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What To Buy During The Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale

May 21, 2015

I might have mentioned this before but when I lived in Seattle it wasn’t uncommon for me to take the first day of the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale off from work. Given that Nordstrom is based in Seattle, their half-yearly sales are a major deal in that city. I’ve always loved the Nordstrom sale because it’s a great time to pick up a few in-season pieces and save money while you’re at it.

I spent a little time checking our the deals online and rounded up a few of my faves.

Let’s go shopping shall we…

Espadrilles are the ‘it’ shoe for spring and summer and this black and white platform espadrille is the perfect blend of summer style and comfort. And the $40 price tag makes it even more attractive.

If I could buy an unlimited number of any one fashion accessory, it would be handbags. A classic leather handbag should be a part of every girls wardrobe and having one in a fashion color like this beautiful orchid is perfect for spring or summer. I love the woven handle and all the interior pockets of this Elliott Lucca leather tote.

I love sporting a white watch during summer and since the cheapo one I bought at the mart has seen its last day, I’m going to invest in a new one. This Nixon patent leather strap watch is the front runner on my consideration list. I love the round crystal face, the gold rim and hands and the $74.90 pricepoint.

If you love jewelry, you’ll definitely want to get in on one of these deals. This turquoise stone pendant necklace is only $8.98 and is perfect to wear with summer dresses, tanks and tees. This Drusy pendant necklace is a bit dressier but would work just as well with a casual outfit and it’s only $13.98.

If you’re planning on doing any traveling this summer or if you like to spend your weekends antique shopping like me, this belt bag is for you. When it comes to style, fanny packs have come a long way and this striped canvas belt bag is both cute and afforable.

Summers are meant for maxi dresses and Nordstrom has a ton of great styles on sale under $100. Here are three of my favorite-–navy and white maxi for everyday wear, a floral maxi for when you need something a bit dressier and this roll-sleeve maxi when you want to look super chic but casual.

Don’t dilly dally, because the Nordsrom Half-Yearly Sale ends May 31st. Happy shopping!

I WON & I’m Going Shopping

May 19, 2015

I’m like most women and love to shop and nothing is better than shopping when you can do it for free.

You see, a couple of weeks ago I entered a giveaway over on Jenna’s blog, Rain on a Tin Roof and I won! I didn’t win a free book or a new power tool, I won a $200 credit to Rugs USA!

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Design Trend Defined: Boho Chic

May 18, 2015

Did you know that the definition of Boho Chic can be found in the Urban Dictionary?

The term Boho Chic as it relates to clothing is described as a fashion trend that is part bohemian and part chic. It is tied to the vintage phenomenon in fashion where the trend was to bring back vintage styles for the modern era. Boho chic combines organic, colorful, detailed, folk-inspired pieces with simple, modern pieces.

The trend is said to have been started by actress Sienna Miller in 2005 when she wore bohemian-style clothing in the movie Alfie and back then the style was only expected to be around a few years and then fade away. The boh0 look became a hit and people began to imitate the style and fashion designers took notice.

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The Tiny House Movement

May 15, 2015

Have you had a chance to catch the hit TV show, Tiny House Nation? And an even better question is, “do you know about the tiny house movement?”

Tiny House Nation is a home/building show on the FYI network which is all about the downsizing movement that is going on across the country. In each episode of the show, Zack Giffin, the contractor works with a team of builders to construct an amazing tiny home that is no larger than 500 sq. feet, with many of the homes under 300 sq feet.

Contractor Zack Giffin & host John Weisbarth

While many people in New York apartments live in less than 500 sq. feet, can you imagine living in a small space? You just might consider it after seeing the homes this team builds.

The tiny house movement is gaining popularity with people of all ages beginning to understand that sometimes less can be more and see the value in downsizing their lives and the ‘stuff’ they surround themselves with. You might think that living with less and in such a small space means a home with no style but let me tell you that is not the case.

The beauty of a tiny house is that it can be built just about anywhere, from the city to the mountains. The home below was constructed in the Colorado mountains to take advantage of the scenery and the owners desire to live a fully sustainable lifestyle.

