Valentine's Day: Planning

I think Valentine's day is fun but I'm not all about over-the-top romantic (expensive) tokens of love.  I mean, I would totally accept the diamonds but I think it should be about sweet gestures.  It really is more about my kids than my husband and myself these days.  We have an anniversary for all of that, after all.  I always do a big breakfast for them and there are a couple of extra goodies but I did find a few things that I might have to include this year.

stylemepretty.com

I love this idea.  I know it is more commonly used for weddings but I think it would be cute on the mantel with fresh flowers.  One with my husband and my initials and another with the kids initials.  I'm thinking I could make these myself too.

FORSUCHATIMEDESIGNS

There is an obvious theme this year:  I do love this spoon.  Maybe done as a coffee spoon set?

bhg.com for recipe

I am definitely making these cherry almond vanilla cupcakes this year!  Doesn't that sound amazing?

sulia.com

I think we might just need a few of these macaron sandwich cookies as well.  It looks like a healthy breakfast, I mean, it has berries in it.

stylemepretty.com

More pretty vases so I can buy myself more flowers to fill them.  That's right, Valentine's day is a great excuse to get more flowers.

riflepaperco.com

This is the perfect, cheeky and sweet card for my valentine.

I know it's early, but are you planning anything for your family or significant other for Valentine's day?

The New General Store

I have to be honest, I didn't know the name Tricia Foley (and I should have) but I knew her rooms.  I was a big Victoria mag. reader back in the day and she styled many spaces for that magazine along with many other projects of her own.  She has authored many design books that I admire and her taste has spanned the last 20 odd years beautifully.  The rooms she has designed and sets she has created always appear fresh.
Her latest venture is an online store called The New General Store and she has curated the most beautiful collection of gifts, housewares, pantry items, and gardening supplies you have ever seen.  The style is evident: good quality meets classic design.  Tricia also has an inspiring blog, The White List.

I am a huge fan and I love these Christmas and hostess gift ideas from her online store.  I know I would love to receive anything and everything on this list; most especially the gorgeous blankets.

The New General Store by desertgirls on Polyvore

Please do check her out!  In fact, I'll just bet most of you out there already have and good for you.

Easter via Rifle Paper Co.

Easter is just days away so I am in a panic to finish all the little things that Easter requires to make little ones happy.  I also want to make a beautiful flower arrangement for my mom who hosts our Easter dinner.  Today was Gwenna's last day of pre-school before Spring break and I wanted to get her three wonderful teachers a little special something.  Target is now carrying Rifle Paper Co. products so I bought a three- pack of gorgeous journals {you will see at the end}.  I looked on Rifle Paper Co's site , only to find other fabulous products for Easter that I thought I would share with you.

Floral Easter Egg Card

Wildflower Wrapping Sheets

Decorated Easter Eggs Cards

Easter Palms Card

Here is what I put together for my daughter's teachers.  A bit of trim and pretty pencils attached to these elegant and cheery journals {available in stores} make for pretty Easter gifts.

I hope all your Easter preparations are going well!  We still have to dye eggs and...well...fit in quite a few little things.  Today, though, we are headed to the zoo.

Favorite Finds: Patch NYC for Target

If you have been to Target recently (in the past year) you will notice that there are boutique store offerings at a more affordable price.  Patch NYC is one of the boutiques that has collaborated on a collection for Target.  Designers Don Carney and Jon Ross established their first collection in 1997. They are known for their "attention to detail and unpredictable sense of color." You can see some of their pieces offered online and in the Boston area store here.

Here is an original art piece by the team.  They have been commissioned to create artwork for Anthropologie and the interiors of Barney's NY.

Their collection for Target incorporates the same elements that made them successful to begin with but at prices most people can afford.  What's not to love?  I also think the woodland theme is perfectly in keeping with fall trends.  Here are a few things you might just have to get:

cute little owls on books bookends
I have to admit that I would rather these didn't advertise the company, but I think they are super cute for fall in any little nook or shelf.

wood pecker candle holder

fox candle holder
These candle holders are probably my favorite things in the collection.  Why do I like them so much?  Well, not only are they charming as pillar candle holders, but they could be multi-purpose as cupcake stands for a woodland theme or fall theme party!  Wouldn't that be adorable?

owl taper candelabra

This would definitely set the mood at an evening gathering.  

feather serving tray
I see this as a great fall appetizer or desert tray.  Perhaps piled with stuffed mushrooms or baked apples?

fox bowl
I would use this as an accent on a table display filled with fragrant pine cones or even as a soap dish in a powder room.

wood pecker lamp with an awesomely corky lamp shade.
This lamp is so Bunny Williams esque.  It could go in any room of the house for a little whimsy.

deer cookie jar

I think this would make a perfect gift filled with home- made cookies.

