylish clothes, many of which I would love to wear now.  I know it sounds silly, but I don't want my daughter regretting the same thing when she is older.  There are certain outfits that I may not wear anymore (some of them I have to admit defeat and realize that I am getting too old for them!), but I want the Cat to have a chance at them later.  In order to keep a bunch of stuff for later and not take up space in my closet, organization is key.
I, however, am not very organized.  I wish that wasn't the case, but what are you going to do?!
Target, duh.

1. Threshold Folding Wardrobe 2. IKEA Rattan Basket  3. Room Essentials  4.  CB2 Chalkboard Box

5.  FEED for Target  6.  CB2 Grey Felt Storage Box 7.  IKEA Pallra Box  8.  Rugby Stripe Bins
9.  Smith Hawken Square Basket with chalkboard

Now, not all of those options are from Target, but the one that I got, which is that first one, is. I just got it the other day and set it up in my garage. It was SO easy: you just fold it out, pop in a couple of bars, and then place the covering over it. Easy. I'm pretty happy with it; the only drawback is that it doesn't hold up under a whole lot of weight. That was kind of my own fault, though, as I really tried to load it up. But I still really like it; it is a good size, and I love that it is covered to keep the clothes free from dust. Now I just need to get the rest of my life organized, and I'll be just fine. Thank God for Target, right?

Z is for Zebra

 Lori had an Instagram post a few months back on a darling little infant zebra dress at Target she found.  They didn't make it in my daughter's size (5t) and I was disappointed. I agree with the rest of the world that zebras are very chic.  Not 2 weeks ago I was tuling around Target--as I am apt to do--and I spied a toddler version of the same zebra dress!!

Here is the baby version available in store and online here.  Only $9!

Here is the toddler version that I bought for my daughter. Available in stores now and online here.  Only $12.

 I can totally change the look for fall by adding leggings and a long sleeve shirt under this dress and adding boots and a safari style jacket.  Talk about versatile! 

Gwenna's sandals are from Target as well.
sunglasses: Children's Place

Everybody Loves a Bargain

On Monday, I stayed home for a good part of the day, just poking around the internet and catching up on some blogs.  Actually, I spent a good portion of the day looking at the Rugs USA website because they were having a huge sale and I need new rugs.  So anyway, I was looking for inspiration and wound up re-checking out the living room on the Life in Grace blog, which I talked about here.

Source: horchow.com via Lori on Pinterest

buy them here

These gorgeous little footstools from Horchow are featured in the living room, and I love them.  I love the color of the ikat, and that they are fun but practical.  What I don't love is the $449.00 price tag.  That's right, people.  Oh, wait, I'm sorry.  They are on sale for $359.00.  Each.  Horchow is practically giving them away at that price, right?!

Anyway, even though they are now such a steal, I'm afraid my poor little teacher budget doesn't have room to spend $800 bucks on those two little darlings.

What's a girl to do?  Snatch up similar styles ON CLEARANCE at Target, of course.  Duh.

Source: target.com via Lori on Pinterest buy this one here

First, let me tell you that the coloring in this picture is pretty horrible. In real life, the colors are richer- the grey is a nice, deep grey and the legs don't look like that kind of icky shade of brown. And they are tufted, even though you can barely tell in the picture.  Plus, Target has a lot of different patterns and wood colors you can choose.

Now, granted, the dimensions of the ottomans are a little different than those from Horchow; the Target Threshold are 18.0 " H x 16.0 " W x 18.3 " D and the Horchow version's dimensions are 26.5"W x 21.5"D x 16"T.  So there is some difference, but not enough for me to pay $308 more per piece!  I figure if the fabric doesn't work with the new couch that will be on its way soon, then I can always recover them with something else.
I'm pretty happy with my little bargains, but I am prepared to take them back to Target if they don't fit in with the new look of the family room.  That is up to Rebecca!
Hope you are having a great day!
 

Love Knots

A few days after Easter I was walking through Target and spied an adorable anchor tie.  It was only $2, but I knew my son would role his eyes if I got it for him.  It was just too cute to pass up, and I thought of my daughter's new chevron striped dress and knew it would look adorable with it.  Why not?  Annie Hall wore one!

I ask you:  Could this be any cuter?

dress: Old Navy

flats: Old Navy

Tie: Target