Paris

So the hubs and I are finally taking a little trip across the pond on Friday and I want some feedback!  This was my Christmas 2012 present combined with 35th birthday combined with anniversary present yada yada yada.  We are going to Paris first (never been) and ending our trip in London (never been).  We have some really, really great recs from friends and family but I wanted to put it out there and see if any of you have anything to add?  Any old hole in the wall type places we must see or off the beaten path shops?  I will be sure to follow up with a run down of "best of" from our trip when we return.  I am so looking forward to feeling inspired and taking in all that both cities have to offer!!!

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Now what the hell to pack????  Pretty sure we're arriving on the coattails of Fashion Week Paris...feeling like everything in my closet looks like 1999.  Anything black should be safe, right?  Some inspiring pics to get me in the mood for packing...

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Love the coat...and the bag!

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This coat is beyond awesome in my book!

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Love this for a night out!!

Textile Collaboration

Eeek I can't believe I have let another month lapse without a post!!!  So sorry to those of you who try to check back periodically!  I have a lot of exciting things in the works including new branding, website and a second textile collaboration with my dear friend/coworker Lauren Lail!  I am hoping to have my new website/blog up and running by November so I will keep you posted!  

Back to textile collaboration.  We shared this news today on our Novel. blog but I thought it was too good not to share again!  So here's the sneak peak at the horse print I drew/painted for Lauren's vintage inspired FALL line Library by Lauren Lail.  She is just amazing!!!!  I can't wait for you to see her entire fall collection!

I can't tell you how excited we are to see this come together!!!  It's going to be amazing!  I will be sure to post once her Fall line arrives!!!

And just as a reminder, her Spring/Summer line is currently on SALE 20% off so head over here and buy, buy, buy before it's all gone!!!! Enter SUMMERSALE20!!!!

And just in case you have forgotten...here is our first collaboration.  A painting I did that Lauren had made into a skirt! 

 

Happy Monday!!!

Steals + Deals

Let me start by saying I NEVER score at TJ Maxx, ever.  I have to believe it's because I don't go often enough to find the good stuff.  I have friends, don't we all, who always have the BEST finds from there or Marshall's....ehh hmmm Natalie and Liza come to mind.  Well over the last month I have been frequenting more often than I should, it truly becomes an addiction.  Once you get one good deal you keep going back for more...

It all started with this guy....

I have never owned a nice pocket book really ever.  So this was still a splurge for me but at 50% off it was a deal not to be passed up!

And just this week I popped in and found another bag-I'm a collector of bags in case you didn't know-and found this guy.  

Have you ever heard of Olivia + Joy?  I feel like I have seen the brand at TJ's before.  It's not a super expensive line to begin with.  Most bags are under $100, so finding this one marked even less than half of that, at  $39.99, was exciting to me!  It's huge with a million pockets yet structured simply which I love!  I'm thinking it will be the perfect carry on for our trip this Fall!  Go check out their website...they have a lot of bags marked down!

And speaking of marked down, check out these guys....marked way down on the Badgley Mischka site.

Have you had any good finds lately?  I want to hear!

What's Your Pleasure

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What an absolutely gorgeous weekend it was!!  Agreed?  The weather was, in my book, the most perfect weather...football day kind of weather!!!  We spent a lot of time outside riding bikes, watching football on the back porch, little ones soccer game and ended it all with an oyster roast.  I also did some rifling through my "old" Fall clothes to see what was missing and what needs to go.  In so doing, I of course started perusing all of my favorite online shopping sites.  Here's what's in my cart....Wish that money tree we planted out back would start dropping it's leaves:)

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So tell me some of your stylish Fall finds!  What am I missing???  What are some musts for this year???  

 And promise to put some more recent pics of some paintings I have been working on this week.  Happy Monday!!!

Quiltish

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So what are we thinking people?  Yay or nay?  

I ordered this like 2 months ago and it just came in, tried it on for the hubs and the reaction was, 

"Eh, looks kind of like a quilt. I'm just sayin'.  You asked!"  

Arrrgg!  

I think it's time I suit up.  There is a little extra skin lingering in the midsection and I think it's time to take cover.  I am anticipating a lot of unsavory positions on the beach and pool this summer with my boys.  Boogie boarding, slouchy sand castle building, pulling Mr. Big out of the deep end of the pool,  man handling tantrum throwing two year olds, the list goes on.  I need a one piece.  So tell me, where can I find a non matronly/flattering suit???

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I like this one from Anthro too.  What do you think?

And since I missed my Tuesday Food Day yesterday, I will share my supper for one that I had last night.  Big R was at a... ehhhem "work event."

  It's called  "I'll use whats in the fridge so I don't have to go to the store.....again"  It was quite delicious really.  

Get Yo Greens Salad

handful arugula

handful heart of romaine

blanched green peas

butterbeans (cooked in chicken stock)

sliced heart of palm

sliced avocado

chopped cucumbers

*I did add S+P roasted tomatoes as well as S+P roasted mushrooms after I snapped this photo

Dressing

1/2 lemon squeezed

big dash of salt

3 grinds of peppercorns

1 crushed garlic clove

dash of olive oil

I'm thinking I'll need to eat a lot more of these if I ever want to get into this, this summer

 

Please tell me where to find a cute one piece!!!!

ZARA

Had to share with you a few goodies I purchased this week from Zara!  You can't beat the prices and the things for kiddos...oh my!!!!  That Pinterest is to blame hubby:)

These are too cute and comfortable for words...loving the color!!!

Gotta be honest. I haven't tried these two dresses on because I was too busy shoving the box under my bed before Big R got home:)  Hoping they fit?!

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And this may be my favorite!  This shirt is actually a washed out neon pink with gold stud buttons.  Comes in several colors but this was my favorite. 

 White jeans + neon pink top=summer staple!

Currently Obsessed

Am I the last to know about this site????  This is awesome!!  For those of you unfamiliar, click on this link.  It will take you to Currently Obsessed and you too will become obsessed.  Here you can "stalk" your favorite bloggers style.  Excuse this post if this is old news!!!!

For instance, this is Atlantic Pacific's page.

I'm stalking.  Who wouldn't?

I found out about it on Shannon Darrough's blog, I Love You Crazy.  If you're not a follower, you should be!  

Happy Weekend Friends!!