Summer Trends: Full Midi Skirts

I am just loving the full midi skirt trend this Summer.  I just think that they are adorable.  They feel like such a 50's throwback, without too much kitsch.  The shape is so feminine and universally flattering, it really makes  you wonder why it has been out of the collective consciousness for so long.  But for certain it is back, and there are so many to choose from.

I pulled together some of my favorites, and (bonus!) they are all well priced.  A few are super inexpensive!

Lavender Midi Skirt  //  Cherry Blossom Print Midi Skirt  //  Magenta Midi Skirt  

Navy and White Stripe Midi Skirt  //  Aqua Midi Skirt

Gratitude - Finding Joy In The Little Things

Beautiful and unusual flowers that cover a pergola in my parent's backyard...

Trader Joe's Lemon Kitchen Soap.  Smells yummy, comes in a cute bottle, and is super cheap!

A friendly butterfly...

Roland Mouret Collection for Banana Republic

Today Banana Republic opens it's new Roland Mouret collection.  There are several beautiful pieces, but I really don't expect them to be around long!  When I was putting this post together yesterday, they were having a pre-sale for BR card members and one of the most anticipated dresses, the black and white colorblocked sheath, was already gone!  I am fully expecting Banana to replenish their stock, but even with that, I am sure it will sell out quickly.

Here are some of my favorites:

One Shoulder Dress in Navy Star  //  Sleek Black Zipped Jacket  //  Classic White Button Down  //  Little Black Dress

Floral Pants

How fun are these kimono floral print pants from Goodnight Macaroon?...

Floral Pants  //  Blouse  //  Nude Sandals  //  Statement Necklace  //  Leopard Clutch  //  Pyramid Earrings

Gift Ideas - Welcoming A New Neighbor

Before my husband and I moved to our current neighborhood, we spent six years living in the historic district of our local town.  We really loved living in the "district" not only because of the mature trees, brick streets, and beautiful homes full of character; but also because of the sense of community and the true old-fashioned neighborhood feel.  Everyone knows everyone there, and stopping to talk to a neighbor as they sit on their front porch is just a part of daily life.  We really miss that aspect of living there.  We do like our current neighborhood, we have the house we love, and things are quiet there.  Just sometimes too quiet.

Modern neighborhood design has it's positives in many ways, we have further setbacks, larger lots, higher fences, and garages in which to park our cars; but as much as all these features grant us more privacy, they also get us into a pattern of keeping to ourselves.  It is so easy to get into the routine of: go to work, drive into the garage, walk into the house, and close the door.  Getting to know our neighbors takes much more effort.

With that in mind, I made a decision not too long ago, that I needed to make a commitment to be more neighborly lately.  And as luck would have it, the house next door to us finally sold and we have some new neighbors.  Time to live up to my promise.

Never wanting to welcome someone empty handed, I decided to make some scones.  I always feel that when a gift has a little bit of a handmade element (whether food related or not)  it just shows the recipient that you put in some extra effort.  Extra effort makes everyone feel special, doesn't it?

A quick trip to World Market yielded me a bag of yummy lemon poppyseed scone mix, the cutest little mini jars of jam, a colorful fabric napkin (found on the clearance rack) and a moderately priced, yet simple and timeless baking dish.  Yes, you read that right.  A bagged scone mix.  I said a little extra effort, not spending all day in the kitchen sifting flour.  I am perfectly comfortable with using pre-made baking mixes.  Most of them taste great, and sometimes the difference in time saved is enough to convince me to do it in the first place.




This handy little mix is super easy (I can't stress enough how easy) and made a perfect batch of scones.  Notice the little tiny one at the top of the tray...that one is for me! I had to make sure that they tasted good before I gave them away.

Seriously, how cute are these little jars of jam?

I lined the baking dish with the napkin, placed in the cooled scones, and tucked in the mini jam jars.

 Folded up the napkin and finished it off with a grosgrain ribbon.

I also included a welcoming note that included our contact information (phone numbers and names).  I am the worst ever with remembering people's names after first meeting them, so I always figure having it in writing is a good thing.  And giving a neighbor your phone number is always a good plan.  You never know when they may need to tell you that your dog has escaped the backyard fence...again.