After losing their home in hurricane Katrina, these homeowners rebuilt their home in Mississippi but decided to do it on a smaller scale. Check out that outdoor space under the house.

I think I could enjoy living in nature if it looked like this and came with a pool.

In addition to building homes that are permanent, the tiny house crew also builds home that are portable.

Portable homes allow homeowners to travel and explore but still have the luxury of a home at the end the day.

When building a tiny home, the lifestyle of the homeowners plays a big part in the overall design. If you love an outdoor space for entertaining or lounging, that can be incorporated into the design.

For those of you that love to cook, it’s amazing the function and style that can be built into the kitchen space of a 300 sq. foot home.

And a full size bathroom is not out of the question either, including a luxury shower or tub.

The attention to detail is amazing in these tiny homes, with every square inch of space put to use. I love the small wall-mounted fireplace in the living space below.

Vertical design is essential to many of the tiny houses being built with stair allowing for easy access to upper areas. Kinda gives you the feel of living in a tree house.

As part of the tiny house building process, the homeowners are challenged with purging their belongings and keeping only that which will fit into a couple of plastic storage bins.

I am totally smitten with the idea of a tiny home. The hubby and I have actually tossed around the idea for when we retire. We love to travel and the idea of having your home wherever you go sound great. Now I just have to wrap my head around getting rid of all my rolls of ribbon and wrapping paper!

So, does the Tiny House Movement sound interesting to you? Do you think you could live in less than 500 sq. feet?

You can catch Tiny House nation on the FYI channel, Mondays at 9:00pm ET!

Inspiring Work Spaces, Style Details and Organizing Ideas

May 13, 2015

I love a beautiful office space like the one above from House of Harper. A space doesn’t have to be big or super fancy to grab my attention, it just has to be efficient and filled with stylish organization and lots of personality.

I have an entire pinterest board dedicated to office, craft and hobby rooms with over 500 images of some of the most beautiful and creative work spaces ever. The common thread within all of the spaces I admire are the style details and organizing ideas.

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Shopping Atlanta: Desparate Housewares

May 11, 2015

I’ve lived in Atlanta for 15 years and just when I think I’ve discovered every vintage shop in the city I stumble across a new one.

A couple of weeks ago while the hubby and I were out driving I spotted a parking lot filled with outdoor furniture. The building looked like it was old and I had a feeling what was inside the building was vintage. I directed my driver to pull into the lot and a large sign reading Desperate Housewares greeted us. I could tell immediately that this little shop was a gem.

Desperate Housewares is quaint little shop which sells vintage, retro and contemporary decor and furniture, antiques, collectibles and of course housewares. In addition to retail sales, the shop also rents pieces for tv shows, films and prop use.

Walking through the store is like walking through a museum dedicated to retro and industrial design. There were lots of industrial office chairs, typewriters and misc. accessories. The collection of retro furniture is one of the best I’ve seen. Since I don’t shop retro often I found many of the prices on the larger items to be a bit high, but they are probably in line with the quality and age of the pieces.

This bench was amazing with a chunky brass base and I even liked the Chartreuse colored fabric.

I spotted this pair of cool retro bar stools that were in min condition.

If you love old chairs, Desperate Housewares had a great selection that could be totally transformed with a new upholstery job and paint.

If you’ve got vintage flamingos on your shopping list you’ll find some of those at this store too!

I love horses and this antique horse tricycle was just stunning but way out of my price range.

I considered purchasing a pair of these bamboo framed mirrors but left them for someone else.

The shop has a large selection of vintage oil paintings at good prices and with really nice chunky frames.

And their collection of vintage luggage and train cases is amazing. My mom had one of these vintage Train Cases and I loved it as a kid.

Desperate Housewares has lots of vintage accent furniture and this bamboo piece grabbed my attention. It would make a great nightstand.

And if you have a thing for lamps like I do, you will be in heaven in this shop. There were shelves upon shelves of vintage ceramic and metal styles.

While my personal design style is not retro, I definitely saw lots of pieces in this shop that could easily mix well with other styles.

If you’re looking for a new place to shop in Atlanta, definitely check out Desperate Housewares. The shop is located near Inman Park and the revitalized 4th Ward district.