A Few Of Our Favorite Things...Last Minute Gifts

One of my favorite candles...ever!  $25

Another of my favorite candles.  Noticeable and clean, not too feminine. $28

Smells just like a fresh cut Christmas tree.  There is nothing fake about this scent.
The entire line is amazing!  I have the multipurpose cleaner that I use on my counter tops, and
I tell you, cleaning has never been so rewarding!  The candles are strong, yet not overpowering, just like
a real tree. From $10-$48.

This blouse is beautiful and for only $19 it is a great gift.

Vintage flour sac, days- of -the- week, dishtowels, set of 7 $28

I love my magazines.  Subscriptions make great gifts.  $12 for 12 months.

Adorable bottle opener. $12

Beautiful frames, matted in burlap $29-39

At the top of my "want" list: super soft cable knit throw, on sale for $99.

     

If my guy had the tablet he wants, I would get him this to go with it! $69

I saw this the other day and it is so beautiful, I wanted it! $23

If you know anyone who is interested in decorating, they would love this book, by the legendary Bunny Williams. $24

This would be such a great gift for the book lover in your life!  
The goal is to collect the most literary sets.  Each set consists of three cards:
the Author card, the Library card, and the Bio card.
Not only is it a fun card game for the avid reader,
it could also be a great introduction to literature for kids.  Like my kid.
I want to buy this and then play it with my kid so that she will inadvertently learn about
great authors while we are playing a game.
Buy it here.

I think this is so fun for the budding artist on your list!
 It's available at fredflare.com and is full of ideas to  inspire your artistic side.

Robot Tea Infuser- tea is delicious!  And now it can be pretty cool.
I think this would be such a great gift paired
with your favorite loose tea.  Darjeeling, anyone?
I originally saw and fell in love with this months and months ago,
and apparently so did everyone else, because it is out of stock here,
 but will soon be available here.

~Lori

New in at Anthropologie

The new Anthropologie catalog came in the mail, and I finally had a chance to sit down and take a look.  There are some beautiful pieces, and some really fun ideas for gifts (perfect for the upcoming season)!

Embroidered Books, Anthropologie
I think these embroidered Penguin Classics would make a beautiful addition to a home library.  (For an English major, I sure do judge a lot of books by their covers!)  I have a friend who is reading The Secret Garden to her class right now, and I think this would make the perfect little gift.

Sea Story Sailboat Ornament
This is a sweet little papier-mache sailboat crafted from the pages of a book.  I know it is a Christmas ornament, but I like just looking at it.  This is one of those things that I would buy just because it is so cute.  It doesn't really match my Christmas stuff and I don't want a whole tree full of them; I just like the way it looks, so I would like to have it around.  Unfortunately, I tend to do this with clothing and even jewelry too; I have been known to buy something that I know I probably won't wear just because it is too pretty to pass up.  I guess it's a little hoarder-esque, but I don't really care!

by Boni Ashburn
How adorable is this little book by Boni Ashburn?  In it, the little girl on the cover has a favorite dress that she has outgrown, but is unwilling to give up.  The story is of the evolution of the dress, with her mother turning it into various other items of clothing, like a shirt, tank, and skirt.  I think the story line is so sweet; who hasn't had a favorite something or other that we just don't want to part with even though we've outgrown it?  My own daughter has a collection of t-shirts from when she was younger, many of which have sentimental value.  They are shirts like the one my brother gave her as a thanks-for-being-in-my-wedding-present, which has a picture of a refrigerator running on it.  There is the one that has a picture of Darth Vader on it from her days when she was obsessed with Star Wars, and there's one that has a beautiful little sketch of a girl on it.  These are shirts that meant a lot to her when she was younger (she's so old now, at ten!), so we just can't bear to part with them.  I didn't turn any of them into other items of clothing, but I am planning on turning them into a quilt.  I love the idea of her having a special quilt that is full of memories that we both share.  I think that will make an excellent gift.

USB typewriter, Royal from Anthropologie
This repurposed vintage Royal typewriter can be hooked up to an ipad or desktop so that you can write in old-fashioned awesomeness.  The added bonus is that you can unplug the typewriter, add an old school ink ribbon and paper, and type for reals, yo.  It's a bargain at only $798.00.

~Lori