Freaky Find Friday: Carpet Kid

I popped in at one of my favorite antique haunts last week.  I turned around and I saw....this.  What is it?  Well, it appears to be a framed oval of carpet.  I really didn't know about carpet arts and crafts.  I'm thinking that this carpet crafter doesn't either because the little girl featured in this piece has a few odd characteristics:  she has no legs for one.  Maybe said crafter ran out of space for proportional appendages and we are to imagine them crossed under her dress?  And why is she holding a rose over her head?  It looks like she intends to hit someone with it; except that I can't figure out why her hand is clenched like that with her thumb out.  Maybe she is hitch-hiking and the rose is payment (like in Beauty and the Beast).  Oh, I know: she was playing ring around the rosy and she fell down...and pricked her...thumb?  Okay, I still don't know.  Might I just say that this little girl's mom lets her wear a LOT of eye- liner.  She looks like a bit of a tarte; very "Pretty Baby" a la Brooke Shields.  

Whether or not my surmizings are correct I must wonder where one might hang carpet art.  Perhaps if it is hung low your cat might admire it and give it a good scratch.  That's it!  It's made for cats! You know, T.S. Eliot's brand of cat.  The ones that sing and dance late at night. They would definitely appreciate fine carpet art hung by their litter box.

Fashion for Kids: Get thee to the Gap

The Cat and I went to see Mary Poppins this past weekend, and then we headed on over to Third Street Promenade for some shopping.   We stopped in at the Gap, where I immediately fell in love with this PERFECT cardigan (damn it, it is sold out in my size online).

Cardigan Perfection.



But. We weren't there for me; we were there for the Cat. And a good thing, too, because Gap has got some great pieces for fall (for grownups and kids alike!). We headed downstairs to the children's section, turned the corner, and were greeted with a treasure trove of fabulosity. Pint sized fabulosity. Some really great pieces that will allow my daughter to dress stylishly. As in our preferred form of style. As in classic and chic. Because what young girl shouldn't be able to dress in such a way that is both classic and chic, and yet still says, "I'm a kid"?! I don't think kids need to wear shirts covered in big headed girls speaking in other languages (although those can be cute too), or emblazoned with sparkly/glittery fruit or happy faces. That is fine for some, but the Cat prefers glam over glitter (though she and I both know glitter definitely has its own special place). So, anyway, without further ado, here are some of our favorite offerings from the Gap.

Tweed.  Lovely, lovely tweed.

Gap knows a good sparkle collar is right on trend, and they also know
there is nothing wrong with extending that trend to a younger generation!
Love the pairing of the sweater with shorts.
See the pieces here.

These are kid socks, but I'm telling you , I don't care!
I want some for the Cat, and I aslo want a pair!

How cute is this?  Polka dot socks with ankle boots.

Awww, who 's a cute little mannequin?
You are.  Oh yes, you are!

~Lori

DIY: Clowning Around

Gwenna has become obsessed with Halloween.  The kid is asking to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas 24 /7.  She is now 4 years old and in this photo she is 2.  She starts pre-school today (tears) so what is a mommy to do, but plan for the next holiday...Halloween! 

My mom and I made this costume for her.  It was super easy.  Tons of tulle attached to elastic with fluffy colorful, metallic balls sewn to it randomly.  A piece of ribbon creates a halter around her neck.  

The head piece is a metal circle found at Jo Anne knotted with tulle and then little bells were sewn randomly throughout. The finishing touch is to add streamers of ribbon at the back.  It was the perfect costume for my little clown princess!  

I can't wait to see what she decides to be this year...Maleficent, or Violet from The Incredibles?  I just don't  know yet!