Decorating A Girl's Room With Zebra Pattern- A Refreshing Take

Today a Facebook friend of mine posted a plea for help.  Her 7 year old daughter was ready to redecorate her room into a big girl room, but her heart was set on zebra print.  It can be such a tough line to walk as a parent.  As much as you want your child to be happy with their room and to feel like it mirrors their personality, most of the time if you let a 7 year old take the lead in decorating a bedroom, it is going to look like an entire Justice store exploded in the space.  If you can't quite imagine what I mean, just go on Pinterest and run a search for "Girls Zebra Bedroom".   I wholeheartedly sympathize with my friend who is facing this dilemma.  My eldest daughter informed me that she would like to redecorate her room with a "Space Theme".  (Really.)  I am not sure how I am going to tackle that one.  I had to inform her that "Mommy doesn't do themes, dear.  We incorporate elements into a design to create a mood."  Not sure that she bought it.  Luckily I told her that we are not redecorating her room again until at least next year.  That buys me a little time.

But, back to the matter at hand.  Zebra does not have to be scary.  I know that often times, people have an aversion to animal prints because, let's face it, they can be tacky.  But honestly you will hardly find a bigger fan of a good animal print than I.  A good animal print in a good fabric is truly a neutral.  Meaning, you can use a good animal print in just about any room, as long as it is done in a way that blends in that room's style. Think of it like a fantastic pair of calfhair leopard print pumps.  They are so versatile. (And my absolute favorite pair of shoes, too!)

So the way I am approaching this room design is to allow the zebra print to accent the otherwise soft and girly features of this plan.  I chose a lavender color for the walls and part of the bedding because purple is a natural evolution of black, and therefore it feels very calming against the black and white palette.  The furniture, bedding, drapery, and lighting are very feminine and soft, which offsets the boldness of the zebra pattern.  The entire look together is feminine, fun, girly, and just a touch sophisticated.  The best part is that the zebra is all incorporated in accessories that can easily be changed in a few years when she has tired of that pattern and decides that she wants something else.

Zebra Pillows  //  Lavender Quilt  //  Zebra Upholstered Bench  //  Initial Pillow  //  Light Lavender Color  //  Darker Lavender Color  //  Tiered Ruffle Drapery Panels  //  White Matelasse Coverlet  //  Zebra Art Print  // French Dresser  //  Chandelier  //

Tips:

• For the bedding I am suggesting a combination of the Lavender Pottery Barn Quilt and the patterned white matelasse coverlet.  I would use the matelasse as the bed cover and fold the lavender quilt at the bottom 1/3 of the bed and then use the lavender pillow shams.  Add in the black and white monogrammed pillow and one of the zebra (figurative) pillows.  This combination of colors and textures will add interest to the bed. 
• Either paint existing furniture with white chalk paint, and switch out the knobs (vintage style crystal knobs would be fantastic) or incorporate french style furniture like the dresser pictured above.  
• In this space, lightweight, gauzy white drapery keeps the room so fresh and girly.  The ruffles help keep things from being too serious. 
• Ok, so I added this bench pictured above more for a feel than for the actual piece.  Because this piece is priced a bit higher than I would be inclined to use in a child's room.  This would be a great DIY project, though.  If that is attempted,  keep in mind that what makes this bench so great is that the base is painted a light color (white/cream with a glaze) and that the fabric is a needlepoint, which adds a richness of texture and keeps it from looking cheap.  In other words, look for a zebra fabric that has a heavy weight and texture.

As an alternative to the bench pictured above, I have a few other options to add a bold splash of zebra to the room that are much more cost effective.  

1.  The zebra print rug is a great way to bring in a ton of look for a small price ($88 for a 5x7) which can be layered over existing carpet or flooring.  I always like to lay a rug so that it is halfway under the bed, that way it doesn't feel like an island floating in the middle of the room.
2. This Ikea throw is a great way to bring in the black and white stripe feel of a zebra print without being too literal. 
3. Same with this Ikea rug.  It is fun and versatile.  It would go great with the figurative zebra pillows and artwork pictured above, and would continue the feel without being too committed to zebra. 

Good luck to my sweet Facebook friend, and to anyone else who is trying to walk the line of making your child happy and yourself happy too!

Wardrobe Workhorse: Nude Flats

This is an ode to my favorite pair of shoes: my patent nude flats.  Let's face it, I have a lot of shoes.  Many more than I really need, don't we all?  But my go-to shoe, my never fail answer is a simple little nude patent ballet flat I bought at Target two years ago for around $15.  A chameleon of the shoe-world, they can be dressed-up preppy, or casual cute with jeans, a skirt, or shorts.  I get so much use out of these little babies, I just felt I had to share.

Here are some options, and (bonus!) they are all well priced!

1. Target Version #1   //  2. Target Option #2  //  3. Steve Madden  

4. Round Toe Steve Madden Option  //  5. Jessica Simpson  //  5. ASOS