Fashion Friday : Sparkle & Shine

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New Years Eve is around the corner!

Will you be sporting something sparkly??  

XO

Fashion Friday : Natural Neutrals

Given that I'm fair skinned and blonde, I tend to steer clear of the neutrals.

Actually, come to think of it - neutral, in my mind, has always equaled boring.

Maybe it's the cooler, less humid weather I've experienced over the past year or maybe it's the fact that I'm growing up, but neutrals now equal classy and ultra feminine.  I just love a pale nude pink polish, or a creamy beige blazer, a genuine leather carryall or a slouchy tan knit sweater.  Autumn is the perfect season to ditch the neon and fall into your neutrals.

Need a little inspiration??

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Are you a neutrals or a brights kind of girl??   I'd say it totally depends on my mood, but neutrals don't necessarily mean bland in my book anymore...

Cheers!

XO

Beautiful Bar Carts

Hubby and I aren't the drinking type, but I can't deny that I have a slight affinity for gorgeous bar carts.

Whether it be liquor, a jones soda collection, tea and coffee, or a private library - bar carts come in all shapes and sizes and can be the home to anything you'd like.  

I'm hoping to find one for my dining room.  I would love to display my pretty dishes and my espresso maker atop a lucite cart or a gold faux bamboo cart with a glass top.  

Take a look at these little pretties...

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What do you think?  Are you a fan of the bar cart?  

Home : Decorating With Statement Pieces

Every room in your home is worth a conversation.  What better way to get people talking than by adding one major statement piece?  {And by "major," I mean awesome.} 

A statement piece is that one unique item that the eye quickly finds once entering a room.  It's not necessarily the focal point of the room, but rather eye-catching.  If it's not part of the focal point, be sure that it doesn't distract from the focal point, but it enhances the room as a whole.  It's that bold piece that makes a statement about your personal style.

Your "piece" could be a collection of one item - like several of the mercury glass owls you see below, or an every day item doused in bright glossy paint. {I once saw an assortment of old cameras that someone had collected from thrift stores and spray painted them solid glossy colors - it was so unique to the person who made them, yet gave the space that extra something special.}  It could be a handmade piece of furniture or something you found at a boutique or an antique fair.  Or a wall fixture that draws your eye up, making the room seem larger than life.  

Rhino Head Wall Plaque  / Atlas Pillar Holder  / Mercury Owls

Statement pieces are great cause they could be that finishing touch to a room that's been lacking luster, or it could be the jumpstart to the inspiration you've been searching for.  These special pieces are meant to tell a story, so have fun with it! 

What are your favorite statement pieces in your home?  Link up if you've blogged about them!! I'd love to see. 

Fashion Friday : Necklines that Shine

I've never been one for gaudy necklaces, but recently the bold colorful jewels that are gracing necklines have caught my eye {in a much more appealing way}.  I love the pop of color, the feminine designs and the chunky shapes.  From $18 - $200, you'll find something to fit any budget.  Go ahead - dress up that simple white button up, a plain tee or that dress that's just missing something!

{The above JCrew look alike is a fraction of the price}

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While it's hard to say I love just one, I think #8 and #10 are two of my favorites.  What do you think?  Are you a fan??

Happy Friday Friends!

Fashion Friday : Ring, Ring

I'm a girl who loves details.  Details can so easily be overlooked, but when done well, can make such a big impact.

Today's fashion spotlight shines on the {sometimes over looked} finger.  Rings!  A ring, whether it be just one great big fashion statement, or several smaller layered upon each other, has the potential to bring completion to an outfit.  With etsy and other handmade websites, it's easy to come away with an affordable, one-of-a-kind piece that makes you swoon.

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What's your take on rings?

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  I'm off to a retreat with some beautiful ladies.  See you Monday!

Lots of love...

Home : Change it up!

I've always love to decorate.  Growing up my mom decorated my room, usually giving it a theme of my choice.  As a little girl I went through a pink/kitten phase, so she painted the room pink and gave it a kitty cat wallpaper boarder.  As I matured, my favorite flower was the sunflower {middle school I think}, so I graduated to white furnishings, cheery yellow walls and a boarder of sunflowers, complete with {I think handmade} poofy, yellow and white checked window coverings.

Then came high school - my parents built a home and gave me free reign to design my quarters as I chose.  {I wish I had pics...but sadly, I couldn't find any.}  I went sea foam on the walls, painted a thick dark brown stripe that ran along the top of the walls and finished it off with a hot pink bathroom! In the bedroom, I had a beautiful west elm pendant light that hung in the corner above a little brown corner chair and floating shelves that graced my walls filled with tchotchkes and picture frames.  I loved that room.

As I've grown into my 20's, it's been fun developing my own sense of design style.  I struggled a little with it in our first home, as we didn't have much money for decorating, and what extra we did have went to buying essentials these newlyweds lacked {such as a couch and dining room table}.  But I made do with what we did have - hand-me-downs from friends and family, handmade wreaths and artwork, TJMaxx goodies and rare craigslist finds.  Moving across the country forced us to sell all that we had accumulated and start completely from ground zero.  While this was a little heartbreaking in the thick of the move, it actually gave me the opportunity to start fresh.  New apartment + ZERO furnishings = a blank canvas!

The second time around, setting up home has given me more insight into my own sense of style.  I used to think I was rustic meets girly {think anthropologie - don't get me wrong, I adore me some anthro, but I have a more glamorous side to me that I just can't resist}, then I thought it was cottage meets modern {think west elm & pottery barn....love these too} but now I've realized {as of late} that my heart beats to bold bright colors, shiny metallics, geometric patters, repetitive shapes, and crisp designs {think hollywood regency}.

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That's what's so fun about decor and design - as you change, your style and personal taste changes - a space can always be recreated.  Change is an important part of growth {in life and in decor}.  Make sure to allow yourself moments and opportunities to change it up every once in a while, as a well manicured space tailored to your specific style can bring about so many great things - inspiration & creativity, peace & rest, discipline & productivity, the list goes on.  I encourage you to take a look at your surroundings and ask yourself, "Does the space I live in inspire me? Calm me? Help me be productive?"  It is important to define what your space is supposed to evoke and then figure out what you need to get it there!  {Or ask a friend who has a good eye for design - sometimes we need a little help.}

Happy decorating!