Recent Art Purchase

I love Etsy and thank god for Pinterest and Social Media because things I would never  have discovered on my own are so easily accessed through the internet and the online design community.  I can't recall where I first saw this print, but I immediately fell in love.  After keeping it in my favorites I decided to pull the trigger when the owner, Sarah Hendrix, listed a few for sale half off due to minor scratches in the print.  Barely visible, the print is perfect.

I finally got mine framed and hung on the wall yesterday and I love it!!!  Since the size was a bit odd I had to have Aaron Brothers in Santa Monica trim it down a tad to fit into the frame.  

 What do you think?

The Baby Diaries Part 2: Barron + Serena's Nursery

 Happy Labor Day Weekend!!!  I hope you are enjoying the time off and soaking up the end of the Summer sun!  I've managed to spend most of my weekend in doors, enjoying the AC and laying around relaxing.  Just when I think I have the energy to do something, all I want to do is lay down again.  I'm a complete bum with a huge belly and officially over being pregnant!  I'm still working and plan on doing so till I give birth, which is probably stupid because I get even more exhausted but it keeps me busy and I like the company of my co-workers all day.  I have managed to get a few things done, like decorate the nursery Barron will be sharing with his Sissy (I have packed my hospital bag in case I do go into labor sooner than I expect!)  

 I wanted their room to be very calming and relaxing when we're in there.  I chose Behr's Dolphin Fin as the wall color.  It's seriously a gorgeous color and if I knew how to properly work my Canon EOS camera you could get a better idea of it, but I don't, so take my word, this color is gorgeous!  It's definitely on the lighter side, which I wanted.  Since Barron hasn't transitioned out of his crib yet, I haven't put the bumper pads or dust ruffle on yet, so it's lacking a bit of color there, but you get the idea.

I still have 2 silver picture frames to hang over the crib, one is Barron's birth announcement and once this little girl gets here, hers is going up on the wall too!  

 I made the changing table area for little Sissy.  All her clothes (and I mean all the drawers are packed with her clothes!) are stored here as well as diapers and supplies you need when changing diapers.  I gave in and ordered on Amazon some stupidly expensive diaper pail system since I will now be changing 2 kids' diapers and figured the plastic ghetto grocery bag method I've been using wasn't going to cut it anymore.

 Here's my solution to a glider or rocker...Ikea's Poang Chair in Black/Brown with a Granan White cushion.  First, the thing is cost effective at about $150 all in, second it bounces, and third it's really comfy!  I just couldn't justify spending $600 on a glider that I wasn't going to use that long.  I found this ottoman at a local thrift shop and the thing was totally beat down.  It was $20 out the door and I had my mom give it some tender loving care to bring it back to life!  I found this flamingo fabric at F&S and knew I wanted to use it somewhere in the nursery.  It brought in some coral pink without making the room too girly, so it works for both kids.  The gray leopard pillow I found online at C. Wonder  for about $30 for 2!   

I sadly had to move my white Expedit from my office and switched it with the 4x4 black/brown model that was in here before for more space.  It creates so much storage and the framed art is Barron's first piece that I bid on at his little art auction at daycare!  Kids art is my favorite thing and framed with a nice white matte makes it look even more special.    

 I created a little nook for Sissy's little shoes and growing hair bow collection!

 After countless hours on Pinterest, I was inspired to create a book wall for Barron.  I found these picture ledges at Ikea that were super easy to hang.  I love all the colors the books bring into the room and he can grab a book and we can hang out and read.  

 The chevron pillow was a Home Goods purchase...

I bought the blanket on the bed at Pottery Barn and had Barron's name monogrammed on it, and they don't carry it anymore, which I am super bummed about because I wanted to get a matching one for Sissy, but now I'm looking elsewhere.  The toddler bed was purchased online from Amazon, it's the Davinci Modena model.  It was a pain to put together but it uses a crib mattress and sheets, so it's a nice transition for now.

There are a few more things I want to add like a rug and some colorful pillows, but for now, we are good to go and I'm just glad that I was able to get it done!!!  Now I can relax....

See more inspiring nurseries here!

My Favorite Room: Before and After

 In cased you missed my guest post over on La Dolce Vita, here's a before photo of my office...

...and here's my office after!!!  Check out my post here for more pictures, information on my design process, and list of resources!  Enjoy!

Glamour Obsession: Abstract Art

Today I am guest posting over on La Dolce Vita, read more about it here!!!  I'm also moving today and the movers will be here shortly.  I am a little sad and nostalgic, but very excited to be moving to a bigger place with more room for the 3 of us.  So many life changing events took place at this apartment on Montana and Bundy in Brentwood.  Getting engaged, starting this blog, getting laid off, getting married, finding a new career I love, getting pregnant, having a baby, going back to work, balancing work with motherhood, and of course entertaining and throwing lots of parties.  This place was really good to us, but it's time to move on and close this chapter of my life and all this change makes me really excited.  It's been so incredibly busy that my blogging has taken a backseat in my life, but I know I will have many new redecorating projects to keep me inspired and I hope you continue to read along and leave your little comments that make me so happy to read!     

