Fabulous Find: Faux Bamboo Stool

A couple of weeks ago while searching Craigslist, I stumbled upon this bamboo stool for sale at one of my favorite stores in the valley, Hotel Surplus! I was immediately intrigued since I've been looking for a stool to sit at my vanity in my bedroom and I love the look of bamboo that you see so often used by designers like Jonathan Adler.

While looking for inspirational images on how to re-design a bamboo stool, I found this one at Gump's for $298!!! I was amazed at how similar it looks to my stool, and was stoked that I got mine for only $45!!!

Here is the final product: I spray painted it gold and found this leopard fabric at F & S Fabrics for $30 yard to recover the cushion!

I'm thrilled at how it turned out and tempted to go back and buy one more stool so I have a pair. I think they would look so good paired in front of a fire place, at the foot of a bed, or even in an entry way tucked underneath a console table.

The Perfect Push Present

If you were reading my blog back in the Fall you may have seen my post about signet rings. I've had a love affair for this classic piece of jewelry since I received my first one from my high school when I was a senior. My husband got me this piece from Tiffany as a push present and I had my son's monogram engraved on the top so I am always reminded of him when I'm wearing it. I'm beyond thrilled at the quality of workmanship of the engraving and the style of the letters turned out just the way I wanted them. If you are interested in buying a signet ring from Tiffany I suggest you do it soon! They told me they will soon be discontinued...bummer!

The Baby Diaries: He Arrived!!!

Barron Edmund Stern came charging into the world on December 5th, 2010! It's been a whirlwind since his arrival, we made it through the holidays, and I am managing to operate on very little sleep...and now after a month our little family has adjusted very well! Barron is a great little traveller going on little "field trips" with his mommy to the mall, fabric and furniture stores, and of course Starbucks, to keep on going. I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions, but at the top of my list is to de-clutter, clean out, and get organized. I also am going to try to get a blog post or two in between feedings, naps, and diaper changes. Motherhood is a lot of work, but good work and it feels great to be back in the blogosphere!

"Hi I'm Barron!"

2 weeks old

The Baby Diaries: Arriving Soon

The time has finally arrived to welcome our little bundle of joy! I will be signing off for a while, adjusting to life as a new mom, and enjoying the holidays with my family.

May your holidays be filled with peace and joy and I wish you all a very healthy and happy New Year!

I will see you in 2011...Cheers!!!

Holiday Decor

The tree is up and I've got the place as decked out for the holidays as I could possibly handle this year! I'm really pleased by the way my little fake white tree (purchased from Wal-Mart) turned out dressed with pink, white, aqua, and silver decorations.

The one downside of not having a real tree is the fresh piny smell. So instead, I loaded up on holiday scented candles that are displayed on the buffet and I filled clear glass hurricanes with colored ornaments that sparkle. (Notice the Louis Chair with the leopard pillow? I've been wanting to paint the frame white and recover it in a leopard fabric - what do you think? The other option would be a white frame with black ostrich leather - I just can't decide).

Notice the pop of pink on the couch? Those are the new throw pillows I had my mom make for me. I really wanted to balance all the dark gray and brown going on with brighter colors and I am so happy with the results! It's so easy to change the look of a room with new throw pillows.

I had this piece of Waverly pink paisley fabric saved, backed it with the pink fabric, and had a new throw pillow made. For some reason, paisley just reminds me of the holidays, it's cozy, and I love that it's pink and brown to complement the couch.

I love to hang glass ornaments from a chandelier. You can't see it in the picture, but I have this really ugly 80s chandelier hanging in my dining room, so the ornaments at least make it appear a little more festive and dress up the room for the holidays.

Pastels for the Holidays

This year I'm storing the red (and dare I say burgundy - my least favorite!) decorations in favor of lots of pastels!!! We've even decided to purchase a pre-lit fake white Christmas tree from Wal-Mart (gasp!) in lieu of the fresh piney green Christmas tree that has become a tradition. What can I say, I'm 39 weeks pregnant and waiting any day now for this baby to arrive, and I just wanted to keep things simple this year.

More and more I fall in love decorating with pinks and aquas. They are so calming and peaceful and really add a pop of something special to a room. I just had new pink pillows made for my chocolate brown couch, which really pop along with all the pastel ornaments.

Note to self: next year paint the dining room this lovely robin's egg blue! Heavenly!

Next on my list is to find gift wrap in this Tiffany blue color...

Image via Apartment Therapy

Dear Santa...

...If I could wish for one thing this Christmas, it would be Coralie Bickford-Smith's complete collection of F. Scott Fitzgerald's books.

Not only was The Great Gatsby my favorite book in high school, but I love collecting books. This collection is simply beautiful and would look stunning on a shelf with it's art deco themes that capture the essence of time during which these stories took place.

Here are some additional classics in her collection that are just as beautiful and would be the perfect stocking stuffer for any avid reader or book collector...

The Baby Diaries: My Baby Belly

I'm happy to say, I am 37 weeks pregnant and can't wait to soon meet my little baby boy! It's all seemed to fly by so quickly, yet it feels like forever since I haven't had a little person growing inside of me.

My wedding photographer Kimberlee Miller took these shots of me at 8 months pregnant and I was so excited to get the pictures back! I feel she really captured the peaceful, serene, and calm feelings that I have experienced during this time.

I feel very lucky and so blessed that this process has been a very happy and enjoyable one.

I also feel like this is the calm before the storm...to be continued!