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.

Currently Craving: Lisa Golightly

Want to know something I learned this weekend?  9 years is a long time.  I have been out of the waitressing/catering game for about 9 years now, give or take, and after jumping back into it this past weekend, I can tell you that a lot happens to your body in 9 years.  I can definitely say that I am not as young and able to bounce back as I used to be.  Oh, I get tired from teaching- some days it is downright exhausting- and I am more susceptible to colds and flus thanks to my little darlings, but let me tell you- I earned every penny I got working as a server this weekend! I got sick from being out in the cold Saturday night, and I am still tired from working those parties!
Do I sound like I'm complaining?  I'm honestly not trying to- I just somehow managed to forget what a physical job waitressing/catering can be!
Anyway, today I thought I'd introduce you to the artistic stylings of one Lisa Golightly.  Perhaps you've already heard of her.  I thought I'd share some of her work with you because I adore quite a lot of her pieces and wouldn't mind adding to my ever-growing number of gallery walls.

This piece is customizable- how fun would it be

to add to a little girl's room or bathroom?!

house of beauty

individually made 

price 400.00

Bonne Fete Banner, $45
Squareup.com to purchase

$35
available at squareup.com

I've long seen this image on pinterest and various tumblr pages, but never knew that it was a little piece of whimsy that you could actually purchase!  How fun would this be to add to a room, perhaps above a bar cart or tray?!
lisagolightly, "Press for Champagne"
$40

There's more to see, both on lisagolightly.com and on the Square Market.
I hope you are having a wonderful start to your week!  Can you believe there are only 14 shopping days left before Christmas?  Yikes!
Lori

Oh, and happy birthday to my wonderful mom, Maggie!  Love you lots!

Creative Holiday Wreath Display

r_iver32 via instagram

Don't you just love instagram?!  It is so much fun to follow favorite blogger friends and designers and see their everyday inspirations.  One such designer I follow is Sarah Richardson.  Recently, she asked her instagram followers to snap a shot of how they style a wreath and hash tag it #showsharesarah.  Above is my offering:  A simple pinecone wreath in the center of my mantel mirror.  She is going to choose her favorite pics to share on her website sarahrichardsondesign.com.  There are quite a few lovely pictures that her followers have submitted and I have been enjoying browsing.  I hope mine makes that cut...how fun that would be!

I decided that I would do a little post on fresh ideas for holiday wreaths today, since wreaths have been on my mind of late.

designsponge.com

evelynandrose.blogspot.com

mybestfriendcraig.blogspot.com

elementsofstyleblog.com

inspired-design.tumblr.com

countryliving.com

desiretoinspire.net

camillestylesinc.com

pinimg.com

weewestchester.com

myhomeideas.com

Some interesting ideas, right?  There are so many creative people out there.  

Any ideas you are loving right now for wreaths?

Let's Party

This week's Friday's Fancies centers on holiday parties.  In my current profession, we have very lovely staff parties at a fellow teacher's home, and the dress code tends to be a few steps above dressy-casual.  I love dressing up.  (What a surprise, huh?!)  I miss dressing up for fancy holiday parties at the country club.  One year I had this gorgeous short black dress that had a tafetta underskirt; it was a sleeveless boatneck piece that was reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn, and I loved it.  This year, I may be working the night of my holiday party, so my go to outfit will be very stylish- black pants, a tuxedo shirt, and a bow tie.  (Hey, bow ties are cool.)  If I was going somewhere, though, I would love to sport this gorgeous number from Anthropologie.

Dolce Vita clothing / Dolce Vita clothing

Isn't it beautiful?!  I hope you all have a fantastic Friday, and a wonderful weekend. Big thanks to Alison for hosting Friday's Fancies!

I'll Have A *Aqua Christmas

dillydallas.blogspot.com/

I'm very partial to blues and especially aqua blue.  I don't think there is anything prettier than aqua and gold with lots of white or even grey.  It is reminiscent of a winter wonderland with vintage appeal.

blog.laurenjacobsendesign.com

countryliving.com

southernhospitalityblog.com

interior-design-it-yourself.com

tipjunkie.com

erin-artandgardens.blogspot.com

Aqua Christmas by desertgirls featuring holiday decorations

I hope your week is ending well and that your Christmas or holiday preparations are coming along.  I am so pleased that I am down to the details with my shopping.  

Snow has been forecast for this weekend!  This is such a rarity for us so we are really hoping it happens. 

Cheers!

Inspiration: Festive Mantels

If you are lucky enough to have a mantel then you probably give some thought to how you dress it for Christmas (if you celebrate).  I am a fan of simple mantels that support whatever color scheme and feel you have established with your tree and the rest of your house.  Besides your tree, the mantel is the most important focal point in your home around the holidays; here are a few of my favorite mantels this season for some hearth inspiration. 

pinterest
This mantel is already decorative enough and all this mantel needed was a bit of sparkle with touches of silver and mercury glass.

thehomeslice.wordpress.com
This natural pomegranate, berry and mini tree mantel conjures classic Christmas scenes famous in literature like Little Women and The Christmas Carol.  It's simple and honest and warm.

indulgy.com
Nothing conveys the beauty of Christmas better than a multitude of candles.

polishandpatina.blogspot.com
How lovely is this sparkly white and gold mantel?  It is very romantic but not overdone.

hgtv.com
My favorite mantels include narcissus in pretty pots.  I also love the idea of displaying cherished Christmas ephemera.

matterofstyle
I love that the garland goes all the way to the ceiling.

cococozy.com
The best Mantels accentuate the architecture.  I like how this idea plays up the height.

mwhid.blogspot.com

As you can see, the best holiday mantels are the simplest but most thoughtfully executed.

If you have a mantel, how do you dress it for the holidays? 

Waiting on Martha Gift Guide

I have to be honest...  when I set out to create this gift guide, I wasn't planning on using just one shop, but after I kept finding piece after perfect piece, all from Waiting on Martha, I decided to just go with it.  It truly is a one stop shop for all your gifting needs!  And with the code MerryMerry, you can get free shipping over $75 and a free gift with purchase.  Nice!

Waiting on Martha featuring paper placemats

Paper placemat / What's New / Macaron Bath Fizzers / What's New / What's New / What's New / What's New / Ban.do Flash Bobbi Set /

This is seriously just a small sampling of all the fabulousness that awaits you once you head on over.
I hope you are all having a happy Monday; it's back to work for me!