Inspired

Hello again!  I know it's been a while since I last posted and well, I've been busy!  The holidays were lovely and I really enjoyed the time off the map, unplugged from the iphone, and taking a little break from my day job.  Nothing beats spending good quality time with my baby boy and of course, my husband.  But now, it's back to reality, the traffic has gotten heavier, and it's time to get focussed.  2011 was a year of transitions, personally and professionally, and I'm confident 2012 will be filled with inevitable unknown changes yet to come.  I find it really exciting not knowing what the future holds, and I love change.  Without it, we become stagnant, think we own the world, and therefore, can not progress.

{God, I want that couch, zebra rug, furry blanket, and dark espresso floors!}

So here's what's on my mind...we are currently looking to move soon (a good change) and I just finished reading Celerie Kemble's Black and White over the holidays.  I've decided that my new place is going to adhere to a strict color palette of black and white with lots of neutrals mixed in for good measure.  In the process, I've been sourcing rugs and furniture and here are a few pieces that are on my inspiration board.     

 I love the way white piping contrasts against the black fabric.  I have a pair of chairs that I have my eye on that I want to recover just like this!  How stunning would a custom monogram look on these??!!

 A houndstooth chair is a must!  It's so British and gentlemanly, yet playful at the same time.  Love a good houndstooth print!

I've been searching on Craigslist relentlessly to find the perfect pair of wing back chairs to recover in this large chevron print.  I'm going to sell my current round dining table and buy a rustic farmhouse table that expands to fit 10 people and I want these to flank both ends of the table!  

I just stumbled across this rug last night while flipping through the Crate and Barrel catalog and I love it! I've found rugs like this online, but you can't beat the price point of this one!  Here are a few more images of it from the catalog...

Adore...

Music is My Boyfriend

I want to buy a turntable, receiver and amplifier just like this.  See, I grew up listening to my dad's record collection and lately I've been wanting to hear all that old music.  Now granted, I have most of it downloaded on iTunes, but it's just not the same.  

I miss moving my fingers through the albums and looking at the cool art work.  I felt more connected to the artists when I could see a physical album vs. nowadays quickly downloading a song, only to really never play it again.  I used to play albums over and over and over again with my friends.  I miss that. 

    

Here are some of my personal favorites that I want in the collection...

Thirsty Thursdays: Ode to High School

Remember when the party used to end like this? 

 (If you were in high school in the 90s and partied at my house you know what I mean!)

 And we used to want to own one of these??  

(lol The Jerry Garcia days circa '95)

And we used to listen to these??  

(I still have all my old mixed tapes!!!)  

I'll drink to that...

Images via We Heart It

Mom Cave {My Office}

Over the weekend the dining room became my new office.  Our living room is now a living/dining room since we never sat at the table when it was in the dining room and it basically was a waste of space (like most dining rooms are).  My OCD kicked into high gear and I spent all day yesterday cleaning out, rearranging, and organizing.  After a trip to IKEA to pick up some supplies I dove head first into this project.  (I apologize if the pics look grainy, I took them with my new iphone that I love!)  

Here is the room before:  

 I love to collect books so I forced myself to toss the paperbacks (i.e. all the chick lit books I read in my 20s) to make room to store my office supplies.

 I save birthday cards, thank you notes, love letters, and invitations to weddings, which I keep in my old shoe boxes...yes, I am sentimental like that and I just can't bring myself to toss them, which I probably should, but won't. 

I did manage to toss all my old fashion mags a few months ago, so what is left are my beloved Dominos, Elle Decor (I found one from '99 with Lulu DK's pad on the cover!), and House and Garden.    

 Here is the office now!!!  I absolutely love it!  I decided my desk needed to be moved because I wanted a conversation area to hang out in and now I can look out the window.

I purchased the Kassett organizers in white from IKEA which I am madly in love with!  They are cheap, look great, and totally do the job when it comes to organizing all your stuff neatly.  The bottom row looks all black because that's where all my photo albums are stored.  

It's crazy to me how much storage the Expedit offers.  It's seriously one of the best things I have purchased to keep everything in it's place.  I really think every new mom should own one of these for their kid's room because of all the organization it offers - it's the perfect place to store books, diapers, wipes, toys, clothes, etc.  Little Barron is getting one in white when we move!

Notice the swatches of fabric on my Louis Chair (purchased for $50 on Craigslist - it's practically brand new)???  I've been saying for months I'm going to get it reupholstered and I'm finally going to pull the trigger.  I'm painting the frame glossy white and using black ostrich leather for the fabric.  I can't wait to see the finished product!  

Seriously loving my 27" iMac and all of Apple's products for that matter.  They're just really insanely cool! 

I am so in love with my new office aka Mom Cave!