Ready for 2013...sort of!

Hi all! I am back from my unannounced, unscheduled hiatus and I am ready to tackle 2013! On January 1st, 2013, I woke up early and wrote down my goals...I listed personal goals and then business goals. They were great....well thought-out...measurable....quantifiable and relevant. Only one problem...now I can't find them...

Source: someecards.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Which has lead me to re-write them. Now I am down to one big goal...GET ORGANIZED!

Source: someecards.com via Joanne on Pinterest

I digress....I have been a reader of Tobi Fairley's blog for a while now. (For those of you who don't know her, Ms. Fairley is an extraordinary Interior Designer and she has had one of the most spectacular years...both professionally and personally.)

Besides her fantastic posts on design deliciousness, I also have come to covet her posts on confidence, life solutions, motivation and ORGANIZATION. Ms. Fairley not only grew her business to amazing heights but she lost 38 pounds in the process. So here is Ms. Fairley's latest post on organization with a 21 Day Organization Challenge from Holiday Sparkle:






#10 scares the living cr#p out of me...this step may take me 21 days alone but I am up for the challenge! And when I find my original list of Goals for 2013...I'll be sure to share! Happy Organizing!

Let me know if you are up for the 21 Day Challenge...I hate doing things alone :(

My Obsession with Initial Mugs

I have a little bit of an obsession to confess to...I am obsessed with initial mugs. I don't know why- I don't even own one but I get excited every time I see a new version and I wonder who I can buy it for. I imagine using it to host my other obsession...Sharpie markers...Hint, hint...if you are on my Christmas list this year you just might be getting you an initial mug.

Here are some of my faves... 

 Williams Sonoma Gold Monogram Mug $9.95

Anthropologie Initial Mug $6

 Anthropologie Home Grown Monogram Mug $8

C Wonder Monogram Mug $10

 

C Wonder Alphabet Cabana Mug $7.99

C Wonder Alphabet Mug $3.99

Rosanna Initially Yours Mug Letter J 

What is your fave? Too many to choose....Happy Shopping!

C Wonder...I see it!

So yesterday I did make it over to one of my favorite shops, C Wonder. They have so many little yummy trinkets that I had to share some of my faves. Too bad for me- I got so overwhelmed by the prettiness and the long list of Christmas gifts I still had to buy- I left with nothing....but I came home and shopped on line:)

Good thing, because they are having a sale for the next two day which will get you free shipping and 40% off sale stuff! Hurry and shop because this stuff is selling out! Here are some things from their sale page prices do not reflect the 40% off yet....Procrastination pays for once! (BTW- use code SALE40)

Bamboo Nesting Bowls- $44.99- Holla!

Lace Salad Coupe Plate for $5.99! Pair it with that formal china you never use!

 

 

 

 

 

Ikat Tablet Case for $34.99

For $4.99 so cute for jewelry...plus 40% off- seriously??

 This may have gone into my cart.....

Continental Wallet $74.99 and then 40%

BTW, if you have a moment, I would really appreciate it if you could vote for my little ole' blog over at Modenus- they are rating the top 100 Design Blogs. I am currently #223 on the list- maybe I'll move up the list with your help! Go here to vote!

Holiday Book Gift Guide

Anyone who steps foot in my home understands my obsession with books. One of the first projects in my home was to put built-in bookshelves to hold my collection of books- which also reside in my office, more in a box in my garage and some in the attic. I am a book-hoarder so it is very natural for me to put together a gift guide of the books I have on my Christmas list!

My first collection of books for the gift guide are from one of my all-time favorite designers, Kathryn Ireland. I am so inspired by her ability to mix patterns, color and texture and I think she is just so much fun to watch on Million Dollar Decorators. I had a little encounter with her which I blogged about here. I love that her rooms are gorgeous but so live-able and functional which I think is so important in design...no one lives in a magazine! Here are three books by Kathryn Ireland which I think would be amazing additions to any collection!

Kathryn Ireland Timeless Interiors

Creating A Home

Classic Country (pb)

I have also been loving this book for a while but haven't added it to my collection yet. This mother/daughter duo inspire me to endlessly beg my daughter to be an interior designer....I don't think I'll be as lucky as these two who share the passion for design....although my daughter would relish the idea of being my boss one day!

Good Bones, Great Pieces: The Seven Essential Pieces That Will Carry You Through a Lifetime 

I am a daily reader of the design blog decor8 by Holly Becker so I just have to include her beautiful book here...

Decorate: 1,000 Design Ideas for Every Room in Your Home

Or how about this from an iconic designer of our time, Barbara Barry...

Barbara Barry: Around Beauty

Why don't I own this one already??


The Perfectly Imperfect Home: How to Decorate and Live Well

And truth be told, I need my Nate fix now that his show has been retired....boo hoo!

The Things That Matter

Did I miss any? Let me know what some of your "must have" design books are as I'd love to add them to my wish list! Hopefully Santa is listening!



Also, today I am heading over to one of my favorite stores, C Wonder- I think they have some amazingly stylish stuff at pretty good prices! I hope to pick up lots of last minute gifts for some people on my list (aka me) Also, if you head over to C.Wonder and shop today through the 13th they are having an amazing sale: 40% off sale items and free shipping over $100! Use code SALE40. I'll share some pictures of what I find there tomorrow!

I'm Back and 2013 Color of the Year

I'm back! I know, I know, you probably didn't even miss me in your in-box because if you are anything like me- you are flooded with 6,000 emails a day from retailers trying to get a piece of your holiday shopping!

Anyway- for the past week I was doing a little bit of this in Naples, Florida....

and a little bit of this with these babies...(I understand there are no babies in this picture...but I'm having a hard time letting them grow up!)

along with this guy.....(good thing I un-subscribed my hubs from the blog email...he wouldn't be happy about this...he is quite private and shy...ok, not shy....at all....but he'd ask for royalties so I am doing it on the sneak!)

and now coming back to reality I feel a little like this...

Oh, and Pantone announced the Color of the Year for 2013.....it is Emerald! Aka a fancy green! This works for me since my logo is a green chair....and although I don't think I can rock Emerald in my daily fashion (not sure with my skin tone....) but I can definitely dig it in interiors!

Patone Color of the Year 2013: Emerald!

 Talk amongst yourselves....we'll be back to discussing interiors again next week!