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Desperate Housewares

241 Boulevard NE (at Freedom Parkway), Atlanta, GA 30312

www.desperatehousewaresATL.com

Printable Art–My Love Note Designs

May 7, 2015

Thank you for all the wonderful comments on our spring bedroom refresh.

Today I wanted to share a little more about the beautiful prints I used in the bedroom. I knew I wanted to place a grouping of images on the wall next to the window and closet to my side of the bed. You see that wall when you enter the room so I wanted to make an impact. I also knew that whatever I hung I that wall would be hung in gold frames.

Since one of the goals for the refresh was to add more accents of gold into the space, frames were an obvious and easy solution.

All four of the prints I used are from an awesome Etsy shop called MyLoveNotedesigns. The shop is run by Christina who personally designs all of the printable art, many which contain inspirational words and positive messages. Christina opened her Etsy shop in 2014 after starting a family and leaving an accounting career and the corporate world behind. Christina said she started designing her prints as a way to inspire and remind herself of what is meaningful in life and to personally connect with others.

The collection of prints I choose to use were perfect for a bedroom space and also allowed me to add a touch of personalization into the room. The LOVE print is one of my favorite designs and gold foil is so pretty once printed. The HEART of flowers couldn’t have been more perfect for our room with a black background and pink flowers. I also choose a monogram print and love how Christina has added flowers to give the design a special touch. The last design in the group reads All Of Me Loves All Of You and I love both the message and the delicate details of the design.

Once printed, I placed each image in a Ikea frame which I spray painted gold using Rustoleum Bright Coat Spray Paint (which happens to be my favorite gold spray paint)

I’ve purchased several printable images from Etsy in the past and I must say that the collection of designs that MyLoveNotedesigns offers is one of the best. There are over 450 designs to choose from including gold foil, nursery designs, calendars, meal planners, expense trackers and weekly planners and most of the designs are $5.00 or less. And, Christina also offers custom orders if you have a specific design in mind.

Because there are so many great prints, picking your favorites will be tough but you can use my list of top 10 to help you shop…

Feather and Floral / Be Our Guest (so awesome for a guest bedroom or bath)

Home Sweet Home (great housewarming gift) / You Got This (fun print for an office)

Ampersand Floral (add this to a gallery wall arrangement) / Fox Fun (fun for a kids room)

Watercolor Feather (love this) / Family Initial (great wedding gift)

Gold foil HEART/ Love Arrow (love the chalkboard feel of this print)

MyLoveNotedesigns can be used in any room of your home and because the prints are so affordable, you can create a gallery wall arrangement with minimal investment.

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I know you want to go shopping but before you head over the MyLoveNotedesigns, let me tell you about a great sale Christina is offering right now..

Buy 2 Prints Get 1 Free (code GET1FREE) minimum cart purchase $15 prior to coupon

Buy 3 Prints Get 2 Free (code GET2FREE) minimum cart purchase $25 prior to coupon
(Custom Prints excluded from coupon use)

See the full bedroom refresh here

Thank you to MyLoveNotedesigns for providing the prints used in my bedroom designs. I love sharing my favorite Etsy shops with you and know you’ll find something for yourself in her shop. All opinions are 100% mine.

Pretty In Pink: Spring Bedroom Refresh

May 6, 2015

PRETTY IN PINK BEDROOM REFRESH

Whew! Refreshing our bedroom for spring has taken a lot longer than I expected. I was originally waiting for pillow covers to arrive from overseas, then my schedule got super busy and last week I got sick. Despite it all, I’m so glad to have the little project done and so excited to share it with you.

Let’s take a look at where it all started.

I spotted this floral pillow cover on Etsy and immediately fell in love. I don’t decorate with many floral pattens but something about this design and the colors captured my heart.

Once I had the pillows in hand, I created a design board to represent the vision I had for the space. I love our headboard and frame and wanted to stick with a foundation of black and white for the room. I also wanted to add in more gold accents and a pop of green.

As I was planning the space, Christina from MyLoveNotedesigns contacted me and asked if I would be interested in reviewing her custom designed art. I jumped at the opportunity! What timing and just the detail I was looking to add to the room.

Now that the vision was set, it was time to execute (lots of photos to follow)…

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