Random Obsessions

I'm totally feeling exotic textiles at the moment...

Turkish Towels...as beach towels.

Beni Ourain rugs...in the bedroom.

Moroccan wedding blanket...draped across the foot of the bed.

Random Obsessions

Leather Luggage Tag, $14

Giraffe Bust, $68

Weehouses, starting at $80,000

Rustic Leather Journal, $28

Skip to my lou

When my sister and I were very young, my thrifty mom would scour garage sales and come home with records and toys for us.  We may have been poor, but we felt rich with the few things we had.  One of the best things that my mom bought for us was an old LP called Disney's Children's Favorites.  I spent countless hours listening to songs such as "On Top of Old Smokey" and "Skip to My Lou" over and over again.  I recently found the LP on sale on ebay, and I'm on a mission to get this music for my girls.  Unfortunately, I don't have a record player anymore...anyone know how I can convert an LP to digital music?

Etsy Goody: Wild Things

I am dying to buy this dress for Grace!

Little Fox Girl's Dress, $55

Sleeping among the clouds

I saw this dreamy bedroom in Lonny and it's inspired me to refresh my own bedroom with a few new pieces. 

Of course, I'll never be able to afford this bed, but I think this one from West Elm gives off a similarly "barefoot home" look at a fraction of the price (if only the slipcover was linen).

Layer these around the floor.

Or, a couple of these underfoot would be nice and cozy.

And finally, among all this white...a pop of "color"!

A more perfect mom

Images like this one taunt me, making me imagine there are better moms out there making these lunches for their children.  If you're like me and want to self-flagellate, check out more lunch inspiration at LunchBots.

My inspiration.  Is that sad?

image via LunchBots

Luxurious

image via Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle

Oh bedroom, how do I love thee! I especially love your bed, which can be found for quite a reasonable price here.

Egg Lamp Nightlight

When perusing this nursery makeover on Little Green Notebook, my eye immediately was drawn to the gorgeous sculpture on this dresser. Turns out, it's a nightlight--the kind that projects stars onto the ceiling. I love that it's not too cutesy and the palette of available colors is beautiful. It's exactly what Darren and I were looking to give Sophie for her birthday (especially now that she's afraid of monsters in her room).

image via Little Green Notebook

The olive colored one would be my pick. It's available here for $135.

And here it is, doing its thang at night. Cool, huh?

Bistro

image via Canadian House & Home

I'm currently in love with this kitchen. I'm going to copy two key looks to replicate in my own house: black floor cabinets and creamy white upper cabinets really break up the space and make the kitchen more interesting...and those floors! Loving them. I can't take up the bamboo we currently have in the kitchen, but one day when we pull up the basement Berber, I'd want these floors in our basement with some rugs laid over them.

Nate Berkus at HSN

For a couple of years now, I've been following Nate Berkus's line of home furnishings and accessories at HSN. This season, there are so many pieces I admire but have no place to put in my home. Here are my favorites:

Love the tone on tone creaminess of this rug. I want this for my living room!

Handwoven wool striped rug, $400


If I had a big dressing room or walk-in closet, this would be right in the middle of it.
Hexagon Cocktail Ottoman, $400


This is one of my all-time favorite lamps. It's glamorous and has a lot of impact for its size. It sold out a few seasons ago and was brought back by popular customer demand!

Orbit Table Lamp, $130

Extra seating is a breeze with this pouf. It has an adult look, but a very kid-friendly finish (in other words, I could use wipes on this!)

Metallic Pouf, $100


This large and substantial ikat bowl is the perfect finishing touch for my coffee table. I want to pot an orchid in this, or just display it atop some coffee table books.

Porcelain Ikat Bowl, $30

A Well-Stocked Pantry

image via Design*Sponge

One of these days....when my girls are a few years older and less likely to grab things off the shelves...I'm going to have this pantry in my dining area.

Kitchen Inspiration

image via Lonny

This kitchen has been all over the blogosphere, but I had to post it. While I'd prefer to keep fewer accessories on the countertops, I love the thoughtfulness of the decor. I'm going to pick up that oriental runner for my own kitchen!

Baby Gap Spring Porcelain Collection

I really have to give credit to Baby Gap. They have exceeded my expectations in terms of making cute girls clothes available that don't have 1) Disney characters, 2) too many ruffles, 3) loud, garish colors, and 4) obnoxious slogans. I mean, am I the only mom that doesn't want her toddler to be a "DIVA" or look like Britney Spears? (Good riddance to Club Libby Lu!)

Here are two outfits from their Porcelain collection that I love:

This hat would look great.....

Floppy Straw Sun Hat, $17

...with this tunic.

Embroidered Top, $25

And these sunglasses are so chic....

Round Sunglasses, $9

...with this romper.

Chambray Romper, $25

5-minute Pillow Cover

image via apartment therapy

Yay! Finally, someone has posted easy instructions for making your own pillow covers. I have a pillow obsession, but due to the high cost of ready-made pillow covers and my fickle nature, I've been paralyzed with indecision as to which pillow covers to buy. One mistake and I could be out $100...well, now that I have these easy instructions, I can go on etsy or ebay and buy my favorite fabrics and make my own! Now, if someone could just show me how to use a sewing machine...

Baby Gap Spring Globemapper Collection

I cannot wait for Spring to come already. Maybe I wouldn't feel this way if D.C. wasn't such a cold, dreary place in the wintertime...but I'm so looking forward to the famous Washington springtime. And if that isn't enough to look forward to already, Baby Gap's spring Globemapper collection is incredibly cute. I'm definitely getting these pieces for Sophie once warmer weather hits (which is in about what, 6 months?).

Cargo Shift Dress, $30

Graphic Headscarf, $8

Striped Scarf, $9

Round Sunglasses, $9

Painting Interior Doors Black

Little Green Notebook had a great post about painting interior doors, of which I'm a huge fan. We have cheapo/builder 6-panel doors inside our home and I just know that a few coats of shiny black lacquer will boost their "cool factor".

all images via Little Green Notebook

Serena & Lily Baby Sling

I love this baby sling from Serena & Lily. The embroidery detail on flax linen is so me. Sophie was a big baby, so it was kinda hard to wear her all the time, unfortunately. But from what I've heard, babies who are physically close to their mamas are much happier people!

Village Pillows

Yet another posting about throw pillows that I will probably never be able to afford...

I love this set of village pillows by Rachael Cole. The pieces are sold individually, as well as in a set, so that you can build your own little village. This would look so cute in Sophie's room.

These are a few of my favourite things...

Everyone's got a wishlist going, so I thought I'd make a small one to help out certain people who might be my Secret Santa or stuffing my stocking this year *cough cough*. Also, these are just great products that I'd recommend, in general.

My signature fragrance. Kiehl's Musk Eau De Toilette, $38.50

I'm somewhat of a lotion and hand cream connoisseur, and I can attest that this one really works well. Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, $19.50

I love clean and simple pale pink nail polish. Essie "Eternal Optimist" Nail Polish, $8.

J.Crew cashmere-lined leather gloves, $88.

I like using rubber stamps to make my own stationery. This kids'-themed octopus stamp would actually be very chic in shiny gold ink. Paper Source Octopus Rubber Stamp, $7.

I like the vintage look of this skating couple for holiday correspondence. Paper Source Ice Skating Couple Rubber Stamp, $7.

A favorite motif of mine for stationery is India. Paper Source India Elephant Rubber Stamp, $8.

And that's all I have! Honestly, this year I haven't felt like I really wanted much. It's just a joy to be able to spend good times with family, ya know?