Outfit of the Day: Floral and Gingham

 

I have had these shorts in my closet, with the price tag still attached, for at least two years now. When I first saw them in the store, I fell in love with the sweet print and the retro inspired cut. I don't know why I waited so long to actually wear them. I guess I was waiting for the right top to come along. I love the look of the blue gingham with the floral print. Upon seeing this outfit, the Cat politely told me that it "doesn't match!" I reminded her that it doesn't have to match; it just has to go. Together, I mean. I think it has become easier for people to match blue with black and not feel bad about it (by people, I guess I really mean me. I must think highly of myself, because I am assuming this was a somewhat global problem a couple of years ago). With the advent (resurgence?) of color blocking, I think people (again, I really mean me) are not as afraid to pair these two. And thank heavens, because I love the way they look together! The light blue of the shirt is mimicked in the blue of the shorts, and who doesn't like a good gingham with a sweet floral pattern?! To me, this outfit screams summer. A high pony tail and straw bag complete the outfit, although I think a bandanna tied just so would also be super cute and play off the retro vibe of the shorts.

shirt: thrifted; similar here
shorts: Forever 21, forever ago
bag: Gap

~Lori

Favorite Thing: Vintage Trophies

via heather bullard

Here is my newest find: an antique trophy to be used in numerous ways throughout the year.

When I saw this picture on pinterest, it got me thinking: a practical use for vintage trophy cups?  Sign me up!  I love beautiful, vintage pieces but more than that, they have to have a purpose.  Here are a few great reasons to go out and get your own vintage trophies...

via sulivanandmurphy

If you are not like me and can love something just because it is beautiful, how lovely is this?

via country living

Here they are used in a grouping as vases in this pretty Christmas entryway holding poinsettias.  

via simplified bee

This is a great way to make a more modern visual statement.  I like the sculptural look of the trophy with the moss ball on a mantle or sideboard.  

via elizabethannedesigns

I love this!  Such pretty alternatives to traditional vases.

via habitually chic

I plan to use my new trophy filled with ice to chill a bottle of wine at my upcoming white Christmas cocktail party.

via party wagon

Next summer I have already decided to give my daughter a pony party (I know, I have 10 months and I am already planning).  My trophy will come in handy for this event as well.

There are so many uses for these trophies!  I am on the hunt for a few more...

Sweet Spot Sunday: White Chocolate Brownies

I found this recipe the other night on the blog Cookies and Cups.  It is for white chocolate brownies.  First, I had been craving some kind of dessert, which is why I was poking around the food section of pinterest.  Then I saw a pin of a recipe that looked promising.  I don't remember what it was, but it took me to the Cookies and Cups website.  Or maybe it took me to a different website and then I wandered over off of that one.  I don't remember.  All I remember is seeing this recipe for white chocolate brownies drizzled in white chocolate and immediately jumping up off my couch and going into the kitchen where I started pulling all the ingredients out of my almost-always-stocked-for-making-desserts-cupboards.  Wouldn't you know it, I had everything required?!  Even the eggs.  So I set about making them.  Deliciousness, people.  Rich, white-chocaletey deliciousness.  Go.  Go forth into your kitchen and make yourself these brownies.  And be sure to read the original post on them, cause you'll get a nice little laugh while you devour this tasty treat.  Hope your Sunday is a sweet one!

White Chocolate Brownies
from Cookies and Cups
Get the recipe here!

~Lori

Inspiration: Bringing up Baby

hooked on houses
"I can't give you anything but love, Baby!"

Leopard is literally the ultimate chic accessory, here.  Kathrine Hepburn charms in Bringing Up Baby(1938).  This is one of my very favorite screwball comedies. 

movie actors

I found this fun compilation of scenes put to the movie's theme song, "I can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby", sung by Doris Day.

aaastern
This is such a great picture.  I love how Hepburn is wearing polka dots through much of the movie, too.

Here is Gwenna when she was a year old, wearing what?  Leopard shoes, that's right!

I'm dressing my baby in leopard this fall too:  Lori bought this perfect little leopard lined trench coat for her daughter this season.  I saw it and had to have one for Gwenna too.  I found a cute pair of leopard ballet flats as well.  Here are a few outfits she will be wearing soon!

 The coat is a tad big for her, but it doesn't really matter because the lining is so chic I can fold up the sleaves.

With her little crop jeans anyone of any age could wear this.  Classic.

leopard print flats buy here
Trench coat from Fovever 21.  Not available online.

I'm bringing up a chic, happy, baby!


More adorable leopard finds for your baby!
From summer to winter.

Little girl's leopard romper by Alice + Olivia via polyvore


buy.com


Carters dress coat via ebay.com


 lavender fields home

via become